Six new (1-6) and seven known depsidones (7-13) were isolated from the culture of an ant (Monomorium chinensis)-derived fungus Spiromastix sp. MY-1. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including high resolution MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The new bromide depsidones were obtained through supplementing potassium bromide in the fermentation medium of Spiromastix sp. MY-1. All isolated compounds showed various bioactivities against the tested phytopathogenic bacteria. Particularly, new bromide compound 4, named spiromastixone S, exhibited the strongest activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae with a MIC value of 5.2 μmol·^-1.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ants ; Bromides ; Depsides ; Fungi ; Lactones ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure

Genes encoding the cellobiohydrolase enzyme (CBHI), designated as cbhI, were isolated from the basidiomycetes Auricularia fuscosuccinea, Pleurotus giganteus, P. eryngii, P. ostreatus, and P. sajor-caju. Initially, the fungal genomic DNA was extracted using a modified cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol and used as a DNA template. The cbhI genes were then amplified and cloned using the pGEM-T Easy Vector Systems. The sizes of these PCR amplicons were between 700~800 bp. The DNA sequences obtained were similar showing high identity to the cbhI gene family. These cbhI genes were partial consisting of three coding regions and two introns. The deduced amino acid sequences exhibited significant similarity to those of fungal CBHI enzymes belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 7.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Basidiomycota ; Bromides ; Cellulase ; Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase ; Clinical Coding ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; Humans ; Introns ; Pleurotus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Sequence Analysis

In search of the optimal preparation method for large-scale purification of human plasma fibronectin, we adopted affinity chromatography with gelatin and the Sepharose 4B activated with cyanogen bromide to purify fibronectin from type "C" plasma of healthy males, and scanned the best method under the conditions of different amount of plasma loading and different residence time in column. In a given column volume of gelatin, the absorbent was related with the plasma residence time in column and the total amount of plasma loaded. As a result, the optimal loading amount of plasma is 150 ml, and the residence time is 20 minutes. The preparation method, herein, has been proved to require small amount of plasma and yield large amount of fibronectin.
Chromatography, Affinity ; methods ; Cyanogen Bromide ; chemistry ; Fibronectins ; blood ; isolation & purification ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Male ; Sepharose ; chemistry ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: Photoaging skin is clinically characterized by wrinkled, dry, inelastic and irregularly pigmented skin, skin tumor and histologically by increased epidermal thickness, nurnerous fibroblasts, mast cells and inflammatory cells in the upper dermis, elastosis, degeneration of collagen fibers, increased proportion of type III collagen fibers in the dermis and increased numbers of keratinizing cysts in the lower dormis of hairless albino mouse skin. Chronic exposure to UVB induces photoaging skin and sunscreen agents are used to prevent photodamage to skin and reduce the incidence and extent of the chronic photoaging effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the photoaging effects of UVB on the skin and to assess the ability of sunscreen agents to protect the skin from photoaging, we examined the clinical, histological and quantitative changes in collagen in the skin of Albino hairless Skh: HR-1 mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental animals were male Albino hairless Skh: HR-1 mice, 12 weeks old. The control group was a chronologically aging group which had not been affected by UVB irradiation. The non-protected group was irradiated with UVB, a half of MED, 3 times weekly(Monday, Wednesday, Fr iday), for 12 weeks. To assess the photoprotective effects of sunscreen agents, the control group, the non-protected group and the sunscreen agent-applicated groups were compared to each other clinically, histologically, and by quantitative collagen analysis. An early increase in type III collagen during UVB irradiation was determined by cyanogen bromide digestion of the whole skin, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and densitometry. RESULTS: Clinically, the skin of the mice in the non-protected group showed mild changes caused by photoaging. Histoloically, the non-protected group showed increases in the size and number of keratinizing cysts in the lower dermis and increases in the mast cells in the upper dermis compared with the control group. However, no significant findings of increased epidermal thickness, inflammatory cell infiltration, elastic fiber change or degeneration of collagen fibers were shown. By the 12th week, four of the total of nine mice in the non-protected group developed at least one tumor. The sunscreen agent applicated groups showed slightly photoprotected effects clinically and histologically. In the collagen analysis, the proportion of type III collagen was significantly increased in the photoaging skin of mice in the non-protected group compared with the control group. Mice in the sunscreen agent applicated groups showed a significantly decreased proportion of type III collagen compared with the non-protected group. CONCLUSION: To summarize, UVB exposure of the skin induces photoaging. The number and size of keratinizing cysts increased in the photoaging skin of hairless albino mice. There was also a quantitative change in the collagen fibers. The use of sunscreen agents decreases the photoaging effects of UVB on the skin.
Aging ; Animals ; Collagen ; Collagen Type III ; Cyanogen Bromide ; Densitometry ; Dermis ; Digestion ; Elastic Tissue ; Electrophoresis ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mast Cells ; Mice* ; Skin* ; Sodium

BACKGROUND: Photoaging skin is clinically characterized by wrinkled, dry, inelastic and irregularly pigmented skin, skin tumor and histologically by increased epidermal thickness, nurnerous fibroblasts, mast cells and inflammatory cells in the upper dermis, elastosis, degeneration of collagen fibers, increased proportion of type III collagen fibers in the dermis and increased numbers of keratinizing cysts in the lower dormis of hairless albino mouse skin. Chronic exposure to UVB induces photoaging skin and sunscreen agents are used to prevent photodamage to skin and reduce the incidence and extent of the chronic photoaging effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the photoaging effects of UVB on the skin and to assess the ability of sunscreen agents to protect the skin from photoaging, we examined the clinical, histological and quantitative changes in collagen in the skin of Albino hairless Skh: HR-1 mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental animals were male Albino hairless Skh: HR-1 mice, 12 weeks old. The control group was a chronologically aging group which had not been affected by UVB irradiation. The non-protected group was irradiated with UVB, a half of MED, 3 times weekly(Monday, Wednesday, Fr iday), for 12 weeks. To assess the photoprotective effects of sunscreen agents, the control group, the non-protected group and the sunscreen agent-applicated groups were compared to each other clinically, histologically, and by quantitative collagen analysis. An early increase in type III collagen during UVB irradiation was determined by cyanogen bromide digestion of the whole skin, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and densitometry. RESULTS: Clinically, the skin of the mice in the non-protected group showed mild changes caused by photoaging. Histoloically, the non-protected group showed increases in the size and number of keratinizing cysts in the lower dermis and increases in the mast cells in the upper dermis compared with the control group. However, no significant findings of increased epidermal thickness, inflammatory cell infiltration, elastic fiber change or degeneration of collagen fibers were shown. By the 12th week, four of the total of nine mice in the non-protected group developed at least one tumor. The sunscreen agent applicated groups showed slightly photoprotected effects clinically and histologically. In the collagen analysis, the proportion of type III collagen was significantly increased in the photoaging skin of mice in the non-protected group compared with the control group. Mice in the sunscreen agent applicated groups showed a significantly decreased proportion of type III collagen compared with the non-protected group. CONCLUSION: To summarize, UVB exposure of the skin induces photoaging. The number and size of keratinizing cysts increased in the photoaging skin of hairless albino mice. There was also a quantitative change in the collagen fibers. The use of sunscreen agents decreases the photoaging effects of UVB on the skin.
Aging ; Animals ; Collagen ; Collagen Type III ; Cyanogen Bromide ; Densitometry ; Dermis ; Digestion ; Elastic Tissue ; Electrophoresis ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mast Cells ; Mice* ; Skin* ; Sodium

The G13 domain derived from granulysin shows high antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but does not lyse Jurkat cells or liposomes. To explore a new approach for high expression of the G13 domain, we fused the sequence encoding G13 to thioredoxin (Trx) gene to construct the recombinant expression vector (pThioHisA-G13). A cyanogen bromide (CNBr) cleavage site was introduced between the Trx and G13 to facilitate final release of the recombinant G13. The recombinant expression vector, pThioHisA-G13, was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). Upon induction by IPTG Trx-G13 fusion protein was expressed and took the form of inclusion bodies counting 58% (W/W) of total cellular proteins. The inclusion body was solved by urea (8 mol/L) and then cleaved by CNBr. We purified the recombinant peptide G13 by one-step cation exchange chromatography. Results of agarose diffuse assay analysis indicated that the recombinant G13 exhibited antibacterial activity. The procedure described in this study will provide a reliable and simple method for highly efficient production of some cationic antimicrobial peptides.
Anti-Infective Agents ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; genetics ; Cyanogen Bromide ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Inclusion Bodies ; metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Thioredoxins ; genetics ; Transfection