• BMB Reports
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.723-730
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• 2007

Kinesin is an ATP-driven microtubule motor protein that plays important roles in control of microtubule dynamics, intracellular transport, cell division and signal transduction. The kinesin superfamily is composed of numerous members that are classified into 14 subfamilies. Animal kinesins have been well characterized. In contrast, plant kinesins have not yet to be characterized adequately. Here, a novel plant-specific kinesin gene, GhKCH2, has been cloned from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers and biochemically identified by prokaryotic expression, affinity purification, ATPase activity assay and microtubule-binding analysis. The putative motor domain of GhKCH2, $M_{396-734}$ corresponding to amino acids Q396-N734 was fused with 6$\times$His-tag, soluble-expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified in a large amount. The biochemical analysis demonstrated that the basal ATPase activity of $M_{396-734}$ is not activated by $Ca^{2+}$, but stimulated 30-fold max by microtubules. The enzymatic activation is microtubule-concentration-dependent, and the concentration of microtubules that corresponds to half-maximum activation was about 11 ${\mu}M$, much higher than that of other kinesins reported. The cosedimentation assay indicated that $M_{396-734}$ could bind to microtubules in vitro whenever the nucleotide AMP-PNP is present or absent. As a plant-specific microtubule-dependent kinesin with a lower microtubule-affinity and a nucleotide-independent microtubule-binding ability, cotton GhKCH2 might be involved in the function of microtubules during the deposition of cellulose microfibrils in fibers or the formation of cell wall.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.184-190
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• 2017

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that take significant roles in extracellular matrix degradation and therefore linked to several complications such as metastasis of cancer progression, oxidative stress, and hepatic fibrosis. Hizikia fusiformis, a brown algae, was reported to possess bioactivities, including but not limited to, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory partly due to bioactive polysaccharide contents. In this study, the potential of H. fusiformis against cancer cell invasion was evaluated through the MMP inhibitory effect in HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells in vitro. H. fusiformis crude extract was fractionated with organic solvents, $H_2O$, n-BuOH, 85% aqueous MeOH, and n-hexane (n-Hex). The non-toxicity of the fractions was confirmed by MTT assay. All fractions inhibited the enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 according to the gelatin zymography assay. Cell migration was also significantly inhibited by the n-Hex fraction. In addition, both gene and protein expressions of MMP-2 and -9, and tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs) were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The fractions suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 while elevating the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, with the $H_2O$ fraction being the least effective while n-Hex fraction the most. Collectively, the n-Hex fraction from brown algae H. fusiformis could be a potential inhibitor of MMPs, suggesting the presence of various derivatives of polysaccharides in high amounts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.275-283
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• 2018

Ischemic stroke can result from blockage of blood vessels, forming fibrin clots in the body and causing irreparable brain damage. Remedial thrombolytic agents or anticoagulants have been studied; however, because the FDA-approved tissue plasminogen activator has low efficacy and side effects, it is necessary to develop safer and more effective treatment candidates. This study aimed at assessing the fibrinolytic and anticoagulation features of a novel serine protease extracted and purified from Diopatra sugokai, a polychaeta that inhabits tidal flats. The purified serine protease was obtained through ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. Its molecular size was identified via SDS-PAGE. To characterize its enzymatic activities, the protease activity at various pH and temperatures, and in the presence of various inhibitors, was measured via azocasein assay. Its fibrinolytic activity and anticoagulant effect were assessed by fibrin zymography, fibrin plate assay, and fibrinogenolytic activity assays. The novel 38 kDa serine protease had strong indirect thrombolytic activity rather than direct activity over broad pH (4-10) and temperature ($37^{\circ}C-70^{\circ}C$) ranges. In addition, the novel serine protease exhibited anticoagulant activity by degrading the ${\alpha}$-, ${\beta}$-, and ${\gamma}$-chains of fibrinogen. In addition, it did not produce cytotoxicity in endothelial cells. Therefore, this newly isolated serine protease is worthy of further investigation as a novel alkaline serine protease for thrombolytic therapy against brain ischemia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.652-655
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• 2005

This paper describes the development of an enzymatic assay system for the identification of inhibitors of isocitrate lyase (ICL), one of the key enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle that is considered as a new target for antifungal drugs. A 1.6 kb DNA fragment encoding the isocitrate lyase from Candida albicans ATCC10231 was amplified by PCR, cloned into a vector providing His-Patch-thioredoxin-tag at the N-terminus, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified by metal chelate affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of the purified ICL was approximately 62 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE, and the enzyme activity was directly proportional to incubation time and enzyme concentration. The effects of itaconate-related compounds on ICL activity were also investigated. Among them, itaconic acid, 3-nitropropionate, and oxalate had strong inhibitory activities with $IC_{50}$ values of 5.8, 5.4 and $8.6\;{mu}g/ml$, respectively. These inhibitors also exhibited antifungal activity on YPD agar media containing acetate as a sole carbon source, albeit at high concentration. The results indicate that the C. albicans ICL may be a regulatory enzyme playing a crucial role in fungal growth and is a prime target for antifungal agents.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.720-725
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• 2000

여러 가지 처리가 난백의 항원성을 감소시키는데 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여, 토끼 항난백항체로 난백 처리물들의 간접 경합 ELISA(ciELISA)를 실시하였다. 식물성, 동물성, 미생물성의 9가지 효소를 이용한 가수분해처리는 난백의 항원성에 영향을 주지 못했다. 보다 효율적인 효소 가수분해를 위해 방사선 조사 후, 효소처리를 실시했는데, 이것 역시 항원성을 감소시키지 못했다. Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid 처리는 난백의 항원성을 거의 제거시키는 것으로 나타났다. 열처리는 $121^{\circ}C$ 고온처리의 경우에서만 반응성이 1/10,000이하로 감소하여 항원성이 거의 사라졌다. NaOH 단독 처리는 0.3%(w/v) 이상의 농도에서 반응성이 감소되기 시작하여, 1%(w/v) 이상에서는 반응성이 1/10,000이하로 감소하였다. NaOH 처리에 $70^{\circ}C$, 15분간의 열처리를 더해 주면, NaOH 단독 처리시보다 효과적으로 항원성이 감소되는 것으로 나타났다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.84-90
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• 2000

Psudomonas sp. RY-1이 생성하는 extracellular depolymerase system을 이용하여 단위체의 결가지에 서로 다른 탄소 길이와 불포와기를 함유하는 medium-chain-length polyhdroxyalkanoates (MCL-PHAs)의 생분해도를 시럼실 조건에서 조사하였다. 생분애도는 평파내지에서의 clear zone 형성, 효소 처리에 의한 고분자 현탁액의 탁도 감소 및 호흡량의 경시적 변화로 측정하였다. Pseudomonas sp. RY-1은 MCL-PHA depolymerase의 생성을 통하여 조사된 모든 종류의 MCl-PHAs를 분해할 수 있었으나, 이 효소의 생성은 쉽게 이용될수 있는 이차기질에 의해 저해받는 것으로 나타났다. MCl-PHAs의 분해율이 단위체의 탄소수가 홀수개로 구성된 고분자에 비하여 보다 높았다. 곁가지에 분포화기를 함유한 MCl-PHAs는 불포화기를 갖지 아니하는 고분자에 비하여 분해가 빠르게 이루어졌으며, 이들의 분해는 고분자의 결정화도와 밀접한 관련이 있는 것으로 나타났다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.102-110
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• 2006

Background: Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen-presenting cells in the immune system and can induce T cell response against virus infections, microbial pathogens, and tumors. Therefore, immunization using DC loaded with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) is a powerful method of inducing anti-tumor immunity. For induction of effective anti-tumor immunity, antigens should be efficiently introduced into DC and presented on MHC class I molecules at high levels to activate antigen-specific $CD8^+$ T cells. We have been exploring methods for loading exogenous antigens into APC with high efficiency of Ag presentation. In this study, we tested the effect of the cationic liposome (Lipofectin) for transferring and loading exogenous model antigen (OVA protein) into BM-DC. Methods: Bone marrow-derived DC (EM-DC) were incubated with OVA-Lipofectin complexes and then co-cultured with B3Z cells. B3Z activation, which is expressed as the amount of ${\beta}$-galactosidase induced by TCR stimulation, was determined by an enzymatic assay using ${\beta}$-gal assay system. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with OVA-pulsed DC to monitor the in vivo vaccination effect. After vaccination, mice were inoculated with EG7-OVA tumor cells. Results: BM-DC pulsed with OVA-Lipofectin complexes showed more efficient presentation of OVA-peptide on MHC class I molecules than soluble OVA-pulsed DC. OVA-Lipofectin complexes-pulsed DC pretreated with an inhibitor of MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation, brefeldin A, showed reduced ability in presenting OVA peptide on their surface MHC class I molecules. Finally, immunization of OVA-Lipofectin complexes-pulsed DC protected mice against subsequent tumor challenge. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that antigen-loading into DC using Lipofectin can promote MHC class I- restricted antigen presentation. Therefore, antigen-loading into DC using Lipofectin can be one of several useful tools for achieving efficient induction of antigen-specific immunity in DC-based immunotherapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.31.1-31.8
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• 2024

Background: Recently, there has been a growing interest in stem cells for human medicine. Limited feline endometrial mesenchymal stem cell (fEM-MSC) research in veterinary medicine necessitates reporting for future feline disease research and therapy. Objectives: This study aimed to isolate fEM-MSCs from feline endometrial tissues and evaluate their morphology, proliferative ability, differentiation ability, and immunophenotype. Methods: Feline endometrial tissues were obtained from the ovariohysterectomies of healthy cats and isolated using an enzymatic method. The morphology and proliferative ability of the isolated cells were assessed using a doubling time (DT) assay from passages 3 to 6 (P3 - P6). We measured pluripotency gene expressions of cells in P2 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). To investigate MSC characteristics, a trilineage differentiation assay was conducted in P4, and cells in P4 were immunophenotyped using flow cytometry. Results: fEM-MSCs showed a typical spindle-shaped morphology under a microscope, and the DT was maintained from P3 to P6. fEM-MSCs could differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes, and expressed three pluripotency markers (OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG) by qRT-PCR. Immunophenotypic analysis showed that the fEM-MSCs were CD14 ^-, CD34 ^-, CD45 ^-, CD9⁺, and CD44⁺. Conclusions: In this study, the feline endometrium was a novel source of MSCs, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation method and characteristics of fEM-MSCs.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.227-235
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• 2009

타액의 보호작용은 주로 타액 당단백질의 생물학적, 물리적, 구조적 성질 및 유동학적 성질과 관련이 있다. 그러므로 이상적인 타액 대체제의 개발을 위해서는 인체 타액의 생물학적 성질 뿐만 아니라 유동학적 특성을 이해하여야 한다. 본 연구의 목적은 타액 대체제가 인체 타액에 존재하는 효소의 활성에 미치는 영향을 파악하고 다양한 타액 대체제의 점도와 인체 타액의 점도를 비교하기 위해서 시행되었다. Moi-Stir, Stoppers4, MouthKote, Saliva Orthana 및 서울대학교치과병원 타액 대체제(SNU)를 사용하였으며, lysozyme 활성은 turbidimetric 법으로, peroxidase 활성은 NbsSCN 법으로, $\alpha$-amylase 활성은 maltotriose와 결합된 2-chloro-p-nitrophenol를 사용하여 시행하였다. 타액 대체제의 pH를 측정하였으며 cone-and-plate 형태의 점도계를 이용하여 다양한 전단율에서 점도를 측정하였다. 본 연구에 사용된 다양한 타액 대체제는 타액 효소 활성에 각기 다른 영향을 미쳤다. Stoppers4는 hen egg-white lysozyme, bovine lactoperoxidase (bLP) 및 $\alpha$-amylase 활성을 증가시켰고, Saliva Orthana와 SNU는 bLP 활성은 저해하였으며 $\alpha$-amylase 활성은 증가시켰다. MouthKote는 $\alpha$-amylase 활성을 저해하였으며, Moi-Stir는 bLP와 $\alpha$-amylase 활성을 저해하였다. 타액 대체제의 pH는 타액 대체제의 종류에 따라 매우 달랐다. Stoppers4, MouthKote 및 Saliva Orthana는 낮은 전단율에서는 인체 타액보다 낮은 점도를 높은 전단율에서는 인체 타액보다 높은 점도를 나타내었다. Moi-Stir와 SNU는 인체 타액보다 매우 높은 점도를 나타내었다. 결론적으로 본 연구결과는 각각의 타액 대체제는 각기 다른 생물학적 기능과 유동학적 특성을 가지고 있음을 알 수 있다. 타액 대체제의 사용은 사용하는 타액 대체제의 종류에 따라 타액 효소 활성에 각기 다른 영향을 미치고 궁극적으로는 구강건강에 다른 영향을 미칠 수 있을 것이다.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.678-685
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of 7 traditional Korean formulations (7TKFs) on intimal thickening of rat carotid artery injured by balloon catheter in vivo and on the proliferation of human smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in vitro. 7TKFs (400 mg/kg) were administered orally for 4 weeks from the day of balloon injury in the rats. HASMC proliferation was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay while enzymatic action of MMP-2 was carried out by gelatin zymography. Among 7TKFs, Samhwang-sasim-tang (SST), Banha-sasim-tang (BST) and Kegi-honghwa-tang (KHT) significantly reduced the intimal thickening by suppressing HASMC proliferation and MMP-2 expression in both extracellular and intracellular levels. Thus, the results suggest that SST, BST and KHT can be considered as a therapeutic value in the prevention of atherosclerosis because restenosis after PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) is supposed to be 'accelerated atherosclerosis'.