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H Yukawa

Publications and source records attributed to H Yukawa.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Cloning and sequencing of the secY homolog from Coryneform bacteria.

A conserved domain of the secY genes from Bacillus subtilis, Mycoplasma capricolum and Escherichia coli was used to design degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotides. These synthetic DNA sequences were used to screen a lambda library of Brevibacterium flavum MJ233. A 1.5-kb KpnI fragment of a recombinant lambda phage containing the secY homology from Br. flavum MJ233 was subsequently subcloned into plasmid pUC118. The complete nucleotide (nt) sequence of the cloned fragment indicated that the deduced gene product of the Br. flavum secY homolog is composed of 440 amino acids (aa) with a deduced M(r) of 47,871. Comparison of this aa sequence to the corresponding sequences from E. coli and B. subtilis revealed a high degree of conservation, and suggested that the Br. flavum secY homolog is a membrane protein containing ten transmembrane segments. In addition, we could identify, downstream from secY, a putative coding sequence of the enzyme adenylate kinase. This gene organization is identical to that observed in the B. subtilis genome.

Actinomycetales↗

Isolation and characterization of IS31831, a transposable element from Corynebacterium glutamicum.

A transposable element from a coryneform bacterium, Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31831 was isolated and characterized. The element IS31831 is a 1453 bp insertion sequence with 24 bp imperfect terminal inverted repeats. It contains one open reading frame highly homologous at the amino acid level to the transposase of IS1096 from Mycobacterium smegmatis. Both IS31831 and IS1096 exhibit several common characteristics suggesting that they constitute a new family of insertion sequences. IS31831 was isolated by taking advantage of the sucrose sensitivity of coryneform bacteria conferred by expression of the Bacillus subtilis sacB gene. An Escherichia coli/Corynebacterium shuttle vector useful for the isolation of transposable elements from the coryneform group of bacteria was constructed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomic organization of the biotin biosynthetic genes of coryneform bacteria: cloning and sequencing of the bioA-bioD genes from Brevibacterium flavum.

Three coryneform bacteria, Brevibacterium flavum, Brevibacterium lactofermentum and Corynebacterium glutamicum have been shown to be able to convert 7-keto-8-aminopelargonic acid to biotin through a biotin synthetic pathway identical to that from Escherichia coli (Hatakeyama et al., DNA Sequence, in press, 1993). We report in this paper the cloning and sequencing of the biotin biosynthetic genes encoding the 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid aminotransferase (bioA) and the dethiobiotin synthetase (bioD) of B. flavum MJ233, by complementation of E. coli bioA and bioD mutants. Both bioA and bioD genes from B. flavum were located on a 4.0-kb SalI DNA fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment revealed that these genes consist of a 1272 bp and a 675 bp open reading frame, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid aminotransferase (BioA) is 51.3% and 31.9% identical to that of the E. coli and Bacillus spaericus bioA gene products, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the dethiobiotin synthetase (BioD) is 25.9% and 32.7% identical to that of the E. coli and B. sphaericus bioD gene products, respectively. In addition, the genomic organization of the bioA, bioB and bioD genes in B. flavum has been shown to be different from that in E. coli and B. sphaericus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of the biotin biosynthesis pathway in coryneform bacteria: cloning and sequencing of the bioB gene from Brevibacterium flavum.

The biotin biosynthetic pathway of three coryneform bacteria, Brevibacterium flavum, Brevibacterium lactofermentum, and Corynebacterium glutamicum were analysed by cross-feeding experiments using several Escherichia coli biotin-requiring mutants. The three strains of coryneform bacteria tested were able to convert 7-keto-8-aminopelargonic acid to biotin, through a biotin synthetic pathway identical to that from E. coli. The biotin biosynthetic gene, bioB, of B. flavum was cloned by phenotypic complementation of E. coli bioB mutants. The bioB gene was located on a 1.7 kb HindIII-SacI DNA fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this fragment revealed that the bioB gene of B. flavum consists of a 1005 bp open reading frame. Its deduced amino acid sequence is 35.7% and 31.5% identical to that of the E. coli and Bacillus sphaericus bioB gene products, respectively. B. flavum mutants obtained by in vivo disruption of the bioB gene lost their ability to grow on minimal medium containing dethiobiotin, indicating that the bioB gene product is necessary for the conversion of dethiobiotin to biotin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and sequence determination of the acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase gene from Brevibacterium flavum MJ233.

The enzyme acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase (AHAIR) is the second enzyme in the parallel isoleucine-valine biosynthetic pathway. We previously reported the cloning and sequencing of the acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) genes from Brevibacterium flavum MJ233. Analysis of the sequence downstream of the AHAS genes identified another open reading frame highly homologous at the amino acid level to the AHAIR gene from Escherichia coli (ilvC). We subcloned the B. flavum AHAIR gene on a 2.1 kb Bg/II-EcoRI fragment by complementation of an E. coli ilvC mutant. The nucleotide sequence of the B. flavum AHAIR gene consists of 338 codons (molecular weight of 36158). Comparison of the deduced protein sequence revealed a high degree of identity with the sequences of ilvC genes from other organisms. Disruption of the B. flavum ilvC gene by a kanamycin resistance cassette resulted in L-isoleucine and L-valine auxotrophy.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Cloning and sequence determination of the acetohydroxy acid synthase genes from Brevibacterium flavum MJ233 by using the polymerase chain reaction.

Taking advantage of highly conserved domains present in the three acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) isozymes from E. coli K-12, we designed degenerate oligonucleotides corresponding to these regions. These synthetic DNA sequences were used as primers in polymerase chain reactions in order to amplify DNA sequences from Brevibacterium flavum MJ233 chromosomal DNA. The polymerase chain reaction product was used as a probe to recover genomic fragments from a lambda library of B. flavum MJ233. A 5.8-kb EcoRI fragment hybridizing to the probe was isolated and amplification of this fragment in a B. flavum strain resulted in increased AHAS-specific activity. Sequence analysis revealed two open reading frames (ilvL and ilvS) highly homologous at the amino acid level to the corresponding domains of the three AHAS isozymes of E. coli K-12. Moreover, disruption of the putative ilvL gene by a kanamycin resistance cassette resulted in L-isoleucine and L-valine auxotrophy. These observations demonstrate that the cloned fragment encodes the AHAS gene of B. flavum MJ233.

Acetolactate Synthase↗

Application of the tryptophanase promoter to high expression of the tryptophan synthase gene in Escherichia coli.

The application of an inducible regulation system using the tryptophanase operon promoter (TPase promoter; Ptna) was examined for its high expression of the tryptophan synthase (TS) gene in Escherichia coli. The main problem in the application of Ptna for industrial purposes is catabolite repression by glucose, since glucose is the most abundant carbon source. However, this problem could be avoided by changing glucose to an organic acid, such as succinate, fumarate, malate and acetate, in the course of cultivation after glucose initially added was completely consumed. Under these conditions, L-tryptophan was also used to induce tryptophan synthase. Thus, the specific activity of TS in E. coli strain no. 168 harbouring pBR322F-Ptna TS was increased 500-fold compared to that of the cultured host strain. About 1 mol L-tryptophan/l reaction mixture was formed from indole and L-serine at 37 degrees C for 3.5 h.

Carbon↗

Identification of plasmid partition function in coryneform bacteria.

We have identified and characterized a partition function that is required for stable maintenance of plasmids in the coryneform bacteria Brevibacterium flavum MJ233 and Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31831. This function is localized to a HindIII-NspV fragment (673 bp) adjacent to the replication region of the plasmid, named pBY503, from Brevibacterium stationis IFO 12144. The function was independent of copy number control and was not associated directly with plasmid replication functions. This fragment was able to stabilize the unstable plasmids in cis but not in trans.

Base Sequence↗

Electroporation-transformation system for coryneform bacteria by auxotrophic complementation.

We evaluated electroporation as an alternative system for genetic exchange for one of the coryneform bacteria, Brevibacterium flavum MJ233. The maximum number of transformants, 6 x 10(4) cells, was obtained when cells were cultured with Penicillin G (1 U/ml) and harvested at the middle-log phase. Electroporation was done using 12.5 kV/cm of pulse field strength, 1 x 10(10) cells, and 1 microgram of plasmid DNA. Other coryneform bacteria, Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869, Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 31830, and B. stationis IFO 12144 were also transformed by electroporation. Electroporation has the advantage that intact cells can be used as host cells without the need for protoplast formation and regeneration. Moreover, minimal medium can be used, so auxotrophic complementation of the transformants is possible.

Brevibacterium↗

CDw40 and BLCa-specific monoclonal antibodies detect two distinct molecules which transmit progression signals to human B lymphocytes.

Two monoclonal antibodies (mAb), MA6 and G28-5, have the common property of detecting markers expressed on both B lymphocytes and carcinomas: BLCa (B lymphocyte carcinoma cross-reacting antigen) and CDw40 (Bp50). A comparison of the reactivity of these mAb revealed that MA6 and G28-5 detect distinct epitopes with different cell line and tissue distributions. L cell transfectants expressing CDw40 were not bound by MA6 anti-BLCa, but were bound by G28-5 anti-CDw40. G28-5 or a CDw40-specific heterantiserum could not block the migration of BLCa, while MA6 antibody could. These results indicate that CDw40 and BLCa are distinct surface molecules. Both G28-5 anti-CDw40 and MA6 anti-BLCa mAb could provide progression signals for B cells activated by appropriate B cell activators such as phorbol esters or anti-immunoglobulin; however, only G28-5 anti-CDw40 and not MA6 was co-stimulatory with the anti-CD20 competence signal, demonstrating a clear difference in the CDw40 and BLCa-mediated progression signals. Apparently, these molecules, although structurally distinct, have related functions in B cell activation.

Animals↗

[5-FU concentration in tumor tissue and the antitumor effect in patients with gastric cancer after oral administration of UFT].

Serum and tumor tissue concentration of FT, 5-FU and uracil were measured in 23 patients with gastric cancer who were administered UFT preoperatively. The degeneration of cancer cells was evaluated histologically and the correlation between 5-FU concentration in the tumor tissue and the antitumor effect was assessed. The average concentration of 5-FU in tumor tissue (0.122 microgram/g) was significantly higher than that in normal gastric tissues. Serum 5-FU concentration was very low, suggesting no accumulation of 5-FU in blood. A positive correlation between the concentration of 5-FU and uracil in tumor tissues was found. A 5-FU level higher than 0.05 microgram/g was frequently demonstrated in tumor tissue, resulting in moderate degeneration of cancer cells in many cases. When tumors were classified according to histological type, intratumoral 5-FU concentration was not always correlated with degeneration of cancer cells. The above results suggested that UFT was a very effective drug for stomach cancer because of high tumor affinity for 5-FU, but that it is necessary to consider the sensitivity of tumor cells to antitumor drugs in order to obtain an excellent antitumor effect.

Administration, Oral↗

Topical administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 for psoriasis: report of five cases.

The effects of topical administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, as 0.1 and 0.5 microgram per g base, and control base applied to contralateral skin lesions in five patients with persistent psoriasis were compared. In all five, definite and in some cases remarkable improvement of the lesions was seen when 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 at concentration of 0.5 microgram per g base was applied for two to five weeks. No local or systemic toxicity was detected in any patient. Although the mechanism of the improvement is yet to be elucidated, these results show the possible effectiveness of topical 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on psoriatic skin lesions.

Administration, Topical↗