• BMB Reports
• /
• v.41 no.7
• /
• pp.523-528
• /
• 2008

BMI-1026 is a synthetic aminopyrimidine compound that targets cyclin dependent kinases (cdks) and was initially designed as a potential anticancer drug. Even though it has been well documented that BMI-1026 is a potent cdk inhibitor, little is known about the cellular effects of this compound. In this study, we examined the effects of BMI-1026 treatment on inducing premature senescence and then evaluated the biochemical features of BMI-1026-induced premature senescence. From these experiments we determined that BMI-1026 treatment produced several biochemical features of premature senescence and also stimulated expression of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family proteins. BMI-1026 treatment caused nuclear translocation of activated Erk1/2 and the formation of senescence associated heterochromatin foci in 5 days. The heterochromatin foci formation was perturbed by inhibition of Erk1/2 activation.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.305-309
• /
• 2002

Actinorhodin antibiotics produced by Streptomyces lividans TK24 are blue pigments with a weak antibiotic activity, derived from one acetyl-CoA and 15 malonyl-CoA units via a typical ployketide pathway. In an attempt to clone polyketide biosynthetic genes of S. lividans TK24, hybridizing fragments in the genomic DNA of S. lividans TK24 were detected by use of acn and act III polyketide synthase gene probes. Since typical aromatic polyketide bio-synthetic gene clusters are roughly 22-34 Kb long, we constructed in E. coli XL-Blue MR using the Streptomyces-E. coli bifunctional shuttle cosmid vector (pojn46). Then, about 5,000 individual E. coii colonies were thor-oughly screened with acrl-ORFI and actIII probes. From these cosmid libra-ries, 12 positive clones were identified. Restriction analysis and southern hybridization showed two polyketide biosynthetic gene clusters in this organism. These cosmid clones can be transformed into Streptomyces parvulus 12434 for expression test that identify product of actinorhodin biosynthetic genes by heterologous expression. Thus, heterologous expres-sion of a derivative compound of a actinorhodin biosynthetic intermediate was obtained in pKE2430. Expression of these compounds by the trans-formants was detected by photodiode array HPLC analysis of crude extracts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.226-229
• /
• 2012

Bacterial hemoglobin from Vitreoscilla (VHb) is recognized as a good fusion protein for the soluble expression of foreign protein. In this study, we generated a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against VHb for its detection. For the rapid screening of MAb, a protein chip technology based on the Alexa-488 (A488) dye labeling method was introduced. In order to fabricate the chip, the VHb protein was chemically coupled to the chip surface and then the culture supernatants of 84 hybridoma cell lines were spotted onto the VHb chip. The bound MAbs were measured by A488-modified anti-mouse IgG. A single spot (MAb A10) exhibited significantly high signal intensity. The immunoblot analysis evidenced that the MAb A10 can detect VHb-fused proteins with high specificity.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.415-427
• /
• 2021

A plethora of compounds stimulate protective mechanisms in plants against microbial pathogens and abiotic stresses. Some defense activators are synthetic compounds and trigger responses only in certain protective pathways, such as activation of defenses under regulation by the plant regulator, salicylic acid (SA). This review discusses the potential of naturally occurring plant metabolites as primers for defense responses in the plant. The production of the metabolites, hexanoic acid and melatonin, in plants means they are consumed when plants are eaten as foods. Both metabolites prime stronger and more rapid activation of plant defense upon subsequent stress. Because these metabolites trigger protective measures in the plant they can be considered as "vaccines" to promote plant vigor. Hexanoic acid and melatonin instigate systemic changes in plant metabolism associated with both of the major defense pathways, those regulated by SA- and jasmonic acid (JA). These two pathways are well studied because of their induction by different microbial triggers: necrosis-causing microbial pathogens induce the SA pathway whereas colonization by beneficial microbes stimulates the JA pathway. The plant's responses to the two metabolites, however, are not identical with a major difference being a characterized growth response with melatonin but not hexanoic acid. As primers for plant defense, hexanoic acid and melatonin have the potential to be successfully integrated into vaccination-like strategies to protect plants against diseases and abiotic stresses that do not involve man-made chemicals.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.7
• /
• pp.434-438
• /
• 2019

We have previously reported the effects of 2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl (R)-3-methoxy-3-oxo-2-stearamidopropyl phosphate [(R)-TEMOSPho], a synthetic phospholipid, on megakaryocytic differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. Here, we demonstrate that (R)-TEMOSPho enhances megakaryopoiesis and plateletogenesis from primary hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) induced by thrombopoietin (TPO). Specifically, we demonstrate at sub-saturation levels of TPO, the addition of (R)-TEMOSPho enhances differentiation and maturation of megakaryocytes (MKs) from murine HSCs derived from fetal liver. Furthermore, we show that production of platelets with (R)-TEMOSPho in combination with TPO is also more efficient than TPO alone and that platelets generated in vitro with these two agents are as functional as those from TPO alone. TPO can thus be partly replaced by or supplemented with (R)-TEMOSPho, and this in turn implies that (R)-TEMOSPho can be useful in efficient platelet production in vitro and potentially be a valuable option in designing cell-based therapy.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2022

Emerging evidence has shown that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) dynamically regulate all aspects of RNA in cells and involve in major biological processes of RNA, including splicing, modification, transport, transcription and degradation. RBPs, as powerful and versatile regulatory molecule, are essential to maintain cellular homeostasis. Perturbation of RNA-protein interactions and aberration of RBPs function is associated with diverse diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune disease, and neurological disorders. Therefore, it is crucial to systematically investigate the RNA-binding proteome for understanding interactions of RNA with proteins. Thanks to the development of the mass spectrometry, a variety of proteome-wide methods have been explored to define comprehensively RNA-protein interactions in recent years and thereby contributed to speeding up the study of RNA biology. In this review, we systematically described these methods and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2023

RNAs are versatile molecules that are primarily involved in gene regulation and can thus be widely used to advance the fields of therapeutics and diagnostics. In particular, circular RNAs which are highly stable, have emerged as strong candidates for use on next-generation therapeutic platforms. Endogenous circular RNAs control gene regulatory networks by interacting with other biomolecules or through translation into polypeptides. Circular RNAs exhibit cell-type specific expression patterns, which can be altered in tissues and body fluids depending on pathophysiological conditions. Circular RNAs that are aberrantly expressed in diseases can function as biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Moreover, exogenous circular RNAs synthesized in vitro can be introduced into cells as therapeutic molecules to modulate gene expression networks in vivo. Depending on the purpose, synthetic circular RNA sequences can either be identical to endogenous circular RNA sequences or artificially designed. In this review, we introduce the life cycle and known functions of intracellular circular RNAs. The current stage of endogenous circular RNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets is also described. Finally, approaches and considerations that are important for applying the available knowledge on endogenous circular RNAs to design exogenous circular RNAs for therapeutic purposes are presented.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.465-476
• /
• 2022

The importance of beneficial microorganisms, particularly probiotics, that coexist in the human body, is being increasingly recognized. Probiotics are representative health functional foods that provide health benefits to humans through the production of various metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids. However, the health benefits are strain-specific, and the use of each probiotic strain should follow guidelines that assure its safety. Accurate identification of the strain should be managed through genetic and phenotypic analyses of the strain. Besides, the functionality of probiotics should be disclosed in vitro and in vivo so that they can be used as legal functional ingredients (i.e., individual standards). In this review, we deal with the guidelines, including the technical factors related to probiotic strains. The common health effects of probiotic strains include proliferation of beneficial bacteria, control of harmful bacteria, and facilitation of bowel activities. Probiotics with various functionalities (e.g., body fat and cholesterol reduction, vaginal health, and improvement of skin's immune system) have been investigated as "individual standards of raw materials for health functional foods" provided by MFDS. In the future, various biotechnologies including synthetic biology can be applied to produce customized probiotics to improve human health.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the antifungal activity of a synthetic peptide consisting of 15 amino acids at the C-terminus of human ${\beta}$-defensin 3 (HBD3-C15) with calcium hydroxide (CH) and Nystatin (Nys) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm. Materials and Methods: C. albicans were grown on cover glass bottom dishes or human dentin disks for 48 hr, and then treated with HBD3-C15 (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and $300{\mu}g/mL$), CH ($100{\mu}g/mL$), and Nys ($20{\mu}g/mL$) for 7 days at $37^{\circ}C$. On cover glass, live and dead cells in the biomass were measured by the FilmTracer Biofilm viability assay, and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). On dentin, normal, diminished and ruptured cells were observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results were subjected to a two-tailed t-test, a one way analysis variance and a post hoc test at a significance level of p = 0.05. Results: C. albicans survival on dentin was inhibited by HBD3-C15 in a dose-dependent manner. There were fewer aggregations of C. albicans in the groups of Nys and HBD3-C15 (${\geq}100{\mu}g/mL$). CLSM showed C. albicans survival was reduced by HBD3-C15 in a dose dependent manner. Nys and HBD3-C15 (${\geq}100{\mu}g/mL$) showed significant fungicidal activity compared to CH group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Synthetic HBD3-C15 peptide (${\geq}100{\mu}g/mL$) and Nys exhibited significantly higher antifungal activity than CH against C. albicans by inhibiting cell survival and biofilm.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.203-211
• /
• 1999

목적: 일산화질소 (nitric oxide; NO)는 생식계를 비롯한 여러 생체내 기관에서 다양하고도 중요한 작용을 하는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 복강액은 난관내강과 연결되어 복강액 내의 세포 성분의 변화는 난관의 미세환경을 변화시켜 수정과 초기 배아 발생에 영향을 줄 수 있다. 본 연구는 배아 발생에 있어서 일산화질소의 역할을 이해하고 복강액 내의 NO농도 변화가 배아 발생에 미치는 역할을 조사하기 위해 수행되었다. 방법: 과배란시킨 1세대 잡종 암컷 생쥐 (C57BL${\times}$CBA/Ca)로부터 1세포기 배아를 얻어 10% synthetic serum substitute가 첨가된 modified human tubal fluid 배양액에서 4일 동안 체외배양하였다(대조군). 실험을 위해 이러한 배양조건에 sodium nitroprusside (SNP)를 $0{\sim}1mM$의 다양한 농도로 배양초기부터 첨가하거나, $200{\mu}M$ SNP를 2-, 4-, 8-세포기의 각기 다른 배아시기에 첨가하였으며, 복강경수술을 받는 42명의 여성으로부터 채취한 복강액을 SSS대신 단백질원으로 사용하여 포배아까지의 배아 발달율을 관찰하였으며, 복강액 내의 NO농도를 Griess방법에 의해 측정하였다. 배아의 apoptotic body는 H33342 염색법으로 조사하였으며 배아 발달율은 3회 이상 반복 실험한 결과의 mean${\pm}$SEM으로 나타내었다. 결과: SNP는 농도에 의존적으로 배발생을 억제하였으나 배아 단계에 대한 특이성은 관찰할 수 없었으며, 특히 $100{\mu}M$ 이상의 고농도의 SNP는 2-세포기 단계에서 배아 발생을 정지시켰다. 또한 단백질원으로 복강액 이용시 배 발생율은 복강액 내의 NO 농도에 따라 현저한 차이가 발견되었으며, $2.5{\mu}M$이상의 NO를 함유한 복강액에서 배양한 배아의 발생율은 현저하게 감소하였다. cGMP analogue인 8-bromo-cGMP를 배양액에 첨가시 배아 발생에는 변화가 없었으며, SNP에 의해 배발생이 정지된 2-세포기 배아에서 apoptotic body를 발견할 수 없었다. 결론: 이상의 결과로 보아 NO는 고농도에서 배아 발생을 저해하며, 복강액 내의 NO와 같은 성분의 변화는 배아 발생에 유해한 효과를 유발할 것으로 사료된다. 이러한 NO의 배아 발생 억제효과는 cGMP로 중재되는 경로나 apoptosis유발과는 관계가 없는 것 같다.