• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제2권3호
• /
• pp.166-173
• /
• 1992

The expression of Bacillus subtilis $\alpha$-amylase from the phoA-amyE fusion gene in recombinant E. coli was investigated under various environmental conditions. The overexpression of cloned $\alpha$-amylase caused retardations in cell growth and synthesis of alkaline phosphatase (AP) from the chromosomal phoA gene. The change of culture temperature from $37^\circ{C}$ to $30^\circ{C}$ increased the specific activities of both $\alpha$-amylase and $\beta$-lactamase by six and two times, respectively, whereas the AP activity remained unchanged. The experiments with chlorampenicol (a translation inhibitor) suggested the enhancement of $\alpha$-amylase activity at $30^\circ{C}$, and this was partly due to the stability of $\alpha$-amylase itself. The further decrease of the temperature to $25^\circ{C}$ slowed down both the cell growth and cloned-gene expression rate. The $\alpha$-amylase activity showed a maximum at pH of 7.4 while alkaline phosphatase was most effectively produced at pH of 8.3.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.330-336
• /
• 2006

Since its identification in 1989, hepatitis C virus has been the subject of extensive research. The biology of the virus and the development of antiviral drugs are closely related. The RNA polymerase activity of nonstructural protein 5B was first demonstrated in 1996. NS5B is believed to localize to the perinuclear region, forming a replicase complex with other viral proteins. It has a typical polymerase structure with thumb, palm, and finger domains encircling the active site. A de novo replication initiation mechanism has been suggested. To date, many small molecule inhibitors are known including nucleoside analogues, non-nucleoside analogues, and pyrophosphate mimics. NS5B interacts with other viral proteins such as core, NS3, 4A, 4B, and 5A. The helicase activity of NS3 seems necessary for RNA strand unwinding during replication, with other nonstructural proteins performing modulatory roles. Cellular proteins interacting with NS5B include VAMP-associated proteins, heIF4AII, hPLIC1, nucleolin, PRK2, ${\alpha}$-actinin, and p68 helicase. The interactions of NS5B with these proteins might play roles in cellular trafficking, signal transduction, and RNA polymerization, as well as the regulation of replication/translation processes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제11권2호
• /
• pp.94-98
• /
• 2001

Type I signal peptidase cleaves the signal sequence from the amino terminus of membrane and secreted proteins afters these protein insert across the membrane. This enzyme serves as a potential target for the development of novel antibacterial agents due to its unique physiological and biochemical properties. Despite considerable research, the signal peptidase assay still remains improvement to provide further understanding of the mechanism and high-throughput inhibitor screening of this enzyme. In this paper, three known signal peptidase assays are tested with an E. coli D276A mutant signal peptidase to distinguish the sensitivity of each assays. In vitro assay using the procoat synthesized by in vitro transcription translation shows that the D276A signal peptidase I was inactive while in vivo processing of pro-OmpA expressed in the temperature-sensitive E. coli strain IT41 as well as in vitro assay using pro-OmpA nuclease A substrate show that D276A signal peptidase I has activity like wild-type signal peptidase. These results suggest that in vitro assay using the pro-OmpA nuclease A and in vivo pro-OmpA processing assay are more sensitive monitors than in vitro assay using the pro-coat. In conculsion, caution should be used when interpreting the in vitro results using the procoat.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제40권1호
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2017

Pathological hypertrophy of the heart is closely associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), leading to maladaptations such as myocardial fibrosis, induction of apoptosis, and cardiac dysfunctions. Salubrinal is a known selective inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) complex involving dephosphorylation of phospho-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit $(p-eIF2)-{\alpha}$, the key signaling process in the ERS pathway. In this study, the effects of salubrinal were examined on cardiac hypertrophy using the mouse model of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and cell model of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). Treatment of TAC-induced mice with salubrinal ($0.5mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}day^{-1}$) alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and tissue fibrosis. Salubrinal also alleviated hypertrophic growth in endothelin 1 (ET1)-treated NRVMs. Therefore, the present results suggest that salubrinal may be a potentially efficacious drug for treating pathological cardiac remodeling.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.95-98
• /
• 2021

The S100 family proteins act as inducers of cancer cell apoptosis and inflammatory mediators. This study examined the pro-apoptotic mechanism caused by S100A8 and S100A9 in human FIP1L1-PDGFRα-positive eosinophilic leukemia cells. S100A8 and S100A9 elicited the death of EoL-1 cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. The activation of PDGFRα was suppressed by a decrease in PDGFRα after treatment with S100A8 and S100A9. Cycloheximide, a translation inhibitor, suppressed PDGFRα expression from 1 h to 5 h, and a co-treatment with S100A8 and S100A9 boosted the decrease in expression. The phosphorylation and expression of STAT5 decreased after treatment with S100A8 and S100A9 in EoL-1 and imatinib-resistant (EoL-1-IR) cells. S100A8 and S100A9 induced the chemotaxis of EoL-1 cells but did not affect the chemoattraction of EoL-1-IR. These findings indicate the cell death mechanism due to S100 family proteins and the development of leukemia therapy using S100A8 and S100A9.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제55권4호
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 2022

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates numerous extracellular and intracellular signals involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and cell growth. mTOR also functions as an endogenous inhibitor of autophagy. Under nutrient-rich conditions, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) phosphorylates the ULK1 complex, preventing its activation and subsequent autophagosome formation, while inhibition of mTORC1 using either rapamycin or nutrient deprivation induces autophagy. Autophagy and proteasomal proteolysis provide amino acids necessary for protein translation. Although the connection between mTORC1 and autophagy is well characterized, the association of mTORC1 inhibition with proteasome biogenesis and activity has not been fully elucidated yet. Proteasomes are long-lived cellular organelles. Their spatiotemporal rather than homeostatic regulation could be another adaptive cellular mechanism to respond to starvation. Here, we reviewed several published reports and the latest research from our group to examine the connection between mTORC1 and proteasome. We have also investigated and described the effect of mTORC1 inhibition on proteasome activity using purified proteasomes. Since mTORC1 inhibitors are currently evaluated as treatments for several human diseases, a better understanding of the link between mTORC1 activity and proteasome function is of utmost importance.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제16권6호
• /
• pp.393-398
• /
• 2012

Mast cells are involved in allergic responses, protection against pathogens and autoimmune diseases. Dexamethasone (Dex) and other glucocorticoids suppress $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells. The inhibition mechanisms were mainly investigated on the downstream signaling of Fc receptor activations. Here, we addressed the effects of Dex on Fc receptor expressions in rat mast cell line RBL-2H3. We measured mRNA levels of Fc receptors by real-time PCR. As expected, Dex decreased the mRNA levels of activating Fc receptor for IgE ($Fc{\varepsilon}R$) I and increased the mRNA levels of the inhibitory Fc receptor for IgG $Fc{\gamma}RIIb$. Interestingly, Dex stimulated transcriptions of other activating receptors such as Fc receptors for IgG ($Fc{\gamma}R$) I and $Fc{\gamma}RIII$. To investigate the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation, we employed a transcription inhibitor actinomycin D and a translation inhibitor cycloheximide. The inhibition of protein synthesis without Dex treatment enhanced $Fc{\gamma}RI$ and $Fc{\gamma}RIII$ mRNA levels potently, while $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ and $Fc{\gamma}RIIb$ were minimally affected. Next, we examined expressions of the Fc receptors on cell surfaces by the flow cytometric method. Only $Fc{\gamma}RIIb$ protein expression was significantly enhanced by Dex treatment, while $Fc{\gamma}RI$, $Fc{\gamma}RIII$ and $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression levels were marginally changed. Our data showed, for the first time, that Dex regulates Fc receptor expressions resulting in augmentation of the inhibitory receptor $Fc{\gamma}RIIb$.

• 농약과학회지
• /
• 제5권3호
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2001

신규 제초제 작용점의 발굴은 유전체학과 조합화학 등 새로운 기술이 등장하여 그 가능성이 높아지고 있다. 대략 $10^{30}$에서 $10^{50}$여 개의 화학물질의 합성이 가능하고 50,000여 개의 식물 유전자 지도가 완성되어 이들의 조합으로 새로운 제초제의 작용점 발굴 가능성이 높아지게 될 것이다. 즉, 고등식물이 가지고 있는 50,000여 개의 유전자 가운데 0.1%, 1.0% 또는 10%가 신규 작용점이 된다면 50, 500, 5000개의 신규 작용점을 발견할 수 있는 것이다. 신규 제초제의 개발을 위해서는 target enzyme의 선택과 결정, 저해제의 설계, 작용점까지 도달하는 과정, 대사적인 운명 등 여러가지 요인들이 검토되어야 한다. 이러한 과정에서 가장 중요한 것은 확실한 작용점의 선택에 있다. 또한 다양한 생화학적 정보를 통하여 작용점/효소의 저해로부터 고사에 이르는 과정을 이해함은 물론 보다 강력한 저해제의 합성과 살초과정을 이해할 수 있어야 할 것이다. 그 동안에는 이미 알려진 작용점을 대상으로 신규 화합물을 합성하거나 유도체를 개발하는 것이 대부분이었지만 최근에는 antisense 기법 등을 활용하여 새로운 치사관련 작용점을 찾아내는데 잠재력과 가능성을 확대시켜주고 있다. 새로운 치사관련 작용점을 발굴한 후에는 대상효소의 화학적, 생화학적 기능과 단백질의 구조를 분석하여 강력한 저해제를 설계하는데 활용하게 될 것이다. 치사관련 돌연변이체와 antisense 기법을 활용하고, 식물 생리학적 반응을 기초로 하여 리드화합물을 탐색하는 것은 새로운 접근방식이며 농약 화학적 특성을 갖는 효소 저해제들의 합성은 크게 6가지로 할 수 있다. 공통특이시얀 기질 유사체 합성, affinity labels, 자살기질체, 반응중간산물, 그리고 extraneous site inhibitors 등을 들 수 있다. 이와 같은 방법으로 후보화합물이 선발된다 하여도 실제식물에 처리하여 흡수, 이행, 대사 등에 관한 시험이 반드시 이루어져야 새로운 제초제를 탄생시킬 수 있다. 또한 약물의 전달과정과 무독화작용을 통하여 pro-herbicide에 대한 연구를 진행하게 될 것이며, 마지막으로 잡초와 작물간의 선택성이 고려되어야 효소 측이적 접근방식에 의한 신규 선택성 제초제의 개발이 성공할 수 있는 것이다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.109-114
• /
• 2018

Coxsackievirus Type B3 (CVB3) is an enterovirus that belongs to the Picornaviridae and causes various diseases such as myocarditis and hand-foot-mouth disease. However, an effective antiviral drug is still not developed. In this study, we looked for potential inhibitors of CVB3 replication by examining the survival of CVB3-infected HeLa cells. We detected an antiviral effect by cholic acid and identified it as a candidate inhibitor of CVB3 replication. Cholic acid circulates in the liver and intestines, and it helps the digestion and absorption of lipids in the small intestine. HeLa cells were cultured in 12-well plates and treated with cholic acid (1 and $10{\mu}g/ml$) and $10^6PFU/ml$ of CVB3. After 16 h post-infection, the cells were lysed and subjected to western blot analysis and RT-PCR. The production of the viral capsid protein VP1 was dramatically decreased, and translation initiation factor eIF4G1 cleavage was significantly inhibited by treatment with $10{\mu}g/ml$ cholic acid. Moreover, cholic acid inhibited ERK signaling in CVB3-infected HeLa cells. RT-PCR showed that the amounts of the CVB3 RNA genome and mRNA for the ER stress-related transcription factor ATF4 were significantly reduced. These results showed that cholic acid strongly reduced ER stress and CVB3 proliferation. This compound can be developed as a safe natural therapeutic agent for enterovirus infections.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제44권8호
• /
• pp.529-534
• /
• 2011

Ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3) is a multifunctional protein involved in translation, DNA repair, and apoptosis. The relationship between rpS3 and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) involved in cell cycle regulation is not yet known. Here, we show that rpS3 is phosphorylated by Cdk1 in G2/M phase. Co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays revealed that Cdk1 interacted with rpS3. An in vitro kinase assay showed that Cdk1 phosphorylated rpS3 protein. Phosphorylation of rpS3 increased in nocodazole-arrested mitotic cells; however, treatment with Cdk1 inhibitor or Cdk1 siRNA significantly attenuated this phosphorylation event. The phosphorylation of a mutant form of rpS3, T221A, was significantly reduced compared with wild-type rpS3. Decreased phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of T221A was much more pronounced in G2/M phase. These results suggest that the phosphorylation of rpS3 by Cdk1 occurs at Thr221 during G2/M phase and, moreover, that this event is important for nuclear accumulation of rpS3.