• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1301-1315
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• 2018

We purified an antimicrobial peptide from the acidified hemocyte extract of Mytilus coruscus by $C_{18}$ reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The peptide was 4041.866 Da based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrophotometer (MALDI-TOF/MS) and the 25 amino acids of the N-terminus sequence were identified. Comparison of this sequence of the purified peptide with the N-terminus sequences of other antimicrobial peptides revealed 100% identity with the mytilin B precursor of Mytilus coruscus. We also identified a 312 bp open-reading frame (ORF) encoding 103 amino acids based on the obtained amino acid residues. The nucleotide sequence of this ORF and the amino acid sequence also revealed 100% identity with the mytilin B precursor of Mytilus coruscus. We synthesized two antimicrobial peptides with an alanine residue in the C-terminus, and designated them mytilin B1 and B2. These two antimicrobial peptides showed antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus cereus and Streptococcus parauberis (minimal effective concentration, MECs $41.6-89.7{\mu}g/ml$), gram-negative bacteria, including Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia stuartii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Vibrio ichthyoenteri (MECs $7.4-39.5{\mu}g/ml$), and the fungus Candida albicans (MECs $26.0-31.8{\mu}g/ml$). This antimicrobial activity was stable under heat and salt conditions. Furthermore, the peptides did not exhibit significant hemolytic activity or cytotoxic effects. These results suggest that mytilin B could be applied as alternative antibiotic agent, and they add to the understanding of the innate immunity of hard-shelled mussels.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2008

Anthocyanin synthesis in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv Maehyang) begins approximately 26 days postflowering and continued throughout fruit ripening. A set of cDNA clones encoding the anthocyanin biosynthetic enzymes were isolated from strawberry. A pair of primers were designed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) through the comparison of the nucleotide sequences of homologous genes from diverse plants. Reverse transcriptase-PCRs were performed using cDNA synthesized from ripe fruit total RNA and the primers corresponding to each gene. Eight genes of the anthocyanin pathway were cloned and confirmed by sequencing to code for phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-cummarate CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanidine synthase (ANS), UDP-glucose:flavonoid-3-O-glucosyl-transferase (UFGT). Northern analyses showed that the corresponding genes were differentially expressed during the fruit development process. All genes except PAL were predominantly expressed in fruit. Expression of PAL, DFR and ANS was detected 10 days postflowering at the early stage of fruit development, declined for a while and sharply increased 22 days postflowering then showed a peak 34 days postflowering. The other genes, however, were not expressed up to 22 or 30 days postflowering when the initial fruit ripening events occur at the time of initiation of anthocyanin accumulation. The onset of anthocyanin synthesis in ripening strawberry coincides with a coordinated induction of the anthocyanin pathway genes, suggesting the involvement of regulatory genes. We propose that at least two different regulatory mechanisms playa role in the biosynthesis of anthocyanin during color development of strawberry.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2016

Glycan modification is important in pharmaceutical industry. Especially, sialic acid affects the bioactivity and stability of medicine. Milk of pig has been used as bioreactor to produce various pharmaceutical proteins. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the glycan chain in pig mammary grand. β-1,4-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase A (pMGAT4A) is one of the essential enzymes for increase of sialic acid content, but pig MGAT4A is unclear. In this study, the pMGAT4A was identified and characterized. The pMGAT4A has 1638 nucleotides encoding 535 amino acids and type II membrane topology, which is one of the common features in many glycosyltransferases. The gene was strongly expressed in liver and mammary gland, whereas was weakly expressed in small intestine, stomach and bladder. For functional test, HA-tagged MGAT4A was over-expressed in porcine kidney (PK-15) cell line. Forced expression of pMGAT4A gene was identified by qPCR, and we identified that pMGAT4A is located in Golgi complex by co- staining with HA antibody and BODIPY TR ceramide. In addition, we identified the increase of mannose-β-1,4-N-acetylglucosamine structure by ELISA and immunofluorescence using Datura stramonium agglutinin (DSA), which recognizes mannose-β-1,4-Nacetylglucosamine. Through the specific activity analysis, we showed that pMGAT4A modified bi-antennary to tri-antennary. This event affects sialic acid content. Therefore, we thought that over-expression of pMGAT4A will be necessary in pig mammary grand for improved medicine.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.131-137
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• 2000

The release of hazardous waste materials into the environment poses serious risks in humans and ecosystems. The risk assessment of environmental pollutants including hazardous chemicals requires a comprehensive measurement of hazard and exposure of the chemicals that can be achieved by toxicity evaluation using a biological system such as biomarkers. In this report we have tried to develop a biomarker used to elucidate a molecular basis of, and to monitor abnormal behaviors caused by diazinon in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism. First, an attempt was made to clone tyrosine hydroxylase gene from Japanese medaka that would be a candidate for a biomarker for neuronal modulations and behaviors. For monitoring experiments at behavioral and molecular biological levels, the fish were treated under different sublethal conditions of diazinon and their behavioral responses were observed . In this study we have successfully cloned a partial TH gene from the medaka fish through PCR screening of an ovary cDNA library. DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the amplified fragment was 327 bp encoding 109 amino acids. Comparing the DNA sequence of medaka TH with other species, TH gene revealed the DNA sequence was completely identical to that of rat TH. In the RT-PCR, 330 Up of mRNA was consistently amplified in all the treated samples including control There were no significant differences in the TH expression level regardless of treating concentrations (1∼5,000 ppb) and time (0∼48 hr) The reason appeared to be that RT-PCR was not performed using through a quantitative analysis normalized against an actin gene expression. Organ or tissue - specific detection of TH activity and mRNA as biomarkers will be a useful monitoring tool for neurobehavioral changes in fish influenced by toxic chemicals. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of locomotive patterns and its correlation with the neurochemical and molecular data would be highly useful in measuring toxicity and hazard ofvarious environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.37 no.sup2
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• pp.447-463
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• 2007

Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells have been known as multipotential cells, and as playing an important rolesin periodontal regeneration. The PDL cells are composed of heterogeneous cell populations which have the capacity to differentiate into either cementoblasts or osteoblasts, depending on needs and conditions. Therefore, PDL cells have the capacity to produce mineralized nodules in vitro in mineralization medium which include ascorbic acid, ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone. In spite of these well-known osteoblast like properties of PDL cells, very little is known about the molecules involved in the formation of the mineralized nodules in the PDL cells. In the present study, we analysed gene-expression profiles during the mineralization process of cultured PDL cells by means of a cDNA microarray consisting of 3063 genes. Nodules of mineralized matrix were strongly stained with alizarin red S on the PDL cells cultured in the media with mineralization supplements. Among 3,063 genes analyzed, 35 were up-regulated more than two-fold at one or more time points in cells that developed matrix mineralization nodules, and 38 were down-regulated to less than half their normal level of expression. In accord with the morphological change we observed, several genes related to calcium-related or mineral metabolism were induced in PDL cells during osteogenesis, such as IGF-II and IGFBP-2. Proteogycan 1, fibulin-5, keratin 5, ,${\beta}$-actin, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin and capping protein, and cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix proteins were up-regulated during mineralization. Several genes encoding proteins related to apoptosis weredifferentially expressed in PDL cells cultured in the medium containing mineralization supplements. Dkk-I and Nip3, which are apoptosis-inducing agents, were up-regulated, and Btf and TAXlBP1, which have an anti-apoptosis activity, were down-regulated during mineralization. Also periostin and S100 calciumbinding protein A4 were down-regulated during mineralization.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.286-290
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• 2009

The transcription of mRNA of avian influenza virus is regulated temporally during infection. Therefore, the measurement of transcript level in host cells should be performed before viral release from host cells because errors can occur in the analysis of the transcript levels if the viruses released from the infected cells re-infect cells. In this study, the timing of viral release was determined by measuring the level of viral RNA from viruses released from H9N2-infected chicken fibroblast cell line UMNSAH/DF-1 by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The viral genomic RNA was isolated together with mouse total RNA which was added to the collected medium as carrier to monitor the viral RNA recovery and to use its GAPDH as an internal control for normalizing reverse transcription reaction as well as PCR reaction. It was found that viral release of H9N2 in the chicken fibroblast cell line UMNSAH/DF-1 took between 16 and 20 h after infection. We measured all 8 viral mRNA levels. Of the 8 transcripts, 7 species of viral mRNAs (each encoding HA, NA, PB1, PB2, NP, M, NS, respectively) except PA mRNA showed robust amplification, indicating these mRNA can be used as targets for amplification to measure transcript levels. These results altogether suggest that the method in this study can be used for screening antiviral materials against viral RNA polymerase as a therapeutic target.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2002

To develop a new method of conjugation and to determine the distribution of R plasimds, we isolated multi-drug resistant strains from fish pathogenic bacteria in the farms of south and east seacoasts of Korea. Out of the 134 isolates examined, 10 showed resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, colistin, nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid and kanamycin. One out of 10 multi-drug resistance bacteria, Vibfio damsela JE1 (V. damsela JE1), contained transferable R plasmid of chlorarnphenicol- tetracycline resistance genes and other nucleic acids encoding ampicillin and kanamycin resistance. The presence of the R plasmid was confirmed by conjugation using the chromocult medium (CC) as a selective and differential medium for transconiugants with identification based on the growth or colors of the colonies. The frequency of R plasmid transfer with filter mating method was come out much higher than that of broth mating method and appeared to be dependent upon the mating time and temperature. The optimum conditions for filter mating method were found to be 30$^{\circ}C$ and 24hrs as mating temperature and period, respectively, Moreover, donor cells with R plasmid, both isolate and standard bacteria, were shown to have an ability to transfer the plasmid against Escherichia coli K-12 HB101 (E. coli HB101) and Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) RE14 at fairly high frequencies, finally, we isolated 3 isolates of Sphingomonas sp., carrying R plasmid from 12 multi-drug resistant bacteria in normal microflora of the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) group used for the isolation of V emsela JE1 four months before. The same size and gene transfer chayateristics of R plasimds with those of V damsela JE1 confirmed that normal microflora have the reservoir activity for R plasmid in natural aquatic environment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.703-714
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• 2000

Background : Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is important in the regulation of surfactant secretion, synthesis and recycling. SP-A has important roles in regulating surfactant metabolism as well as in determining surfactant's physical properties. Since systemic sepsis is one of the common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and abnormalities in surfactant function have been described in ARDS, the authors investigated the effects of endotoxemia on the accumulation of mRNA encoding SP-A and SP-A protein content. Methods : Adult rats were given various doses of intraperitoneal endotoxin from Salmonella enteritidis and sacrificed at different times. SP-A mRNA was measured by filter hybridization method. Lung SP-A protein content was determined by double sandwich ELISA assay using a polyclonal antiserum raised in rabbits against purified rat SP-A. Results : 1) The accumulation of SP-A mRNA in the endotoxin treated group 24 hours after 2mg/kg and 5mg/kg endotoxin treatments was significantly increased 50.9% and 27.3%, respectively, compared to the control group (P<0.001, P<0.025). 2) The accumulation of SP-A mRNA 24 hours in the 5mg/kg endotoxin treated group was significantly increased by 26.5% compared to the control group (P<0.01). 3) Total amount of lung SP-A was not altered at 24 hours by various doses of treatment. Total lung SP-A content 144 hours after endotoxin administration was significantly decreased by 51.4% compared to the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions : The specific regulation of SP-A by various time course in vivo is evident. The late decline in SP-A protein content was unexpected and suggests that SP-A may be differentially regulated during lung inflammation. The functional significance of these alterations remains to be clarified.