PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Kojima

Publications and source records attributed to F Kojima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Recent advances in bovine reproductive endocrinology and physiology and their impact on drug delivery system design for the control of the estrous cycle in cattle.

When methods of drug intervention are being developed to control estrous cycles, a thorough understanding of the endocrine and functional changes together with the reproductive behavior of the animals are essential. This review presents our current knowledge on reproductive endocrinology, physiology and behavior, and the methods of drug intervention to control estrous cycles. It also describes current efforts to develop advanced drug delivery systems that meet the animal scientist's demands to control the estrous cycle in cattle.

Animals↗

Glycosidase inhibitors of gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugars. structures in media of enzyme assays.

The relationships between structures and inhibitory activities of glycosidase inhibitors of gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugars in media of enzyme assays have been investigated. It has been proved that gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugar smoothly undergoes a structural change to a hydrated ketone or its derivative via a hemiaminal in the media (pH 5.0-6.3), and that the products generated in the media as well as the parent gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugars potently inhibit glycosidases.

Animals↗

Regulation of prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis by inducible membrane-associated prostaglandin E2 synthase that acts in concert with cyclooxygenase-2.

Here we report the molecular identification of membrane-bound glutathione (GSH)-dependent prostaglandin (PG) E(2) synthase (mPGES), a terminal enzyme of the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-mediated PGE(2) biosynthetic pathway. The activity of mPGES was increased markedly in macrophages and osteoblasts following proinflammatory stimuli. cDNA for mouse and rat mPGESs encoded functional proteins that showed high homology with the human ortholog (microsomal glutathione S-transferase-like 1). mPGES expression was markedly induced by proinflammatory stimuli in various tissues and cells and was down-regulated by dexamethasone, accompanied by changes in COX-2 expression and delayed PGE(2) generation. Arg(110), a residue well conserved in the microsomal GSH S-transferase family, was essential for catalytic function. mPGES was functionally coupled with COX-2 in marked preference to COX-1, particularly when the supply of arachidonic acid was limited. Increased supply of arachidonic acid by explosive activation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) allowed mPGES to be coupled with COX-1. mPGES colocalized with both COX isozymes in the perinuclear envelope. Moreover, cells stably cotransfected with COX-2 and mPGES grew faster, were highly aggregated, and exhibited aberrant morphology. Thus, COX-2 and mPGES are essential components for delayed PGE(2) biosynthesis, which may be linked to inflammation, fever, osteogenesis, and even cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

All eight stereoisomeric D-glyconic-delta-lactams: synthesis, conformational analysis, and evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors.

An efficient and general synthetic route to all eight stereoisomeric D-glycono-delta-lactams has been developed. The strategy involves, as a key step, a stereodivergent delta-lactam formation with configurational retention or inversion at C-4 of a starting gamma-lactone to lead to two epimers of delta-lactam from one parent gamma-lactone. Conformations of eight glycono-delta-lactams were examined by X-ray crystallographic analysis and molecular modeling. Analyses of conformation and glycosidase-inhibition provide useful information for the design of new glycosidase inhibitors.

Animals↗

gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugars of L-fucose-type, the extremely potent L-fucosidase inhibitors.

An efficient route from D-ribono-gamma-lactone to gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugars of L-fucose-type, a new family of glycosidase inhibitor, has been developed in a formation of a gem-diamine 1-N-iminopyranose ring by the Mitsunobu reaction of an aminal as a key step. The analogues were proved to be the extremely potent inhibitors against alpha-L-fucosidase (IC50 approximately 3 ng mL(-1), Ki approximately 5 x 10(-9) M). The present study has shown that a cyclic methanediamine generated in media affects glycosidases as a real active-form of the gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugars of L-fucose-type.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

FR190997, a novel bradykinin B2 agonist, expresses longer action than bradykinin in paw edema formation and hypotensive response.

Biological actions of a novel non-peptide B2 receptor agonist, FR190997, were examined by comparing them with those of bradykinin. The paw edema was induced by subcutaneous injection of 30 microl of solution of bradykinin (0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 nmol) or FR190997 (0.1, 0.3, and 0.9 nmol) into the right hind paw of ICR male mice. Bradykinin caused a dose-dependent edema formation, which peaked at 15 min and ceased after 150 min. FR190997 also formed a dose-dependent edema, peaking at 15-30 min with a slight delay compared to bradykinin and this response continued over 200 min. The edema formed by bradykinin or FR190997 was inhibited by pretreatment with HOE140 (1 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally 30 min before the injection of each agonist. A novel non-peptide B2 antagonist, FR173657 (30 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min before the agonist), also diminished these responses by bradykinin and FR190997 dose-dependently. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min before) inhibited the response to FR190997, suggesting that release of prostaglandins induced by the B2 agonistic action might be involved in this inflammatory process induced by FR190997. The hypotensive action of FR190997 was also examined. Intravenously injected FR190997 caused the systemic hypotensive response in Sprague-Dawley male rats anesthetized with pentobarbital. The potency of FR190997 was weaker than that of bradykinin, when compared with the maximal hypotension. Duration of the hypotensive response of FR190997 was significantly longer than that of bradykinin. These results indicate that FR190997 has the B2 agonistic action similar to bradykinin and is also a good tool for in vivo examination of the B2 receptor.

Animals↗

A facile synthesis of D-glucose-type gem-diamine 1-N-iminosugars: a new family of glucosidase inhibitors.

gem-Diamine 1-N iminosugars of D-glucose-type, a new type of glycosidase inhibitors, have been synthesized from siastatin B, isolated from Streptomyces culture. 2-Trifluoroacetamido-1-N-iminosugar, (2S,3R,4R,5R)-2-trifluoroacetamido-5-hydroxymethylpiperidine -3,4-diol was proved to be a potent inhibitor for alpha-D- and beta-D-glucosidases (IC50 1.9x10(-7) and 4.2x10(-7) M, respectively). 2-Acetamido-1-N-iminosugar, (2S,3R,4R,5R)-2-acetamido-5-hydroxymethylpiperidine-3,4-diol also affected these enzymes (IC50 2.9x10(-6) and 5.4x10(-6) M, respectively).

Aspergillus niger↗

Epostatin, new inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase II, produced by Streptomyces sp. MJ995-OF5. I. Taxonomy of producing strain, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological properties.

A new inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase II (DPP-II, EC 3.4.14.2), designated as epostatin, was discovered in the fermentation broth of a strain isolated in our institute. The strain has been identified as Streptomyces sp. MJ995-OF5 on the basis of taxonomic studies. Epostatin was obtained as a yellow powder after seqential purification by chromatography on Diaion HP-20, n-butanol extraction, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). Epostatin inhibited DPP-II competitively in a dose dependent manner. The compound was slightly inhibitory against other dipeptidyl peptidases.

Alanine↗

Fluostatins A and B, new inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase III, produced by Streptomyces sp. TA-3391. I. Taxonomy of producing strain, production, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological properties.

New inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidaseIII (EC 3.4.14.4) from human placenta, designated as fluostatins A and B, were discovered in the fermentation broth of a strain isolated in our institute. The strain has been identified as Streptomyces sp. TA-3391 on the basis of taxonomic studies. Fluostatins A and B were purified by Diaion HP-20 chromatography, ethyl acetate extraction, silica gel chromatography and reverse phase preparative HPLC. With the synthetic substrate, arginyl-arginine-2-naphthylamide, the IC50 values of fluostatins A and B were 0.44 and 24.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Fluostatins A and B were slightly inhibitory against other dipeptidyl peptidases. Fluostatin A showed mixed-type (competitive and noncompeptitive) inhibition with human leucine-enkephalin as a substrate, and the inhibition constant (Ki) was 14.2 microM.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Characterization of filamentous phages of Vibrio cholerae O139 and O1.

We have analyzed our collection of Vibrio cholerae O139 strains to determine whether filamentous phages are produced in their culture supernatants, and whether any replicative form of DNA is detectable in cell lysates. Two types of filamentous phage, designated fs1 (6.4 kb) and fs2 (8.5 kb), were found in strains of Vibrio cholerae O139, fs1 was commonly produced from clinical isolates of Vibrio cholerae O1. Infectious particles (filamentous phages) were inducible by subculture, mitomycin C, and cultivation in a ligated ileal loop of a rabbit. Type 4 fimbriae of Vibrio cholerae O1 sensitive to D-glucose and D-mannose were suggested to be receptors for fs1 and fs2. The genome of fs1 was revealed to encode a potential new enterotoxin homologous to zonula occludens toxin. Clarification of the relation of type 4 fimbriae and these filamentous phages will provide a new understanding of the colonization of Vibrio-cholerae O1 and O139. Thus the presence of a new enterotoxin encoded by the genome of filamentous phage like fs1 may clarify the pathogenesis of cholera toxin negative clinical isolates of Vibrio cholerae O1 and non-O1. Our findings combined with the earlier report by Ehara et al. [Microbio. Immunol. 37 (1993) 679-688] suggest that type 4 fimbriae of Vibrio cholerae O1 are important for the development of an effective vaccine against cholera.

Animals↗

Morphological features of a filamentous phage of Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal.

A filamentous phage was isolated from carrier strain AI-1841 of Vibrio cholerae 0139 Bengal and thus was termed fs phage. The phage was measured to be approximately 1 microm in length and 6 nm in width. One end of the phage was slightly tapered and had a fibrous appendage. The plaques developed on strain AI-4450 of V. cholerae 0139 were small and turbid. The phage grew in strain AI-4450 and reached a size of 10(8) to 10(9) pfu/ml at 5 hr after infection without inducing any lysis of the host bacteria. The group of phages attached on rod-shaped materials like fimbriae of this bacteria, with their fibrous appendages at the pointed end, were often found in the phage-infected culture. The anti-fimbrial serum effectively inhibited the infection of fs phage to the host strain AI-4450. We thus concluded that the phage can be adsorbed on fimbriae with a fibrous appendage on the pointed end of the phage filament.

Adsorption↗

Pyrostatins A and B, new inhibitors of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, produced by Streptomyces sp. SA-3501.

Pyrostatins A and B, new inhibitors of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (GlcNAc-ase), have been purified from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. SA-3501 isolated from a marine environment. They were purified by chromatography on Dowex 50W, silica gel and Capcell Pak C18 (HPLC) followed treatment with active carbon and then isolated as white powders. The structures of pyrostatins A and B were determined by NMR studies to be 4-hydroxy-2-imino-1-methylpyrrolidine-5-carboxylic acid and 2-imino-1-methylpyrrolidine-5-carboxylic acid, respectively. They were competitive with the substrate, and the inhibition constants (Ki) of pyrostatins A and B were 1.7 x 10(-6) M and 2.0 x 10(-6) M respectively.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Belactins A and B, new serine carboxypeptidase inhibitors produced by Actinomycete. I. Taxonomy, production, isolation and biological activities.

Belactins A and B, new inhibitors of serine carboxypeptidase were discovered in the fermentation broth of Saccharopolyspora sp. MK19-42F6. They were purified by ethyl acetate extraction, silica gel chromatography, Sephadex LH20 chromatography, Capcellpak C18 SG120 reversed phase HPLC and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) following their inhibitory activity against carboxypeptidase Y (CP-Y). The inhibition constants (Ki) of belactins A and B against CP-Y are 0.14 and 0.27 microM respectively. Belactins A and B have highly specific inhibitory activities for CP-Y among various peptidases, have no antimicrobial activities at 100 micrograms/ml and have low toxicities.

Benzamides↗

A novel saturation transfer contrast method for 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography: a slice-selective off-resonance sinc pulse (SORS) technique.

Saturation transfer contrast (STC) techniques have been employed to decrease the signal intensity of observed water by saturating a broad proton component. The STC pulse, generally spatially nonselective, reduces the signal of brain background tissues as well as inflowing blood in 3D time-of-flight (TOF) angiography. We present a novel technique, a slice-selective off-resonance sinc pulse (SORS), which is employed to enhance inflowing blood and to suppress the signal of stationary background tissues. The STC effects of the SORS and other spatially nonselective methods influencing inflowing blood is discussed in detail. Angiograms using the SORS method are also presented to demonstrate improved vessel conspicuity. In addition, the SORS method is applicable to imagers with a whole-body RF transmitter system.

Brain↗

Age-dependent decreases in fibrinolytic enzyme activities in serum of healthy subjects.

We investigated the age-dependency of serum levels of 9 kinds of proteases. The results showed that the enzymatic activities corresponding to urokinase, plasmin, and thrombin, all involved in blood clotting and fibrinolysis, were inversely correlated with age. This suggests that there is some similarity between the normal process of aging and the pathologic process of Alzheimer's disease. Compared with our previous data on Alzheimer patients, the present results indicate that some derangement in the aging process is involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease.

Aging↗