No abstract

Newly isolated thraustochytrids showed uptake of vitamin B12 from the culture into the cells. Cultivation of thraustochytrids in a medium containing 1 g/ml of vitamin B12 greatly increased the contents of vitamin B12 in the cells. Similarly to Schizochytrium limacinum, odd numbered fatty acids decreased in the cells of new isolates cultivated with vitamin B12. Vitamin B12-enriched thraustochytrids, strain mh0186, enhanced the population growth of rotifers fed on the cells as sole feed.

Summary A marine eukaryotic microorganism, Schizochytrium limacinum SR21, had the ability to absorb and accumulate exogenous cobalamin, which was converted to the cobalamin coenzymes 5 ¢ -deoxyadenosylcobalamin (20.1%) and methylcobalamin (29.6%). A considerably high activity (about 38 mU/mg protein) of 5 ¢ -deoxyadenosylcobalamin-dependent methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (EC 5.4.99.2) involved in amino acid and odd-chain fatty acid metabolism was found in the cell homogenate of S. limacinum SR21. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity and characterized.

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Diets containing either dehulled adlay seeds or young adlay leaves were administered to mice. The hapten 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB) was applied to the right ear of mice daily for 28 days to generate a model of chronic dermatitis. The thickness of the right ear was measured to evaluate the pathology of allergy. The symptoms of mice fed diet containing adlay leaves were reduced. The serum IgE levels of mice belonging to both adlay groups were significantly lower than the control group. The IFN-γ level of mice belonging to the adlay leaf group was significantly higher in these groups and the IL-4 levels of both adlay samples were lower than the control. These results strongly suggest that adlay leaves have anti-allergic effects similar to that seen with dehulled adlay seeds.