• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.168-172
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• 1999

The antifungal mechanism of the antifungal peptide against Aspergillus fumigatus, $K^{18,19}$-CA(l-8)-ME(l-12), derived from cecropin A(l-8)-melittin(l-12) was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy, cell wall regeneration, ATPase activity inhibition, and released potassium ion. By confocal laser scanning microscopy, $K^{18,19}$-CA(l-8)-ME(l-12) was detected on the surface of A. fumigatus, while cecropin A used as a negative control peptide was not detected. The protoplast of A. fumigatus treated with$K^{18,19}$-CA(1-8)-ME(1-12) failed to regenerate the fungal cell walls. Compared with cecropin A, the amount of potassium ion released by $K^{18,19}$-CA(l-8)-ME(l-12) was increased. Furthermore, $K^{18,19}$-CA(l-8)-ME(l-12) inhibited the ATPase activity on the plasma membrane. These results suggested that $K^{18,19}$-CA(l-8)-ME(1-12) acts on the plasma membrane of A. fumigatus and its antifungal action is due to the ion channel or pore formation on the plasma membrane.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 1996.12a
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• pp.70-70
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• 1996

The cytotoxicological effect of Bt 1-endotoxin, well-known as a bioinsecticide, was investigated on ion channel of insect cell lines. This study attempted to evaluted the specificity by simple experiment to measure the cell swelling using lepidopteran cell lines in isotonic solution containing only one cation. Cell swelling was stimulated in KCI-sucrose isotonic solution as well as TC-100 media containg in solubilized crystal 5-endotoxin. It suggested that the cell swelling by Bt toxin have a relation to K+ channel. The cell swelling may be due to the stimulation K+ influx and simultaneously the penetration of H2O induced by Bt toxin, because the stimulation of swelling was observed with the solubilized toxin in KCI-sucrose isotonic solution, but not in sucrose isotonic solution. Moreover the specific K+ channel blocker, such as 4-arnjnopyrimidine(4-AP) and ouabain, showed the significant effect on the cell swelling induced by Bt toxin. The increasement of the cell swelling induced by 4-AP suggested to be caused by the block of K+ efflux through K+ leak channels. The inhibition of cell swelling by ouabain, which is the well-known inhibitor of Na+, K+-ATPase, suggested to be due to decreasement of K+ influx following diminishment of Na+, K+-ATPase activities.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.542-549
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• 2010

In the present study, overexpression, purification, and characterization of Aeropyrum pernix K1 chaperonin B in E. coli were investigated. The chaperonin $\beta$-subunit gene (ApCpnB, 1,665 bp ORF) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon A. pernix K1 was amplified by PCR and subcloned into vector pET21a. The constructed pET21a-ApCpnB (6.9 kb) was transformed into E. coli BL21 Codonplus (DE3). The transformant cell successfully expressed ApCpnB, and the expression of ApCpnB (61.2 kDa) was identified through analysis of the fractions by SDS-PAGE (14% gel). The recombinant ApCpnB was purified to higher than 94% by using heat-shock treatment at $90^{\circ}C$ for 20 min and fast protein liquid chromatography on a HiTrap Q column step. The purified ApCpnB showed ATPase activity and its activity was dependent on temperature. In the presence of ATP, ApCpnB effectively protected citrate synthase (CS) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from thermal aggregation and inactivation at $43^{\circ}$ and $50^{\circ}$, respectively. Specifically, the activity of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) at $85^{\circ}$ was greatly stabilized by the addition of ApCpnB and ATP. Coexpression of pro-carboxypeptidase B (pro-CPB) and ApCpnB in E. coli BL21 Codonplus (DE3) had a marked effect on the yield of pro-CPB as a soluble and active form, speculating that ApCpnB facilitates the correct folding of pro-CPB. These results suggest that ApCpnB has both foldase and holdase activities and can be used as a powerful molecular machinery for the production of recombinant proteins as soluble and active forms in E. coli.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Objectives Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a human pathogen and a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. New antibacterial agents that have not been compromised by bacterial resistance are needed to treat MRSA-related infections. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity ofethanol extract of Haedokgeumhwa-san (HGH) which prescription is composed of korean medicine against MRSA. Methods The antibacterial activity of HGH extract was evaluated against MRSA strains by using the Disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method (minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC), checkerboard dilution test, and time-kill test; its mechanism of action was investigated by bacteriolysis, detergent or ATPase inhibitors. The checkerboard dilution test was used to examined synergistic effect of ampicillin, oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, gentamicin and norfloxacin in combination with HGH ethanol extract. A time-kill assay was performed a survival curve which was obtained by plotting viable colony counts depending on time on bacterial growth. Results The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanol extract (HGH) ranged from 1,000 to $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ against all the tested bacterial strains, respectively. We are able to confirm that HGH extract has potentially strong antibacterial activity. In the checkerboard dilution test, fractional inhibitory concentration index of HGH in combination with antibiotics indicated synergy or partial synergism against S. aureus. A time-kill study showed that the growth of the tested bacteria was considerably inhibited after 8 hr of treatment with the combination of HGH with selected antibiotics. For measurement of cell membrane permeability, HGH $250{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ along with concentration of Triton X-100 (TX) and Tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris) were used. In the other hand, N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodimide (DCCD) and Sodium azide ($NaN_3$) was used as an inhibitor of ATPase. TX, Tris, DCCD and $NaN_3$ cooperation against S. aureus showed synergistic action. Accordingly, antimicrobial activity of HGH was affected by cell membrane and inhibitor of ATPase. Conclusions These results suggest that Haedokgeumhwa-san extract has antibacterial activity, and that HGH extract offers a potential as a natural antibiotic against MRSA.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.18-18
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• 1997

Chronic treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA) were shown to induce reversible alterations of contractile properties in rat heart. To define the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological alterations, the $Ca^{2＋}$ release channel (CRC) and $Ca^{2＋}$-ATPase in rat sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were examined.(omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.984-988
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• 2002

The issue of whether or not the presence NOx (NO and oxidized metabolites) in the hepatocytes at pathological levels affects the functional activity of transport systems within the sinusoidal membrane was investigated. For this purpose, the effect of the pretreatment of isolated hepatocytes with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a spontaneous NO donor, on the sinusoidal uptake of tributylmethylammonium (TBuMA) and triethylmethyl ammonium (TEMA), representative substrates of the organic cation transporter (OCT), and taurocholate, a representative substrate of the $Na^+$/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), was measured. The uptake of TBuMA and TEMA was not affected by the pretreatment, as demonstrated by the nearly identical kinetic parameters for the uptake ($i.e., V_{max}, K_{m} and CL_{linear}$). The uptake of mannitol into hepatocytes was not affected, demonstrating that the membrane integrity remained constant, irregardless of the SNP prutreatment. On the contrary, the uptake of taurocholate was significantly inhibited by the pretreatment, resulting in a significant decrease in V_{max}$, thus providing a clear demonstration that NOx preferentially affects the function of NTCP rather than OCT on the sinusoidal membrane. A direct interaction between NOx and NTCP or a decrease in $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase activity as the result of SNP pretreatment might be responsible for this selective effect of NOx.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.414-420
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• 2012

Forty guinea pigs were divided into four groups and fed 0.04% cholesterol based control diet, plus 0.05% simvastatin, and statin plus 0.1% CoQ10 or 10% Ardisia Japonica Blume (AJB) leave powder for 4 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol levels decreased significantly in all groups fed the statin-containing diet compared with that in guinea pigs fed the control diet (P < 0.01). Plasma and liver triglycerides decreased significantly in the statin plus CoQ10 group compared with those in the control (both P < 0.05). Maximum platelet aggregation was significantly higher in the statin plus CoQ10 group than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). Na-K ATPase activity increased in the statin group and decreased in the statin plus CoQ10 group (P < 0.01). Na-K co-transport and Na passive transport decreased significantly in the control group compared with those in the other groups (both P < 0.05). Intracellular Na was highest in the statin group and lowest in the statin plus CoQ10 group and was correlated with Na-K ATPase activity. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance production in platelet-rich plasma and liver tended to decrease in the statin plus CoQ10 group compared with those in the other groups. Plasma glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase increased significantly in the statin group compared with those in the control (P < 0.05). These result suggest that antioxidant rich AJB did not have positive effects on cardiovascular disease parameters. The statin plus CoQ10 seemed to decrease cholesterol more efficiently than that of statin alone.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 1982

The effect of ethacrynic acid (EA) on the renal secretion of PAH was examined in cat kidney. $C_{PAH}$ and $T_{PAH}$ were measured before and after infusion of EA $(0.5{\sim}50mg/kg)$ through the femoral vein. The following results were obtained: 1) In the dosage range of 0.5 to 25 mg/kg, EA increased the urine flow, and sodium and potassium excretion in dose-dependent manner, but the glomelular filtration rate was decreased as the dosage of EA was increased. 2) $C_{PAH}$ and $T_{PAH}$ were decreased by EA in the dosage range of 3 to 25 mg/kg and 1 to 50 mg/kg, respectively, in dose·dependent manner with the dosage to cause 50% inhibition of about 5 mg/kg. 3) With dosage of 0.5mg/kg, EA appeared to exert a great effect on diuretic response without the influence on $T_{PAH}$. At 10min after infusion of EA, a potent diuretic effect appeared, while $T_{PAH}$ did not show a significant change. These results suggest that the action mechanism of EA on tubular secretion of PAH may be different from that on natriuresis. 4) With dosage of 5 mg/kg, EA did not inhibit the Na-K-ATPase activity in microsomal fractions from both cortex and medulla. 5) The double reciprocal plot ($l/T_{PAH}$ versus $l/P_{PAH}$) suggested that EA inhibited the P AH secretion by a competitive pattern. However, probenecid, a prototypic inhibitor of the organic acid pump, had no influence on both the inhibitory effect of $T_{PAH}$ and the natriuretic effect by EA. These results suggest that in vivo EA altered tubular secretion of P AH through interactions with receptors that are not identical with the Na-K-ATPase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1320-1327
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• 2009

This study examined the effects of nicotinamide on proliferation, differentiation, and energy metabolism in a primary culture of bovine adipocytes. After treatment of cells with 100-500 $\mu{M}$ nicotinamide, cell growth was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and cellular lipid content was assessed by Oil Red O staining and a triglyceride (TG) assay. Several factors related to energy metabolism, namely adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity, nitric oxide (NO) content, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, the number of mitochondria and the relative expression of glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-$\gamma$ ($PPAR_{\gamma}$) and inducible NOS (iNOS), were also investigated. Results showed that nicotinamide induced both proliferation and differentiation in bovine preadipocytes. Nicotinamide decreased NO production by inhibiting NOS activity and iNOS mRNA expression, and controlled lipolytic activity by increasing ATPase activity and the number of mitochondria. The present study provides further evidence of the effects of nicotinamide on lipid and energy metabolism, and suggests that nicotinamide may play an important role in the development of bovine adipose tissue in vivo. This emphasizes the importance of investigating bovine adipose tissue to improve our understanding of dairy cow physiology.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.317-325
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• 2001

For heuristic purposes, the relative ratio of urease contents inside and outside cells was surveyed using nine ureB+ strains of Helicobacter pylori. the ratio of the enzyme specific activity appeared to vary greatly between the various H. pylori strains, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5. Besides the above compartment, urease was also richly found in the membrane fraction, especially in either peripheral or integral form. The urease distribution across the H. pylori membrane was significantly influenced by the ambient pH; the specific activity of external urease was highest at pH 5.5 with a narrow plateau, whereas the internal specific activity was highest within a pH range of 4.5 to 6.5 with a broad plateau. These finding strongly suggest that H. pylori urease is secretory and responded to the external pH. However, at pH 4.0 or below, no urease activity was detected in either the internal or external compartment, although an increase in the color development with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) was observed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) demonstrated that these phenomena may be related to a specific proteolysis in certain proteins, including urease or ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase. Interestingly, the effect of ammonium ions n alleviating the enzyme inactivation inside the H. pylori cells was remarkably similar to that of D-glucose. In addition, it would appear that the cation acted as a surrogate of not only $Na^+$ but also $K^+$ thereby increasing the H. pylori P-type ATPase activity. This is of great interest, as it implies that the urease action in H. pylori is indispensible at any locus.