• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 1991

Conditions for glutathione production in E. coli cells which possess pGH501 (2 gshI+gshII) were studied. In terms of ATP supply for the glutathione synthesis, two different systems have been constructed and compared. When the acetate kinase reaction of E. coli was used for ATP generation, 20 mM of L-cysteine was completely converted to glutathione by toluene-treated E. coli cells (100 mg/ml) harboring pGH501 within 2 h at $37^{\circ}C$. However, considering the economical aspects, the glycolytic pathway of yeast was chosen as a better system for ATP generation. The optimal concentrations of reactants for glutathione production were determined to be as follows; 80 mM L-glutamate, 20 mM L-cysteine, 20 mM glycine, 20 mM $MgCl_2$, 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5), 400 mM glucose, polyoxyethylene stearylamine ($5\;\mul/ml$), toluene-treated E. coli HB101/pGH501 (100 mg/ml), and dried yeast cells (400 mg/ml). The conversion ratio of L-cysteine to glutathione was 80% (about 5 mg/ml) under optimal condition within 6 h at $37^{\circ}C$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.279-284
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• 2000

This study was per-formed to screen lactic acid bacteria poultry for the probiotic use. Among the previously obtained acid tolerant, 139 strains, 111 strains were selected with MRS medium containing 0.3% oxgall. 34 strains of 111 was re-selected by Gram-staining and acid producing ability. These strains was identified by MIDI Sherlock Microbial Identification System. Among the identified 34 strains Lactobacillus fermenum YL-3 was selected for the final pro-biotic use because of the good growth and high survival rate at pH 2.0. 60%, 50% and 40% cells of Lactobacillus fermentum YL-3 survived at pH 3.0, 2.5 and 2.0, respectively. More than $10^{7}$ / CFU/ml survived when exposed with the number of $10^{8}$ CFU/ml at pH 2.0 after 12 hr. L.fermenum YL-3 maintained growth in MRS broth containing 0.3, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% oxgall for 24 hr. L.fermenum YL-3 showed an inhibitory effect against pathogenic strains of Sal. enteritidis and E. coli O157:H7. In mixed culture with L.fermenum YL-3 Sal. enteritidis lost ability com-pletely in 15 hrs and E. coil O157:H7 in 16 hrs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2009

Nitric oxide (NO) is a diffusible, multifunctional and transcellular messenger that has been implicated in numerous physiological and pathological conditions. It has been reported that NO induced apoptosis in tumor cells, macrophage cells and inhibited apoptosis in normal cells, endothelial cells. To examine whether NO could induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, cells were treated with SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine), NO donor. Cell viability did not change in SIN-1 treated cells for 48 h and there was no significantly changes in cell cycle progression or growth pattern by FACS analysis. But p53 protein, an apoptosis-related factor, increased SIN-1 treatment time dependently. Bcl-2, MDM2 and p21 were also accumulated. Bax level did not change. A major role of inhibiting apoptosis by NO in MCF-7 cells, cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$) was added to cells preincubated with SIN-1. Whereas $CoCl_2$ treated cells underwent apoptosis, for 24 h SIN-1 preincubated cells were not induced apoptosis. Inactivated proteins, MDM2 and bcl-2, by $CoCl_2$ levels also increased in SIN-1 pre-treated cells. These results suggested that SIN-1 blocked p53 by MDM2 activation and inhibited apoptosis by inducing p21 and bcl-2 expression.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.403-414
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• 2003

Background : Proteasome inhibitors can promote either cell survival or programmed cell death, depending on both the specific type and proliferative status of the cell. However, it is not well known whether inhibition of proteasome activity is related to apoptosis in lung cancer cells. In addition, the exact mechanisms responsible for apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition are not well understood. In the present study, we have examined the effect of proteasome inhibition on lung cancer cells and tried to test the mechanisms that may be associated with the apoptosis of these cells. Methods : We examined the effect of proteasome inhibition with MG132 or PS-341 on cell survival in A549 and NCI-H157 lung cancer cells using MTT assay, and analyzed the cleavage of PARP by Western blot analysis to find evidence of apoptosis. Next, we evaluated the activation of caspase 3 by Western blot analysis and the activity of JNK by immunocomplex kinase assay. We also examined the changes in anti-apoptotic pathways like ERK and cIAP1 by Western blot analysis after inhibition of proteasome function. Results : We demonstrated that MG132 reduced cell survival by inducing apoptosis in A549 and NCI-H157 cells. Proteasome inhibition with MG132 or PS-341 was associated with activation of caspase 3 and JNK, reduced expression of activated ERK, and downregulation of cIAP1. Conclusion : Apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition may be associated with the activation of pro-apoptotic pathways like caspase 3 and JNK and the inactivation of anti-apoptotic pathways in lung cancer cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2019

The purification of the MeOH extract from Impatiens basamina by repeated column chromatography led to the isolation of one new tetrahydronaphthalene (1), together with eleven known compounds (2 - 12). The structure of the new compound (1) was determined by spectral data analysis ($^1H$ and $^{13}C$-NMR, $^1H-^1H$ COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, and HR-ESI-MS). Isolated compounds (1 - 12) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-activated murine microglial BV-2 cells and their effects on NGF secretion from C6 glioma cells. Compounds 3, 7, and 10 reduced NO levels in LPS-activated murine microglial cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 26.89, 25.59, and $44.21{\mu}M$, respectively. Compounds 1, 5, and 9 upregulated NGF secretion to $153.09{\pm}4.66$, $156.88{\pm}8.86$, and $157.34{\pm}3.30%$, respectively.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2012

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent and bioaccumulative environmental pollutants. Recently, it is suggested that neurotoxic effects such as motor dysfunction and impairment in memory and learning have been associated with PCB exposure. However, structure relationship of PCB congeners with neurotoxic effects remains unknown. Since PKC signaling pathway is implicated in the modulation of motor behavior as well as learning and memory and the role of PKC are subspecies-specific, we attempted to study the effects of structurally distinct PCBs on the total PKC activity as well as subspecies of PKC in cerebellar granule cell culture model. Cells were exposed to 0, 25 and 50 ${\mu}M$ of PCB-126, PCB-169, PCB-114, PCB-157, PCB-52 and PCB-4 for 15 min. Cells were subsequently analyzed by [$^3H$] phorbol ester binding assay or immunoblotted against PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ monoclonal antibodies. While non-dioxin-like-PCB (PCB-52 and PCB-4) induced a translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ from cytosol to membrane fraction, dioxin-like PCBs (PCB-126, -169, -114, -157) had no effects. [$^3H$] Phorbol ester binding assay also revealed structure-dependent increase similar to translocation of PKC isozymes. While PCB-4 induced translocation of PKC-${\alpha}$ and -${\varepsilon}$ was inhibited by ROS inhibitor, the pattern of translocation was not affected in presence of AhR inhibitor. It is suggested that PCB-4-induced PKC activity may not be mediated via AhR-dependent pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest that chlorination of ortho-position in PCB may be a critical structural moiety associated with neurotoxic effects, which may be preferentially mediated via non-AhR-dependent pathway. Therefore, the present study may contribute to understanding the neurotoxic mechanism of PCBs as well as providing a basis for establishing a better neurotoxic assessment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1238-1243
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• 2009

The susceptibilities of major enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains to antimicrobial agents and the cytotoxicity of these agents were examined using a total of 38 strains of E. coli O26, O111, and O157, which are the major serogroups of EHEC. Among the 38 strains, 35, 36, and 36 were susceptible to amikacin, imipenem, and norfloxacin, respectively. These antimicrobial agents were further examined to determine their cytotoxicity on Vero cells as well as their effect on the release of Shiga toxins along with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Each of the E. coli O26, O111, and O157 strains containing both the stx1 and stx2 genes were grown in the absence or presence of these agents at 1/4 minimal inhibitory concentration for 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h. At the concentrations used in this study, none of the agents significantly altered cell count compared with the control group. The level of cytotoxicity in the imipenem group was lower at 12 hand 18 h than their respective controls. In contrast, the level of cytotoxicity in cultures treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin, and amikacin was increased. The strains were also examined for the release of Shiga toxins 1 and 2 following treatment with the agents, which were measured by the reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) method. The RPLA assay showed a suppression of release of Shiga toxin 2 in the strain cultures containing imipenem. These results indicate that imipenem may be a safe and effective agent for inhibition of these bacteria, which has clinical implications for the treatment of EHEC infections.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2003

Purpose : Infection with Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli, an emerging human pathogen found particularly in young children under 5 years of age, causes a spectrum of illnesses with high morbidity and mortality, ranging from diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Host mediators play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLT-I toxicity. The experiments described here were designed to investigate the effect of SLT-I on TNF-${\alpha}$ production and to understand the effect of TNF-${\alpha}$ on GB3 expression. We also further examine the relationship between the Gb3 level and the differential susceptibility of cells to the cytotoxic action of SLT-I. Methods : The effect of purified SLT-1 from E. coli O157 : H7 (ATCC 43890) on tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) production in Raw264.7 cells was investigated. Many mediators regulate endothelial cell membrane expression of the glycolipid globotriaosyleramide (Gb3), which serves as the toxin receptor, suggesting that the host response to the toxin or other bacterial products may contribute to pathogenesis by regulating target cell sensitivity to the toxins. Therefore, the relationships between Gb3 expression and cytotoxicity against SLT-I on three types of cells were evaluated. Results : Detectable levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ were produced as early as six hours after induction and continued to increase during 48 hours by SLT-I. It was also found that Vero cells and dendritic cells (DC2.4 cells) expressed high levels of Gb3, 83% and 68%, respectively, and that Raw264.7 cells had a low level of Gb3 (29%) and appeared refractory to cytotoxicity against SLT-I. Vero cells and DC2.4 cells expressing high levels of Gb3 were highly susceptible to SLT-I. Furthermore, macrophages showed a resistance to SLT-I cytotoxicity, despite the fact that Gb3 expression was enhanced. Conclusion : These results strongly suggest that the expression of Gb3 is necessary but not sufficient to confer sensitivity of macrophages to SLT-I and further underpin the important role of SLT-I and its Gb3 receptors in the pathogenesis of E. coli O157 infection.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 2012

This study analyzed the antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract of Schizandra chinensis Baillon against food pathogenic microorganisms to determine its capabilities as a natural antimicrobial agent. A paper disc diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and time-kill assay showed that the ethanol extract strongly inhibits the growth of Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Release of cytoplasmic ${\beta}$-galactosidase was detected in E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa treated with the ethanol extract. An increase of outer membrane permeability caused by the ethanol extract was also observed. An outward flow of cell constituents was detected in the Gram negative strains treated with the ethanol extract. These results imply that the inner and outer membranes of cells were partially destroyed and cell constituents were released by the treatment of the S. chinensis Baillon ethanol extract. The results of this study indicate that ethanol extract of S. chinensis Baillon evidences a fairly good antibacterial effect.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1229-1235
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• 2006

A lab-on-a-chip (LoC) was designed for simultaneous monitoring of microorganisms, antibiotic residues, somatic cells, and pH in raw milk. The LoC was fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology, which consisted of two parts; a protein array and microchannel. The protein array was fabricated by immobilizing five types of antibodies corresponding to two microorganisms, two antibiotic residues, and somatic cells. A sol-gel film was deposited on a glass substrate to immobilize the antibodies. The target analytes in raw milk could be bound with the corresponding antibody by an immunoreaction, and the antigen-antibody complex was detected using fluorescence microscopy. SNARF-dextran was used as a pH indicator, and the SNARF-entrapped hydrogel was attached to the microchannel in the chip. After injecting the milk sample into the channel, the pH was measured by monitoring the change in fluorescence intensity by fluorescence microscopy. The on-chip simultaneous assay of two microorganisms (E. coli O157:H7 and Streptococcus agalactiae), two antibiotic residues (penicillin G and dihydrostreptomycin), and neutrophils was successfully accomplished using the proposed LoC system.