Shigeo Nozoe

Bio: Shigeo Nozoe is an academic researcher from Tohoku University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Amino acid & Absolute configuration. The author has an hindex of 32, co-authored 156 publications receiving 3309 citations. Previous affiliations of Shigeo Nozoe include Kanazawa University & Hokkaido University.

Biosynthesis of Phytosiderophores In Vitro Biosynthesis of 2′-Deoxymugineic Acid from l-Methionine and Nicotianamine

Abstract: 2′ -Deoxymugineic acid (DMA), one of mugineic acid-family phytosiderophores (MAs), was synthesized in vitro both from l-methionine and from nicotianamine (NA) with a cell-free system derived from root tips of iron-deficient barley (Hordeum vulgare L) The reactions producing DMA from NA needed an amino group acceptor (ie 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate, or oxalacetic acid) and a reductant (ie NADH or NADPH) The activity of the enzymes to produce NA from l-methionine was the highest at about pH 9 This biosynthetic activity was markedly induced by iron-deficiency stress The synthesis of NA from S-adenosyl-l-methionine was more efficient than from l-methionine From the results with the cell-free system reported here, we propose a revised biosynthetic pathway of MAs

Eudistomidins B, C, and D: novel antileukemic alkaloids from the Okinawan marine tunicate Eudistoma glaucus

Abstract: The isolation and structure elucidation of eudistomidins B, C, and D, three new pharmacologically active components from this tunicate is reported

Phytoextraction of toxic metals: a review of biological mechanisms.

Abstract: plants capable of accumulating uncommonly high Zn levels. In 1935, Byers documented the accumulation of Remediation of sites contaminated with toxic metals is particularly selenium in Astragalus spp. One decade later, Minguzzi challenging. Unlike organic compounds, metals cannot be degraded, and the cleanup usually requires their removal. However, this energy- and Vergnano (1948) identified plants capable of hyperintensive approach can be prohibitively expensive. In addition, the accumulating up to 1% Ni in shoots. Following the idenmetal removing process often employs stringent physicochemical tification of these and other hyperaccumulator species, agents which can dramatically inhibit soil fertility with subsequent a great deal of research has been conducted to elucidate negative impacts on the ecosystem. Phytoremediation has been pro- the physiology and biochemistry of metal hyperaccumuposed as a cost-effective, environmental-friendly alternative technol- lation in plants. Significant results have been obtained, ogy. A great deal of research indicates that plants have the genetic and the understanding of metal accumulating mechapotential to remove many toxic metals from the soil. Despite this nisms substantially advanced. However, a better undpotential, phytoremediation is yet to become a commercially available erstanding of the biological processes is needed if phytechnology. Progress in the field is hindered by a lack of understanding toextraction is to become a reliable, commercially of complex interactions in the rhizosphere and plant-based mechanisms which allow metal translocation and accumulation in plants. In available technology. this paper, four research areas relevant to metal phytoextraction from The success of phytoextraction, as an environmental contaminated soil are reviewed. The review concludes with an assess- cleanup technology, depends on several factors includment of the current status of technology deployment and suggestions ing the extent of soil contamination, metal availability for future phytoremediation research. for uptake into roots (bioavailability), and plant ability to intercept, absorb, and accumulate metals in shoots (Ernst, 1996). Ultimately, the potential for phytoextracP hytoremediation, the use of plants for environmen- tion depends on the interaction between soil, metal, and tal restoration, is an emerging cleanup technology. plant. The complexity of this interaction, controlled by To exploit plant potential to remediate soil and water climatic conditions, argues against generic and in favor contaminated with a variety of compounds, several tech- of a site specific phytoremediating approach. This undernological subsets have been proposed. Phytoextraction lines the importance of understanding the mechanisms is the use of higher plants to remove inorganic contami- and processes that govern metal uptake and accumulanants, primarily metals, from polluted soil. In this ap- tion in plants. In this review, four research areas, releproach, plants capable of accumulating high levels of vant to soil and plant interaction as it relates to metal metals are grown in contaminated soil. At maturity, phytoextraction, have been identified. The significance metal-enriched aboveground biomass is harvested and of these areas is briefly discussed below.