One of the greatest challenges in biotechnology and in biochemistry is the ability to design efficient enzymes. In fact, such an ability would be one of the most convincing manifestations of a full understanding of the origin of enzyme catalysis. Despite some progress on this front, most of the advances have been made by placing the reacting fragments in the proper places rather than by optimiz...

The bioactivity of natural, long-chain ceramides has until now been studied after its delivery to cells in organic solvent mixtures containing dodecane. We have synthesized ceramides conjugated to a (6-bromo-7-hydroxycoumarin-4-yl)methyl group. The photocaged ceramide is efficiently released with 350 nm light in aqueous solution at neutral pH, thus providing a promising new tool to study cerami...

periments were therefore conducted. Various methods have already been reported for thin layer chromatography of antioxidants by Seher (1), Meyer (2), Davidek and Pokorny (3) and Jonas (4). Seher utilized a two-dimension chromatography with silica gel as the adsorbent and chloroform and benzene as the solvents for development. Gallates and related compounds and NDGA remained at the starting poin...

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1-7-1 against 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-induced forms of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) was used to characterize benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) metabolism in rat liver and extrahepatic tissues and its modulation by phenolic antioxidants, propyl and octyl gallates. Male Wistar rats were treated with these food additives (50 mg/kg body wt i.p.) twice weekly for 14 days alone or in combi...

Alkyl Gallates, Intensifiers of -Lactam Susceptibility in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Hirofumi Shibata, Kyoko Kondo, Ryo Katsuyama, Kazuyoshi Kawazoe, Yoichi Sato, Kotaro Murakami, Yoshihisa Takaishi, Naokatu Arakaki, and Tomihiko Higuti* Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Medicine, Department of Natural Medicines, and Department of Human Genetics and Public Health, Instit...

AIM To overcome fludioxonil resistance of Penicillium expansum, a mycotoxigenic fungal pathogen causing postharvest decay in apple, by using natural phenolic chemosensitizing agents. METHODS AND RESULTS Fludioxonil-resistant mutants of P. expansum were co-treated with different oxidising and natural phenolic agents. Resistance was overcome by natural phenolic chemosensitizing agents targeting...