• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2005

The present study was conducted to investigate gelatinolytic activities in HAM and to determine whether there are any changes in gelatinolytic activity profiles when the cells are cultured in hepatogenic medium. Placenta was obtained during caesarean section of the volunteers, with informed consent. HAM were isolated from amniotic membrane using collagenase type A HAM were cultured in hepatogenic medium for 3 weeks and the conditioned media were obtained at day 7, 14 and 21. The zymographic pattern of gelatinolytic activity of the HAM did not undergo a change during passages. When the HAM were cultured in a fibronectin-coated dishes in a hepatogenic medium, there was no significant difference of the gelatinase pattern between before and after culture. However, when bFGF was added to the culture, a dramatic increase of 62kDa and 59kDa gelatinases was observed. Interestingly, when ITS instead of FN was present, HAM-conditioned medium also showed a similar increase of both gelatinases. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that both 62kDa and 59kDa gelatinases were the active form of MMP-2 resulting from the turnover of MMP-2 proform. Futher study will be necessary to determine the relationship between bFGF and active MMP-2 during hepatogenesis of HAM.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 1998

Protein expression patterns of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were examined in mouse reproductive organs during estrous cycle. Estrous cycle was classified into diestrus, proestrus, estrus or metestus and MMP expression was analyzed by zymography using gelatin as a substrate. Uterine fluid (UF) obtained both at diestrus and proestrus exhibited 4 major MMPs including 106kDa, 64kDa, 62kDa and 59kDa gelatinases. However, in UF at estrus, the gelatinolytic activity of 64kDa MMP disappeared and that of 106kDa and 62kDa MMPs dramatically decreased. At metestrus, 64kDa MMP activity reappeared and 106kDa and 62kDa MMP exhibited increased activities such that the band intensity of 106kDa was comparable to that in UF at diestrus. Gelatinolytic activity of 59kDa MMP was not changed throughout the cycle. Both ovarian and oviductal tissue homogenate revealed 4 MMPs which corresponded to the 4 MMPs of UF. However, unlike UF MMPs, gelatinolytic activity of these MMPs did not show distinct changes throughout the cycle. Either an inhibitor of MMP, 1,10-phenanthroline, or a metal chelator, EDTA, abolished the appearance of the above MMP activities in gelatinated gel whereas a serine proteinase inhibitor, phcnylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, failed to inhibit the appearance of MMP activities, proving that gelatinolytic activity of the above reproductive tissues were due to the enzymatic activity of MMP. When gclatinolytic activity of mouse serum was examined, it revealed 5 MMPs (131kDa, 106kDa, 89kDa, 64kDa and 62kDa bands) and one gelatinase (84kDa) band. From these results, it is concluded that the protein expression of MMPs of mouse reproductive organs, particularly uterus, is temporally regulated during estrous cycle and uterine 106kDa, 64kDa and 62kDa MMPs are suggested to play an important role in cyclic tissue remodeling of mouse uterus.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2003

This study describes the characterization of 80 kDa pretense showing gelationlytic property among three pretenses in the excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) from Toxoplasma gondii. The pretense activity was detected in the ESP but not in the somatic extract of RH tachyzoites. This pretense was active only in the presence of calcium ion but not other divalent cationic ions such as $Cu^{2+},{\;}Zn^{2+},{\;}Mg^{2+},{\;}and{\;}$Mn^{2+}$, implying that $Ca^{2+}$ is critical factor for the activation of the protease. The 80 kDa pretense was optimally active at pH 7.5. Its gelatinolytic activity was maximal at $37^{\circ}C$, and significant level of enzyme activity of the pretense remained after heat treatment at $56^{\circ}C$ for 30 min or $100^{\circ}C$ for 10 min, This thermostable enzyme was strongly inhibited by metal chelators, i.e., EDTA, EGTA, and 11 10-phenanthroline. Thus, the 80 kDa pretense in the ESP secreted by T. gondii was classified as a calcium dependent neutral metalloprotease.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2007

The leukocyte recruitment and transmigration across the endothelial barrier into the vessel wall are crucial steps in atherosclerosis. Leukocyte trafficking on the endothelium is elicited by induction of endothelial adhesion molecules, and its transmigration is mediated by degradation of basement membrane proteins through enzymatic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). The current study investigated whether resveratrol, a polyphenol present in grapes and red wine, was capable of inhibiting leukocyte adhesion to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-activated endothelium. It was found that resveratrol inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$-activated endothelial expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, resveratrol hampered THP-1 monocyte adhesion to activated endothelial cells. This study further examined whether resveratrol interfered with transendothelial migration of leukocytes. The MMP-2 gelatinolytic activity of endothelial cells was enhanced by TNF-${\alpha}$, which was attenuated by an addition of ${\geq}25{\mu}M$ resveratrol. In addition, 25 ${\mu}M$ resveratrol mitigated the MMP-9 activity of THP-1 cells, followed by a marked inhibition of transendothelial migration. These results demonstrated that resveratrol suppressed monocyte adhesion and migration induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ through modulating expression of adhesion molecules and gelatinolytic activity of MMP. These findings suggest that dietary resveratrol may be therapeutic agent for inhibiting leukocyte recruitment into the subendothelium during inflammatory atherosclerosis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2008

Survivin is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family that have been known to inhibit activated caspases in apoptosis. In contrast to most IAP family members, survivin mRNA is expressed during fetal development, is not found in normal adult tissues and is overexpressed again in the cancer. Though survivin expression has been documented in most human cancers, little is known about its expression in OSCC and its potential value as a predictor of cancer survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate survivin expression in OSCC and to evaluate its value as a prognostic marker. We evaluated survivin expressions in cancer lines and OSCC samples and investigated the relationships between survivin expressions and clini-co-pathological parameters including stage, differentiation, proliferation, lymph node metastasis, blood vessel density, and gelatinolytic activity. With immunohistochemistry, we analyzed survivin expression in 38 OSCCs. Patients' clinico-pathological parameters and their survival rate were analyzed to reveal their correlations with Survivin expressions. We cultured oral cancer cell lines and evaluated the correlation between gelatinolytic activities and survivin expressions of them. Survivin protein was observed both in nuclei and cytoplasm of tumor specimens while little or not observed in normal gingival mucosal tissues. Additionally, survivin expressions were correlated with lymph node metastasis, tumor proliferation and survival rate. Survivin expression was observed in 100% of 38 samples of OSCC and its expression levels are statistically associated with the proliferative activity of the tumors, lymph node metastasis and the survival of the patients. Based on these results, survivin is commonly expressed in OSCC and may thus provide valuable prognostic information related with lymph node metastasis, proliferation and survival rate as well as a potential therapeutic target in OSCC.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2003

Previously, we discovered a new MMP-2 isoform GA110, of which appearance in human follicular fluid(FF) and serum was increased by EDTA. The present study was conducted to investigate how GAI 10 can appear by EDTA. To examine possible involvement of protein disulfide isomerase(PDI), an enzyme responsible for the dimerization of protein via disulfide formation, effect of PDI inhibitor on the appearance of GA110 by EDTA was investigated. When PDI inhibitor added to FF before EDTA treatment, the gelatinolytic activity of GA110 was abolished in a concentration dependent manner. By contrast, the activity of 72 kDa gelatinase increased. However, the PDI inhibitor added to FF after EDTA treatment, the gelatinolytic activity of GA110 was unaffected. To find out the nature of the enzyme which converts 72 kDa gelatinase into GAI 10, chromatographic separation method of FF proteins was done. Using hydroxyapatite column, fractions rich in 72 kDa gelatinase were isolated and pooled. By using this pool as substrate for the 72 kDa converting enzyme, protein fractions containing the converting activity were obtained from chromatographic separation of FF onto glutathione sepharose fast flow column. When immunoblotting was performed on this enzymatically active protein fractions against polyclonal anti-PDI antibody, distinct immunoreactivity was observed, although appeared in smaller molecular weight region. Based on these observations, it is suggested that the appearance of GAI 10 in FF by EDTA treatment could be due to an activation of PDI-like enzyme, which dimerizes 72 kDa gelatinase into GAI 10 via the formation of disulfide bond between molecules.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2003

Gelatinase is a proteolytic enzyme that hydrolyzes gelatin. Gelatinolytic activity was detected from culture broths of Streptomyces griseus IFO13350 and HH1 by paper disc assays on 0.5% agar plates containing 1% gelatin. The concentrated extracellular protein from the S. griseus was analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel, and two proteins, with molecular weights of 30 and 28 kDa, respectively, were identified to have gelatinase activity by gelatin zymography. The protein with a molecular weight of 28 kDa was confirmed to be S. griseus trypsin (SGT). The effects of metal ions and metal chelators on the protease activity of the SGT were studied. Of the metal ions tested, only manganese was found to enhance the protease activity, 2.6 times, however, $Co^{2+},\;Cu^{2+},\;and\;Zn^{2+}$, and metal chelators, such as EDTA and EGTA, inhibited the SGT activity. When the protease activity of the SGT was measured at various pHs, in the presence of 5 mM $MnCl_2$, its highest activity was at pH 11.0, whereas only 60% of the maximum activity was observed between pHs 4.0 and pH 6.0, and almost 80% activity between pHs 7.0 to pH 10.0. The protease activity was measured at various temperatures in the presence of 5 mM $MnCl_2$. The SGT was found to be stable up to $60^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, while only 16% of the enzyme activity remained at $60^{\circ}C$, and at $80^{\circ}C$ almost all the activity was lost. The optimal temperature for the protease activity was $50^{\circ}C$.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2001

By applying in vitro invasion assay model, we examined the anti-metatstastic effect of ChunghjagamTang(CLJGT). In 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, CLJGT treated groups showed the decreased DNA synthesis rate compared with control group. Gelatin zymogram assay showed that CLJGT decreases the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-9 from A-549, at the concentration of $800{\mu}g/ml$. We examined whether CLJGT inhibits the invasion of A-549 cells through the matrigel precoated transwell chamber. The results showed that CLJGT effectively inhibited the invasion of A-549 as compared with the control (+PMA) groups. From our research, part of mechanism underlying anti-metastastic effect of CLJGT was proven in vitro.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2010

Allergen extracts from dust mites and cockroaches commonly found in Korean homes were used to evaluate their enzymatic activity as they are believed to influence allergenicity. Allergen extracts were prepared from 3 dust mite species (Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and 3 cockroach species (Blattella germanica, Periplaneta americana, and P. fuliginosa) maintained in the Korea National Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank. Proteins were extracted in PBS after homogenization using liquid nitrogen. The activities of various enzymes were investigated using the API Zym system. No significant difference in phosphatase, lipase, or glycosidase activity was observed among the 6 allergen extracts, but much difference was observed in protease activity. Protease activity was assessed in more detail by gelatin zymography and the EnzChek assay. Extract from T. putrescentiae showed the highest protease activity, followed by those of the cockroach extracts. Extracts from D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus showed only weak protease activity. Gelatinolytic activity was detected mainly in a 30-kDa protein in D. farinae, a 28-kDa protein in D. pteronyssinus, a > 26-kDa protein in T. putrescentiae, a > 20-kDa protein in B. germanica, and a > 23-kDa protein in P. americana and P. fuliginosa. The information on various enzymatic activities obtained in this study may be useful for future studies. In particular, the strong protease activity found in cockroach extracts could contribute to sensitization to cockroach allergens, which is known to be associated with the development of asthma.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2008

Hwangtae, dried Alaska pollack, is a major storage product in the fish processing industry. Hwangtae is prepared by removing the internal organs and drying outdoors during the cold witner months by allowing it to thaw during the daytime and re-freeze at night under sub-zero ($-10^{\circ}C$) conditions and gradually dry from December until the next April for around 5 months from Myungtae. In this study, ground Hwangtae was hydrolyzed using two proteolytic enzymes (pepsin and alcalase) which produced five soluble active peptides from Hwangtae (yellowish dried Pollack, Theragra chalcogramma) protein. Two different peptides with strong antioxidative activity were isolated from the hydrolysate using consecutive chromatographic methods of Sephadex G-25 gel, ion-exchange chromatography on a Sepharose-Sephadex C-25 gel, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The isolated peptides, APO1 and APO2, were composed of 16 and 13 amino acid residues, respectively. Both peptides contained a Gly residue at the C-terminus and the repeating motif Gly-Pro-Hyp. The peptide with a molecular weight less than 1,000 Daltons (APACE) obtained from enzymatic hydrolysates of Hwangtae exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity. The APACE peptides was composed of 4 amino acid residues (Gly-Leu-Leu-Pro). These results suggest that Hwangtae hydrolysates could be a good source of peptides with ACE inhibitory activity. Biochemical analysis indicated that two 70 kDa peptides (APG1 and APG2) isolated from the hydrolysate had gelatinoytic activity, which was shown to be a calcium dependent protease type as showed by gelatin SDS PAGE.