• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.12
• /
• pp.1487-1497
• /
• 2016

Bacterial cell to cell communication strategies called quorum sensing (QS) using small diffusible signaling molecules (auto-inducers) govern the expression of various genes dependent on their population density manner. As a consequence of synthesis and response to the signaling molecules, individual planktonic cells synchronized group behaviors to control a diverse array of phenotypes such as maturation of biofilm, production of extra-polymeric substances (EPS), virulence, bioluminescence and antibiotic production. Many studies indicated that biofilm formations are associated with QS signaling molecules such as acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) mainly used by several Gram negative bacteria. The biofilm maturation causes undesirable biomass accumulation in various surface environments anywhere water is present called biofouling, which results in serious eco-technological problems. Numerous molecules that interfere the bacterial QS called quorum quenching (QQ), have been discovered from various microorganisms, and their functions and mechanisms associated with QS have also been elucidated. To resolve biofouling problems related to various industries, the novel approach based on QS interference has been emerged attenuating multi-drug resisting bacteria appearance and environmental toxicities, which may provide potential advantages over the conventional anti-biofouling approaches. Therefore this paper presents recent information related to bacterial quorum sensing system, quorum quenching enzymes that can control the QS signaling, and lastly discuss the anti-biofouling approaches using the quorum quenching.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 1993

Self-incompatibility in Brassica campestris is controlled by multi-allele system in a single genetic locus, the S locus, and it is elucidated that S-glycoproteins are S gene products. In this experiments, we examined the genetic mode(pollen tube behavior and segregation of S-glycoprotein), characteristic of S-glycoproteins and DNA constitution within nuclear genome on S gene family that unexplained by single locus model, and investigated the segregation pattern of S-glycoproteins in bred F1 generation. By diallel cross among the 15 plants within one family the existence of three types of homozygotes and three types of heterozygotes were observed, and segregation of S-allele could not explained by single locus model. From the results of IEF-immunoblot analysis for non-segregated individual plant, the segregation pattern of S specific bands was corresponded with results of diallel cross except with one case(SaSa genotype). The molecular weight of 6 different S-genotype varied in near by 50 kD, and each genotype expressed with 2 or 3 bands. Specific bands in SaSa, SbSb, ScSc has almost similar molecular weight between them. Southern analysis of genomic DNA probed with S-glycoprotein cDNA for 6 different genotypes revealed that there are clear difference in polymorphism, multiple bands of hybridization, when restriction enzymes of EcoR I were used. It could be assumed that there are several sequences related to the S-glycoprotein structural genes within their nuclear genome. Therefore, we suggested the possibilities that S-allele system could be controlled by multi-locus, that dominance-recessive interactions could be explained by modifier gene or supressor gene based on the results of abnormal segregation of S-glycoprotein in bred F1. The F2 analyses are progressing in now.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 2015

Ubiquitination is a post translational modification which mostly links with proteasome dependent protein degradation. This process has been known to play pivotal roles in the number of biological events including apoptosis, cell signaling, transcription and translation. Although the process of ubiquitination has been studied extensively, the mechanism of polyubiquitination by multi protein E3 ubiquitin ligase, SCF complex remains elusive. In the present study, we identified UbcH5a as a novel stimulating factor for poly-ubiquitination catalyzed by $SCF^{hFBH1}$ using biochemical fractionations and MALDI-TOF. Moreover, we showed that recombinant UbcH5a and Cdc34 synergistically stimulate $SCF^{hFBH1}$ catalyzed polyubiquitination in vitro. These data may provide an important cue to understand the mechanism how the SCF complex efficiently polyubiquitinates target substrates.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.575-587
• /
• 2015

The development in data collection techniques results in high dimensional data sets, where discrimination is an important and commonly encountered problem that are crucial to resolve when high dimensional data is heterogeneous (non-common variance covariance structure for classes). An example of this is to classify microbial habitat preferences based on codon/bi-codon usage. Habitat preference is important to study for evolutionary genetic relationships and may help industry produce specific enzymes. Most classification procedures assume homogeneity (common variance covariance structure for all classes), which is not guaranteed in most high dimensional data sets. We have introduced regularized elimination in partial least square coupled with QDA (rePLS-QDA) for the parsimonious variable selection and classification of high dimensional heterogeneous data sets based on recently introduced regularized elimination for variable selection in partial least square (rePLS) and heterogeneous classification procedure quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA). A comparison of proposed and existing methods is conducted over the simulated data set; in addition, the proposed procedure is implemented to classify microbial habitat preferences by their codon/bi-codon usage. Five bacterial habitats (Aquatic, Host Associated, Multiple, Specialized and Terrestrial) are modeled. The classification accuracy of each habitat is satisfactory and ranges from 89.1% to 100% on test data. Interesting codon/bi-codons usage, their mutual interactions influential for respective habitat preference are identified. The proposed method also produced results that concurred with known biological characteristics that will help researchers better understand divergence of species.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2014

A great interest is emerging about green tea as a tool against human cancer proliferation or inflammation, as pointed out by recent reports describing the inhibitory action of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on angiogenesis, urokinase, metalloproteinases, and induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase. We proposed that EGCG may regulate a multi target signaling having wider spectra of action than those actions of single enzymes. CSK (c-terminal Src kinase) protein is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the cross-talk and mediation of many signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation, adhesion, invasion, migration, and tumorigenesis. Based on the knowledge that CSK activation is important for cancer proliferation we hypothesized that CSK could be a target of EGCG. Here we showed that EGCG effectively suppressed the growth of CSK MEF cell when compare with CSK knockout MEF cell growth. These results indicate that EGCG could be used as a chemoprevention to modulate CSK signal pathway in inflammatory processes and tumor formation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.68-71
• /
• 2008

Septic encephalopathy is defined as brain dysfunction secondary to sepsis. It occurs in septic patients as a manifestation of multi-organ dysfunction. Without evidence of intracranial infection, various extracranial infections causing severe sepsis may induce septic encephalopathy. We report a patient with septic encephalopathy complicating acute appendicitis. Initially, the patient presented with impaired mental state and raised liver enzymes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.303-316
• /
• 1994

Microbial digestion of feed in the rumen involves a sequential attack culminating in the formation of fermentation products and microbial cells that can be utilized by the host animal. Most feeds are protected by a cuticular layer which is in effect a microbial barrier that must be penetrated or circumvented for digestion to proceed. Microorganisms gain access to digestible inner plant tissues through damage to the cuticle, or via natural cell openings (e.g., stomata) and commence digestion from within the feed particles. Primary colonizing bacteria adhere to specific substrates, divide to form sister cells and the resultant microcolonies release soluble substrates which attract additional microorganisms to the digestion site. These newly attracted microorganisms associate with primary colonizers to form complex multi-species consortia. Within the consortia, microorganisms combine their metabolic activities to produce the diversity of enzymes required to digest complex substrates (e.g., cellulose, starch, protein) which comprise plant tissues. Feed characteristics that inhibit the microbial processes of penetration, colonization and consortia formation can have a profound effect on the rate and extent of feed digestion in the rumen. Strategies such as feed processing or plant breeding which are aimed at manipulating feed digestion must be based on an understanding of these basic microbial processes and their concerted roles in feed digestion in the rumen.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.349-357
• /
• 2015

To reutilize fisheries waste, we isolated a bacterial strain from a coastal area located in Busan. It was identified as Bacillus licheniformis TK3-Y. Using plate assay and 500-mL flask experiments, we found that the isolate simultaneously possessed cellulolytic, proteolytic, and lipolytic activities with salt tolerance. 10% (v/v) inoculums, were used to examine the biodegradation characteristics of the TK3-Y strain on carboxymethylcellulose, skim milk, and olive oil media. The optimum conditions for pH, temperature, agitation speed, and NaCl concentration on each 1% substrate were 6, $50^{\circ}C$, 180 rpm, and 17.5%, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the TK3-Y strain showed 1.07 U/mL cellulolytic, 1,426 U/mL proteolytic, and 6.45 U/mL lipolytic activities. Each enzyme was stable within a range of 17.5-35% NaCl. Therefore, the salt tolerance ability of strain TK3-Y was superior to other related strains. In degradation of a mixed medium containing all three substrates, both the cellulolytic and proteolytic activities were somewhat lower than those on each single substrate, while the lipolytic activity was somewhat higher. From the above results, the TK3-Y strain appears to be a good candidate for use in the efficient treatment of fisheries waste in which components are not collected separately.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.152-156
• /
• 2014

Isoquercitrin (IQ), quercetin monoglycoside, is classified as a polyphenol, and a minute quantity of IQ is known to be present in several plants. Recently, it was reported that IQ can be prepared by the partial enzymatic hydrolysis of quercetin diglycoside (rutin, RU). In this paper, the effects of enzyme types, enzyme amounts, and substrate concentrations on the reactivity were investigated using a series of $Pecinex^{TM}$ multi-enzymes. The reaction, when a 8 ml of Ultra Clear to 1 g of RU was applied with the substrate concentration of 1% at $50^{\circ}C$, was found to be optimum, based on the reaction rate and the selectivity to IQ.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.316-326
• /
• 2016

Development and discovery of efficient, cost-effective, and robust electrocatalysts are imperative for practical and widespread implementation of water electrolysis and fuel cell techniques in the anticipated hydrogen economy. The electrochemical reactions involved in water electrolysis, i.e., hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, are complex inner-sphere reactions with slow multi-electron transfer kinetics. To develop active electrocatalysts for water electrolysis, the physicochemical properties of the electrode surfaces in electrolyte solutions should be investigated and understood in detail. When electrocatalysis is conducted using nanoparticles with large surface areas and active surface states, analytical techniques with sub-nanometer resolution are required, along with material development. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is an electrochemical technique for studying the surface reactions and properties of various types of electrodes using a very small tip electrode. Recently, the morphological and chemical characteristics of single nanoparticles and bio-enzymes for catalytic reactions were studied with nanometer resolution by combining SECM with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Herein, SECM techniques are briefly reviewed, including the AFM-SECM technique, to facilitate further development and discovery of highly active, cost-effective, and robust electrode materials for efficient electrolysis and photolysis.