• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.427-433
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• 2013

Receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis is accompanied by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization in a form of oscillations, which plays essential roles by activating sequentially $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, calcineurin and NFATc1, necessary in the osteoclast differentiation. However, it is not known whether $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization which is evoked in RANKL-independent way induces to differentiate into osteoclasts. In present study, we investigated $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization induced by aluminum fluoride ($AlF_4^-$), a G-protein activator, with or without RANKL and the effects of $AlF_4^-$ on the osteoclastogenesis in primary cultured mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). We show here that $AlF_4^-$ induces intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) oscillations, which is dependent on extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Notably, co-stimulation of $AlF_4^-$ with RANKL resulted in enhanced NFATc1 expression and formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive multinucleated cells. Additionally, we confirmed that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is also activated by $AlF_4^-$. Taken together, these results demonstrate that G-protein would be a novel modulator responsible for $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillations and MAPK activation which lead to enhancement of RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.800-806
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• 2008

자연발효된 청국장으로부터 혈전용해활성을 가지는 세균 Bacillus licheniformis HK-12를 농화분리하여, 배양기간 동안 생산된 혈전용해활성을 가지는 단백질에 대해 프로테옴 분석을 실시하였다. B. licheniformis HK-12를 액체 영양배지에 접종하여 얻어진 배양상등액을 피브린 평판법(fibrin plate method)을 사용하여 효소활성을 측정하였다. 그 결과, HK-12의 혈전용해 활성은 대조구인 plasmin보다 약 2.3배정도 높은 활성을 나타내었다. 효소는 배양상등액을 ammonium sulfate 침전, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex chromatography 등을 수행하여 분리정제하였으며, 정제된 혈전용해효소의 분자량은 SDS-PAGE를 통해 약 23 kDa로 측정되었다. 배양시간에 따른 HK-6의 세포외 단백질의 변화를 2-D PAGE 분석을 통하여 분석하였다. 그 결과 36시간배양 후에 가장 현저하게 유도된 spot #1을 분리하였으며, MALDI-TOF MS를 이용하여 단백질 동정을 실시한 결과, 유도된 단백질의 아미노산 서열은 $^1EKKIEKYREEEORLK^{15}$으로서, serine protein kinase (PrkA) (AAU22526)로 확인되었다.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.593-602
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• 2022

Anthracnose, caused by the ascomycete fungus Colletotrichum scovillei, is a destructive disease in pepper. The fungus germinates and develops an infection structure called an appressorium on the plant surface. Several signaling cascades, including cAMP-mediated signaling and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, are involved in fungal development and pathogenicity in plant pathogenic fungi, but this has not been well studied in the fruit-infecting fungus C. scovillei. Ste50 is an adaptor protein interacting with multiple upstream components to activate the MAPK cascades. Here, we characterized the CsSTE50 gene of C. scovillei, a homolog of Magnaporthe oryzae MST50 that functions in MAPK cascades, by gene knockout. The knockout mutant ΔCsste50 had pleiotropic phenotypes in development and pathogenicity. Compared with the wild-type, the mutants grew faster and produced more conidia on regular agar but were more sensitive to osmotic stress. On artificial and plant surfaces, the conidia of the mutant showed significantly reduced germination and failed to form appressoria. The mutant was completely non-pathogenic on pepper fruits with or without wounds, indicating that pre-penetration and invasive growth were both defective in the mutant. Our results show that the adaptor protein CsSTE50 plays a role in vegetative growth, conidiation, germination, appressorium formation, and pathogenicity in C. scovillei.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.73-82
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• 2023

Purpose : Cymbopogon citratus, also known as lemongrass, has widely spread around the world and its essential oil is usually applied in food, perfume, and other industrial purposes. In addition, C. citratus has also been used for the treatment of inflammation, digestive disorders, and diabetes in traditional medicine. In this study, the antioxidative activity of C. citratus ethanol extract (CCEE) was analyzed in RAW 264.7 cells through the induction of one of phase II enzymes, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 by nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor (Nrf)2, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt. Methods : The antioxidative activity of CCEE against oxidative stress and its underlying molecular mechanisms were analyzed by the cell viability assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation assay, and Western blot analysis in RAW 264.7 cells. Results : The results exhibited that CCEE potently attenuated tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced intracellular ROS levels in a dose-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. CCEE treatment significantly induced the expression of HO-1 which is known for its antioxidative capacity. In addition, CCEE treatment significantly upregulated the expression of Nrf2, a corresponding transcription factor for the regulation of antioxidative enzymes, which was in accordance with the HO-1 overexpression. MAPK and PI3K/Akt were also evaluated for their important roles in the regulation of cellular redox homeostasis against oxidative damage. As a result, the potent HO-1 expression was mediated by not extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK), p38, but phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) phosphorylation. To confirm the antioxidative activity of CCEE-induced HO-1 expression, oxidative damage was initiated by t-BHP and attenuated by CCEE treatment, which was identified by HO-1 selective inhibitor and inducer. Conclusion : Consequently, CCEE potently induced the HO-1-mediated antioxidative potential through the modulation of Nrf2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that CCEE could be a promising strategy for the mitigation against cellular oxidative damage.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.231-239
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• 2016

담배에서 후성유전관련 유전자의 발현연구를 위해 담배유래 시토신 DNA 탈메틸화 관련 NtROS2a 유전자를 과발현 및 RNAi 식물체를 육성하였다. 이들 형질전환체들은 고염 및 산화 스트레스하에서 내성이 증진되었으며, 다양한 표현형변이를 보였다(Lee et al. 2015). 본연구에서는 선발된 과발현 (OX1), RNAi 식물체(RNAi 13) 및 대조식물체(WT)를 이용하여 Agilent Tobacco 4 X 44K Oligo chip으로 microarray분석을 수행하였다. OX1과 RNAi13 계통을 이용하여 WT과 함께 비교 분석한 결과, 대부분 세포 내 이온 수송, 영양 공급 등과 같은 물질대사와 생물적 비생물적 스트레스 및 methylation과 관련되어 영향을 주는 유전자들에서 up-regulation 되었고, 물질대사관련 유전자와 세포 내 기능유전자의 역할을 담당하는 조효소, 그리고 다양한 스트레스 및 메틸레이션 관련 유전자군에서 또한 down-regulation되었다. 각각의 up-, down-regulation된 유전자들을 WT과 비교하여 qRT-PCR을 수행한 결과, KH domain-containing protein, MADS-box protein 및 Zinc phosphodiesterase ELAC protein 유전자들에서 발현이 높게 나타났으며, 반면에 pentatricopeptide (PPR) repeat-containing protein, histone deacetylase HDAC3 protein 및 protein kinase는 0.4 ~ 1.0-fold 발현양이 감소되었다. 따라서 DNA glycosylase를 암호화하는 NtROS2a 유전자는 demethylation과 관련되어 담배 식물체에서 다양한 전사레벨을 조절하는 것으로 판단된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.374-379
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the effects of pelargonidin, an anthocyanidin found in many fruits and vegetables, on endothelium-independent vascular contractility to determine the underlying mechanism of relaxation. Isometric contractions of denuded aortic muscles from male rats were recorded, and the data were combined with those obtained in western blot analysis. Pelargonidin significantly inhibited fluoride-, thromboxane A2-, and phorbol ester-induced vascular contractions, regardless of the presence or absence of endothelium, suggesting a direct effect of the compound on vascular smooth muscles via a different pathway. Pelargonidin significantly inhibited the fluoride-dependent increase in the level of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation at Thr-855 and the phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-dependent increase in the level of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation at Thr202/Tyr204, suggesting the inhibition of Rho-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) activities and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. These results suggest that the relaxation effect of pelargonidin on agonist-dependent vascular contractions includes inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activities, independent of the endothelial function.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.308-313
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• 2018

Small-molecule inhibitors are widely used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. In this study, we found a novel anti-inflammatory compound, 1-[(2R,4S)-2-methyl-4-(phenylamino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-1-yl]prop-2-en-1-one (MPQP). It showed strong anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These effects were exerted through the inhibition of the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, $IL-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$). Furthermore, MPQP decreased the expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Additionally, it mediated the inhibition of the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), the inhibitor of ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$), and their upstream kinases, $I{\kappa}B$ kinase (IKK) ${\alpha}/{\beta}$, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) 3/6, and MKK4. Furthermore, the expression of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) that regulates $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, and the JNK signaling pathways, was also increased by MPQP. These results indicate that MPQP regulates the IRAK1-mediated inflammatory signaling pathways by targeting IRAK1 or its upstream factors.

• 한국식물병리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물병리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 추계학술발표회
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• pp.72.2-73
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• 2003

We found a soybean (Glycine max) cultivar 561 that was strongly resistant to a virulent bacterial strain of a Pseudomonas spp. Further identification revealed that the Pseudomonas spp. was a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore we identified specific genes involved in the resistance of soybean 561 and analyzed the pattern of gene expression against the Pseudomonas infection using differential-display reverse transcription PCR (DDRT-PCR). More than 126 cDNA fragments representing mRNAs were induced within 48 hours of bacteria inoculation. Among them, 28 cDNA fragments were cloned and sequenced. Twelve differentially displayed clones with open reading frames had unknown functions. Sixteen selected cDNA clones were homologous to known genes in the other organisms. Some of the identified cDNAs were pathogenesis-related genes (PR genes) and PR-like genes. These cDNAs included a putative calmodulin-binding protein, an endo-1,3-1,4-b-D-glucanase, a b-1,3-endoglucanase, a b-1,3-exoglucanase, a phytochelatin synthetase-like gene, a thiol pretense, a cycloartenol synthase, and a putative receptor-like sorineithreonine protein kinase. Among them, we found that four genes were putative pathogenesis-related genes (PR) induced significantly by the p. aeruginosa infection. These included a calmodulin-binding protein gene, a b-1,3-endoglucanase gene, a receptor-like sorine/threonine protein kinase gene, and pS321 (unknown function). These results suggest that the differentially expressed genes may mediate the strong resistance of soybean 561 to Pseudomonas aeruoginosa.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.104-111
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• 2006

Gene therapy with nonviral vectors using the suicide gene/prodrug activating system of herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK)/ganciclovir (GCV) is inefficient in killing malignant tumor cells due to two major factors: (a) an unsatisfactory bystander effect; (b) short-lived expression of the protein. To study the capacity of the protein transduction domain (PTD) of HIV-1 TAT protein to enhance HSV1-TK/GCV cancer gene therapy, we constructed three fusion proteins TAT-TK, TK-TAT and TK. TAT-TK retained as much enzyme activity as TK, whereas that of TK-TAT was much lower. TAT-TK can enter HepG2 cells and much of it is translocated to the nucleus. The transduced HepG2 cells are killed by exogenously added GCV and have bystander effects on untransduced HepG2 cells. Most importantly, the introduced recombinant protein is stable and remains functional for several days at least, probably because nuclear localization protects it from the cytoplasmic degradation machinery and provides access to the nuclear transcription machinery. Our results indicate that TAT fusion proteins traffic intercellularly and have enhanced stability and prodrug cell killing activity. We conclude that TAT has potential for enhancing enzyme prodrug treatment of liver cancers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.279-285
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl (${\cdot}OH$), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) is reported to induce oxidative stress. ROS generated by oxidative stress can potentially damage glial cells in the nervous system. Cordyceps militaris (CM), a kind of natural herb widely found in East Asia. In this study, we investigated the free radical scavenging activity of the CM extract and its neuroprotective effects in $H_2O_2$-induced C6 glial cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: The ethanol extract of CM ($100-1,000{\mu}g/mL$) was used to measure DPPH, ${\cdot}OH$, and NO radical scavenging activities. In addition, hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced C6 glial cells were treated with CM at $0.5-2.5{\mu}g/mL$ for measurement of cell viability, ROS production, and protein expression resulting from oxidative stress. RESULTS: The CM extract showed high scavenging activities against DPPH, ${\cdot}OH$, and NO radicals at concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$. Treatment of CM with $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in C6 glial cells significantly increased cell viability, and decreased ROS production. Cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression was down-regulated in CM-treated groups. In addition, the protein expression level of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK), phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), and phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) in $H_2O_2$-induced C6 glial cells was down-regulated upon CM administration. CONCLUSION: CM exhibited radical scavenging activity and protective effect against $H_2O_2$ as indicated by the increased cell viability, decreased ROS production, down-regulation of inflammation-related proteins as well as p-p38, p-JNK, and p-ERK protein levels. Therefore, we suggest that CM could play the protective role from oxidative stress in glial cells.