16 research outputs found
Characterization of an Inducible Phenylserine Aldolase from Pseudomonas putida 24-1
No full textAn inducible phenylserine aldolase (L-threo-3-phenylserine benzaldehyde-lyase, EC 4.1.2.26), which catalyzes the cleavage of L-3-phenylserine to yield benzaldehyde and glycine, was purified to homogeneity from a crude extract of Pseudomonas putida 24-1 isolated from soil. The enzyme was a hexamer with the apparent subunit molecular mass of 38 kDa and contained 0.7 mol of pyridoxal 5 phosphate per mol of the subunit. The enzyme exhibited absorption maxima at 280 and 420 nm. The maximal activity was obtained at about pH 8.5. The enzyme acted on L-threo-3-phenylserine (Km, 1.3 mM), L-erythro-3-phenylserine (Km, 4.6 mM), L-threonine (Km, 29 mM), and L-allo-threonine (Km, 22 mM). In the reverse reaction, threo- and erythro- forms of L-3-phenyl-serine were produced from benzaldehyde and glycine. The optimum pH for the reverse reaction was 7.5. The structural gene coding for the phenylserine aldolase from Pseudomonas putida 24-1 was cloned and overex-pressed in Escherichia coli cells. The nucleotide sequence of the phenylserine aldolase gene encoded a peptide containing 357 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 37.4 kDa. The recombinant enzyme was purified and characterized. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that replacement of K213 with Q resulted in a loss of the enzyme activity, with a disappearance of the absorption maximum at 420 nm. Thus, K213 of the enzyme probably functions as an essential catalytic residue, forming a Schiff base with pyridoxal 5-phosphate
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No full textThe gene encoding d-phenylserine dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas syringae NK-15 was identified, and a 9,246-bp nucleotide sequence containing the gene was sequenced. Six ORFs were confirmed in the sequenced region, four of which were predicted to form an operon. A homology search of each ORF predicted that orf3 encoded l-phenylserine dehydrogenase. Hence, orf3 was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells and recombinant ORF3 was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The purified ORF3 enzyme showed l-phenylserine dehydrogenase activity. The enzymological properties and primary structure of l-phenylserine dehydrogenase (ORF3) were quite different from those of d-phenylserine dehydrogenase previously reported. l-Phenylserine dehydrogenase catalyzed the NAD + -dependent oxidation of the β-hydroxyl group of l-β-phenylserine. lPhenylserine and l-threo-(2-thienyl)serine were good substrates for l-phenylserine dehydrogenase. The genes encoding lphenylserine dehydrogenase and d-phenylserine dehydrogenase, which is induced by phenylserine, are located in a single operon. The reaction products of both enzymatic reactions were 2-aminoacetophenone and CO 2
Orbital-scale anti-phase variation of sea surface temperature in mid-latitude North Pacific margins during the last 145,000 years
No full textThe late Quaternary records of alkenone sea surface temperature (SST) in the Japan and California margins showed orbital-scale anti-phase SST variations between the two margins. This east-west seesaw-like change agreed well with the long-term El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) behavior predicted by the Zebiak-Cane ENSO model [ Clement et al., 1999 ] as regards both the timing and frequency during 0–60 ka and 120–145 ka, and is attributed to the precession-controlled change in tropical ENSO behavior. This anti-phase SST change was not clearly demonstrated during 60–120 ka. This finding suggests that the influence of tropical climatic dynamics on the mid-latitude North Pacific varied in response to glacial-interglacial cycles
Long term Aleutian Low dynamics and obliquity-controlled oceanic primary production in the mid-latitude western North Pacific (Core MD01-2421) during the last 145,000 years
No full textWe have generated an oceanic primary production record from Core MD01-2421, off central Japan, in the western North Pacific, for the last 145,000 years, in order to examine how the Aleutian Low has responded to orbital-scale climate change.
The variation of total organic carbon (TOC) was pronounced with a 41-ky periodicity. High TOC corresponds to a high angle of the Earth's obliquity. The variation of TOC was delayed behind the variation of obliquity by 1 ky and preceded the variation of δ18O of benthic foraminifera Uvigerina by 6 ky. The TOC varied inversely with Polar Circulation Index (Mayewski, P.A., Meeker, L.D., Twickler, M.S., Whitlow, S., Yang, Q., Lyons, B., Prentice, M., 1997. Major features and forcing of high-latitude northern hemisphere atmospheric circulation using a 110,000-year-long glaciochemical series. J. Geophys. Res. 102 (C12), 26345–26366.). Since the primary production in the Kuroshio–Oyashio mixed zone is related to the intensity of the winter Aleutian Low, these correspondences imply that the intensity of the winter Aleutian Low has responded to the obliquity forcing by the atmospheric reorganization in the northern high latitudes. The winter Aleutian Low was stronger when the obliquity was large, implying that the lower insolation in winter presumably increased the temperature contrast between the land and the ocean, deepening the winter Aleutian Low
Species richness of Eurasian Zephyrus hairstreaks (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclini) with implications on historical biogeography: An NDM/VNDM approach
No full text© 2018 Zhuang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Aim A database based on distributional records of Eurasian Zephyrus hairstreaks (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclini) was compiled to analyse their areas of endemism (AoEs), species richness and distribution patterns, to explore their locations of past glacial refugia and dispersal routes. Methods Over 2000 Zephyrus hairstreaks occurrences are analysed using the NDM/VNDM algorithm, for the recognition of AoEs. Species richness was calculated by using the option ‘Number of different classes’ to count the different classes of a variable presented in each 3.0×3.0 grid cell, and GIS software was used to visualize distribution patterns of endemic species. Results Centres of species richness of Zephyrus hairstreaks are situated in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (EQTP), Hengduan Mountain Region (HDMR) and the Qinling Mountain Region (QLMR). Latitudinal gradients in species richness show normal distribution with the peak between 25 N and 35 N in the temperate zone, gradually decreasing towards the poles. Moreover, most parts of central and southern China, especially the area of QLMR-EQTP-HDMR, were identified as AoEs that may have played a significant role as refugia during Quaternary global cooling. There are four major distributional patterns of Zephyrus hairstreaks in Eurasia: Sino-Japanese, Sino-Himalayan, high-mountain and a combined distribution covering all three patterns. Conclusions Zephyrus hairstreaks probably originated at least 23–24 Myr ago in E. Asia between 25 N to 35 N in the temperate zone. Cenozoic orogenies caused rapid speciation of this tribe and extrusion of the Indochina block resulted in vicariance between the Sino-Japanese and the Sino-Himalayan patterns. The four distribution patterns provided two possible dispersal directions: Sino-Japanese dispersal and Sino-Himalayan dispersal
Fasting Plasma Insulin is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Farmers but not in Nomads among the Mongolian Population, China
No full textAim: The World Health Organization (WHO) includes insulin resistance among its criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, previous epidemiologic studies have limited their research to settled populations only. This study aims to clarify the relationship between plasma insulin and metabolic factors on a broader scale by studying data obtained from nomadic and settled Mongolian populations. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 200 nomads and 256 farmers was performed in Inner Mongolia, Republic of China. Plasma insulin levels and other metabolic factors, such as blood pressure, serum lipids and obesity, were measured. Participants were classified into 3 categories according to their plasma insulin levels. Results: Cut-off values grouped into tertiles of fasting insulin for all participants were 6.73 nmol/L and 10.33 nmol/L. The mean number of metabolic risk factors, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride were higher, and the mean HDL cholesterol was lower in the higher fasting insulin tertile among farmers after adjusting for age, gender, smoking, alcohol drinking and total cholesterol. However, no MetS factors were statistically related with fasting insulin tertile levels among nomads. Conclusions: In nomads, hyperinsulinemia may not be an indicator of MetS due to their specific lifestyle.Peripheral Vascular DiseaseSCI(E)0ARTICLE4291-2971
Associations of diabetes mellitus with site-specific cancer mortality in the Asia-Pacific region
No full textBackground: Owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in Asia, and the paucity of studies, we examined the influence of raised blood glucose and diabetes on cancer mortality risk. Materials and methods: Thirty-six cohort Asian and Australasian studies provided 367 361 participants (74% from Asia); 6% had diabetes at baseline. Associations between diabetes and site-specific cancer mortality were estimated using time-dependent Cox models, stratified by study and sex, and adjusted for age. Results: During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, there were 5992 deaths due to cancer (74% Asian; 41% female). Participants with diabetes had 23% greater risk of mortality from all-cause cancer compared with those without: hazard ratio (HR) 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.35]. Diabetes was associated with mortality due to cancer of the liver (HR 1.51; 95% CI 1.19, 1.91), pancreas (HR 1.78; 95% CI 1.20, 2.65), and, less strongly, colorectum (HR 1.32; 95% CI 0.98, 1.78). There was no evidence of sex- or region-specific differences in these associations. The population attributable fractions for cancer mortality due to diabetes were generally higher for Asia compared with non-Asian populations. Conclusion: Diabetes is associated with increased mortality from selected cancers in Asian and non-Asian populations. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved
Smoking, quitting, and the risk of cardiovascular disease among women and men in the Asia-Pacific region
No full textPublished by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2005; all rights reserved.Background Although smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it has been suggested that Asians may be less susceptible to the adverse effects of smoking than Caucasians. This may have contributed to the high prevalence of smoking, and the low quitting rates, in Asian men. Worldwide, smoking rates are increasing for women, amongst whom cardiovascular awareness is relatively poor. Methods An individual participant data analysis of 40 cohort studies was carried out, involving 463 674 Asians (33% female) and 98 664 Australasians (45% female). Cox proportional hazard models, stratified by study and sex where appropriate, were employed. Results The HR [95% confidence interval (CI)], comparing current smokers with nonsmokers, for coronary heart disease (CHD) was 1.60 (1.49-1.72); haemorrhagic stroke 1.19 (1.06-1.33); ischaemic stroke 1.38 (1.24-1.54). There was a clear dose-response relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and both CHD and stroke, with no significant difference (P 0.20) between populations from Asia and Australia/New Zealand. Although there was no sex difference for stroke in the effect of amount smoked (P = 0.16), for CHD, women tended to have higher hazard ratios than men (P = 0.011). Quitting gave a clear benefit, which was not significantly different between the sexes or regions (P 0.63). The HR (CI) for ex-smokers compared with current smokers was 0.71 (0.64-0.78) for CHD and 0.84 (0.76-0.92) for stroke. Conclusions Unless urgent public health measures are put into place, the impact of the smoking epidemic in Asia, and among women, will be enormous. Tobacco control policies that specifically target these populations are essential.Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboratio
Pagurus hirtimanus Miers 1880
No full textPagurus hirtimanus Miers, 1880 Restricted synonymy. Pagurus hirtimanus White, 1847: 60 (nomen nudum). Pagurus hirtimanus Miers, 1880: 375, 376 [type locality: Philippines and Fiji]; Gordan, 1956: 330 (bibliography); Lewinsohn, 1969: 62; Haig & Ball, 1988: 186; Minemizu, 2000: 154, unnumbered figs.; McLaughlin et al., 2010: 33 (list), fig. 15G; Humann & Deloach, 2010: 163, unnumbered fig.; Poupin & Juncker, 2010: 5, 236, 237, fig. a; Poupin et al., 2013: 47, fig. 25A, B. Eupagurus japonicus ? – Miers, 1880: 375, pl. 14, figs. 6, 7. Not Pagurus japonicus (Stimpson, 1858). Eupagurus hirtimanus – De Man, 1888: 426. Eupagurus janitor Alcock, 1905a: 832, pl. 68, figs. 2, 4 [type locality: Hululu, Malé Atoll, Maldives]; 1905b: 125, 132, pl. 11, fig. 6; Estampador, 1937: 505; 1959; Yap-Chiongco, 1938: 208, pl. 2, fig. 1. Pagurus janitor – Gordan, 1956: 331 (bibliography). Not Eupagurus hirtimanus – Terao, 1913: 369 = Pagurus pectinatus (Stimpson, 1858). Material examined. 1 male (sl 2.0 mm) (ZRC 2013.0633), PANGLAO 2004, stn B8, Napaling, Panglao Island, 09°37.1'N, 123°46.1'E, 3 m, reef platform, 7 June 2004; 1 ovigerous female (sl 8.0 mm) (ZRC 2013.0636), stn B10, Momo Beach, Panglao Island, 09°36.5'N, 123°45.6'E, 3–14 m, reef wall with small caves, 10 June 2004; 1 ovigerous female (sl 5.6 mm) (ZRC 2013.0637), stn B23, Black Forest, Balicasag Island, 09°31.1'N, 123°41.3'E, 20–25 m, rubble on sand, 25 June 2004; 1 male (sl 4.6 mm) (ZRC 2013.0641), stn B39, Abatan River, Bohol Island, 09°45.2'N, 123°56.0'E, 0–2 m, sand, consolidated cliff, 26 June 2004; 1 male (sl 9.4 mm), 2 females (sl 9.1, 8.4 mm) (ZRC 2013.0630), stn M1, Alona Beach, Panglao Island, 09°32.9'N, 123°46.6'E, 0–1 m, May to July 2004; 1 male (sl 3.9 mm), 1 female (sl 8.7 mm) (ZRC 2013.0631), stn M2, W end of Alona Beach, Panglao Island, 09°32.8'N, 123°45.9'E, reef flat with sea grass bed, 0–2 m, 30 May 2004; 1 male (sl 3.2 mm) (ZRC 2013.0639), stn M3, Danao, Panglao Island, 09°32.5'N, 123°44.7'E, 0–2.5 m, reef, 31 May 2004; 3 males (sl 4.1–5.9 mm) (ZRC 2013.0632), stn M7, Momo Beach, Panglao Island, 09°36.1’N, 123°45.2'E, 0–3 m, reef platform with sea grass, 1 June 2004; 1 male (sl 4.0 mm) (ZRC 2013.0642), stn M10, Bingag / Tabalong, Panglao Island, 0–3 m, 09°37.8'N, 123°48.4'E, rocky area with sea grass, 5 June 2004; 1 ovigerous female (sl 10.1 mm) (ZRC 2013.0638), stn M22, Napaling, 09°37.2'N, 123°46.4'E, 0–3 m, coral platform, 15 June 2004; 5 males (sl 3.3–5.3 mm), 1 female (sl 5.2 mm) (ZRC 2013.0635), stn M40, Looc, Panglao Island, 09°35.7’N, 123°44.7'E, 0–3 m, fringe mangrove, sea grass beds and hard bottom, 22–28 June 2004; 4 males (sl 3.2–11.1 mm) (ZRC 2013.6043), stn M58, Balicasag Island, 09°31.3'N, 123°41.0'E, intertidal, 4 July 2004; 2 ovigerous females (sl 10.7, 12.5 mm) (ZRC 2013.0634), stn N4, Alona reef, 09°32.9'N, 123°46.9'E, 15–20 m, 10 June 2004, bated traps; 2 males (sl 11.1, 13.2 mm) (ZRC 2013.0640), stn R3, Alona reef, 09°33.0'N, 123°46.5'E, 5–24 m, base of reef slope, May to July 2004. Distribution. Widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific: from Red Sea and eastern Africa to Fiji, north to southern Japan and south to Queensland, Australia; intertidal to 25 m. Remarks. The name “ Pagurus hirtimanus ” was firstly mentioned by White (1847) in his list of crustaceans in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). However, the name was unavailable because White (1847) did not give a description. The author of this name has been attributed to Miers (1880), who provided a description of P. hirtimanus for the first time, although Miers (1880) questionably referred the species to P. japonicus (Stimpson, 1858) (as Eupagurus). Terao (1913) recorded P. hirtimanus from Hokkaido, northern Japan (as Eupagurus). Komai & Ueshima (in press) re-examined the specimens studied by Terao (1913) and confirmed that they represent P. pectinatus (Stimpson, 1858), a species distributed in cold waters of the western North Pacific (Komai, 2000a).Published as part of Komai, Tomoyuki & Rahayu, Dwi Listyo, 2014, New records and new species of the hermit crab genus Pagurus Fabricius, 1775 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from the Philippines, pp. 620-646 in Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 62 on pages 621-623, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.535500
