• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.1073-1075
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• 2013

Background: In normal cells, activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) molecules are subjected to ubiquitination-mediated proteasome degradation pathway by c-Cbl, an ubiquitin ligase that checks uncontrolled proliferation. Hence expression of wild type c-Cbl molecule is essential to keep this degradation machinery in a functional state. Loss of expression or function of c-Cbl may consequently lead to sustained activation of EGFR and promote carcinogenesis, loss of function mutations in the c-Cbl gene already being reported in lung and hematopoietic cancers. However, the genetic status of c-Cbl in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not known. Hence in the present study we investigated the genomic DNA isolated from OSCC tissue biopsy samples for mutations in the RING finger domain coding region of c-Cbl gene, which has also been reported to be most frequently mutated in other cancers. Materials and Methods: Total genomic DNA isolated from thirty two post surgical OSCC tissue samples were amplified using primers flanking the exon 8 of c-Cbl gene that codes for the RING finger domain. The PCR amplicons were then resolved in a 1.2% agarose gel, purified and subjected to direct sequencing to screen for mutations. Results: The sequencing data of the thirty two OSCC samples did not identify mutations in the RING finger domain coding region of c-Cbl gene. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the genetic status of c-Cbl gene in OSCC samples has been investigated. The present data indicates that genetic alteration of RING finger domain coding region of c-Cbl gene is relatively infrequent in OSCC samples.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.560-570
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• 2007

The effective and accurate assessment of the total microbial community diversity is one of the primary challenges in modem microbial ecology, especially for the detection and characterization of unculturable populations and populations with a low abundance. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to investigate the diversity of the microbial community during the biodegradation of cis- and trans-dichloroethenes in soil and wastewater enrichment cultures. Community profiling using PCR targeting the l6S rRNA gene and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) revealed an alteration in the bacterial community profiles with time. Exposure to cis- and trans-dichloroethenes led to the disappearance of certain genospecies that were initially observed in the untreated samples. A cluster analysis of the bacterial DGGE community profiles at various sampling times during the degradation process indicated that the community profile became stable after day 10 of the enrichment. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of selected DGGE bands revealed that the genera Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Comamonas, and Arthrobacter, plus several other important uncultured bacterial phylotypes, dominated the enrichment cultures. Thus, the identified dominant phylotypes may play an important role in the degradation of cis- and trans-dichloroethenes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권12호
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• pp.1966-1974
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• 2008

A typical tropical soil from the northeast of Brazil, where an important terrestrial oil field is located, was accidentally contaminated with a mixture of oil and saline production water. To study the bioremediation potential in this area, molecular methods based on PCR-DGGE were used to determine the diversity of the bacterial communities in bulk and in contaminated soils. Bacterial fingerprints revealed that the bacterial communities were affected by the presence of the mixture of oil and production water, and different profiles were observed when the contaminated soils were compared with the control. Halotolerant strains capable of degrading crude oil were also isolated from enrichment cultures obtained from the contaminated soil samples. Twenty-two strains showing these features were characterized genetically by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and phenotypically by their colonial morphology and tolerance to high NaCl concentrations. Fifteen ARDRA groups were formed. Selected strains were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and Actinobacteria was identified as the main group found. Strains were also tested for their growth capability in the presence of different oil derivatives (hexane, dodecane, hexadecane, diesel, gasoline, toluene, naphthalene, o-xylene, and p-xylene) and different degradation profiles were observed. PCR products were obtained from 12 of the 15 ARDRA representatives when they were screened for the presence of the alkane hydroxylase gene (alkB). Members of the genera Rhodococcus and Gordonia were identified as predominant in the soil studied. These genera are usually implicated in oil degradation processes and, as such, the potential for bioremediation in this area can be considered as feasible.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

The ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein degradation pathway plays an important role in regulating both cell proliferation and cell death. Proteasome inhibitors are well known to induce apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines. We investigated the effect of combined treatment with proteasome inhibitor and TRAIL, and a possible mechanism of the enhancing apoptosis by the both treatment, on TRAIL-resistant non-small cell lung cancer. A549 cells were exposed to the N-Acetyl-Leu-Leu-Norleu-al (ALLN) as a proteasome inhibitor and then treated with recombinant TRAIL protein. In A549 cells under proteasome inhibition conditions by pretreatment with ALLN, TRAIL treatment significantly decreased cell viability compared to that ALLN and TRAIL alone treatment. Also, the both treatment induced cell damage through DNA fragmentation and p53 expression. In addition, the combined treatment of both markedly increased caspase-8 activation, especially the exposure for 2 h, and Bax expression and induced the dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in A549 cells. Taken together, these findings showed that proteasome inhibition by ALLN enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis via DNA degradation by activated P53 and mitochondrial transmembrane potential loss by caspase-8 activation and bax expression. Therefore, our results suggest that proteasome inhibitor may be used a very effectively chemotherapeutic agent for the tumor treatment, especially TRAIL-resistant tumor cell.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.399-404
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant profiles of genistein and other isoflavonoids. The reactivity of genistein towards stable radical and reactive oxygen species including ${\bullet}\;ABTS^+$, ${\bullet}{O_2}^-$, $H_2O_2$ and HOCl has been investigated, and the effects were compared with other isoflavonoids and antioxidants. All the tested isoflavonoids showed remarkable ${\bullet}\;ABTS^+$ scavenging activity and genistein was more potent than BHT and ascorbic acid. Genistein was more effective in scavenging hypochlorous acid than superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. At $10\;{\mu}M$ concentrations of genistein and genistin showed about 90% inhibitory effect on HOCl, while BHT and ascorbic acid showed lower than 50% inhibitory effect. Moreover, genistein could inhibit plasmid DNA cleavage, protein degradation and cell death from HOCl attack, while daidzein, BHT and ascorbic acid could not protect them effectively. These results suggest that genistein is a more potent radical scavenger than other isoflavonoids, and it can remarkably reduce cellular damage induced by HOCl.

• 한국식품저장유통학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.483-490
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• 2008

주석산은 포도에 상당량 함유되어 있어 포도 주스 또는 포도주의 저장 및 유통 기간 중에 침전물을 형성하여 품질을 저하시킨다. 본 연구에서는 주석산의 분해에 사용될 수 있는 효소 자원의 개발을 목적으로 주석산 분해 세균을 분리하고 그 특성을 조사하였다. 주석산의 함량이 높은 것으로 알려진 국산 캠벨얼리 포도주의 주박으로부터 주석산 분해세균을 집식배양한 후 주석산을 탄소원으로 함유하는 배지를 사용하여 주석산을 분해할 수 있는 세균을 분리하였다. 분리 균주 중에서 KMBL 5777과 KMBL 5778 두 균주가 주석산 함유 배지에서 생육도와 주석산 분해능이 가장 우수하였다. 이 두 균주의 형태학적, 생리학적 특성 및 165 rDNA를 분석하여 Acetobacter tropicalis로 동정하였다. 16S rDNA 염기서열의 상동성은 KMBL 5777 균주와 A. tropicalis LMG 1663 균주 사이에는 99.3%, KMBL 5778 균주와 A. tropicalis A77 균주 사이에는 99.8%로 나타났다. 두 균주에 의한 주석산 분해 조건을 조사한 결과 두 균주 모두 $25^{\circ}C$, 배지의 초기 pH 6.0에서 가장 우수한 생육도와 주석산 분해능을 나타내었다. 주석산 0.2%를 함유하는 배지에서 8일간의 배양 후에는 600 nm에서의 생육도가 약 2.3에 도달하였으며 주석산 분해율은 약 90%를 나타내었다. 온도에 의한 영향은 $25^{\circ}C$에 비하여 20, $30^{\circ}C$의 순으로 활성이 감소하였으며 37'E에서는 생육과 주석산 분해가 전혀 불가능하였다. pH 6에 비하여 pH 7, 5, 4, 3의 순으로 주석산의 분해속도가 감소하였으나 pH7, 5, 4의 경우에는 배양 8일 후 pH 6의 경우와 유사한 주석산 분해능을 나타내었다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.209-214
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• 2008

VBNC(Viable but nonculturable)란 생존에 불리한 환경하에서 살아 있으나 일반 영양배지에서 자라지 못하는 미생물의 상태를 나타낸다. 본 연구는 구리를 이용해 Escherichia coli에서 VBNC를 유도하고 이의 특성을 살펴보았다. 구리를 처리한 후 전통적인 평판 배양법에 의한 집락 형성계수(colony forming unit, CFU)를 측정한 결과 배양되지는 않으나, Live/Dead BacLight bacterial viability kit 염색 후 유세포계수기로 측정한 결과 살아있는 미생물로 계수되어 VBNC 상태가 확인하였다. VBNC 유도된 미생물로부터 genomic DNA와 RNA를 분리하고 이들의 안정성을 관찰하였는데 DNA에 비해 RNA의 붕괴가 많이 진행되었음을 확인할 수 있었고 RNA의 붕괴는 특정크기로 붕괴되는 것으로 관찰되었다. 또한 생물전용 투과전자현미경(Bio-Transmission Electron Microscope, Bio-TEM)을 통해 VBNC 세포의 형태를 관찰하였는데 VBNC 상태에서는 정상상태에 비해 periplasmic space가 온전하지 못하고 세포내막과 세포 외막이 분리되었으며 세포질의 양이 현저히 감소됨이 관찰되었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권17호
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• pp.7943-7957
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• 2015

Background and Aims: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth-suppression potentiality of a crude saponin extract (CSENS) prepared from medicinal herb, Nigella sativa, on human colon cancer cells, HCT116. Materials and Methods: HCT116 cells were subjected to increasing doses of CSENS for 24, 48 and 72 h, and then harvested and assayed for cell viability by WST-1. Flow cytometry analyses, cell death detection ELISA, fluorescent stains (Hoechst 33342 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide), DNA laddering and comet assays were carried out to confirm the apoptogenic effects of CSENS. Luciferase reporter gene assays, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were performed to assess the impact of CAERS and CFEZO on the expression levels of key regulatory proteins in HCT116 cells. Results: The results demonstrated that CSENS inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis. Apoptosis was confirmed by flow cytometry analyses, while CSENS-treated cells exhibited morphological hallmarks of apoptosis including cell shrinkage, irregularity in cellular shape, cellular detachment and chromatin condensation. Biochemical signs of apoptosis, such as DNA degradation, were observed by comet assay and gel electrophoresis. The pro-apoptotic effect of CSENS was caspase-3-independent and associated with increase of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. CSENS treatment down-regulated transcriptional and DNA-binding activities of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 proteins, associated with down-regulation of their target oncogenes, c-Myc, cyclin D1 and survivin. On the other hand, CSENS up-regulated transcriptional and DNA-binding activities of Nrf2 and expression of cytoprotective genes. In addition, CSENS modulated the expression levels of ERK1/2 MAPK, p53 and p21. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CSENS may be a valuable agent for treatment of colon cancer.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.205-214
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• 2005

From ancient Antarctic glacier ice, we extracted total genomic DNA that was suitable for prokaryotic 16S rDNA gene cloning and sequencing, and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library and end-sequencing. The ice samples were from the Dry Valley region. Age dating by $^{40}Ar/^{39}Ar$ analysis on the volcanic ashes deposited in situ indicated the ice samples are minimum 100,000-300,000 yr (sample DLE) and 8 million years (sample EME) old. Further assay proved the ice survived freeze-thaw cycles or other re-working processes. EME, which was from a small lobe of the basal Taylor glacier, is the oldest known ice on Earth. Microorganisms, preserved frozen in glacier ice and isolated from the rest of the world over a geological time scale, can provide valuable data or insight for the diversity, distribution, survival strategy, and evolutionary relationships to the extant relatives. From the 16S gene cloning study, we detected no PCR amplicons with Archaea-specific primers, however we found many phylotypes belonging to Bacteria divisions, such as Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria $({\alpha},\;{\beta},\;and\;{\gamma})$, Firmicutes, and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroid$. BAC cloning and sequencing revealed protein codings highly identical to phenylacetic acid degradation protein paaA, chromosome segregation ATPases, or cold shock protein B of present day bacteria. Throughput sequencing of the BAC clones is underway. Viable and culturable cells were recovered from the DLE sample, and characterized by their 16S rDNA sequences. Further investigation on the survivorship and functional genes from the past should help unveil the evolution of life on Earth, or elsewhere, if any.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.1942-1951
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• 2017

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are important foodborne pathogenic bacteria, particularly in poultry meat. In this study, the presence of extracellular DNase activity was investigated for biofilm-deficient Campylobacter strains versus biofilm-forming Campylobacter strains isolated from chickens, to understand the relationship between extracellular DNase activity and biofilm formation. A biofilm-forming reference strain, C. jejuni NCTC11168, was co-incubated with biofilm non-forming strains isolated from raw chickens or their supernatants. The biofilm non-forming strains or supernatants significantly prohibited the biofilm formation of C. jejuni NCTC11168. In addition, the strains degraded pre-formed biofilms of C. jejuni NCTC11168. Degradation of C. jejuni NCTC11168 biofilm was confirmed after treatment with the supernatant of the biofilm non-forming strain 2-1 by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Quantitative analysis of the biofilm matrix revealed reduction of extracellular DNA (16%) and proteins (8.7%) after treatment. Whereas the biofilm-forming strains C. jejuni Y23-5 and C. coli 34-3 isolated from raw chickens and the C. jejuni NCTC11168 reference strain showed no extracellular DNase activity against their own genomic DNA, most biofilm non-forming strains tested, including C. jejuni 2-1, C. coli 34-1, and C. jejuni 63-1, exhibited obvious extracellular DNase activities against their own or 11168 genomic DNA, except for one biofilm non-former, C. jejuni 22-1. Our results suggest that extracellular DNase activity is a common feature suppressing biofilm formation among biofilm non-forming C. jejuni or C. coli strains of chicken origin.