• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.299-305
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• 2013

Paenibacillus is a gram-positive, spore-forming aerobes that was previously classified as a Bacillus species. Paenibacillus sp. CK214 was highly motile on LB agar plates and showed typical colonial morphology of Paenibacillus. However, its motility was defective in the absence of glucose. Electron microscopic observation revealed that the cells of CK214 cultured on LB agar plates were peritrichously flagellated but not flagellated in the presence of glucose. Flagellar filaments were purified by centrifugation after shearing off from the CK214 cells with vigorous pipetting. The purified protein was composed of a single flagellin with an apparent molecular size of 29 kDa. Recognition of the protein by anti-Edwardsiella tarda flagellin protein antibody demonstrates that the protein is a flagellin protein. A decreased level of flagellin protein was detected in CK214 cells grown under glucose-supplemented media.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.294-299
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• 2014

In this study, we investigate anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of Leonurus sibiricus seed (LSS) extract in basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells. To identify anti-allergic actions of LSS, the degranulation was evaluated in IgE and DNP-BSA stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. At the concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol (MeOH) extract and Methylene chloride (MC) and Ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions, the degranulation was significantly inhibited 16.7%, 16.7% and 27.9% respectively. And then, to assess anti-inflammatory effects of LSS, IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA level were detected in PMA/ionomycin (PI)-induced RBL-2H3 cells and cell proliferation and IL-4 mRNA level in isolated splenocytes from Balb/c mice. LSS MeOH extract and MC and EtOAc fractions significantly decreased the level of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA in PI-induced RBL-2H3 cells and showed inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and expression of IL-4 mRNA level in mouse splenocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that LSS has potential anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects and EtOAc fraction is the most effective in regulating immune responses.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.665-670
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• 2019

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2 (NOD2), an intracellular pattern recognition receptor, plays important roles in inflammation and cell death. Previously, we have shown that NOD2 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and that NOD2 deficiency promotes VSMC proliferation, migration, and neointimal formation after vascular injury. However, its role in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cell death in VSMCs remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate ER stress-induced viability of mouse primary VSMCs. NOD2 deficiency increased ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) in VSMCs in the presence of tunicamycin (TM), an ER stress inducer. In contrast, ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) were decreased in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs. We found that the $IRE-1{\alpha}-XBP1$ pathway, one of unfolded protein response branches, was decreased in NOD2-deficient VSMCs and reversed in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs in the presence of TM. Furthermore, NOD2 deficiency reduced the expression of XBP1 target genes such as GRP78, PDI-1, and Herpud1, thus improving cell survival. Taken together, these data suggest that the induction of ER stress through NOD2 expression can protect against TM-induced cell death in VSMCs. These results may contribute to a new paradigm in vascular homeostasis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.261-264
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• 2019

Eupatorium rugosum Houtt. is known to be an alien invasive species and is listed as an ecosystem disturbance species in Korea. There is also an eastern North American species Ageratina altissima (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob. similarly dispersed in Korea. This article aims to clarify the taxonomic confusion regarding the species. The two names refer to the same species originally described as Ageratum altissimum by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum. Ageratum altissimum was transferred to the genus Eupatorium and later to Ageratina. Eupatorium rugosum is the replacement name in Eupatorium because of E. altissimum L., an existing name based on the different type. When the species was transferred to Ageratina, A. altissima was published based on its basionym, as the epithet "altissima" was available in the genus. It seems that taxonomic confusion regarding the species in Korea is due to the recognition of the names as different taxa. Ageratina altissima is the correct name for the species based on morphological and molecular data.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.637-645
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• 2019

Effector-triggered immunity (ETI) is an effective layer of plant defense initiated upon recognition of avirulence (Avr) effectors from pathogens by cognate plant disease resistance (R) proteins. In rice, a large number of R genes have been characterized from various cultivars and have greatly contributed to breeding programs to improve resistance against the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. The extreme diversity of R gene repertoires is thought to be a result of co-evolutionary history between rice and its pathogens including M. oryzae. Here we show that Pii is an allele of Pi5 by DNA sequence characterization and complementation analysis. Pii-1 and Pii-2 cDNAs were cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction from the Pii-carrying cultivar Fujisaka5. The complementation test in susceptible rice cultivar Dongjin demonstrated that the rice blast resistance mediated by Pii, similar to Pi5, requires the presence of two nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat genes, Pii-1 and Pii-2. Consistent with our hypothesis that Pi5 and Pii are functionally indistinguishable, the replacement of Pii-1 by Pi5-1 and Pii-2 by Pi5-2, respectively, does not change the level of disease resistance to M. oryzae carrying AVR-Pii. Surprisingly, Exo70F3, required for Pii-mediated resistance, is dispensable for Pi5-mediated resistance. Based on our results, despite similarities observed between Pi5 and Pii, we hypothesize that Pi5 and Pii pairs require partially distinct mechanisms to function.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 2019

Molecular recognition technology has attracted considerable attention for improving the selectivity of a specific molecule by imprinting it on a polymer matrix. In this study, adsorption and release characteristics of chitosan based drug delivery films imprinted with sulindac (SLD) were investigated in terms of the plasticizer, temperature and pH and the results were also interpreted by the related mathematical models. The adsorption characteristics of target molecules on SLD-imprinted polymer films were better explained by the Freundlich and Sips equation than that of the Langmuir equation. The binding site energy distribution function was also useful for understanding the adsorption relationship between target molecules and polymer films. The drug release of SLD-imprinted polymer films followed the Fickian diffusion mechanism, whereas the drug release using artificial skin followed the non-Fickian diffusion behavior.

• Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.192-202
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• 2017

Objective. Rebampide is a gastroprotective agent used to treat gastritis. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis effects, but the mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. The objective of this study was to explore mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of rebamipide in inflammatory arthritis. Methods. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in DBA/1J mice. DBA/1J mice were immunized with chicken type II collagen, then treated intraperitoneally with rebamipide (10 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg) or vehicle (10% carboxymethylcellulose solution) alone. Seven weeks later, plasma samples were collected. Plasma metabolic profiles were analyzed using ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics study and metabolite biomarkers were identified through multivariate data analysis. Results. Low dose rebamipide treatment reduced the clinical arthritis score compared with vehicle treatment, whereas high dose rebamipide in CIA aggravated arthritis severity. Based on multivariate analysis, 17 metabolites were identified. The plasma levels of metabolites associated with fatty acids and phospholipid metabolism were significantly lower with rebamipide treatment than with vehicle. The levels of $15-deoxy-^{{\Delta}12,14}$ prostaglandin J2 and thromboxane B3 decreased only in high dose-treated groups. Certain peptide molecules, including enterostatin (VPDPR) enterostatin and bradykinin dramatically increased in rebamipide-treated groups at both doses. Additionally, corticosterone increased in the low dose-treated group and decreased in the high dose-treated group. Conclusion. Metabolomics analysis revealed the anti-inflammatory effects of rebamipide and suggested the potential of the drug repositioning in metabolism- and lipid-associated diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.410-418
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• 2021

Helicobacter pylori causes chronic gastritis through cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI), vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and flagellin as pathogen-related molecular patterns (PAMPs), which, in combination with the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of host cells promotes the expression and secretion of inflammation-causing cytokines and activates innate immune responses such as inflammasomes. To identify useful compounds against H. pylori-associated gastric disorders, the effect of chalcone derivatives to activate the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was examined in an H. pylori-infected human monocytic THP-1 cell line in this study. Among the five synthetic structurally-related chalcone derivatives examined, 2'-hydroxy-4',6'-dimethoxychalcone (8) and 2'-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethoxychalcone (12) strongly blocked the NLRP3 inflammasome in H. pylori-infected THP-1 cells. At 10 μM, these compounds inhibited the production of active IL-1β, IL-18, and caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization, but did not affect the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, and pro-caspase-1. The interruption of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by these compounds was found to be mediated via the inhibition of the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4)/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway. These compounds also inhibited caspase-4 production associated with non-canonical NLRP3 inflammasome activation. These results show for the first time that certain chalcones could interrupt the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in H. pylori-infected THP-1 cells. Therefore, these chalcones may be helpful in alleviating H. pylori-related inflammatory disorders including chronic gastritis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.575-587
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• 2022

Human ABCB6 is an ATP-binding cassette transporter that regulates heme biosynthesis by translocating various porphyrins from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of human ABCB6 with its substrates, coproporphyrin III (CPIII) and hemin, at 3.5 and 3.7 Å resolution, respectively. Metal-free porphyrin CPIII binds to ABCB6 within the central cavity, where its propionic acids form hydrogen bonds with the highly conserved Y550. The resulting structure has an overall fold similar to the inward-facing apo structure, but the two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) are slightly closer to each other. In contrast, when ABCB6 binds a metal-centered porphyrin hemin in complex with two glutathione molecules (1 hemin: 2 glutathione), the two NBDs end up much closer together, aligning them to bind and hydrolyze ATP more efficiently. In our structures, a glycine-rich and highly flexible "bulge" loop on TM helix 7 undergoes significant conformational changes associated with substrate binding. Our findings suggest that ABCB6 utilizes at least two distinct mechanisms to fine-tune substrate specificity and transport efficiency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.530-530
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• 2000

The host defense system or immune system of all modern animals has their roots in very ancient organisms. After analyzing literature data concerning properties of invertebrates and vertebrates lectins we suggest that mechanism of mannans recognition may exist in marine invertebrates, as a universal mechanism for homeostasis maintenance and host defense, and mannan-binding lectins family of vertebrates has ancient precursor, as was shown for another S-type lectins family. We carried out the screening of mannan-binding type lectin among different species of echinoderms inhabiting in Piter the Grate Bay, the sea of Japan. As a result, the C-type lectins (SJL-32) specific for high mannose glycans was isolated from the coelomic plasma of the sea cucumbers Stichopus japonicus by ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Toyopearl 650M, affinity chromatography on a mannan-Sepharose 6B and gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200. SJL-32 is homodimer with molecular mass about 32 kDa on SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions. Protein part of the lectin has high conteins Asn, Glu, Ser. Hemagglutination of trypsin-treated O blood group human erythrocytes by SJL-32 was competitively inhibited by high-branched -D-mannan composed of -1,2 and -1,6 linked D-mannopyranose residues. In contrast, a variety of mono-, oligo-, and polysaccharides composed of residues of galactose and fucose showed absence or little inhibitory activities. The lectin activity strong depends on Ca2+ concentration, temperature and pH. Monospecific polyclonal antibodies were obtained to the lectin. As was shown by ELISA assay, antibodies to SJL-32 cross-reacted with human serum mannan-binding lectin. This data allows making conclusion about common antigenic determinants and structural homology of both lectins. In our opinion, SJL-32 belongs to evolutionary high conservative mannan-binding lectins (MBLs) family and takes part in the host defense against pathogenic microorganisms.