Identification of bolegrevilol B and C as novel antioxidant compounds in Suillus grevillei mushroom.

Suillus grevillei is a popular species of mushroom available worldwide. In this study, we isolated compounds, bolegrevilol B and bolegrevilol C, from the mushroom and observed their potent lipid peroxidation-inhibiting activity. The structures of bolegrevilol B and bolegrevilol C were elucidated as 3-geranylgeranyl-1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene and 3-geranylgeranyl-1,2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzene, respectively, through high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (-) and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Bolegrevilol B and C inhibited lipid peroxidation and exhibited IC50 values of 2.0 ± 0.29 µm and 1.0 ± 0.13 µm, respectively. Furthermore, bolegrevilol B and C demonstrated potent neuroprotective activities in neuronal hybridoma N18-RE-105 cells against L-glutamate toxicity (EC50 of 1.8 ± 1.7 n m and 7.2 ± 6.9 n m, respectively). Bolegrevilol B was found in nature for the first time, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the antioxidant activities of bolegrevilol B and C.

Solvothermal synthesis of hair-like carbon nanotubes onto sub-micron-sized spherical metal oxide catalyst cores.

Long- and uniform-length, and high-density hair-like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were produced by CNT growth on sub-micron-sized spherical catalyst supports. The nanosized catalysts (FeO x , CoO x , and NiO x ) that were supported in/on the sub-micron-sized spherical metal oxides (TiO2, ZrO2, SnO2, and CeO2) were prepared via one-step solvothermal and/or two-step impregnation methods. The nanosized catalysts supported in/on the spherical metal oxide supports were converted into CNT conjugates with the CNT-hair morphology via a chemical thermal vapor deposition technique using ethyne gas as a carbon source; the CNTs grew on the central spherical metal oxide core under the base growth process conditions. Among the many types of candidate spherical catalyst materials, the combination of FeO x as a catalyst for CNT growth and ZrO2 as a support led to the best growth of CNT-hair under the reaction conditions, which included a temperature of 730 °C, pressure of 65 Pa, a 10 sccm ethyne gas flow, and a reaction time of 10 s. The CNTs consisted of five-to-eight-layered multi-wall structures with lengths of approximately 3 µm. The CNT-hair that was obtained using the solvothermally embedded catalyst showed higher crystallinity and was dense, thick, and straight, while the corresponding CNT-hair obtained using the impregnated catalyst was slightly sparse, thin, and curly. A unique layer structure constructed using large quantities of uniform CNT-hair, including multiple CNT yarns similar to fuzzy balls or cotton candies, was assembled. The CNT-hair conjugate, specifically constructed in a layer structure with core FeO x /ZrO2 catalysts and tangled CNT yarns, had an appearance similar to frog eggs. Therefore, we successfully prepared suitable catalysts for CNT-hair production and fabricated a layer structure consisting of large numbers of CNT-hair conjugates. The unique structures are expected as a new metamaterial with intriguing physical properties, including isotropic absorption of polarized light and electromagnetic waves.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule expression in hepatic stem/progenitor cells is controlled by the molecular clock system.

The circadian rhythm, which regulates various body functions, is transcriptionally controlled by a series of clock gene clusters. The clock genes are related to the pathology of various kinds of diseases. Although there is evidence of serious sleep disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis, the liver regeneration mechanism under chronic hepatitis conditions and its association with the clock genes are not clear. In this study, the influence of the circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK), which is one of the clock genes, on a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-induced hepatitis animal model was investigated. The appearance of potential hepatic stem-like cells (epithelial cell adhesion molecule [EpCAM]-positive cells) is an initial critical step in liver regeneration during chronic inflammation. The results showed a considerable number of hepatic EpCAM-positive cells in the wild-type (WT) mice 1 week after the DDC feeding. However, the number of EpCAM-positive cells in the Clock-mutant (Clk/Clk) mice decreased, and their hepatitis was worse compared with the WT mice. In addition, the expression of Epcam mRNA, which is a functional marker of potential hepatic stem-like cells, was controlled by LEF1, which was regulated by CLOCK. The results of this study will facilitate the elucidation of the liver regeneration mechanisms, including those at the molecular level, and may assist in the development of new treatment modalities in the future.