• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제36권4호
• /
• pp.407-414
• /
• 2009

A cDNA clone encoding phytocystatin was isolated from Brassica rapa seedlings, through rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). This gene (name as Brcpi1; GenBank accession no.: EF079953) had a total length of 881 bp with an open reading frame of 609 bp, and encoded predicted polypeptide of 203 amino acid (aa) residues including a putative N-terminal signal peptide. Other relevant regions found its sequence included the G and PW conserved aa motifs, and the consensus LARFAV sequence for phytocystatins and the reactive site QVVAG. The BrCPI1 protein shared 95, 94, 81, 80 and 78% identity with other CPI proterins isolated from Brassica oleracea (BoCPI-1), Arabidopsis thaliana (AtCY SB), Glycine max (GmCPI), Oryza sativa (OsCYS-2) and Zea may (ZmCPI) at amino acid level, respectively. Southern blot analysis showed that Brcpi1 was a low copy gene. Expression pattern analysis revealed that Brcpi1 was a tissue-specific expressing gene during reproductive growth and strongly expressed at mature seedling stages. Furthermore, overexpression of Brcpi1 in transgenic Arabidopsis was enhanced tolerance to salt and cold stresses. Meanwhile the juvenile seedling of Brcpi1 transgenic plants was not affected by various concentrations ABA in MS medium. Taken together, the results showed that Brcpi1 functioned as a cysteine protease inhibitor and it exhibited a protective agent against diverse types of abiotic stress, which induced this gene in a tissue- and stress-specific manner.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제39권10호
• /
• pp.728-733
• /
• 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) effectively reduce airway inflammation and regenerate the alveolus in cigarette- and elastase-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) animal models. The effects of stem cells are thought to be paracrine and immune-modulatory because very few stem cells remain in the lung one day after their systemic injection, which has been demonstrated previously. In this report, we analyzed the gene expression profiles to compare mouse lungs with chronic exposure to cigarette smoke with non-exposed lungs. Gene expression profiling was also conducted in a mouse lung tissue with chronic exposure to cigarette smoke following the systemic injection of human cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hCB-MSCs). Globally, 834 genes were differentially expressed after systemic injection of hCB-MSCs. Seven and 21 genes, respectively, were up-and downregulated on days 1, 4, and 14 after HCB-MSC injection. The Hbb and Hba, genes with oxygen transport and antioxidant functions, were increased on days 1 and 14. A serine protease inhibitor was also increased at a similar time point after injection of hCB-MSCs. Gene Ontology analysis indicated that the levels of genes related to immune responses, metabolic processes, and blood vessel development were altered, indicating host responses after hCB-MSC injection. These gene expression changes suggest that MSCs induce a regeneration mechanism against COPD induced by cigarette smoke. These analyses provide basic data for understanding the regeneration mechanisms promoted by hCB-MSCs in cigarette smoke-induced COPD.

• 한국작물학회지
• /
• 제47권
• /
• pp.95-106
• /
• 2002

Soybean is one of the most important sources of protein and oil in the world. Recently, emphasis has been laid on the chemical composition of soybean seeds for the processing soybean foods. Improvement of soybean components has been expected to improve food-processing quality for the processed soybean products such as soymilk and various edible ingredients as well as fur the traditional soyfoods. In Korea, soybean breeding research programmes have been focused on the quality of the products derived from soybean with yield stability, and some new modified soybean varieties haying good food-processing quality were developed recently. So the efforts of establishing standard and standardization of products in soybean are important. Three main categories should be considered in view of soybean seed quality; the marketing value such as grain size, shape, and appearance; the eating and processing value such as dehulled ratio, water absorption rate, and benny flavor; the nutritional value such as protein, lipid, and carbohydrate contents. And the new frontiers in research are looking at the functional nutrients in soybeans and how to improve them. In case marketing value, mainly the appearance is evaluated, therefore, each country has an application of standard related to quality. Each determination of standard class, heat-damaged kernels, splits, and soybeans of other colors is made on the basis of the grain when free from foreign materials. But processing value and nutritional value for standardization were not studied in detail till now. In addition, soybean has potential roles in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, most notably cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease. The functional nutrients include a protease inhibitor, phytic acid, saponins, and isoflavones, etc.. It is believed that standardization of soybean quality should perform to overcome the difficulties, relatively high price of domestic soybean products has weakened the competitive power, in the market related to WTO. So, we should focus on further research into the evaluation and establishment of quality-standard in soybean.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제36권2호
• /
• pp.121-131
• /
• 2012

After spermatogenesis, spermatozoa come in contact with fluids in the epididymis where they mature. During ejaculation, spermatozoa are mixed with secretions from prostate gland, vesicular glands, and bulbourethral glands. During natural mating, seminal plasma is deposited in the female reproductive tract eliciting various physiological and immunological responses. With the advances in proteomics, the components of seminal plasma have been identified and the information may be valuable in identifying markers for fertility. Components of seminal plasma that affect fertility have been discovered and the mechanism of action of these factors has been determined. The objective of this study was to determine the specific seminal plasma proteins from Korean native cattle, Hanwoo, and Korean native brindle cattle (KNBC) with the long term goal of improving fertilization rate. After SDS-PAGE and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, proteins were identified by Q-ToF analysis. They include plasma serine protease inhibitor precursor and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase after SDS-PAGE. Number and density of the spots in 2-dimensional gels were higher in KNBC than Hanwoo. Proteins identified from the paired spots of both breeds include chain A, bull seminal plasma PDC-109 Fibronectin Type II module, BSP-30 kDa precursor, and Spermadhesin Z13 or its precursor. Interestingly, some proteins were identified from multiple spots. The functional differences of these diverse forms of the proteins may require further studies. With their previously reported roles in sperm capacitation by these proteins, the studies on the mechanism of action, ligand interaction and the variation in the genome may help improving fertility in cattle.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제28권6호
• /
• pp.968-975
• /
• 2018

In the course of screening for microbes with nematicidal activity, we found that Enterobacter asburiae HK169 displayed promising nematicidal activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, along with plant growth-promoting properties. Soil drenching of a culture of HK169 reduced gall formation by 66% while also increasing root and shoot weights by 251% and 160%, respectively, compared with an untreated control. The cell-free culture filtrate of the HK169 culture killed all juveniles of M. incognita within 48 h. In addition, the nematicidal activity of the culture filtrate was dramatically reduced by a protease inhibitor, suggesting that proteolytic enzymes contribute to the nematicidal activity of HK169. In order to obtain genomic information about the HK169 isolate related to its nematicidal and plant growth-promoting activities, we sequenced and analyzed the whole genome of the HK169 isolate, and the resulting information provided evidence that the HK169 isolate has nematicidal and plant growth-promoting activities. Taken together, these observations enable the future application of E. asburiae HK169 as a biocontrol agent for nematode control and promote our understanding of the beneficial interactions between E. asburiae HK169 and plants.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.594-599
• /
• 2001

혈압상승을 주도하는 효소인 angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE)의 활성을 저해하는 펩타이드를 생산하는 protease 분비 균을 간장으로부터 분리하여 동정하였다. 여러대두 발효식품으로부터 단백질 분해능이 있는 균주를 분리하고, 분리된 균주들 중에서 ACE 저해활성이 가장 높은 균주인 SS103 균주를 선정하였다. 선정된 SS103 균주는 운동성이 있는 gram 양성 간균으로 내생포자를 형성하는 호기성균이었으며, pH 5~9 사이에서 생육하고 생육온도는 2$0^{\circ}C$~$50^{\circ}C$로 내열성이 약한 중온균의 특성을 보였으며, glucose, sucrose, mannitol 및 sorbitol 등의 당 이용 특성을 보였다. 그리고 세포의 지방산 조성은 $C_{15:0}$ anteiso, $C_{17:0}$ cis 형 및 $C_{17:0}$ iso 형이 주된 지방산으로 각각 33.9%, 18.8% 및 16.5%의 분포를 나타내었다. 이상과 같은 분석 겨과를 토대로 SS103 균주는 Bacillus subtilis로 동정되었다. Bacillus subtilis SS103 균주의 최적 배양 조건은 $37^{\circ}C$, 초기배양액 pH 8.0에서 배양시간 48시간으로 나타났으며, 이때 통기량이 높은 경우 효소활성도 높은 특성을 보였다.을 보였다.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.55-70
• /
• 2005

Objective: Ulmus davidiana Planch (Ulmaceae) has long been known to have anti-inflammnatory in the traditional Korean medicine. UD has been reported as a good enhancer for bone healing. Methods : In this experiment, we investigate the Inhibitory effects of UD on bone resorption using the bone cells culture. Different concentrations of crude extract of UD were added to mouse bone cells culture. The mitochondria activity of the bone cells after exposure was determined by colorimetric MIT assay. It was demonstrated that UD has potential effects on bone cells culture without any cytotoxicity. The most effective concentration of UD on bone cells were $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Cathepsin K (Cat K) is the major cysteine protease expressed in osteoclasts and is thought to play a key role in matrix degradation during bone resorption. Results : When mouse long bone cells including osteoclasts and osteoblast were treated with the PI3-Kinase inhibitor, wortmannin (WT), WT prevented the osteoclast-mediated intracellular processing of Cat K. Similarly, treatment of osteoclasts-containing long bone cells with UD extracts prevented the intracellular maturation of Cat K, suggesting that UD may disrupt the intracellular trafficking of pro Cat K. This is similar to that of WT. Since secreted proenzymes have the potential to reenter the cell via mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) receptor, to prevent this possibility, we tested WT and UD in the absence or presence of M6P. Inhibition of Cat K processing by WT or UD was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the addition of M6P resulted in enhanced potency of WT and UD. Conclusion : UD dose-dependently inhibited in vitro bone resorption with a potency similar to that observed for inhibition of Cat K processing.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제49권3호
• /
• pp.245-254
• /
• 2011

Many immune down-regulatory molecules have been isolated from parasites, including cystatin (cystain protease inhibitor). In a previous study, we isolated and characterized Type I cystatin (CsStefin-1) of the liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis. To investigate whether the CsStefin-1 might be a new host immune modulator, we induced intestinal inflammation in mice by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and treated them with recombinant CsStefin-1 (rCsStefin-1). The disease activity index (DAI) increased in DSS only-treated mice. In contrast, the DAI value was significantly reduced in rCsStefin-1-treated mice than DSS only-treated mice. In addition, the colon length of DSS only-treated mice was shorter than that of rCsStefin-1 treated mice. The secretion levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were significantly increased by DSS treatment, but the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ in MLNs was significantly decreased by rCsStefin-1 treatment. IL-10 production in both spleen and MLNs was significantly increased, and IL-$10^+F4/80^+$ macrophage cells were significantly increased in the spleen and MLNs of rCsStefin-1 treated mice after DSS treatment. In conclusion, rCsStefin-1 could reduce the intestinal inflammation occurring after DSS treatment, these effects might be related with recruitment of IL-10 secreting macrophages.

• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제59권1호
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2019

In canine acute pancreatitis (AP), inappropriate release and activation of zymogen proteases within the pancreas results in the consumption of serum antiproteases. The aim of this study was to examine whether the serum concentrations of ${\alpha}_2$-macroglobulin (A2MG), ${\alpha}_1$-antitrypsin (A1AT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) differ between dogs with AP and healthy dogs. Twenty healthy dogs and 20 dogs with AP were included in this study. Concentrations of A2MG, A1AT, and CRP were measured in the sera of healthy dogs and dogs diagnosed with AP. Serum A2MG and A1AT concentrations were significantly lower in dogs with AP than in healthy dogs, whereas the serum CRP concentration was significantly higher. In addition, the concentrations of A2MG and A1AT were significantly higher in AP survivors than in AP non-survivors, while the CRP concentration was significantly lower. However, in both AP survivors and non-survivors, the CRP concentrations showed a negative correlation with A2MG concentrations but not with A1AT. These findings indicate that serum antiproteases and CRP concentrations might be associated with the mortality rate of AP in dogs.

• 생약학회지
• /
• 제49권4호
• /
• pp.291-297
• /
• 2018

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a very well-known causative agent for viral myocarditis and meningitis in human. However, the effective vaccine and therapeutic drug are not developed yet. CVB3 infection activates host cell AKT signaling. Inhibition of AKT signaling pathway may attenuate CVB3 replication and prevent CVB3-mediate viral myocarditis. In this study, we determined antiviral effect of the selected natural plant extract to develop a therapeutic drug for CVB3 treatment. We screened several chemically extracted natural compounds by using HeLa cell-based cell survival assay. Among them, Linum usitatissimum L. extract was selected for antiviral drug candidate. L. usitatissimum extract significantly decreased CVB3 replication and cell death in CVB3 infected HeLa cells with no cytotoxicity. CVB3 protease 2A induced eIF4G1 cleavage and viral capsid protein VP1 production were dramatically decreased by L. usitatissimum extract treatment. In addition, virus positive and negative strand genome amplification were significantly decreased by 1 mg/ml L. usitatissimum extract treatment. Especially, L. usitatissimum extract was associated with inhibition of AKT signal and maintain mTOR activity. In contrast, Atg12 and LC3 expression were not changed by L. usitatissimum extract treatment. In this study, the potential AKT signal inhibitor, L. usitatissimum extract, was significantly inhibited viral genome replication and protein production by inhibition of AKT signal. These results suggested that L. usitatissimum extract is a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of CVB3-mediated diseases.