Satoru Oka

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.

Cloning and characterization of a new allergen, Mag 3, from the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae: Cross-reactivity with high-molecular-weight allergen

A new immunoreactive clone whose sequence is not homologous to that of any of the previously identified mite allergens was isolated by successive immunoscreening of a Dermatophagoides farinae cDNA library with rabbit antisera to an extract of the house dust mite and IgE in pooled sera from patients allergic to mites. Rabbit antibodies specific for the recombinant protein recognized a 177 kD protein in a mite body extract. This immunoreactive protein was located in the circumferential tissues of esophagus, gut and the other internal organs in mites. The reaction of human IgE to the purified natural antigen was inhibited competitively to 30% by the recombinant antigen. In terms of the frequency and the intensity of response to specific IgE in sera from asthmatic patients, the natural protein was similar to Der f2, while the recombinant protein was slightly less allergenic by these criteria. We conclude that the natural protein from the house dust mite, D. farinae, is an important allergen.

Cloning and Characterization of cDNA Coding for a New Allergen from the House Dust Mite, Dermatophagoides farinae

A cDNA clone encoding a new allergen from the Dermatophagoides farinae cDNA lambda gt11 library was isolated and sequenced. There was no amino acid sequence homology with other known allergens. The gene product, beta-galactosidase fusion protein, of the truncated cDNA on blot reacted with IgE in 13 of 43 sera from patients allergic to mites. The affinity-purified fusion protein had a potent ability to release histamine from washed blood cells of the mite-allergic patients. Human specific IgE eluted from the fusion protein band on blots recognized a 39-kD component on blots of a mite body extract.

Further characterization of allergenically active oligosaccharitols isolated from a sea squirt H-antigen.

Complete primary structures of five allergenically active oligosaccharitols (HPG-beta 2-N5a, -N6, -N7a, -N7b, and -N9) derived from a sea squirt H-antigen were studied. Structural characterization was carried out by a new method in which products of limited periodate oxidation, followed by derivatization with p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester, were analyzed by a combination of HPLC, fast atom-bombardment mass spectrometry, sequential glycosidase digestion, methylation analysis, and 500-MHz 1H NMR. Established structures of GalNAc beta 1-4 (GalNAc alpha 1-2Fuc alpha 1-3) GlcNAc beta 1-3GalNAc-ol, GalNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3 (GalNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6) GalNAc-ol, GalNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3[GalNAc beta 1-4 (Fuc alpha 1-3) GlcNAc beta 1-6] GalNAc-ol, GalNAc beta 1-4 (Fuc alpha 1-3) GlcNAc beta 1-3[GalNAc beta 1-4 (Fuc alpha 1-3) GlcNAc beta 1-6] GalNAc-ol, and GalNAc beta 1-4 (GalNAc alpha 1-2Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-3 [GalNAc beta 1-4 (GalNAc alpha 1-2Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-6]GalNAc-ol are represented by HPG-beta 2-N5a, -N6, -N7a, -N7b, and -N9, respectively. These structures have not been encountered previously. Oligosaccharide units GalNAc alpha 1-2Fuc alpha 1-, GalNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-, and Fuc alpha 1-3GlcNAc beta 1- are considered to be the allergenically specific epitopes. Partial assignments of 500-MHz 1H NMR spectra of these novel O-linked oligosaccharitols were attempted.

Structure of IgE epitopes on a new 39-kD allergen molecule from the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae

Two IgE epitope sequences comprising Ser56-Pro-Val-Thr-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Lys-Ile-Asp-Ser-Lys-Lys70 and Asp104-Val-Glu-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg-Ser-Ser-Asp-Ile-Ala115 were identified by deletion analysis of the cDNA encoding a new 39-kD protein of mite allergen. A synthetic dodecapeptide corresponding to the latter epitope sequence functioned as a monovalent and mite-specific hapten. Replacement of each of the 12 amino acid residues with Gly, using site-directed mutagenesis, indicated that Arg110 may play a central role in IgE binding. However, the 8 allergic sera tested exhibited a wide variation in their amino acid residues required for reactivity to IgE in allergic sera.

B cell mitogenic activity of house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae, antigens

The effect of mite antigens on murine and human lymphocytes was studied in vitro. Antigens prepared from Dermatophagoides farinae feces and bodies stimulated normal murine spleen cells to proliferate in a dose-dependent manner. The responder cells are B cells, because the response was reduced by the treatment of spleen cells with anti-immunoglobulin antibody and complement, but not with anti-Thy 1 antibody and complement. Furthermore, nylon column-purified T cells did not respond. The stimulation of B cells with mite antigens was not due to the contamination of lipopolysaccharide, a representative B cell mitogen, because C3H/HeJ spleen cells which are low responders to lipopolysaccharide could respond to mite antigens. These antigens induced not only proliferative response of murine B cells, but also immunoglobulin production. By gel-filtration column chromatography, the active fractions were eluted around the molecular weight of 150-155 kDa. Furthermore, mite antigens also stimulated human B cells to proliferate and to produce immunoglobulin. All these results suggest that mite antigens are a potent B cell mitogen and this activity might concern the induction of allergic reaction.

B Cell Mitogenic Activity of Sea Squirt Antigen

The activity of sea squirt antigen, one of the allergy-inducing substances for humans, on murine and human lymphocytes was studied in vitro. Sea squirt antigen stimulated normal mouse spleen cells to proliferate, as detected by [3H]-TdR incorporation, in a dose-dependent manner. The responder cells are B cells because the response was reduced by the treatment of spleen cells with anti-immunoglobulin antibody and complement and passing through a nylon wool column, but not with anti-Thy-1 antibody and complement. Spleen cells of C3H/HeJ mice, which are lipopolysaccharide low responders, were also stimulated as well as spleen cells of C3H/HeN mice, suggesting that this response is not due to lipopolysaccharide in the antigen fraction. Sea squirt antigen stimulated not only proliferative response of B cells, but also polyclonal immunoglobulin production. Furthermore, sea squirt antigen also stimulated human lymphocytes to proliferate and to produce immunoglobulin. All these results suggest that sea squirt antigen has mitogenic activity on B cells, and this ability is concerned with the induction of allergic reaction.

Purification of two types of sea-squirt antigens.

Under monitoring the antigenic activity by radioimmunoassay (RIA), one of the major sea-squirt antigens was isolated by gel chromatography after treatment of the extract from internal organs of sea-squirt with QAE-Sephadex. This antigen was fairly homogenous as judged from its elution profile in chromatography on a column of Ultrogel AcA 44 with respect not only of the antigenic activity but also to UV absorption. Furthermore, the antigen inhibited the binding of the 125I-labeled tracer antigen to rabbit anti-sea-squirt antibody in a similar mode to the case of Ei-2, one of the sea-squirt antigens previously prepared, but its specific activity was as high as 2.33 times that of Ei-2. Accordingly this isolated antigen was corresponded to the major antigenic substance in Ei-2 and referred to as Ei-M. In addition, the other antigen of Gi-x was also isolated by chromatography on a column of Sepharose 6B as the major antigenic substance in Gi-2, the other one of the previous antigens. Gi-x was apparently different from E-M in the mode of inhibition of the binding of the tracer antigen to the antibody, although its antigenic activity against the asthmatic patients in vivo was as high as that of Ei-M. Thus, it was considered that sea-squirt contained at least two types of antigens of Ei-M and GI-X.

Use of Koji prepared with a high citric acid producing mutant of Aspergillus usamii as a raw material for Saké brewing

Abstract There is a possibility of developing a new kind of sake in which the refreshing sour taste of citric acid is introduced. In this study, we bred a new mutant of Aspergillus usamii mut. shiro-usamii that produced much citric acid. The koji prepared with the mutant contained about 20 mg of citric acid per gram of dry koji, twice that of the koji of the parental strain. The activities of a-amylase, glucoamylase, and acidic protease in the koji prepared with the mutant were 82%, 94%, and 95%, respectively, those of the parental strain. Using this koji with the mutant, sake was produced. The levels of citric acid and isoamyl acetate were 5.1 and 1.4 times, respectively, those of sake prepared with koji of A. oryzae. Sensory tests indicated that sake made with koji with the mutant was refreshingly sour, with a good aroma.

Studies on Transfer of Antiseptics to Microbes and their Toxic Effect:Part VI. Toxic Effect and Adsorption of Phenols and Esters of Acid Antiseptics on Bacterial Cell

The adsorption of phenols and esters of acid antiseptics by the bacterial cell (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) was investigated in relatoin to their toxic effect, and it has been observed that the definite quantity of antiseptics must be adsorbed on the solid phase of the bacterial cell in order to give the definite toxic effect, and the toxic effect is independent of the quantity dissolved in the inner cell fluid or in the lipid phase of the cell. The result shows that the toxic effect of these antiseptics on either bacteria and yeast, is exclusively limited by the adsorbed quantity.The adsorbed quantity required for the definite toxic effect was nearly the same as that previously observed in the case of the yeast, and the mechanism of the toxic action of these antiseptics was assumed to be same with each other in any case of microbes.