• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.426-438
• /
• 2016

Plant disease resistance occurs as a hypersensitive response (HR) at the site of attempted pathogen invasion. This specific event is initiated in response to recognition of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) and subsequent PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Both PTI and ETI mechanisms are tightly connected with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and disease resistance that involves distinct biphasic ROS production as one of its pivotal plant immune responses. This unique oxidative burst is strongly dependent on the resistant cultivars because a monophasic ROS burst is a hallmark of the susceptible cultivars. However, the cause of the differential ROS burst remains unknown. In the study here, we revealed the plausible underlying mechanism of the differential ROS burst through functional understanding of the Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) AVR effector, AVR-Pii. We performed yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening using AVR-Pii as bait and isolated rice NADP-malic enzyme2 (Os-NADP-ME2) as the rice target protein. To our surprise, deletion of the rice Os-NADP-ME2 gene in a resistant rice cultivar disrupted innate immunity against the rice blast fungus. Malic enzyme activity and inhibition studies demonstrated that AVR-Pii proteins specifically inhibit in vitro NADP-ME activity. Overall, we demonstrate that rice blast fungus, M. oryzae attenuates the host ROS burst via AVR-Pii-mediated inhibition of Os-NADP-ME2, which is indispensable in ROS metabolism for the innate immunity of rice. This characterization of the regulation of the host oxidative burst will help to elucidate how the products of AVR genes function associated with virulence of the pathogen.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.16
• /
• pp.7039-7044
• /
• 2015

Background: Many functional molecules controlling diverse cellular function are included in low-molecular weight proteins and peptides. Materials and Methods: To identify proteins controlling function in lung adenocarcinomas (AC), we performed two-dimensional gel electrophoresis employing tricine-SDS polyacrylamide in the second dimension (tricine 2-DE). This system was able to detect proteins under 1 kDa even with post-translational modifications. To confirm the utility of detected proteins as novel tumor markers for AC, we performed immunohistochemical analysis using 170 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded lung AC tissues. Results: Tricine 2-DE revealed that five proteins including S100A16 were overexpressed in lung AC-derived cells compared with lung squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma-derived cells. Immunohistochemically, S100A16 showed various subcellular localization in lung cancer tissues and a membranous staining status was correlated with the T-factor (P=0.0008), pathological stage (P=0.0015), differentiation extent (P=0.0001), lymphatic invasion (P=0.0007), vascular invasion (P=0.0001), pleural invasion (P=0.0087), and gender (P=0.039), but not with the age or smoking history. More importantly, membranous staining of S100A16 was significantly correlated with a poorer overall survival of either stage I (P=0.0088) or stage II / III (P=0.0003) lung AC patients, and multivariate analysis confirmed that membranous expression of S100A16 was an independent adverse prognostic indicator (P=0.0001). Conclusions: The present results suggest that S100A16 protein is a novel prognostic marker for lung AC.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.11
• /
• pp.790-796
• /
• 2016

Dental pulp is a highly vascularized tissue requiring adequate blood supply for successful regeneration. In this study, we investigated the functional role of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) as a perivascular source for in vivo formation of vessel-like structures. Primarily isolated SHEDs showed mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like characteristics including the expression of surface antigens and in vitro osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potentials. Moreover, SHEDs were positive for NG2, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (SMA), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta ($PDGFR{\beta}$), and CD146 as pericyte markers. To prove feasibility of SHEDs as perivascular source, SHEDs were transplanted into immunodeficient mouse using Matrigel with or without human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Transplantation of SHEDs alone or HUVECs alone resulted in no formation of vessel-like structures with enough red blood cells. However, when SHEDs and HUVECs were transplanted together, extensive vessel-like structures were formed. The presence of murine erythrocytes within lumens suggested the formation of anastomoses between newly formed vessel-like structures in Matrigel plug and the host circulatory system. To understand underlying mechanisms of in vivo angiogenesis, the expression of angiogenic cytokine and chemokine, their receptors, and MMPs was compared between SHEDs and HUVECs. SHEDs showed higher expression of1VEGF, SDF-$1{\alpha}$, and $PDGFR{\beta}$ than HUVECs. On the contrary, HUVECs showed higher expression of VEGF receptors, CXCR4, and PDGF-BB than SHEDs. This differential expression pattern suggested reciprocal interactions between SHEDs and HUVECs and their involvement during in vivo angiogenesis. In conclusion, SHEDs could be a feasible source of perivascular cells for in vivo angiogenesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.816-828
• /
• 1995

During the industrial preparation and the storage of foods, the side chain of some protein-bound amino acids can react chemically each other or with other molecules present in the food. The following reactions have been described : destruction of amino acids, racemization, protein-protein interactions, reactions of proteins with reducing sugars, oxidizing agents, or polyphenols. Apart from total destruction, the main reacitons are the forming of Maillard reactions products(e.g. fructoselysine) and the crosslinking with other amino acids in the same or in another protein molecule(e.g. lysinoalanine). The most often involved amino acid is lysine because of its free functional ${\varepsilon}-amino$ acid group. Generally derivatives of amino acids or crosslinks in polypeptides influence the bioavailability and the overall digestibility of the protein. This work reviews the technological, analytical, nutritional, and physiological problems related to the formation of fructoselysine and lysinolalnine in human foods, and evaluates the possible health risk for humans. A summary of the available information is of help in considering whether or not the presence of fructoselysine/lysinoalanine in foods represents a danger to man. The reduction in protein quality through these reactions is not a problem for the general population, but it is extremely important in infant foods, since infants are often nourished with a limited number of food product(e.g. formular foods) which are sensitive to the Mailard reaction.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2003

Humic acids present in the soils at the vicinity of domestic atomic power plants(NPPs), located in Yeongkwang(YK), Uljin(UJ), Kori(KR), Koseong(KS), Wolseong(WS) area were isolated, and characterized using elemental analysis and UV/Vis, IR, CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR spectroscopic methods. The characteristics were compared with one another and with commercial humic acid (Aldrich Co.). Molecular size distributions of the humic acids were determined using a stirred cell ultrafiltration technique. The results of elemental analysis showed that soil humic acid from UJ contains higher oxygen content than humic acids from KR and KS (O/C ratios: 0.51 (UJHA) us. 0.45(KRHA), 0.43(KSHA)). The molecular size distribution revealed that the soil humic acids of UJ and YK contained a higher percentage of larger molecules of > 30,000 daltons, compared to those of KR and KS. The spectral features obtained from UV/vis., IR and CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR showed that the aromatic character and oxygen containing functional groups in the humic acids from UJ and YK were relatively higher than those of KR and KS. These results indicate that the soil humic acids from UJ and YK were in a higher degree of humification, which may suggest higher affinity of the humic acids with radionuclides released in the soil environments.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.437-443
• /
• 2018

Activation of macrophages plays an important role in the host-immune system. In this study, we investigated the functional roles and related signaling mechanism of hot-water extracts of bee pollen (BPW) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Since BPW did not exert cytotoxicity at concentrations ranging from 62.5 to $250{\mu}g/mL$ in macrophage cells, a concentration of $250{\mu}g/mL$ was used as the maximum dose of BPW throughout subsequent experiments. BPW increased inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated nitric oxide production in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, BPW was found to induce macrophage activation by augmenting the expression of cell surface molecules (cluster of differentiation; CD80/86, and major histocompatibility complex; MHC class I/II) and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, interleukin-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$) through mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Taken together, our results indicate that BPW could potentially be used as an immunomodulatory agent.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.469-478
• /
• 2020

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) propagation is highly dependent on cellular proteins. To identify the host factors involved in HCV propagation, we previously performed protein microarray assays and identified the LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP-1) as an HCV NS5A-interacting partner. LASP-1 plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, and protein-protein interactions. Alteration of LASP-1 expression has been implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the functional involvement of LASP-1 in HCV propagation and HCV-induced pathogenesis has not been elucidated. Here, we first verified the protein interaction of NS5A and LASP-1 by both in vitro pulldown and coimmunoprecipitation assays. We further showed that NS5A and LASP-1 were colocalized in the cytoplasm of HCV infected cells. NS5A interacted with LASP-1 through the proline motif in domain I of NS5A and the tryptophan residue in the SH3 domain of LASP-1. Knockdown of LASP1 increased HCV replication in both HCV-infected cells and HCV subgenomic replicon cells. LASP-1 negatively regulated viral propagation and thereby overexpression of LASP-1 decreased HCV replication. Moreover, HCV propagation was decreased by wild-type LASP-1 but not by an NS5A binding-defective mutant of LASP-1. We further demonstrated that LASP-1 was involved in the replication stage of the HCV life cycle. Importantly, LASP-1 expression levels were increased in persistently infected cells with HCV. These data suggest that HCV modulates LASP-1 via NS5A in order to regulate virion levels and maintain a persistent infection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.335-356
• /
• 1997

Injection of bovine growth hormone (bGH) to lactating dairy cows increases milk yield and yields of milk components including fat. It is generally believed that most of the anabolic effects derived from bGH in animal tissues are primarily mediated by IGF-1. IGF-1 is a strong anabolic peptide in the plasma of animals and exerts mitogenic and metabolic effects on target cells. Contrary to most protein hormones, the majority of IGF-1 in circulation is bound to the binding proteins (IGFBPs) which are known to be responsible for modifying the biological actions of IGF-1, thus making determinations of IGF-1 actions more difficult. On the other hand, fat is a major milk component and the greatest energy source in milk. Currently, the fat content of milk is one of the major criteria used in determining milk prices. It has been known that flavor and texture of dairy products are mainly affected by milk fat and its composition. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) is the rate limiting enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA for fatty acid synthesis in 1ipogenic tissues of animals including bovine lactating mammary glands. In addition to the short-tenn hormonal regulation of ACC by changes in the catalytic efficiency per enzyme molecule brought about by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the enzyme, the long-term hormonal regulation of ACC by changes in the number of enzyme molecules plays an essential role in control of ACC and lipogenesis. Insulin, at supraphysiological concentrations, binds to IGF-1 receptors, thereby mimicking the biological effects of IGF-1. The receptors for insulin and IGF-1 share structural and functional homology. Furthermore, epidermal growth factor increased ACC activity in rat hepatocytes and adipocytes. Therefore, it can be assumed that IGF-1 mediating bGH action may increase milk fat production by stimulation ACC with phosphorylation (short term) and/or increasing amounts of the enzyme proteins (long term). Consequently, the main purpose of this paper is to give the readers not only the galactopoietic effects of bGH, but also the insight of bGH action with regard to stimulating milk fat synthesis from the whole body to the molecular levels.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.383-390
• /
• 2014

The following conclusion was made from the 2D-QSAR model for the tyrosinase inhibitory activity according to the variation of the substituents R1 and R2 in analogues of compound 2-[(2,6-dioxocyclohexyl)methyl]cyclohexane- 1,3-dione (1-23). The best optimized 2D-QSAR model was $Obs.pI_{50}=-0.295({\pm}0.031)TDM$ $-0.120({\pm}0.014)DMZ+0.135({\pm}0.050)DMX.R_2+6.382({\pm}0.17)$, and the correlation $r^2=0.905$) of which was greater than its predictability ($q^2=0.843$). The magnitude of the effect of tyrosinase inhibitory activities was in order of TDM > $DMX.R_2{\geq}DMZ$, and it tended to increase as the hydrophobicity of substrate molecule (ClogP > 0) as well as the steric favor of substituent $R_1$ increased. The analysis of the model implies that inhibitory activity of substrate molecule will increase as $DMX.R_2$ (Dipole moment X component of $R_2$-substituent) increases, while TDM (Total Dipole Moment) and DMZ(Dipole Moment of Z-Component) decrease. As such, it is deemed feasible to conclude, that in order to increase the inhibitory effect, it would be rather desirable to replace the polar groups within the molecules with non-polar functional groups.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.28-47
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Angelicae gigantis Radix (AGR) which is one of the most useful herbal-drug to treat patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Oriental medicine on gene expression of ovary tissue. Methods: The effects of AGR on gene expression of ovary tissue resected from PCOS induced rats using single injection of $\ss$-Estradiol 17-valerate (EV) was measured using microarray technique, and the functional analysis on these genes was conducted. Results: Total 2,812 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated, 1,421 genes were up-regulated, 1,391 genes were down-regulated by induction of PCOS. Up-regulated genes were mainly involved in biological function such as cell signalling pathways and inflammatory response. Expression levels of 1,442 genes were restored to those of naive animals by administration of AGR. 558 genes were restored to those of naive animals, which were lowered by induction of PCOS. 884 genes were lowered to naive levels, which were elevated by induction of PCOS. The functions of restored genes were partially involved in the restoration of expression levels, which were changed by induction of PCOS. Especially, up-regulated gene by induction of PCOS were mainly involved in these changes. These results mean restorative effects of AGR on damaged functions by induction of PCOS. The network of total protein interactions was measured using cytoscape program, and some key molecules, such as IRS2, MCM10, ORC2L related in up-regulated genes, CTBP2, CD44, RHOA, related in down-regulated genes that can be used for elucidation of therapeutical mechanism of medicine in future were identified. Conclusion: Restored genes by AGR were thought to have common pathways related in regulation of gene expressions. Especially, genes in restored expression levels by AGR, which were up-regulated by induction of PCOS, were regulated by 9 of common transcription factors, genes in restored expression levels by AGR, which were down-regulated by induction of PCOS, were involved in 25 of common transcription factors.