• Toxicological Research
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.113-118
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• 2009

Cell death induced by menadione (vitamin K-3,2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) has been investigated in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Menadione was found to induce both apoptosis and necrosis in HL-60 cells. Low concentration ($1{\sim}$50 ${\mu}$M) of menadione induced apoptotic cell death, which was demonstrated by typical DNA ladder patterns on agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. In contrast, a high concentration of menadione (100 ${\mu}$M) induced necrotic cell death, which was demonstrated by DNA smear pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. Necrotic cell death was accompanied with a great reduction of cell viability. Menadione activated caspase-3, as evidenced by both increased protease activity and proteolytic cleavage of 116 kDa poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) into 85 kDa cleavage product. Caspase-3 activity was maximum at 50 ${\mu}$M of menadione, and very low at 100 ${\mu}$M of menadione. Taken together, our results showed that menadione induced mixed types of cell death, apoptosis at low concentrations and necrosis at high concentrations in HL-60 cells.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.185-193
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• 2009

A complete cDNA, which encodes for a myostatin-like protein (Es-MSTN), was isolated from the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Es-MSTN was composed of 2,397 nucleotides and the open reading frame (ORF) specified a protein containing 468 amino acids. Es-MSTN exhibited 32% amino acid sequence identity and 52% similarity to human myostatin. Multiple sequence alignment analysis indicated that Es-MSTN possessed the conserved proteolytic cleavage site (RXXR) for maturation of the protein and nine cysteine residues for disulfide bridges. Besides the conserved structural features, Es-MSTN also exhibits its unique characters; a longer N-terminal domain which is involved in protein folding and latent form of myostatin and absence of the cleavage site for BMP-1/tolloid family of metalloproteinase to activate mature myostatin. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Es-MSTN showed the closely related to both vertebrate myostatin and GDF11. Es-MSTN is expressed highly in the claw muscle, leg muscle, thoracic muscle and heart, and moderately in the hindgut suggesting that Es-MSTN may play important roles in the muscle tissues. As homolog of mammalian myostatin and GDF11, Es-MSTN may be involved in development of muscular tissue and further study will help to produce high-quality seafood.

• BMB Reports
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• 제44권11호
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• pp.735-740
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• 2011

Tunicamycin, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer, specifically inhibits N-glycosylation. The cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element-binding protein H (CREBH) was previously shown to be regulated by UPR-dependent proteolytic cleavage in the liver. On the other hand, the role of CREBH in other tissues is unknown. In the present study, tunicamycin increased the level of CREBH activation (cleavage) as well as mRNA expression in osteoblast cells. Adenoviral (Ad) overexpression of CREBH suppressed BMP2-induced expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC). Interestingly, the BMP2-induced OASIS (structurally similar to CREBH, a positive regulator of osteoblast differentiation) expression was also inhibited by CREBH overexpression. In addition, inhibition of CREBH expression using siRNA reversed the tunicamycin-suppressed ALP and OC expression. These results suggest that CREBH inhibited osteoblast differentiation via suppressing BMP2-induced ALP, OC and OASIS expression in mouse calvarial derived osteoblasts.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.395-400
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• 2006

Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) plays an important role in detoxification and the metabolism of xenobiotics. Here we show that GSTP1 also regulates the MEKK1-MKK7 signaling pathway. Over-expression of GSTP1 in HEK293 cells inhibited both ${\Delta}MEKK1$- and etoposide-induced apoptosis, and inhibited procaspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. MEKK1- induced apoptosis requires both its kinase activity and proteolytic cleavage. ${\Delta}MEKK1$ activity was inhibited by over-expression of GSTP1 in vivo and MEKK1 kinase activity was also inhibited by GSTP1 in vitro when assayed with bacterially-expressed MKK7(KM) protein as substrate. GSTP1 inhibition of etoposide-induced cell apoptosis was mainly due to its ability to suppress MEKK1 kinase activity. The glutathione-conjugating activity of GSTP1 was essential for the above effects. These findings provide insight into the mechanism by which GSTP1 protects cells from genotoxin-induced apoptosis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.245-250
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• 2007

The complete genome sequence of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus stain A (ZYMV-A) isolated from a hollyhock (Althaea rosea) was determined by using RT-PCR with a series of primer sets. The virus genome consisted of 9593 nucleotides (nt), excluding the poly(A) tract at 3' terminus of the virus genome, with 5' and 3' untranslated region of 139 and 211 nt, respectively. The deduced polyprotein of ZYMV-A consisted of 3080 amino acid (aa) residues and was 351 kDa in molecular weight. All proteolytic cleavage sites of the polyprotein of ZYMV-A were compared with those of ZYMV strains, which showed the cleavage sites were conserved among ZYMV strains. The HC-Pro contained the KITC and PTK motifs, and the DAG motif was located at CP ORF of ZYMV-A, suggesting that ZYMV-A is aphid-transmissible. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the complete genome among ZYMV strains or CP ORFs with other potyviruses showed ZYMV strains formed a distinct group. These results clearly confirmed that ZYMV-A was another distinct strain in ZYMV population at molecular level.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2003

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is one of the most studied areas of modern biology. Apoptosis is a genetically regulated process, which plays an essential role in the development and homeostasis of higher organisms. Mitochondria, known to play a central role in regulating cellular metabolism, was found to be critical for regulating apoptosis induced under both physiological and pathological conditions. Mitochondria are a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but they can also serve as its target during the apoptosis process. Release of apoptogenic factors from mitochondria, the best known of which is cytochrome c, leads to assembly of a large apoptosis-inducing complex called the apoptosome. Cysteine pretenses (called caspases) are recruited to this complex and, following their activation by proteolytic cleavage, activate other caspases, which in turn target for specific cleavage a large number of cellular proteins. The redox regulation of apoptosis during and after cytochrome c release is an area of intense investigation. This review summarizes what is known about the biological role of ROS and its targets in apoptosis with an emphasis on its intricate connections to mitochondria and the basic components of cell death.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.153-161
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• 2002

Sox4는 DNA 결합 도메인인 HMG-box와 전사 활성 도메인인 serine rich region (SRR)과 아직 그 기능이 알려져 있지 않은 glycine rich region (GRR)등의 세 개의 기능 도메인을 가지는 전사인자이다. 전사인자인 Sox4는 생체 내 초기 분화 시 중요한 역할을 하는 유전자로 알려져 있으나 여전히 그 정확한 생리적 기능 및 세포 내에서 이 유전자 산물이 전사 활성 에 어떻게 관여하는지 그 정확한 기전은 잘 밝혀져 있지 않다. 이에 본 연구에서는 Sox4의 생리적 기능을 이해하고 세포 내에서 Sox4의 기능 연구에 유용하게 사용할 수 있는 항체를 제조하기 위해 Sox4를 대장균에서 발현, 정제하였다. 모든 기능 도메인을 다 포함하는 Sox4는 대장균에서 발현 시 대부분 절단되는 양상을 나타내었다. Sox4의 각 도메인을 대장균에서 GST-융합 단백질로 발현, 정제하여 그 발현 양상을 비교해 본 바 N-말단을 제거한 Sox4 ($\Delta$HMG)의 경우 67 kDa 크기의 단백질이 생성되므로 이 단백질을 항원으로 이용하여 Sox4의 GRR에 특이적으로 반응하는 항체를 제조하였다. 또한, 67 kDa 크기의 단백질 외에 34 kDa 크기에서 GST-융합 단백질이 관찰되었다. 이 밴드는 Sox4 (GRR)를 발현, 정제시에도 관찰되는 동일한 크기의 밴드이며 thrombin과의 반응을 통해 7 kDa 크기로 절단되는 Sox4 밴드이다. 그러므로 이 들 결과로부터 GRR 내에 단백질 분해효소의 표적 부위가 존재함을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구결과는 아직 그 기능이 밝혀져 있는 않은 Sox4의 새로운 도메인인 GRR이 단백질 분해 효소의 표적 부위로 작용하여 Sox4의 안정성을 조절함으로써 Sox4의 활성에 중요한 역할을 수행할 수 있다는 가능성을 제시하고 있다.은 억제 회복 효과는 $Mg^{2+}$에 의한 리보자임의 td intron 구조적 안정성에 기인하는 것으로 추정된다.력이 뛰어난(adaptable) 인간적 요구사항을 충족시켜야 한다. 셋째, 다이내믹 시미트리는 역(逆, reciprocity)의 원리와 보상(補賞, complement)의 원리를 제 1의 구성원리로 하며 공간에서 서로에 대한 역과 공통성(common property)을 갖고 자기유사를 지닐 때 연속체(continuum)를 손상하지 않고 전체공간을 유기체적으로 분절한다.같은 pattern 이었다. 그러나 JR89주에서는 280kb 가 나타나지 않아 다른 분리균주와 구분되었다.과 밀가루국(麴) 사이에 차(差)가 별(別)로 없었다.果)에서 총지질(總脂質)을 구성(構咸)하는 지방산(脂肪酸) 조성(組成)은 $C_{18:2}$산(酸), $C_{16:0}$산(酸)의 순(順)으로 그 함량(含最)이 맞은데 비(比)하여 각획분(各劃分)의 지질(脂質)을 구성(構成)하는 지방산(脂肪酸) 조성(組成)은 $C_{16:0}$산(酸), $C_{18:2}$산(酸)의 순(順)으로 그 함량(含量)이 많은 것으로 나타났으며 동결건조후(凍結乾燥後) 저장(貯藏)하는 동안에$C_{18:2}$산(酸), $C_{18:3}$산(酸)의 함량(含量)이 계속(繼續) 감소(減少)하고 있었다. 5. 4-monomethylsterol fraction에는 cycloartenol(20.6%)이 비교적(比較的) 높은 함량(含量)으로 함유(含有)되어 있었고, 그 외(外) cyclolaudenol, cycloeucalenol 및 citrostadienol 등이 함유(含有)되어 있었다. 6. 4-desmethylsterol fraction에

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.430-434
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• 2004

Three extracellular protease-deficient Bacillus subtilis strains were transformed with the plasmid pCK98 containing the endo-$\beta$-1,4-glucanase (Eng) gene of B. subtilis BSE616. The three transformants, B. subtilis DB104 (pCK98), WB600 (pCK98) and WB700 (pCK98), produced the same high level of enzyme activity and showed similar patterns of cell growth and enzyme production. When B. subtilis DB 104 (pCK98), a two-extracellular protease deficient strain, was cultured for 22 h, almost all the secreted enzyme was found to be in the completely cleaved form by both activity staining and Western blotting studies. B. subtilis WB600 (pCK98), a six-extracellular protease-deficient strain, produced a partially cleaved form in addition to the intact form of the enzyme, although the degree of internal cleavage of the enzyme was greatly reduced. With B. subtilis WB700 (pCK98), a seven-extracellular protease-deficient strain, almost all the enzyme was produced as the intact uncleaved form. This study illustrates that a role of the V pr protease is to degrade foreign proteins produced in B. subtilis and WB700 is a suitable expression system for producing the intact form of the Eng and other foreign proteins that may lose at least part of their efficacy due to internal proteolytic cleavage.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.224-231
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• 2007

$H_2O_2$, as an example of oxidative stress, induces cardiac myocyte apoptosis. Bcl-2 family proteins are key regulators of the apoptotic response while their functions can be regulated by post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, dimerization or proteolytic cleavage. In this study, we examined the role of various protein kinases in regulating total BAD protein levels in adult rat cardiac myocytes undergoing apoptosis. Stimulation with 0.1 mM $H_2O_2$, which induces apoptosis, resulted in a marked down-regulation of BAD protein, which is attributed to cleavage by caspases since it can be restored in the presence of a general caspase inhibitor. Inhibition of PKC, p38-MAPK, ERK1/2 and PI-3-K did not influence the reduced BAD protein levels observed after stimulation with $H_2O_2$. On the contrary, inhibition of PKA or specifically $PKC{\delta}$ resulted in up-regulation of BAD. Decreased caspase 3 activity was observed in $H_2O_2$ treated cells after inhibition of PKA or $PKC{\delta}$ whereas inhibition of PKA also resulted in improved cell survival. Furthermore, addition of okadaic acid to inhibit selected phosphatases resulted in enhanced BAD cleavage. These data suggest that, during oxidative stress-induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis, there is a caspase-dependent down-regulation of BAD protein, which seems to be regulated by coordinated action of PKA, $PKC{\delta}$ and phosphatases.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.126-130
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• 2015

There are several studies that show hypothermia improves cellular ischemia damages on experimental and clinical bases. However, its exact molecular mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that hypothermia induced insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene expression, and its expression was dramatically decreased under ischemic insults. It was also demonstrated that hypothermia activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensors especially both the phosphorylation of $eIF2{\alpha}$ (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha) and ATF6 (activating transcription factor-6) proteolytic cleavage. However, the factors of apoptosis and autophagy were not associated with hypothermia. We suggest that hypothermia-treated IGF1 gene expression after ischemia may show a good possibility for the development of treatments and diagnostic methods in cerebral ischemic damages.