• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.367-372
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• 2019

Deactivation of aminoglycosides by their modifying enzymes, including a number of aminoglycoside O-phosphotransferases, is the most ubiquitous resistance mechanism in aminoglycoside-resistant pathogens. Nonetheless, in a couple of biosynthetic pathways for gentamicins, fortimicins, and istamycins, phosphorylation of aminoglycosides seems to be a unique and initial step for the creation of a natural defensive structural feature such as a 3',4'-dideoxy scaffold. Our aim was to elucidate the biochemical details on the beginning of these C3',4'-dideoxygenation biosynthetic steps for aminoglycosides. The biosynthesis of istamycins must surely involve these 3',4'-didehydroxylation steps, but much less has been reported in terms of characterization of istamycin biosynthetic genes, especially about the phosphotransferase-encoding gene. In the disruption and complementation experiments pointing to a putative gene, istP, in the genome of wild-type Streptomyces tenjimariensis, the function of the istP gene was proved here to be a phosphotransferase. Next, an in-frame deletion of a known phosphotransferase-encoding gene forP from the genome of wild-type Micromonospora olivasterospora resulted in the appearance of a hitherto unidentified fortimicin shunt product, namely 3-O-methyl-FOR-KK1, whereas complementation of forP restored the natural fortimicin metabolite profiles. The bilateral complementation of an istP gene (or forP) in the ${\Delta}forP$ mutant (or ${\Delta}istP$ mutant strain) successfully restored the biosynthesis of 3',4'-dideoxy fortimicins and istamycins, thus clearly indicating that they are interchangeable launchers of the biosynthesis of 3',4'-dideoxy types of 1,4-diaminocyclitol antibiotics.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.661-674
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• 2021

Malware, such as a rootkit that modifies the kernel, can adversely affect the analyst's judgment, making the analysis difficult or impossible if a mechanism to evade memory analysis is added. Therefore, we plan to preemptively respond to malware such as rootkits that bypass detection through advanced kernel modulation in the future. To this end, the main structure used in the Windows kernel was analyzed from the attacker's point of view, and a method capable of modulating the kernel object was applied to modulate the memory dump file. The result of tampering is confirmed through experimentation that it cannot be detected by memory analysis tool widely used worldwide. Then, from the analyst's point of view, using the concept of tamper resistance, it is made in the form of software that can detect tampering and shows that it is possible to detect areas that are not detected by existing memory analysis tools. Through this study, it is judged that it is meaningful in that it preemptively attempted to modulate the kernel area and derived insights to enable precise analysis. However, there is a limitation in that the necessary detection rules need to be manually created in software implementation for precise analysis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.86-97
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• 2021

Background: Panax ginseng Meyer has been used as a nourishing edible herb in East Asia for thousands of years. 25-OH-PPT was first discovered as a natural rare triterpenoid saponin in ginseng stems and leaves by our group. Research found that it showed strong inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, and protected cardiocytes (H9c2) through PI3K/Akt pathway. Methods: In the research, in order to optimize the 25-OH-PPT enrichment process, optimal macroporous resins and optimal purification conditions were studied. Meanwhile, the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of 25-OH-PPT were evaluated by using STZ to establish insulin-dependent diabetic mice and the spontaneous type 2 diabetes DB/DB mice. Results and Conclusion: Research found that 25-OH-PPT can reduce blood glucose and enhance glucose tolerance in STZ model mice. It increases insulin sensitivity by upregulating GLUT4 and AMPK in skeletal muscle, and activating insulin signaling pathways. In DB/DB mice, 25-OH-PPT achieves hypoglycemic effects mainly by activating the insulin signaling pathway. Meanwhile, through the influence of liver inflammatory factors and lipids in serum, it can be seen that 25-OH-PPT has obvious anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects. These results provide new insights into the study of ginseng as a functional food.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2022

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is a significant problem in the treatment of colorectal cancer, resulting in low response rates and decreased survival. Recent studies have shown that shikonin, a naphthoquinone derivative, promotes apoptosis in colon cancer cells and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cells, raising the possibility that this compound may be effective in drug-resistant colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to characterize the molecular mechanisms underpinning shikonin-induced apoptosis, with a focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in a 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer cell line, SNU-C5/5-FUR. Our results showed that shikonin significantly increased the proportion of sub-G₁ cells and DNA fragmentation and that shikonin-induced apoptosis is mediated by mitochondrial Ca²⁺ accumulation. Shikonin treatment also increased the expression of ER-related proteins, such as glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), phospho-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), phospho-phosphoinositol-requiring protein-1 (IRE1), spliced X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1), cleaved caspase-12, and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP). In addition, siRNA-mediated knockdown of CHOP attenuated shikonin-induced apoptosis, as did the ER stress inhibitor TUDCA. These data suggest that ER stress is a key factor mediating the cytotoxic effect of shikonin in SNU-C5/5-FUR cells. Our findings provide an evidence for a mechanism in which ER stress leads to apoptosis in shikonin-treated SNU-C5/5-FUR cells. Our study provides evidence to support further investigations on shikonin as a therapeutic option for 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2022

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase widely expressed in many cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck cancer. Mutations such as L858R in exon 21, exon 19 truncation (Del19), exon 20 insertions, and others are responsible for aberrant activation of EGFR in NSCLC. First-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as gefitinib and erlotinib have clinical benefits for EGFR-sensitive (L858R and Del19) NSCLC patients. However, after 10-12 months of treatment with these inhibitors, a secondary T790M mutation at the gatekeeper position in the kinase domain of EGFR was identified, which limited the clinical benefits. Second-generation EGFR irreversible inhibitors (afatinib and dacomitinib) were developed to overcome this T790M mutation. However, their lack of selectivity toward wild-type EGFR compromised their clinical benefits due to serious adverse events. Recently developed third-generation irreversible EGFR TKIs (osimertinib and lazertinib) are selective toward driving mutations and the T790M mutation, while sparing wild-type EGFR activity. The latest studies have concluded that their efficacy was also compromised by additional acquired mutations, including C797S, the key residue cysteine that forms covalent bonds with irreversible inhibitors. Because second- and third-generation EGFR TKIs are irreversible inhibitors, they are not effective against C797S containing EGFR triple mutations (Del19/T790M/C797S and L858R/T790M/C797S). Therefore, there is an urgent unmet medical need to develop next-generation EGFR TKIs that selectively inhibit EGFR triple mutations via a non-irreversible mechanism.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.608-613
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• 2021

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, exhibits a high risk of metastasis. Although chemotherapeutic treatment for metastatic melanoma improves disease outcome and patient survival, some patients exhibit resistance or toxicity to the drug treatment regime. OTUB1 is a deubiquitinating enzyme overexpressed in several cancers. In this study, we investigated the effects of inhibiting OTUB1 expression on melanoma-cell proliferation and viability and identified the underlying molecular mechanism of action of OTUB1. We did endogenous OTUB1 knockdown in melanoma cells using short interfering RNA, and assessed the resulting phenotypes via MTT assays, Western blotting, and cell-cycle analysis. We identified differentially expressed genes between OTUB1-knockdown cells and control cells using RNA sequencing and confirmed them via Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we investigated the involvement of apoptotic and cell survival signaling pathways upon OTUB1 depletion. OTUB1 depletion in melanoma cells decreased cell viability and caused simultaneous accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase, indicating an increase in the apoptotic-cell population. RNA sequencing of OTUB1-knockdown cells revealed an increase in the levels of the apoptosis-inducing protein TRAIL. Additionally, OTUB1-knockdown cells exhibited increased sensitivity to PLX4032, a BRAF inhibitor, implying that OTUB1 and BRAF act collectively in regulating apoptosis. Taken together, our findings show that OTUB1 induces apoptosis of melanoma cells in vitro, likely by upregulating TRAIL, and suggest that approaches targeting OTUB1 can be developed to provide novel therapeutic strategies for treating melanoma.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.50-57
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• 2004

This study attempted to evaluate the water repellency and drying effectiveness of linseed oil treated-solid wood at high temperature by immersion. The moisture content of green wood (Pinus densiflora) sample (above 90%) was reduced about 10% after 6 hours treatment at 150℃. When the treated samples were cut into cross section along the length, it was observed that the linseed oil penetrated into up to 20% of the sample cross section area in all locations. However, a strength loss of the specimen was not detected. The pre-drilling before linseed oil treatment was effective in reducing the defects such as checks and splits, and improved the linseed oil penetration into all samples from the surfaces. The result of water absorption test of treated-wood showed that the water repellent efficacy of treated-wood was greater than that of the control. The anti-fungal activity of treated samples using five sap stains and thee decay fungi was not detected in broad-spectrum toxic mechanism. However, decay test using white rot fungi (Tyromyces palustris) and brown rot fungi (Trametes versicolor) showed that the treated sample has a decay resistance to these two fungi.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.255-265
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• 2021

Global warming and scorching summer seasons affect the growth ability of broilers and animal welfare. In modern broilers, vital organs, such as the heart and lungs, grow disproportionally under intensive selection, making it difficult to adapt to warmer climates. Changes in environmental temperature can affect muscle formation during embryonic development and the early posthatching period. Satellite cells are highly sensitive to heat stress. Heat stress affects the proliferation and differentiation activity of satellite cells and muscle growth and structure. Therefore, thermal manipulation during broiler chick embryogenesis and environmental temperature management at the beginning of hatching are critical for the development and growth of broiler muscles. This review focuses on the thermoregulation mechanism of birds, the muscle development process of broilers, and the function of satellite cells, the relationship between heat stress and muscle development of chicks shortly after hatching, and studies on heat resistance and muscle growth of broilers.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.423-431
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• 2022

In this paper, the results of Planar Motion Mechanism (PMM) test for a 1/15 scaled model of the MARIN Joubert BB2 submarine is dealt with to derive the maneuvering coefficients for surface condition. For the depth of surface navigation, the top of the sail was exposed 0.46 m above the water surface in the model scale, and it corresponds to 6.9 m in the full scale. The resistance and self-propulsion tests were conducted, and the model's self-propulsion point was obtained for 1.328 m/s, which corresponded to 10 knots in the full scale. The maneuvering tests were performed at the model's self-propulsion point, and the maneuvering coefficients were obtained. Based on the maneuvering coefficients, a turning simulation was performed for starboard 30 degree of stern fins. The straight-line stability and control effectiveness in the horizontal plane were analyzed using the maneuvering coefficients and compared with the appropriate range. For the analysis of the neutral fin angle of the X-type stern fin, the stern fin test with drift angles was carried out. As a result, the flow straightening effect at lower and upper parts of the stern fin was discussed.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2023

The bacterium Neobacillus endophyticus BRMEA1^T, isolated from the medicinal plant Selaginella involvens, known as its thermotolerant can grow at 50℃. To explore the genetic basis for its heat tolerance response and its potential for producing valuable natural compounds, the genomes of two thermotolerant and four mesophilic strains in the genus Neobacillus were analyzed using a bioinformatic software platform. The whole genome was annotated using RAST SEED and OrthVenn2, with a focus on identifying potential heattolerance-related genes. N. endophyticus BRMEA1^T was found to possess more stress response genes compared to other mesophilic members of the genus, and it was the only strain that had genes for the synthesis of osmoregulated periplasmic glucans. This study sheds light on the potential value of N. endophyticus BRMEA1^T, as it reveals the mechanism of heat resistance and the application of secondary metabolites produced by this bacterium through whole-genome sequencing and comparative analysis.