• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2000

Ubiquitinated proteins in lysosomes were characterized by using two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs): LYS8-1, a mAb to lysosomal proteins, and NYA124, a mAb to ubiquitin. LYS8-1 stained lysosome-like vesicles in immunofluorescence microscopy of Amoeba proteus and Acanthamoeba castellanii. In immunoblotting, LYS8-1's antigens (LYS proteins) were detected as 68-kDa and 77-kDa proteins in A. proteus, and as 30-kDa and 39-kDa proteins in A. castellanii. In immunoprecipitation of A. castellanii, at least four distinct LYS proteins, LVS35p, LyS39p, LyS42p, and LYS46p, were detected and accumulated upon inhibition of lysosome functions but not upon that of 26S proteasome functions. They were all found to be ubiquitinated, and were recovered in the lysosome fractions in subcellular fractionation experiments. In chemical fractionation analyses, LYS35p and LYS39p were demonstrated to be peripherally associated with lysosome membrane, while LYS42p and LYS46p tightly bound to the membrane. These results suggest that the LYS proteins become associated to lysosomal membrane upon ubiquitination.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 1994

RecA protein plans a central role in homologous recombination and DNA repair in Escherichia cofi (E. colD. The function 8nd structure of this protein are universal in prokarvotes and also conserved in eukaryotes such as yeast. The RecA-like protein with 74 lInDa in size has already been identified and purified from a fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (5. pommel (Lee, 19911. From this study it was revealed that the RecA-like protein of 5. pombe was highly inducible to various DNA damaging agents and inhibitors of nucleotide pool svnthesizins enzymes. The cellular level of the 5. pombe RecA-like protein wi,u markedly increased, upto 5- to 10-fold, by treatment with various DNA-damains agents including ultraviolet (UV) light, methyl methanesulfonate WS),4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO), and mitomycin-C (MMC), similar to E. cofi RecA protein. Interestingly, the protein level was also increased by inhibitors of nucleotide pool forming enzlwnes such as methotrexate (MTX) and hvdroxvurea (HU). The most effective doses for the inducibility of 4-NQO, MMS, W, MMC, MTX, and HU were 0.2 Ug/ml, 30 mM, 200 J/ma, 0.4 $\mus/ml,$ 1 Ug/ml, and 100 mM, respectively. The range of effective duration time for the inducibilitv of RecA-like protein was from 270 to 450 mins. These results suggest that the 5. pombe RecA-like protein also platys an imortant role in cellular responses to DNA damage as in E. coli system.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.446-451
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• 2008

We assessed heterologous protein expression in 64 strains obtained from the Escherichia coli Reference (ECOR) collection, a collection representing diverse natural E. coli populations. A plasmid generating a glutathione S-transferase and plant carbonic anhydrase fusion protein (GST-CA) under the control of the tac promoter was introduced into the ECOR strains, and the quantity of the fusion protein was determined by SDS-PAGE. The foreign protein was generated at various levels, from very high (40 strains, high producers) to very low (six strains, low producers). Immunoblotting showed that the high producers expressed approximately 250-500 times more GST-CA protein than the low producers. The results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the low producers generated mRNA levels comparable to those of the high producers, thereby suggesting that, at least in this case, inefficient translation is a major cause of the low production. We introduced a different plasmid, which expressed a maltose binding protein and plant guanylate kinase fusion protein (MBP-GK) into the six low producers. Interestingly, five of these expressed MBP-GK at very high levels. Thus, we conclude that the production of a particular protein from an expression vector can vary considerably, depending on the host strain. Strains in the ECOR collection could function as useful alternative hosts when a desired level of protein expression is not obtained from commonly used strains, such as E. coli K12 or B derivatives.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.72-77
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• 1997

The baculovirus gp64 glycoprotein is a major component of the envelope protein of budded virus (BV). It has been shown that the gp64 glycoprotein plays an essential role in the infection process, especialy fusion between virus envelope and cellular endosomic membrane. Recently we reported optimal conditions required for gp64-mediated membrane fusion in pGP64 DNA transfected Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells (H. J. Kim and J. M. Yang, Jour, Microbiology, 34.7-14). In order to investigate the role of hydrophobicity within the fusion domain of the gp64 glycoprotein for membrane fusion, 13 mutants which have substitution mutation within hydrophobic region I were constructed by PCR-derived site-derected mutagenesis. Each mutated gp64 glycoproteins was transiently expressed by transfecting plasmid DNA into Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. Oligomerization of the transisently expressed gp64 glycoproteins was a nalysed by running them on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-reducing condition followed by immunoblotting. All of the mutant gp64 glycoproteins expect cysteine-228 were able to form trimers. These results suggest that hydrophobic region I of the gp64 may not be responsible for the oligomerization of the gp64 glycoprotein.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.468-473
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• 1996

The genome of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is composed of three RNA segments, S, M, and L RNA and the 5.0 kb M RNA encodes two glycoproteins Gl, G2 and NSm protein of unknown function. In an effort to investigate the function of the NSm protein, antibody was raised against NSm fusion protein overexpressed in Escherichia coli. This antibody was used to detect the NSm protein by using western blot analysis and electron microscopic observation after immunogold labelling. For the cloning of the NSm gene, total RNA extracted from a TSWV infected plant was used for cDNA synthesis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instead of going through time-consuming virus purification. A protein band specifically reacting to the NSm antibody was detected from TSWV inoculated plants. The NSm protein was detected in the cell wall fraction and in pellet from low speed centrifugation when the infected plant tissue was fractionated into 4 fractions. In the immuno-electron microscopic observation, gold particles were found around the plasmodesmata of infected plant tissue. These results suggest that the NSm protein of TSWV plays some role in cell-to-cell movement of this virus.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.244-252
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• 1998

Ginsenoside Rh, (G-Rh,) from Panax ginseng induced morphological features of apoptosis and DNA fragmentation as a biochemical marker of apoptosis confirmed by TUNEL reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2) and rat glioma C6Bu-1 cells During apoptosis by G-Rh2, protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms were analysed by immunoblotting. In SK-N-BE(2) cells, the levels of a, p and ${\gamma}$ subtypes were increased by undergoing apoptosis, while PKC e isoform increased early in treatment (3 h and 6 h). In addition, PKC s isoform gradually decreased during apoptosis by G-Rh2 and PKC $\theta$ isoform was detected in neither untreated- nor G-Rh1-treated SK-N-BE(2) cells (data not shown). However, no significant changes in the level of S and s isoforms were observed in C6Bu-1 cells undergoing apoptosis by G-Rh2. These results suggest that PKC subtypes may play differential roles in apoptotic signal pathways and their roles can be cell type-specific in apoptosis induced by G-Rh2.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.800-804
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• 2003

The effects of KR-31378, a neuroprotective agent for ischemia-reperfusion damage, on liver microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYPs) were investigated in male Sprague Dawley rats. When rats were treated orally with KR-31378 for 7 consecutive days, CYP3A-selective erythromycin N-demethylase (ERDM) activity was significantly induced in a dose-dependent manner. In Western immunoblotting, CYP 3A proteins were clearly induced by treatment with KR-31378. Within 24 h after treatment with 80 mg/kg of KR-31378, ERDM activity was induced in liver microsomes in accompanied by induction of the level of CYP 3A proteins. The present results suggest that KR-31378 might modulate the expression of CYP 3A enzymes in humans.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2002

The life cycle of Acanthamoeba is comprised of two distinct stages, tropho-zoite and cyst. During periods of stress, trophozoites undergo cellular differentiation into cyst. In order to understand the cellular differentiation, ore followed changes in profiles of major proteins by 2D-PAGE and ubiqui-tinated proteins by immunoblotting with anti-ubiquitin (Ub) monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a probe. We observed 51 proteins present in trophozoite were lost with the encystment. We found that 43 proteins within 24 h, and 8 proteins in 96 h of encystment. Among them, 17 proteins were staine with anti-Ub mAb. In cysts, 16 proteins including 2 anti-Ub mAb-reactive proteins were newly synthesized. Four proteins were newly detected in 24 h-cyst and disappeared in 96 h-cyst, one protein was synthesized in 24-96 h-cyst and disappeared in 168 h-cyst, and 11 proteins appeared upon en-cystment and were present in all cyst stages. We identified a cyst specific 33 kDa protein as subtilisin-like serine proteinase by N-terminal sequencing. Identification of these proteins lost and newly synthesized with encystment would improve our understanding of cysting protozoan parasites.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2009

Albizia julibrissin (AJ) has been used widely as a traditional medicine. In macrophages nitric oxide (NO) is released as an inflammatory mediator and has been proposed to be an important modulator of many pathophysiological conditions including inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this study we have examined the NO inhibition effect of 85% methanol extracts of AJ in mouse macrophage. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported to induce production of NO. Extracts of AJ (1, 10, $100{\mu}g/ml$) suppressed nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated ($100{\mu}g/ml$) mouse (C57BL/6) macrophages and analyzed by ELISA. In addition, it also attenuated the expression of inflammatory products like Interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible NOS (iNOS) as assessed by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. These results suggest that 85% methanol extracts of AJ would be useful in inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2014

We evaluated the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with Yacon pill, the preparation composed of Smallanthus sonchifolius, Torilis japonica and Acorus gramineus. A total of 45 rats were divided into five groups. One group was used as a control and the other groups received subcutaneous injections of testosterone for 4 weeks to induce BPH. Yacon pill extract (200 or 400 mg/kg) was administered daily for 4 weeks to two groups by oral gavage concurrently with testosterone. The rats euthanized, the prostate and body weights were recorded, and tissues were subjected to hormone assay. In addition, we investigated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in the prostate using immunoblotting. Rats with BPH showed significantly increased prostate weights, increased dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the serum and increased PCNA expression in the prostate; however, Yacon pill extracts treated rats showed significant reduction of prostate weights, DHT levels and PCNA expression compared with the BPH group. Conclusively, Yacon pill showed the possibility as ameliorable agents of BPH symptoms.