• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.547-551
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• 2013

We recently reported a Philyra pisum lectin (PPL) that exerts mitogenic effects on human lymphocytes, and its molecular characterization. The present study provides a more detailed characterization of PPL based on the results from a monosaccharide analysis indicating that PPL is a glycoprotein, and circular dichroism spectra revealing its estimated ${\alpha}$-helix, ${\beta}$-sheet, ${\beta}$-turn, and random coil contents to be 14.0%, 39.6%, 15.8%, and 30.6%, respectively. These contents are quite similar to those of deglycosylated PPL, indicating that glycans do not affect its intact structure. The binding properties to different pathogen-associated molecular patterns were investigated with hemagglutination inhibition assays using lipoteichoic acid from Gram-positive bacteria, lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria, and both mannan and ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan from fungi. PPL binds to lipoteichoic acids and mannan, but not to lipopolysaccharides or ${\beta}$-1,3-glucan. PPL exerted no significant antiproliferative effects against human breast or bladder cancer cells. These results indicate that PPL is a glycoprotein with a lipoteichoic acid or mannan-binding specificity and which contains low and high proportions of ${\alpha}$-helix and ${\beta}$-structures, respectively. These properties are inherent to the innate immune system of P. pisum and indicate that PPL could be involved in signal transmission into Gram-positive bacteria or fungi.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 2005

Acid-labile subunit (ALS) is a component of the 150-kDa insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) complex, which, by sequestering the majority of IGFs-I and -II and thereby prolonging the half-life of them in plasma, serves as a circulating reservoir of IGFs in mammalian species. A pGEX-2T plasmid and a baculovirus expression constructs harboring a coding sequence for glutathione-S transferase (GST)-porcine ALS (pALS) fusion protein were expressed in BL21(DE3) E. coli and Sf9 insect cells, respectively. The expressed protein was purified by glutathione or Ni-NTN affinity chromatography, followed by cleavage of the fusion protein using Factor Xa. In addition, pALS and hIGFBP-3 were also produced in small amounts in the Xenopus oocyte expression system which does not require any purification procedure. A 65-kDa pALS polypeptide was obtained following the prokaryotic expression and the enzymatic digestion, but biochemical characterization of this polypeptide was precluded because of an extremely low expression efficiency. The baculovirus-as well as Xenopus-expressed pALS exhibited the expected molecular mass of 85 kDa which was reduced into 75 and 65 kDa following deglycosylation of Asn-linked carbohydrates by Endo-F glycosidase, indicating that the expressed pALS was properly glycosylated. Moreover, irrespective of the source of pALS, the recombinant pALS and hIGFBP-3 formed a 130-kDa binary complex which could be immunoprecipitated by anti-hIGFBP-3 antibodies. Collectively, results indicate that an authentic pALS protein can be produced by the current expression systems.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2009

Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein hormone produced from primarily cells of the peritubular capillary endothelium of the kidney, is responsible for the regulation of red blood cell production. We have been investigating the roles of glycosylation site added in the biosynthesis and function of recombinant protein. We constructed three EPO mutants ($\Delta$69, $\Delta$105 and $\Delta$69,105), containing an additional oligosaccharide chains. EPOWT and EPO$\Delta$69 were effectively expressed in transient and stably transfected CHO-K1 cell lines. But, it wasn't detected any protein in the culture medium of EPO$\Delta$105 and EPO$\Delta$69,105 mutants. The growth and differentiation of EPO-dependent human leukemic cell line (F36E) were used to measure the cytokine dependency and in vitro bioactivity of rec-hEPO. MTT assay values were increased by survival of F36E cells at 24h. To analysis biological activity in vivo, two groups of ICR-mice (7 weeks old) were injected subcutaneously with 10 IU per mice of rec-hEPO molecules on days 0 and 2. Red blood cell and hematocrit values were measured on 6 days after the first injection. The hematocrit values were remarkably increased in all treatment groups. The pharmacokinetic analysis was also affected in the mice injected with rec-hEPO molecules 2.5 IU by tail intravenous. Protein samples were detected by Western blotting. An EPO$\Delta$69 protein migrated as a broad band with an average apparent molecular and detected slightly high band. Enzymatic N-deglycosylation resulted in narrow band and was the same molecular size. The biological activity of EPO$\Delta$69 was enhanced to compare with wt-hEPO. The half-life was longer than wt-hEPO. The results suggest that hyperglycosyalted recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO$\Delta$69) may have important biological and therapeutic good points.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2010

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone secreted from primarily cells of the peritubular capillary endothelium of the kidney, and is responsible for the regulation of red blood cell production. We constructed and expressed dimeric cDNAs in Chinease hamster ovary (CHO) cells encoding a fusion protein consisting of 2 complete human EPO domains linked by a 2-amino acid linker (Ile-Asp). We described the activity of dimeric hyperglycosylated EPO (dHGEPO) mutants containing additional oligosaccharide chains and characterized the function of glycosylation. No dimeric proteins with mutation at the $105^{th}$ amino acid were found in the cell medium. Growth and differentiation of the human EPO-dependent leukemiae cell line (F36E) were used to measure cytokine dependency and in vitro bioactivity of dHGEPO proteins. MIT assay at 24 h increased due to the survival of F36E cells. The dHGEPO protein migrated as a broad band with an average molecular mass of 75 kDa. The mutant, dHGEPO, was slightly higher than the wild-type (WT) dimeri-EPO band. Enzymatic N-deglycosylation resulted in the formation of a narrow band with a molecular mass twice of that of of monomeric EPO digested with an N-glycosylation enzyme. Hematocrit values were remarkably increased in all treatment groups. Pharmacokinetic analysis was also affected when 2.5 IU of dHGEPO were intravenously injected into the tails of the mice. The biological activity and half-life of dHGEPO mutants were enhanced as compared to the corresponding items associated the WT dimeric EPO. These results suggest that recombinant dHGEPO may be attractive biological and therapeutic targets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.464-467
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• 2011

Quercetin is a major flavonoid present in onions, which acts as an antioxidant. Quercetin exists both as a free compound and conjugated with carbohydrates, primarily as glucosides in onion. Aged black onion was made through a 30 day aging process in which the onions were kept in an environment of $60^{\circ}C$ and high humidity (90% RH). Quercetin and quercetin glucosides were assayed in onion bulbs before and after the aging process, using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS/MS). Quercetin mono- and diglucosides were identified in fresh onion bulbs, whereas quercetin aglycone was the only form present in aged black onion bulbs. These findings indicate that the quercetin mono- and di-glucosides present in fresh onions undergo complete deglycosylation during the aging process. Such profiling will provide a rapid method that can be used to assess changes in the two major quercetin glycosides during the aging process of onion bulbs.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.89-92
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• 2010

In the previous study, we reported the antioxidative activity, antiaging activity, antibacterial activity and moisturizing effect of cream containing Persicaria hydropiper L. extract. In this study, the components of Persicaria hydropiper L. extract were analyzed by TLC and HPLC. Aglycone fractions obtained from the deglycosylation reaction of ethyl acetate fraction among the Persicaria hydropiper L. extract, showed 2 bands and 2 peaks in TLC and HPLC experiments, respectively. Two components were identified as quercetin and kaempferol. TLC chromatogram of ethyl acetate fraction of Persicaria hydropiper L. extract revealed 6 bands and HPLC chromatogram showed 7 peaks, which were identified as quercetin, hyperin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, kaempferol. In conclusion, with the antioxidative activity, antiaging activity, antibacterial activity and moisturizing effect reported previously, component analysis of Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts could be applicable to new cosmeceuticals.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.261-271
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• 2019

Background: Protopanaxatriol (PPT) is an aglycone of ginsenosides, which has high medicinal values. Production of PPT from natural ginseng plants requires artificial deglycosylation procedures of ginsenosides via enzymatic or physicochemical treatments. Metabolic engineering could be an efficient technology for production of ginsenoside sapogenin. For PPT biosynthesis in Panax ginseng, damarenediol-II synthase (PgDDS) and two cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP716A47 and CYP716A53v2) are essentially required. Methods: Transgenic tobacco co-overexpressing P. ginseng PgDDS, CYP716A47, and CYP716A53v2 was constructed via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Results: Expression of the three introduced genes in transgenic tobacco lines was confirmed by Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Analysis of liquid chromatography showed three new peaks, dammarenediol-II (DD), protopanaxadiol (PPD), and PPT, in leaves of transgenic tobacco. Transgenic tobacco (line 6) contained $2.8{\mu}g/g$ dry weight (DW), $7.3{\mu}g/g$ DW, and $11.6{\mu}g/g$ DW of PPT, PPD, and DD in leaves, respectively. Production of PPT was achieved via cell suspension culture and was highly affected by auxin treatment. The content of PPT in cell suspension was increased 37.25-fold compared with that of leaves of the transgenic tobacco. Transgenic tobacco was not able to set seeds because of microspore degeneration in anthers. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that cells of phloem tissue situated in the center of the anther showed an abnormally condensed nuclei and degenerated mitochondria. Conclusion: We successfully achieved the production of PPT in transgenic tobacco. The possible factors deriving male sterility in transgenic tobacco are discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.430-436
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• 2022

Platycosides, Platycodi radix (Platycodon grandiflorus root) saponins, are used as food supplements and exert diverse pharmacological activities. Deglycosylation of saponins enhances their biological efficacy, and deglycosylated platycosides are produced mainly through enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the types of available deglycosylated platycosides remain limited because of a lack of hydrolyzing enzymes that can act on specific glycosides in glycosylated platycosides. In this study, a crude enzyme from Aspergillus tubingensis converted platycoside E (PE) and polygalacin D₃ (PGD3) into deglucose-apiose-xylosylated (deGAX)-platycodin D (PD) and deGAX-polygalacin D (PGD), respectively. The products were identified through LC/MS analysis by specifically hydrolyzing all glucose residues at C-3, and apiose and xylose residues at C-28 of platycoside. The hydrolytic activity of the crude enzyme obtained after the cultivation of the fungus using citrus pectin and corn steep solid as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, in culture medium was increased compared with those using other carbon and nitrogen sources. The crude enzyme from A. tubingensis was the most effective in producing deGAX platycoside at pH 5.0 and 60℃. The crude enzyme produced 0.32 mg/ml deGAX-PD and 0.34 mg/ml deGAX-PGD from 1 mg/ml PE and 1 mg/ml PGD3 (at pH 5.0 and 60℃) for 12 and 10 h, with productivities of 32.0 and 42.5 mg/l/h and molar yields of 62.1 and 59.6%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to produce deGAX platycosides from glycosylated platycosides.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2024

Background: Epimers of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) have a low bioavailability and are prone to deglycosylation, which produces epimers of ginsenoside Rh2 (S-Rh2 and R-Rh2) and protopanaxadiol (S-PPD and R-PPD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and potency of these molecules as anti-cancer agents. Methods: Crystal violet staining was used to study the anti-proliferatory action of the molecules on a human epithelial breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and compare their potency. Cell death and cell cycle were studied using flow cytometry and mode of cell death was studied using live cell imaging. Anti-angiogenic effects of the drug were studied using loop formation assay. Molecular docking showed the interaction of these molecules with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) and aquaporin (AQP) water channels. VEGF bioassay was used to study the interaction of Rh2 with VEGFR2, in vitro. Results: HUVEC was the more sensitive cell line to the anti-proliferative effects of S-Rh2, S-PPD and R-PPD. The molecules induced necroptosis/necrosis in MDA-MB-231 and apoptosis in HUVEC. S-Rh2 was the most potent inhibitor of loop formation. In silico molecular docking predicted a good binding score between Rh2 or PPD and the ATP-binding pocket of VEGFR2. VEGF bioassay showed that Rh2 was an allosteric modulator of VEGFR2. In addition, SRh2 and PPD had good binding scores with AQP1 and AQP5, both of which play roles in cell migration and proliferation. Conclusion: The combination of these molecules might be responsible for the anti-cancer effects observed by Rg3.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1575-1581
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• 2005

This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of IGFBPs in plasma of steers, and to profile the relationship between growth and plasma IGF-1 and IGFBPs with aging in Holstein steers. Four blots of IGFBP at molecular weights of 38-43, 34, 29-32 and 24 kDa bands were detected by western ligand blot assay using $^{125}I-IGF-1$. On the basis of immunoblotting with anti-bovine IGFBP-2 and -3 antiserums, we observed the band for IGFBP-2 at approximately 34 kDa, and the IGFBP-3 band was detected at 38-43 kDa and 34 kDa in adult steers and calves. The IGFBP-3 antiserum used on the blots exhibited significant cross-reactivity with 34 kDa IGFBP-2. Furthermore, the 38-43 kDa IGFBP-3 bands were reduced to a 36 kDa band after deglycosylation, whereas the 34 kDa IGFBP-2 was intact. The plasma IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and other IGFBPs showed stability throughout a whole day. The change in live weight was found to be positively correlated to the plasma IGF-1 concentration (r = 0.6801, n = 64, p<0.05) and plasma IGFBP-3 (r = 0.6321, n = 64, p<0.05), while inversely correlated to plasma IGFBP-2 (r = -0.2919, n = 64, p<0.05). Furthermore, plasma IGF-1 was positively correlated to plasma IGFBP-3 (r = 0.6191, p<0.001), but was not correlated to plasma IGFBP-2. The portion of IGFBP-2 for total IGFBPs in calves was higher than in adult steers (p<0.05) and was decreased with growth, whereas that of IGFBP-3 was increased with increased live weight (p<0.05). The ratio IGFBP-3 for IGFBP-2 (BP-3/BP-2) was increased with growing of liveweight. Therefore, the changes in plasma IGF-1 level with increased liveweight may be related to the changes in plasma IGFBP-3 level and IGFBP-2 may give an important role in anabolic action of IGF-1 with the growth of body during calfhood in Holstein steers.