• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.214-222
• /
• 2015

Aeromonas hydrophila is the most common water fish pathogen and cause diseases such as hemorrhagic septicemia, dropsy, ulceration and asymptomatic septicemia. A. hydrophila secretes many extracellular products (ECPs) which contribute to effective infection, wide distribution and great adaptability to environmental changes. Crude ECPs of A. hydrophila CK257, a strain used in this study, exhibits a toxic activity to the animals including mouse, rabbit and fish. Toxic symptoms were indicated by tissue damage and skin injuries in animal. When ECPs were subcutaneously injected to animals, skin damages were observed, appearing like necrosis. Preliminary research demonstrated that the active factors are protein component. The crude ECPs were collected after ammonium sulfate precipitation of cell-free culture supernatant. ECPs were fractionated with the use gel filtration chromatography. Five ECP fractions were obtained, of which one fraction was found to be toxic to goldfish. MALDI-TOF analyses provided two interesting proteases called M35 and M28. Both M35 and M28 are known as metalloprotease. Accordingly, proteins in an active fraction exhibited caseinolytic activity. These proteins were difference of caseinolytic activity under different metallic ions. Also active fraction has elastolytic activity. These results suggested that peptidase M28 and M35 may be a candidate factor for tissue necrosis activity about infection with A. hydrophila.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.183-188
• /
• 2009

TSAd/Lad is a T cell adaptor molecule involved in $p56^{lck}$-mediated T cell activation. To investigate the functions of TSAd in T cells, we generated transgenic (TG) mice expressing the SH2 domain of TSAd (TSAd-SH2) under the control of the $p56^{lck}$ proximal promoter. In T cells from TSAd-SH2 TG mice, T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated early signaling events, such as $Ca^{2+}$ flux and ERK activation, were normal; however, late activation events, such as IL-2 production and proliferation, were significantly reduced. Moreover, TCR-induced cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and migration through ECM proteins were defective in T cells from TSAd-SH2 TG mice. Furthermore, the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reaction, an inflammatory response mainly mediated by T helper 1 (Th1) cells, was inhibited in TSAd-SH2 TG mice. Taken together, these results show that TSAd, particularly the SH2 domain of TSAd, is essential for the effector functions of T cells.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.116-121
• /
• 2016

Although proteomic analyses have revealed the presence of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins in the plasma membrane, there have been no in-depth evaluations of the presence or function of OXPHOS I-V in the plasma membrane. Here, we demonstrate the in situ localization of OXPHOS I-V complexes to the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. A portion of the OXPHOS I-V complex proteins was not co-stained with MitoTracker but co-localized with caveolin-3 in the sarcolemma of mouse gastrocnemius. Mitochondrial matrix-facing OXPHOS complex subunits were ectopically expressed in the sarcolemma of the non-permeabilized muscle fibers and C2C12 myotubes. The sarcolemmal localization of cytochrome c was also observed from mouse gastrocnemius muscles and C2C12 myotubes, as determined by confocal and total internal resonance fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. Based on these data, we conclude that a portion of OXPHOS complexes is localized in the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle and may have non-canonical functions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.184-189
• /
• 2004

Background: Hu syndrome, a neurological disorder, is characterized by the remote effect of small cell lung cancer on the neural degeneration. The suspicious effectors for this disease are anti-Hu autoantibodies or Hu-related CD8+ T lymphocytes. Interestingly, the same effectors have been suggested to act against tumor growth and this phenomenon may represent natural tumor immunity. For these diagnostic and therapeutic reasons, the demand for antibodies against Hu protein is rapidly growing. Methods: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were generated using recombinant HuR protein. Western blot analyses were performed to check the specificity of generated antibodies using various recombinant proteins and cell lysates. Extracellular stimuli for HuR expression had been searched and HuR-associated proteins were isolated from polysome lysates and then separated in a 2-dimensional gel. Results: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against HuR protein were generated and these antibodies showed HuR specificity. Antibodies were also useful to detect and immunoprecipitate endogenous HuR protein in Jurkat and BJAB. This report also revealed that TNF-${\alpha}$ treatment in BJAB up-regulated HuR expression. Lastly, protein profile in HuR-associated mRNAprotein complexes was mapped by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Conclusion: This study reported that new antibodies against HuR protein were successfully generated. Currently, project to develop a diagnostic kit is in process. Also, this report showed that TNF-${\alpha}$ up-regulated HuR expression in BJAB and protein profile associated with HuR protein was mapped.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2001.11a
• /
• pp.89-92
• /
• 2001

Aspergillus niger has been used as a host system to express many heterologous proteins. It has various advantages over other expression systems in that it is a small eukaryotic GRAS (Generally Recognized aS Safe) organism with a capacity of secreting large amount of foreign proteins. However, it has been known that the presence of an abundant protease is a limiting factor to express a heterologous protein. The proteases deficient mutants of A. niger were obtained using UV -mutagenesis. A total of 1 ${\times}$ $10^5$ spores were irradiated with 10-20% survival dose of UV, 600J/M2 at 280nm, and the resulting spores were screened on the casein -gelatin plates. Ten putative protease deficient mutants were further analyzed on the starch plates to differentiate the pro from the secretory mutant. An endogenous extracellular enzyme, glucose oxidase, was also examined to confirm that the mutant phenotype was due to the proteases deficiency rather than the mutation in the secretory pathway. The reduced proteolytic activity was measured using SDS-fibrin zymography gel, casein degradation assay, and bio-activity of a supplemented hGM -CSF (human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor). Comparing with the wild type strain, less than 30 % of proteolytic activity was observed in the culture filtrate of the protease deficient mutant (pro -20) without any notable changes in cell growth and secretion.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.374-380
• /
• 2004

Production of therapeutic proteins by transgenic plant cell suspension cultures is an attractive system alternative to the other expression system. However, plant cell cultures have shown low expression level of foreign proteins and decreased cell viability by the changes of culture conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance cell viability during the culture period. In this study, a quantitative analysis technique was designed to measure relative cell viability for plant suspension cells which have cell wall and aggregates. It was found that the programmed cell death of plant cells by apoptosis was essentially linked with the apoptotic pathway of animal cells. Therefore, effects of nicotinamide, 3-aminobenzamide and antioxidants on cell viability and apoptosis were examined in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cells producing hGM-CSF. With those additives, cell viability could be maintained and apoptosis could be redued. In the result, the extracellular production of hGM-CSF could be enhanced 2.5 fold. It was also found that the supplementation of glutathione and ascorbic acid suppressed both the cold stress-induced decrease in cell viability and the increase of total genomic DNA fragmentation.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.109-114
• /
• 2015

The COX-2/$PGE_2$ pathway has been implicated in the occurrence and progression of cancer. The underlying mechanisms facilitating the production of COX-2 and its mediator, $PGE_2$, in cancer survival remain unknown. Herein, we investigated $PGE_2$-induced COX-2 expression and signaling in HL-60 cells following menadione treatment. Treatment with $PGE_2$ activated anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL while reducing pro-apoptotic proteins, thereby enhancing cell survival. $PGE_2$ not only induced COX-2 expression, but also prevented casapse-3, PARP, and lamin B cleavage. Silencing and inhibition of COX-2 with siRNA transfection or treatment with indomethacin led to a pronounced reduction of the extracellular levels of $PGE_2$, and restored the menadione- induced cell death. In addition, pretreatment of cells with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 and the PKA inhibitor H89 abrogated the $PGE_2$-induced expression of COX-2, suggesting involvement of the MAPK and PKA pathways. These results demonstrate that $PGE_2$ signaling acts in an autocrine manner, and specific inhibition of $PGE_2$ will provide a novel approach for the treatment of leukemia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.12-25
• /
• 2017

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a family of cell-surface proteins that play critical roles in regulating a variety of pathophysiological processes and thus are targeted by almost a third of currently available therapeutics. It was originally thought that GPCRs convert extracellular stimuli into intracellular signals through activating G proteins, whereas ${\beta}$-arrestins have important roles in internalization and desensitization of the receptor. Over the past decade, several novel functional aspects of ${\beta}$-arrestins in regulating GPCR signaling have been discovered. These previously unanticipated roles of ${\beta}$-arrestins to act as signal transducers and mediators of G protein-independent signaling have led to the concept of biased agonism. Biased GPCR ligands are able to engage with their target receptors in a manner that preferentially activates only G protein- or ${\beta}$-arrestin-mediated downstream signaling. This offers the potential for next generation drugs with high selectivity to therapeutically relevant GPCR signaling pathways. In this review, we provide a summary of the recent studies highlighting G protein- or ${\beta}$-arrestin-biased GPCR signaling and the effects of biased ligands on disease pathogenesis and regulation.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.355-359
• /
• 2019

Exosomes, known as nanoscale extracellular vesicles in the range of 30-150 nm, are known to contain clinically significant information. However, there is still insufficient information on exosomal membrane proteins for cancer diagnosis. In this work, we investigated the characteristics of the membrane proteins of exosomes shed by cultured breast cancer cell lines using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and pre-activated alkanethiols modified sensor chips. The antibodies of breast cancer biomarkers such as MCU-16, EpCAM, CD24, ErbB2, and CA19-9 were immobilized on the pre-activated alkanethiols surfaces without any activation steps. The purified exosomes were loaded onto each antibody surface. The affinity rank of the antibody surfaces was decided by the relative capture efficiency factors for the exosomes. In addition, an antibody with a relative capture efficiency close to 100% was tested with exosome concentration levels of 10⁴/µl, 10⁵/µl, and 10⁶/µl for quantitative analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.333-340
• /
• 1998

Streptomyces griseus trypsin (SGT) is an extracellular proteinase produced by S. griseus. The sprT gene, which encodes premature SGT protein, was cloned into the plasmid pWHM3, a Streptomyces-E. coli shuttle vector. When the recombinant plasmid was introduced into Streptomyces lividans TK24, two proteins with molecular weights of 28 kDa and 42 kDa were detected. The 28-kDa protein was a SGT protein while the larger 42-kDa protein is thought to have been a premature form of the SGT protein. The SGT protein was purified to homogeneity via ammonium sulfate fractionation and many column chromatographies, including CM -sepharose chromatography, Mono-S chromatography, and Superose-12 chromatography, from the culture broth of S. lividans TK24 harboring the sprT gene. The N-terminal amino acid sequence, isoelectric points, and stabilities at various conditions of the SGT proteins purified from the Pronase and transformant were almost identical. The amount of the expressed SGT in S. lividans TK 24 was determined to be 5 times more than that of S. griseus based on the enzymatic activity against artificial substrate.