• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.274-282
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• 2019

Mercury-resistant ($Hg^R$) bacteria were isolated from heavy metal polluted wastewater and soil collected near to tanneries of district Kasur, Pakistan. Bacterial isolates AZ-1, AZ-2 and AZ-3 showed resistance up to $40{\mu}g/ml$ against mercuric chloride ($HgCl_2$). 16S rDNA ribotyping and phylogenetic analysis were performed for the characterization of selected isolates as Bacillus sp. AZ-1 (KT270477), Bacillus cereus AZ-2 (KT270478) and Bacillus cereus AZ-3 (KT270479). Phylogenetic relationship on the basis of merA nucleotide sequence confirmed 51-100% homology with the corresponding region of the merA gene of already reported mercury-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The merE gene involved in the transportation of elemental mercury ($Hg^0$) via cell membrane was cloned for the first time into pHLV vector and transformed in overexpressed C43(DE3) E. coli cells. The recombinant plasmid (pHLMerE) was expressed and the native MerE protein was obtained after thrombin cleavage by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The purification of fusion/recombinant and native protein MerE by Ni-NTA column, dialysis and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC/SEC) involved unfolding/refolding techniques. A small-scale reservoir of wastewater containing $30{\mu}g/ml$ of $HgCl_2$ was designed to check the detoxification ability of selected strains. It resulted in 83% detoxification of mercury by B. cereus AZ-2 and B. cereus AZ-3, and 76% detoxification by Bacillus sp. AZ-1 respectively (p < 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.8-16
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• 1970

Exploitation of leaf protein concentrates for human consumption is very important. Leaf protein concentrates can be easily prepared by mechanically mincing leaves material and press it for getting the juice. Crude protein can be separated from the juice by aging, adjusting the pH, or heating to $75-80^{\circ}C$ etc. This report deals with the extractability of total-N from 69 species of fresh leaves by mechanical process, and then compared the recovery of leaf protein concentrates from leaf extracts by treating with TCA, pH adjustment and heating. Results are summarized as follows. 1. In general, the greater the content of total-N of leaves the greater the percentage extraction. Extraction of the juice from leaves is needed at least two times. The simple equations are constituted between the total-N (T; %) and the first and second extractability ($E_1,\;E_2;\;%$) of the total-N of leaves, as follows: $E_1=0.8168T\;E_2=0.1830T$ 2. The optimum pH value for coagulating protein from extracts is considered to be 3.5 to 4.5. However, the products of leaf protein concentrate by the pH adjustment of extracts are generally dull in color with rich elasticity. 3. Recoveries of the leaf protein concentrate from extracts by treating methods were in the following order of TCA treatment> pH 4 treatment> pH 3 treatment> heat treatment. The yield of leaf protein concentrates decreased bout 10% with pH 4 treatment, 11.4% with pH 3 treatment, and 14.8% with heat treatment compared with the TCA treatment. 4. The heat treatment is the most benifitial method for the production of leaf protein concentrates with regard to properties of texture, color and yield of products and easiness of the treatment method.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.278-288
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• 2019

In the present investigation, we attempted to design a protocol to develop a hybrid protein with better bioremediation capacity. Using in silico approaches, a Hybrid Open Reading Frame (Hybrid ORF) is developed targeting the genes of microorganisms known for degradation of organophosphates. Out of 21 genes identified through BLAST search, 8 structurally similar genes (opdA, opd, opaA, pte RO, pdeA, parC, mpd and phnE) involved in biodegradation were screened. Gene conservational analysis categorizes these organophosphates degrading 8 genes into 4 super families i.e., Metallo-dependent hydrolases, Lactamase B, MPP and TM_PBP2 superfamily. Hybrid protein structure was modeled using multi-template homology modeling (3S07_A; 99%, 1P9E_A; 98%, 2ZO9_B; 33%, 2DXL_A; 33%) by $Schr{\ddot{o}}dinger$ software suit version 10.4.018. Structural verification of protein models was done using Ramachandran plot, it was showing 96.0% residue in the favored region, which was verified using RAMPAGE. The phosphotriesterase protein was showing the highest structural similarity with hybrid protein having raw score 984. The 5 binding sites of hybrid protein were identified through binding site prediction. The docking study shows that hybrid protein potentially interacts with 10 different organophosphates. The study results indicate that the hybrid protein designed has the capability of degrading a wide range of organophosphate compounds.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.807-811
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• 2007

Diabetes is marked by high glucose levels and is associated with decreased bone mass and increased fracture rates. To determine if [6]-gingerol could influence osteoblast dysfunction induced by 2-deoxy-D-ribose (dRib), osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was treated with dRib and [6]-gingerol and markers of osteoblast function and oxidized protein were examined. [6]-Gingerol ($10^{-7}\;M$) significantly increased the growth of MC3T3-E1 cells in the presence of 30 mM dRib (p<0.05). [6]-Gingerol ($10^{-7}\;M$) caused a significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen content, and osteocalcin secretion in the cells. We then examined the effect of [6]-gingerol on the production of osteoprotegerin and protein carbonyl in osteoblasts. Treatment with [6]-gingerol ($10^{-9}$ and $10^{-7}\;M$) increased osteoprotegerin secretion in osteoblastic cells. Moreover, [6]-gingerol ($10^{-9}$ and $10^{-7}\;M$) decreased protein carbonyl contents of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells in the presence of 30 mM dRib. Taken together, these results demonstrate that [6]-gingerol inhibits dRib-induced damage and may be useful in the treatment of diabetes related bone diseases.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.656-661
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• 1998

Hantaan virus belonging to the genus Hantavirus and family Bunyaviridae causes an acute severe illness of human, Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). It is a rodent host-borne pathogen and distributed in Asia and Eastern Europe. Hantaviruses have three major antigens, i.e., G1, G2 glycoproteins and nucleocapsid protein (N). Among them, nucleocapsid protein was reported to be the most invaluable antigen as for diagnosis. We have cloned and expressed Hantaan viral nucleocapsid gene in E. coli BL21(DE3). In this study, we have tried to purify the nucleocapsid protein produced by recombinant E. coli, and could attained a purity of >90% by anti-N monoclonal antibody-coupled immunoaffinity chromatography or phenyl sepharose hydrophobic interaction chromatography.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2005

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (elF4E) is a key element for cap-dependent protein translation controlled by affinity between elF4E and 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Rapamycin can also affect protein translation by regulating 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. Tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino )-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a strong lung carcinogen, but its precise lung cancer induction mechanism remains unknown. Relative roles of cap-dependent and -independent protein translation in terms of NNK-induced lung carcinogenesis were elucidated using normal human bronchial epithelial cells. NNK concentrations applied in this study did not decrease cell viability. Addition of NNK restored rapamycin-induced decrease of protein synthesis and rapamycin-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, and increased expression levels of mTOR, ERK1/2, p70S6K, and Raf-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. NNK also caused perturbation of normal cell cycle progression. Taken together, NNK might cause toxicity through the combination of restoration of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation and increase of elF4E as well as mTOR protein expression, interruption of Raf1/ERK as well as the cyclin G-associated p53 network. Our data could be applied towards elucidation of the molecular basis for lung cancer treatment.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2004

We investigated the hypoglycemic effect of formula containing Euonymus alatus (EA) and Mori Folium (MF) in multiple low dose (MLD) streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In order to iduce hyperglycemic state 25 mg/kg of STZ was injected intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days. SD rats were randomly divided into diabetic control and treatment groups. Treatment groups were administered with either 250 mg/kg of EA and 250 mg/kg of MF (E1Ml), or 500 mg/kg of EA mixed with same dose of MF (E2M2) for 3 weeks. Blood glucose levels and body weights were measured every 5th or 6th day. E1Ml and E2M2 both significantly reduced food intake, water intake, and fasting blood and urine glucose levels as compared to those in diabetic control group in a dose dependent manner. Body weight in diabetic control group was increased slightly after 3 weeks. Treatment group, however, showed gradual increase in body weights during 3 week-period. While plasma insulin levels of the diabetic control group were decreased to the level of 387$\pm$14 pg/ml from 534$\pm$36 pg/ml, those levels in E1Ml and E2M2-treated groups were both markedly increased by 13% and 26%, respectively. Urine glucose levels in E1Ml and E2M2-treated groups were also remarkably reduced by 17 and 26% compared to the levels of diabetic control group. While expression of membrane-bound glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) protein in skeletal muscle was reduced by 45% in diabetic control compared to the normal control, GLUT-4 protein expressions in E1Ml and E2M2-treated groups were augmented by 2 and 3.5 times compared to the diabetic control, respectively. Pancreatic HE staining experiments showed that E2M2-treated group revealed much less infiltrated mononuclear cells, indicating that E2M2 efficiently blocked insulitis induced by multiple low dose streptozotocin. Taken together, we conclude that formula containing EA and MF may prevent or delay the development of hyperglycemia through overexpression of GLUT-4 protein in skeletal muscle and prevention of insulitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.639-643
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• 2013

Aim: Connexin 43 (Cx43) and E-cadherin are important biomarkers related with cancer. Their expression at protein and mRNA levels was here investigated in 50 primary lung carcinoma tissues and 20 samples of adjacent normal tissue of Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Protein and mRNA expression were evaluated by ABC immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results: (1) The positive expression rates of Cx43 and E-cadherin protein were higher in the adjacent normal tissues than those in the primary lung carcinoma tissues; (2) the positive expression rates of Cx43 and E-cadherin protein decreased with NSCLC progression; (3) the expression of E-cadherin protein was not related with the pathological type of NSCLC; and (4) the relative quantity of the Cx43 or E-cadherin mRNA expression was correlated with the the histological type, clinical stage, cancer cell differentiation and the lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: The data suggested that the Cx43 and E-cadherin are reduced with NSCLC progression, and might be important biomarkers for judging the metastasis and prognosis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 1998

Effects of protein heat treatment and surfactant additionoo the orthokindetic stability of $\beta$-lactoglobulin-stabilized emulsions have been investigated under turbulent flow conditions. In studies on protein-stabilized emulsions, samples which had been subjected to heat treatment(i.e. the protein solution orthe emulsion) have been found to be more prone to orthokinetic coalescene than the untreated ones. The emulsions stabilized with protein heated above the denaturation temperature(i.e. 7$0^{\circ}C$) showed the bigger initial average droplet size, which resulted in an increased orthokinetic coalescenece rate. The storage of the protein-stabilized emulsion at high temperature prior to the shearing experiment also made the emulsion less stable in the shear field. Interestingly. the addition of DATEM has been found to produce a substantial increase in orthokinetic stability of the heat-denatured protein-stabilized emulsion system, although Tween 20 is the opposite case.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.1033-1039
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• 2006

The metabolic response of Labeo rohita to thermal acclimation was assessed. Advanced fingerlings of L. rohita (average weight $31{\pm}1.4g$) were acclimated to 31, 33 and $36^{\circ}C$ compared with ambient temperatures ($26^{\circ}C$) for 30 days and different enzymes associated with stress response were estimated. Glycolytic enzyme-Lactate dehydrogenase, (LDH, E.C.1.1.1.27), TCA cycle enzyme-Malate dehydrogenase (MDH, E.C.1.1.1.37), Protein metabolizing enzymes-Aspartate amino transferase (AST, E.C.2.6.1.1) and Alanine amino transferase (ALT, E.C.2.6.1.2) of liver, gill and muscle, Gluconeogenic enzymes-Fructose 1,6 Bi phosphatase (FBPase, E.C. 3.1.3.11) and Glucose 6 phosphatase (G6Pase, E.C. 3.1.3.9) of liver and kidney were significantly (p<0.05) different with increasing acclimation temperatures. Heat Shock Protein-70 (HSP-70) was expressed in increasing intensity at 31, 33 and $36^{\circ}C$ but was not expressed at $26^{\circ}C$. Results suggest that higher acclimation temperatures enhance metabolism and L. rohita maintains homeostasis between $26-36^{\circ}C$ via an acclimation episode. Such adaptation appears to be facilitated by resorting to gluconeogenic and glycogenolytic pathways for energy mobilization and induction of HSPs.