• BMB Reports
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2005

For most of proteins to be active, they need well-defined three-dimensional structures alone or in complex. Folding is a process through which newly synthesized proteins get to the native state. Protein folding inside cells is assisted by various chaperones and folding factors, and misfolded proteins are eliminated by the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system to ensure high fidelity of protein expression. Under certain circumstances, misfolded proteins escape the degradation process, yielding to deposit of protein aggregates such as loop-sheet polymer and amyloid fibril. Diseases characterized by insoluble deposits of proteins have been recognized for long time and are grouped as conformational diseases. Study of protein folding mechanism is required for better understanding of the molecular pathway of such conformational diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.7
• /
• pp.441-449
• /
• 2017

Proteolysis in eukaryotic cells is mainly mediated by the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS) and the autophagy-lysosome system (hereafter autophagy). The UPS is a selective proteolytic system in which substrates are recognized and tagged with ubiquitin for processive degradation by the proteasome. Autophagy is a bulk degradative system that uses lysosomal hydrolases to degrade proteins as well as various other cellular constituents. Since the inception of their discoveries, the UPS and autophagy were thought to be independent of each other in components, action mechanisms, and substrate selectivity. Recent studies suggest that cells operate a single proteolytic network comprising of the UPS and autophagy that share notable similarity in many aspects and functionally cooperate with each other to maintain proteostasis. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the crosstalk and interplay between the UPS and autophagy, with an emphasis on substrate selectivity and compensatory regulation under cellular stresses.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 1999

A phenanthrene-degrading bacterium was isolated from an oil-spilled intertidal sediment sample and identified as Sphingomonas sp. KH3-2. The strain degraded polycyclic aromatic compounds such naphthalene, fluorene, biphenyl, and dibenzothiophene. When strain KH3-2 was cultured for 28 days at 25C, a total of 500 ppm of phenanthrene was degrated with a concomitant production of biomass and Folin-Ciocalteau reactive aromatic intermediates. Analysis of intermediates during phenanthrene degradation using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry indicated that Sphingomonas sp. KH3-2 primarily degrades phenanthrene to 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (1H2NA) and further metabolizes 1H2NA through the degradation pathway of naphthalene.

• Ocean Science Journal
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.221-227
• /
• 2005

The architecture of macrofaunal burrows and the total area of the sediment-water interface created by biogenic structure were investigated in the Donggeomdo tidal flat on the west coast of Korea. Resin casting methods were applied to recover burrows of four dominant species, Macrophthalmus japonicus, Cleistostoma dilatatum, Perinereis aibuhitensis, and Periserrula leucophryna, and whole burrows within the casting area at three sites in different tidal levels. P. leucophryna excavated the largest burrow in terms of a surface area among them. In the case of whole burrow casting, the space occupied by the biogenic structure was extended into deeper and expanded more greatly at the higher tidal level. In the uppermost flat, the burrow wall surface area within sediment was more extensive than the sediment surface area. Increased oxygen supply through the extended interface could enhance the degradation rates of organic carbon and also change the pathways of degradation. Quantifying the relationship between the extended interface and mineralization rate and pathway requires more extensive study.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.321-325
• /
• 2023

RNAs are pivotal molecules acting as messengers of genetic information and regulatory molecules for cellular development and survival. From birth to death, RNAs face constant cellular decision for the precise control of cellular function and activity. Most eukaryotic cells employ conserved machineries for RNA decay including RNA silencing and RNA quality control (RQC). In plants, RQC monitors endogenous RNAs and degrades aberrant and dysfunctional species, whereas RNA silencing promotes RNA degradation to repress the expression of selected endogenous RNAs or exogenous RNA derived from transgenes and virus. Interestingly, emerging evidences have indicated that RQC and RNA silencing interact with each by sharing target RNAs and regulatory components. Such interaction should be tightly organized for proper cellular survival. However, it is still elusive that how each machinery specifically recognizes target RNAs. In this review, we summarize recent advances on RNA silencing and RQC pathway and discuss potential mechanisms underlying the interaction between the two machineries.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.485-488
• /
• 2000

Degradation of aromatic compound by Pseudomonas mendocina BCNU 154 has been investigated. The microorganism utilizes xylene, toluene, nitrobenzene, ethylbenzene and cumene. This strain is tolerant to some heavy metals, such as Mn, Cu, Si, and Mo, and resistant to some antibiotics, such as vancomycin, chloramphenicol and ampicillin. The metabolic pathway of toluene in Pseudomonas mendocina BCNU 154 is also elucidated.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2013

Phosphoinositides are the phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol, and play a very significant role in a diverse range of signaling processes in eukaryotic cells. A number of phosphoinositide-metabolizing enzymes, including phosphoinositide-kinases and phosphatases are involved in the synthesis and degradation of these phospholipids. Recently, the function of various phosphatases in the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway has been of great interest. In the present review we summarize the structural insights and biochemistry of various phosphatases in regulating phosphoinositide metabolism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.409-415
• /
• 2009

Galactomyces geotrichum MTCC 1360 degraded the Scarlet RR(100 mg/l) dye within 18 h, under shaking conditions(150 rpm) in malt yeast medium. The optimum pH and the temperature for decolorization were pH 12 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. Enzymatic studies revealed an induction of the enzymes, including flavin reductase during the initial stage and lignin peroxidase after complete decolorization of the dye. Decolorization of the dye was induced by the addition of $CaCO_3$ to the medium. EDTA had an inhibitory effect on the dye decolorization along with the laccase activity. The metabolites formed after complete decolorization were analyzed by UV-VIS, HPLC, and FTIR. The GC/MS identification of 3 H quinazolin-4-one, 2-ethylamino-acetamide, 1-chloro-4-nitro-benzene, N-(4-chloro-phenyl)-hydroxylamine, and 4-chloro-pheny-lamine as the final metabolites corroborated with the degradation of Scarlet RR. The phytotoxicity study revealed the nontoxic nature of the final metabolites. A possible degradation pathway is suggested to understand the mechanism used by G. geotrichum and thereby aiding development of technologies for the application of this organism to the cleaning-up of aquatic and terrestrial environments.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 1992

Six isolated strains degrading aniline were selected, identified and designated as pseudomonas putida K6, Pseudomonas acidovorans K82, Achromobacter gr. D. V. K24, Achromobacter xylosocidans K4, Moraxella sp. K21 and Moraxella sp. K22. All of them degraded 1000 ppm aniline completely within 30 to 36 hours. Most of these strains are resistant to antibiotics more than one, but Moraxella sp. has not any antibiotic marker tested. Most strains except for P. acidovorans K82 were shown to have resistance to the heavy metal ions such as Ni, Cu, Li, Ba, Co, etc. but not to Hg to which only P. putida K6 was resistant. M. sp. K21 was capable of degrading aniline to a maximum concentration of 2500 ppm without any repression. The incubation of the cell in limited pH ranges (4-8) had no great effect on aniline degradation. The addition of bactopeptone to the minimal media promoted the speed of aniline degradation, but the addition of glucose rather repressed the rate of aniline degradation. Through enzyme assay, A. gr. D. V. K 24 was shown to degrade aniline through artho-pathway and formed .betha.-ketoadipate as intermediate metabolite.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 2017

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) provides a cellular defense against oxidative stress by inducing the expression of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. The calcium antagonist, verapamil, is an FDA-approved drug prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. Here, we show that verapamil acts as a potent Nrf2 activator without causing cytotoxicity, through degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), a Nrf2 repressor. Furthermore, verapamil-induced Keap1 degradation is prominently mediated by a p62-dependent autophagic pathway. Correspondingly, verapamil protects cells from acetaminophen-induced oxidative damage through Nrf2 activation. These results demonstrated the underlying mechanisms for the protective role of verapamil against acetaminophen-induced cytotoxicity.