• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.734-741
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• 2014

Histone modifications on major transcription factor target genes are one of the major regulatory mechanisms controlling adipogenesis. Plant homeodomain finger 2 (PHF2) is a Jumonji domain-containing protein and is known to demethylate the histone H3K9, a repressive gene marker. To better understand the function of PHF2 in adipocyte differentiation, we constructed stable PHF2 knock-down cells by using the mouse pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3-L1. When induced with adipogenic media, PHF2 knock-down cells showed reduced lipid accumulation compared to control cells. Differential expression using a cDNA microarray revealed significant reduction of metabolic pathway genes in the PHF2 knock-down cell line after differentiation. The reduced expression of major transcription factors and adipokines was confirmed with reverse transcription- quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. We further performed co-immunoprecipitation analysis of PHF2 with four major adipogenic transcription factors, and we found that CCATT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)${\alpha}$ and C/EBP${\delta}$ physically interact with PHF2. In addition, PHF2 binding to target gene promoters was confirmed with a chromatin immunoprecipitation experiment. Finally, histone H3K9 methylation markers on the PHF2-binding sequences were increased in PHF2 knock-down cells after differentiation. Together, these results demonstrate that PHF2 histone demethylase controls adipogenic gene expression during differentiation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2000

The chloroform and methanol (2;1, v/v) extract from an edible plant, Actinidia arguta Planchon, appeared to possess antitumor activity against human leukemias Jurkat T and U937 cells through inducing apoptosis. The substance in the solvent extract was purified by silica gel column chromatography, preparative TLC, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Characteristics of the substance analyzed by UV scanning analysis, $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR spectra suggested that the substance belongs to the chlorophyll derivatives-like group. The $IC_{50}$ value of the chlorophyll derivative (Cp-D) determined by MTT assay was $15\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ for Jurkat, $10\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ for U937, and $11.4\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ for HL-60m and was more toxic to these leukemias than to solid tumors or normal fibroblast. In order to elucidate cellular mechanisms underlying the cytotoxicity, the effect of the Cp-D on Jurkat T cells was investigated. When cells were treated with the Cp-D at a concentration of $15\mu\textrm{g}/ml$, [3H]thymidine incorporation declined rapidly and wa undetectable in 1h. However, no significant changes were made in the cell cycle distribution of the cells by 24h. The sub-Gl peak representing apoptotic cells began to be detectable in 36h, at which time apoptotic DNA fragmentation was also detected on agarose gel electrophoresis, demonstrating that the cytotoxic effect of the Cp-D is attributable to the induced apoptosis. Under the same conditions, although the protein level of cyclin-dependent kinases such as cdc4, csk6, cdk2, and cdc2 was not significantly changed until 24h, the kinase activity of all c안 rapidly declined and reached a minimum level within 1-6h and then recovered to the initial level by 12h and sustained until 24h. These results suggest that inactivation of cdks at an inappropriate time during the cell cycle progression in jurkat T cells following a treatment with the Cp-D leads to induction of apoptotic cell death.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2015

An agarolytic marine bacterium (H9) was isolated from the coastal seawater of the West Sea, South Korea. The isolate, H9, was gram-negative and rod-shaped with a smooth surface and polar flagellum. Cells grew at 20-30℃, between pH 5.0 and 9.0, and in ASW-YP (Artificial Sea Water-Yeast extract, Peptone) media containing 1-5% (w/v) NaCl. The G+C content was 41.56 mol%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone in strain H9 was ubiquinone-8. The major fatty acids (>10%) were C_16:1ω7c (34.3%), C_16:0 (23.72%), and C_18:1ω7c (13.64%). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and biochemical and chemotaxonomic characterization, the strain was designated as Pseudoalteromonas sp. H9 (=KCTC23887). In liquid culture supplemented with 0.2% agar, the cell density and agarase activity reached a maximum level of OD = 4.32 (48 h) and OD = 3.87 (24 h), respectively. The optimum pH and temperature for the extracellular crude agarases of H9 were 7.0 and 40℃, respectively. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of the agarase hydrolysis products revealed that the crude agarases hydrolyze agarose into neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose. Therefore, the new agar-degrading strain, H9, can be applicable for the production of valuable neoagarooligosaccharides and for the complete degradation of agar in bio-industries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 1988

This experiment was carried out to obtain a hybrid with potent ethanol fermenting ability, by means of protoplast fusion between a thermophilic strain (D-71) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and an osmotolerant strain (SR-S) of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. The conditions for formation of protoplasts from both strains and for their fusion and regeneration were studied. Favorable conditions for formation of protoplasts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae D-71 were : treatment of the cells at late-exponential phase with 2-mercaptoethanol (l% v/v) for 10 minutes in the presence of 0.5M sorbitol, then incubation for 60 minutes in the set medium containing Zymolyase-20T (4mg/$m\ell$) ; and from Zygosaccharomyces rouxii SR-S were : treatment of the cells at mid-exponential phase with 2-mercaptoethanol (1% v/v) for 10 minutes in the presence of 0.5M or 1M mannitol, then incubation for 120 minutes in the set medium containing Zymolyase-20T(4mg/$m\ell$). The protoplasts of parental cells were fused in the presence of 20mM CaCl$_2$, 0.5M sorbitol and 40% of polyethyleneglycol (M.W 4000), then fusants obtained were selected as regenerated colonies which embedded and grown in the minimal medium containing 3% of agar. The frequencies of fusant formation were 1.2$\times$10$^{-6}$ to 9.1$\times$10$^{-6}$ for the regenerated protoplast.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

Objectives This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of Dai-saiko-to (DSH) on differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and body weight, serum lipid levels in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Materials and Methods Cells were incubated with DSH at an indicated concentration (0.01-1 mg/ml) for 24h, then the growth rate was assessed by MTS assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were incubated in DMEM for 2 days with the indicated concentrations of DSH. On Day 6, the cells were fixed and the cellular lipid contents were assessed by Oil-Red-O staining. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) as adipocyte-specific proteins were determined by real time RT-PCR and western blotting. Four-weeks old mice (wild-type C57BL/6) were used for all experiments. Body weight gain and serum lipid levels were measured in the obesity-induced mice. Results DSH did not show toxicity even at the concentration of 1 mg/ml and DSH significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Also, DSH significantly reduced the expressions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, DSH significantly reduced body weight gain, serum glucose, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents in obesity-induced mice. Conclusions These results demonstrated that DSH inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiations and high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1499-1506
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• 2008

To examine antitumor activity of the edible plant Zanthoxylum schinifolium, the cytotoxic effect of various organic solvent extracts of its stems on human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells was investigated. Among these extracts such as methanol extract (SS-7), methylene chloride extract (SS-8), ethyl acetate extract (SS-9), n-butanol extract (SS-10), and residual fraction (SL-11), SS-8 exhibited the most cytotoxic activity against Jurkat T cells. The methylene chloride extract (SS-8) possessed the apoptogenic activity capable of inducing sub-G1 peak along with apoptotic DNA fragmentation in Jurkat T cells. Western blot analysis revealed that SS-8 induced apoptosis via mitochondrial cytochrome c release into cytoplasm, subsequent activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP, which could be blocked by overexpression of Bcl-xL. Jurkat T cell clone I2.1 $FADD^{-/-}$) and Jurkat T cell clone I9.2 (caspase-$8^{-/-}$ were as sensitive as was the wild-type Jurkat T cell clone A3 to the cytotoxic effect of SS-8, suggesting no contribution of Fas/FasL system to the SS-8-mediated apoptosis. The GC-MS analysis of SS-8 showed that it was composed of 16 ingredients including 9,12-octadecanoic acid (18.62%), 2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-4- (1-methylethylidene)- 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3H- pyrazol-3-one (14.97%), hexadecanoic acid (14.23%), (z,z)-6,9-pentadecadien- 1-ol (13.73%), 5,6-dimethoxy-2-methyl benzofuran (10.95%), and 4-methoxy-2-methylcinnamic acid (5.38%). These results demonstrate that the methylene chloride extract of the stems of Z. schinifolium can induce apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T cells via intrinsic mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade regulated by Bcl-xL without involvement of the Fas/FasL system.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 1990

This study was aimed to observe the direct and Iymphokine-activated cell mediated cytotoxic effects against Trichomenas waginalis by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Cytotoxicity was measured as release of 3H-thymidine from prelabeled protozoa, and tested in U-bottom microtiter plates. A 0.1 ml suspension of labeled protozoa (2{\times}10^5/ml$) was placed in each well, followed by 0.1 ml of a suspension containing increasing numbers of peritoneal cells. After a 24 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, 0.1ml of the supernatant was collected and counted in liquid scintillation counter. Mouse peritoneal macrophages had appreciable level of spontaneous cytotoxicity against T. maginalis at the effector to target cell ratios from 5 : 1 to 50 : 1, Treatment of macrophages with Iymphokine, produced by PHA-stimulated spleen cells, increased the cytotoxicity in comparison with resident macrophages against T. vaginalis. The degree of macrophage activation for the killing was not dependent upon the Iymphokine concentration. Peritoneal cells adherent to plastic displayed significant levels of cytotoxicity against T. vaginalis. This study indicates that mouse peritoneal macrophages are spontaneously cytotoxic for T. waginalis and Iymphokine increases the cytotoxicity by activating macrophages to kill T. vaginalis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1519-1529
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• 2016

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase -2 (gelatinase-A, Mr 72,000 type IV collagenase, MMP-2) and -9 (gelatinase-B, Mr 92,000 type IV collagenase, MMP-9) are key molecules that play roles in tumor growth, invasion, tissue remodeling, metastasis and stem-cell regulation by digesting extracellular matrix barriers. MMP-2 and -9 are well known to impact on solid cancer susceptibility, whereas, in hematological malignancies, a paucity of data is available to resolve the function of these regulatory molecules in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) and stromal cells of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate mRNA expression and gelatinase A and B secretion from BM-MNCs in vitro and genotypic associations of MMP-2 (-1306 C/T; rs243865), MMP-9 (-1562 C/T; rs3918242), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase -1 (TIMP-1) (372T/C; rs4898, Exon 5) and TIMP-2 (-418G/C; rs8179090) in MDS and AML. Results: The study covered cases of confirmed MDS (n=50), AML (n=32) and healthy controls (n=110). MMP-9 mRNA expression revealed 2 fold increased expression in MDS-RAEB II and 2.5 fold in AML M-4 (60-70% blasts). Secretion of gelatinase-B also revealed the MMP-9 mRNA expression and ELISA data also supported these data. We noted that those patients having more blast crises presented with more secretion of MMP-9 and its mRNA expression. In contrast MMP-9 (-1562 C/T) showed significant polymorphic associations in MDS (p<0.02) and AML (p<0.02). MMP-9 mRNA expression of C/T and T/T genotypes were 1.5 and 2.5 fold increased in MDS and AML respectively. In AML, MMP-2 C/T and T/T genotypes showed 2.0 fold mRNA expression. Only MMP-9 (-1306 C/T) showed significant 4 fold (p<0.001) increased risk with chemical and x-ray exposed MDS, while tobacco and cigarette smokers have 3 fold (p<0.04) risk in AML. Conclusions: In view of our results, MMP-9 revealed synergistic secretion and expression in blast crises of MDS and AML with 'gene' polymorphic effects and is significantly associated with increased risk with tobacco, cigarette and environmental exposure. Release and secretion of these enzymes may influence hematopoietic cell behavior and may be important in the clinical point of view. It may offer valuable tools for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as possible targets for the treatments.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.162-167
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• 2001

Methylovorus sp. strain SS1 DSM 11726 was found to grow continuously when it was transferred from 30$\^{C}$ to 40$\^{C}$ and 43$\^{C}$. A shift in growth temperature from 30$\^{C}$ to 45$\^{C}$, 47$\^{C}$ and 50$\^{C}$ reduced the viability of the cell population by more than 10$^2$, 10$^3$and 10$\^$5/ folds, respectively, after 1h cultivation. Cells transferred to 47$\^{C}$ and 50$\^{C}$ after preincubation for 15 min at 43$\^{C}$, however, exhibited 10-fold increase in viability. It was found that incubation for 15 min at 40$\^{C}$ of Methylovorus sp. strain SSl grown at 30$\^{C}$ was sufficient to accelerate the synthesis of a specific subset of proteins. The major heat shock proteins had apparent molecular masses of 90, 70, 66, 60, and 58 kDA. The 60 and 58 kDa proteins were found to cross-react with the antiserum raised against GroEL protein. The heat shock response persisted for over 1h. The shock proteins were stable for 90 min in the cell. Exposure of the cells to methanol induced proteins identical to the heat shock proteins. Addition of ethanol induced a unique protein with a molecular mass of about 40 kDa in addition to the heat-induced proteins. The proteins induced in paraquat-treated cells were different from the heat shock proteins, except the 70 and 60 kDa proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1210-1217
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• 2021

Two gram-negative, catalase-positive, strictly aerobic, and white colony-forming bacteria, strains H242^T and B156^T, were isolated from soil in South Korea. Cells of strain H242^T were oxidase-positive and non-motile short rods, while those of strain B156^T were oxidase-negative and long non-motile rods. Ubiquinone-8 was identified as the sole isoprenoid quinone in both strains. C_16:0, cyclo-C_17:0, andsummed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c) and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol were identified in both strains as the major cellular fatty acids and polar lipids, respectively. The DNA G+C contents of strains H242^T and B156^T were 69.4 mol% and 69.3 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and 92 concatenated core gene sequences revealed that strains H242^T and B156^T formed distinct phylogenic lineages from other Ramlibacter type strains. The DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) value between strains H242^T and B156^T was 24.6%. Strains H242^T and B156^T were most closely related to Ramlibacter ginsenosidimutans BXN5-27^T and Ramlibacter monticola G-3-2^T with 98.4% and 98.6% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. Digital DDH values between strain H242^T and R. ginsenosidimutans and between strain B156^T and R. monticola were 23.5% and 26.1%, respectively. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and molecular analyses indicated that strains H242^T and B156^T represent two novel species of the genus Ramlibacter, for which the names Ramlibacter terrae sp. nov. and Ramlibacter montanisoli sp. nov., respectively, are proposed. The type strains of R. terrae and R. montanisoli are H242^T (=KACC 21667^T=JCM 33922^T) and B156^T (=KACC 21665^T=JCM 33920^T), respectively.