• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2019

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has recently been noted as a repositioning candidate for angiogenesis inhibition and cancer therapy. However, the definite anti-angiogenic mechanism of MBZ remains unclear. In this study, we explored the inhibitory mechanism of MBZ in endothelial cells (ECs) and developed a novel strategy to improve its anti-angiogenic therapy. Treatment of ECs with MBZ led to inhibition of EC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in several culture conditions in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or FBS, without selectivity of growth factors, although MBZ is known to inhibit VEGF receptor 2 kinase. Furthermore, MBZ inhibited EC migration and tube formation induced by either VEGF or bFGF. However, unexpectedly, treatment of MBZ did not affect FAK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by these factors. Treatment with MBZ induced shrinking of ECs and caused G2-M arrest and apoptosis with an increased Sub-G1 fraction. In addition, increased levels of nuclear fragmentation, p53 expression, and active form of caspase 3 were observed. The marked induction of autophagy by MBZ was also noted. Interestingly, inhibition of autophagy through knocking down of Beclin1 or ATG5/7, or treatment with autophagy inhibitors such as 3-methyladenine and chloroquine resulted in marked enhancement of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of MBZ in ECs. Consequently, we suggest that MBZ induces autophagy in ECs and that protective autophagy can be a novel target for enhancing the anti-angiogenic efficacy of MBZ in cancer treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.35-50
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• 2019

Objectives: Orostachys japonicas (O. japonicus) has been known for its anti-tumor effect. In the present study, it was investigated whether O. japonicus EtOH extracts could induce apoptosis and autophagy which are part of the main mechanism related to anti-tumor effect in THP-1 cells. Methods: Cells were treated with various concentrations of O. japonicus EtOH extracts ($0-300{\mu}g/ml$) for 24, 48, and 72h. Cell viability was evaluated by MTS/PMS assay and apoptosis rate was examined by flow cytometry and ELISA assay. The mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Survivin, Bax) and autophagy-related gene (mTOR) was evaluated using real-time PCR. The protein expression of Caspase-3, Akt, LC3 II, Beclin-1, Atg5, $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, ERK was evaluated using western blot analysis. Results: O. japonicus EtOH extracts inhibited cell proliferation and apoptosis rate was increased in both flow cytometry and ELISA assay. Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Survivin (anti-apoptosis factors) mRNA expressions were decreased and Bax (pro-apoptosis factor) mRNA level was increased. mTOR mRNA expressions was decreased and LC3 II protein expressions was increased. Activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was decreased and phosphorylation of p38 was increased. Conclusion: O. japonicus is regarded to inhibit cell proliferation, to induce apoptosis and to regulate autophagy-related genes in THP-1 cells via $NF-{\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK signaling pathway. This suggests O. japonicus could be an effective herb in treating acute myeloid leukemia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.616-624
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• 2022

Mebendazole (MBZ), a microtubule depolymerizing drug commonly used for the treatment of helminthic infections, has been suggested as a repositioning candidate for the treatment of brain tumors. However, the efficacy of MBZ needs further study to improve the beneficial effect on the survival of those patients. In this study, we explored a novel strategy to improve MBZ efficacy using a drug combination. When glioblastoma cells were treated with MBZ, cell proliferation was dose-dependently inhibited with an IC₅₀ of less than 1 µM. MBZ treatment also inhibited glioblastoma cell migration with an IC₅₀ of less than 3 µM in the Boyden chamber migration assay. MBZ induced G2-M cell cycle arrest in U87 and U373 cells within 24 h. Then, at 72 h of treatment, it mainly caused cell death in U87 cells with an increased sub-G1 fraction, whereas polyploidy was seen in U373 cells. However, MBZ treatment did not affect ERK1/2 activation stimulated by growth factors. The marked induction of autophagy by MBZ was observed, without any increased expression of autophagy-related genes ATG5/7 and Beclin 1. Co-treatment with MBZ and the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) markedly enhanced the anti-proliferative effects of MBZ in the cells. Triple combination treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) (another autophagy inducer) further enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of MBZ and CQ. The combination of MBZ and CQ also showed an enhanced effect in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells. Therefore, we suggest that the modulation of protective autophagy could be an efficient strategy for enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy of MBZ in glioblastoma cells.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.284-294
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• 2024

Objective: Pork is an important source of animal protein in many countries. Subtle physiochemical changes occur during pork postmortem aging. The changes of apoptosis and autophagy in pork at 6 h to 72 h after slaughter were studied to provide evidence for pork quality. Methods: In this article, morphological changes of postmortem pork was observed through Hematoxylin-eosin staining, apoptotic nuclei were observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, protein related to apoptosis and autophagy expressions were tested by western blot and LC3 level were expressed according to immunofluorescence assay. Results: In this study, we found the occurrence of apoptosis in postmortem pork, and the process was characterized by nucleus condensation and fragmentation, formation of apoptotic bodies, increase in apoptosis-related Bax/Bcl-2 levels, and activation of caspases. Autophagy reached its peak between 24 and 48 h after slaughter, accompanied by the formation of autophagosomes on the cell membrane and expression of autophagy-related proteins beclin-1, P62, LC3-I, LC3-II, and ATG5. Conclusion: Obvious apoptosis was observed at 12 h and autophagy reached its peak at 48 h. The present work provides the evidence for the occurrence of apoptosis and autophagy during postmortem aging of pork. In conclusion, the apoptosis and autophagy of muscle cells discovered in this study have important implications for pork in the meat industry.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 1995

The gene for ${\gamma}$-casein, a milk protein, is a member of a family of casein gene which is expressed in mammary glands of the animal during the late gestation and lactation periods binder the influence of various hormones. In order to elucidate tile mechanisms b)'which hormones regulate the coordinate induction of milk protein genes, the mouse ${\gamma}$-casein gene was isolated and characterized. The ${\gamma}$-casein gene was screened from a mouse genomic library constructed in bacteriophage EMBL3 with the ${\gamma}$-casein CDNA used as probe and one clone was obtained. The ${\gamma}$-casein CDNA as probe was partially sequenced and contained ATG start codon and 5'-noncoding region. The cloned genomic DNA was digested with Sal I restriction enzyme, by which the insert DNA can be isolated from EMBL3 vector. Three DNA bands were observed and the size of DNAs was approximately 28kb, 14kb and 9Kb, respectively Accordingly the size of the insert DNA was calculated with approximately 23Kb. The result of Southern blot analysis, however, showed that the cloned genomic DNA was not hybridized with the synthetic oligonucleotides (40 mer) of cDNA 5'-end region, but it was hybridized with the y -casein CDNA. This means that tile cloned y -casein gene may not contain its promoter region. The ${\gamma}$ -casein genomic DNA containing the promoter region has been screening from mouse genomic library with oligonucleotides of CDNA 5'-end region as probe, and twenty-nine clones was obtained.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.116-121
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• 2010

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) promote the development of brain and vision of the fetus, relieve inflammation, inhibit oral dysplasia of rumor cell, decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease and regulate arrhythmia. ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase is the rate-limited enzyme in the desaturation process. This study reports the cloning, characterization and tissue expression of a ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase gene in the chicken. PCR primers were designed based on the predicted sequence of chicken ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase (accession number: XM421053) and used to isolate a cDNA fragment of 1,323 bp from chicken liver. Based on the 1,323 bp fragment an EST (BI390105) was obtained by BLAST. The EST and 5'nd of the 1,323 bp fragment were partially overlapped. Gene specific primers derived from the EST were used for amplification of the 5'nd. Another gene-specific primer derived from the 1,323 bp fragment was used for amplification of the 3'nd by 3'ACE. Then the three overlapping cDNA sequences obtained were assembled with DNAMAN software and a full-length ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase of 2,153 bp was obtained. The full-length cDNA contained an ORF of 1,335 bp with a 5'ntranslated region of 147 nucleotides followed by an ATG initiation codon. Stop codon TGA was at position 1,481-1,483 bp. The deduced amino acids shared an homology above 77% with bovine, mice, orangutan, rat and human. The protein sequence had three histidine-rich regions HDFGH (HisI region), HFQHH (HisII region) and HH (HisIII region), a cytochrome $b_{5}$-like domain containing a heme-binding motif and two transmembrane domains. Sequence analysis of the chicken genomic DNA revealed that the coding sequence of chicken ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase included 12 exons and 11 introns. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase expression levels were in turn liver, spleen, pancreas, lung, breast muscle, heart, and abdominal fat. The expression of ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase in liver was significantly higher than that in breast muscle (p<0.01). The expression of ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase in lung was significantly higher than that in abdominal fat (p<0.01). This is the first clone of chicken ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2014

Background: Remifentanil, an ultra-short-acting mu-opioid receptor agonist, is unique from other opioids because of its esterase-based metabolism, minimal accumulation, and very rapid onset and offset of clinical action. Remifentanil can prevent the inflammatory response and can suppress inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in a septic mouse model. However, the effects of remifentanil on human keratinocyte and autophagy have yet to be fully elucidated during hypoxia-reoxygenation. Here we investigated whether remifentanil confers protective effect against hypoxia-reoxygenation in human keratinocyte and, if so, whether autophagy mediates this effect. Methods: The human keratinocytes were cultured under 1% oxygen tension. The cells were gassed with 94% $N_2$, and 5% $CO_2$ and incubated for 24 h at $37^{\circ}C$. To determine whether the administration of affects human keratinocytes hypoxia-reoxygenation injury, cells were then exposed to various concentrations of remifentanil (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 ng/ml) for 2 h. After remifentanil treatment, to simulate reoxygenation and recovery, the cells were reoxygenated for 12 h at $37^{\circ}C$. Control group did not receive remifentanil treatment. Normoxia group did not receive hypoxia and remifentanil treatment for 36 h. 3-MA group was treated 3-methyladenine (3-MA) for 1h before remifentanil treatment. Cell viability was measured using a quantitative colorimetric assay with MTT, showing the mitochondrial activity of living cells. Cells were stained with fluorescence and analyzed with Western blot analysis to find out any relations with activation of autophagy. Results: Prominent accumulation of autophagic specific staining MDC was observed around the nuclei in RPT group HaCaT cells. Similarly, AO staining, red fluorescent spots appeared in RPT group HaCaT cells, while the Normoxia, control and 3-MA groups showed mainly green cytoplasmic fluorescence. We here examined activation of autophagy related protein under H/R-induced cells by Western blotting analysis. Atg5, Beclin-1, LC3-II (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 form II) and p62 was elevated in RPT group cells. But they were decreased when autophagy was suppressed by 3-MA (Fig. 5). Conclusions: Although the findings of this study are limited to an in vitro interpretation, we suggest that remifentanil may have a beneficial effect in the recovery of wound from hypoxia-reoxygenation injury.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2006

To investigate the effects of the nucleotide sequences in Shine-Dalgarno (SD) and the spacer region (SD-ATG) on bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene expression, the expression vectors under the control of the T7 promoter (pT7-7 vector) were constructed using bGH derivatives (bGH1 & bGH14) which have different 5'-coding regions and were induced in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Oligonucleotides containing random SD sequences and a spacer region were chemically synthesized and the distance between the SD region and the initiation codon were fixed to nine bases in length. The oligonucleotides were annealed and fused to the bGH1 and bGH14 cDNA, respectively. When the bGH gene was induced with IPTG in E. coli BL21(DE3), some clones containing only bGH14 cDNA produced considerable levels of bGH in the range of $6.9\%\;to\;8.5\%$ of total cell proteins by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Otherwise, the bGH was not detected in any clones with bGH1 cDNA. Accordingly, the nucleotide sequences of SD and the spacer region affect on bGH expression indicates that the sequences sufficiently destabilize the mRNA secondary structure of the bGH14 gene. When the free energy was calculated from the transcription initiation site to the +51 nucleotide of bGH cDNA using a program of nucleic acid folding and hybridization prediction, the constructs with values below -26.3 kcal/mole (toward minus direction) were not expressed. The constructs with the original sequence of bGH cDNA also did not show any expression, regardless of the free energy values. Thus, the disruption of the mRNA secondary structure may be a major factor regulating bGH expression in the translation initiation process. Accordingly, the first stem-loop among two secondary structures present in the 5'-end region of the bGH gene should be disrupted for the effective expression of bGH.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.188-199
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• 2002

A gene coding for xylanase from thermo-tolerant Bacillus pumilus TX703 was cloned into Escherichia coli DH5 $\alpha$ using pUC19. Among 7,400 transformants, four transformants showed clear zones on the detection agar plates containing oat-spells xylan. One of them which showed highest xylanase activity was selected and its recombinant plasmid, named pXES106, was found to carry 2.24 kb insert DNA fragment. When the nucleotide sequence of the cloned xylanase gene (xynK) was determined, xynK gene was found to consist of 1,227 base-pair open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 409 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 48 kDa. The coding sequence was preceded by a putative ribosome binding site, the transcription initiation signals, and cia-acting catabolite responsive element. The deduced amino acids sequence of xylanase is similar to those of the xylanases from Hordeum vulgare (barley) and Clostridium thermocellum, with 39 and 31% identical residues, respectively. The amino acids sequence of this xylanase was quite different from those of the xylanases from other Bacillus species.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2007

To characterize $\gamma$-glutamyltranspeptidase ($\gamma$-GTP or ggt; EC 2. 3. 2. 2.) gene of Bacillus subtilis BS 62, the $\gamma$-GTP gene of BS 62 was prepared from PCR products amplified with the chromosomal DNA. The $\gamma$-GTP gene of about 2.5 kb was sequenced, and its homology was compared with the other ggt genes which were reported previously. The base sequence of the gene appeared to have an open reading frame of 1,758 bp encoding a protein of 62,175 Da. The coding region was flanked by putative ribosome binding site - AGGAGG of 7th to 12th upstream - and the stem-loof sequence was followed by transcription terminator codon. Homology of the amino acid residues sequence consisting of 587 amino acid residues was found as 98% with Bacillus subtilis gene (BSU49358), 97.4% with that of Bacillus subtilis KX 102, 37% with Pseudomonas sp. A14 (S63255) and 38% with Streptomyces avermitils (AP005028).