Kana Watanuki, Susumu Mochizuki, Yusuke Hanaki, Hiromi Yoshida, Shigehiro Kamitori, Ken Izumori, Akihide Yoshihara
{"title":"Efficient production of d-sedoheptulose using transketolase from Thermus thermophilus HB8 and epimerization reaction using d-tagatose 3-epimerase from Pseudomonas cichorii ST24.","authors":"Kana Watanuki, Susumu Mochizuki, Yusuke Hanaki, Hiromi Yoshida, Shigehiro Kamitori, Ken Izumori, Akihide Yoshihara","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf088","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heptose is a rare monosaccharide with 7 carbon atoms. In this study, we demonstrated that 2 heptoses can be produced cost-effectively and efficiently using transketolase from Thermus thermophilus HB8 (TtTK). First, alternative substrates to a conventional donor substrate, lithium hydroxypyruvate, were investigated, suggesting that 5-keto-d-fructose (5-KF) was the best donor substrate among the 14 donor substrates evaluated. Using 5-KF and aldopentoses as acceptors, we confirmed that 4 heptoses could be produced, and that the optimal reaction temperature and donor and acceptor substrate concentration are 50 °C and 500 m m, respectively. Furthermore, the d-sedoheptulose produced by the partially purified TtTK was converted to d-allopeptulose through the epimerization by d-tagatose 3-epimerase (d-TE) from Pseudomonas cichorii ST24. The equilibrium ratio of the epimerization reaction between d-sedoheptulose and D-alloheptulose was 45:55. This is the first report that d-TE could catalyze an epimerization reaction between d-sedoheptulose and d-alloheptulose.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"1279-1285"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144293324","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":"Transcriptomic resource and hormonal profiling of the smut fungus, Ustilago esculenta, coexisting with Zizania latifolia and forming Makomotake.","authors":"Yuki Tanaka, Akiko Ono, Daichi Aoki, Rina Matsuda, Yuina Kitsukawa, Jae-Hoon Choi, Xiaonan Xie, M Catherine Aime, Hirokazu Kawagishi, Tomohiro Suzuki","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf084","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ustilago esculenta is a smut fungus that parasitizes Zizania latifolia, forming edible fungal galls known as Makomotake. In this study, we quantified indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) produced in liquid-cultured U. esculenta and in fungal galls at different growth stages. IAA was detected in both samples, and its content showed a tendency to increase during the mature growth stage in October. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis was performed to investigate gene expression changes in U. esculenta during different developmental stages. The gene involved in spore maturation was upregulated in October, consistent with fungal maturation. Moreover, numerous genes with unknown functions were significantly upregulated, highlighting potential targets for further investigation. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal gall development and the symbiotic relationship between U. esculenta and Z. latifolia, providing a foundation for future research on fungal-plant interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"1293-1301"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144246439","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}
Tetsuya Goshima, Ikuhisa Nishida, Hitoshi Shimoi, Takeshi Akao, Dai Hirata
{"title":"Breeding of the sake yeast K1801 with normal checkpoint integrity by isolating spontaneous cdc55 revertants.","authors":"Tetsuya Goshima, Ikuhisa Nishida, Hitoshi Shimoi, Takeshi Akao, Dai Hirata","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf089","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sake yeast strain K1801 with high productivity of ethyl caproate is widely used for high-quality sake brewing; however, K1801 has a defect in the spindle assembly checkpoint, which is responsible for the mutation R48P of the PP2A regulatory subunit Cdc55. Here, we successfully isolated spontaneous revertants of the cdc55 mutation with the excellent brewing property similar to K1801 and normal checkpoint integrity.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"1400-1404"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144526447","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":"Brominated bitter compounds from the skin tubercle gland of the stonefish Synanceia verrucosa.","authors":"Ryoya Kawabe, Sota Hoshi, Toru Hifumi, Akihiko Yamamoto, Hajime Uchida, Masayuki Satake, Hiroshi Nagai","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf082","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The skin tubercle gland of the stonefish Synanceia verrucosa secretes \"ichthyocrinotoxin.\" Ichthyocrinotoxins have been suggested to act as antifeedants against predators and as anthelmintics against parasites. Three novel compounds, synanceins A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from S. verrucosa skin tubercle gland secretions as the major compounds. Their absolute structures were determined unambiguously by synthesizing molecular fragments and applying a modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1-3 are the first examples of brominated natural products from vertebrates. These compounds did not show any toxic activity against the L1210 cell lines and a marine diatom at a concentration of 100 μm. However, three researchers, who were the subjects, perceived a strong bitter taste at 10 μg of compounds 1-3. Synanceins A (1), B (2), and C (3), the major compounds in the ichthyocrinotoxin fraction of S. verrucosa, may play important roles as anthelmintics and antifeedants.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"1257-1263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144207680","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":"Overexpression of GDE1 decreases glycerophosphoinositol in intestinal epithelial cells in vivo.","authors":"Siyi Chen, Rahmawati Aisyah, Ayako Honda, Takahiro Kudo, Yusuke Sotomaru, Satoshi Ishizuka, Thanutchaporn Kumrungsee, Toshihiko Iwanaga, Noriyuki Yanaka","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf087","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glycerophosphoinositol (GPI), a product of phospholipases acting on membrane phosphoinositides, is increasingly being recognized as an important bioactive molecule. However, its cellular functions in vivo remain unexplored. Recently, several mammalian glycerophosphodiesterases (GDEs) have shown to be involved in the catabolism of GPI, possibly regulating its intracellular levels. Given the growing interest in the biological significance of GPI in intestinal epithelial cells, this study focused on screening a GDE involved in intracellular GPI metabolism. Our results showed that GDE1 mRNA was highly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells and that its overexpression decreased intracellular GPI in cultured cells. We then created transgenic mice with GDE1 overexpression specifically in intestinal epithelial cells. These mice showed that GDE1 protein is localized in epithelial cells and that GPI levels are downregulated in the colon epithelial layers. This study provides a novel animal model for exploring GPI functions in vivo.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":"1312-1319"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144282396","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":"In vitro functional reconstitution of cofactor-dependent plant cytochrome P450 system on artificial liposomes.","authors":"JiaXin Fu, Ayami Ota, Hironori Takeda, Yuzuru Tozawa","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and their associated reductases (CPRs) play a central role in plant secondary metabolism. These enzymes operate on lipid bilayers and require cofactors such as heme, FAD, and FMN. In this study, we developed an in vitro system to reconstitute CYPs and CPRs as functional enzymes on liposomes. As model proteins, we selected cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) from Arabidopsis thaliana and its redox partner ATR1. We investigated optimal conditions for incorporating cofactors into C4H and ATR1 and successfully reconstituted their catalytic activity. Hematin was found to be more effective than hemin as a heme source for C4H activation. Both C4H and ATR1 were embedded in liposomes, and the catalytic activity of C4H was significantly enhanced when both proteins were co-synthesized. These results highlight the importance of functional protein-protein interaction between C4H and ATR1 in achieving efficient electron transfer and catalytic function in vitro.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144943227","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":"Synthesis of Farinomaleins and their Antimicrobial Activities.","authors":"Md Masud Rana, Taku Oshima, Ei Horiuchi, Issay Osaka, Yasuhiro Igarashi, Daisuke Urabe","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A single-step synthesis of farinomalein A, a naturally occurring maleimide, by the radical-mediated introduction of an isopropyl group to bromomaleic anhydride and one-pot maleimide formation with β-alanine is reported. Antimicrobial testing of natural and unnatural farinomaleins synthesized using this protocol demonstrates that farinomalein A and some unnatural analogs are active against Bacillus subtilis, and one unnatural analog is active against Escherichia coli. The possible inhibitory activity of bacterial membrane and/or cell wall functions of farinomalein A was indicated by cell morphological studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144943254","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":"The aerial part of Panax japonicus alleviates HFD-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver via activation of the AMPK/ACC pathway in rats.","authors":"Miao He, Huachan Zheng, Yundong Xie, Dongdong Zhang, Wenli Huang, Yuze Li, Huawei Zhang, Chong Deng, Jiping Liu, Xiaomei Song, Hong Xu, Yi Jiang","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf123","DOIUrl":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf123","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the saponin fraction (SF) from P. japonicus aerial parts against NAFL. The saponin fraction was isolated from P. japonicus aerial parts using D-101 macroporous resin, containing six identified ginsenosides. The SF could reduce the accumulation of lipids in liver and the hepatic index, decrease the levels of TC and TG in serum and in liver, and decrease the levels of AST and ALT in serum. Additionally, the SF could increase the SOD and GSH-Px levels while reducing the levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β and FFA in liver. After treatment with SF, the AMPK/ACC signaling pathway was activated through phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC, and the expression of HMGCR was inhibited, thereby reducing lipids synthesis. The results indicated that SF could treat NAFL by up-regulating the AMPK/ACC signaling pathway while inhibiting the expression of HMGCR.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144871521","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}
Masao Nakamura, Ryota Hattori, Satoshi Suzuki, Junichi Mano
{"title":"Upcycling whey through the production of edible Aspergillus oryzae cell biomass.","authors":"Masao Nakamura, Ryota Hattori, Satoshi Suzuki, Junichi Mano","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Whey is a byproduct in the manufacturing of dairy products. Its use is limited and its nutrients make it expensive for its disposal. Therefore, we attempted to develop its upcycling method. When the Aspergillus oryzae RIB40 strain was cultured in whey, more than 75% of lactose, its major saccharide, remained after 7 days of cultivation. However, when lactase preparation was added, most sugars were efficiently removed, implying that lactase is essential for consuming whey nutrients. We created an A. oryzae lactase-overexpressing strain by introducing the tef1 promoter and lactase gene into RIB40. When cultured in whey, the transformant completely consumed its saccharides. The biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen concentration and total phosphorus concentration of the whey decreased by 90%, 91%, 62%, and 95%, respectively, through this fermentation. The transformant can be considered \"self-cloning,\" and is not subject to regulations on recombinant organisms in countries including Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144833929","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":"Mucin-dependent transcriptional dynamics of Akkermansia muciniphila in co-culture with human colonic organoids.","authors":"Moemi Matsuzaki, Atsuki Imai, Kota Yanagisawa, Tsukasa Oda, Hideo Satsu, Nobuo Sasaki, Eiji Miyauchi","doi":"10.1093/bbb/zbaf121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Akkermansia muciniphila, a mucin-degrading gut bacterium, contributes to intestinal homeostasis and metabolic disorders, yet its transcriptional response to human colonic mucin remains unclear. Here, we used human colonic organoids derived from either a healthy tissue (wild-type) or ATOH1-knockout lines lacking goblet cell differentiation. Co-culturing wild-type or ATOH1-knockout organoids with A. muciniphila followed by RNA-sequencing revealed distinct transcriptional profiles modulated by mucin availability, particularly affecting genes for growth and stress resistance. Notably, mucin degradation genes exhibited limited responses, contrasting with studies using porcine mucin, highlighting the specificity of human mucin interactions. Conversely, genes for mucin uptake and pili formation (e.g., Amuc_1100), which are crucial for host interaction, were upregulated with wild-type organoids. These results underscore the importance of using physiologically relevant human models. Our findings reveal A. muciniphila's adaptive gene regulation in response to human mucin, offering insights into host-microbe interactions shaped by the mucosal environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":9175,"journal":{"name":"Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144833927","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}