• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.265-273
• /
• 2009

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a small single-stranded RNA virus which belongs to the family Picornaviridae, genus Apthovirus. It is a principal cause of FMD which is highly contagious in livestock. In a wild type virus infection, infected animals usually elicit antibodies against structural and non-structural protein of FMDV. A structural protein, VP1, is involved in neutralization of virus particle, and has both B and T cell epitopes. A RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, 3D, is highly conserved among other serotypes and strongly immunogenic, therefore, we selected VP1 and 3D as vaccine targets. VP1 and 3D genes were codon-optimized to enhance protein expression level and cloned into mammalian expression vector. To produce recombinant protein, VP1 and 3D genes were also cloned into pET vector. The VP1 and 3D DNA or proteins were co-immunized into 5 weeks old BALB/C mice. Antigen-specific serum antibody (Ab) responses were detected by Ab ELISA. Cellular immune response against VP1 and 3D was confirmed by ELISpot assay. The results showed that all DNA- and protein-immunized groups induced cellular immune responses, suggesting that both DNA and recombinant protein vaccine administration efficiently induced Ag-specific humoral and cellular immune responses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.741-746
• /
• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the influence of exogenous p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) expression on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells and transplanted tumor cell growth in nude mice. Materials and Methods: A549 cells were divided into the following groups: control, non-carrier (NC), PUMA (transfected with pCEP4-(HA) 2-PUMA plasmid), DDP ($10{\mu}g/mL$ cisplatin treatment) and PUMA+DDP (transfected with pCEP4-(HA)2-PUMA plasmid and $10{\mu}g/mL$ cisplatin treatment). The MTT method was used to detect the cell survival rate. Cell apoptosis rates were measured by flow cytometry, and PUMA, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression levels were measured by Western blotting. Results: Compared to the control group, the PUMA, DDP and PUMA+DDP groups all had significantly decreased A549 cell proliferation (p<0.01), with the largest reduction in the PUMA+DDP group. Conversely, the apoptosis rates of the three groups were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the PUMA and DDP treatments were synergistic. Moreover, Bax protein levels significantly increased (p<0.01), while Bcl-2 protein levels significantly decreased (p<0.01). Finally, both the volume and the weights of transplanted tumors were significantly reduced (p<0.01), and the inhibition ratio of the PUMA+DDP group was significantly higher than in the single DDP or PUMA groups. Conclusions: Exogenous PUMA effectively inhibited lung cancer A549 cell proliferation and transplanted tumor growth by increasing Bax protein levels and reducing Bcl-2 protein levels.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.32-39
• /
• 2005

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important class of environmentally prevalent xenobiotics that exert complex effects on the biological system and characterized as probably carcinogenic materials. Single cell gel electrophoresis assays were performed in order to evaluate DNA damage occurring in the T-and B lymphocytes, spleens (T/B-cell), bone marrow, and livers of mouse exposed to mixture of PAHs (Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(e)pyrene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene) at dose of 400, 800, or 1600 mg/kg body weight for 2 days. DNA damage of the cells purified from mice was increased in dose dependent manner. In the blood cells and organs, DNA damage was also discovered to vary directly with PAHs. Especially T-cells had been damaged more than B-cell. Plasma proteomes were separated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis with pH 4-7 ranges of IPG Dry strips and many proteins showed significant up-and -down expressions with the dose dependent manner. Of these, significant 4 spots were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of fight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Identified proteins were related to energy metabolism and signal transduction.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.3-16
• /
• 2011

In the bipolar basidiomycete Pholiota nameko, a pair of homeodomain protein genes located at the A mating-type locus regulates mating compatibility. In the present study, we used a DNA-mediated transformation system in P. nameko to investigate the homeodomain proteins that control the clamp formation. When a single homeodomain protein gene (A3-hox1 or A3-hox2) from the A3 monokaryon strain was introduced into the A4 monokaryon strain, the transformants produced many pseudo-clamps but very few clamps. When two homeodomain protein genes (A3-hox1 and A3-hox2) were transformed either separately or together into the A4 monokaryon, the ratio of clamps to the clamp-like cells in the transformants was significantly increased to approximately 50%. We, therefore, concluded that the gene dosage of homeodomain protein genes is important for clamp formation. When the sip promoter was connected to the coding region of A3-hox1 and A3-hox2 and the fused fragments were introduced into NGW19-6 (A4), the transformants achieved more than 85% clamp formation and exhibited two nuclei per cell, similar to the dikaryon (NGW12-163 ${\times}$ NGW19-6). The results of real-time RT-PCR confirmed that sip promoter activity is greater than that of the native promoter of homeodomain protein genes in P. nameko. So, we concluded that nearly 100% clamp formation requires high expression levels of homeodomain protein genes and that altered expression of the A mating-type genes alone is sufficient to drive true clamp formation.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.677-685
• /
• 2006

Proteins that are unfolded or misfolded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) must be targeted for refolding or degradation to maintain the homeostasis of the ER. Derlin-1 was reportedly implicated in the retro-translocation of misfolded proteins from the ER to the cytosol for degradation. In this report, we showed that Derlin-1 was down-regulated in the endothelial cells derived from human hepatic cavernous hemangioma (CHEC) compared with other tested cells. Electron microscopy analysis showed that ER was aberrantly enlarged in CHEC cells, but not in other tested cells. When overexpressed, Derlin-1 induced the dilated ER to return normal size. This ER dynamic was associated with the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR). In CHEC cells where Derlin-1 was down-regulated, increased expression of the immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein (Bip) and UPR-specific splicing of X-box DNA-binding protein 1 (XBP1) mRNA were detected, as compared with that in other tested cells, indicating that UPR was activated. After Derlin-1 overexpression, the extent of UPR activation diminished, as evidenced by decreased expression of Bip, reduced amount of the spliced form of XBP1 ($XBP1_S$), and elevated expression of the unspliced form of XBP1 ($XBP1_U$). Taken together, these findings provide another example of a single protein being able to affect ER dynamic in mammalian cells, and an insight into the possible molecular mechanism(s).

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.82-86
• /
• 1998

The maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion protein system is a versatile tool to express and isolate recombinant proteins in E. coli. In this system, MBP fusion proteins are efficiently isolated from whole cell lysate using amylose conjugated agarose beads and then eluted by competition with free maltose. Since MBP is a rather large molecule (∼42 kDa), for further experiments, the MBP part is usually proteolytically cleaved from the fusion protein and subsequently removed by ion-exchange chromatography or rebinding to amylose columns after washing out excess and MBP-bound maltose. In the present study, we have developed an improved method for the removal of cleaved MBP, which is advantageous over conventional methods. In this method, factor Xa cleaved MBP fusion proteins were incubated with Sepharose beads conjugated with MBP specific monoclonal antibodies and then precipitated buy centrifugation, resulting in highly purified proteins in the supernatant.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.134-140
• /
• 1997

The monoclonal antibody against a novel protein, which was induced in the roots of rice seedlings treated with NaCl, was produced. Oryzea sativa L. cv. Annapruna grains were sown on clean sands and grown for 10days and then the seedlings were soaked in 50mM NaCl aqueous solution. In 48hrs of the NaCl treatment, the roots were collected and homogenated with liquid nitrogen and extraction buffer. The homogenate was centrifuged and to the supernatant 75％ ammonium sulfate was added to pre-cipitate proteins. From these proteins a novel protein was purified through DEAE-ion chromatography and FPLC(Phenyl column). This protein appeared as a single band in the native electrophoresis. Using this protein as antigen, monoclonal antibody was produced. Five cell lines that secreted antibodies specifically bound to this protein were constructed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.178-184
• /
• 2015

This work aims to utilize wastes from the potato starch industry to produce single-cell protein (SCP) with high lysine content as animal feed. In this work, S-(2-aminoethyl)-_L-cysteine hydrochloride-resistant Bacillus pumilus E1 was used to produce SCP with high lysine content, whereas Aspergillus niger was used to degrade cellulose biomass and Candida utilis was used to improve the smell and palatability of the feed. An orthogonal design was used to optimize the process of fermentation for maximal lysine content. The optimum fermentation conditions were as follows: temperature of 40℃, substrate concentration of 3%, and natural pH of about 7.0. For unsterilized potato starch wastes, the microbial communities in the fermentation process were determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Results showed that the dominant population was Bacillus sp. The protein quality as well as the amino acid profile of the final product was found to be significantly higher compared with the untreated waste product at day 0. Additionally, acute toxicity test showed that the SCP product was non-toxic, indicating that it can be used for commercial processing.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.170-174
• /
• 2007

Granular cell tumor is a rare tumor of the soft tissue and this is characterized by proliferation of large cells with granular appearing eosinophilic cytoplasm. We report the imprint cytologic features of a case of granular cell tumor in the left calf of a 52-year-old woman. Microscopic examination showed moderate cellularity. The tumor cells were arranged both as single cells and in clusters. The cells were large polygonal-shaped and they had small round nuclei with finely granular chromatin and occasionally conspicuous nucleoli. The cytoplasm was abundant eosinophilic and granular. Naked nuclei and spindle-shaped tumor cells were occasionally noted. No mitosis and necrosis were present. The background showed cytoplasmic granular materials. The tumor cells showed positivity for S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, abundant lysosomes were present in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.280-288
• /
• 2012

Targeted degradation of proteins through ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis is an important control mechanism in various cellular processes. The process of ubiquitin conjugation is achieved by three enzyme complexes, among which the ubiquitin ligase complex (E3) is in charge of substrate specificity. The SCF (SKP1-CUL1-F-box) family portrays the largest and the most characterized member of the E3 ligases. For each SCF complex, the ubiquitination target is recognized by the F-box protein subunit, which interacts with the substrate through a unique C-terminal domain. We have characterized a novel F-box protein CFL-1 that represents a single LRR-type F-box (FBXL) in the Caenorhabditis elegans genome. CFL-1 is highly homologous to FBXL20 and FBXL2 of mammals, which are known to regulate synaptic vesicle release and cell cycle, respectively. A green fluorescence protein (GFP)-reporter gene fused to the cfl-1 promoter showed restricted expression around the amphid and the anus. Modulation of CFL-1 activity by RNAi affected the time interval between defecations. RNAi-treated worms also exhibited reduced tendency to form dauer when exposed to daumone. The potential involvement of CFL-1 in the control of defecation and pheromone response adds to the ever expanding list of cellular processes controlled by ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in C. elegans. We suggest that CFL-1, as a single LRR-type F-box protein in C. elegans, may portray a prototype gene exerting diverse functions that are allocated among multiple FBXLs in higher organisms.