• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.227-232
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• 2012

Galectins are generally believed to be potential candidates for use in the development of novel antiinflammatory agents or as selective modulators of the immune response. In particular, galectin-9 exhibits some of the extracellular functions, including cell aggregation, adhesion, chemoattraction, activation, and apoptosis. Tl-galectin (Tl-gal, galectin-9 homologue gene) was isolated from an adult worm of the Toxascaris leonina. The full-length Tl-gal gene, which was incorporated into pET-28a, was overexpressed in E. coli and purified by nickel affinity and gel filtration chromatographies. The purified Tl-gal was crystallized using the hangingdrop vapor-diffusion method. The crystal belonged to the tetragonal space group $P4_1$, with unit-cell parameters of a = b = $75.7\AA$ and c = $248.4\AA$. The crystals were obtained at $20^{\circ}C$ and diffracted to a resolution of $3.0\AA$. The asymmetric unit contained four molecules of Tl-gal, which gave a crystal volume per protein mass (Vm) of $2.8\AA^3Da^{-1}$ and a solvent content of 54.1%.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1993

Expression of insecticidal protein by fusion product of truncated HD-1[CryIA(a)] N-terminal and HD-73[CryIA(c)] C-Terminal fragment of Bacillus thruingiensis subsp. kurstaki was investigate. Immunological analysis of transformants by using polyclonal antisera raised against the whole-crystal protein of HD-1 revealed that SK4 and SK5 were observed cross-reaction with polypeptides of 77-kDa and 105-kDa, respectively. Bioassay of the transformant pSK5 to Plutella maculipennis and Heliothis assulta were 96% and 97%, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1057-1062
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• 2004

The entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is the most widely used biopesticide. Insecticidal proteins, coded by genes located in plasmids, form typical parasporal, crystalline inclusions during sporulation. We isolated a Bacillus thuringiensis strain having insecticidal activity against larvae of the house fly (M. domestica) from the soils at a pig farm in Korea, and named it Bacillus thuringiensis SM. The culture filtrate from Bacillus thuringiensis SM showed strong lethality (83.3%) against M. domestica larvae. The parasporal crystal is enclosed within the spores' outermost envelope, as determined by transmission electron microscopy, and exhibited a bipyramidal form. The crystal proteins of strain SM consisted of five proteins with molecular weights of approximately ~130, ~80, ~68, ~42, and ~27 kDa on a 10% SDS-PAGE (major band, a size characteristic of Cry protein). Examination of antibiotic resistance revealed that the strain SM showed multiple resistant. The strain SM had at least three different plasmids with sizes of 6.6, 9.3, and 54 kb. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) revealed the presence of cry1, cry4A2, and cry11A1 genes in the strain SM. The cry1 gene profile of the strain SM appeared in the three respective products of 487 bp [cry1A(c)], 414 bp [cry1D], and 238 bp [cry1A(b)]. However, the strain SM has not shown the cry4A2 md cry11A1 genes. In in vivo toxicity assays, the strain SM showed high toxicity on fly larvae (M. domestic) [with $LC_{50}$ of 4.2 mg/ml, $LC_{90}$ of 8.2 mg/ml].

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2011

Measurement of estrogen concentration in bio-samples are very important for differential diagnosis of various disease or evaluation of health status. However, it is difficult to collect immediate data of estrogen concentration because they are measured by radioimmunoassay or chromatography which need time- and cost-consuming sample pre-treatment. This study was performed for development of new estrogen biosensor employing taste principles, and for evaluation of cross reactivity between various steroid hormones. Gene sequence of ligand binding domain of ${\alpha}$-human estrogen receptor (amino acid 302-553; hER-LBD) was cloned from human breast cancer cell line. The proteins of hER-LBD were produced by T7-E.coli expression system, and isolated by chromatography. hER-LBD were coated on the gold plated quartz crystal (AT-cut 9MHz), and resonance frequencies were measured by universal frequency counter. Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and aldosterone were used for cross reactivity of the hER-LBD. We also monitored influences of pH change in resonance frequency. The resonance frequencies of hER-LBD coated quartz crystal were decreased during increase of estrogen concentration from $15 \;{\mu}g/mL$ to $50\;{\mu}g/mL$. However, similar steroid hormones, progesterone and aldosterone, did not elicit the change in resonance frequency. Testosterone evoke weak change in resonance frequency. The new estrogen biosensor was more sensitive in pH 7.2 than in pH 7.6. These results suggest that hER-LBD coated quartz crystal biosensor is a probable estrogen biosensor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5635-5641
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• 2015

Background: Cirrhosis is regarded as a possible end stage of many liver diseases, including viral infection. It occurs when healthy liver tissue becomes damaged and is replaced by scar tissue and finally may lead to hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferons (IFNs)are two general categories, type I and II. Type I includes one beta interferon and over 20 different alpha interferons. Alpha interferons are very similar in how they work, interacting with other proteins on cells like receptors. The main objective of this study was to compare Mx gene productivity post different cell line treatment with imported and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs, as well as the efficacy of those tested IFNs. Also, an assessment was made of sensitivity of different cell lines as alternatives to that recommended for evaluation of antiviral activity. Materials and Methods: Different cell lines (Vero, MDBK and Wish) were employed to evaluate cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. Antiviral activity was evaluated compared with standard IFN against VSV, Indiana strain -156, on tested rh-IFNs (imported; innovated and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs) in the pre-treated cell lines previously mentioned. The virus was propagated in the Wish cell line as recommended. Finally we estimated up-regulation of the Mx gene as a biomarker. Results: Data recorded revealed that test IFNs were safe in test cell lines. Viability was around 100%. Locally tested interferon did not realize the international potency limits, while the imported one was accepted compared with the standard IFN. These results were the same either using infectivity titer reduction assay or crystal violet staining of residual non- infected cells. Mx protein production was cell type related and confirmed by the detected Mx gene expressed in imported and locally produced IFN pre-treated cell lines. The expression of the gene was arranged in the order of Vero> wish > MDBK for the imported IFN, while for the Egyptian biosimillar locally produced one it was MDBK> Vero> wish. With regard to the antiviral activity there was a significant difference of imported IFN potency compared with the locally produced IFN (P<0.05), the IFN potential (antiviral activity) was not cell line related and showed non-significant difference for each separate product. Conclusions: Vero cells can be used as an alternative cell line for evaluation of IFN potency in case of unavailable USP recommended cell lines. Alternative potency evaluation assay could be used and proved significant difference in IFN potency in case of local and imported agents. Evaluation of antiviral activity could be used in parallel to viral infectivity reduction assay for better accuracy. Mx gene can be used as a marker for IFN potential.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.265-270
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• 2010

Two major endoglucanase genes (cel7B and cel5A) were cloned from Penicillium decumbens 114-2 using the method of modified thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction (TAIL-PCR). The result of Southern blotting suggested that P. decumbens has a single copy of the cel5A gene and a single copy of the cel7B gene in its chromosomal DNA. The expression levels of cel5A and cel7B were determined by means of real-time quantitative PCR, suggesting that the two genes were coordinately expressed, and repressed by glucose and induced by cellulose. Both endoglucanase genes were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the recombinant proteins were purified. The recombinant Cel7B and Cel5A were both optimally active at $60^{\circ}C$ and pH 4.0. The recombinant Cel7B showed more than 8-fold, 30-fold, and 5-fold higher enzyme activities toward carboxymethyl cellulose, barley $\beta$-glucan, and PASC, respectively, in comparison with that of Cel5A. However, their activities toward pNPC and Avicel showed minor differences. The results suggested that Cel7B is a strict endoglucanase, whereas Cel5A showed processivity because of its relative higher ability to hydrolyze the crystal cellulose.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2017

The transcriptional activator AphB has been implicated in acid resistance and pathogenesis in the food borne pathogens Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio cholerae. To date, the full-length AphB crystal structure of V. cholerae has been determined and characterized by a tetrameric assembly of AphB consisting of a DNA binding domain and a regulatory domain (RD). Although acidic pH and low oxygen tension might be involved in the activation of AphB, it remains unknown which ligand or stimulus activates AphB at the molecular level. In this study, we determine the crystal structure of the AphB RD from V. vulnificus under aerobic conditions without modification at the conserved cysteine residue of the RD, even in the presence of the oxidizing agent cumene hydroperoxide. A cysteine to serine amino acid residue mutant RD protein further confirmed that the cysteine residue is not involved in sensing oxidative stress in vitro. Interestingly, an unidentified small molecule was observed in the inter-subdomain cavity in the RD when the crystal was incubated with cumene hydroperoxide molecules, suggesting a new ligand-binding site. In addition, we confirmed the role of AphB in acid tolerance by observing an aphB-dependent increase in cadC transcript level when V. vulnificus was exposed to acidic pH. Our study contributes to the understanding of the AphB molecular mechanism in the process of recognizing the host environment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.363-369
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• 2011

The present study elucidated the effect of the selective inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor $N^6$-(1-iminoethyl)-L-lysine (L-NIL) on monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced inflammation and edema in mice feet. L-NIL (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally 4 h before injection of MSU (4 mg) into the soles of mice hindlimb feet. Twenty-four hours after MSU injection, foot thickness was increased by 160% and L-NIL pretreatment reduced food pad swelling in a dose dependent manner. Pretreatment of 10 mg/kg/day L-NIL significantly suppressed the foot pad swelling by MSU. Plasma level of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites and gene expression and protein level of iNOS in feet were increased by MSU, which was suppressed by L-NIL pretreatment. Similar pattern of change was observed in nitrotyrosine level. MSU increased the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and L-NIL pretreatment suppressed MSU-induced cytokines expression. The mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase1 were increased by MSU and L-NIL pretreatment normalized the gene expression. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 was increased by MSU, which was suppressed by L-NIL pretreatment. The mRNA levels of iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ were increased by MSU in human dermal fibroblasts, C2C12 myoblasts, and human fetal osteoblasts in vitro, which was attenuated by L-NIL in a dose dependent manner. This study shows that L-NIL inhibits MSU-induced inflammation and edema in mice feet suggesting that iNOS might be involved in MSU-induced inflammation.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.751-760
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Bone tissue engineering based on pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a new approach to deal with bone defects. Protocols have been developed to generate osteoblasts from PSCs. However, the low efficiency of this process is still an important issue that needs to be resolved. Many studies have aimed to improve efficiency, but developing accurate methods to determine efficacy is also critical. Studies using pluripotency to estimate efficacy are rare. Telomerase is highly associated with pluripotency. METHODS: We have described a quantitative method to measure telomerase activity, telomeric repeat elongation assay based on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). To investigate whether this method could be used to determine the efficiency of in vitro osteogenic differentiation based on pluripotency, we measured the pluripotency pattern of cultures through stemness gene expression, proliferation ability and telomerase activity, measured by QCM. RESULTS: We showed that the pluripotency pattern determined by QCM was similar to the patterns of proliferation ability and gene expression, which showed a slight upregulation at the late stages, within the context of the general downregulation tendency during differentiation. Additionally, a comprehensive gene expression pattern covering nearly every stage of differentiation was identified. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this assay may be powerful tools for determining the efficiency of differentiation systems based on pluripotency. In this study, we not only introduce a new method for determining efficiency based on pluripotency, but also provide more information about the characteristics of osteogenic differentiation which help facilitate future development of more efficient protocols.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.497-506
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• 1998

The expression in Escherichia coli of a cloned insecticidal protein (ICP) gene from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD1 in pHLN1-80 (+) and pHLN2-80(-) plasmids was investigated through deletions in promoters, transcription start point, and termination region. Six recombinant plasmids were constructed in an attempt to analyze the overexpression of the ICP in relations to its gene structure. The amounts of ICP produced from the recombinants were measured by SDS-PAGE and confirmed by Western blot analysis. One clone was not overexpressed which having only -80 bp (contained BtI promoter) part of the ICP gene promoter (without Plac promoter), the right-oriented ICP gene and the termination region. Removal of 350 bp from upstream region of the Plac of the clone pHLN2-80 (-) resulted in overexpression of the ICP. One clone was not overexpressed in which the clone consisted of -72 bp part of the ICP promoter without the transcription start point and the transcriptional termination region, and having the right-oriented ICP gene sequence. One clone consisting of the inverted ICP gene sequence, the -72 bp ICP gene promoter, and without the termination region caused overexpression. One clone which consisted of the inverted ICP gene, the -72 bp ICP gene promoter and the termination sequence was overexpressed. These results indicated that the Plac promoter, transcription termination region, the inverted ICP gene insertion, and the -80 bp or -72 bp part of the ICP gene promoters were concerned in the overexpression of the ICP gene in the recombinant plasmid, and also the overexpression mechanism might result from the disruption of the transcription-suppressing regions in the promoter regions.