• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.280-282
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• 2019

We present here a draft genome sequence of Bifidobacterium dentium strain ATCC 15424, originally isolated from pleural fluid of an empyema patient. The genome is 2,625,535 bp in length and has a GC content of 58.5%. The genome includes 2,154 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNAs, and 55 tRNAs. Unlike other B. dentium strains isolated from human dental caries, ATCC 15424 carries 247 strain-specific genes, including prophage remnants and type III/IV secretion system proteins, N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase, and PRTRC system protein E. The sequence information will contribute to understanding of the natural variation of B. dentium as well as the genome diversity within the bacterial species.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.339-343
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• 2000

When plants are exposed to subfreezing temperatures ice crystals are forming within extracelluar space in leaves. The growth of ice crystal is closely related to the degree of freezing injury. It was shown that an antifreeze protein binds to an ice nucleator through hydrogen bonds to prevent growth of ice crystal and also reduces freezing damage. The antifreeze proteins in plants are similar to PR proteins but only the PR proteins induced upon cold acclimation were shown to have dual functions in antifreezing as well as antifungal activities. Three of the genes encoded for CLP, GLP, and TLP were isolated from barley and Kentucky bluegrass based on amino acid sequence revealed after purification and low temperature-inducibility as shown in analysis of the protein. The deduced amino acid of the genes cloned showed a signal for secretion into extracellular space where the antifreezing activity sup-posed to work. The western analysis using the antisera raised against the antifreeze proteins showed a positive correlation between the amount of the protein and the level of freeze tolerance among different cultivars of barely. Besides it was revealed that TLP is responsible for a freeze tolerance induced by a treatment of trinexapac ethyl in Kentucky bluegrass. Analysis of an overwintering wild rice, Oryza rufipogon also showed that an acquisition of freeze tolerance relied on accumulation of the protein similar to CLP. The more direct evidence for the role of CLP in freeze tolerance was made with the analysis of the transgenic tobacco showing extracellular accumulation of CLP and enhanced freeze tolerance measured by amount of ion leakage and rate of photosynthetic electron transport upon freezing. These antifreeze proteins genes will be good candidates for transformation into crops such as lettuce and strawberry to develop into the new crops capable of freeze-storage and such as rose and grape to enhance a freeze tolerance for a safe survival during winter.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.6 s.86
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• pp.847-858
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• 2007

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an important intracellular organelle for folding and maturation of newly synthesized transmembrane and secretory proteins. The ER provides stringent quality control systems to ensure that only correctly folded proteins exit the ER and unfolded or misfolded proteins are retained and ultimately degraded. The ER has evolved stress response both signaling pathways the unfolded protein response (UPR) to cope with the accmulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins and ER overload response (EOR). Accumulating evidence suggests that, in addition to responsibility for protein processing, ER is also an important signaling compartment and a sensor of cellular stress. In this respect, production of bio-functional recombinant-proteins requires efficient functioning of the ER secretory pathway in host cells. This review briefly summarizes our understanding of the ER signaling developed in the recent years to help of the secretion capacities of recombinant cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2006

The effects of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) on salivary glands have been recognized since 1982. The presence of purinergic recepetors(P2Rs) that mediate the effects of ATP in various tissues, including parotid and submandibular salivary gland, has been supported by the cloning of receptor cDNAs and the expression of the receptor proteins. P2Rs have many subtypes, and the activation of these receptor subtypes increase intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, a key ion in the regulation of the secretion in the salivary gland. The apical pores of taste buds in circumvallate and foliate papillae are surrounded by the saliva from von Ebner salivary gland(vEG). Thus, it is important how the secretion of vEG is controlled. This study was designed to elucidate the roles of P2Rs on salivary secretion of vEG. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (about 200 g) were used for this experiment. vEG-rich tissues were obtained from dissecting $500-1,000\;{\mu}m$ thick posterior tongue slices under stereomicroscope view. P2Rs mRNA in vEG acinar cells were identified with RT-PCR. To observe the change in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ activity, we employed $Ca^{2+}-ion$ specific fluorescence analysis with fura-2. Single acinar cells and cell clusters were isolated by a sequential trypsin/collagenase treatment and were loaded with $10\;{\mu}M$ fura -2 AM for 60 minutes at room temperature. Several agonists and antagonists were used to test a receptor specificity. RT-PCR revealed that the mRNAs of $P2X_4$, $P2Y_1$, $P2Y_2$ and $P2Y_3$ are expressed in vEG acinar cells. The intracellular calcium activity was increased in response to $10\;{\mu}M$ ATP, a P2Rs agonist, and 2-MeSATP, a $P2Y_1$ and $P2Y_2R$ agonist. However, $300\;{\mu}M\;{\alpha}{\beta}-MeATP$, a $P2X_1$ and $P2X_3R$ agonist, did not elicit the response. The responses elicited by $10\;{\mu}M$ ATP and UTP, a $P2Y_2R$ agonists, were maintained when extracellular calcium was removed. $10\;{\mu}M$ suramin, a P2XR antagonist, and reactive blue 2, a P2YR antagonist, partially blocked ATP-induced response. However, when extracellular calciums were removed, suramin did not abolish the responses elicited by ATP. These results suggest that P2Rs play an important role in salivary secretion of vEG acinar cells and the effects of ATP on vEG salivary secretion may be mediated by $P2X_4$, $P2Y_1$, $P2Y_2$, and/or $P2Y_3$.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.264-274
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• 1989

In order to study the influence of spermatozoa and testicular fluid on the component and composition of proteins in epididymal fluid of mice, histological differentiation of testis and epididymis were observed during sexual maturation, and the proteins in epididymal fluids collected according to the characteristics of lumination were analyzed by electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In 10 day-old mouse, both of,testis and epididymis were undifferentiated. In 20 day-old mouse, epididymis was primitively luminated, but testis was not. In 35 day-old mouse, both of testis and epididymis were luminated and eaithdymal epithelium was differentiated into principal cells and clear cells. Spermatozoa were not transfered into epididymis yet. However, in 80 day-old mouse, both of festis and epididymis were fully differentiated and spermatozoa were transfered into epididymis. In electrophoretic paftem of proteins in epididymal fluid, a total of 28 kinds of proteins were identified, which were different from those of their sera. 12 kinds out of these proteins were epididymal specific protein(ESP) detected in epididymal fluid only, and the other 16 kinds(TEP) were also detected in testicular fluid. The proteins in epididymal fluid changed during sexual maturation and 3 kinds of the proteins changed quantitatively according to epididymal regions in adult. It may be concluded from the above results that the component and composition of the proteins in epididymal fluid changed by the influx of testicular fluid including spermatozoa into epididymis and regulation of the protein synthesis, secretion and/or absorption by the epididymal epithelium. Therefore it is strongly suggested that ESP and TEP in epididymal fluid play somehow significant roles on the maturation of epididymal spermatozoa.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.64-75
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• 2018

CCN3 (also known as NOV, Nephroblastoma overexpressed) proteins are involved in various pathologies during different developmental stages. We have previously shown that intracellular levels and normal extracellular secretion of CCN3 are important for neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a single amino acid in the CCN3 TSP-1 domain is important for extracellular secretion and that palmitoylation of CCN3 is required in this process. However, the effect of abnormal CCN3 accumulation on cells remains to be studied. Here, we found mutations in the TSP-1 domain of CCN3 that led to intracellular accumulation and abnormal aggregation of CCN3. It was observed that this mutation resulted in a phenomenon similar to neurodegeneration when overexpressed in the developing mouse cortex. This mutation also confirmed the activation of apoptotic gene expression in Neuro2a cells. In addition, we confirmed the in vivo transcriptional changes induced by this mutation using microarray analysis. We observed a significant increase in the expression of Anp32a, an apoptosis-related gene. Collectively, these results indicate that a single mutation in CCN3 can lead to abnormal cell death if it shows intracellular accumulation and abnormal aggregation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.532-538
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• 2007

Mouse ficolin A is a plasma protein with lectin activity, and plays a role in host defense by binding carbohydrates, especially GlcNAc, on microorganisms. The ficolin A subunit consists of an N-terminal signal peptide, a collagen-like domain, and a C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain. In this study, we show that ficolin A can be synthesized and oligomerized in a cell and secreted into culture medium. We also identify a functionally relevant signal peptide of ficolin A by using MS/MS analysis to determine the N-terminal sequence of secreted ficolin A. When the signal peptide of mouse ficolin A was fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), EGFP was released into HEK 293 cell medium, suggesting that the signal peptide can efficiently direct ficolin A secretion. Moreover, our results suggest that the signal peptide of ficolin A has potential application for the production of useful secretory proteins.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2004

It has been reported that glomerulosclerosis mediated by the dysfunction of mesangial cells and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. However, it is not yet known the effect of high glucose on IGF-I, -II secretion, IGF-I receptor, and IGFBPs expression in the mesangial cells. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the effect of high glucose on IGF system and its involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) and oxidative stress in mesangial cells. In this study, high glucose (25 mM) increased IGF-I and IGF-II secretion and mRNA expression (P<0.05), which was blocked by PKC inhibitor (staurosporine, 10/sup -8/ M) and antioxidant (N-acetyl cystein, 10/sup -5/ M). High glucose decreased IGFBP-1 and -2 expression but increased IGFBP-5 expression. These alteration of IGFBPs by high glucose was also prevented by staurosporine and NAC, suggesting the role of PKC and oxidative stress. Indeed, high glucose increased PKC activity. Furthermore, high glucose-induced increase of lipid peroxide (LPO) formation was blocked by PKC inhibitors. In conclusion, high glucose alters IGF system via PKC-oxidative pathways in mesangial cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.46-58
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Injinchunggan-tang(Yinchenqinggan-tang) on the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes and proteins in kupffer cells. Materials and Methods : The mRNA expression level and protein secretion level were measured using quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA assay respectively in Injinchunggan-tang-treated and untreated kupffer cells after exposed to ethanol, acetaldehyde and lipopolysaccharide. Results : Injinchunggan-tang(Yinchenqinggan-tang) reduced mRNA expression level and protein secretion level of $TNF-{\alpha},\;TGF-{\beta}1,\;IL-1{\beta},\;IL-6,\;IL-8$ that are induced by ethanol, acetaldehyde and lipopolysaccharide in kupffer cells and that mediate inflammation and fibrosis of liver. Conclusion : The result indicates that Injinchunggan-tang (Yinchenqinggan-tang) blocks alcohol-induced liver injury and protects liver by reducing production of inflammatory cytokines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.72-72
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• 2003

The PAS factor, whose gene has been cloned from V vulnifcus, is a protein secretion factor. Although the role of the PAS factor in Vibrio is still unknown, it may be involved with the bacterial protein secretion. The PAS factor is a 76 amino acid polypeptide, and its expression in E. coli cells makes the host cell membrane leaky, resulting in the excretion of periplasmic proteins into the culture medium. Highly expressed PAS factor is harmful to the cell, this may be due to a disruption of the membrane structure or function.