PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Fructans”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Composition and metabolic activity of dental plaque from healthy young and elderly individuals.

The composition and biochemical activities of 4- and 9-day-old plaque were studied in young and elderly subjects. Plaque accumulation tended to be greater in the older group. Levan hydrolase activity and the total number of recoverable, viable microorganisms were higher in plaque from younger subjects. Results suggest that the microbial composition of plaque is qualitatively different in younger and elderly subjects.

Adult↗

Interactions of delmopinol with constituents of experimental pellicle.

The prolonged retention of an effective chemotherapeutic agent on oral surfaces and in dental plaque aids in plaque control. The objective of this study was to investigate interactions between delmopinol, a morpholinoethanol derivative, and experimental pellicle. Hydroxyapatite beads were coated with different constituents of pellicle (e.g., saliva, carbohydrates, cell-free enzymes, and bacteria). Delmopinol demonstrated a higher affinity for saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA) and for experimental pellicle coated with in situ-synthesized glucans than for untreated hydroxyapatite. High-molecular-weight (MW) dextran but not low-MW dextran interfered with the adsorption of delmopinol to sHA. Delmopinol did not compete with dextran for the same binding sites on sHA, nor did it compete with saliva for the same binding sites on untreated hydroxyapatite. Delmopinol inhibited the activity of cell-free fructosyltransferase adsorbed onto sHA. In addition, synthesis of glucans by Streptococcus mutans adsorbed onto sHA was significantly reduced in the presence of delmopinol.

Adsorption↗

Increased cellulose production from sucrose with reduced levan accumulation by an Acetobacter strain harboring a recombinant plasmid.

Cellulose production from sucrose by Acetobacter strains is accompanied by the accumulation of a water-soluble polysaccharide, called levan. To improve cellulose productivity, a levansucrase-deficient mutant, LD-2, was derived from Acetobacter strain 757 and used as a host for the construction of recombinant strains. An LD-2 mutant harboring a plasmid containing the sucrase gene, sucZE3, from Zymomonas mobilis together with zliS, a gene that encodes a secretion-activating factor under the control of the Escherichia coli lac promoter, had sucrase activity and produced much cellulose and little levan in a medium containing sucrose. In addition, a mutant levansucrase gene, mutant sacB, from Bacillus subtilis, which encodes a protein with little levan-forming activity, was generated by site-directed mutagenesis and introduced into the LD-2 mutant. This introduction also resulted in the higher cellulose productivity and little levan.

Acetobacter↗

Difructose anhydrides: their mass-production and physiological functions.

Difructose anhydrides (DFAs) are the smallest cyclic disaccharides consisting of two fructose residues, and are expected to have novel physiological functions from their unique structures and properties. For mass-production of alpha-D-fructofuranose-beta-D-fructofuranose-2',1:2,3'-dianhydride (DFA III) and beta-D-fructofuranose-beta-D-fructofuranose-2',6:2,6'-dianhydride (DFA IV), Arthrobacter sp. H65-7 and A. nicotinovorans GS-9 were selected as the best producers of inulase II, which produced DFA III from inulin and LFTase, which produced DFA IV from levan. The enzymes were purified and their genes were subsequently cloned and expressed in E. coli at higher levels than in the original bacteria. Thus, it became possible to provide a large amount of DFA III and DFA IV for evaluating their physiological properties. DFA III and DFA IV have half the sweetness of sucrose, but cannot be digested by the digestive system of rats. Their use by the intestinal microorganisms was observed in vivo even though their assimilation could not be detected in vitro. This implied that they were degraded by an unknown system in the intestine. It was also found that they affected calcium absorption mainly in the small intestine through mechanisms different from the known stimulants such as fructooligosaccharides and raffinose.

Animals↗

Production of long-chain levan by a sacC insertional mutant from Bacillus subtilis 327UH.

A hyper extracellular protein producer, Bacillus subtilis 327UH, produced large amounts of levan in a medium containing 20% sucrose, and the yield of levan after 10 hours was more than 60%, when based on the fructose amount of sucrose. After transformation of 327UH with a levanase-deficient 168SC (sacC::Cm(r)) chromosomal DNA, a Cm(r) transformant 327UHSC (sacC::Cm(r) degSU(Hy)) produced 3 times longer levan than that of the wild type.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Vitamin D receptor Fok1 polymorphisms affect calcium absorption, kinetics, and bone mineralization rates during puberty.

UNLABELLED: Few studies of the VDR polymorphisms have looked at calcium metabolism or long-term effects. We measured bone mineralization and calcium metabolic parameters longitudinally in a group of 99 adolescents. We found a significant relationship between calcium absorption and skeletal calcium accretion and the Fok1, but not other VDR or related, genetic polymorphisms. It seems that the Fok1 polymorphism directly affects bone mineralization during pubertal growth through an effect on calcium absorption. INTRODUCTION: There are few data regarding the relationship between genetic markers for low bone mass and changes in calcium metabolism in childhood or adolescence. We sought to identify the effects of polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) on calcium and bone mineral metabolism in a longitudinal study of pubertal adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adolescents (n = 99) received comprehensive stable isotope studies of calcium absorption, bone calcium kinetics, and bone mineralization. Studies were repeated 12 months later. Polymorphisms of putative genetic markers were determined and related to bone mineralization and calcium metabolic finding. Results were analyzed by ANOVA in which changes over time were determined using the initial value as a covariate. RESULTS: Polymorphisms of the Fok1 gene of the VDR were significantly related to calcium absorption (p = 0.008) and whole body BMC (p = 0.03) and BMD (p = 0.006). The Fok1 effect on whole body BMD was significant for those with Ca intake >800 mg/day (p < 0.001), whereas for those with Ca intake < or = 800 mg/day, the Fok1 genotype did not have a significant effect on whole body BMD (p = 0.40). The Fok1 genotype was significantly related to the changes during the year in whole body calcium accretion, with the ff genotype having a 63 +/- 20 mg/day deficit compared with the FF genotype (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The Fok1 polymorphism of the VDR receptor seems to directly affect bone mineral accretion during pubertal growth through an effect on calcium absorption. The relationship between different genetic polymorphisms and bone mineral metabolism may vary by life stage as well as diet.

Analysis of Variance↗

The tissue reaction to implanted foreign bodies in levan-treated mice.

The effect of local administration of levan on the reaction to foreign bodies was studied in the subcutaneous tissues of mice implanted with sterile cotton wool pellets or Melenex plastic coverslips. Treatment with levan reduced leucocytic invasion of the implanted pellets as well as the vasoproliferative response of the surrounding tissue. Reduction in the thickness of the capsule surrounding the implant in levan-treated mice provided further evidence for the latter. Assessment of cells attached onto implanted coverslips showed that levan treatment diminished the number of macrophages attaching to the plastic and significantly reduced the number of nuclei within the multinucleate giant cells formed at the site of implantation. This reduction indicates that levan also exerts an inhibitory action on fusion between macrophages.

Animals↗

Extracellular volume, renal clearance and whole body permeability-surface area product in man, measured after single injection of polyfructosan.

In 22 patients non-compartmental analysis was applied to plasma disappearance curves obtained after a single injection of polyfructosan to measure volume of distribution (Vd), renal clearance (Cl) and the whole body permeability-surface area product (PdS) of the indicator. It was found that introduction of the theoretical plasma concentration at time zero, calculated as the injected amount divided by the plasma water volume independently determined, to the curves was necessary to determine the initial slope of the curve and subsequently calculate the PdS. This 'initial phase' approximation had negligible effect on the calculations of Vd and Cl. The approximation, however, allowed extension of the non-compartmental analysis to include calculation of the whole body PdS. The whole body PdS for polyfructosan was found to be 0.68 ml/100g X min or 429 ml/min. Assuming a capillary surface area of the whole human body of 50 cm2g-1, the average whole body diffusional permeability coefficient, Pd, for polyfructosan was found to be: 0.23 X 10(-5) cm X sec-1.

Arteriosclerosis↗

Induction of the plateau phase and rescue of MOPC 104E by nonspecific immunization.

The enhancement of MOPC 104E myeloma growth by nonspecific immunostimulation with C. parvum or immunization with sheep red blood cells and levan mixture was evaluated in BALB/c mice. We observed increased levels of serum MOPC 104E IgM and early mortality in the tumor-bearing mice following treatment with C. parvum or antigenic stimulation. The enhancement of tumor growth observed was due to the production of lymphokine mitogenic factors produced in response to the nonspecific immunostimulation.

Animals↗

Zymomonas mobilis--science and industrial application.

Zymomonas mobilis is undoubtedly one of the most unique bacterium within the microbial world. Known since 1912 under the names Termobacterium mobilis, Pseudomonas linderi, and Zymomonas mobilis, reviews on its uniqueness have been published in 1977 and 1988. The bacterium Zymomonas mobilis not only exhibits an extraordinarily uniqueness in its biochemistry, but also in its growth behavior, energy production, and response to culture conditions, as well as cultivation techniques used. This uniqueness caused great interest in the scientific, biotechnological, and industrial worlds. Its ability to couple and uncouple energy production in favor of product formation, to respond to physical and chemical environment manipulation, as well as its restricted product formation, makes it an ideal microorganism for microbial process development. This review explores the advances made since 1987, together with new developments in the pure scientific and applied commercial areas.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

Cross-linking of surface immunoglobulins and endocytosis of antigen are not sufficient to suppress antibody production of two hybridoma cell lines.

The two cell lines Lev 1-3 and AS3, which secrete monoclonal anti-levan antibody and express surface membrane immunoglobulins that are capable of binding the levan, were cultured for 24 h or 48 h with levan of various molecular weights (5 x 10(4), 2 x 10(5) or 2 x 10(7) daltons). The production of antibody was measured by a plaque-forming cell assay for AS3 cells and by biosynthetic labelling for Lev 1-3 cells. Surface immunoglobulins were detected by a rosette-forming cell assay. By using immunoenzymatic procedures, we observed that levan of 5 x 10(4) and 2 x 10(5) daltons was intensely endocytosed by the cells and localized mainly in the cellular center, whereas levan of 2 x 10(7) daltons remained mostly associated with the plasma membrane and formed surface aggregates. After transfer of cells in levan-free medium, it was shown that internalized levan could persist several days inside the cells without being degraded. Viability, growth, antibody synthesis and secretion were not modified in cells cultured with levan, whatever the molecular weight of the antigen used. Our results show that cross-linking of surface immunoglobulins by multivalent antigen or endocytosis of antigen do not appear to be sufficient to induce a suppression of antibody production or membrane immunoglobulin expression.

Animals↗

Purification and characterization of a levanbiose-producing levanase from Pseudomonas sp. No. 43.

A levanbiose-accumulating levanase from Pseudomonas sp. No. 43 was purified to a homogeneous state by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and by chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M and phenyl-Toyopearl 650 M columns. The molecular mass and isoelectric point of the enzyme were estimated to be 36 kDa and 5.7 respectively; the optimal pH and temperature for the enzyme reaction were pH 7.0 and 40 degrees C respectively. The purified enzyme was stable in the pH range 6.0-8.0 at 20 degrees C and stable up to 50 degrees C at pH 7.0. The enzyme's activity was inhibited by MnCl2, CoCl2, AlCl3, EDTA and potassium permanganate. The levanase was specific towards the 2, 6-beta-D-fructosidic linkages of levan and did not hydrolyse other polysaccharides among those examined. The enzyme is an exohydrolase of levan and produced levanbiose as a sole product; the limits of hydrolysis of levans from Zymomonas mobilis and Serratia sp. were 65% and 80% respectively.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Purification and enzymic properties of the fructosyltransferase of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975.

The recombinant fructosyltransferase (Ftf) of Streptococcus salivarius was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity after a combination of adsorption, ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The N-terminal signal sequence of the Ftf was removed by E. coli at the same site as in its natural host. The purified Ftf exhibited maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 37 degrees C, was activated by Ca2+, but inhibited by the metal ions Cu2+, Zn2+, Hg2+ and Fe3+. The enzyme catalysed the transfer of the fructosyl moiety of sucrose to a number of acceptors, including water, glucose and sucrose via a Ping Pong mechanism involving a fructosyl-enzyme intermediate. While this mechanism of catalysis is utilized by the levansucrases of Bacillus subtilis and Acetobacter diazotrophicus and the values of the kinetic constants for the three enzymes are similar, sucrose was a far more efficient fructosyl-acceptor for the Ftf of S. salivarius than for the two other enzymes.

Escherichia coli↗