• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.463-466
• /
• 1997

We have recently demonstrated, by protein and cDNA sequence analysis, that prorenin converting enzyme (PRECE) in the mouse submandibular gland is identical to the epidermal growth factor-binding protein (EGF-BP)type B. However, type A and C did not show prorenin converting activity. To demonstrate whether r-NGF is involved in prorenin processing, we have cloned cDNA of r-NGF and examined prorenin converting activity using the CHO cell expression system, Trypsin converted the 33 kDa r-NGF precursor produced in CHO cells to a two-chain form, 9.4 and 16.4 kDa polypeptide chains, which has been known as an active form of r-NGF in mouse SMG (Server and Shooter, 1976). However, the two chain forms of r-NGF did not reveal prorenin-processing activity. Thus, only PRECE is involved in prorenin processing in mouse SMG. This result shows that their substrate specificities appear to be very strict, although some kallikreins share a high degree of amino acid sequence identity.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.17-21
• /
• 1996

Ile91 of restriction endonuclease EcoRV, which has not been known to take part directly in catalytic activity, was substituted with Leu by site-directed mutagenesis. The Ile91Leu mutant shows over 1000-fold less activity than the wild type EcoRV under standard reaction condition. The metal ion dependency of the reaction was altered. In contrast to the wild type EcoRV, the mutant prefers $Mn^{2+}$ to $Mn^{2+}$ as the cofactor. In $Mn^{2+}$ buffer the mutant is as active as the wild type enzyme in $Mn^{2+}$ buffer. Like the wild type enzyme, the mutant shows an unspecific binding of DNA in gel shift experiments. In contrast to the wild type enzyme, the mutant did not cleave at noncognate sites of DNA under star condition.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.429-438
• /
• 2020

The emergence of multi-drug resistant, pathogenic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a threat to global health and has created a need for novel functional therapeutic agents. In this study, we evaluated the underlying mechanisms of the anti-MRSA effect of an azaphilone pigment, sclerotiorin (SCL) from Penicillium sclerotiorum. The antimicrobial activity of SCL was evaluated using agar disc diffusion, broth microdilution, time-kill assays and biophysical studies. SCL exhibits selective activity against Gram positive bacteria including MRSA (range, MIC = 128-1028 ㎍/ml) and exhibited rapid bactericidal action against MRSA with a > 4 log reduction in colony forming units within three hours of administration. Biophysical studies, using fluorescent probes and laser or electron microscopy, demonstrated a SCL dose-dependent alternation in membrane potential (62.6 ± 5.0.4% inhibition) and integrity (> 95 ± 2.3%), and the release of UV260 absorbing materials within 60 min (up to 3.2 fold increase, p < 0.01) of exposure. Further, SCL localized to the cytoplasm and hydrolyzed plasmid DNA. While in vitro checkerboard studies revealed that SCL potentiated the antimicrobial activity of topical antimicrobials such as polymixin, neomycin, and bacitracin (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index range, 0.26-0.37). Taken together these results suggest that SCL targets the membrane and DNA of MRSA to facilitate its anti-MRSA antimicrobial effect.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.50-60
• /
• 2002

Objectives: Sunghyangjunggisan (SHJS) is a commonly prescribed drug with a wide neuropharmacological spectrum. The water extracts of SHJS were found to be protective against neurotoxicity elicited by deprivation of serum and glucose. Methods: The morphological examination and Hoechst staining of nucleus also clearly showed that the extracts attenuated the cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, representing typical neuronal apoptotic phenomena and nucleosome-sized fragmentation under the microscope in PC 12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. Results: Activation of protein kinase A (PKA) with dibutyl-cAMP and forskolin also protected during glucose deprivation, although it was not additive with the effect provided by phorbol ester. Interestingly, treatment with the protein kinase A inhibitor, KT5720, was not neuroprotective in the presence of SHJS. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays were used to characterize the neuroprotective binding of nuclear proteins to consensus sequences for AP-l, nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) after glucose deprivation. When PC 12 cells are induced to undergo apoptosis by serum deprivation, AP-l and $NF-{\kappa}B$ DNA binding activity transiently increases to a slight degree. This stimulation is blocked by the water extracts of SHJS. The site of action of the drugs appeared to involve specific inhibition of AP-1 and nuclear factor kB binding activity. Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggested the possibility that the extracts of SHJS might provide a neurotrophic-like activity in PC 12 cells.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 1987

To increase the bioavailability of norfloxacin, inclusion complex of antimicrobial agent norfloxacin with ${\beta}-Cyclodextrin$ was prepared and studied by the solubility method, spectrophotometric methods(UV, IR, $^1H-NMR$), differential thermal analysis, powder X-ray diffractometry, the physical properties, the antimicrobial activity, DNA binding and in situ recirculation technique. The conclusions are summerized as following; 1) The inclusion complexation was identified by means of solubility, spectrophotometry(UV, IR, NMR), DTA and X-ray diffraction. 2) The molar ratio of $norfloxacin-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ complex was 1 : 1. 3) The stability constant of $norfloxacin-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ complex was $21.5\;M^{-1}$, and both true and apparent partition coefficients of the inclusion complex were larger than those of norfloxacin. 4) The time required to dissolve 60% $(T_{60}%)$ of the inclusion complex was 120 min. in distilled water and in the artificial intestinal juice, while norfloxacin did not reach to 60% dissolution within 120 min. 5) The antimicrobial activity of the inclusion complex against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus showed no significant difference compared to that of norfloxacin alone. 6) Studies on binding properties between the inclusion complex and norfloxacin alone to DNA according to equilibrium dialysis showed no significant differency. 7) In situ absorption rates (Ka) of inclusion complex and norfloxacin alone were 0.229 and $0.102hr^{-1}$, respectively.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.157-163
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Curcumin is known to exert numerous biological effects including anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by murine macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Prevotella intermedia, a major cause of inflammatory periodontal disease, and sought to determine the underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: LPS was prepared from lyophilized P. intermedia ATCC 25611 cells by the standard hot phenol-water method. Culture supernatants were collected and assayed for IL-6. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect IL-6 mRNA expression. $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation, nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ subunits, and STAT1 phosphorylation were characterized via immunoblotting. DNA-binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ was also analyzed. Results: Curcumin strongly suppressed the production of IL-6 at both gene transcription and translation levels in P. intermedia LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Curcumin did not inhibit the degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ induced by P. intermedia LPS. Curcumin blocked NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling through the inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p50 subunit. Curcumin also attenuated DNA binding activity of p50 and p65 subunits and suppressed STAT1 phosphorylation. Conclusions: Although further study is required to explore the detailed mechanism of action, curcumin may contribute to blockade of the host-destructive processes mediated by IL-6 and appears to have potential therapeutic values in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.644-647
• /
• 2017

Peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) catalyze the cis/trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl peptide bonds preceding prolines. We investigated the protein-protein interaction between a 22 kDa PPIase (VaFKBP22, an FK506-binding protein) and the molecular chaperone DnaK derived from Vibrio anguillarum O1 (VaDnaK) using GST pull-down assays and a bacterial two-hybrid system for in vivo and in vitro studies, respectively. Furthermore, we analyzed the three-dimensional structure of the protein-protein interaction. Based on our results, VaFKBP22 appears to act as a cochaperone of VaDnaK, and contributes to protein folding and stabilization via its peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerization activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 2002

The human polyomavirus JC virus is the etiologic agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The JC virus early promoter directs cell-specific expression of the viral replication factor large T antigen, thus transcriptional regulation constitutes a major mechanism of glial tropism in PML. Here we found that pentanucleotide sequence immediately upstream of the TATA sequence functions as a cell-specific silencer in the JC virus transcription. In vitro binding studies showed that synthetic oligonucleotides spanning a pentanucleotide sequence, designated "oligo 2", interacts with nuclear proteins from non-glial cells in a cell-specific manner. Furthermore, the sequence preferentially repressed the heterologous thymidine kinase promoter activity in non-glial cells. We also tested whether JC virus transcription is controlled by DNA methylation. Transient transfection of in vitro methylated JC virus promoter abolished transcription in both the glial and non-glial cells. The repression fold was much larger in glial cells than in non-glial cells. Taken together, this finding suggests that glial cell-specific expression of the JC virus is controlled by DNA methylation as well as cell-specific silencers.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.167-176
• /
• 2004

Although efficient antiviral lamivudine is used for HBV-infected patients, a prolonged treatment with nucleoside analogs often results in lamivudine-resistant variants. In this study, we evaluated the fidelity of the lamivudine-resistant variants. The FLAG-tagged wild-type (FPolE) and Met550 variants (FPolE/M550A, M550V, and M550I) of HBV DNA polymerases were expressed in insect cells then purified. Like many other reverse transcriptases, no $3'{\rightarrow}5'$ exonuclease activity was detected in the HBV DNA polymerase. Since there is no proofreading activity, then the use of the site-specific nucleotide misincorporation method is beneficial. From the $f_{ins}$ value analysis, it is evident that M550I and M550V exhibit higher fidelity values than the wild-type HBV DNA polymerase, while M550A exhibits similar fidelity values. It is therefore suggested that lamivudine resistance comes from the stringency to dNTP binding and the discrimination of dCTP and lamivudine in M550V and M550I.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.959-967
• /
• 2004

To screen probiotic lactic acid bacteria with potent adhesive property on human colonic mucosa, colonic mucin-binding assay was introduced. This colonic mucin-binding assay actually measures the binding activity of surface lectin-like protein (SLP) on colonic mucin, and the optimal conditions were examined. The optimal pH for colonic mucin coating on plate wells was 4.8, and ${\times}24,000$ diluted solution of commercially available horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated streptoavidin yielded good results, for rapid screening, $5.0\;{\mu}g/mL$ of biotinylated SLP from lactic acid bacteria was optimal, and optimal scintillation time of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) was 10 min. These conditions were useful for both rapid selection and quantitative analysis of lactic acid bacteria that have high adhesion property to human intestinal tract. Among 50 strains of lactic acid bacteria, including 32 type culture strains and 18 isolated strains from infant feces, Lactobacillus species FSB-1 isolated from kimchi showed the highest binding activity to colonic mucin. From taxonomical viewpoints based on morphological study, physico-biochemical study, partial 16S rDNA seguencing, and phylogenetic analysis, L. species FSB-1 was identified as Lactobacillus brevis.