• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.656-660
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• 2008

Fermented soybean foods are an important component of the Korean diet. Eoyukjang is a type of traditional fermented soybean source. Microbial analysis of eoyukjang was conducted during the fermentation period in this study. Microorganisms isolated from eoyukjang were identified by biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequencing. 17 different microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, and fungi were detected in eoyukjang during the fermentation period. Even though Aspergillus participated in the early stage of fermentation of eoyukjang, Bacillus species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the major microzymes in eoyukjang throughout the maturation period. Eoyukjang is generally consumed after the boiling of the final sample. Therefore, the final sample of eoyukjang was boiled and analyzed. Our results showed that no vegetative microorganisms survived under the boiling conditions for eoyukjang. Fermented soybean products in the domestic market were also assessed for comparison with the results from eoyukjang. The total cell number of kanjang (soy sauce) samples was between 0 to 42 CFU/mL. The isolated microorganisms were identified as Bacillus species. All Bacillus isolates were not found to harbor the three enterotoxin-producing and emetic toxin-producing genes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1361-1365
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• 2001

Recombinant immunotoxins are hybrid cytotoxic proteins designed to selectively kill cancer cells. A divalent immunotoxins, [B3(FabH1)-PE38]2, was constructed by recombining Fab domain of B3 antibody as a cell-targeting domain and Pseudo monas exotoxin A (PE) as a cytotoxic domain. Monoclonal antibody, B3, is the murine antibody (IgG1k) directed against Lewis Y-related carbohydrate antigens, which are abundant on the surface of many carcinomas. Fab fragment of this antibody was used in this study with the modified hinge sequence where last two cysteines out of three were mutated to serine. PE is a 66 kDa bacterial toxin that kills eukaryotic cells by inhibiting protein synthesis with ADP ribosylation of ribosomal elongation factor 2 (EF2). Fc region of B3 antibody was substituted with the truncated form of PE (38 kDa, PE38) on DNA level. [B3(FabH1)-PE38]2 was formed by disulfide bond between cysteines in the modified hinge region of B3(FabH1)-PE38. Each polypeptide for recombinant immunotoxins was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and collected as inclusion bodies. Each inclusion body was solubilized and refolded, and cytotoxic effects were measured. Divalent immunotoxins, [B3(FabH1)-PE38]2, had ID50 values of about 10 ng/mL on A431 cell lines and about 4 ng/mL on CRL1739 cell lines. Control immunotoxins, B3(scFv)-PE40, had ID50 values of about 28 ng/mL on A431 cell lines and about 41 ng/mL on CRL1739 cell lines. Divalent immunotoxins, [B3(FabH1)-PE38]2, had higher cytotoxic effects than B3(scFv)-PE40 control immunotoxins.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high concentration of uremic toxins in their blood and often experience muscle atrophy. Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a uremic toxin produced by tryptophan metabolism. Although an elevated IS level may induce muscle dysfunction, the effect of IS on physiological concentration has not been elucidated. Additionally, the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on muscle hypertrophy have been reported in healthy models; however, it is unclear whether UA ameliorates muscle dysfunction associated with chronic diseases, such as CKD. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether UA can improve the IS-induced impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis. MATERIALS/METHODS: C2C12 cells were incubated with or without IS (0.1 mM) and UA (1 or 2 μM) to elucidate the physiological effect of UA on CKD-related mitochondrial dysfunction and its related mechanisms using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: IS suppressed the expression of differentiation marker genes without decreasing cell viability. IS decreased the mitochondrial DNA copy number and ATP levels by downregulating the genes pertaining to mitochondrial biogenesis (Ppargc1a, Nrf1, Tfam, Sirt1, and Mef2c), fusion (Mfn1 and Mfn2), oxidative phosphorylation (Cycs and Atp5b), and fatty acid oxidation (Pdk4, Acadm, Cpt1b, and Cd36). Furthermore, IS increased the intracellular mRNA and secretory protein levels of interleukin (IL)-6. Finally, UA ameliorated the IS-induced impairment in C2C12 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that UA improves the IS-induced impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis by affecting differentiation, ATP levels, and IL-6 secretion in C2C12 cells. Therefore, UA could be a novel therapeutic agent for CKD-induced muscle dysfunction.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 1998

Effects of Cu and Zn on estradiol-17$\beta$-Induced vitellogenin (VTG) production were electro-phoretically examined in hepatocyte cultures of rainbow trout. Hepatocytes were precultured for 2 days and then Cu ($10^{-5}$ ~$10^{-4}$M) and Zn ($10^{-5}$~$10^{-3}$M) were added to the incubation medium with estradiol-17${\beta}$ ($2{\times}10^{-6}$M). The hepatocytes were cultured for 5 more days. The relative VTG production rate was expressed as the percentage of VTG to total proteins including the VTG. The addition of CU and Zn to the incubation medium had no appreciable toxin effect on the viability of hepatocytes in the culture. However, Cu markedly reduced VTG production at any concentration used. Zn also specifically reduced VTG production by hepatocytes in a concentration dependent way and there was a significnt reduction at Zn concentrations of $10^{-3}$M. The reduction recovered by removing Zn from the media, but Cu did not. Additionally, enriched Ca concentrations (1.8 to 2.5 or 5.0 mM) in the incubation medium had no protective effect on the reduction of VTG production by Cu $10^{-4}$ M. These results suggest that the production of VTG is more susceptible to Cu and Zn than are other hepatocyte-derived proteins.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.201-208
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate changes in the invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells in vitro after expression inhibition of T lymphoma invasion and metastasis inducing factor 1 (Tiam 1) and underlying mechanisms. Methods: Using adhesion selection, two subpopulations with high ($M_H$) or low ($M_L$) invasive capacity were separated from the human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45 ($M_0$). Tiam 1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) was transfected into $M_H$ cells with liposomes, and expression of Tiam 1 mRNA and protein was determined by RT-PCR and quantitative cellular-ELISA. Changes in the cytoskeleton, invasive capacity in vitro and expression of ras-related $C_3$ botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac 1), integrin ${\beta}1$ and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP 2) between Tiam 1 ASODN transfected $M_H$ cells and non-transfected cells were observed by HE staining, cytoskeletal protein staining, scanning electron microscopy, Boyden chamber tests and cyto-immunohistochemistry. Results: A positive correlation existed between the expression level of Tiam l mRNA or protein and the invasion capacity of gastric cancer cells. After ASODN treatment ($0.43{\mu}M$ for 48 h), Tiam 1 mRNA transcription and protein expression in $M_H$ cells were decreased by 80% and 24% respectively (P < 0.05), compared with untreated controls, while invasive capacity in vitro was suppressed by 60% (P < 0.05). Morphologic and ultrastructural observation also showed that ASODN-treated $M_H$ cells exhibited smooth surfaces with obviously reduced filopodia and microspikes, which resembled $M_0$ and $M_L$ cells. Additionally, cytoskeletal distribution dramatically altered from disorder to regularity with reduced long filament-like structure, projections, pseudopodia on cell surface, and with decreased acitn-bodies in cytoplasm. After Tiam 1 ASODN treatment, the expression of Rac 1 and Integrin ${\beta}1$ in $M_H$ cells was not affected (P > 0.05), but that of MMP 2 in $M_H$ cells was significantly inhibited compared with untreated cells (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Over-expression of Tiam-1 contributes to the invasive phenotype of gastric cancer cells. Inhibition of Tiam 1 expression could impair the invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells through modulating reconstruction of the cytoskeleton and regulating expression of MMP 2.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.110-115
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• 2004

The immature fruits of Poncirus trifoliata L. or Ponciri fructus (PF), well known as 'Jisil' in Korea, have been used against allergic diseases for generations, and still occupy an important place in traditional Oriental medicine. Anti-allergic effects of this fruit have been investigated in a few experimental models. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the principal immunoglobulin involved in immediate hypersensitivities and chronic allergic diseases. The effect of an aqueous extract of PF on in vivo and in vitro IgE production was investigated. PF dose-dependently inhibited the active systemic anaphylaxis and serum IgE production induced by immunization with ovalbumin, Bordetelia pertussis toxin and aluminum hydroxide gel. PF strongly inhibited interleukin 4 (IL-4)-dependent IgE production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine whole spleen cells. In the case of U266 human IgE-bearing B cells, Ponciri fructus also showed an inhibitory effect on the IgE production. On the other hand, mast cell hyperplasia can be causally related with chronic inflammation. Stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand of the c-kit protooncogene product, is a major regulator and ohernoattractant of mast cells. Ponciri fiuctus (1 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the SCF-induced migration of rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs). RPMCs exposed to SCF (50 ng/mL) resulted in a drastic shape change with a polarized morphology while the cells exposed to Ponciri fructus (1 mg/mL) remained resting, with little or no shape alteration. The drastic morphological alteration and distribution of polymerized actin were blocked by pretreatment with Ponciri fructus. In addition, Ponciri fructus inhibited both TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion from RPMCs stimulated with SCF. These results suggest that Ponciri fructus has an anti-allergic activity by inhibition of IgE production from B cells. These findings also provide evidence that Ponciri fructu inhibits chemotactic response and inflammatory cytokines secretion to SCF in mast cells.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 1988

This study was performed to construct killer wine yeasts which might suppress the growth of wild yeasts, reduce the consumption of starter and condense the fermentation period. Saccharomyces cerevisiae M524, a commercial wine yeast, was treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine to induce auxotrophic mutants, i.e., CHM $2(thr^-)$, CHM 3 $(asp^-)$ and CHM 6 $(tyr^-)$. These auxotrophs were fused successfully with a killer yeast, S. cerevisiae $1368R({\alpha}\;his\;4\;kar\;1-1(kil-k)\;(k_0)$, respiratory deficient) using sphoroplast techniques and the fusants were designated as CHF 21$(th^-\;kil^+)$, CHF 22$(thr^-\;kil^+)$, CHF 31$(asp^-\;kil^+)$ and GHF 61$(tyr^-\;kil^+)$. Combined cultivation of CHF 31 with 1368R or S. cerevisiae $5{\times}47$ (killer sensitive) proved out that CHF 31 had the characteristic of killing and produced the same amount of ethanol as the prototroph, M524.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2010

Codium fragile (CF) is an edible green alga consumed as a traditional food source in Korea. In this study, the ethanol extract of CF was evaluated to determine if it has anti-inflammatory activity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a toxin from bacteria, is a potent inducer of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-6. Therefore, we studied whether CF extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-induced murine macrophage cell lines (RAW 264.7). In the present study, IL-6 production was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), prostaglandin $E_2$($PGE_2$) production was measured using the EIA kit, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation were determined by Western blot analysis. IL-6 mRNA, COX-2 mRNA and iNOS mRNA expression were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results indicated that CF extracts inhibit LPS-induced IL-6, NO and PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner, as well as expression of iNOS and COX-2. CF extracts significantly inhibited LPS-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1/2 phosphorylation. Taken together, these findings may help elucidate the mechanism by which CF modulates RAW 264.7 cell activation under inflammatory conditions.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

The bacterial toxin, tolaasin, causes brown blotch disease on the cultivated mushrooms by collapsing fungal and fruiting body structure of mushroom. Cytotoxicity of tolaasin was evaluated by measuring hemolytic activity because tolaasins form membrane pores on the red blood cells and destroy cell structure. While we investigated the inhibitions of hemolytic activity of tolaasin by $Zn^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$, we found that $Ni^{2+}$ is another antagonist to block the toxicity of tolaasin. $Ni^{2+}$ inhibited the tolaasin-induced hemolysis in a dose-dependent manner and its Ki value was $\sim10$ mM, implying that the inhibitory effect of $Ni^{2+}$ is stronger than that of $Cd^{2+}$. The hemolytic activity was completely inhibited by $Ni^{2+}$ at the concentration higher than 50 mM. The effect of $Ni^{2+}$ was reversible since it was removed by the addition of EDTA. When the tolaasin-induced hemolysis was suppressed by the addition of 20 mM $Ni^{2+}$, the subsequent addition of EDIA immediately initiated the hemolysis. Although the mechanism of $Ni^{2+}$ -induced inhibition on tolaasin toxicity is not known, $Ni^{2+}$ could inhibit any of fallowing processes of tolaasin action, membrane binding, molecular multimerization, pore formation, and massive ion transport through the membrane pore. Our results indicate that $Ni^{2+}$ inhibits the pore activity of tolaasin, the last step of the toxic process.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.994-999
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• 2010

The toxin of Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) during summer season has been a problem and early prevention should be considered. A variety of methods can be used to forecast algal blooms and this study aims at examining feasibility of chlorophyll-a. The real-time data were collected by automatic water quality monitoring system (AWQMS) in Daecheong reservoir and invalid data were sorted by experts. And then, the sorted data were filled using linear interpolation. When the concentration of chlorophyll-a increased by $15mg/m^3$, water temperature and pH exceeded $26.8^{\circ}C$ and 9.5 respectively. As a result of correlation between chlorophyll-a and other parameters(i.e. water quality items and hydrological data), temperature (r=0.502 - 0.574), pH (r=0.583 - 0.681), total organic carbon (TOC, r=0.583 - 0.681) comparably had higher values. Meanwhile, the data around a day or two showed the highest correlation. In addition, chlorophyll-a is considered to be significantly effected by precipitation and inflow.