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Recent studies have shown that several types of cheese contain kokumi γ-glutamyl dipeptides, and the kokumi tripeptide, γ-glutamyl-valyl-glycine (γ-Glu-Val-Gly), is a component of various fermented foods. The quantification of γ-Glu-Val-Gly in various types of cheese was herein conducted by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry followed by derivatization with 6-aminoquinoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-carbamate. The γ-Glu-Val-Gly concentrations were between 0.35 and 0.59 μg/g in cheese made from ewe milk, but were not detected in cheese made from cow milk. The amino acid sequences of major milk proteins showed that the β-caseins of sheep had the Val-Gly sequence at the 9-10 position, whereas β-caseins of cows contained a Pro-Gly sequence at the same position. The Val-Gly sequence was absent in other caseins of sheep and cattle. These results suggest that the different γ-Glu-Val-Gly concentrations present in cheese made from cow and ewe milk are due to differences in the amino acid sequences of caseins.

Recent studies have demonstrated that kokumi substances, such as glutathione, are perceived through the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), and screening by CaSR assay and sensory evaluation has shown that γ-glutamyl-valyl-glycine (γ-Glu-Val-Gly) is a potent kokumi peptide. In this study, the contents of γ-Glu-Val-Gly in six commercial brands of dark-coloured soy sauces, two brands of light-coloured soy sauce, and one brand of white soy sauce, were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), followed by derivatization with 6-aminoquinoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-carbamate (AQC). The analyses indicated that γ-Glu-Val-Gly was present in all investigated soy sauces at concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 0.61mg/dl, demonstrating that it is widely distributed in soy sauces.

It was recently reported that kokumi substances such as glutathione are perceived through the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). In addition, screening by the CaSR assay and sensory evaluation revealed that γ-glutamyl-valyl-glycine (γ-Glu-Val-Gly) was a potent kokumi peptide. In this study, the quantities of γ-Glu-Val-Gly in various commercial fish sauces originating from Vietnam (Nuoc Mum), Thailand (Nampra), China (Yu-lu), Korea, Japan (Shottsuru and Ikanago-shoyu), and Italy (Garum) were investigated using a LC/MS/MS method followed by derivatization with 6-aminoquinoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-carbamate (AQC). The analyses revealed γ-Glu-Val-Gly at concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 1.26 mg/dL, indicating that γ-Glu-Val-Gly is widely distributed among various commercial fish sauces.

No evidence of sustained spread was found, but 2 incidents of human-to-human transmission were suspected., To monitor and characterize oseltamivir-resistant (OR) pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus with the H275Y mutation, we analyzed 4,307 clinical specimens from Japan by neuraminidase (NA) sequencing or inhibition assay; 61 OR pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses were detected. NA inhibition assay and M2 sequencing indicated that OR pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus was resistant to M2 inhibitors, but sensitive to zanamivir. Full-genome sequencing showed OR and oseltamivir-sensitive (OS) viruses had high sequence similarity, indicating that domestic OR virus was derived from OS pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Hemagglutination inhibition test demonstrated that OR and OS pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses were antigenically similar to the A/California/7/2009 vaccine strain. Of 61 case-patients with OR viruses, 45 received oseltamivir as treatment, and 10 received it as prophylaxis, which suggests that most cases emerged sporadically from OS pandemic (H1N1) 2009, due to selective pressure. No evidence of sustained spread of OR pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was found in Japan; however, 2 suspected incidents of human-to-human transmission were reported.

Seven bis(L-tartrato)-bridged dinuclear metal complexes with 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), [ (L-tartH)2(bpy or phen)2] · 4H2O (M = Fe, Mn) or [ (L-tartH2)2(bpy or phen)2] · nH2O (M = Ni, Co, Cu), where L-tart4− is C4H2 , were synthesized and characterized by the elemental analysis and ESI-mass spectra or powder X-ray patterns. These are the first examples of discrete dinuclear complexes with bpy or phen except for Cr(III) complexes. The protonation of the hydroxyls of the coordinated tartrate systematically changes with the variation of the metal ionic radii, the smaller ionic radii of the central metal, the smaller number of the protons in the hydroxyl groups of the bridging tartrates. The magnetic properties are discussed in connection to analogous Cr(III), Cu(II), and V(IV)O complexes.

Prevalence of these viruses increased during the 2008–09 season., To monitor oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses A (H1N1) (ORVs) with H275Y in neuraminidase (NA) in Japan during 2 influenza seasons, we analyzed 3,216 clinical samples by NA sequencing and/or NA inhibition assay. The total frequency of ORVs was 2.6% (45/1,734) during the 2007–08 season and 99.7% (1,477/1,482) during the 2008–09 season, indicating a marked increase in ORVs in Japan during 1 influenza season. The NA gene of ORVs in the 2007–08 season fell into 2 distinct lineages by D354G substitution, whereas that of ORVs in the 2008–09 season fell into 1 lineage. NA inhibition assay and M2 sequencing showed that almost all the ORVs were sensitive to zanamivir and amantadine. The hemagglutination inhibition test showed that ORVs were antigenetically similar to the 2008–09 vaccine strain A/Brisbane/59/2007. Our data indicate that the current vaccine or zanamivir and amantadine are effective against recent ORVs, but continuous surveillance remains necessary.

Rhodium- and chromium-catalyzed addition reactions of various σ-bonds, such as C–H, N–H, O–H, Si–H, and S–H bonds, to (2-furyl)carbenoids in situ generated from conjugated carbonyl–ene–yne compound...

The reaction of alkenes with conjugated ene-yne-ketones, such as 1-benzoyl-2-ethynylcycloalkenes, with a catalytic amount of Cr(CO)(5)(THF) gave 5-phenyl-2-furylcyclopropane derivatives in good yields. The key intermediate of this cyclopropanation is a (2-furyl)carbene complex generated by a nucleophilic attack of carbonyl oxygen to an internal alkyne carbon in pi-alkyne complex or sigma-vinyl cationic complex. A wide range of late transition metal compounds, such as [RuCl(2)(CO)(3)](2), [RhCl(cod)](2), [Rh(OAc)(2)](2), PdCl(2), and PtCl(2), also catalyzes the cyclopropanation of alkenes with ene-yne-ketones effectively. When the reactions were carried out with dienes as a carbene acceptor, the more substituted or more electron-rich alkene moiety was selectively cyclopropanated with the (2-furyl)carbenoid intermediate.

It has been suspected that in comparison with glucose or fatty acids, the levels of amino acids may readily change with different forms of exercise. In the present study, we measured the concentrations of amino acids, glucose, triglycerides, total protein and total cholesterol in the blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats subjected to forced running exercise on a treadmill, and voluntary running exercise using a wheel, with a constant running distance of 440 m. Rats that performed no running and rats subjected to immobilization stress were used as controls. We observed a few significant changes in the levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, total protein and total cholesterol in all groups. Whereas, plasma amino acid levels were significantly changed by exercise and stress, especially during the light period. The plasma levels of many amino acids were specifically increased by forced running; some were decreased by immobilization stress. Few amino acids showed similar changes in their levels as a result of voluntary running. In addition, there was a significant difference in the degree of amino acid imbalance between blood and CSF. These results provide the first information on changes in levels of amino acids in plasma and CSF resulting from forced and voluntary exercises.

Corydalis ambigua, a perennial herb of the family Papaveraceae, was micropropagated through somatic embryogenesis starting from sliced tubers. Somatic embryos were proliferated on Linsmaier and Skoog medium of a half strength containing 2% sucrose and 0.1 μM indole-3-acetic acid or indole-3-butyric acid solidified with 0.2% Gelrite. Somatic embryos were germinated and grew on plant growth regulator-free White's medium supplemented with 2% sucrose and 0.8% agar in the dark at 0–4°C for 6 months to give rise to microtubers that could be potted out of culture tubes. Three strains of micropropagated plants cultivated outdoors for 5 years gave different tetrahydroprotoberberine-type alkaloids pattern, respectively. The variation of tetrahydroprotoberberine-type alkaloid (corybulbine, corydaline and cavidine) content within a strain was not significantly different from that of the corresponding alkaloid in the wild plants.

A series of 1,11-cyclic analogs of pyripyropene A were prepared. Replacement of the 1,11-acyl groups of pyripyropenes with 1,11-cyclic acetals effectively improved in vitro acyl CoA :cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitory activity. Especially noteworthy is benzylidene acetal analog 35, the most potent inhibitor (IC 50 = 5.6 nM) among the derivatives prepared so far, which showed 16 times more potent inhibitory activity than pyripyropene A.

[reaction: see text] In the presence of rhodium catalyst, (2-furyl)carbenoids generated from conjugated ene-yne-carbonyl compounds 1 efficiently undergo carbene transfer reactions with allylic sulfides followed by [2,3]sigmatropic rearrangement of sulfur ylides to give furan-containing sulfides in good yields. When diallyl sulfide is employed, heteroatom-containing polycyclic compounds are obtained by sequential intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization reaction with a constructed furan ring as an enophile.

Rhodium- and chromium-catalyzed addition reactions of various σ-bonds, such as C–H, N–H, O–H, Si–H, and S–H bonds, to (2-furyl)carbenoids in situ generated from conjugated carbonyl–ene–yne compound...

The production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) was examined in premature neonates (48 cases, including 3 miscarried fetuses) and fullterm neonates (20 cases). The IL-6 production by mononuclear cells was measured after stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan Strain I (SAC), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The production in full-term neonates was similar to that in healthy adults, whereas it was significantly lower in premature neonates without premature rupture of the membrane (PROM). However, in premature infants with PROM a normal level of IL-6 production was observed in mononuclear cells stimulated with SAC, PHA and LPS. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the IgM concentration in the cord serum and IL-6 production by LPS-stimulated mononuclear cells.

[reaction: see text] The reaction of alkenes with conjugated ene-yne-imino ether or ene-yne-aldimine in the presence of a catalytic amount of [Rh(OAc)(2)](2) gives (2-pyrrolyl)cyclopropanes in good yields. The key intermediate of this cyclopropanation is a (2-pyrrolyl)carbenoid generated by the nucleophilic attack of imine nitrogen atom at an internal alkyne carbon activated by rhodium complex. The intramolecular reaction also proceeds to afford a polycyclic pyrrole.

1) 新しく開発されたGCによるD2O分析法を用いて, 男女大学生の全体水分量およびその代謝速度について検討した。2) D2Oを経口投与後, 2～3時間で体内のD2O濃度は平衡に達し, その後の減衰は指数曲線y=A0e-λtで表わされることを確認した。 全体水分量はt=0のときの濃度A0あるいは, 平衡に達した時点におけるD2O濃度から算出でき, また体水分の生物学的半減期はA0が1/2になる時間として算出できる。3) D2O服用後90日めには, 体内に残存するD2Oは服用前と同じレベルに減少していた。4) 女子運動選手14名, 女子一般学生8名, 男子運動選手12名について測定した体水分量の体重に対する割合は, それぞれ57.8±2.4%, 51.6±2.9%, 67.1±2.4%であった。 また体水分の生物学的半減期は, それぞれ6.1±0.9日, 10.5±1.7日, 6.6±2.1日であった。

Serum taurine concentration in the human fetus (umbilical blood) and neonate was measured from the 24th to 40th week of pregnancy. The concentration was considerably higher than in maternal serum with a peak at the 24th week of pregnancy and then a gradual decrease until it approached the adult level on the 9th day after birth. To clarify the underlying mechanism of the human findings, the distribution of 14C-taurine was investigated after intravenous injection to maternal rats on the 20th day of pregnancy. The taurine administered to the maternal side became concentrated in the placenta and reached the fetus. It was confirmed that taurine accumulated in the human placenta was present in a higher concentration than any other free animo acid. Placental transport of taurine was studied in isolated brush border microvillous plasma membrane vesicles by a rapid filtration technique. The membrane vesicles exhibited uptake of H3-labeled traurine into an osmotically reactive intravesicular space. Taurine uptake by vesicles was stimulated specifically by an inward sodium gradient, and replacement of NaCl in the transport medium by KCl, LiCl or choline chloride had no effect on the transport activity of the vesicles. Taurine transport was inhibited competivively by the presence of β-alanine and GABA. The initial rate of transport followed saturation kinetics with respect to taurine concentration: an apparent Km of 0.22 mM and Vmax of 67 pmol/mg protein were calculated in 20 seconds. These results indicate that transport of taurine across the placental brush border membrane is sodium-dependent and carrier-mediated. The taurine transport system in human fetal small intestine, especially in the jejunum, is a passive transport system quite unlike that of other amino acids. Reabsorption of taurine through the proximal convoluted tubule is by active transport which depends on sodium. This transport system is developed from the 24th to the 32nd gestational week.