Difructose Anhydride and Passive Immunity Effects on Passive Immune Transfer and Performance of Feeding Difructose Anhydride to Neonatal Calves

The objective of this study was to assess the potential effects of supplementing difructose anyhdride III (DFAIII) during the first days of life on the absorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and growth performance of calves early in life fed colostrum with a high IgG concentration. Sixty-six healthy new-born Holstein calves were randomly assigned to three treatments consisting of no supplementation (control), supplementation of 12 g/d (DFA12), or 36 g/d (DFA36) of DFAIII during the first 7 d of life via colostrum and milk replacer (MR). Calves were separated from dams at birth and bottle-fed colostrum in two meals, each targeting 2.5 L within the first 18 h of birth. Colostrum had been previously collected from other dams (and preserved frozen) within the first 2 h of calving and had a Brix value ≥32%. Daily consumption of starter concentrate and MR (and colostrum on the first day) were individually monitored. Calves were body weighed using an electronic scale at birth and on a weekly basis thereafter until the end of study at 42 d of age. A sample of colostrum fed to each calf and a blood sample from the jugular vein of the calves were collected at 12 and 24 h of life to determine the IgG concentration. The mean colostrum IgG concentration fed in the current study was 110 ± 33.7 g/L (mean ± SD). No differences in animal performance were found among the treatments. Calves on all treatments consumed the same amount of colostrum with a similar concentration of IgG, and thus the amount of IgG consumed was also similar. Serum IgG concentrations were greater at 24 than at 12 h but did not differ among treatments. However, the apparent efficiency of absorption of colostral immunoglobulins was greater in DFA12 and DFA36 at 12 h of life than in control calves, with no differences observed at 24 h. Even when feeding high-quality colostrum, in terms of IgG concentration, supplementation with difructose anhydride III may pose an additional advantage in promoting the passive transfer of immunoglobulins in neonatal Holstein calves during the first 12 h of life.

Difructose anhydride III: a 50-year perspective on its production and physiological functions

Production and applications of difructose anhydride III (DFA-III) have attracted considerable attention because of its versatile physiological functions. Recently, large-scale production of DFA-III has been continuously explored, which opens a horizon for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This review updates recent advances involving DFA-III, including: biosynthetic strategies, purification, and large-scale production of DFA-III; physiological functions of DFA-III and related mechanisms; DFA-III safety evaluations; present applications in food systems, existing problems, and further research prospects. Currently, enzymatic synthesis of DFA-III has been conducted both industrially and in academic research. Two biosynthetic strategies for DFA-III production are summarized: single- and double enzyme-mediated. DFA-III purification is achieved via yeast fermentation. Enzyme membrane bioreactors have been applied to meet the large-scale production demands for DFA-III. In addition, the primary physiological functions of DFA-III and their underlying mechanisms have been proposed. However, current applications of DFA-III are limited. Further research regarding DFA-III should focus on commercial production and purification, comprehensive study of physiological properties, extensive investigation of large-scale human experiments, and expansion of industrial applications. It is worthy to dig deep into potential application and commercial value of DFA-III.

Effect of dietary difructose anhydride III supplementation on bone mineral density and calcium metabolism in late-lactation dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of 28 days of dietary difructose anhydride (DFA) III supplementation on calcium (Ca) metabolism in late-lactation dairy cows. Twenty-four multiparous pregnant Holstein cows were divided into two groups. The DFA group was fed total mixed ration (TMR) supplemented with 40 g of DFA III, and the control group was fed TMR only. The replenishment of bone Ca reserves was evaluated by measuring bone mineral density (BMD) and blood biochemical bone markers. Serum Ca concentrations, urinary Ca-to-creatinine (Cre) (Ca/Cre) ratios, and milk Ca concentrations were also analyzed. The BMD of the 4th caudal vertebra in the DFA group was higher than in the control group on day 28. With respect to bone markers, the ratios of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) to osteocalcin (OC) in the DFA group were significantly lower than those in the control group on days 21 and 28. Milk Ca concentrations in the DFA group were also higher than those in the control group on days 14, 21, and 28, whereas serum Ca concentrations and urinary Ca/Cre ratios were unchanged in both groups. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with DFA III increased BMD and decreased serum ucOC/OC ratios in late-lactation dairy cows; this indicates that the replenishment of bone Ca reserves may be enhanced by dietary DFA III supplementation.

Effects of difructose anhydride III on serum immunoglobulin G concentration and health status of newborn Holstein calves during the preweaning period

This experiment was performed to investigate the effects of increases in passively acquired immunoglobulin G (IgG) by difructose anhydride (DFA) III supplementation on subsequent serum IgG concentration and health status in calves during the preweaning period. Thirty newborn female Holstein calves were paired by birth order, and 2 calves in each pair were fed 2 L of the same batch of colostrum within 2 h and at 10 h after birth, and followed by 2 L of the same batch of pooled colostrum at 20 h after birth. One calf from each pair was assigned to the control (n = 15) or treatment (n = 15) group. All calves in the treatment group received 18 g of DFA III at each feeding from birth to 7 d of age, whereas calves in the control group did not receive DFA III. Blood samples were collected before feeding at 0, 10, 20, and 36 h, and 4 and 7 d of age, and sampling was repeated at 7-d intervals thereafter until 49 d of age for serum IgG analysis. Calves were monitored daily for diarrhea and respiratory diseases. Serum IgG concentrations peaked at 36 h of age in both groups. Apparent efficiency of IgG absorption and peak serum IgG concentration were higher in the treatment group than in the control group. Using multiple regression analysis, we showed that peak serum IgG concentration in the newborn calves was positively correlated with colostral IgG concentration and DFA III supplementation. Moreover, peak serum IgG concentration (36 h of age) positively influenced subsequent serum IgG concentration until 35 d of age for all calves in both groups. The treatment group had higher serum IgG concentration from 20 h to 21 d of age than the control group. However, we detected no differences between the groups in number of calves with diarrhea or respiratory disease.

Facile enzymatic production of difructose dianhydride III from sucrose

A convenient, efficient, and cost-effective approach to the facile enzymatic production of difructose dianhydride (DFA) III from sucrose is described.

Identification of a Novel Di-D-Fructofuranose 1,2':2,3' Dianhydride (DFA III) Hydrolysis Enzyme from Arthrobacter aurescens SK8.001

Previously, a di-D-fructofuranose 1,2’:2,3’ dianhydride (DFA III)-producing strain, Arthrobacter aurescens SK8.001, was isolated from soil, and the gene cloning and characterization of the DFA III-forming enzyme was studied. In this study, a DFA III hydrolysis enzyme (DFA IIIase)-encoding gene was obtained from the same strain, and the DFA IIIase gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The SDS-PAGE and gel filtration results indicated that the purified enzyme was a homotrimer holoenzyme of 145 kDa composed of subunits of 49 kDa. The enzyme displayed the highest catalytic activity for DFA III at pH 5.5 and 55°C, with specific activity of 232 U mg^-1. K_m and V_max for DFA III were 30.7 ± 4.3 mM and 1.2 ± 0.1 mM min^-1, respectively. Interestingly, DFA III-forming enzymes and DFA IIIases are highly homologous in amino acid sequence. The molecular modeling and docking of DFA IIIase were first studied, using DFA III-forming enzyme from Bacillus sp. snu-7 as a template. It was suggested that A. aurescens DFA IIIase shared a similar three-dimensional structure with the reported DFA III-forming enzyme from Bacillus sp. snu-7. Furthermore, their catalytic sites may occupy the same position on the proteins. Based on molecular docking analysis and site-directed mutagenesis, it was shown that D207 and E218 were two potential critical residues for the catalysis of A. aurescens DFA IIIase.

Supplementation with difructose anhydride III promotes passive calcium absorption in the small intestine immediately after calving in dairy cows

The incidence of hypocalcemia increases in high-parity dairy cows because resorption of bone Ca is delayed in these animals, and they appear to have a reduced ability to absorb Ca from the intestine during the early postpartum period. Difructose anhydride (DFA) III has been shown to promote the absorption of intestinal Ca via a paracellular pathway. However, past studies have not reported this effect in peripartum dairy cows. Therefore, we investigated the effect of DFA III supplementation on Ca metabolism during the peripartum period to determine whether DFA III promotes intestinal Ca absorption via this route. Seventy-four multiparous Holstein cows were separated into DFA and control groups based on their parity and body weight. The feed of the DFA group was supplemented with 40g/d of DFA III from -14 to 6d relative to calving. The control group did not receive DFA III. At calving (0h relative to calving), serum Ca declined below 9mg/dL in both groups. However, serum Ca concentrations were greater in the DFA group than in the control group at 6, 12, 24, and 48h relative to calving, and the time required for serum Ca to recover to 9mg/dL during the postpartum period was shorter in the high-parity cows in the DFA group than in those in the control group. Parathyroid hormone concentrations increased immediately after calving in both groups and were greater in the control group than in the DFA group at 12 and 24h relative to calving. Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations increased at 0 and 12h relative to calving in both groups and were higher in the control group than in the DFA group at 72h relative to calving. Serum concentrations of the bone-resorption marker cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) were not different between the groups during peripartum period, and serum NTX in all cows was lower at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72h relative to calving than at -21, 4, and 5d relative to calving. Thus, DFA treatment induced faster recovery of serum Ca, although bone resorption was restrained. In conclusion, DFA III promotes intestinal passive Ca absorption via the paracellular pathway during the early postpartum period; this absorption is unaffected by aging.

Identification of a recombinant inulin fructotransferase (difructose dianhydride III forming) from Arthrobacter sp. 161MFSha2.1 with high specific activity and remarkable thermostability

Difructose dianhydride III (DFA III) is a functional carbohydrate produced from inulin by inulin fructotransferase (IFTase, EC 4.2.2.18). In this work, an IFTase gene from Arthrobacter sp. 161MFSha2.1 was cloned and expressed in Escherachia coli. The recombinant enzyme was purified by metal affinity chromatography. It showed significant inulin hydrolysis activity, and the produced main product from inulin was determined as DFA III by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The molecular mass of the purified protein was calculated to be 43 and 125 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration, respectively, suggesting the native enzyme might be a homotrimer. The recombinant enzyme showed maximal activity as 2391 units/mg at pH 6.5 and 55 °C. It displayed the highest thermostability among previously reported IFTases (DFA III forming) and was stable up to 80 °C for 4 h of incubation. The smallest substrate was determined as nystose. The conversion ratio of inulin to DFA III reached 81% when 100 g/L inulin was catalyzed by 80 nM recombinant enzyme for 20 min at pH 6.5 and 55 °C. All of these data indicated that the IFTase (DFA III forming) from Arthrobacter sp. 161MFSha2.1 had great potential for industrial DFA III production.

Changes of Serum Calcium Concentration, Frequency of Ruminal Contraction and Feed Intake Soon after Parturition of Dairy Cows Fed Difructose Anhydride III

Requirements to control the large decrease in serum calcium (Ca) due to parturition and to increase the feed intake soon after parturition have been well accepted in dairy cows. This study was aimed to investigate the feed intake affected by serum Ca concentration with difructose anhydride (DFA) III supplement in dairy cows soon after parturition. Fourteen transition Holstein cows were divided into DFA and control (CONT) groups within 1 to 5 parity variations in each group. Measurement schedule for an individual cow was from 14 d before parturition to 7 d following parturition. The cows in DFA group were supplied 0.2 kg/head/d of DFA III feed containing 40 g of pure DFA III while the cows in CONT group received no DFA III. Other feeding procedures were the same for all cows in both groups. At parturition (d 0), serum Ca concentration sharply declined in both groups (p<0.05). Time interval for recovery from decreased serum Ca to its normal range (>9.0 mg/dL) tended to be faster in DFA group (12 h) than in the CONT group (48 h), but the differences were not significant. Active ruminal contraction was observed in DFA group at following parturition of d 1 (p<0.05), d 3 (p<0.05), and d 5 (p<0.01). Dry matter (DM) intake did not differ between the groups. However, positive correlations were observed between serum Ca concentration and ruminal contraction (p<0.001), and between ruminal contraction and DM intake (p<0.001) during following parturition. According to multiple regression analysis (R(2) = 0.824, p<0.001), the DM intake was positively affected by serum Ca concentration and ruminal contraction. These results suggest that feed intake soon after parturition in dairy cows can be increased by improvement of serum Ca concentration and active ruminal contraction, but DFA III supplementation in this study did not improve the lower serum Ca concentration due to parturition.

From fructans to difructose dianhydrides

Fructans are the polymers of fructose molecules, normally having a sucrose unit at what would otherwise be the reducing terminus. Inulin and levan are two basic types of simple fructan, which contain β-(2, 1) and β-(2, 6) fructosyl-fructose linkage, respectively. Fructans not only can serve as soluble dietary fibers for food industry, but also may be biologically converted into high-value products, especially high-fructose syrup and fructo-oligosaccharides. In recent years, much attention has been focused on production of difructose dianhydrides (DFAs) from fructans. DFAs are cyclic disaccharides consisting of two fructose units with formation of two reciprocal glycosidic linkages. They are expected to have promising properties and beneficial effects on human health. DFAs can be produced from fructans by fructan fructotransferases. Inulin fructotransferase (IFTase) (DFA III-forming) and IFTase (DFA I-forming) catalyze the DFA III and DFA I production from inulin, respectively, and levan fructotransferase (LFTase) (DFA IV-forming) catalyzes the production of DFA IV from levan. In this article, the DFA-producing microorganisms are summarized, relevant studies on various DFAs-producing enzymes are reviewed, and especially, the comparisons of the enzymes are presented in detail.

The potential role of VEGF-induced vascularisation in the bony repair of injured growth plate cartilage

Growth plate injuries often result in undesirable bony repair causing bone growth defects, for which the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Whilst the key importance of pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is well-known in bone development and fracture repair, its role during growth plate bony repair remains unexplored. Using a rat tibial growth plate injury repair model with anti-VEGF antibody, Bevacizumab, as a single i.p. injection (2.5 mg/kg) after injury, this study examined the roles of VEGF-driven angiogenesis during growth plate bony repair. Histology analyses observed isolectin-B4-positive endothelial cells and blood vessel-like structures within the injury site on days 6 and 14, with anti-VEGF treatment significantly decreasing blood-vessel-like structures within the injury site (P<0.05). Compared with untreated controls, anti-VEGF treatment resulted in an increase in undifferentiated mesenchymal repair tissue, but decreased bony tissue at the injury site at day 14 (P<0.01). Consistently, microcomputed tomography analysis of the injury site showed significantly decreased bony repair tissue after treatment (P<0.01). RT-PCR analyses revealed a significant decrease in osteocalcin (P<0.01) and a decreasing trend in Runx2 expression at the injury site following treatment. Furthermore, growth plate injury-induced reduced tibial lengthening was more pronounced in anti-VEGF-treated injured rats on day 60, consistent with the observation of a significantly increased height of the hypertrophic zone adjacent to the growth plate injury site (P<0.05). These results indicate that VEGF is important for angiogenesis and formation of bony repair tissue at the growth plate injury site as well as for endochondral bone lengthening function of the uninjured growth plate.