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There are several in vitro systems that enable evaluation of the absorption direction, but there are few quantitative systems that enable easy evaluation of the excretion direction. Enteroids, organoids derived from intestine, have been frozen and passaged for various research. But it is not clear how the freezing and passaging affect the expression and function of transporters. We investigated the effects of passage and cryopreservation of enteroids. We focused on P-gp (P-glycoprotein) and compared the transfer rates of rhodamine 123 (Rh123) into the lumen of enteroids with and without a P-gp inhibitor. mRNA expression levels did not change significantly before and after passage and cryopreservation. Accumulation of Rh123 in the lumen of enteroids was observed. With some P-gp inhibitors, excretion of Rh123 into the lumen of enteroids was inhibited and the nonexcreted Rh123 accumulated in enteroids epithelial cells. The transfer rate of Rh123 into the lumen of enteroids with a P-gp inhibitor was significantly decreased compared to that of without a P-gp inhibitor. Before and after passage and cryopreservation, the transfer rate was almost the same as that of primary cultured enteroids. We succeeded in easily evaluating whether a component is a substrate of P-gp using enteroids., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (Copyright © 2024 American Pharmacists Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: In this study, age, endothelial function as flow-mediated dilation (FMD), occlusal force, grip strength, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were obtained. AGEs were measured as indicators of aging, while grip strength was measured as an indicator of muscle strength. This study aimed to explain the relationship between occlusal force and endothelial function and determine whether occlusal force can be a new indicator in community preventative care projects., Materials and Methods: In 38 community-dwelling women (age, 76.7 ± 5.7 years), the occlusal force and grip strength were measured, the endothelial function was evaluated by FMD, and AGEs were obtained. The relationship between occlusal force, measurement items, and factors were investigated independently related to endothelial function., Results: There were significant correlations between occlusal force and grip strength (r = .54, p < .01). The degree of FMD was significantly associated with occlusal force (r = .60, p < .01) and grip strength (r = .35, p < .05) or increase in AGEs (r = -.37, p < .05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that occlusal force was significantly associated with the degree of FMD (p < .01)., Conclusion: Occlusal force can be an important indicator of endothelial function in the community-dwelling elderly. This study may help understand the general health of the elderly in communities., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Strains of the bacterium, Corynebacterium glutamicum, are widely used for the industrial production of L-glutamic acid and various other substances. C. glutamicum ssp. lactofermentum AJ 1511, formerly classified as Brevibacterium lactofermentum, and the closely related C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 have been used as industrial strains for more than 50 years. We determined the whole genome sequence of C. glutamicum AJ 1511 and performed genome-wide comparative analysis with C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 to determine strain-specific genetic differences. This analysis revealed that the genomes of the two industrial strains are highly similar despite the phenotypic differences between the two strains. Both strains harbored unique genes but gene transpositions or inversions were not observed. The largest unique region, a 220-kb AT-rich region located between 1.78 and 2.00 Mb position in C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 genome, was missing in the genome of C. glutamicum AJ 1511. The next two largest unique regions were present in C. glutamicum AJ 1511. The first region (413-484 kb position) contains several predicted transport proteins, enzymes involved in sugar metabolism, and transposases. The second region (1.47-1.50 Mb position) encodes restriction modification systems. A gene predicted to encode NADH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase, which is involved in L-glutamate biosynthesis, is present in C. glutamicum AJ 1511. Strain-specific genes identified in this study are likely to govern phenotypes unique to each strain.

Corynebacterium glutamicum produces succinate from glucose via the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle under microaerobic and anaerobic conditions. We identified a NCgl2130 gene of C. glutamicum as a novel succinate exporter that functions in succinate production, and designated sucE1. sucE1 expression levels were higher under microaerobic conditions than aerobic conditions, and overexpression or disruption of sucE1 respectively increased or decreased succinate productivity during fermentation. Under microaerobic conditions, the sucE1 disruptant sucE1Δ showed 30% less succinate productivity and a lower sugar-consumption rate than the parental strain. Under anaerobic conditions, succinate production by sucE1Δ ceased. The intracellular succinate and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate levels of sucE1Δ under microaerobic conditions were respectively 1.7-fold and 1.6-fold higher than those of the parental strain, suggesting that loss of SucE1 function caused a failure of succinate removal from the cells, leading to intracellular accumulation that inhibited upstream sugar metabolism. Homology and transmembrane helix searches identified SucE1 as a membrane protein belonging to the aspartate:alanine exchanger (AAE) family. Partially purified 6x-histidine-tagged SucE1 (SucE1-[His](6)) reconstituted in succinate-loaded liposomes clearly demonstrated counterflow and self-exchange activities for succinate. Together, these findings suggest that sucE1 encodes a novel succinate exporter that is induced under microaerobic conditions, and is important for succinate production under both microaerobic and anaerobic conditions., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Using a DNA macroarray, we investigated the effects of rmf gene (encoding ribosome modulation factor) disruption on gene expression profiles in Escherichia coli. This strain showed a phosphate-starvation-like response in gene expression even under phosphate sufficient conditions; significant upregulation of the Pho regulon genes was observed. Further, the production of alkaline phosphatase, a product of the Pho regulon gene, phoA, increased in the rmf disruptant under a Pi sufficient condition. Furthermore, production of PhoC acid phosphatase/nucleoside pyrophosphate phosphotransferase derived from Morganella morganii also increased significantly in the rmf disruptant. We concluded that host modification by the rmf gene disruption has potential benefit in industrial enzyme production using Escherichia coli.

Growth and rate, at which fermentation products are formed in cells, generally decreases during the stationary phase as a result of changes in gene expression. We focused on the rmf gene, which encodes the ribosome modulation factor protein, as a target for strain modification in order to improve the rate of L-lysine production in Escherichia coli. Increased expression of the rmf gene during the stationary phase was confirmed under various cultivation conditions using DNA macroarray analysis. Mutants with disrupted rmf were then generated from an L-lysine-producing E. coli strain. The rates of L-lysine accumulation and production were significantly increased in disruptants that were cultivated with excess phosphate. By contrast, a higher biomass was generated in disruptants that were grown under limited phosphate conditions. These results demonstrate that disruption of the rmf gene significantly affects L-lysine production and growth in E. coli.

The proton transport processes in the upper part of the descending limb of the long-looped nephron (LDLu) from hamsters were studied using a fluorescent dye, 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) in microperfused single nephron preparations. Intracellular pH (pHi), as assessed by the measurement of the fluorescence of BCECF trapped in the cytoplasm, was 7.23 +/- 0.05 (n = 18) under nominally HCO3--free conditions. Ouabain, when added to the bath, decreased pHi by 0.22 units. After an NH4Cl prepulse, the initial proton extrusion rate was 1.23 +/- 0.26 (n = 9) pH units/min, and was retarded in the presence of 1 mM amiloride either in the bath or in the lumen. pHi failed to recover when Na+ was eliminated from ambient solutions. These observations suggest that Na+/H+ antiporters exist both in the apical and basolateral cell membranes. By measuring tubular fluid pH (pHt) under stopped flow conditions, we examined whether the hamster LDLu has the capacity to generate and maintain a transmural H+ gradient. After the tubular outflow was obstructed, the luminal fluid was rapidly acidified, reaching a steady-state pH of 6.84 +/- 0.09 (n = 7). The steady-state pH was influenced by bath pH. Tubular fluid acidification was not observed in the absence of Na+ and was prevented by ouabain. We conclude that the hamster LDLu has the capability to generate and maintain a transmural proton gradient by proton secretion via a luminal Na+/H+ antiporter which is secondarily driven by the Na+-K+ ATPase in the basolateral membrane.

Metanephric mesenchyme may be converted to epithelia by the uteric bud (in vivo) and the spinal cord (in vitro). In their absence, the uniduced cells die or disappear. Morphological data, both in vitro and vivo, suggest that the demise of these cells is brought about by apoptosis, programmed cell death. By measuring DNA fragmentation in induced and uniduced cells, this study confirms not only that apoptosis occurs in the absence of an inducer, but also suggests that rescue from this process may be an important step in kidney development.

To examine the mechanisms of H+ transport in the mid-inner medullary collecting duct of hamsters, we measured the intracellular pH (pHi) in the in vitro perfused tubules by microscopic fluorometry using 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) as a fluorescent probe. In the basal condition, pHi was 6.74 +/- 0.04 (n = 45) in HCO3(-)-free modified Ringer solution. Either elimination of Na+ from the bath or addition of amiloride (1 mM) to the bath produced a reversible fall in pHi. After acid loading with 25 mM NH4Cl, pHi spontaneously recovered with an initial recovery rate of 0.096 +/- 0.012 (n = 23) pH unit/min. In the absence of ambient Na+, after removal of NH+4, the pHi remained low (5.95 +/- 0.10, n = 8) and showed no signs of recovery. Subsequent restoration of Na+ only in the lumen had no effect on pHi. However, when Na+ in the bath was returned to the control level, pHi recovered completely Amiloride (1 mM) in the bath completely inhibited the Na(-)-dependent pHi recovery. Furthermore, elimination of Na+ from the bath, but not from the lumen, decreased pHi from 6.97 +/- 0.07 to 6.44 +/- 0.05 (n = 12) in the HCO3-/Ringer solution or 6.70 +/- 0.03 to 6.02 +/- 0.5 pH unit/min in the presence of CO2/HCO3-, whereas it did not recover in the absence of CO2/HCO3-.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Autoradiograms of [125I]-endothelin (ET) binding in the rat brain demonstrated that the receptors for endothelin are localized mainly in the brainstem, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Among the many other nuclei in these regions, there also appeared nuclei which are considered to play important roles in the central nervous regulation of the cardiovascular system: they include the nuclei of the anteroventral third ventricle area, the supraoptic nucleus, and the subfornical organ, for example. From these findings, we suggest that ET-1 or its analogous peptide(s) may act as a neuropeptide regulating central nervous functions, including cardiovascular functions.

By tissue autoradiography in the rat, we demonstrated that receptors for endothelin-1 (ET-1) were distributed not only in the cardiovascular system but also in the noncardiovascular organs including the brain, lung, intestine, etc. In the brain, the receptors were mainly found in the basal ganglia and brainstem, in which nuclei are known to be cardiovascular regulatory sites. In addition to its direct vasoconstricting action, ET-1 may exert neural cardiovascular control as a neuropeptide.

We produced a monoclonal antibody, gamma G6, that reacts only with one cell type in the connecting (CNT) and collecting tubules (CT) of rabbit kidney. The gamma G6 antibody-reactive cells revealed carbonic anhydrase activity, showing one of the characteristics of intercalated (IC) cells. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we demonstrated that IC cells in cortical CT consist of the gamma G6 antibody-reactive and non-reactive cells, whereas all IC cells in medullary CT were reactive with the gamma G6 antibody. We used a cell sorter to enrich this cell type from the isolated kidney cell suspension. When we measured hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase (ACase) activities of the sorted cells, the presence of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and isoproterenol (ISO) almost doubled ACase activities when compared with the basal values; however, no additive effect of PTH and ISO was observed. They showed no calcitonin-sensitive ACase and negligible arginine vasopressin (AVP)-sensitive ACase. We suggest that the IC cells recognized by the gamma G6 monoclonal antibody possess a receptor(s) for PTH and/or ISO but not for AVP in the CNT and CT, although it remains to be clarified whether the reactivities to PTH and ISO in these cells originate from single or dual cells.

Intrarenal distributions of three enzymes, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP), alkaline phosphatase (Al-p) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) were determined using six segments of nephrons. These enzymes were localized only in the proximal tubule. Intra-proximal distributions of the enzymes, however, were not uniform. The order of each enzyme activity in three segments of the proximal tubule, S1, S2 and S3 was as follows: Formula: (See Text) With subcutaneous administration of HgCl2 (1.0 mg/kg/day), urinary excretions of all three enzymes were increased from the 1st to the 2nd day and then decreased to the control level. However, after intraperitoneal administration of gentamicin sulfate (40 mg/kg/day), only Al-p activity in urine was significantly increased on the 1st day. Because of the lack of increasing blood levels of these enzymes after treatment, increased urinary excretions of the enzymes probably originate from the kidney, particularly the proximal tubule. The prominently increased excretion of gamma-GTP and LAP after HgCl2 treatment means that HgCl2 might damage S2 and S3, because the excretory patterns of the three enzymes were similar to their distribution profiles in S2 and S3. On the other hand, the toxic action of GM may be localized in S1 portion, in which Al-p activity proved to be highest among the three enzymes.

Effects of SH reagents on Cl- transport were studied in the isolated hamster thin ascending limb of Henle's loop (TAL) perfused in vitro. Parachloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) at 10(-4) M in the bath decreased the relative permeability for Cl-/Na+ (PCl/PNa), as determined by the transmural diffusion voltage (VT) generated under a NaCl concentration gradient, from 2.71 +/- 0.16 to 1.11 +/- 0.09 (P less than 0.001). The effect of PCMBS was prevented by the pretreatment with 10(-3) M dithiothreitol (DTT). N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) at 10(-3) M in the bath exhibited a dual action on Cl- permeability of the TAL: It inhibited the Cl- permeability in fresh preparations, whereas it stimulated the Cl- permeability in the preparations pretreated with SH reagents including NEM, maleimide and PCMBS. The inhibitory effect was irreversible but the stimulatory effect was reversible. Both responses were prevented by DTT. Since dextran-maleimide did not show any inhibitory effect on PCl/PNa, the SH site responsible for the inhibition may be located inside of the cell. The stimulatory effect of NEM on PCl/PNa was markedly reduced when bath pH was reduced to 5.8. On the other hand, when the bathing fluid was made nominally Ca2+ free, the stimulatory effect of NEM was unaffected, although the basal level of PCl/PNa was reduced These observations suggest that the conductive Cl- pathway in the TAL is either stimulated or inhibited by modifying two distinct SH sites. The site of modulation by proton binding may exist distally to these SH sites. The regulatory mechanism involving Ca2+ may be independent of the SH regulatory sites.

In order to identify the molecular size of receptors for alpha-rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-rANP), we utilized the direct UV irradiation method for photoaffinity labeling with the biologically active [125I] alpha-rANP. In the preparation of isolated glomerulus and the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCT)-rich fraction, the autoradiograms of the electrophoresed sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels showed a single radioactive band which is displaceable with unlabeled alpha-rANP. The dose-dependent displacement fit very well with a binding-inhibition curve representing the binding affinity of 6.5 X 10(-10) M. The molecular size of the ligand-receptor complex was about 65,000 daltons for both glomerulus and IMCT-rich fraction. In contrast, in homogenate of the aorta and adrenal gland, the ligand-receptor complex was 140,000 daltons.

We examined intrarenal localization of receptors for alpha-rat atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-rANP) by injecting [125I]-labeled ligand in vivo into the rat aorta. We found that the receptors for alpha-rANP are distributed also on the vasa recta of the outer and inner medulla in addition to the previously reported sites, i.e., the renal arteries, renal pelvis, glomeruli, and inner medullary tissues including collecting tubules. In the vascular bundle of the outer medulla, the majority of grains was preferentially localized on the arterial vasa recta. The electron microscopic autoradiography of the glomerulus showed that the binding sites were mainly localized on the foot process of the podocyte. Since alpha-rANP injected into the aorta under physiological conditions was bound to the glomerulus and vasa recta in the kidney, the effect of ANP on these binding sites may be important in the mechanism of natriuresis.

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and endogenous protein phosphorylating activity are reported for 6 cortical segments of the rabbit nephron which were microdissected and collected according to their morphology. The 6 cortical nephron segments, namely the glomerulus (Glm), proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), proximal straight tubule (PST), cortical ascending limb of Henle's loop (CAL), distal convoluted tubule (DCT), and cortical collecting tubule (CCT), showed protein kinase activities which were increased 1.8-4.9 fold by 10(-6) M cyclic AMP in the presence of histone IIA, histone f2b or histone f3 as a protein substrate. However, all these segments showed little or no cyclic AMP dependent increase of activity with either protamine or alpha-casein as a protein substrate. Cyclic AMP increased the endogenous protein phosphorylation of Glm (10(-6) M cyclic AMP), of CAL (10(-7) and 10(-8) M cyclic AMP), of DCT (10(-6) M cyclic AMP) and of CCT (10(-8), 10(-7) and 10(-6) M cyclic AMP). In contrast, PCT showed decreased endogenous protein phosphorylation in the presence of 10(-7), 10(-5) and 10(-4) M cyclic AMP.

Cellular heterogeneity was examined in the hamster medullary thick ascending limb (MAL) perfused in vitro by electrophysiological measurements with an intracellular microelectrode. Random measurements of fractional resistance of basolateral membrane (RfB) revealed two cell populations, high basolateral conductance (HBC) cells having RfB of 0.05 +/- 0.01 (n = 24) and low basolateral conductance (LBC) cells having RfB of 0.80 +/- 0.03 (n = 32). Basolateral membrane potentials (VB) were not different between HBC cells and LBC cells (-72.6 +/- 1.2, n = 43 vs. -70.0 +/- 1.2, n = 35). Addition of 2 mmol/l Ba2+ to the bath depolarized the basolateral membrane in the HBC cells from -70.4 +/- 3.2 to -20.9 +/- 5.9 mV (n = 8) but not in the LBC cells (from -74.4 +/- 1.9 to -72.0 +/- 2.1 mV). Increasing K+ or decreasing Cl- in the bathing solution caused marked positive deflection of VB in the HBC cells but little or no change in VB in the LBC cells. Elimination of Cl- from the lumen or addition of furosemide to the lumen enhanced the potential response of the HBC cells to basolateral application of Ba2+. Accordingly, with Ba2+ present in the bath, the potential response of the HBC cells to a decrease in bath Cl- concentration was enhanced. These observations suggest that a K+ conductance exists in the basolateral membrane of HBC cells in parallel with a Cl- conductance. The basolateral cell membrane of LBC cells also contains a Cl- conductance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)