• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.628-634
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• 2002

A microfilament-based motility in Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) Is involved in host cell invasion, yet the exact mechanism has not yet been determined. Accordingly, the current study examined the localization of actin and tubulin in T gondii using immunofluorescent (IF) and immunogold staining for electron microscopy. Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) staining using anti-actin and anti-tubulin monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) revealed localization of fluorescence on the entire surface of the tachyzoites. The actin in T. gondii was observed by immunogold staining, and the gold particles were seen on the surface, especially at the anterior end and in the cytoplasm of the parasite. However, there were no gold particles in the nucleus, rhoptries, and dense granules. The tubulin in T gondii was located on the surface and in the cytoplasm of the tachyzoites in the extracellular parasite, compared with anterior part of tachyzoites in the intracellular parasite. The antigens of T gondii recognized by anti-actin mAb were 107 kDa, 50 kDa, 48 kDa, and 40 kDa proteins, while those recognized by anti-tubulin mAb were 56 kDa, 52 kDa, and 34 kDa proteins. Tachyzoites of T gondii pretreated with the actin inhibitor, cytochalasin D (20 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), and tubulin inhibitor, colchicine (2$\times$10$\^$-6/ M), for 30 min at 37$\^{C}$ were used to infect the isolated mouse macrophages (tachyzo ites:macrophage=2:1). Pretreatment with the inhibitors resulted in lower multiplication of tachyzoites within the macrophages than in the untreated group 18 h post infection (p<0.05). Therefore, the present results suggest that actin and tubulin appear to be involved in the invasion of and multiplication in host cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권11호
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• pp.3307-3312
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• 2014

The anti-inflammatory effect of a tubulin inhibitor, N-(5-benzyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3-(furan-2-yl)prop-2-enamide (1), on innate immune responses remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the effect of 1 on the immune responses mediated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The in vitro addition of 1 to dendritic cells and macrophages dose-dependently reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha production elicited by LPS stimulation. Additionally, the stimulation of natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells with 1 resulted in the decrease of interferon gamma ($IFN{\gamma}$) induced by LPS treatment. Moreover, 1 substantially reduced interleukin 12 in dendritic cells (DC) as well as $IFN{\gamma}$ in NKDCs induced by LPS in vitro. Furthermore, the in vivo administration of 1 ameliorated LPS/D-galactosamine-induced endotoxic lethality in mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that 1 possesses anti-inflammatory properties, most notably by modulating LPS-induced innate immune responses. Therefore, 1 might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammation-mediated diseases such as sepsis.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.229-235
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• 2018

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has been known to be a critical element in cell division including centrosome maturation, cytokinesis and spindle formation in somatic, cancer, and mammalian embryonic cells. In particular, Plk1 is highly expressed in cancer cells. Plk1 inhibitors, such as BI2536, have been widely used to prevent cell division as an anticancer drug. In this study, the fertilized murine oocytes were treated with BI2536 for 30 min after recovery from the oviduct to investigate the effect of down-regulation of Plk1 in the in vivo-fertilized murine embryos. Then, the localization and expression of Plk1 was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The sperm which had entered into the oocyte cytoplasm did not form male pronuclei in BI2536-treated oocytes. The BI2536-treated oocytes showed significantly lower expression of Plk1 than non-treated control group. In addition, alpha-tubulin and Plk1 gathered around sperm head in non-treated oocytes, while BI2536-treated oocytes did not show this phenomenon. The present study demonstrates that the Plk1 inhibitor, BI2536, hinders fertilization by inhibiting the formation of murine male pronucleus.

• BMB Reports
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.178-183
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• 2023

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, of which pathogenesis is caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the amino-terminus of huntingtin gene that resulted in the aggregation of mutant HTT proteins. HD is characterized by progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), a microtubule-associated deacetylase, has been shown to induce transport- and release-defect phenotypes in HD models, whilst treatment with HDAC6 inhibitors ameliorates the phenotypic effects of HD by increasing the levels of α-tubulin acetylation, as well as decreasing the accumulation of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) aggregates, suggesting HDAC6 inhibitor as a HD therapeutics. In this study, we employed in vitro neural stem cell (NSC) model and in vivo YAC128 transgenic (TG) mouse model of HD to test the effect of a novel HDAC6 selective inhibitor, CKD-504, developed by Chong Kun Dang (CKD Pharmaceutical Corp., Korea). We found that treatment of CKD-504 increased tubulin acetylation, microtubule stabilization, axonal transport, and the decrease of mutant huntingtin protein in vitro. From in vivo study, we observed CKD-504 improved the pathology of Huntington's disease: alleviated behavioral deficits, increased axonal transport and number of neurons, restored synaptic function in corticostriatal (CS) circuit, reduced mHTT accumulation, inflammation and tau hyperphosphorylation in YAC128 TG mouse model. These novel results highlight CKD-504 as a potential therapeutic strategy in HD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권7호
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• pp.3471-3476
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• 2012

Background and Objective: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a promising class of potential anticancer agents for treatment of human malignancies. In this study, we investigated the effect of trichostatin A (TSA), one such HDAC inhibitor, in combination with docetaxel (TXT), a cytotoxic chemotherapy agent or erlotinib, a novel molecular target therapy drug, on lung cancer A549 cells. Methods: A549 cells were treated with TXT, erlotinib alone or in combination with TSA, respectively. Cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution were evaluated using MTT (3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, Hochst33258 staining and flow cytometry. Moreover, immunofluorescent staining and Western blot analysis were employed to examine alterations of ${\alpha}$-tubulin, heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and caspase-3 in response to the different exogenous stimuli. Results: Compared with single-agent treatment, co-treatment of A549 cells with TSA/TXT or TSA/erlotinib synergistically inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and caused cell cycle delay at the $G_2/M$ transition. Treatment with TSA/TXT or TSA/erlotinib led to a significant increase of cleaved caspase-3 expression, also resulting in elevated acetylation of ${\alpha}$-tubulin or hsp90 and decreased expression of EGFR, which was negatively associated with the level of acetylated hsp90. Conclusions: Synergistic anti-tumor effects are observed between TXT or erlotinib and TSA on lung cancer cells. Such combinations may provide a more effective strategy for treating human lung cancer.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.141-146
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• 2009

Paclitaxel, an antimicrotubule agent, binds to beta-tubulin in the microtubule and stabilizes the polymer, thereby repressing dynamic instability. Here, we have demonstrated that microtubule cytoskeletal architecture involved in regulation of the COX-2 expression in chondrocyte treated with paclitaxel. Paclitaxel enhanced COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production, as indicated by the Western blot analysis, reverse transcriptase PCR(RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining, and $PGE_2$ assay, respectively. In our previous data have shown that paclitaxel treatment stimulated activation of ERK-1/2 and p38 kinase(Im et al., 2009). SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 kinase, blocked the induction of COX-2 expression by paclitaxel. Also PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK-1/2 kinase was blocked the induced COX-2 expression. These results indicate that activation of ERK-1/2 and p38 kinase is required for COX-2 expression induced by paclitaxel in rabbit articular chondrocytes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.126-132
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• 2014

As a tumor suppressor homologue during mitosis, Chk2 is involved in replication checkpoints, DNA repair, and cell cycle arrest, although its functions during mouse oocyte meiosis and early embryo development remain uncertain. We investigated the functions of Chk2 during mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Chk2 exhibited a dynamic localization pattern; Chk2 expression was restricted to germinal vesicles at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, was associated with centromeres at pro-metaphase I (Pro-MI), and localized to spindle poles at metaphase I (MI). Disrupting Chk2 activity resulted in cell cycle progression defects. First, inhibitor-treated oocytes were arrested at the GV stage and failed to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD); this could be rescued after Chk2 inhibition release. Second, Chk2 inhibition after oocyte GVBD caused MI arrest. Third, the first cleavage of early embryo development was disrupted by Chk2 inhibition. Additionally, in inhibitor-treated oocytes, checkpoint protein Bub3 expression was consistently localized at centromeres at the MI stage, which indicated that the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) was activated. Moreover, disrupting Chk2 activity in oocytes caused severe chromosome misalignments and spindle disruption. In inhibitor-treated oocytes, centrosome protein ${\gamma}$-tubulin and Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) were dissociated from spindle poles. These results indicated that Chk2 regulated cell cycle progression and spindle assembly during mouse oocyte maturation and early embryo development.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.191-196
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• 2002

The water extract from the root bark of Cortex Mori (CM, Morus alba L.: Sangbaikpi), a mulberry tree, has been known in Chinese traditional medicine to have antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant properties. In this study, the cytotoxicity of CM against tumor cells and its mechanism was examined . CM exhibited cytotoxic activity on K-562, B38O human leukemia cells and B16 mouse melanoma cells at concentrations of > 1 mg/ml. A DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and nuclear condensation assay showed that those cells exposed to CM underwent apoptosis. The water extract of Scutellarie Radix (SR) was used as a negative control and showed no cytotoxicity in those cells. The flow cytometric profiles of the CM-treated cells were also indicative of apoptosis. However, they did not appear to exert the G1 arrest, which is observed in other tubulin inhibitor agents such as vincristine, taxol. The protein-binding test using Biacore and a microtubule assembly-disassembly assay provided evidence showing that CM bound to the tubulins resulting in 3 markets inhibition of the assembly, but not the disassembly of microtubules. The possible nonspecific effect of the CM extract could be excluded due to the results using SR, which did not affect the assembly process. Overall, the water extract of CM induces apoptosis of tumor cells by inhibiting microtubule assembly.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.187-191
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• 2005

본 연구는 한우 난포란이 체외성숙된 환경의 변화를 단백질 측면으로부터 검토하기 위하여 체외성숙 배지와 세포질내 단백질 변화와 종류를 검토하였다. 그 결과 배지 내의 단백질 발현량은 배양 4.5시간째까지 감소하였고, 배양 13.5시간째까지는 변화가 없었다. 그러나 배양 $13.5\~18$시간 사이에 증가한 후 배양 18시간 이후에 다시 감소하는 경향이었다. 세포질내의 단백질 발현량은 배양 4.5시간째까지 증가하였고 배양 9시간째까지 급격히 감소하였다. 배양 9시간째부터 18시간째 까지는 단백질 발현량이 유사한 경향이었으나 배양 18시간째부터 24시간째까지 다시 증가하였다. 한편 체외성숙한 배지와 세포질을 2차원 전기영동하여 각각 298개 및 35개의 단백질 spot을 확인하였고, 그 중 배지에서는 28개, 세포질에서는 5개의 spot이 유의적인 변화를 확인하였다. 이들 spot 대한MALDI-TOP분석으로 배지와 세포질에서 각각 8개 및 1개의 단백질을 동정하였다. 그 종류는 aldose reductase, alpha enolase, apolipoprotein A-1 precursor, 43M1a collectin precursor, heat shock 27kDa protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 precursor, thrombospondin 1 transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase 및 $\beta$-tubulin이었다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.228-231
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• 2009

고추 역병을 야기하는 Phytophthora capsici 는 짧은 시간 내에 많은 면적에 피해를 주는 병으로 한번 발생하면 방제가 어려운 병으로 알려져 있다. 이러한 역병 곰팡이의 방제를 위하여 본 연구에서는 P. capsici의 염색체 복제 및 세포 골격 유지 등에 관여하는 단백질인 microtubule의 형성 저해를 유도하는 물질을 탐색하여 궁극적으로 고추역병 방제를 위한 연구를 진행하였다. 먼저 P. capsici alpha 및 beta tubulin을 E. coli BL21(DE3)에서 발현시켜 분리 정제하여 in vitro microtubule 형성을 확인하였다. P. capsici microtubule 형성 저해 metagenome clone 스크리닝을 위하여 경기도 수원의 여기산 토양에서 metagenome을 분리하여 library를 제작하여 Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) 방법을 이용하여 P. capsici microtubule 형성을 저해하는 화합물을 탐색하였다. In vitro 스크리닝에서 약 384개의 metagenome library에서 2종의 clone을 선택하여 고추작물에 직접 방제하여 역병균의 생장 억제를 확인하였다. 이는 차후 고추역병 방제제 개발에 있어 중요한 후보물질뿐만 아니라 metagenome library를 이용한 새로운 방법의 개발이라 사료 된다. 또한 in vitro 스크리닝에서 얻어진 2종의 metagenome clone의 염기서열을 분석하여 항역병 활성에 관련하는 DNA 서열을 확보하고 이를 응용하여 물질을 생산 할 경우, 현장에서 활용 할 수 있는 효과 큰 친환경 천연고추역병 방제제로서의 개발 가능성을 가진다는 점에서 본 연구결과는 매우 의미 있는 결과라 생각된다.