• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.32-43
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• 2003

UV irradiation on a skin brings about the qualitative and quantitative alterations of the extracellular matrix. Repeated-UV irradiation suppressed the synthesis of collagen and activated the expression of the matrix metalloprotease (MMP). In this paper, on the purpose of development of novel anti-aging agents from natural sources, effects of several natural products on in vitro MMP-1 activity and UVA induced MMP-1 synthesis in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) culture were studied. We measured MMP-1 activities by fluorescence assay using gelatin as substrates. As a result, the extract of Dicentra spectabilis, and flower buds of Tussilago farfara showed strong inhibitory effect. Among them, the extract of flower buds of Tussilago fartara and Dicentra spectabilis inhibited MMP-1 activity by 92% and 87% at 0.05% (w/v). And UVA induced MMP-1 expression were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gelatin-based zymography in HDF culture. The extract of flower buds of Tussilago farfara and Dicentra spectabilis suppressed the UVA induced expression of MMP-1 by similar level of Vitamin C 200$\mu$M at 0.1% (w/v). These results suggest that the extract of Dicentra spectabilis, and flower buds of Tussilago farfara effectively prevent skin from the UV-induced photoaging. So the extracts are thought to have potential as effective raw materials for anti-aging cosmetics.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 1995

Trypsin like protease (TLP) and metalloprotease (MTP) were induced in associated with the mycelium differentiation in Streptomyces albidoflavus SMF301. TLP and MTP were purified and characterized from the culture. The molecular mass of TLP and MTP were estimated to be 32 kDa and 18 kDa, respectively. The molecular mass of TLP and MTP were estimated to be 32 kDa and 18 kDa, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature of TLP were 10 and 40.$^{\circ}C$ Those of MTP were 8 and 55 $^{\circ}C$ TLP was stable at alkaline pH (6-9) and unstable above 45.$^{\circ}C$and MTP was stable at alkaline pH and unstable above 80.$^{\circ}C$ Km and Vmax values with benzoyl-arginyl p-nitroanilide of TLP were 139 $\mu$M, and 10 nmole of nitroanilide released per min per$\mu\textrm{g}$ protein, respectively. Km, and Vmax values with a synthetic substrate, leucine p-nitroanilide, or MTP were 58.9 $\mu$M, 3.47 nmol of nitroanilide released per min per$\mu\textrm{g}$protein, respectively. TLP was inhibited competitively by leupeptin; the inhibition constant was 0.0031 $\mu$M. MTP was inhibited by EDTA, phenonthroline and bestatin.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2021

Apoptosis and compensatory proliferation, two intertwined cellular processes essential for both development and adult homeostasis, are often initiated by the mis-regulation of centrosomal proteins, damaged DNA, and defects in mitosis. Fly Anastral spindle 3 (Ana3) is a member of the pericentriolar matrix proteins and known as a key component of centriolar cohesion and basal body formation. We report here that ana3m19 is a suppressor of lethality induced by the overexpression of Sol narae (Sona), a metalloprotease in a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motif (ADAMTS) family. ana3m19 has a nonsense mutation that truncates the highly conserved carboxyl terminal region containing multiple Armadillo repeats. Lethality induced by Sona overexpression was completely rescued by knockdown of Ana3, and the small and malformed wing and hinge phenotype induced by the knockdown of Ana3 was also normalized by Sona overexpression, establishing a mutually positive genetic interaction between ana3 and sona. p35 inhibited apoptosis and rescued the small wing and hinge phenotype induced by knockdown of ana3. Furthermore, overexpression of Ana3 increased the survival rate of irradiated flies and reduced the number of dying cells, demonstrating that Ana3 actively promotes cell survival. Knockdown of Ana3 decreased the levels of both intra- and extracellular Sona in wing discs, while overexpression of Ana3 in S2 cells dramatically increased the levels of both cytoplasmic and exosomal Sona due to the stabilization of Sona in the lysosomal degradation pathway. We propose that one of the main functions of Ana3 is to stabilize Sona for cell survival and proliferation.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1374-1382
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• 2020

Arctigenin is a natural lignan that is found in burdock with anti-viral, -oxidative, -inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. In the current study, the effect of arctigenin on metastatic potential was examined in 4T-1 mouse triple-negative breast cancer cells. The results indicated that arctigenin inhibited cell motility and invasiveness, which was determined using wound healing and transwell invasion assays. Arctigenin suppressed matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) activity via gelatin zymography, and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and MMP-3. Furthermore, arctigenin attenuated the mRNA expression of metastatic factors, including MMP-9, MMP-3 and COX-2. Based on these results, the effect of arctigenin on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activating protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathway was assessed in an attempt to identify the regulatory mechanism responsible for its anti-metastatic effects. Arctigenin was demonstrated to inhibit the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N- terminal kinase (JNK), and the nuclear translocations of the AP-1 subunits, c-Jun and c-Fos. In summary, the present study demonstrated that in 4T-1 mouse triple-negative breast cancer cells the anti-metastatic effect of arctigenin is mediated by the inhibition of MMP-9 activity and by the inhibition of the metastasis-enhancing factors MMP-9, MMP-3 and COX-2, due to the suppression of the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway. The results of the current study demonstrated that arctigenin exhibits a potential for preventing cell migration and invasion in triple negative breast cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.317-319
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• 1999

A leucine aminopeptidase has been isolated from the culture medium of the soil fungus, Aspergillus flavus. The enzyme was found to be a glycoprotein, as judged by electrophoresis analysis and the subsequent staining by the periodic acid-Schiff's reagent. Carbohydrate moieties could be cleaved by N-glycosidase, but not by O-glycosidase, indicating that the glucans are linked to the asparagine residue in the protein. Removal of N-glucans was observed without prior denaturation of the protein, implying that the N-glycosidic linkage is exposed and accessible to glycosidase. When the activity of native or deglycosylated enzyme was measured in the presence of various metal ions, removal of carbohydrates increased the aminopeptidase activity of the enzyme.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 1986

A periplasmic endoprotease, named protease Pi, was purified to homogeneity from Escherkchia coli by conventional procedure with insulin as substrate. This enzyme degrades insulin and glucagon to trichloroacetic acid-soluble meterials, but shows little or no hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin, casein or globin. Its molecular weight was 110, 000 when determined by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 and was 105, 000 when estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Thus, it appears to be single polypeptide. This snzyme is metalloprotease, since it is completely inhibited by o-phenanthroline and can be activated by addition of divalent metal cations, such as $Mg^{2+}\;and\;Co^{2+}$. It is destinct from protease Ci, a cytoplasmic insulin degrading enzyme, since protease Pi is localized to the periplasm. Since protease Pi selectively degrades GTP cyclohydrolase I, it appears to play a role in the regulation of pteridine biosynthesis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2011

Caenorhabditis elegans undergoes a developmental molting process that involves a coordinated interplay among diverse intracellular pathways. Here, we investigated the functions of two fatty acid biosynthesis genes; pod-2, encoding acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fasn-1, encoding fatty acid synthase, in the C. elegans molting process. Although both the pod-2 and fasn-1 genes were expressed at constant levels throughout C. elegans development, knockdown of the proteins encoded by these genes using RNA interference produced severe defects in triglyceride production, molting, and reproduction that were coupled to suppression of NAS-37, a metalloprotease. An assessment of the structure and integrity of the cuticle using a COL-19::GFP marker and Hoechst 33258 staining showed that downregulation of either pod-2 or fasn-1 impaired cuticle formation and disrupted the integrity of the cuticle and the hypodermal membrane.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.132-136
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• 2004

Understanding the molecular pathogenesis of the multifaceted host-pathogen interaction is critical in the development of improved treatment and prevention, as well as elucidating how certain bacteria can circumvent host defenses, multiply in the host, and cause such extensive damage. Disease caused by infection with V. vulnificus is remarkable for the invasive nature of the infection, ensuing severe tissue damage, and rapidly fulminating course. The characterization of somatic as well as secreted products of V. vulnificus has yielded a large list of putative virulence attributes, whose known functions are easily imagined to explain the pathology of disease. These putative virulence factors include a carbohydrate capsule, lipopolysaccharide, a cytolysin/hemolysin, elastolytic metalloprotease, iron sequestering systems, lipase, and pili. However, only few among the putative virulence factors has been confirmed to be essential for virulence by the use of molecular Koch's postulates. This presentation describes molecular biological characterization of the virulence factors contributing to survival as well as to toxigenesis of V. vulnificus.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2002

Fibrinolytic enzyme has been purified from the edible mushroom, Tricholoma sejunctum using DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Phenyl-Sepharose chromatography and Mono-S column chromatography. The apparent molecular mass of purified enzyme was estimated to be 17100 Da by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 19000 Da by gel filtration, Indicating that it was a monomer. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was Ala-Thr-Tyr-Lys-Ile-X-Ser-Ala-Thr-His-Gln-X-X-Leu-Val. It has a pH optimum at pH 9.5, suggested that purified enzyme was a alkaline protease. The activity of purified enzyme was inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline, indicating that purified enzyme is a metalloprotease. The activity of purified enzyme was increased by Zn$^{2+}$ and Co$^{2+}$, however, the enzyme activity was totally inhibited by Hg$^{2+}$.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.56-58
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• 2002

Understanding the molecular pathogenesis of the multifaceted host-pathogen interaction is critical in the development of improved treatment and prevention, as well as elucidating how certain bacteria can circumvent host defenses, multiply in the host, and cause such extensive damage. Disease caused by infection with V. vulnificus is remarkable for the invasive nature of the infection, ensuing severe tissue damage, and rapidly fulminating course. The characterization of somatic as well as secreted products of V. vulnificus has yielded a large list of putative virulence attributes, whose known functions are easily imagined to explain the pathology of disease. These putative virulence factors include a carbohydrate capsule, lipopolysaccharide, a cytolysin/hemolysin, elastolytic metalloprotease, iron sequestering systems, lipase, and pili. However, only few among the putative virulence factors has been confirmed to be essential for virulence by the use of molecular Koch's postulates. This presentation describes molecular biological characterization of the virulence factors contributing to survival as well as to toxigenesis of V. vulnificus.