• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2019

Purpose: Alpha-amanitin induces potent oxidative stress and apoptosis, and may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity. This study examined the mechanisms of α-amanitin-induced apoptosis in vitro, and whether green tea extract (GTE) offers protection against hepatic damage caused by α-amanitin (AMA) induced apoptosis in vivo. Methods: The effects of GTE and SIL on the cell viability of cultured murine hepatocytes induced by AMA were evaluated using an MTT assay. Apoptosis was assessed by an analysis of DNA fragmentation and caspase-3. In the in vivo protocol, mice were divided into the following four groups: control group (0.9% saline injection), AMA group (α-amanitin 0.6 mg/kg), AMA+SIL group (α-amanitin and silibinin 50 mg/kg), and AMA+GTE group (α-amanitin and green tea extract 25 mg/kg). After 48 hours of treatment, the hepatic aminotransferase and the extent of hepatonecrosis of each subject was evaluated. Results: In the hepatocytes exposed to AMA and the tested antidotes, the cell viability was significantly lower than the AMA only group. An analysis of DNA fragmentation showed distinctive cleavage of hepatocyte nuclear DNA in the cells exposed to AMA. In addition, the AMA and GTE or SIL groups showed more relief of the cleavage of the nuclear DNA ladder. Similarly, values of caspase-3 in the AMA+GTE and AMA+SIL groups were significantly lower than in the AMA group. The serum AST and ALT levels were significantly higher in the AMA group than in the control and significantly lower in the AMA+GTE group. In addition, AMA+GTE induced a significant decrease in hepatonecrosis compared to the controls when a histologic grading scale was used. Conclusion: GTE is effective against AMA-induced hepatotoxicity with its apoptosis regulatory properties under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.541-546
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• 2010

We utilized a mammalian expression system to purify and characterize autotaxin (ATX)/lysophospholipase D, an enzyme present in the blood responsible for biosynthesis of lysophosphatidic acid. The human ATX cDNA encoding amino acids 29-915 was cloned downstream of a secretion signal of CD5. At the carboxyl terminus was a thrombin cleavage site followed by the constant domain (Fc) of IgG to facilitate protein purification. The ATX-Fc fusion protein was expressed in HEK293 cells and isolated from conditioned medium of a stable clone by affinity chromatography with Protein A sepharose followed by cleavage with thrombin. The untagged ATX protein was further purified to essential homogeneity by gel filtration chromatography with a yield of approximately 5 mg/liter medium. The purified ATX protein was enzymatically active and biologically functional, offering a useful tool for further biological and structural studies of this important enzyme.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2003

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenolic compound found in peen tea leaves, and has been known to be one of the most potent catechin species which inhibits cell growth most possibly through an apoptotic cell death. We investigated the apoptotic activity of (-)-EGCG on the human myeloid leukemia cell line, HL-60. Our results of MTT test indicated that (-)-EGCG had a significant antiproliferation effect in HL-60 cells with $IC_{50}$/ (50% inhibition concentration) value of 65 $\mu$M. Giemsa statining of HL-60 cells treated with (-)-EGCG (100 $\mu$M) for 6hrs showed a typical apoptosis-specific morphological change including shrinkage of the cytoplasm, membrane blobbing and compaction of the nuclear chromatin. The DNA fragmentation was observed from the agarose gel electrophoresis of cells treated with (-)-EGCG for 3hrs or longer, and was progressed to a greater degree as treatment time increases. Treatment of the cells with (-)-EGCG (100 $\mu$M) resulted in a rapid release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol, and a subsequent cleavage of caspase-3 to an active form in a treatment-time dependent manner. (-)-EGCG (100 $\mu$M) also stimulated proteolytic cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) to an active form in HL-60 cells. Tlken together, (-)-EGCG appears to induce the apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells via a caspase-dependent pathway. These results suggest the possible application of (-)-EGCG, the major active compound in green tea, as an antiproliferative agent for cancer prevention.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.137-141
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• 2008

We previously isolated and cloned a cDNA of abaecin from the Bombus ignitus. In an effort to produce a large amount of soluble abaecin at low cost, we successfully expressed the peptide in Escherichia coli that are highly sensitive to its mature form. For this, we fused the peptide encoding 39 amino acids of mature B. ignitus abaecin to the thioredoxin gene together with a C-terminal 6xHis tag. An enterokinase cleavage site was introduced between the 6xHis tag and mature abaecin to allow final release of the recombinant peptide. A high yield of 9.6 mg soluble fusion protein from 200 ml of bacterial culture was purified by $Ni^{2+}$-charged His-Bind resin affinity column, and 1.4 mg of pure active recombinant abaecin was readily obtained by enterokinase cleavage, followed by affinity chromatograph. The molecular mass of recombinant abaecin peptide was determined by Tricin-SDS-PAGE analysis. The recombinant abaecin exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2009

A complete cDNA, which encodes for a myostatin-like protein (Es-MSTN), was isolated from the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Es-MSTN was composed of 2,397 nucleotides and the open reading frame (ORF) specified a protein containing 468 amino acids. Es-MSTN exhibited 32% amino acid sequence identity and 52% similarity to human myostatin. Multiple sequence alignment analysis indicated that Es-MSTN possessed the conserved proteolytic cleavage site (RXXR) for maturation of the protein and nine cysteine residues for disulfide bridges. Besides the conserved structural features, Es-MSTN also exhibits its unique characters; a longer N-terminal domain which is involved in protein folding and latent form of myostatin and absence of the cleavage site for BMP-1/tolloid family of metalloproteinase to activate mature myostatin. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Es-MSTN showed the closely related to both vertebrate myostatin and GDF11. Es-MSTN is expressed highly in the claw muscle, leg muscle, thoracic muscle and heart, and moderately in the hindgut suggesting that Es-MSTN may play important roles in the muscle tissues. As homolog of mammalian myostatin and GDF11, Es-MSTN may be involved in development of muscular tissue and further study will help to produce high-quality seafood.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2007

The complete genome sequence of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus stain A (ZYMV-A) isolated from a hollyhock (Althaea rosea) was determined by using RT-PCR with a series of primer sets. The virus genome consisted of 9593 nucleotides (nt), excluding the poly(A) tract at 3' terminus of the virus genome, with 5' and 3' untranslated region of 139 and 211 nt, respectively. The deduced polyprotein of ZYMV-A consisted of 3080 amino acid (aa) residues and was 351 kDa in molecular weight. All proteolytic cleavage sites of the polyprotein of ZYMV-A were compared with those of ZYMV strains, which showed the cleavage sites were conserved among ZYMV strains. The HC-Pro contained the KITC and PTK motifs, and the DAG motif was located at CP ORF of ZYMV-A, suggesting that ZYMV-A is aphid-transmissible. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the complete genome among ZYMV strains or CP ORFs with other potyviruses showed ZYMV strains formed a distinct group. These results clearly confirmed that ZYMV-A was another distinct strain in ZYMV population at molecular level.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2004

The polysaccharide, (1\longrightarrow5)-$\alpha$-D-ribofuranan, was synthesized by a cationic ring-opening polymerization of 1,4-anhydro-2,3-di-O-benzyl-$\alpha$-D-ribopyranose with the aid of boron trifluoride etherate and subsequent debenzylation. This polysaccharide catalyzed the hydrolysis of ethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate, uridylyl(3'\longrightarrow5')uridine ammonium salt, and 4-tert-butylcatechol cyclic phosphate N-methyl pyridinium. The polymer also catalyzed the cleavage of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). The hydrolysis of ethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate in the presence of the polymer was accelerated by 1.5 ${\times}$ 10$^3$ times relative to the uncatalyzed reaction. The catalytic activity was attributable to the vic-cis-diols of the riboses being located inside the active center that is formed by polymer chain folding; these diols form hydrogen bonds with two phosphoryl oxygen atoms of the phosphates so as to activate the phosphorus atoms to be attacked by nucleophile ($H_2O$).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.405-410
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• 2003

Vitamin K-related analogs induce growth inhibition in various cancer cell lines. A naphthoquinone analog, termed 2,3-dichloro-5, 8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DDN), induces apoptosis in human promyeloid leukemic HL-60 cells, and shows antitumor activity in vivo. Following treatment with DDN, evidence of apoptosis, including DNA fragmentation and cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), was observed. DDN induced an upregulation of proapoptotic Bax protein, and Bid cleavage. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels were not changed by DDN, but the expression of Bcl-xL was decreased. In addition, DDN reduced the mass of solid tumor in the Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mouse model. These results indicate that DDN exerts antitumor activity, which appears to be related to the induction of apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 family proteins.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.459-469
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• 2014

Entamoeba histolytica is a tissue-invasive protozoan parasite causing dysentery in humans. During infection of colonic tissues, amoebic trophozoites are able to kill host cells via apoptosis or necrosis, both of which trigger IL-8-mediated acute inflammatory responses. However, the signaling pathways involved in host cell death induced by E. histolytica have not yet been fully defined. In this study, we examined whether calpain plays a role in the cleavage of pro-survival transcription factors during cell death of colonic epithelial cells, induced by live E. histolytica trophozoites. Incubation with amoebic trophozoites induced activation of m-calpain in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, incubation with amoebae resulted in marked degradation of STAT proteins (STAT3 and STAT5) and NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65) in Caco-2 cells. However, $I{\kappa}B$, an inhibitor of NF-${\kappa}B$, was not cleaved in Caco-2 cells following adherence of E. histolytica. Entamoeba-induced cleavage of STAT proteins and NF-${\kappa}B$ was partially inhibited by pretreatment of cells with a cell-permeable calpain inhibitor, calpeptin. In contrast, E. histolytica did not induce cleavage of caspase-3 in Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with a calpain inhibitor, calpeptin (but not the pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk) or m-calpain siRNA partially reduced Entamoeba-induced DNA fragmentation in Caco-2 cells. These results suggest that calpain plays an important role in E. histolytica-induced degradation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and STATs in colonic epithelial cells, which ultimately accelerates cell death.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.483-489
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• 2004

Pseudomonas sp. S-47 is a bacterium capable of degrading benzoate as well as 4-chlorobenzoate (4CBA). Benzoate and 4CBA are known to be degraded via a meta-cleavage pathway characterized by a series of enzymes encoded by xyl genes. The meta-cleavage pathway operon in Pseudomonas sp. S-47 encodes a set of enzymes which transform benzoate and 4CBA into TCA cycle intermediates via the meta-cleavage of (4-chloro )catechol to produce pyruvate and acetyl-CoA. In the current study, the meta-pathway gene cluster was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of S-47 strain to obtain pCS1, which included the degradation activities for 4CBA and catechol. The genetic organization of the operon was then examined by cloning the meta-pathway genes into a pBluescript SKII(+) vector. As such, the meta-pathway operon from Pseudomonas sp. S-47 was found to contain 13 genes in the order of xylXYZLTEGFlQKIH. The two regulatory genes, xylS and xylR, that control the expression of the meta-pathway operon, were located adjacently downstream of the meta-pathway operon. The xyl genes from strain S-47 exhibited a high nucleoside sequence homology to those from Pseudomonas putida mt-2, except for the xylJQK genes, which were more homologous to the corresponding three genes from P. stutzeri AN10. One open reading frame was found between the xylH and xylS genes, which may playa role of a transposase. Accordingly, the current results suggest that the xyl gene cluster in Pseudomonas sp. S-47 responsible for the complete degradation of benzoate was recombined with the corresponding genes from P. putida mt-2 and P. stutzeri AN10.