Enzymatic Production of Ferulic Acid from Defatted Rice Bran by Using a Combination of Bacterial Enzymes

Ferulic acid (FA), which is present in the cell walls of some plants, is best known for its antioxidant property. By combining a commercial enzyme that shows FA esterase activity with several Streptomyces carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, we succeeded in enhancing the enzymatic production of FA from defatted rice bran. In particular, the combination of three xylanases, an α-l-arabinofuranosidase, and an acetyl xylan esterase from Streptomyces spp. produced the highest increase in the amount of released FAs among all the enzymes in the Streptomyces enzymes library. This enzyme combination also had an effect on FA production from other biomasses, such as raw rice bran, wheat bran, and corncob.     

Vinyl Polymerization. 282. Vinyl Polymerization Initiated by Dimethylhydroxylamine-Titanous(lll) Chloride Redox System

Abstract

The polymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by dimethylhydroxylamine hydrochloride (DHA)-titanous(III) chloride redox system has been studied in water under a nitrogen atmosphere. In the polymerization of methyl methyacrylate (MMA) initiated by the above system, the rate of polymerization has been found to be proportional to [DHA]^0.5 for DHA concentrations of less than 2.06 × 10^?3 mole/liter, whereas at higher concentrations the rate tends to fall rapidly. The rate has also been found to be proportional to [Ti(m)] ^0.58 and to [MMA] ^1.0. The maximum rate of polymerization has been observed at a 1:1 molar ratio of DHA to Ti(III). The polymerization proceeded via a radical mechanism. The overall activation energy was estimated as 5.5 kcal/mole. It has been suggested that the reduction of dimethylhydroxylamine by titanous(III) chloride yields the dimethylamino radical, which initiates vinyl polymerization. An examination of the initiating capacity of the initiator system for the polymerization of some vinyl monomers has also been made.     

Extracellular Production and Characterization of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> X-prolyl Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidase

X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidases (X-PDAPs) are useful in various food industries. In this study, we performed sequence-based screening to obtain a stable X-PDAP enzyme from thermophilic Streptomyces strains. We found three genes that encoded X-PDAP from Streptomyces thermoluteus subsp. fuscus NBRC 14270 (14270 X-PDAP), Streptomyces thermocyaneoviolaceus NBRC 14271 (14271 X-PDAP), and Streptomyces thermocoerulescens NBRC 14273, which were subsequently cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences of these genes showed high similarity, with ~80% identity with each other. The isolated X-PDAPs and an X-PDAP from Streptomyces coelicolor were expressed in Streptomyces lividans using a hyperexpression vector: pTONA5a. Among these genes, only 14270 and 14271 X-PDAPs caused overexpression and extracellular production without artificial signal peptides. We also characterized the biochemical properties of purified 14271 X-PDAP. In addition, we found that, in peptide synthesis via an aminolysis reaction, this enzyme recognized d-amino acid derivatives as acyl acceptors, similar to l-amino acid derivatives.     

Quality control of Photosystem II: where and how does the degradation of the D1 protein by FtsH proteases start under light stress?--Facts and hypotheses

Degradation of the reaction center-binding D1 protein of Photosystem II is central in photoinhibition of Photosystem II. In higher plant chloroplasts, Photosystem II complexes are abundant in the grana. It has been suggested that the Photosystem II complexes containing photodamaged D1 protein migrate for their repair from the grana to the non-appressed stroma thylakoids, where the photodamaged D1 protein is degraded by a specific protease(s) such as filamentation temperature sensitive H (FtsH) protease. There are several possible ways to activate the FtsH proteases. As FtsH is a membrane-bound ATP-dependent metalloprotease, it requires ATP and zinc as essential part of its catalytic mechanism. It is also suggested that a membrane protein(s) associated with FtsH is required for modulation of the FtsH activity. Here, we propose several possible mechanisms for activation of the proteases, which depend on oligomerization of the monomer subunits. In relation to the oligomerization of FtsH subunits, we also suggest unique distribution of active FtsH hexamers on the thylakoids: hexamers of the FtsH proteases are localized near the Photosystem II complexes at the grana. Degradation of the D1 protein probably takes place in the grana rather than in the stroma thylakoids to circumvent long-distance migration of both the Photosystem II complexes containing the photodamaged D1 protein and the proteases.     

Specific Adhesion of 3T3‐L1 Fibroblast onto Uridine‐Containing Polystyrene

A hydrophobic 96‐well multiplate was incubated with aqueous poly(uridine 5′‐p‐styrenesulfonate) (PUSS). Analysis of the PUSS‐coated surface indicated that the surface incubated at higher polymer concentration (50 mg·mL^–1) was hydrophilic while the surface incubated at lower polymer concentration (1 mg·mL^–1) was hydrophobic. Adhesion of 3T3‐L1, which has GalTase on the cell membrane, on the hydrophobic PUSS‐coated surface was greater than on the non‐coated surface. 3T3‐L1 adhesion on the hydrophilic PUSS‐coated surface was even greater. On the other hand, the adhesion of HeLa cells, which did not show GalTase on the cell membrane, on the hydrophilic surface was quite weak. It may well be said that the 3T3‐L1 adhesion on the hydrophilic PUSS‐coated surface was GalTase‐mediated.     

Gel formation in cationic polymerization of divinyl ethers. II. 2,2-Bis{4-[(2-vinyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}propane

Cationic polymerization of 2,2-bis{4-[(2-vinyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}propane [CH₂CH O CH₂CH₂O C₆H₄ C(CH₃)₂ C₆H₄ OCH₂CH₂ O CHCH₂; 2], a divinyl ether with oxyethylene units adjacent to the polymerizable vinyl ether groups and a bulky central spacer, was investigated in CH₂Cl₂ at 0°C with the diphenyl phosphate [(C₆H₅O)₂P(O)OH]/zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) initiating system. The polymerization proceeded quantitatively and gave soluble polymers up to 85% monomer conversion. In the same fashion as the polymerization of 1,4-bis[2-vinyloxy(ethoxy)]benzene (CH₂CH O CH₂CH₂O C₆H₄ OCH₂CH₂ O CHCH₂; 1) that we already studied, the content of the unreacted pendant vinyl ether groups of the produced soluble polymers decreased with monomer conversion, and almost all the pendant vinyl ether groups were consumed in the soluble products prior to gelation. Alternatively, endo-type double bonds were gradually formed in the polymer main chains by chain transfer reactions and other side reactions as the polymerization proceeded. The polymerization behavior of isobutyl vinyl ether (3), a monofunctional vinyl ether, under the same conditions, showed that the endo-type olefins in the polymer backbones are of no polymerization ability with the growing active species involved in the present polymerization systems. These results indicate that the intermolecular crosslinking reactions occurred primarily by the pendant vinyl ether groups, and the final stage of crosslinking process leading to gelation also may occur by the small amount of the residual pendant vinyl ether groups (supposedly less than 2%). The formation of the soluble polymers that almost lack the unreacted pendant vinyl ether groups is most likely due to the frequent occurrence of intramolecular crosslinking reactions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1931–1941, 1999     

Diastereoselective Aldol Reaction with an Acetate Enolate: 2,6-Bis(2-isopropylphenyl)-3,5-dimethylphenol as an Extremely Effective Chiral Auxiliary

A C ₂ -symmetrical phenol was used as a chiral auxiliary in the asymmetric aldol reaction of chiral acetates with various aldehydes [Eq. (a)]. The reaction proceeds readily under mild conditions to provide aldol adducts with high enantioselectivity. LDA=lithium diisopropylamide.     

The Distribution of Arsenic Compounds in the Ocean: Biological Activity in the Surface Zone and Removal Processes in the Deep Zone

The vertical profies of inorganic arsenic [As(III)+As(V)], monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) were investigated at four sampling stations in the Pacific Ocean and a sampling station in the southern Tasman Sea. In addition, the concentrations of those compounds in surface waters of the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea have been determined. The vertical profiles of inorganic arsenic showed the low concentrations in both the surface and deep/bottom zones. The depleted concentrations in the surface zone varied from 1000 to 1700 ng dm⁻³ and that in the deep/bottom zone varied from 1300 to 2050 ng dm⁻³. The maximum concentrations that varied from 1500 to 2450 ng dm⁻³ were usually observed at a depth of about 2000 m. Both MMAA and DMAA were observed throughout the water column at sampling stations in the north-western and equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean. At the sampling station in the central northern Pacific gyre, DMAA was the only methylated arsenic compound observed throughout the water column. On the contrary, at the sampling station in the southern Tasman Sea, the only detected methylated arsenic compound throughout the water column was MMAA. Their vertical profiles showed maximum concentrations in the surface water which abruptly dropped with depth from 0 to 200 m. The concentration in the surface water was close to 10 ng dm⁻³ for MMAA and varied from 27 to 185 ng dm⁻³ for DMAA. At depths greater than 100 m, MMAA and DMAA were at comparable concentrations which varied from 0.7 to 14 ng dm⁻³. The low inorganic arsenic concentration in the surface zone was due to biological activity. This activity resulted in the uptake of As(V) and subsequent reduction and methylation to MMAA and DMAA. DMAA was the main predominant arsenic compound resulting from biological activity in surface waters. The low inorganic arsenic concentrations in the deep and bottom zones were likely to be caused by the adsorption of dissolved inorganic arsenic onto sinking particulates rich in iron and manganese oxides.