• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2009

The plasma membrane-localized BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) and BRI1-ASSOCIATED KINASE1 (BAK1) are a well-known receptor pair involved in brassinosteroids (BR) signaling in Arabidposis. The formation of a receptor complex in response to BRs and the subsequent activation of cytoplasmic domain kinase activity share mechanistic characteristics with animal receptor kinases. Here, we demonstrate that BRI1 and BAK1 are BR-dependently phosphorylated, and that phosphorylated forms of the two proteins persist for different lengths of time. Mutations of either protein abolished phosphorylation of the counterpart protein, implying transphosphorylation of the receptor kinases. To investigate the specific amino acids critical for formation of the receptor complex and activation of BAK1 kinase activity, we expressed several versions of BAK1 in yeast and plants. L32E and L46E substitutions resulted in a loss of binding of BAK1 to BRI1, and threonine T455 was essential for the kinase activity of BAK1 in yeast. Transgenic bri1 mutant plants overexpressing BAK1(L46E) displayed reduced apical dominance and seed development. In addition, transgenic wild type plants overexpressing BAK1(T455A) lost the phosphorylation activity normally exhibited in response to BL, leading to semi-dwarfism. These results suggest that BAK1 is a critical component regulating the duration of BR efficacy, even though it cannot directly bind BRs in plants.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.190-200
• /
• 2014

In this study, the antioxidant activity and quality characteristics of the Korean traditional food jeung-pyun made with ju-bak powder were investigated. Jeung-pyun added with 10% ju-bak powder had a total polyphenol content of 54.27%, DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 91.98%, reducing power of 0.51% and SOD-like antioxidant activity of 18.21%. Jeung-pyun added with ju-bak powder had a moisture content of 52.65 to 46.94%, crude fat content of 1.61 to 1.29%, crude protein content of 3.50 to 4.66%, crude ash content of 0.68 to 0.82% and dietary fiber content of 0.12 to 1.46%. Ju-bak powder added with jeung-pyun had a pH level from 4.86 to 4.39. As ju-bak content increased, the pH decreased significantly. Color L value were 78.82 to 68.67. As ju-bak content increased, the Color L value content decreased significantly; a value ranged from -1.89 to 0.69 and b value from 2.99 to 14.25. As ju-bak content increased, the color content significantly increased. As ju-bak content increased, the volume significantly decreased (ranged from 42.50 to 30.00 mL), hardness, gumminess and chewiness significantly increased, and cohesiveness significantly decreased. From SEM, as ju-bak content increased, the pores merged and collapsed, whereas the number of pores decreased and pore size became larger. Sensory evaluation of color, flavor, taste, texture, appearance, cell uniformity and overall acceptability for various levels of ju-bak powder showed that 10% had the highest acceptability. Therefore, 10% ju-bak power added with jeung-pyun has both high antioxidant capacity and sensory acceptability.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.1729-1733
• /
• 2007

Brassinolide insensitive associated receptor kinase 1(BAK1) is a critical component that play an important roles in signaling of brassinosteroid biosynthesis. Brassinosteroid-deficient and -insensitive mutants showed the characteristic of dwarf symptom. The nutrient deficient tomato showing stunt phenomenon was selected from soiless cultivation system using modified Sonneveld hydroponic solution. Twenty eight protein spots showing different expression levels compared to the control were isolated from extracts of stunted tomato leaves by 2D PAGE analyses. Significantly down-regulated 6 protein spots out of 28 protein spots were analyzed and sequenced by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The protein spot having pI=4.5 and MW=24 kDa was identified as a signal protein, BAK1, which is directly related to brassinosteroid biosynthesis. In addition, five other protein spots were identified as BCK1, cystein proteinase, sulfutase, peroxidase and zinc finger factor respectively, and they were also signal proteins related to brassinosteroid biosynthesis. Furthermore, amplification of 500bp of BAK1 mRNA by RT-PCR using a primer set of peptide matched regions was inhibited conpared to that of the wild type. The results sugested that the BAK1 might be regulated at the transcription level in response to nutrition applications.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is a major effector of various diseases; accordingly, antioxidants are frequently ingested in order to prevent or alleviate disease symptoms. Kimchi contains various natural antioxidants, and it is known that the functional activity varies depending on the ingredients and fermentation state. Black raspberries (BR) contain various bioactive compounds with antioxidant effects. This study investigated the antioxidant and liver-protection effects of kimchi supplemented with black raspberry juice powder (BJP). MATERIALS/METHODS: BJP-added kimchi (BAK; at 0.5%, 1%, and 2% concentrations of BJP) and control (without BJP) were prepared and fermented at $4^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks. Changes in the antioxidant effects of BAK during fermentation were investigated. In addition, the protective activity of BAK against oxidative stress was investigated in a liver cirrhosis-induced animal model in vivo. RESULTS: BAK groups showed the acidity and pH of optimally ripened (OR) kimchi at 2 weeks of fermentation along with the highest lactic acid bacterial counts. Additionally, BAK groups displayed a higher content of phenolic compounds and elevated antioxidant activities relative to the control, with the highest antioxidant effect observed at 2 weeks of fermentation of OR 1% BAK. After feeding the OR 1% BAK to thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis rats, we observed decreased glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase activities and elevated superoxide dismutase activity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed that the antioxidant effects of OR BAK and feeding of OR 1% BAK resulted in liver-protective effects against oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.10
• /
• pp.1675-1681
• /
• 2019

Clostridium difficile toxin A is known to cause colonic epithelial cell apoptosis, which is considered the main causative event that triggers inflammatory responses in the colon, reflecting the concept that the essential role of epithelial cells in the colon is to form a physical barrier in the gut. We previously showed that toxin A-induced colonocyte apoptosis and subsequent inflammation were dependent on prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) produced in response to toxin A stimulation. However, the molecular mechanism by which $PGE_2$ mediates cell apoptosis in toxin A-exposed colonocytes has remained unclear. Here, we sought to identify the signaling pathway involved in toxin A-induced, $PGE_2$-mediated colonocyte apoptosis. In non-transformed NCM460 human colonocytes, toxin A exposure strongly upregulated expression of Bak, which is known to form mitochondrial outer membrane pores, resulting in apoptosis. RT-PCR analyses revealed that this increase in Bak expression was attributable to toxin A-induced transcriptional upregulation. We also found that toxin A upregulation of Bak expression was dependent on $PGE_2$ production, and further showed that this effect was recapitulated by an Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) receptor-1 receptor agonist, but not by agonists of other EP receptors. Collectively, these results suggest that toxin A-induced cell apoptosis involves $PGE_2$-upregulation of Bak through the EP1 receptor.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.9-13
• /
• 2010

HooBakIp is one of the Korean crude drugs used mainly to cure a headache, apoplexy and dyspepsia. With regard to the botanical origin of HooBakIp, it has been considered to the Machilus thunbergii of Lauraceae in Korea. But there has no pharmacognostical conformation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of HooBakIp, the anatomical characteristics of the leaf of Machilus thunbergii, Machilus thunbergii var. obovata and Machilus japonica were studied. As a result, it was clarified that HooBakIp from Korea was the leaf of Machilus thunbergii.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.20-29
• /
• 2007

1. Objectives We know that the origine of the pe-tsai is from 백채(白菜; pronounced as bak-tsai, meaning white vegetable). But some literatures said that the japanese butterbur(Petasites japonicus (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim) is from 백채(白菜;: pronounced as bak-tsai), too. These two words have same origin. It makes us get into a mess. So We are about to study the origine of the pe-tsai more. Also, we investigated its historical origin, properties and Sasang constitutional medicine's efficacy. 2. Methods We reviewed farmings(e.g. 山林經濟, 林園經濟法), dictionarys(e.g. 訓蒙字會), encyclopedia(e.g. 物名攷), books on herbs and medicines to summarize literatures about the pe-tsai. 3. Results and Conclusions (1) The origin of term, pe-tsai is sung, named after a pine tree(松), chineses character pronounced as song) which we can see throughout a year. Also, pe-tsai was called white vegetables(白菜, pronounced as bak-tsai) because its appearance is green and white. Therefore, the pronounciation of sung derives from its character and we also say bak-tsai(白菜), which came from its looks. (2) Today we pronounce pe-tsai inro bae-tsu(배추) in korean. There are pronunciational developments of this word : bak-tsai(白菜) $\to$ bae-tsae $\to$ bae-tsa $\to$ bae-tsa $\to$ bae-tsae(배채) $\to$ bae-tsu(배추). (3) Our ancestor used bak-tsai(白菜) as the name of japenese butterbur, which was different from China. The latter times of Joseon(조선), however, sometimes bak-tsai(白菜) meant pe-tsai. After the year of 1800, bak-tsai(白菜) only meant pe-tsai. So when we try to translate our ancestor's books, we must examine carefully their published year. (4) Pe-tsai is used for baby's erysipelas, boil, fever in the chest, thirst after alcohol drinking and kind of diabetes. It helps digestive organs as well. Pe-tsai is used for stress, fever in the chest and cough with fever of Soyangin and Tayangin in Sasang Constitutional Medicine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.2087-2092
• /
• 2015

Nowadays herbal-derived medicines are attracting attention as new sources of drugs with few side effects. Silibinin is a flavonoid compound with chemotheraputic effects on different cancers such as examples in the prostate, lung, colon and breast. In the present study, the cytotoxic effects of silibinin on MCF7 breast cancer cells were investigated. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and the impact of silibinin on the expression of pivotal genes including Bak, P53, P21, BRCA1, BCL-X1 and ATM was analyzed. Treatment for 24h had a significant dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell growth (p<0.05) with dose- and time- dependent induction of apoptosis (p<0.05). In addition, there were significant increases in BRCA1, ATM, Bak and Bcl-XL gene expression at the mRNA level with different concentrations of silibinin for 24 or 48 h (p<0.05). Taken together, the results suggest that silibinin inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of MCF-7 cells by down-regulating Bak, P53, P21, BRCA1, BCL-Xl and thus may be considered as an effective adjuvant drug to produce a better chemopreventive response for the cancer therapy.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2001.11a
• /
• pp.261-264
• /
• 2001

Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of preservatives were examined. Fibroblast cell L929 was used for cytotoxicity experiment and Pseudomonas aeruginosa A TCC27853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923. Trichoderma reesei ATCC6967 were used for antibacteria and antifungi. Benzalkoniumchloride(BAK) as synthetic preservative and chitosan as natural preservative were used. Minimum inhibitary concentration (MIC) of BAK was 0.1 % for P. aeruginsa and 0.001% for S. aureus and 0.1 % for T reesei MIC of chitosan was 2% for P. aeruginosa and 1 % for S. aureus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.12
• /
• pp.1654-1663
• /
• 2014

To examine the effect of tumor suppressor protein p53 on the antitumor activity of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-$E_2$), 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cell cycle changes and apoptotic events were compared between the human colon carcinoma cell lines HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) and HCT116 ($p53^{-/-}$). When both cell types were exposed to 2-MeO-$E_2$, a reduction in the cell viability and an enhancement in the proportions of $G_2/M$ cells and apoptotic sub-$G_1$ cells commonly occurred dose-dependently. These 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cellular changes, except for $G_2/M$ arrest, appeared to be more apparent in the presence of p53. Immunofluorescence microscopic analysis using anti-${\alpha}$-tubulin and anti-lamin B2 antibodies revealed that after 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, impaired mitotic spindle network and prometaphase arrest occurred similarly in both cell types. Following 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, only HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells exhibited an enhancement in the levels of p53, p-p53 (Ser-15), $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$, and Bax; however, the Bak level remained relatively constant in both cell types, and the Bcl-2 level decreased only in HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells. Additionally, mitochondrial apoptotic events, including the activation of Bak and Bax, loss of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$, activation of caspase-9 and -3, and cleavage of lamin A/C, were more dominantly induced in the presence of p53. The Bak-specific and Bax-specific siRNA approaches confirmed the necessity of both Bak and Bax activations for the 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These results show that among 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptotic events, including prometaphase arrest, up-regulation of Bax level, down-regulation of Bcl-2 level, activation of both Bak and Bax, and mitochondria-dependent caspase activation, the modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 levels is the target of the pro-apoptotic action of p53.