Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry最新文献

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine kinases, and PKC ligands have the potential to be therapeutic seeds for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, in addition to desired therapeutic effects, most PKC ligands also exhibit undesirable pro-inflammatory effects. The discovery of new scaffolds for PKC ligands is important for developing less inflammatory PKC ligands, such as bryostatins. We previously reported that machine learning combined with our knowledge of the pharmacophore yielded 15 PKC ligand candidates, but we did not evaluate their PKC binding affinities fully. In this paper, PKC binding affinities of four candidates were examined to assess their potential as PKC ligands and to validate machine learning-assisted screening. Although compound 3' did not bind to PKC C1 domains, 1a, 2', and 4a exhibited moderate PKC binding affinities, suggesting that machine learning-assisted screening is advantageous in identifying new PKC ligand scaffolds.

Proper diet is crucial for obesity prevention. Food health research primarily focuses on two aspects: the pathogenesis of lifestyle-related diseases caused by obesity and the identification of dietary components that can aid in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases. Substantial knowledge has been accumulated regarding these aspects via health function evaluations based on biological experiments. However, the intricate causal relationships and specific biological metabolites or food compounds that affect health remain unclear. To address these issues, my recent studies have incorporated mass spectrometry data, particularly metabolomic data obtained via comprehensive component analysis, to enhance health function evaluation via biological experiments. These studies have revealed various biological and healthy compounds derived from different food materials for the management of obesity-induced metabolic disorders.

Treatments for osteoporosis are typically given postfracture. Therefore, identifying safe prophylactic interventions to reduce fracture risk would be beneficial. One approach is to utilize the bioactive properties of natural compounds to modify osteoclast and osteoblast activity. d-limonene a well-tolerated, anti-inflammatory monoterpene found in citrus fruits holds promise due to its suppressive effect on NFκB, a key regulator of bone cell activity. We found that limonene promoted osteoblast differentiation and bone nodule formation and inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vitro. Limonene also reduced the proresorptive signal provided by osteoblast, augmenting markers of osteoblast differentiation (alkaline phosphatase, osterix, and osteocalcin) and significantly decreasing osteoclastogenic cytokine production (PTHrP, IL-1β, and TNF-α). Therefore, limonene supplementation represents a potential route in combination with current interventions to optimize bone cell activity to maintain or enhance bone mass.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a disease in which the abdominal aorta expands irreversibly and ruptures. At present, no preventive methods are available for this disease. Among potential risk factors, certain foods are considered to play important roles in the development of AAA. Epidemiological studies suggest a close relationship between AAA and dietary habits. Experimental studies have clarified potential suppressive or progressive food components for AAA. In this review, a summary of studies related to nutritional science in the fields of AAA and/or aortic degeneration are provided.

Flavonoids are present in plant foods such as vegetables and fruits and exhibit various physiological effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ingested flavonoids are absorbed from the intestinal tract and circulated in the blood. Some studies have indicated the presence of flavonoids in breast milk. However, information on their metabolites and concentrations in breast milk and the subsequent transfer to and physiological functions in infants is limited. Therefore, this review presents a compilation of recent findings on the transfer of flavonoids to infants via breast milk and their bioactivities.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ), a component of the electron transport chain, participates in aerobic respiration to produce ATP. Little is known about the relationship between CoQ and ethanol fermentation. Herein, we revealed that the deficiency or the addition of CoQ in sake yeast led to an increase or a decrease, respectively, in ethanol production rate at the early stage of fermentation.

Bacillus velezensis S141 helps soybean establish specific symbiosis with strains of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens to form larger nodules and improve nitrogen fixation efficiency. In this study, we found that the dry weight of soybean roots increased significantly in the presence of S141 alone under drought conditions. Hence, S141 improved the root growth of soybean under limited water supply conditions. S141 can produce some auxin, which might be involved in the improved nodulation. Inactivating IPyAD of S141, which is required for auxin biosynthesis, did not alter the beneficial effects of S141, suggesting that the root growth was independent of auxin produced by S141. Under drought conditions, soybean exhibited some responses to resist osmotic and oxidative stresses; however, S141 was relevant to none of these responses. Although the mechanism remains unclear, S141 might produce some substances that stimulate the root growth of soybean under drought conditions.

To elucidate the function of the bile acid-binding receptor TGR5 in skeletal muscle, we developed transgenic mice expressing human TGR5 in the skeletal muscle tissue. A significant increase in muscle mass was observed in these transgenic mice, whereas a decrease in muscle mass was observed in the TGR5-deficient mice. Following treadmill exercise, TGR5 gene expression increased in response to ER stress induced in skeletal muscle via an ER stress response motif present in its promoter region. Exercise and rapid postprandial elevation in blood bile acid concentrations can be considered the primary stimuli for the TGR5-mediated increase in skeletal muscle mass. We developed a scoring system to identify food ingredients with TGR5 agonist activity, and identified the citrus limonoid nomilin. Similar effects were observed for other triterpenoids in addition to nomilin. Cell culture and in vivo experiments demonstrated that these food factors increase protein synthesis and muscle mass.

We take a wide variety of antioxidants, including polyphenols, daily from our diet. They are generally considered to be beneficial for our health. However, the intrinsic function of antioxidants in biological systems remain unknown. On the other hand, antioxidants in general are sensitive to oxidation, generating their oxidized intermediates. Intriguingly, these intermediates are highly reactive to proteins. Although the specific cellular targets and response mechanism remain unclear, protein modification by oxidized antioxidants may represent the intrinsic "moonlight" function of antioxidants by taking on a secondary role beyond their traditional activity. This minireview summarizes recent findings on antioxidants, with a particular focus on the interactions of antioxidant-modified proteins with histones.

Sex differences exist in the commensal microbiota that impact on multiple physiological processes in the host. Here, we examined the mechanism by which the sex differences are formed. In addition to the epithelial ductal cell, the acinar cell mass in the submandibular gland was associated with androgen-androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Sex differences in the formation of submandibular mucin 10 (MUC10) were identified using SDS-PAGE. Neuraminidase treatment, which hydrolyzes terminal sialic acid, influenced the mobility shift of MUC10. Androgen-AR signaling negatively regulated ST3 β-galactoside α-2,3-sialyltransferase 1 (St3gal1) and St3gal4 in the submandibular gland. There was a trend and significant sex differences in α-diversity (Shannon, P = .09) and β-diversity (unweighted UniFrac) in oral microbiota composition, respectively. Some female-preferring bacteria including Akkermansia muciniphila can assimilate mucin by degrading terminal sialic acids. Our results indicate that androgen-AR signaling suppresses ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL4, which can influence sex differences in commensal microbiota composition.