• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.309-317
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• 2009

Occupational exposure to inorganic dusts such as coal and silica has been identified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk factor. This risk factor causes lung inflammation and protease-antiprotease imbalance. This abnormal inflammatory response of the lung induces parenchymal tissue destruction and leads to progressive airflow limitation that is characteristics of COPD. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of proteases such as neutrophil elastase (NE) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and antiproteases such as alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 with lung function. The study population contained 223 retired workers exposed to inorganic dusts. We performed lung function test, including percent of forced expiratory volume in one second ($%FEV_1$) predicted and $%FEV_1$/forced vital capacity (FVC). We analyzed serum MMP-9, AAT, TIMP-1 and plasma NE concentrations by sandwich enzyme immunoassay. NE, AAT, and TIMP-1 concentrations in workers, who had $%FEV_1$<80% predicted, were higher than those of workers who had $%FEV_1{\geq}80%$ (P<0.05). Both AAT and TIMP-1 concentrations in workers with airflow limitation were higher than those of workers with normal airflow (P<0.05). $%FEV_1$ predicted showed significant negative correlation with AAT (r=-0.255, P<0.0l), TIMP-1 (r=-0.232, P<0.01), and NE (r=-0.196, P<0.01). $%FEV_1$/FVC predicted showed significant negative correlation with NE (r=-0.172, P<0.05). From the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis about $%FEV_1$ and $%FEV_1$/FVC, significant independents were NE (r=-0.135, P=0.001) and AAT (r=-0.100, P=0.013) in $%FEV_1$, and NE (r=-0.160, P=0.014) in $%FEV_1$/FVC. In the present study, there were significant correlations between airflow limitation and protease concentration and between airflow limitation and antiprotease concentration. Serum protease and antiprotease concentrations, however, may be affected by the biological and inflammatory responses. It is necessary to evaluate specimens more reflected the effects of proteases and antiproteases in the lung such as lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC).

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

칼슘 의존적으로 활성화되는 neutral protease calpain에 의한 단백질 분해는 세포의 성장을 조절하는데 중요한 단백질들의 역할에 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. Cyclin의 분해는 세포주기의 진행을 위한 필연적인 과정이다. D-type cyclins는 외부자극이나 신호에 의하여 세포주기의 G1 초기에 합성이 된 후 cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk4 및 cdk6)와의 결합하여 세포주기 S기 진입을 촉진하는 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 cyclin D3 단백질이 calpain protease에 의하여 번역 후 수준에서 조절 받고 있음을 제시하였다. 본 실험의 조건에서 lovastatin과 actinomycin D가 처리된 PC-3-M 전립선 암세포에서 cyclin D3 단백질의 발현이 완전히 사라졌지만, calpain inhibitor인 LLnL의 처리에 의하여 정상 수준으로 회복되었음을 알 수 있었다. 그러나 26S proteasome의 선택적 억제제인 lactacystin, lysosome 억제제인 ammonium chloride 및 chloroquine, serine protease 억제제인 PMSF는 동일 조건에서 lovastatin과 actinomycin D 처리에 의한 cyclin D3 단백질의 발현저하를 억제하지는 못하였다. In vitro 조건에서 순수 분리된 calpain은 cyclin D3 단백질을 칼슘 농도 의존적으로 분해하였으며, cyclin D3 단백질의 반감기는 LLnL 처리에 의하여 매우 유의적으로 증가되었다. 또한 calpain 저해인자인 calpastatin의 과발현은 PC-3-M 세포에서 뿐만 아니라 NIH 3T3 섬유아세포에서도 cyclin D3 단백질의 반감기 및 안전성을 증대시켰다. 이러한 결과는 cyclin D3 단백질이 칼슘에 의해 활성화 되는 protease calpain에 의해 조절됨을 보여주는 것이다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.761-768
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• 2007

Serratia proteamaculans HY-3 isolated from the digestive tract of a spider produces an extracellular protease named arazyme, with an estimated molecular mass of 51.5 kDa. The purified enzyme was characterized as having high activities at wide pH and temperature ranges. We further characterized biochemical features of the enzymatic reactions under various reaction conditions. The protease efficiently hydrolyzed a broad range of protein substrates including albumin, keratin, and collagen. The dependence of enzymatic activities on the presence of metal ions such as calcium and zinc indicated that the enzyme is a metalloprotease, together with the previous observation that the proteolytic activity of the enzyme was not inhibited by aspartate, cysteine, or serine protease inhibitors, but strongly inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline and EDTA. The araA gene encoding the exoprotease was isolated as a 5.6 kb BamHI fragment after PCR amplification using degenerate primers and subsequent Southern hybridization. The nucleotide sequence revealed that the deduced amino acid sequences shared extensive similarity with those of the serralysin family of metalloproteases from other enteric bacteria. A gene(inh) encoding a putative protease inhibitor was also identified immediately adjacent to the araA structural gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.617-626
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• 2011

Transglutaminase from Streptomyces mobaraensis is an enzyme of unknown function that cross-links proteins to high molecular weight aggregates. Previously, we characterized two intrinsic transglutaminase substrates with inactivating activities against subtilisin and dispase. This report now describes a novel substrate that inhibits papain, bromelain, and trypsin. Papain was the most sensitive protease; thus, the protein was designated Streptomyces papain inhibitor (SPI). To avoid transglutaminase-mediated glutamine deamidation during culture, SPI was produced by Streptomyces mobaraensis at various growth temperatures. The best results were achieved by culturing for 30-50 h at $42^{\circ}C$, which yielded high SPI concentrations and negligibly small amounts of mature transglutaminase. Transglutaminasespecific biotinylation displayed largely unmodified glutamine and lysine residues. In contrast, purified SPI from the $28^{\circ}C$ culture lost the potential to be cross-linked, but exhibited higher inhibitory activity as indicated by a significantly lower $K_i$ (60 nM vs. 140 nM). Despite similarities in molecular mass (12 kDa) and high thermostability, SPI exhibits clear differences in comparison with all members of the wellknown family of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitors. The neutral protein (pI of 7.3) shares sequence homology with a putative protein from Streptomyces lavendulae, whose conformation is most likely stabilized by two disulfide bridges. However, cysteine residues are not localized in the typical regions of subtilisin inhibitors. SPI and the formerly characterized dispase-inactivating substrate are unique proteins of distinct Streptomycetes such as Streptomyces mobaraensis. Along with the subtilisin inhibitory protein, they could play a crucial role in the defense of vulnerable protein layers that are solidified by transglutaminase.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.51-56
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• 2003

안정성이 확보된 식품에서 ACE저해 활성 물질을 검색하는 연구의 일환으로, 옥수수 글루텐을 Flavourzyme, Pescalase, 그리고 Thermolysine/Pescalase 등으로 가수분해하여 얻은 가수 분해물로부터 ACE 활성 저해 펩타이드를 다음과 같은 과정으로 분리, 정제하였다. 10% 에탄올로 평형화된 ODS chromatography를 이용 단백질 분획들을 얻고, Bio-Gel P-2 column과 reverse phase HPLC를 통해 5개의 ACE 저해 펩타이드를 분리, 정제하였다. 그 아미노산 서열은 LPF($IC_{50}$ = 40 $\mu$M), GPP($IC_{50}$ = 17.6 $\mu$M), PNPY($IC_{50}$ = 30.7 $\mu$M), SPPPFYL($IC_{50}$/ = 63 $\mu$M), and SQPP($IC_{50}$ = 17.2 $\mu$M)로 밝혀졌다. 이 펩타이드들은 경구투석 시 가수분해 효소에 대응하여 체내에서 안정성이 뛰어나고, 소장에서도 쉽게 흡수될 것으로 사료되어 상시 섭취하는 식품이나 음료에 첨가하여 이용한다면 그 유용성이 기대된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.323-330
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• 1995

폐흡충의 여러 발육 단계 즉 피낭유충 종숙주 내 성숙단계 충체 및 성충에서 분자량이 각각 28, 27, 22 및 17.5 kDa인 시스테인 계열 단백질 분해효소가 분리 정제되었다. 이 연구는 만성 폐흡충증의 육아종에서 발견되는 충란이 육아종 형성에 관여하는 물질을 분비한다면 그 분비액 중에서는 단백질 분해효소가 중요할 것이라고 가정하고 우선 그 존재를 조사하였으며 이를 부분정제하고 생화학적 특성을 관찰하였다. 실험적으로 개에 폐흡충 피낭유충을 감염시키고, 14주일 후에 개를 포살하여 폐를 분리하였다. 폐를 생리식염수로 씻어 그 세척액에서 충란을 모았다. 그후 해부 현미경하에서 이물질(이물질)을 제거하고 증류수에서 하룻밤 투석하여 충란외부에 묻어 있을 수 있는 숙주 또는 성충의 조직을 제거하였다. 충란을 생리식염수에서 마쇄한 후 원심분리에 의해 충란 조효소(조효소)를 제작하였다. 조효소에는 Cbz-phe-arg-MNA와 Azocoll을 분해하는 단백질 분해효소가 존재하였으며 이 활성은 pH 6에서 가장 높았다. 이 활성은 DTT에 의해 6.5배 증강되었고, 시스테인계 단백실 분해효소의 특이 억제제인 I-64나 IAA에 의해서는 90% 억제되었다. 조효소를 Sephacryl 5-300 HR column을 통과시켜 효소를 부분정제한 결과 분자량이 35 kDa인 시스테인 계열의 단백질 분해효소을 정제할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.9-13
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• 1999

Reduced thiols were important compounds for the maintenance of leukemia and lymphoma cell survival (and growth). In the course of examining the microenvirn-mental effects on lymphoma and leukemia cell growth, we found that cysteine suppressed apoptosis in these cells. In a present study, in order to investigate the role of cystein on the suppression of apoptotic cell death, we used CS21, P388, and L1210 cell lines. The addition of BSO, an inhibitor of glutathione synthase, induced apoptosis of these cells by blocking the cellular uptake of cysteine in CS21 cells. Although L1210 cells underwent apoptosis without thiol compounds, the addition of these compounds suppressed the apoptosis and promoted the growth or L1210 cells. When specific inhibitors of caspase3-like proteases, but not caspase1-like proteases, were activated during the L1210 cell apoptosis but the addition of thiol compounds suppressed the activation of caspase3-like proteases. These results suggest that reduced thiols including cysteine play an important role in the suppression of cell apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of caspase3-like proteases.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2004

For the purpose of developing new anti-HIV agents from natural sources, the extracts of Solanum nigrum L. were tested for their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 replication and its essential enzymes as the reverse transcriptase (RT), protease and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. In the assay of HIV-1-infected human T-cell line, water extracts inhibited the HIV- 1 -induced cytopathic effects with IC (inhibitory concentration) of 100 ug/ml. Moreover water extracts (100ug/ml) of aerial parts showed strong activity of 32.6% on anti-HIV-1 PR using the activity of the enzyme to cleave an oligopeptide. In the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition assay, aqueous extract a inhibited 17.4%, but no glucosidase inhibitory activities. We found out this result, for these samples it is possible that the inhibition of the viral replication in vitro is due to the inhibition at least one of PR and RT. It would be of great interest to identify the compounds which are responsible for this inhibition, since all therapeutically useful agent up to date are PR, RT and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitors.

• Mycobiology
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.219-225
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• 2007

A keratinolytic enzyme secreted by Aspergillus flavus K-03 cultured in feather meal basal medium (FMBM) containing 2% (w/v) chicken feather was purified and characterized. Keratinolytic enzyme secretion was the maximal at day 16 of the incubation period at pH 8 and $28^{\circ}C$. No relationship was detected between enzyme yield and increase of fungal biomass. The fraction obtained at 80% ammonium sulfate saturation showed 2.39-fold purification and was further purified by gel filtration in Sephadex G-100 followed by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50, yielding an active protein peak showing 11.53-fold purification. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and zymograms indicated that the purified keratinase is a monomeric enzyme with 31 kDa molecular weight. The extracellular keratinase of A. flavus was active in a board range of pH ($7{\sim}10$) and temperature ($30^{\circ}C{\sim}70^{\circ}C$) profiles with the optimal for keratinase activity at pH 8 and $45^{\circ}C$. The keratinase activity was totally inhibited by protease inhibitors such as phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), iodoacetic acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) while no reduction of activity by the addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) was observed. N-terminal amino acid sequences were up to 80% homologous with the fungal subtilisins produced by Fusarium culmorum. Therefore, on the basis of these characteristics, the keratinase of A. flavus K-03 is determined to be subtilisins-like.

• 한국전기전자재료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전기전자재료학회 2001년도 추계학술대회 논문집 Vol.14 No.1
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• pp.3-6
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• 2001

In common globular proteins, the native form is in its most stable state. However, the native form of inhibitory serpins (serine protease inhibitors) and some viral membrane fusion proteins is in a metastable state. Metastability in these proteins is critical to their biological functions. Our previous studies revealed that unusual interactions, such as side-chain overpacking, buried polar groups, surface hydrophobic pockets, and internal cavities are the structural basis of the native metastability. To understand the mechanism by which these structural defects regulate protein functions, cavity-filling mutations of a 1-antitrypsin, a prototype serpin, were characterized. Increasing conformational stability is correlated with decreasing inhibitory activity. Moreover, the activity loss appears to correlate with the decrease in the rate of the conformational switch during complex formation with a target protease. We also increased the stability of a 1-antitrypsin greatly via combining various stabilizing single amino acid substitutions that were distributed throughout the molecule. The results showed that a substantial increase of stability, over 13 kcal/mol, affected the inhibitory activity with a correlation of 11% activity loss per kcal/mol. The results strongly suggest that the native metastability of proteins is indeed a structural design that regulates protein functions and that the native strain of a 1-antitrypsin distributed throughout the molecule regulates the inhibitory function in a concerted manner.