• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권10호
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• pp.1351-1360
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• 2023

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that disturb hormonal homeostasis by binding to receptors. EDCs are metabolized through hepatic enzymes, causing altered transcriptional activities of hormone receptors, and thus necessitating the exploration of the potential endocrine-disrupting activities of EDC-derived metabolites. Accordingly, we have developed an integrative workflow for evaluating the post-metabolic activity of potential hazardous compounds. The system facilitates the identification of metabolites that exert hormonal disruption through the integrative application of an MS/MS similarity network and predictive biotransformation based on known hepatic enzymatic reactions. As proof-of-concept, the transcriptional activities of 13 chemicals were evaluated by applying the in vitro metabolic module (S9 fraction). Identified among the tested chemicals were three thyroid hormone receptor (THR) agonistic compounds that showed increased transcriptional activities after phase I+II reactions (T3, 309.1 ± 17.3%; DITPA, 30.7 ± 1.8%; GC-1, 160.6 ± 8.6% to the corresponding parents). The metabolic profiles of these three compounds showed common biotransformation patterns, particularly in the phase II reactions (glucuronide conjugation, sulfation, GSH conjugation, and amino acid conjugation). Data-dependent exploration based on molecular network analysis of T3 profiles revealed that lipids and lipid-like molecules were the most enriched biotransformants. The subsequent subnetwork analysis proposed 14 additional features, including T4 in addition to 9 metabolized compounds that were annotated by prediction system based on possible hepatic enzymatic reaction. The other 10 THR agonistic negative compounds showed unique biotransformation patterns according to structural commonality, which corresponded to previous in vivo studies. Our evaluation system demonstrated highly predictive and accurate performance in determining the potential thyroid-disrupting activity of EDC-derived metabolites and for proposing novel biotransformants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.693-699
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• 2016

Clostridium difficile toxin A is known to cause deacetylation of tubulin proteins, which blocks microtubule formation and triggers barrier dysfunction in the gut. Based on our previous finding that the Clostridium difficile toxin A-dependent activation of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC-6) is responsible for tubulin deacetylation and subsequent microtubule disassembly, we herein examined the possible effect of potassium acetate (PA; whose acetyl group prevents the binding of tubulin to HDAC-6) as a competitive/false substrate. Our results revealed that PA inhibited toxin A-induced deacetylation of tubulin and recovered toxin A-induced microtubule disassembly. In addition, PA treatment significantly decreased the production of IL-6 (a marker of inflamed tissue) in the toxin A-induced mouse enteritis model. An in vitro HDAC assay revealed that PA directly inhibited HDAC-6-mediated tubulin deacetylation, indicating that PA acted as a false substrate for HDAC-6. These results collectively indicate that PA treatment inhibits HDAC-6, thereby reducing the cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses caused by C. difficile toxin A.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.387-397
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• 2023

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a heme-containing enzyme that catalyzes hydroxylation reactions with various substrate molecules. Steroid hydroxylases are particularly useful for effectively introducing hydroxyl groups into a wide range of steroids in the pharmaceutical industry. This study reports a newly identified CYP steroid hydroxylase (BaCYP106A6) from the bacterium Bacillus sp. and characterizes it using an in vitro enzyme assay and structural investigation. Bioconversion assays indicated that BaCYP106A1 catalyzes the hydroxylation of progesterone and androstenedione, whereas no or low conversion was observed with 11β-hydroxysteroids such as cortisol, corticosterone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone. In addition, the crystal structure of BaCYP106A6 was determined at a resolution of 2.8 Å to investigate the configuration of the substrate-binding site and understand substrate preference. This structural characterization and comparison with other bacterial steroid hydroxylase CYPs allowed us to identify a unique Arg295 residue that may serve as the key residue for substrate specificity and regioselectivity in BaCYP106A6. This observation provides valuable background for further protein engineering to design commercially useful CYP steroid hydroxylases with different substrate specificities.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.100-106
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• 2006

ER와 리포터 유전자인 $\beta$-galactosidase가 도입된 효모재조합검색시험법을 이용하여 파라벤류의 내분비계 장애작용을 검색하였다. 양성대조 시험물질로 앞의 시험법들과 동일하게 E2와 BPA를 설정하여 파라벤류의 에스트로젠성을 비교분석 하였다. E2의 경우 $10^{-9}M$에서 가장 활성이 높게 관찰되었고, BPA의 경우 $10^{-7}M$에서 에스트로젠성이 가장 높았다. 파라벤의 경우 이소프로필파라벤이 $10^{-9}M$에서 $10^{-3}M$까지 시험하였을 때, 농도 의존적으로 에스트로젠성이 증가하였으며, $10^{-9}M$의 경우 가장 강력한 에스트로젠성을 보였다. 또한 양성대조군인 E2와 비교하였을 때, $10^{-7}M$에서 $10^{-3}M$까지의 이소프로필파라벤은 오히려 E2보다 높은 내분비계 장애작용이 검색되었다. 이소프로필파라벤을 제외한 나머지 파라벤류의 경우 $10^{-4}M$과 $10^{-5}M$의 프로필파라벤과 $10^{-3}M$과 $10^{-4}M$의 에틸파라벤에서 에스트로젠성이 관찰되었다. 또한 MCF-7세포주는 사람의 유방암 세포이면서 $ER{\alpha}$가 존재하여 에스트로젠 또는 에스트로젠 유사물질이 ER와 반응하여 세포의 성장을 유도하게 된다. 이번 연구에서 파라벤의 시험 이전에 이미 내분비계 장애물질로 널리 알려진 BPA와 체내에 존재하는 강력한 에스트로젠이면서 BPA보다 활성이 1000배정도 높다고 알려진 E2를 양성대조군으로 설정하여 MCF-7세포의 성장을 관찰하였다. 72시간동안 BPA와 E2를 다양한 농도로 MCF-7세포에 노출한 후 DNA 양을 측정하였더니, E2의 경우 $10^{-9}M$에서 대조군보다 약 2.5배의 세포성장을 관찰할 수 있었으며, BPA의 경우 $10^{-8}M$에서 대조군 보다 약 2.2배의 세포성장을 관찰할 수 있었다. 에틸파라벤의 경우 $10^{-7}M$에서 $10^{-4}M$까지 농도 의존적으로 MCF-7세포의 성장을 증가시켰고, $10^{-4}M$이 대조군에 비해 세포성장이 약 2.2배에 달하여 양성대조군과 비슷하면서 높은 에스트로젠 유사반응을 보였다. 프로필파라벤, 부틸파라벤, 이소부틸파라벤과 이소프로필파라벤의 경우 $10^{-5}M$의 농도에서 2배 이상의 세포성장이 유도되었고, 이소프로필파라벤의 경우 RPE값이 약 104%에 이르는 등, 내분비계 장애작용이 검색되었다. 한편, 본 연구팀은 ER에 대한 파라벤의 시험관 내 상경적 결합력을 측정하기 위해 $ER{\alpha}$와 $ER{\beta}$ competition binding assay kit를 사용하여 시험하였다. 이 시험법은 E2와 비교하여 파라벤류의 $ER{\alpha}$와 $ER{\beta}$에 반응하는 시험물질의 RBA(relative binding affinities) 값을 측정하였다. 파라벤의 $ER{\alpha}$ 상경적 결합시험의 경우. E2의 $IC_{50}$의 값이 $4.29{\times}10^{-9}$이었고, 이소부틸파라벤의 경우 $4.5{\times}10^{-7}$에 달하여 RBA값이 0.952가 계산되었다. 이전 연구에 의해 밝혀진 BPA의 경우 RBA값이 0.333인데 반하여, 이소부틸파라벤은 약 3배가 높은 내분비계 장애작용이 검색되었다. 파라벤의 $ER{\beta}$ 상경적 결합시험의 경우. $ER{\alpha}$와 마찬가지로 이소부틸파라벤이 $1.94{\times}10^{-7}M$의 $IC_{50}$값을 가지면서 RBA값이 0.471이 계산되었다. 이것은 파라벤이 $ER{\alpha}$와 $\beta$모두와 결합을 할 수 있고 E2와 경쟁적으로 결합을 할 수 있으며 이는 내분비계를 방해할 수 있다는 것을 다시 한번 뒷받침 해주고 있다. 덧붙여 본 연구팀의 결과는 이소부틸파라벤의 경우 경쟁적으로 결합하는 능력 또한 내분비계교란물질로 잘 알려진 BPA만큼의 능력을 가지고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 결론적으로 in vitro적 방법으로 파라벤류들의 에스트로젠성을 측정한 결과 이미 보고된 연구와 비슷하게 화학 구조적으로 더 길거나 분지된 알킬기를 가지는 파라벤일수록 에스트로젠성이 더 강하게 나타났다. 따라서, 식품이나 화장품 등의 보존제로 사용되는 이 화학물질의 과다한 노출은 정상적인 내분비계에 큰 영향을 미칠 가능성이 있다고 판단된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권8호
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• pp.613-619
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• 2014

The optic nerve often suffers regenerative failure after injury, leading to serious visual impairment such as glaucoma. The main inhibitory factors, including Nogo-A, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, and myelin-associated glycoprotein, exert their inhibitory effects on axonal growth through the same receptor, the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR). Oncomodulin (OM), a calcium-binding protein with a molecular weight of an ~12 kDa, which is secreted from activated macrophages, has been demonstrated to have high and specific affinity for retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and promote greater axonal regeneration than other known polypeptide growth factors. Protamine has been reported to effectively deliver small interference RNA (siRNA) into cells. Accordingly, a fusion protein of OM and truncated protamine (tp) may be used as a vehicle for the delivery of NgR siRNA into RGC for gene therapy. To test this hypothesis, we constructed OM and tp fusion protein (OM/tp) expression vectors. Using the indirect immunofluorescence labeling method, OM/tp fusion proteins were found to have a high affinity for RGC. The gel shift assay showed that the OM/tp fusion proteins retained the capacity to bind to DNA. Using OM/tp fusion proteins as a delivery tool, the siRNA of NgR was effectively transfected into cells and significantly down-regulated NgR expression levels. More importantly, OM/tp-NgR siRNA dramatically promoted axonal growth of RGC compared with the application of OM/tp recombinant protein or NgR siRNA alone in vitro. In addition, OM/tp-NgR siRNA highly elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and inhibited activation of the Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA). Taken together, our data demonstrated that the recombinant OM/tp fusion proteins retained the functions of both OM and tp, and that OM/tp-NgR siRNA might potentially be used for the treatment of optic nerve injury.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.547-555
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• 2020

Objective: Apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) affects mammalian follicular development and fecundity. This study aimed to explore the regulatory relationship between microRNA-26a (miR-26a) and the 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24-reductase gene (DHCR24) gene in porcine follicular granular cells (pGCs), and to provide empirical data for the development of methods to improve the reproductive capacity of pigs. Methods: The pGCs were transfected with miR-26a mimic, miR-26a inhibitor and DHCR24-siRNA in vitro. The cell apoptosis rate of pGCs was detected by the flow cytometry. The secretion levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in pGCs were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Double luciferase validation system was used to detect the binding sites between miR-26a and DHCR24 3'-UTR region. Qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to verify the DHCR24 mRNA and protein expression in pGCs, respectively, after transfecting with miR-26a mimic and miR-26a inhibitor. Results: Results showed that enhancement of miR-26a promoted apoptosis, and inhibited E2 and P secretion in pGCs. Meanwhile, inhibition of DHCR24 also upregulated the Caspase-3 expression, reduced the BCL-2 expression, promoted pGCs apoptosis, and inhibited E2 and P secretion in pGCs. There were the binding sites of miR-26a located within DHCR24 3'-UTR. Up-regulation of miR-26a inhibited DHCR24 mRNA and protein expression in pGCs. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that miR-26a can promote cell apoptosis and inhibit E2 and P secretion by inhibiting the expression of DHCR24 in pGCs.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.239-247
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• 2003

The LRV1-4 capsid protein possesses an endoribonuclease activity that is responsible for the single site-specific cleavage in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of its own viral RNA genome and the formation of a conserved stem-loop structure (stem-loop IV) in the UTR is essential for the accurate RNA cleavage by the capsid protein. To delineate the nucleotide sequences, which are essential for the correct formation of the stem-loop structure for the accurate RNA cleavage by the viral capsid protein, a wildtype minimal RNA transcript (RNA 5' 249-342) and several synthetic RNA transcripts encoding point-mutations in the stem-loop region were generated in an in vitro transcription system, and used as substrates for the RNA cleavage assay and RNase mapping studies. When the RNA 5' 249-342 transcript was subjected to RNase T1 and A mapping studies, the results showed that the predicted RNA secondary structure in the stem-loop region using FOLD analysis only existed in the presence of Mg$\^$2＋/ ions, suggesting that the metal ion stabilizes the stem-loop structure of the substrate RNA in solution. When point-mutated RNA substrates were used in the RNA cleavage assay and RNase T1 mapping study, the specific nucleotide sequences in the stem-loop region were not required for the accurate RNA cleavage by the viral capsid protein, but the formation of a stem-loop like structure in a region (nucleotides from 267 to 287) stabilized by Mg$\^$2＋/ ions was critical for the accurate RNA cleavage. The RNase T1 mapping and EMSA studies revealed that the Ca$\^$2＋/ and Mn$\^$2＋/ ions, among the reagents tested, could change the mobility of the substrate RNA 5' 249-342 on a gel similarly to that of Mg$\^$2＋/ ions, but only Ca$\^$2＋/ ions identically showed the stabilizing effect of Mg$\^$2＋/ ions on the stem-loop structure, suggesting that binding of the metal ions (Mg$\^$2＋/ or Ca$\^$2＋/) onto the RNA substrate in solution causes change and stabilization of the RNA stem-loop structure, and only the substrate RNA with a rigid stem-loop structure in the essential region can be accurately cleaved by the LRV1-4 viral capsid protein.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.267-278
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• 1995

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMN) are the most numerous host cell in periodontal pockets and their presumed role is to form a protective barrier between the bacteria and periodontal tissues. Microbial component LPS activates macrophages to produce $IL-1{\beta}$, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, $-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6, etc. These cytokines have autocrine function to the macrophages, and paracrine function to other cell such as PMN and affect them to produce some biological functions. In the present study, human PMN were tested for the expression of $IL-1{\beta}$ and $MIP-1{\alpha}$ mRNA. Also we performed the receptor binding assay and in vitro assay for the antimicrobial action of HL-60 cell to determine whether HL-60 can replace the peripheral PMN in analyzing the biological functions. PMN were stimulated with $IL-1{\beta}$, TPA, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, LPS, IL-2 and total cytoplasmic RNA were extracted for the northern blot analysis. In order to determine the induction kinetics of $IL-1{\beta}$ or $MIP-1{\alpha}$ mRNA expression, cells were stimulated for 0,1,2,3 hours. We found peak expression of $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA after 1hr of induction with $IL-1{\beta}$, LPS and after 2hr of induction with TPA. $MIP-l{\alpha}$ also induced but a scarce $IL-l{\beta}$ message from PMN. In contrast to the $IL-l{\beta}$ mRNA expression, $MIP-1{\alpha}$ were not induced from PMN in any culture conditions. Receptors for $MIP-1{\alpha}$ were identified on dibutyryl cyclic AMP(dbcAMP)-treated HL-60 as well as peripheral PMN. dbcAMP treatment significantly enhanced antimicrobial action of undifferentiated HL-60 cell. MIP-1 further increased enhancing effect of dbcAMP. $IL-1{\beta}$, to a lesser extent, also increased dbcAMP-induced enhancing effect of antimicrobial action of HL-60 cell.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.522-530
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• 2013

Probiotic 기능성이 우수한 유산균을 선발하기 위하여 9개월 미만의 모유수유아로부터 100종의 Lactobacillus균을 분리하였다. C. elegans를 이용한 in vivo 실험으로 장내 우점능을 검사하여 L. rhamnosus GG와 비교했을 때 다른 균주들보다 상대적으로 장환경에 대하여 우수한 우점특성을 갖는 probiotic 유산균주 9종을 선발하였다. Mucin을 이용한 in vitro 부착능력 검토결과, L. rhamnosus GG대비 90% 이상의 부착능을 보였으며, pH 2.5에서의 내산성 및 0.5% oxgall을 함유한 내담즙성에서 각각 97% 이상과 99% 이상의 높은 생존율을 나타냈다. 또, 81% 이상의 높은 콜레스테롤 저해능과 다양한 prebiotics 이용가능성을 확인하였고 최종적으로 L. rhamnosus 4종, L. plantarum 5종인 것으로 동정되었다. 이상의 결과로부터 in vivo 실험을 통해 우선 선발한 균주들이 프로바이오틱스 균주로서 요구되는 조건을 우수하게 충족시킨다는 것을 알 수 있었으며, 따라서 in vivo 모델로서 C. elegans을 이용한 장내우점능력 검토는 내산성, 내담즙성, 콜레스테롤 저하, 그리고 prebiotic 기질 이용능 등의 고기능성의 probiotic 균주 선발에 직접적으로 이용할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제24권10호
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• pp.330-339
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• 2021

Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is a marine bivalve mollusk widely distributed in coastal areas, and have been long widely used in industrial resources. Several studies demonstrated that fermented oyster (FO) extract attribute to bone health, but whether administration of FO play as an endocrine disruptor has not been studied. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effect of FO on the endocrine system in vitro and in vivo. As the results of the competitive estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) binding affinities, FO was not combined with ER-α, ER-β, and AR. However, 17β-estradiol and testosterone, used as positive control, were interacted with ER and AR, respectively. Meanwhile, oral administration of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of FO doesn't have any harmful effect on the body weight, androgen-dependent sex accessory organs, estrogen-dependent-sex accessory organs, kidney, and liver in immature rats. In addition, FO supplementation has no effect on the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and 17β-estradiol. However, the relative weight of androgen- and estrogen-dependent organs were significantly increased by subcutaneously injection of 4.0 mg/kg of testosterone propionate (TP) and by orally administration of 1.0 ㎍ of 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE) in immature male and female rats, respectively. Furthermore, TP and EE administration markedly decreased the serum LH and FSH levels, which are similar those of mature Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat. Furthermore, the testosterone and 17β-estradiol levels were significantly enhanced in TP and EE-treated immature rats. Taken together, our findings showed that FO does not interact with ER and AR, suggesting consequentially FO does not play as a ligand for ER and AR. Furthermore, oral administration of FO did not act as an endocrine disruptor including androgenic activity, estrogenic activity, and abnormal levels of sex hormone, indicating FO may ensure the safety on endocrine system to develop dietary supplement for bone health.