• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2015

Flavonoids are plant pigments that have been demonstrated to exert various pharmacological effects including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms in terms of exact target proteins of flavonoids are not fully elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of scutellarein (SCT), a flavonoid isolated from Erigeron breviscapus, Clerodendrum phlomidis and Oroxylum indicum Vent that have been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory diseases in China and Brazil. For this purpose, a nitric oxide (NO) assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nuclear fractionation, immunoblot analysis, a kinase assay, and an overexpression strategy were employed. Scutellarein significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SCT also dampened nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene upon transfection of a TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF) construct into Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells; similarly, NF-${\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation was inhibited by SCT. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of various upstream signaling enzymes involved in NF-${\kappa}B$ activation were decreased by SCT treatment in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Finally, SCT strongly inhibited Src kinase activity and also inhibited the autophosphorylation of overexpressed Src. Therefore, our data suggest that SCT can block the inflammatory response by directly inhibiting Src kinase activity linked to NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2011

The Egr-1 gene is known to be a transcription factor for activating the expression of many tumor-repressing genes. In this study, three strains activating the promoter of the Egr-1 gene were selected, through the use of Egr-1 luciferase reporter assay and western blotting, from amongst approximately 3,800 oligotrophic bacteria isolated from the cultivated soils of various regions within Korea. These strains were identified as Pseudomonas koreensis on the basis of phylogenetic tree analysis of their 16S ribosomal DNA sequences and biochemical characteristics analyses using a variety of commercial kits (API 20NE, ID 32GN, API ZYM kits). In addition, we discovered that these strains produced anti-bacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.451-458
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• 2009

Purpose: Optical molecular luminescence imaging is widely used for detection and imaging of bio-photons emitted by luminescent luciferase activation. The measured photons in this method provide the degree of molecular alteration or cell numbers with the advantage of high signal-to-noise ratio. To extract useful information from the measured results, the analysis based on a proper quantification method is necessary. In this research, we propose a quantification method presenting linear response of measured light signal to measurement time. Materials and Methods: We detected the luminescence signal by using lab-made optical imaging equipment of animal light imaging system (ALIS) and different two kinds of light sources. One is three bacterial light-emitting sources containing different number of bacteria. The other is three different non-bacterial light sources emitting very weak light. By using the concept of the candela and the flux, we could derive simplified linear quantification formula. After experimentally measuring light intensity, the data was processed with the proposed quantification function. Results: We could obtain linear response of photon counts to measurement time by applying the pre-determined quantification function. The ratio of the re-calculated photon counts and measurement time present a constant value although different light source was applied. Conclusion: The quantification function for linear response could be applicable to the standard quantification process. The proposed method could be used for the exact quantitative analysis in various light imaging equipments with presenting linear response behavior of constant light emitting sources to measurement time.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.571-576
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• 2002

Recombinant E. coli DH5 ${\alpha}$/pSB311 was made by cloning the genes encoding bacterial luciferase and aldehyde substrate proteins from Photohabdus luminescense, to complement defects of Lumistox, which is normally used in bioassays to monitor toxic substances in water environmental systems. The conditions for stable light production by the recombinant strains were investigated with respect to cell growth stage, cell number, and buffer conditions. The optimum growth stage was a middle-exponential stage with an OD$_{660nm}$ value of 0.6-0.7. ADout 10$^{6}$-10$^{7}$ cells per test tube was optimum for stable light emission. The effect of buffer was not significant if an optimum viable cell number was maintained. The bioluminescence of the recombinant E. coli harboring the lux operon of Photohabdus luminescense was not affected by temperature, while the bioluminescence of Lumistox was temperature sensitive. The recombinant E. coli was more sensitive to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Zn) than Lumistox, because it does not require high concentrations of NaCl in the buffer.