• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.561-568
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• 1998

Two cometabolic trichloroethylene (TC) degraders, Pseudomonas putida F1 and Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia G4, were found to catabolize phenol, benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene as carbon and energy sources. Resting cells of P. putida F1 and B. cepacia G4 grown in the presence of toluene and phenol, respectively, were able to degrade not only benzene, toluene and ethylenzene but also TCE and p-xylene. However, these two strains grown in the absence of toluene or phenol did not degrade TCE and p-xylene. Therefore, it was tentatively concluded that cometabolic degradation of TC and p-xylene was mediated by toluene dioxygenase (P. putida F1) or toluene-2-monooxygenase (B. cepacia G4). Maximal degradation rates of BTEX and TCE by toluene- and phenol-induced resting cells of P. putida F1 and B. cepacia G4 were appeared to be 4-530 nmol/(min$.$mg cell protein) when a single compound was solely served as a target substrate. In case of double substrates, the benzene degradation rate by P. putida F1 in the presence of toluene was decreased up to one seventh of that for the single substrate. TCE degradation rate was also linearly decreased as toluene concentration increased. On the other hand, toluene degradation rate was enhanced by benzene and TCE. For B. cepacia G4, degradation rates of TCE and toluene increased 4 times in the presence of 50 ${\mu}$M phenol. From these results, it was concluded that a degradation rate of a compound in the presence of another cosubstrate(s) could not be predicted by simply generalizing antagonistic or synergistic interactions between substrates.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.313-321
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• 2013

Bacillus subtilis XF-1, a strain with demonstrated ability to control clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, was studied to elucidate its mechanism of antifungal activity against P. brassicae. Fengycin-type cyclopeptides (FTCPs), a well-known class of compounds with strong fungitoxic activity, were purified by acid precipitation, methanol extraction, and chromatographic separation. Eight homologs of fengycin, seven homologs of dehydroxyfengycin, and six unknown FTCPs were characterized with LC/ESI-MS, LC/ESI-MS/MS, and NMR. FTCPs (250 ${\mu}g/ml$) were used to treat the resting spores of P. brassicae ($10^7/ml$) by detecting leakage of the cytoplasm components and cell destruction. After 12 h treatment, the absorbencies at 260 nm ($A_{260}$) and at 280 nm ($A_{280}$) increased gradually to approaching the maximum of absorbance, accompanying the collapse of P. brassicae resting spores, and nearly no complete cells were observed at 24 h treatment. The results suggested that the cells could be cleaved by the FTCPs of B. subtilis XF-1, and the diversity of FTCPs was mainly attributed to a mechanism of clubroot disease biocontrol.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2004

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells in gastrointestinal tract and generate electrical rhythmicity in gastrointestinal muscles. Therefore, ICC may be modulated by endogenous agents such as neurotransmitter, hormones, and prostaglandins (PGs). In the present study, we investigated the effects of prostaglandins, especially $PGE_2$, on pacemaker currents in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine by using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. ICCs generated spontaneous slow waves under voltage-clamp conditions and showed a mean amplitude of $-452{\pm}39\;pA$ and frequency of $18{\pm}2$ cycles/min (n=6). Treatments of the cells with $PGE_2$ $(1\;{\mu}M)$ decreased both the frequency and amplitude of the pacemaker currents and increased the resting currents in the outward direction. $PGE_2$ had only inhibitory effects on pacemaker currents and this inhibitory effect was dose-dependent. For characterization of specific membrane EP receptor subtypes, involved in the effects of $PGE_2$ on pacemaker currents in ICCs, EP receptor agonists were used: Butaprost $(1\;{\mu}M)$, $EP_2$ receptor agonist, reduced the spontaneous inward current frequency and amplitude in cultured ICCs (n=5). However sulprostone $(1\;{\mu}M)$, a mixed $EP_1$ and $EP_3$ agonist, had no effects on the frequency, amplitude and resting currents of pacemaker currents (n=5). SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) and ODQ (an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase; $100\;{\mu}M$) had no effects on $PGE_2$ actions of pacemaker currents. These observations indicate that $PGE_2$ alter directly the pacemaker currents in ICCs, and that the $PGE_2$ receptor subtypes involved are the $EP_2$ receptor, independent of cyclic AMP- and GMP-dependent pathway.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1964-1971
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• 2015

Human bone marrow or human umbilical cord vein derived-mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs or hUC-MSCs) have known as a potentially useful cell type for clinical therapeutic applications. We investigated two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels in these cells. K2P channels play a major role in setting the resting membrane potential in many cell types. Among them, TREK1 is targets of hydrogen, hypoxia, polyunsaturated fatty acids, antidepressant, and neurotransmitters. We investigated whether hBM-MSCs and hUC-MSCs express functional TREK1 channel using RT-PCR analysis and patch clamp technique. Potassium channel with a single channel conductance of 100 pS was found in hUC-MSCs and BM-MSCs and the channel was activated by membrane stretch (-5 mmHg ~ -15 mmHg), arachidonic acid ($10{\mu}M$) and intracellular acidosis (pH 6.0). These electrophysiological properties were similar to those of TREK1. Our results suggest that TREK1 is functionally present in hBM-MSCs and hUC-MSCs, where they contribute to its resting membrane potential.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 1997

The conversion of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose by Gluconobater suboxydans was analyzed, and continuous production of L-sorbose was carried out in immobilized cell reactors. L-Sorbose production by high densities of resting cells was more effective than by conventional batch fermentations. Sorbitol dehydrogenase, an enzyme converting D-sorbitol to L-sorbose, did not suffer from substrate inhibition, but from product inhibition. When L-sorbose production was carried out with Ca-alginate-immobilized cells, about 60 g/l of L-sorbose was obtained. On the other hand, when the corn steep liquor (CSL) concentration of medium was reduced to 0.08%, 80 g/l of L-sorbose was obtained. Outgrowth inside the immobilized carriers was thought to block the pores of the carriers so that substrate could not easily diffuse through the carriers. Continuous production of L-sorbose was well accomplished in a bubble column reactor, and 6. 5 g/l.h of productivity and 81.2% of yield were obtained at a substrate feeding rate of 0.08h$^{-1}$ under the optimum conditions with carrier volume of 55% and aeration rate of 3 vvm.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.517-529
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• 2008

Porosomes are supramolecular, lipoprotein structures at the cell plasma membrane, where membrane-bound secretory vesicles transiently dock and fuse to release inravesicular contents to the outside during cell secretion. The mouth of the porosome opening to the outside, range in size from 150 nm in diameter in acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas, to 12 nm in neurons, which dilates during cell secretion, returning to its resting size following completion of the process. In the past decade, the composition of the porosome, its structure and dynamics at nm resolution and in real time, and its functional reconstitution into artificial lipid membrane, have all been elucidated. In this mini review, the discovery of the porosome, its structure, function, isolation, chemistry, and reconstitution into lipid membrane, the molecular mechanism of secretory vesicle swelling and fusion at the base of porosomes, and how this new information provides a paradigm shift in our understanding of cell secretion, is discussed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2017

Microglia are the primary resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). They are the first line of defense of the brain's innate immune response against infection, injury, and diseases. Microglia respond to extracellular signals and engulf unwanted neuronal debris by phagocytosis, thereby maintaining normal cellular homeostasis in the CNS. Pathological stimuli such as neuronal injury induce transformation and activation of resting microglia with ramified morphology into a motile amoeboid form and activated microglia chemotax toward lesion site. This review outlines the current research on microglial activation and chemotaxis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.166-175
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• 2004

Background: Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme capable of synthesizing telomeric repeats, attracts attention for its possible role in determining the replicative capacity of normal somatic cells, transformed cells, and cells of the germline lineage. Differently from normal somatic cells with no telomerase activity, normal lymphocytes has been reported to have telomerase activity comparable to that found in transformed cells during development and activation, which substantiate a role in supporting the capacity of lymphocytes for extensive clonal expansion. Methods: Here, in order to define the telomerase regulation in murine T lymphocytes, telomerase activity in cloned murine $CD8^+$ T cells and naive $CD8^+$ T cells isolated from C57BL/6 mice was examined. Next, the regulatory mechanism of telomerase activity at transcriptional and post- translational levels was investigated by determining the expression level of the TERT protein, a key component for telomerase activity. Results: It was demonstrated that telomerase activity was expressed in an inactivated state as well as in an activated state in the murine $CD8^+$ T lymphocytes by using TRAP assay. The increase of telomerase activity was partially dependent on the net increase of TERT expression. Also, telomerase activity was decreased after treatment with protein kinase inhibitors, indicating that telomerase activation was prevented by inhibition of phosphorylation. Conclusion: Therefore, these results suggest that telomerase activity is constitutively expressed in the murine resting T lymphocytes and controlled by both transcriptional regulation and post- ranslational modifications.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.91-108
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• 1993

The relationship of cartilage canals to initial osteogenesis of primary ossification center of developing vertebrae in human fetuses ranging from 50mm to 260mm in crown rump length was studied by light and electron microscopy. The cartiage canals of the thoracic vertebrae were first observed at 60mm fetus. Cartilage canals were identified as vascular channels arising from perichondrium surfaces. A number of cartilage canals were observed around the primary center of ossification at 80mm fetus. At 120mm fetus, cartilage canals of the bodies of vertebra were increased. Eventually the canals were eroded from the main medullary cavity and remained at only peripheral regions of growth cartilage. Superficial, intermediate, and deep canals were identified by the characteristics of cartilage cells. Fibroblasts, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, and vacuolated macrophages were observed adjacent to the matrix of resting cartilage cells in the superficial canal. Fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells were densely packed at the tip of canal, giving an epithelial appearance to the clustered cell in the intermediate canal. Vacuolated macrophages were in contact with matrix of hypertrophied cartilage. The thick-walled vessels in the intermediate and deep canals consisted of typical endothelial cells, but in the newly formed vessels contained mesenchymal cells and fibroblasts incorporated into the vessel wall. During lengthening of cartilage canal, the matrix of cartilage cells were invaded by newly formed capillaries and vacuolated macrophages. At the deep canal, the lateral wall of the canal terminated in matrix containing calcified cartilage. The mesenchymal cells began to differentiate into osteoblasts adjacent to the calcified matrix. The results indicate that the connective tissue cells within the cartilage canals proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts at the site of primary ossification center.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.671-682
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• 1998

Electrophysiological phenomena of pyramidal cells in the CA1 area of the dorsal hippocampus were recorded from and filled with neurobiotin in anesthetized rats. The electropharmacological properties of membrane as well as the cellular-synaptic generation of rhythmic slow activity (theta) were examined. The intracellular response characteristics of these pyramidal cells were distinctly different from responses of interneurons. Pyramidal cells had a high resting membrane potential, a low input resistance, and a large amplitude action potential. A afterhyperpolarization was followed a single action potential. Most of pyramidal cells did not display a spontaneous firing. Pyramidal cells displayed weak inward rectification and anodal break excitation. The slope of the frequency-current relation was 53.4 Hz/nA for the first interspike interval and 15.9 Hz/nA for the last intervals, suggesting the presence of spike frequency adaptation. Neurobiotin-filled neurons showed pyramidal morphology. Cells were generally bipolar dendritc processes ramifying in stratum lacunosum-moleculare, radiatum, and oriens. Commissural stimulation discharged pyramidal cells, followed by excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs and IPSPs). The frequency of theta-related membrane potential oscillation was voltage-independent in pyramidal neurons. At strong depolarization levels (less than 30 mV) pyramidal cells emitted sodium spike oscillation, phase-locked to theta. The observations provide direct evidence that theta-related rhythmic hyperpolarization of principal cells is brought by the rhythmically discharging interneurons. Furthermore, the findings in which interneurons were also paced by rhythmic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials during theta suggest that they were periodically hyperpolarized by their GABAergic septal afferents.