Biomedical subjects

Toshihiro Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to Toshihiro Watanabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Effect of nicking the C-terminal region of the Clostridium botulinum serotype D neurotoxin heavy chain on its toxicity and molecular properties.

A unique strain of Clostridium botulinum serotype D 4947 produces toxin complexes that are composed of un-nicked components, including a neurotoxin (BoNT) and auxiliary proteins. This BoNT showed aberrant elution upon Superdex gel filtration, indicating a much lower molecular weight, due to hydrophobic interaction with the column. Limited trypsin proteolysis of BoNT produces two nicks; first nick yielded a BoNT 50 kDa light chain disulfide linked to a 100 kDa heavy chain (Hc), and a second nick arose in Hc C-terminal 10 kDa. The second nick occurred in the putative binding domain of the BoNT molecule and induced alterations in its secondary structure, leading to a significant reduction of mouse toxicity in comparison with that of the fully-activated singly nicked BoNT. These results help to clarify the role of the C-terminal half of the Hc in the oral toxicity of single-chain and more complex forms of BoNT.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Quantitative detection of gene expression and toxin complex produced by Clostridium botulinum serotype D strain 4947.

Botulinum toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum as a large toxin complex (L-TC) non-covalently assembled with a neurotoxin (NT), a non-toxic non-hemagglutinin (NTNHA) and hemagglutinin subcomponents (HA-70, HA-33, and HA-17). In this study, the gene expressions of five individual L-TC components were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in C. botulinum serotype D strain 4947 (D-4947) during cell growth. Transcripts for the five component genes were successfully detected in the mid-exponential growth phase (6.5 h), reaching a maximum at the early stationary growth phase (12 h). The ratio of the mRNA transcripts of nt and ntnha was approximately 1:1, suggesting that nt and ntnha are bicistronically transcribed. On the other hand, the transcript levels of the ha genes were several-fold higher than those of nt and ntnha, although the mRNA transcript level of ha-33 was less than the other two ha subcomponent genes. The results based on qRT-PCR indicate that a shortage of HA-33 among the proteins associated with botulinum TC could explain the production by D-4947 of other smaller-sized L-TCs (610, 540 and 410 kDa) with fewer HA-33 molecules than the mature 650 kDa L-TC. Western blot analysis demonstrated that TC species in cell lysate were initially observed in the mid-exponential phase, while extracellular TCs were detected subsequently in the early stationary phase.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2006

Reactive oxygen species mediate shear stress-induced fluid-phase endocytosis in vascular endothelial cells.

To elucidate the role of shear stress in fluid-phase endocytosis of vascular endothelial cells (EC), we used a rotating-disk shearing apparatus to investigate the effects of shear stress on the uptake of lucifer yellow (LY) by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Exposure of EC to shear stress (area-mean value of 10 dynes/cm2) caused an increase in LY uptake that was abrogated by the antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, acetovanillone, and two inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), calphostin C and GF109203X. These results suggest that fluid-phase endocytosis is regulated by both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and PKC. Shear stress increased both ROS production and PKC activity in EC, and the increase in ROS was unaffected by calphostin C or GF109203X, whereas the activation of PKC was reduced by NAC and acetovanillone. We conclude that shear stress-induced increase in fluid-phase endocytosis is mediated via ROS generation followed by PKC activation in EC.

Acetophenones↗

PubMed2006

Al-Fe interactions and growth enhancement in Melastoma malabathricum and Miscanthus sinensis dominating acid sulphate soils.

Plants growing in acid sulphate soils are subject to high levels of Al availability, which may have effects on the growth and distribution of these species. Although Fe availability is also high in acid sulphate soils, little is known about the effect of Fe on the growth of native plants in these soils. Two species dominating this soil type in Asia, viz. Melastoma malabathricum and Miscanthus sinensis were grown hydroponically in a nutrient solution with different concentrations of Al and Fe. Melastoma malabathricum is found to be sensitive to Fe (40 and 100 microm). Application of 500 microm Al, however, completely ameliorates Fe toxicity and is associated with a decrease of Fe concentration in shoots and roots. The primary reason for the Al-induced growth enhancement of M. malabathricum is considered to be the Al-induced reduction of toxic Fe accumulation in roots and shoots. Therefore, Al is nearly essential for M. malabathricum when growing in acid sulphate soils. In contrast, application of both Fe and Al does not reduce the growth of M. sinensis, and Al application does not result in lower shoot concentrations of Fe, suggesting that this grass species has developed different mechanisms for adaptation to acid sulphate soils.

Acids↗

PubMed2005

Cell internalization and traffic pathway of Clostridium botulinum type C neurotoxin in HT-29 cells.

The bacterium Clostridium botulinum type C produces a progenitor toxin (C16S toxin) that binds to O-linked sugar chains terminating with sialic acid on the surface of HT-29 cells prior to internalization [A. Nishikawa, N. Uotsu, H. Arimitsu, J.C. Lee, Y. Miura, Y. Fujinaga, H. Nakada, T. Watanabe, T. Ohyama, Y. Sakano, K. Oguma, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 319 (2004) 327-333] [21]. Based on this, it was hypothesized that the C16S toxin is internalized via clathrin-coated pits. To examine this possibility, the internalized toxin was observed with a fluorescent antibody using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. The confocal images clearly indicated that the C16S toxin was internalized mainly via clathrin-coated pits and localized in early endosomes. The toxin was colocalized with caveolin-1 which is one of the components of caveolae, however, implying the toxin was also internalized via caveolae. The confocal images also showed that the neurotoxin transported to the endosome was transferred to the Golgi apparatus. However, the non-toxic components were not merged with the Golgi marker protein, TGN38, implying the neurotoxin was dissociated from progenitor toxin in endosomes. These results suggested that the C16S toxin was separated to the neurotoxin and other proteins in endosome and the neurotoxin was further transferred to the Golgi apparatus which is the center for protein sorting.

Biological Transport↗

PubMed2005

The significance of intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography in evaluating hepatic arterial flow when assessing the indications for the Appleby procedure for pancreatic body cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The Appleby procedure has been used in the surgical treatment of advanced gastric cancer. This procedure consists of a combined resection of the whole of the stomach, the body and tail of the pancreas, and the spleen, as well as resection of the celiac artery. This procedure can also be used for operative resection of cancer of the body of the pancreas. The hepatic arterial flow is supplied from the arcade of the supramesenteric artery. In the past, the extent of hepatic arterial flow after the celiac artery had been clamped was evaluated by finger palpation. However, this is not an objective method. METHODS: Here, we describe two patients with pancreatic body cancer, in one of whom the Appleby procedure was followed. However, in the other, this operation could not be performed because the residual blood supply to the liver would have been inadequate. The hepatic arterial flow was assessed using intraoperative Doppler ultrasonography (US) of the intrahepatic artery (arterial flow of segment 3). RESULTS: In case 1 (a 45-year-old man), the hepatic arterial flow prior to clamping of the celiac artery was 68.4 cm/s, and this flow was reduced to 22.1 cm/s after the clamping. The color and consistency of the liver surface remained good. Because there was adequate hepatic arterial flow after the celiac artery was clamped, the Appleby procedure was performed. However, in case 2 (a 65-year-old man), the hepatic arterial flow after the celiac artery had been clamped was reduced from 47.9 cm/s to 14.3 cm/s. The liver surface became dark and the liver shrank. In addition, there were various preoperative medical conditions in this patient. We decided not to proceed with the Appleby procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative Doppler US measurement of the hepatic arterial flow is a useful technique, particularly in combination with the assessment of the color and tension of the liver, the age of the patient, and the extent of preoperative comorbidity, in determining whether an Appleby procedure is feasible.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Characterization of the interaction between subunits of the botulinum toxin complex produced by serotype D through tryptic susceptibility of the isolated components and complex forms.

The 650 kDa large toxin complex (L-TC) produced by Clostridium botulinum serotype D strain 4947 (D-4947) has a subunit structure composed of unnicked components, i.e. neurotoxin (NT), non-toxic non-haemagglutinin (NTNHA) and three haemagglutinin subcomponents (HA-70, HA-33 and HA-17). In this study, subunit interactions were investigated through the susceptibilities of the toxin components to limited trypsin proteolysis. Additionally, complex forms were reconstituted in vitro by various combinations of individual components. Trypsin treatment of intact D-4947 L-TC led to the formation of mature L-TC with nicks at specific sites of each component, which is usually observed in other strains of serotype D. NT, NTNHA and HA-17 were cleaved at their specific sites in either the single or complex forms, but HA-33 showed no sign of proteolysis. Unlike the other components, HA-70 was digested into random fragments as a single form, but it was cleaved into two fragments in the complex form. Based on the relative position of exposed or hidden regions of the individual components in the complex derived from their tryptic susceptibilities, an assembly model is proposed for the arrangement of individual subunits in the botulinum L-TC.

Botulinum Toxins↗

PubMed2005

Four molecules of the 33 kDa haemagglutinin component of the Clostridium botulinum serotype C and D toxin complexes are required to aggregate erythrocytes.

Normally, large-sized botulinum toxin complexes (L-TC) of serotype C and D are composed of a single neurotoxin, a single non-toxic non-haemagglutinin, two HA-70 molecules, four HA-33 molecules and four HA-17 molecules that assemble to form a 650 kDa L-TC. The 540 and 610 kDa TC species (designated here as L-TC2 and L-TC3, respectively) were purified in addition to the 650 kDa L-TC from the culture supernatants of serotype D strains (D-4947 and D-CB16) and serotype C strains (C-6814 and C-Yoichi). The 650 kDa L-TC from D-4947, D-CB16 and C-6814 showed haemagglutination and erythrocyte-binding activity, but their L-TC2 and L-TC3 species had only binding activity. In contrast, every TC species from C-Yoichi having the C-terminally truncated variant of HA-33 exhibited neither haemagglutination activity nor erythrocyte-binding activity. Four strain-specific HA-33/HA-17 complexes were isolated from the 650 kDa L-TC of each strain. The 650 kDa HA-hybrid L-TCs were reconstituted by various combinations of isolated HA-33/HA-17 complexes and haemagglutination-negative L-TC2 or L-TC3 from each strain. HA-hybrid 650 kDa L-TC, including at least one HA-33/HA-17 complex derived from C-Yoichi, lost haemagglutination activity, leading to the conclusion that the binding of four HA-33 molecules is required for haemagglutination activity of botulinum L-TC. The results of the modelling approach indicated that the structure of a variant C-Yoichi HA-33 molecule reveals clear deformation of the beta-trefoil domain responsible for the carbohydrate recognition site.

Botulinum Toxins↗

PubMed2005

Production of anti-neurotoxin antibody is enhanced by two subcomponents, HA1 and HA3b, of Clostridium botulinum type B 16S toxin-haemagglutinin.

Clostridium botulinum type B strain produces two forms of progenitor toxin, 16S and 12S. The 12S toxin is formed by association of a neurotoxin (NTX) and a non-toxic non-haemagglutinin (NTNH), and the 16S toxin is formed by conjugation of the 12S toxin with a haemagglutinin (HA). HA consists of four subcomponents designated HA1, HA2, HA3a and HA3b. When mice were immunized with formalin-detoxified NTX, 12S or 16S, a significantly greater amount of anti-NTX antibody (Ab) was produced in the mice injected with 16S than in NTX- or 12S-injected mice. Immunization with NTX mixed with HA1 and/or HA3b also increased the anti-NTX Ab production, whereas NTX mixed with HA2 did not, indicating that HA1 and HA3b have adjuvant activity. This was further confirmed by immunizing mice with human albumin (Alb) alone or Alb mixed with either HA1 or HA3b. When mouse-spleen cells were stimulated with NTX, 16S or different HA subcomponents, 16S, HA1, HA3b and the mixture of HA1 and HA3 significantly increased interleukin 6 (IL6) production compared with NTX alone. Transcription of IL6 mRNA was low after stimulation with NTX alone, but increased to 16S-stimulation levels when NTX was mixed with HA1 or HA3b. In flow cytometry using labelled Abs against CD3 and CD19, the percentage of CD19 cells was higher following stimulation with 16S or NTX mixed with HA1 or HA3b compared with stimulation with NTX. The percentage of CD3 cells remained unchanged. These results suggest strongly that HA1 and HA3b demonstrate adjuvant activity via increasing IL6 production.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2005

Establishment of highly specific and quantitative immunoassay systems for staphylococcal enterotoxin A, B, and C using newly-developed monoclonal antibodies.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) activities remain after boiling or treating with proteases. The main symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, are caused by the ingestion of SEs. Among SEs, SEA has been reported to be the major and most toxic protein. A highly specific and simple assay system is required to diagnose staphylococcal food poisoning. Therefore, the development of a suitable assay system is strongly anticipated. In this study, we have established a highly specific and sensitive avidin-biotin sandwich ELISA (ABS-ELISA) system for SEA, SEB, and SEC1 using newly-developed monoclonal antibodies. The linearity of these systems obtained was in the range of 0.78-25 ng/ml for each SE, and furthermore, the lower concentrations of SEs could also be detected. The recoveries of SEs from murine serum, skim milk solution, and raw milk were found to be over 90%, suggesting that our systems could detect SEs without any interventions, such as these from milk or serum proteins. We were also able to quantify SEs in 22 specimens of culture supernatants of S. aureus isolated in past occurrences. Our established system should be very useful not only in the clinical field but also in various fields of investigation because of its quantifi-cation and simplicity in detecting SEs.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

The beneficial effect of aluminium and the role of citrate in Al accumulation in Melastoma malabathricum.

* Here we investigated the beneficial effect of aluminium (Al) on the development of the Al accumulating plant Melastoma malabathricum. * Seedlings of M. malabathricum were cultivated in a nutrient solution containing 0.5 mM Al and compared with barley (Hordeum vulgare). In addition, roots of M. malabathricum were divided into one part growing in a nutrient solution, and the other part growing in a calcium solution. Al (0.5 mM) was applied to either solution. * Al-induced improvements of the root activity contributed to a growth enhancement in M. malabathricum. Al exposure without nutrients did not increase root growth and Al accumulation in the leaves. The beneficial effect, however, was induced by the combination of Al and nutrients. * We suggest that without nutrients roots are not able to synthesize an adequate amount of citrate that is required for transporting Al to the leaves. High Al levels in the plant tissues and/or an interaction of Al with particular nutrient elements in the apoplast of root cells appear to be essential to exert the beneficial effect of Al.

Aluminum↗

PubMed2005

Adaptive responses to oxygen stress in obligatory anaerobes Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium aminovalericum.

Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium aminovalericum, both obligatory anaerobes, grow normally after growth conditions are changed from anoxic to microoxic, where the cells consume oxygen proficiently. In C. aminovalericum, a gene encoding a previously characterized H2O-forming NADH oxidase, designated noxA, was cloned and sequenced. The expression of noxA was strongly upregulated within 10 min after the growth conditions were altered to a microoxic state, indicating that C. aminovalericum NoxA is involved in oxygen metabolism. In C. acetobutylicum, genes suggested to be involved in oxygen metabolism and genes for reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging were chosen from the genome database. Although no clear orthologue of C. aminovalericum NoxA was found, Northern blot analysis identified many O2-responsive genes (e.g., a gene cluster [CAC2448 to CAC2452] encoding an NADH rubredoxin oxidoreductase-A-type flavoprotein-desulfoferrodoxin homologue-MerR family-like protein-flavodoxin, an operon [CAC1547 to CAC1549] encoding a thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase-glutathione peroxidase-like protein, an operon [CAC1570 and CAC1571] encoding two glutathione peroxidase-like proteins, and genes encoding thiol peroxidase, bacterioferritin comigratory proteins, and superoxide dismutase) whose expression was quickly and synchronously upregulated within 10 min after flushing with 5% O2. The corresponding enzyme activities, such as NAD(P)H-dependent peroxide (H2O2 and alkyl hydroperoxides) reductase, were highly induced, indicating that microoxic growth of C. acetobutylicum is associated with the expression of a number of genes for oxygen metabolism and ROS scavenging.

Acclimatization↗

PubMed2004

Interactive effects of Al, Ca and other cations on root elongation of rice cultivars under low pH.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: As with other crop species, Al tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa) is widely different among cultivars, and the mechanism for tolerance is unknown. The Ca2+-displacement hypothesis, that is, Al displaces Ca2+ from critical sites in the root apoplast, was predicted to be the essential mechanism for causing Al toxicity in rice cultivars. If displacement of Ca is an essential cause of Al toxicity in rice, Al toxicity may show the same trend as toxicities of elements such as Sr and Ba that are effective in displacing Ca. METHODS: The interactive effects of Al, Ca, Sr and Ba on root elongation of rice cultivars with different Al tolerances were evaluated in hydroponic culture. Al and Ca accumulation in root tips was also investigated. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Not only Al but also Sr and Ba applications inhibited root growth of rice cultivars under low Ca conditions. As expected, rice cultivars more tolerant of Sr and Ba were also tolerant of Al (japonica > indica). Although Mg application did not affect Sr or Ba toxicity, Mg alleviated Al toxicity to the same level as Ca application. In addition, Ca application decreased the Al content in root tips without displacement. These results suggest that Ca does not have a specific, irreplaceable role in Al toxicity, unlike Sr and Ba toxicities. Alleviation of Al toxicity with increasing concentrations of Ca in rice cultivars is due to increased ionic strength, not due to decreased Al activity. The difference in Al tolerance between indica and japonica cultivars disappears under high ionic strength conditions, suggesting that different electrochemical characteristics of root-tip cells are related to the significant difference in Al tolerance under low ionic strength conditions.

Aluminum↗

PubMed2004

Characterization of a novel acid phosphatase from embryonic axes of kidney bean exhibiting vanadate-dependent chloroperoxidase activity.

A novel colorless acid phosphatase (KeACP), which was distinct from the kidney bean purple acid phosphatase, was purified to apparent homogeneity and cloned from embryonic axes of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. Ohfuku) during germination. When orthovanadate (VO(4)(-3)) is added to the apo form of the enzyme, KeACP uniquely exhibits the chloroperoxidase activity with loss of phosphatase activity. This is the first demonstration that KeACP is a vanadate-dependent chloroperoxidase in plants to be characterized and suggests that KeACP may play a role in modifying a wide variety of chlorinated compounds that are present in higher plants. The enzyme is a dimer that presents three forms made up of the combination of the dominant 56-kDa and the minor 45-kDa subunits, and both subunits contain carbohydrate. The full-length cDNA of the KeACP gene is 1641 nucleotides, and this sequence is predicted to encode a protein having 457 amino acid residues (52,865 Da), including a signal peptide. The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic DNA (3228 bp) of KeACP consists of seven exons and six introns. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the KeACP gene was expressed specifically in embryonic axes of the kidney bean, and its expression coincided with elongation of the embryonic axis during germination.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed2004

The receptor and transporter for internalization of Clostridium botulinum type C progenitor toxin into HT-29 cells.

Orally ingested botulinum toxin enters the circulatory system and eventually reaches the peripheral nerves, where it elicits a response of neurological dysfunction. In this study, we report the important findings concerning the mechanism of Clostridium botulinum type C progenitor toxin (C16S) endocytic mechanism. C16S toxin bound to high molecular weight proteins on the surface of human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells and was internalized, but not if the cells were pretreated with neuraminidase. Benzyl-GalNAc which inhibited O-glycosylation of glycoproteins also interfered in the toxin's ability to bind the cell surface. On the other hand, the toxin was internalized in spite of pretreatment of the cells with PPMP, an inhibitor of ganglioside synthesis. These results suggest that the glycoproteins, like mucin, fulfill the important roles of receptor and transporter of C16S toxin.

Botulinum Toxins↗

PubMed2004

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of piperidinoalkanoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as novel specific bradycardic agents.

A series of piperidinoalkanoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized, and their bradycardic activities were investigated in the isolated right atria of guinea pigs and in conscious rats. These efforts identified the achiral compound 2f, which exhibited potent and long-lasting bradycardic activity with minimal effects on mean blood pressure in conscious rats.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of N-acyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as novel specific bradycardic agents.

A series of N-acyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their bradycardic activities in isolated guinea pig right atria and in urethane-anesthetized rats. These efforts resulted in identification of the compound 8a, which exhibits potent bradycardic activity with minimal influence on mean blood pressure in urethane-anesthetized rats. Oral administration of compound 8a to conscious rats revealed increased potency and prolonged duration of action when compared to Zatebradine.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2004

Characterization of toxin complex produced by a unique strain of Clostridium botulinum serotype D 4947.

A unique strain of Clostridium botulinum, serotype D 4947 (D-4947), produces a considerable amount of a 650 kDa toxin complex (L-TC) and a small amount of a 280 kDa M-TC, a 540 kDa TC, and a 610 kDa TC. The complexes are composed of only un-nicked components, including neurotoxin (NT), nontoxic nonhemagglutinin (NTNHA) and hemagglutinin subcomponents (HA-70, HA-33 and HA-17). Unlike other NTs from all serotype strains, separation of D-4947 NT from L-TC, except for M-TC, during chromatography required highly alkaline conditions around pH 8.8. The separated NT and NTNHA/HAs complex can be reconstituted to L-TC that is indistinguishable from the parent L-TC with respect to toxicity, hemagglutination activity and gel filtration profile. The isoelectric points of NT and NTNHA/HAs were close together depending on the number of HA-33/17 molecules. We have established a new method to separate the unique D-4947 NT from the complex, which will yield valuable information on structure of botulinum toxin.

Animals↗