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To investigate the effects of agar oligosaccharides (AO) on lipid metabolism, changes in obesity phenotypes and related molecular factors were evaluated in C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). When HFD-induced obese mice were fed AO, they lost weight. Also, fat accumulation in abdominal and liver tissues was lower in the AO groups than in the Vehicle group. Lipid droplet sizes in tissue sections were reduced by AO, and these observations were mirrored by serum lipid contents. To evaluate the effects of AO on lipid metabolism, lipogenesis and lipolysis-related factors were analyzed. The mRNA expressions of genes involved in lipogenesis, such as adipocyte-protein 2 (aP2) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), were reduced by AO administration, and the expressions of lipolysis-associated proteins, including perilipin, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), and fat triglyceride lipase (ATGL), were increased. Taken together, our results suggest that AO should be considered a valuable natural agent that inhibits obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish a sensitive bioassay for Nostocean hormogonium induction, we compared the effectiveness of the morpho-differentiation induction on two gelled plates, agar and gellan gum, for anacardic acid C15:1-Δ8 decyl ester (1) (100 nmol/disc). On BG-110 (nitrogen-free) medium-based 0.6 and 0.8% agar plates, Nostoc sp. strain Yaku-1 isolated from a coralloid root of Cycas revoluta in Yakushima Island showed clear morpho-differentiation from filamentous aggregates into hormogonia, and the induced hormogonia dispersed within 24 h; however, similar hormogonium formation was not observed at agar concentrations of 1.0% or higher. Conversely, hormogonium induction was considerably more pronounced on gellan gum plates than those on agar plates through concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 1.6% even after 12 h of incubation, particularly active on the 0.8-1.0% gellan gum plates. Thus, gellan gum plates can achieve clear results within 12 h and are thus highly useful for primary screening for hormogonium-inducing factors (HIFs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which examines the solvent-tolerance of fungi located on an interface between an agar plate and an organic solvent. Topics discussed include development of interfacial bioconversion systems for conversion of water-immiscible substrates with living microbial cells, determining relationship between hydrophobicity of organic solvent and its toxicity, and lack of effectiveness of methylcyclohexane, dibutyl ether and styrene in sterilization of fungal cells.

The article discusses the preparation, characterization and in Vitro gastrointestinal digestion of soybean oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion-agar gels. It states that emulsion-agar gels were obtained by mixing O/W emulsions with agar solutions. It mentions that the free fatty acid (FFA) content released from each emulsions was twice that released from the emulsion-agar gel that indicates delayed lipid hydrolysis due to the gelation of O/W emulsion.

The article discusses optimization processes utilized to suppress the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in lactic acid bacteria (LAB)Lactobacillus confusus . It reports that high salinity stress can enhance EPS production in solid state fermentation. The overproduction of EPSs due to high salinity stress in solid state fermentation performed on an agar surface was demonstrated through response surface methodology via a central composite design (CCD) analysis.

The article discusses a study which examines the immunological effects of agaro-oligosaccharides on mouse macrophages and human monocytes in vitro. Findings of the study reveal that agaro-oligosaccharides inhibited the increased production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. It also indicates that the carbohydrate's impact on monocytes and macrophages might have been triggered by heme oxygenase-1 induction.

The article analyzes viable bacterial counts in foods and seawater under liquid- and conventional agar plate cultivation using 96-well microplates. According to the authors, the counts under liquid and under solid cultivation were equivalent in foods, although the counts under liquid cultivation exceeded those under solid cultivation in seawater, suggesting that some bacteria in seawater were viable but did not form detectable colonies.

The article examines the germination rate and activation conditions of spores for four strains of Streptomyces sp., a phytopathogen causing root tumor of melon. The authors isolated an inhibitor from the agar-cultured material of strain CB-1-1 which selectively acted on spore germination and did not affect hyphal growth. The inhibitor also existed mostly in the spores.

Studies the thermostability of β-Agarase from the novel marine isolate, JAMB-A94 by researchers from Japan. Success of the researchers in cloning and sequencing agaA gene from the marine bacterium JAMB-A94; Calculation of the molecular mass of the protein encoded from the agaA gene; Presence of agarose and agaropectins in the cell walls of some red algae.

Reports on Escherichia coli which can form linear trails and move in a flagellum-independent manner on semisolid agar containing carbon sources. Correlation of trail formation with the growth speed and/or carbon metabolism; Changes in cell morphology in linear trails into larger cell sizes.

The article discusses the screening of carbon dioxide-requiring extreme oligotrophs from soil samples. The oligotrophs, similar to Rhodococcus erythropolis N9T-4, can grow on basal salt agar medium without an organic carbon source. From several soil samples, three isolates were identified as Streptomyces spp. by ribosomal DNA analysis. The isolates required gaseous carbon dioxide for growth and grew on a basal salt medium solidified by silica gel.

The article discusses the results of a study which investigated the isolation of porphyran-degrading marine microorganisms from the surface of thalli of Porphyra yezoensis. 15 crude microorganism groups were found to soften and liquefy the surface of agar-rich plate medium. 11 microorganism groups were found to degrade porphyran that consisted of sulfated polysaccharide in the red algae.