Mujo Kim

Occurrence of a sialylglycopeptide and free sialylglycans in hen's egg yolk

Free sialylglycans (FSGs) and a sialylglycopeptide (SGP) as components of hens egg yolk were found and their chemical structures were determined. SGP and FSGs were isolated from fresh egg yolk by treatment with phenol, gel filtration and successive chromatographies on columns of anion- and cation-exchangers. They were localized in the yolk plasma. The glycan moiety of SGP, which was liberated by PNGase digestion, was studied for the chemical structure by HPLC mapping with p-aminobenzoic ethylester-derivatization, sugar composition analysis, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and the glycomoiety was found to be an N-linked disialyl-biantennary glycan. The amino acid sequence of the peptide moiety of SGP was determined to consist of Lys-Val-Ala-Asn-Lys-Thr, the Asn of which is modified with the disialylglycan moiety. FSGs were determined to be two free disialyl-biantennary glycans whose reducing end was either Man beta1-4GlcNAc (FSG-I) or Man beta1-4GlcNAc beta1-4GlcNAc (FSG-II). Since the molar value of SGP present in one egg yolk (2.8 micromol) is comparable to those of well-known major yolk proteins, low density lipoprotein, lipovitellins and phosvitin, it can be considered that SGP is one of the major components in hens egg yolk.

Therapeutic Potential of (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-Gallate on Renal Damage in Diabetic Nephropathy Model Rats

Previous investigations have demonstrated that green tea polyphenols and partially hydrolyzed guar gum as dietary fiber have antioxidative and hypolipidemic activity, respectively, supporting their reduction of risk factors in the course of diabetic nephropathy via a hypoglycemic effect and ameliorating the decline of renal function through their combined administration to rats with subtotal nephrectomy plus streptozotocin (STZ) injection. As a further study, we examined whether (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCg), the main polyphenolic compound, could ameliorate the development of diabetic nephropathy. Rats with subtotal nephrectomy plus STZ injection were orally administrated EGCg at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight/day. After a 50-day administration period, EGCg-treated groups showed suppressed hyperglycemia, proteinuria, and lipid peroxidation, although there were only weak effects on the levels of serum creatinine and glycosylated protein. Furthermore, EGCg reduced renal advanced glycation end-product accumulation and its related protein expression in the kidney cortex as well as associated pathological conditions. These results suggest that EGCg ameliorates glucose toxicity and renal injury, thus alleviating renal damage caused by abnormal glucose metabolism-associated oxidative stress involved in renal lesions of diabetic nephropathy.

In Vivo Effects of Tea Polyphenol Intake on Human Intestinal Microflora and Metabolism

Effects of tea polyphenol intake (0.4 g/volunteer, 3 times per day, for four weeks) on fecal microflora, bacterial metabolites, and pH were investigated using eight healthy human volunteers. Counts for Clostridium perfringens and other Clostridium spp. were significantly decreased during the tea polyphenol intake periods. Percentage of volunteers having C. perfringens in their feces decreased significantly, but not for other Clostridium spp. Percentage of Bifidobacterium spp. (the acid forming bacteria) in total counts and the content of volatile fatty acids including acetic and propionic acids increased significantly, which might have reduced the fecal pH. However, the tea polyphenols had no effect on fecal enzyme activities, ammonia, or putrefactive products. Two weeks after discontinuing the intake, the microflora counts and their biological parameters appeared to have returned to normal.

Simultaneous determination of catechins in human saliva by high-performance liquid chromatography

Green tea extracts have been suggested to possess a preventive effect against dental caries. A quantitative method for their anticariogenic substances, catechins, was developed to evaluate their concentrations in human saliva after mouthrinsing with green tea extract. Salivary catechins were extracted to the organic phase after forming a complex with diphenylborate and an ion-pair with tetra-n-butylammonium, and then back-extracted to the acidic aqueous phase. The extract was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography using diode array detection at absorption wavelengths ranging from 269 to 278 nm. In reversed-phase chromatography by a gradient elution, eight catechins originating from green tea and an internal standard were separated in 15 min without interfering peaks. All the catechins were simultaneously and selectively determined in the concentration range 0.05-25.0 microg/ml. In replicate spiking experiments with standards, the mean recovery ranged between 86 and 99%, and both intra- and inter-assay C.V.s were within 2.3%. When mouthrinsing with an aqueous solution of green tea extract (5.0 mg/ml) containing eight catechins, the quantitative results revealed that each catechin was retained at microg/ml levels in saliva for up to 60 min.

Structures of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides from hen egg-yolk antibody (IgY). Occurrence of unusual glucosylated oligo-mannose type oligosaccharides in a mature glycoprotein

Asparagine-linked oligosaccharides present on hen egg-yolk immunoglobulin, termed IgY, were liberated from the protein by hydrazinolysis. AfterN-acetylation, the oligosaccharides were labelled with a UV-absorbing compound,p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (ABEE). The ABEE-derivatized oligosaccharides were fractionated by anion exchange, normal phase and reversed phase HPLC, and their structures were determined by a combination of sugar composition analysis, methylation analysis, negative ion FAB-MS, 500 MHz1H-NMR and sequential exoglycosidase digestions. IgY contained monoglucosylated oligomannose type oligosaccharides with structures of Glcα1-3Man7–9-GlcNAc-GlcNAc, oligomannose type oligosaccharides with the size range of Man5–9GlcNAc-GlcNAc, and biantennary complex type oligosaccharides with core region structure of Manα1-6(±GlcNAcβ1-4)(Manα1-3)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(±Fucα1-6)GlcNAc. The glucosylated oligosaccharides, Glc1Man8GlcNAc2 and Glc1Man7GlcNAc2, have not previously been reported in mature glycoproteins from any source.

Preventive Effect of Green Tea Polyphenols against Dental Caries in Conventional Rats.

The effects of green tea polyphenols, inhibitors of various biological activities of cariogenic bacteria in vitro, on caries development were examined using conventional rats. A total of 96 male rats were divided into 8 groups and the rats in the test groups were given tea polyphenols ranging from 0.1% to 0.5% in their cariogenic diet or drinking water for 40 days. Total fissure caries lesions was significantly reduced by the addition of tea polyphenols to the diet or in the drinking water. Diet containing 0.1% tea polyphenols demonstrated about 40% reduction of total fissure caries lesions. No toxic effect of tea polyphenols on rats were observed under these experimental conditions.

Effect of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on fecal output in human volunteers

Abstract Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG, average M. W. 20,000) digested by s-D-mannanase was given as a beverage after every meal (36 g/3 times/day) to eight healthy men for 4 weeks. Diet with PHGG increased fecal weight and output frequency while lowering the pH of feces without an influence on fat, protein or mineral excretion. Among the fecal volatile fatty acids (VFA), only acetic acid significantly increased. Total serum cholesterol was reduced (p

Enzymatic synthesis of a sialyl Lewis X dimer from egg yolk as an inhibitor of E-selectin

A dimeric sialyl Lewis X (SLex) glycopeptide was synthesized enzymatically in three steps from an N-linked oligosaccharide prepared from egg yolk. Treatment of delipidated hen egg yolk with the protease Orientase and neuraminidase gave a dimeric N-acetyllactosamine-containing oligosaccharide linked to asparagine. Addition of sialic acid and fucose catalyzed by alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase and alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase provided the dimeric SLex, which was shown to be as active as monomeric SLex as an inhibitor of E-selectin with IC50 0.75 mM. The synthetic dimeric SLex of the mucin type (i.e. SLex linked to the 3- and 6-OH groups of Gal) is, however, about five times as active as the monomer. It is suggested that dimeric SLex glycopeptides of the mucin type would be effective ligands for E-selectin.

Preparation of N-acetylneuraminic acid from delipidated egg yolk

Egg yolk, a large proportion of the egg, was studied for the preparation ofN-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). The delipidated hen egg yolk (DEY; 500 kg containing 0.2% w/w, Neu5Ac) was hydrolysed with HCl (pH 1.4) at 80 °C and neutralized with NaOH (pH 6.0). The mixture was filtered and electrodialysed until the conductivity was 240 µS cm−1. The filtrate was applied on a column of Dowex HCR-W2 (20–50 mesh), followed by a column of Dowex 1-X8 (200–400 mesh). The latter column was washed with water, and then eluted with a linear gradient of HCO2H (0–2m). The eluates containing Neu5Ac were concentrated using a reverse osmosis membrane and, finally, rotary evaporated at 40 °C. The residue was then lyophilized to yield 500 g Neu5Ac. The purity of Neu5Ac was >98% (TBA method). HPLC, NMR spectroscopy and TLC chromatography of the product obtained from the DEY showed that Neu5Ac was the sole derivative present in egg yolk. The DEY, a byproduct from egg processing plants, was found to be an excellent source for the large-scale preparation of Neu5Ac.

Inhibitory effect of tannin in green tea on the proliferation of mesangial cells

The effect of green tea tannin on the proliferation of mesangial cells was determined in terms of [3H]thymidine uptake. When green tea tannin was added to the medium of mesangial cell cultures, it suppressed the proliferation of mesangial cells markedly. In particular, (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, the predominant component of the green tea tannin mixture, exerted an inhibitory effect at a relatively low concentration, suggesting a direct corroboration of the renal effects.