• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.799-807
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• 2020

Background: The skin acts as a barrier to protect organisms against harmful exogenous agents. Compound K (CK) is an active metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2 and Rc, and researchers have focused on its skin protective efficacy. In this study, we hypothesized that increased expression of the serine protease inhibitor Kazal type-5 (SPINK5) may improve skin barrier function. Methods: We screened several ginsenosides to increase SPINK5 gene promoter activity using a transactivation assay and found that CK can increase SPINK5 expression. To investigate the protective effect of CK on the skin barrier, RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to investigate the expression levels of SPINK5, kallikrein 5 (KLK5), KLK7 and PAR2 in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and histological changes associated with the skin barrier were performed in a UVB-irradiated mouse model and a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis-like model. Results: CK treatment increased the expression of SPINK5 and decreased the expression of its downstream genes, such as KLKs and PAR2. In the UVB-irradiated mouse model and the DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis model, CK restored increased TEWL and decreased hydration and epidermal hyperplasia. In addition, CK normalized the reduced SPINK5 expression caused by UVB or DNCB, thereby restoring the expression of the proteins involved in desquamation to a level similar to normal. Conclusions: Our data showed that CK contributes to improving skin-barrier function in UVB-irradiated and DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis-like models through SPINK5. These results suggest that therapeutic attempts with CK might be useful in treating barrier-disrupted diseases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 1995

The present study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of total lactate dehydrogenase, total creatine kinase, LD1/LD2 ratio, CK-MB and newly developed troponin T in acute myocardial infarction. The level of troponin T was $0.01{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/L$ in 34 healthy person, but the peak vaule of acute myocardial infarction ranged in 4.7-24.2 ${\mu}g/L$. Total lactate dehydrogenase was peaked in 1 to 3 days after chest pain and then progressively decreased, but LD1/LD2 ratio was persistently higher than 1.0 for 10 days in most patients. Total creatine kinase and CK-MB were peaked in 1-2 days, and normalized in 3-4 days, so they were useful in early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, but not for the late stages of acute myocardial infarction. Troponin T is early elevated and persistently high level for more than 10 days. Comparing with total lactate dehydrogenase, total creatine kinase, LD1/LD2 ratio and CK-MB, troponin-T test improves the efficiency of serodiagnostic method for the detection of ischemic myocardial damage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1201-1209
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to isolate probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that produce bile salt hydrolase (BSH), and to evaluate its effects on serum cholesterol level. One-hundred-twenty bacterial colonies were initially isolated from human feces, and five strains were selected after screening based on their resistance to acids, tolerance against bile salts, and inhibitory activity on Escherichia coli. The Lactobacillus plantarum strain with the highest level of BSH activity was identified using 16S rRNA sequences, and was named L. plantarum CK 102. L. plantarum CK 102 at a level of 1.36$\times$10$^8$cfu/ml survived in pH 2 buffer for 6 h and exhibited excellent tolerance for bile salt. Coculturing the strain with E. coli in MRS broth resulted in strong inhibition against growth of E. coli at 18 h. Furthermore, the potential effect of CK 102 on serum cholesterol level was evaluated in rats. Thirty-two rats [Sprague-Dawley (SD) male, 129$\pm$l g, 5 weeks old] were divided into four groups of eight each. For six weeks, Group 1 was fed a normal diet (negative control); Group 2 was fed a cholesterol-enriched diet (positive control); Group 3 was fed a cholesterol-enriched diet plus L. plantarum CK 102 at 1.0$\times$10$^7$cfu/ml; and Group 4 was fed a cholesterol-enriched diet plus L. plantarum CK 102 at 5.0$\times$10$^7$cfu/ml. Blood samples were collected, serum lipids were analyzed, and weights of the organs were measured. Total blood cholesterol level, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and free-cholesterol values were lower in rats that were fed 1. plantarum CK 102 than in those not fed L. plantarum CK 102. This cholesterol lowering effect implies that L. plantarum CK 102 could be utilized as an additive for health-assistance foods. In conclusion, these results suggest that the 1. plantarum CK 102 isolated could be used commercially as a probiotic.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.106-115
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• 1995

Reactive humsn mesothelial cells were examined by immunocytochemical stain with intermediate filaments (cytokeratin [CK1, CK7, CK8, CK18, CD19), vimentin, desmin, actin), epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), MHC class II antigen (HLA-DR), LeuM-1 (CD15), $\alpha1-antitrypsin$(ACT), $\alpha1-antichymotrypsin$ (ACHT), CD68(KP-1) and FcyRIII(CD16). The mesothelial cells were isolated from patients with liver cirrhosis and pleural effusion, and short-term cultured in RPMI 1640 media containing 10% heat inactivated fetal calf serum and 1% identical supernatant fluid of the patients' transudates. The results obtained are as follows 1. The cultured-reactive mesothelial cells were positive for the protein of cytoskeleton such as cytokeratin and vimentin, but negative for desmin and actin. The resting mesothelial cells showed positive reactions for cylokeratin, but negative for vimentin, desmin and actin. 2. The primary antibodies to the cytokeratin were strongly reactive for CK1, CK8 and CK18 but negative for CK7 and CK19 in both reactive and resting mesothelial cells. 3. Resting mesothelial cells showed negative reactions for CEA, but strong positive reactions in cultured-reactive mesothelial cells. 4. The markers for the monocytes/histiocytes(CD11b, CD14, CD16, CD68, Iysozyme and $\alpha1-antitrypsin$ and $\alpha1-antichymotrypsin$) were nonreactive in resting mesothelial cells, but lysozyme and $\alpha1-antitrypsin$ were weakly reactive in reactive and proliferative mesothelial cells. 5. MHC Class II molecule(HLA-DR antigen) was negative in both resting and reactive mesothelial cells. These results suggest that the short-term cultured, reactive mesothelial cells show a newly aberrant expression of the vimentin and calcine-embryonic antigen. The reason of the aberrant expression of the intermediate filament and oncofetal antigen in reactive and proliferative mesothelial cells should be further evaluated.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2024

SlyA is known as a transcriptional regulator that regulates the expression of hemolysin (HlyE) in E. coli, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family such as Salmonella. However, Salmonella has the slyA gene but lacks the hlyE gene. Then, because we were curious about the role of SlyA in Salmonella, we constructed and explored a mutant strain with a deletion of the slyA gene. S. Typhimurium CK295 (ΔslyA) was constructed using an allelic exchange approach. In a comparative analysis between the wild-type and the CK295 strain, no significant differences were observed in growth characteristics, motility, total protein analyses, and secreted protein analyses. However, the CK295 strain exhibited slightly reduced biofilm formation compared to the wild-type. Interestingly, as a result of comparing the survival ability in macrophages, the mutant strain showed a 60% decrease in survival ability compared to the wild-type. To evaluate toxicity in mice, mortality was measured after oral administration to 6-week-old BALB/c mice. As a result, the LD₅₀ value of the CK295 (ΔslyA) was more than 100 times higher than that of wild-type S. Typhimurium 𝜒3339 in BALB/c. In conclusion, SlyA is presumed to regulate the expression of genes encoding virulence factors involved in the in vivo survival of Salmonella.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

Flowering time (or heading date) is controlled by intrinsic genetic programs in response to environmental cues, such as photoperiod and temperature. Rice, a facultative short-day (SD) plant, flowers early in SD and late in long-day (LD) conditions. Casein kinases (CKs) generally act as positive regulators in many signaling pathways in plants. In rice, Heading date 6 (Hd6) and Hd16 encode $CK2{\alpha}$ and CKI, respectively, and mainly function to delay flowering time. Additionally, the major LD-dependent floral repressors Hd2/Oryza sativa Pseudo-Response Regulator 37 (OsPRR37;hereafter PRR37) and Ghd7 also confer strong photoperiod sensitivity. In floral induction, Hd16 acts upstream of Ghd7 and CKI interacts with and phosphorylates Ghd7. In addition, Hd6 and Hd16 also act upstream of Hd2. However, whether CKI and $CK2{\alpha}$ directly regulate the function of PRR37 remains unclear. Here, we use in vitro pull-down and in vivo bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays to show that CKI and $CK2{\alpha}$ interact with PRR37. We further use in vitro kinase assays to show that CKI and $CK2{\alpha}$ phosphorylate different regions of PRR37. Our results indicate that direct posttranslational modification of PRR37 mediates the genetic interactions between these two protein kinases and PRR37. The significance of CK-mediated phosphorylation for PRR37 and Ghd7 function is discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.295-298
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• 2008

Creatine kinase (CK; E.C. 2.7.3.2) is an important enzyme that catalyzes the reversible transfer of a phosphoryl group from ATP to creatine in energy homeostasis. The brain-type cytosolic isoform of creatine kinase (BB-CK), which is found mainly in the brain and retina, is a key enzyme in brain energy metabolism, because high-energy phosphates are transfered through the creatine kinase/phosphocreatine shuttle system. The recombinant human BB-CK protein was overexpressed as a soluble form in Escherichia coli and crystallized at $22^{\circ}C$ using PEG 4000 as a precipitant. Native X-ray diffraction data were collected to $2.2{\AA}$ resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystals belonged to the tetragonal space group $P4_32_12$, with cell parameters of a=b=97.963, $c=164.312{\AA},\;and\;{\alpha}={\beta}={\gamma}=90^{\circ}$. The asymmetric unit contained two molecules of CK, giving a crystal volume per protein mass $(V_m)$ of $1.80{\AA}^3\;Da^{-1}$ and a solvent content of 31.6%.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 1994

Pseudomonas sp. P20 was a bacterial isolate which has the ability to degrade 4-chlorobi- phenyl(4CB) to 4-chlorobenzoic acid via the process of meta-cleavage. The recombinant plasmid pCK1 was constructed by insetting the 14-kb EcoRI fragment of the chromosomal DNA containing the 4CB-degrading genes into the vector pBluescript SK(+). Subsequently, E. coli XL1-Blue was transformed with the hybrid plasmid producing the recombinant E. coli CK1. The recombinant cells degraded 4CB and 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl(2,3-DHBP) by the pcbAB and pcbCD gene products, respectively. The pcbC gene was expressed most abundantly at the late exponential phase in E. coli CK1 as well as in Pseudomonas sp. P20, and the level of the pcbC gene product, 2,3-DHBP dioxygenase, expressed in E. coli CK1 was about two-times higher than in Pseudomonas sp. P20. The activities of 2,3-DHBP dioxygenase on catechol and 3-methylcatechol were about 26 to 31% of its activity on 2,3-DHBP, but the enzyme did not reveal any activities on 4-methylcatechol and 4-chlorocatechol.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.2985-2989
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• 2014

Autophagy is a self-digestion process in which intracellular structures are degraded in response to stress. Notably, prolonged autophagy leads to cell death. In this study, we investigated whether CX-4945, an orally available protein kinase 2 (CK2) inhibitor, induces autophagic cell death in human cervical cancer-derived HeLa cells and in human prostate cancer-derived LNCaP cells. CX-4945 treatment of both cell lines resulted in the formation of autophagosomes, in the conversion of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), and in down-regulation of the Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) signaling cascade. Thus, pharmacologic inhibition of CK2 by CX-4945 induced autophagic cell death in human cancer cells by down-regulating Akt-mTOR-S6K. These results suggest that autophagy-inducing agents have potential as anti-cancer drugs.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.40-46
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• 2000

To select the effective fungicides for the control of leaf spot disease of jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba) caused by Phoma sp., inhibitory effects of 26 fungicides for mycelial growth were investigated at $250{\mu}g\;a.i./m{\ell}$. In the test, eight fungicides were selected and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for mycelial growth and an inhibitory effect for spore germination were investigated. Among the fungicides, myclobutanil, hexaconazole, and triflumizole were excluded in control effect tests because of their relatively high MICs. MICs were ranged $10-50{\mu}g\;a.i./m{\ell}$ for benomyl, carbendazim + kasugamycin (CK), and thiophanate-methyl. triflumizole (TT), and $50-250{\mu}g\;a.i./m{\ell}$ for iprodione + propineb (IT) and iminoctadine-triacelate (IT). However, benomyl and IP showed very low inhibitory effect on conidial germination. When the fungicides were sprayed on the seedlings before the leaves were inoculated with conidial suspension of Phoma sp., the protective values of CK and TT were around 70% at 1,000 ppm and around 90% at 2,000 ppm. The protective values were around 70% at 2,000 ppm (benomyl), 4,000 ppm (IP), and 8,000 ppm (IT). When the fungicides were sprayed after inoculation, benomyl showed the highest curative values of over 90% at 1,000 ppm and the values of CK and TT ranged $70{\sim}80%$ at 1,000 ppm. However, IP and IT had little or no effect on therapy of the disease. IT caused necrotic phytotoxicity on the leaves of jujube seedlings. As results, the best fungicides for the protection of jujube trees from leaf spot disease were CK (2,000 ppm) and TT (2,000 ppm) and for the remedy of the tree, benomyl (1,000 ppm) was the best. Therefore, alternate application of benomyl and CK or TT will be effective in the disease control.