• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.381-388
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• 2006

Heat shock proteins (Hsp) 70 are a ubiquitous family of molecular chaperones involved in many cellular processes. A yeast strain, ssa1/2, with two functionally redundant cytosolic Hsp70s (SSA1 and SSA2) deleted shows thermotolerance comparable to mildly heatshocked wild type yeast, as well as increased protein synthesis and ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation. Since mRNA abundance does not always correlate well with protein expression levels it is essential to study proteins directly. We used a gel-based approach to identify stress-responsive proteins in the ssa1/2 mutant and identified 43 differentially expressed spots. These were trypsin-digested and analyzed by nano electrospray ionization liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nESI-LC-MS/MS). A total of 22 non-redundant proteins were identified, 11 of which were confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. Nine proteins, most of which were up-regulated (2-fold or more) in the ssa1/2 mutant, proved to be stress-inducible proteins such as molecular chaperones and anti-oxidant proteins, or proteins related to carbohydrate metabolism. Interestingly, a translational factor Hyp2p up-regulated in the mutant was also found to be highly phosphorylated. These results indicate that the cytosolic Hsp70s, Ssa1p and Ssa2p, regulate an abundance of proteins mainly involved in stress responses and protein synthesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

WIN-34B showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in various animal models of pain and osteoarthritis. However, the molecular mechanism by which WIN-34B inhibits pain and inflammation in vivo remains to be elucidated. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of the actions of WIN-34B using various in vitro models using fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA FLSs), RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages. WIN-34B inhibited the level of IL-6, $PGE_2$, and MMP-13 in IL-$1{\beta}$-stimulated RA FLSs in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA levels were also inhibited by WIN-34B. The level of $PGE_2$, NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ were inhibited by WIN-34B at different concentrations in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The production of NO and $PGE_2$ was inhibited by WIN-34B in a dose-dependent manner in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. All of these effects were comparable to the positive control, celecoxib or indomethacin. I${\kappa}B$B signaling pathways were inhibited by WIN-34B, and the migration of NF-${\kappa}B$ into the nucleus was inhibited, which is consistent with the degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. Taken together, the results suggest that WIN-34B has potential as a therapeutic drug to reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 1996

L-Xylosone was detected as its quinoxaline derivative in the degradation solution of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid. The production rate of L-xylosone was much faster in aerated phosphate-cirate buffer (pH 5. 6) than in pure water. L-Xylosone and dehydro-L-ascorbic acid were identified in the crude extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The concentration of L-xylosone in the crude cell extracts was calculated to be about 0.2 nmol $(mg protein)^{-1}$. When L-xylosone was added to asynchronous culture of S. cerevisiae, it inhibited primarily the synthesis of protein and RNA. Examination of the effect of L- xylosone on synchronous culture of the yeast indicated that L-xylosone inhibited the initiation of DNA replication and that the cells were arrested at $G_1$, stage of cell division cycle. These results suggested a possibility that L-xylosone can act as an inhibitor of cell growth.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.167-182
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• 2010

Cervi parvum cornu (Deer Antler) and Carthami tinctorii fructus (Also known as Carthami seed) are widely used for treating osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, We found out that the water extract of Cervi parvum cornu(WECPC), Carthami tinctorii fructus(WECTF) and their combination have effects of suppressing the RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. We assayed mRNA expression levels of NFATc1, c-Fos, TRAP and GAPDHS from bone marrow macrophages(BMMs) by means of RT-PCR. Similarly, the protein expression levels of NFATc1, c-Fos, MAPKs and $\beta$-actin in cell lysates were analyzed by means of Western blotting. then we determined the anti-osteoporotic effects of WECPC, WECTF and their combination using Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone-loss mouse. WECPC, WECTF and their combination showed remarkable inhibition on RANKL-treated osteoclast differentiation without cytotoxicity. WECPC suppressed degradation of I-${\kappa}B$. WECPC, WECTF and their combination down-regulated the induction of c-Fos and NFATc1 by RANKL. Lastly, in vivo data showed that WECPC, WECTF and their combination rescued the bone erosion by LPS treatment. Thus, these results demonstrate that WECPC, WECTF and their combination can be efficacious remedies for bone-loss diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.266-279
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• 2016

The mechanism by which 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) bypasses cellular senescence was investigated using human diploid fibroblast (HDF) cell replicative senescence as a model. Upon TPA treatment, protein kinase C (PKC) ${\alpha}$ and $PKC{\beta}1$ exerted differential effects on the nuclear translocation of cytoplasmic pErk1/2, a protein which maintains senescence. $PKC{\alpha}$ accompanied pErk1/2 to the nucleus after freeing it from $PEA-15pS^{104}$ via $PKC{\beta}1$ and then was rapidly ubiquitinated and degraded within the nucleus. Mitogen-activated protein kinase docking motif and kinase activity of $PKC{\alpha}$ were both required for pErk1/2 transport to the nucleus. Repetitive exposure of mouse skin to TPA downregulated $PKC{\alpha}$ expression and increased epidermal and hair follicle cell proliferation. Thus, $PKC{\alpha}$ downregulation is accompanied by in vivo cell proliferation, as evidenced in 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-TPA-mediated carcinogenesis. The ability of TPA to reverse senescence was further demonstrated in old HDF cells using RNA-sequencing analyses in which TPA-induced nuclear $PKC{\alpha}$ degradation freed nuclear pErk1/2 to induce cell proliferation and facilitated the recovery of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Our data indicate that TPA-induced senescence reversal and carcinogenesis promotion share the same molecular pathway. Loss of $PKC{\alpha}$ expression following TPA treatment reduces pErk1/2-activated SP1 biding to the $p21^{WAF1}$ gene promoter, thus preventing senescence onset and overcoming G1/S cell cycle arrest in senescent cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.893-903
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• 2010

A cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzyme complex-producing alkalothermoanaerobacterium strain, Tepidimicrobium xylanilyticum BT14, is described. The cell was Grampositive, rod-shaped, and endospore-forming. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis and various lines of biochemical and physiological properties, the strain BT14 is a new member of the genus Tepidimicrobium. The strain BT14 cells had the ability to bind to Avicel, xylan, and corn hull. The pH and temperature optima for growth were 9.0 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The strain BT14 was able to use a variety of carbon sources. When the bacterium was grown on corn hulls under an anaerobic condition, a cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzyme complex was produced. Crude enzyme containing cellulase and xylanase of the strain BT14 was active in broad ranges of pH and temperature. The optimum conditions for cellulase and xylanase activities were pH 8.0 and 9.0 at $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The crude enzyme had the ability to bind to Avicel and xylan. The analysis of native-PAGE and native-zymograms indicated the cellulosebinding protein showing both cellulase and xylanase activities, whereas SDS-PAGE zymograms showed 4 bands of cellulases and 5 bands of xylanases. Evidence of a cohesinlike amino acid sequence seemed to indicate that the protein complex shared a direct relationship with the cellulosome of Clostridium thermocellum. The crude enzyme from the strain BT14 showed effective degradation of plant biomass. When grown on corn hulls at pH 9.0 and $60^{\circ}C$ under anaerobic conditions, the strain BT14 produced ethanol and acetate as the main fermentation products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.342-349
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• 2017

Polylactic acid (PLA) has been highlighted as an alternative renewable polymer for the replacement of petroleum-based plastic materials, and is considered to be biodegradable. On the other hand, the biodegradation of PLA by terminal degraders, such as microorganisms, requires a lengthy period in the natural environment, and its mechanism is not completely understood. PLA biodegradation studies have been conducted using mainly undefined mixed cultures, but only a few bacterial strains have been isolated and examined. For further characterization of PLA biodegradation, in this study, the PLA-degrading bacteria from digester sludge were isolated and identified using a polymer film-based screening method. The enrichment of sludge on PLA granules was conducted with the serial transference of a subculture into fresh media for 40 days, and the attached biofilm was inoculated on a PLA film on an agar plate. 3D optical microscopy showed that the isolates physically degraded the PLA film due to bacterial degradation. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the microbial colonies to be Pseudomonas sp. MYK1 and Bacillus sp. MYK2. The two isolates exhibited significantly higher specific gas production rates from PLA biodegradation compared with that of the initial sludge inoculum.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2020

Background: Gintonin (GT), a novel ginseng-derived exogenous ligand of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors, has been shown to induce cell proliferation and migration in the hippocampus, regulate calcium-dependent ion channels in the astrocytes, and reduce β-amyloid plaque in the brain. However, whether GT influences autophagy in cortical astrocytes is not yet investigated. Methods: We examined the effect of GT on autophagy in primary cortical astrocytes using immunoblot and immunocytochemistry assays. Suppression of specific proteins was performed via siRNA. LC3 puncta was determined using confocal microscopy. Results: GT strongly upregulated autophagy marker LC3 by a concentration- as well as time-dependent manner via G protein-coupled LPA receptors. GT-induced autophagy was further confirmed by the formation of LC3 puncta. Interestingly, on pretreatment with an mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, rapamycin, GT further enhanced LC3-II and LC3 puncta expression. However, GT-induced autophagy was significantly attenuated by inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine and knockdown Beclin-1, Atg5, and Atg7 gene expression. Importantly, when pretreated with a lysosomotropic agent, E-64d/peps A or bafilomycin A1, GT significantly increased the levels of LC3-II along with the formation of LC3 puncta. In addition, GT treatment enhanced autophagic flux, which led to an increase in lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 and degradation of ubiquitinated p62/SQSTM1. Conclusion: GT induces autophagy via mTOR-mediated pathway and elevates autophagic flux. This study demonstrates that GT can be used as an autophagy-inducing agent in cortical astrocytes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1307-1314
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• 2010

This study was conducted to isolate and characterize a novel feather-degrading bacterium producing keratinase activity. A strain K9 was isolated from soil at poultry farm and identified as Xanthomonas sp. K9 by phenotypic characters and 16S rRNA gene analysis. The cultural conditions for the keratinase production were 0.3% fructose, 0.1% gelatin, 0.04% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.06% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.05% NaCl and 0.01% $FeSO_4$ with an initial pH 8.0 at $30^{\circ}C$ and 200 rpm. In an optimized medium containing 0.1% chicken feather, production yield of keratinase was approximately 8-fold higher than the yield in basal medium. The strain K9 effectively degraded chicken feather meal (67%) and duck feather (54%), whereas human nail and human hair showed relatively low degradation rates (13-22%). Total free amino acid concentration in the cell-free supernatant was about 25.799 mg/l. Feather hydrolysate produced by the strain K9 stimulated growth of red pepper, indicating Xanthomonas sp. K9 could be not only used to increase the nutritional value of chicken feather but also a potential candidate for the development of natural fertilizer applicable to crop plant soil.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1437-1449
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• 2007

In this study, the effect of extract of Corydalis yanhusuo (ECT) used in Oriental medicine therapy was investigated on the cell growth and apoptosis of HepG2 human hepatoma cells. It was found that ECT could inhibit the cell growth effectively in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological change and apoptotic cell death such as formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. And we observed the effects of ECT on loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), using the JC-1 probe by DNA flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis of HepG2 cells by ECT was associated with a down-regulation of anti apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression and proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. However, ECT did not affect the pro-apoptotic Bax expression and activity of caspase-8. ECT treatment also concomitant degradation and /or inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), phospholipase C-1 ($PLC{\gamma}1$). Furthermore, ECT treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Additionally ECT have been implicated in the regulation of telomerase expression. ECT treatment induced the down-regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT) expression of HepG2 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that ECT may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of HepG2 human hepatoma cells.