• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2008

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also designated matrixins, hydrolyze components of the extracellular matrix. These proteinases playa central role in many biological processes, such as embryogenesis, normal tissue remodeling, wound healing, and angiogenesis, and in diseases such as atheroma, arthritis, cancer, and tissue ulceration. In previous data, disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D (CD) inhibited NO-induced apoptosis, dedifferentiation, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, and prostaglandin $E_2$ production in chondrocytes cultured on plastic or during cartilage explants culture. In this study, we investigated the effects of the actin cytoskeleton architecture on MMP-2 expression and dedifferentiation by CD in rabbit articular chondrocytes. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were prepared from cartilage slices of 2-weeks-old New Zealand white rabbits by enzymatic digestion. CD was used as a disruptor of actin cytoskeleton. In this experiments measuring CD dose response, primary chondrocytes were treated with various concentrations of CD for 24h. The actin disruption was determined by immunostaining. MMP-2 expression levels were determined by immunoblot analysis and Reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and MMP-2 activity was determined by gelatin zymography. We found that cell morphological change and up-regulation of MMP-2 expression by CD as determined via immunostaining, gelatin zymography and immunoblotting. Moreover, CD induced MMP-2 transcription was detected by RT-PCR. Also, CD-induced type II collagen expression was inhibited by MMP-2 inhibitor I treatment. Our results indicate that CD up-regulated MMP-2 activation causes dedifferentiation of articular chondrocyte.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.234-241
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• 2000

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae PMR1 gene encodes a Ca2+-ATPase localized in the Golgi. We have investigated the effects of PMR1 disruption in S. cerevisiae on the glycosylation and secretion of three heterologous glycoproteins, human ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin (${\alpha}$1-AT), human antithrombin III (ATHIII), and Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase (GOD). The pmr1 null mutant strain secreted larger amounts of ATHIII and GOD proteins per a unit cell mass than the wild type strain. Despite a lower growth rate of the pmr1 mutant, two-fold higher level of human ATHIII was detected in the culture supernatant from the pmr1 mutant compared to that of the wild-type strain. The pmr1 mutant strain secreted ${\alpha}$1-AT and the GOD proteins mostly as core-glycosylated forms, in contrast to the hyperglycosylated proteins secreted in the wild-type strain. Furthermore, the core-glycosylated forms secreted in the pmr1 mutant migrated slightly faster on SDS-PAGE than those secreted in the mnn9 deletion mutant and the wild type strains. Analysis of the recombinant GOD with anti-${\alpha}$1,3-mannose antibody revealed that GOD secreted in the pmr1 mutant did not have terminal ${\alpha}$1,3-linked mannose unlike those secreted in the mnn9 mutant and the wild type strains. The present results indicate that the pmr1 mutant, with the super-secretion phenotype, is useful as a host system to produce recombinant glycoproteins lacking high-mannose outer chains.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 1990

The effect of calcium-free reperfusion for 5, 10, and 15 minutes, respectively, followed by continuous reperfusion with normal Tyrode solution containing 1.0mM calcium chloride, after global ischemia in the isolated perfused guinea pig heart by Langendorff techniques was examined with transmission electron microscope. Compared to the nomal Tyrode solution-perfused control hearts, the 5 minute calcium-free-reperfused hearts showed loss or thickening of Z lines, focal sarcolemmal disruption, mitochondrial swelling, clumping of chroma-tin, intracellular fluid accumulation, and some separation of cell junctions, especially the fasciae adherentes. These changes became more severe in the hearts of 10 minute calcium-free reperfusion. Subsarcolemmal larger bleb and near complete separation of cell junctions were noticed. In the 15 minute calcium-free-reperfused hearts, irreversible ultrastructural changes including contraction bands, biazrre mitochondria, and sarcolemmal destruction were widely distributed. The severity of myocardial changes were in accordance with the duration of calcium-free reperfusion. These changes indicate that calcium-free reperfusion regardless of its duration could not salvage the post-ischemic myocardium probably due to development of calcium paradox.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 1999

Mutants of the monopartite geminivirus beet curly top virus (BCTV) have been screened for infectivity, systemic movement, replication and symptom development in Arabidopsis thaliana. As known by coding for coat protein, R1 mutant was not infectious and did not move systemically. R2, R3 and L2/L3 mutants produced milder symptoms compared to wild type BCTV but the infectivity was reduced by 40% to 60%. R2 ORF is thought to be involved in the regulation of ssDNA and dsDNA accumulation because only dsDNA was accumulated on R2-infected organs. Disruption of ORF L4 resulted in reduced infections, but the viral DNA was accumulated in infected organs from roots to shoot tips as much as wild type BCTV on Sei-O. In addition, 4 mutants did not produce callus-like tissues on infected organs, suggesting that L4 ORF may play a role in the induction of host cell divisions by virus infection. This result was supported by the patterns of mRNA expression and promoter analysis of the cell cycle marker gene, cycl, on Arabidopsis. cycl mRNA was accumulated on symptomatic organs by wild type BCTV infections but not by L4 mutant. We conclude that the BCTV L4 ORF is essential for symptom developments, specially callus-like formation on infected organs.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.270-275
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• 1986

The localization of carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CO-DHs) in Pseudomonas carvoxydovorans and Acinetobacter sp.1 was examined by comparison of the distribution of CO-oxidizing activity between soluble and particulate fractions obtained after disruption of CO-grown cells by sonic oscillation and of spheroplasts by osmotic shock. When the cells were broken by sonic oscillation, most of the CO-DH activity was recovered from soluble fractions. However, disryption by osmotic lysis of spheroplasts revealed that the enzyme activity is present in the cell membrane. The results indicated the CO-DHs in these cells are loosely attached to the cytoplasmic membrane.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1797-1804
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• 2007

Lycopene, an acyclic carotenoid found in tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and a number off fruits, has shown various biological properties, but its antifungal effects remain poorly understood. The current study investigated the antifungal activity of lycopene and its mode of action. Lycopene showed potent antifungal effects toward pathogenic fungi, tested in an energy-independent manner, with low hemolytic effects against human erythrocytes. To confirm the antifungal effects of lycopene, its effects on the dimorphism of Candida albicans induced by fetal bovine serum (FBS), which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of a host invasion, were investigated. The results showed that lycopene exerted potent antifungal activity on the serum-induced mycelia of C. albicans. To understand the antifungal mode of action of lycopene, the action of lycopene against fungal cell membranes was examined by FACScan analysis and glucose and trehalose-release test. The results indicated that lycopene caused significant membrane damage and inhibited the normal budding process, resulting from the destruction of membrane integrity. The present study indicates that lycopene has considerable antifungal activity, deserving further investigation for clinical applications.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2016

Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-encoded nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1) plays a pivotal in an EBV episome replication and persistence. Despite considerable attempts, there are no EBV drugs or vaccines. We attempted to eradicate EBV episomes by targeting EBNA1 using the transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) (E1TN). E1TN-mediated transient knockout (KO) of EBNA1 reduced EBNA1 expression, and caused significant loss of EBV genomes and progressive death of EBV-infected cells. Furthermore, when a mixture of EBV-infected Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cells and EBV-negative BL cells was targeted by E1TN, EBV-negative cells were counter-selected while most EBV-infected cells died, further substantiating that EBNA1 KO caused selective death of EBV-infected cells. TALEN-mediated transient targeting of EBNA1 attenuated the growth of EBV-infected cells, implicating a possible therapeutic application of E1TN for EBV-associated disorders.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.388-395
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• 2017

We investigated the toxicity of zinc and aluminum hot-dip galvanized sheet steel to abalone Haliotis discus hannai via changes in the gill and hepatopancreas using histological and transmission electron microscopy analysis. Experimental groups were composed of one control and four exposure conditions (direct or indirect exposure to zinc and aluminum hot-dip galvanized sheet steel). In the control group, aluminum exposure groups (direct and indirect), and indirect zinc exposure group, abalone mortality was not observed until the end of the experiment, and no histopathological changes were observed in the gill and hepatopancreas. However, the direct zinc exposure group exhibited 100% mortality. Ultrastructural analysis of the cytoplasm of ciliated and microvilli-bearing epithelial cells from gill filaments revealed electron-dense vesicles near the cell membrane and disruption of the nuclear membrane. We also observed swollen mitochondria and a loss of mitochondrial cristae. The hepatopancreas showed similar changes, and we detected highly electron-dense particles within the vesicles. These results suggest that abalone exposed directly to zinc hot-dip galvanized sheet steel experience acute toxicity, causing damage to cell organelles in the gill and hepatopancreas and, finally, inducing mortality.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2007

Although sanguinarine, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, possesses anti-cancer properties against several cancer cell lines, the molecular mechanisms by which it inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis have not been clearly understood. In order to further explore the critical events leading to apoptosis in sanguinarine-treated MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells, the following effects of sanguinarine on components of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway were examined: generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the expression changes of Bcl-2 family proteins. We show that sanguinarine-induced apoptosis is accompanied by the generation of intracellular ROS and disruption of MMP as well as an increase in pro-apoptotic Bax expression and a decrease of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression. The quenching of ROS generation with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, the ROS scavenger, protected the sanguinarine-elicited ROS generation, mitochondrial dysfunction, modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, and apoptosis. Based on these results, we propose that the cellular ROS generation plays a pivotal role in the initiation of sanguinarine-triggered apoptotic death.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2003

The identification of genes involved in true hypha formation is important in the study of mechanisms underlying the morphogenetic switch in yeast. We isolated a gene responsible for the morphogenetic switch in Yarrowia lipolytica, which forms true hyphae in response to serum or N-acetylglucosamine. The isolated gene, encoding 847 amino acids, had sequence identities of 27% and 25% with the Bud6 (Aip3) proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, respectively. Disruption of this gene, designated YIBUD6, in haploid and diploid strains significantly reduced the ability of Y. lipolytica to switch from the yeast form to the hyphal form in hypha-inducing media. It was also found that YIBud6$\Delta$ mutants were rounder than the wild type when grown in the yeast form. These results indicate that the YIBud6 protein is necessary for hyphal growth and cell polarity in both haploid and diploid Y. lipolytica cells.