{"title":"Microbial biotransformation of proteins into amino acids in unpolished Thai and polished Japanese rice varieties cultivated with distinct industrial strains of koji mold.","authors":"Jirayu Jitpakdee, Kazunari Ito, Yuka Tanino, Hayato Takeuchi, Hideyuki Yamashita, Takuro Nakagawa, Teruhiko Nitoda, Hiroshi Kanzaki","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We previously reported the cultivation of industrial koji mold strains to produce unpolished Thai-colored rice kojis. These kojis, along with those made from unpolished Thai white rice and polished Japanese white rice, showed increased polyphenol content after cultivation, with the highest levels observed in unpolished Thai-colored rice kojis. In this study, an increase in both proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic amino acid contents, particularly GABA content, was observed in both unpolished Thai and polished Japanese rice kojis, suggesting the ability of koji mold in the biotransformation of proteins. This increase was almost comparable even when using different rice varieties; in contrast, it varied depending on the koji mold strain used. The observed increase in both polyphenol and functional amino acid contents, especially GABA content, highlights the potential of unpolished Thai and polished Japanese rice kojis, particularly unpolished Thai-colored rice koji, as multifunctional materials, benefiting from polyphenol and amino acid functionalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Light- and ascorbate-dependent regulation of VITAMIN C DEFECTIVE 2 protein expression in Arabidopsis.","authors":"Yasuhiro Tanaka, Takanori Maruta, Takahiro Ishikawa","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf080","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ascorbate accumulation under light conditions is regulated by GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (GGP), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the ascorbate biosynthesis pathway and is encoded by the Vitamin C Defective 2 (VTC2). While the VTC2 gene expression and the GGP activity in response to light have been extensively studied, the behavior of the VTC2 protein remains unclear. To explore the role of VTC2 protein accumulation in modulating ascorbate biosynthesis, we generated transgenic plants expressing VTC2 fused with a Myc tag, driven by the native VTC2 promoter, within vtc2-4 lacking VTC2. Under normal light conditions, VTC2 transcripts, VTC2 protein levels, and GGP activity exhibited an increase during the early light period. These data highlight the importance of VTC2 protein accumulation during the early light phase in determining ascorbate biosynthesis capacity in response to light. Furthermore, our analysis demonstrated that high ascorbate concentrations suppress VTC2 expression.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144156787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Conformational Gating in CYP154C2: Gln230-Mediated Substrate Recognition and Catalytic Switching Revealed by Structural Dynamics.","authors":"Jian Yang, Jiekun Huang, Xinghan He, Shinya Fushinobu, Lian-Hua Xu","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previously, we reported that CYP154C2 from Streptomyces avermitilis is capable of catalyzing the 2α-hydroxylation of the two model substrates, testosterone (TES) and androstenedione (ASD), and resolved the closed structures of both the substrate-free form and the TES-bound form. In this study, we extend these findings by determining the open-conformation structures of the substrate-free and ASD-bound forms-a rare achievement among bacterial P450s. Structural analyses revealed coordinated conformational shifts in the FG helices, HI helices, and BC loop during open-to-closed transitions. Despite divergent overall conformations, both substrates positioned their C2 atoms near the heme iron, aligning for 2α-hydroxylation. Mutagenesis studies established Gln230's pivotal role in substrate recognition and catalytic activation. High-resolution crystallography (1.97 Å) of the Q230A mutant revealed PEG-occupied catalytic pockets (indicating complete loss of TES binding) while maintaining the open conformation. These results provide atomic-level evidence that Gln230 coordinates both substrate-driven conformational gating and catalytic site optimization.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Utility of a plastic film bag with high gas permeability and transparency for convenient observation of aseptic cultured cells.","authors":"Yuki Naka, Motomu Akita","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We introduce a culture method using TPX film bags for continuous microscopic observation of explant cultures. We used the moss Physcomitrium patens as a model system. Expression of GFP in moss gametophores is observable and protoplast regeneration into protonemata is achievable in the film-bag culture system. We demonstrate that the film-bag system allows observation and analysis of plant-fungus interaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Engineering rhamnose-inducible T7 expression systems in Bacillus subtilis utilizing the rhaEW promoter and identifying critical residues in RhaR regulating this promoter.","authors":"Yuna Kuwahara, Kazutake Hirooka","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We constructed T7 expression systems in Bacillus subtilis, in which the rhamnose-inducible rhaEW promoter and its derivative were used to control the T7 RNA polymerase gene. This promoter is regulated by the RhaR repressor, which is derepressed by rhamnulose-1-phosphate derived from rhamnose. To prolong the induction, we deleted the chromosomal rhaEW gene, thereby accumulating the effector. A mutated green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was expressed using these systems. However, high basal activity of the rhaEW promoter caused loss of regulation and growth inhibition of the expression strains upon rhamnose addition. Two spontaneous mutant strains carrying single point mutations in the rhaR gene (T103A and Q188L) alleviated rhamnose-dependent growth inhibition and enabled rhamnose-induced EGFP expression. The lacZ reporter analysis showed that both mutations reduced RhaR's sensitivity to the effector. Incorporation of each mutant rhaR allele into the T7 expression system, distinct from the spontaneous mutants, improved the induction ratio.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144126680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shigeto Morita, Soma Tanaka, Yuzuki Tani, Jun'ichi Nakamura, Masa H Sato, Shigeru Satoh, Takehiro Masumura
{"title":"The rice ethylene receptor OsERS1 negatively regulates shoot growth and salt tolerance in rice etiolated seedlings.","authors":"Shigeto Morita, Soma Tanaka, Yuzuki Tani, Jun'ichi Nakamura, Masa H Sato, Shigeru Satoh, Takehiro Masumura","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf037","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone that regulates various aspects of growth and development. It promotes shoot growth in etiolated rice seedlings, which is crucial for seedling establishment and has significant agricultural implications. Of the 5 ethylene receptors in rice, OsERS1 is the most abundantly expressed in seedlings. Therefore, we investigated the localization and role of OsERS1 in shoot growth. When expressed in rice protoplasts, OsERS1 was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Knockout mutants of OsERS1 exhibited enhanced shoot growth in etiolated seedlings under normal and ethylene-treated conditions. Shoot growth was also enhanced in the OsERS1 mutants under light conditions. Additionally, the induction of ethylene-responsive genes was increased in the mutants, indicating an elevated ethylene response due to the OsERS1 knockout. The mutants also showed increased salt tolerance. In conclusion, our findings suggest that OsERS1 negatively regulates shoot growth and salt tolerance in etiolated rice seedlings.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"855-861"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143668970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Haloalkane dehalogenases other than LinB can contribute to the γ-hexachlorocyclohexane utilization.","authors":"Nannan Chen, Kouhei Kishida, Leonardo Stari, Ryota Moriuchi, Yoshiyuki Ohtsubo, Jiri Damborsky, Yuji Nagata","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf022","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Haloalkane dehalogenases (HLDs) convert halogenated compounds to corresponding alcohols by a simple hydrolytic mechanism. Although many bacterial strains possess HLDs or HLD homologues, LinB is the only HLD known to be involved in the utilization of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), a man-made chlorinated pesticide. In this study, to gain insight into the functional evolution of HLDs toward γ-HCH utilization, the linB gene in γ-HCH-degrading Sphingobium japonicum strain UT26 was replaced by 7 other HLD or HLD homologous genes, including 3 putative ancestral enzymes. Interestingly, strains carrying genes for DmmA from a marine metagenome or Rluc_anc, an ancestor of Renilla-luciferin 2-monooxygenase and LinB, produced 2,5-dichlorophenol and 2,5-dichlorohydroquinone from γ-HCH, which are indicators of LinB activity, and grew in minimal medium supplied with γ-HCH as a sole carbon source. These results indicated that other HLDs, in addition to LinB, can play roles in the γ-HCH utilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"898-909"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143555755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to: Functional analysis of a S-adenosylmethionine-insensitive methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase identified in methionine-accumulating yeast mutants.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf036","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf036","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"924"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143771289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of the factor of E. coli growth inhibition by recombinant DNA methyltransferase, and a new tip for the transformation of DNA methyltransferases into E. coli.","authors":"Mao Hayashi, Akira Yamamura, Yasuhiro Iida","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf033","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Studies on DNA methyltransferases (MTases) have described growth inhibition in transformed MTase-Escherichia coli. In addition, this phenomenon has been reported to negatively impact on the transformation efficiency of E. coli. In this study, we identified the cause of the growth inhibition of MTase-transformed E. coli by DNA MTase. We also described that metal ions promote the efficiency of the transformation of DNA MTases into E. coli. Growth inhibition was evaluated through spot plating, which revealed growth inhibition in M.ApeKI, which is the thermostability DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase, and the mutant (possessing only DNA-binding ability). We previously showed that Cu and Zn inhibited the catalytic activity and DNA binding ability of M.ApeKI in vitro. Therefore, we examined the cancellation of the growth inhibition of the host cell and the construction of M.ApeKI in the presence of these metal ions. We also indicated that this method could be adapted to other DNA MTases.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"841-848"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143975326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tyrosinase inhibitory activity of propolis from Jeju Island, Korea.","authors":"Chie Watanabe, Daisuke Fujinami, Chihiro Honda, Mok-Ryeon Ahn, Shigenori Kumazawa","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf024","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from the buds and bark of certain trees and plants and is stored in hives. Our previous studies have shown that the major components of propolis from Jeju Island, Korea, are chalcone and coumarin analogs. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the functional properties of propolis obtained from Jeju Island. Propolis extracts from Jeju Island and their main compounds were tested for their tyrosinase inhibitory activity. A 70% ethanol extract of the propolis from Jeju Island and its main component, xanthoangelol (7), showed strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Compound 7 showed competitive inhibition against tyrosinase. The predicted structure of the tyrosinase-7 complex showed the same binding sites for 7 and tyrosine, thereby supporting competitive inhibition. Our results indicate that propolis from Jeju Island has the potential to be used as an antibrowning food additive.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"787-794"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143566184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}