• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.337-341
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• 1997

In order to investigate the role of a small GTP-binding protein RhoA in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced stress fiber formation, C3 ADP-ribosyltransferase was prepared by expressing in E. coli and then applied to Rat-2 fibroblasts. C3 transferase isolated from E. coli was as effective as the toxin from Clostridium botulinum in ADP-ribosylation of RhoA. Incubation of the cells with C3 transferase for 2 days induced ADP-ribosylation of RhoA by a dose-dependent manner, with a sub-maximal induction at $25\;{\mu}g/ml$. As expected, LPA-induced stress fiber formation was completely blocked by pre-incubation with C3 transferase for 2 days. However, exogenously added C3 transferase had no significant effect on the formation of phosphatidylethanol by LPA. These results suggested that phospholipase D was not activated by RhoA in the LPA-induced stress fiber formation.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2006

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a rare soft tissue tumor. There have been only a few prior fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytological reports. Recognition of this tumor is important because of its potential for metastasis despite its indolent nature and its deceptively bland cytologic appearance. A 60-year-old male presented with a slowly growing mass in the left calf detected 10 years ago. The patient underwent surgical excision. FNA cytology was performed directly on the mass. The smears showed low cellularity composed of hypercellular tissue fragments, hypocellular loose aggregates, and stripped nuclei. The cytoplasm was seen as either collagenous material or very thin fibrillary collagen strands. Tumor cells had spindle, ovoid, or irregular nuclei, fine chromatin, and small nucleoli. Focally slight degree of nuclear pleomorphism is noted. There were no mitotic figures. Blood vessels were frequently seen. Immunocytochemically, tumor cells were negative for S-100 protein, desmin, smooth muscle actin, and CD34. The diagnosis of LGFMS is rarely possible by cytology alone; however, LGFMS should be included in the differential diagnosis of spindle-cell tumors consisting of hypercellular and hypocellular components with some capillary-sized vessels arising in the deep soft tissue of the lower extremities, particularly the thigh. The immunocytochemical findings are of help in the differential diagnosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1090-1096
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• 2006

O-Methylation is a common modification reaction found in nature, and is mediated by an O-methyltransferase (OMT). OMTs have been mainly studied in plants, whereas only a few OMTs have been studied in microbes. When searching the Bacillus cereus genome, four putative small molecular OMTs were identified, among which BcOMT-1 was cloned and expressed in E. coli as a his-tag fusion protein. The whole cell expressing BcOMT-1 was used to methylate several flavonoids. Eriodictyol, luteolin, quercetin, and taxifolin, all of which contain 3' and 4' hydroxyl groups, served as methyl group acceptors for BcOMT-1, whereas naringenin, apigenin, 3,3'-dihydroxyflavone, and 3,4'-dihydroxyflavone did not function as substrates. Analysis of the reaction products using HPLC showed two different peaks, and NMR revealed that the methylation position was at the hydroxyl group of either carbon 3' or 4'. Therefore, this showed that BcOMT-1 used flavonoids containing ortho hydroxyl groups and transferred a methyl group to either of two hydroxyl groups.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.610-615
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• 2017

When Shigella infect host cells, various effecter molecules are delivered into the cytoplasm of the host cell through the type III secretion system (TTSS) to facilitate their invasion process and control the host immune responses. Among these effectors, the S. flexneri effector OspF dephosphorylates mitogen-activated protein kinases and translocates itself to the nucleus, thus preventing histone H3 modification to regulate expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Despite the critical role of OspF, the mechanism by which it localizes in the nucleus has remained to be elucidated. In the present study, we identified a potential small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) modification site within OspF and we demonstrated that Shigella TTSS effector OspF is conjugated with SUMO in the host cell and this modification mediates the nuclear translocation of OspF. Our results show a bacterial virulence factor can exploit host post-translational machinery to execute its intracellular trafficking.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.463-474
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• 2007

This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education especially high nutrient density diet, which promotes low carbohydrate, high protein and fiber. Sixty nine college students participated in the 8 week weight management program with nutrition education. After the program, forty six experienced a small amount of weight loss (WL group, 1.3 kg), but twenty three did not (WG group). The WL group's dietary habits and diet quality improved significantly. The INQ of nutrients and MAR significantly increased only in the WL group. The total DQI-I score significantly increased from 71.1 to 75.3 in the WL group, but it did not in the WG group. The total dietary habit scores significantly increased in both groups, but the changes in the dietary habit scores were greater than the WG group in the WL group. After the program, total cholesterol and triglyceride level decreased significantly in the WL group (p < 0.05). These results show that nutrition education which focuses on a nutrient density diet could help improve dietary habits, diet quality, total cholesterol, and the triglyceride level in college women.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.1508-1513
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• 2000

The aim of this trial was to study the response of laboratory animals including omnivores (rats) and herbivores (rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters) to the same level of dietary fiber on their digestive enzymes and hindgut fermentation. Ten weanling animals of each of four species, rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats and Syrian hamster, were fed a basal diet of 18% crude protein and 10% crude fiber for six weeks. The digesta and tissue of each intestinal segment were collected to measure the activity of digestive enzymes. Rabbits contained the highest secreted pepsin activity in the stomach, whereas rats contained the highest protease and ${\alpha}-amylase$ activity in the small intestine, and lower fibrous hydrolases in the hindgut than rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. The total VFA productions in the caecum and colon were highest in rats, followed by hamsters and rabbits, while the guinea pigs contained the lowest VFA and a different pattern of VFA molar ratio from the other laboratory animals. The degree of hindgut fermentation in these laboratory animals was in reverse to the trend for their fiber digestion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.350-355
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• 2009

Arachidonic acid (AA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that is a normal constituent of membrane lipids in animal cells. In addition to its role as a precursor of prostaglandins, AA itself may play an important role in the regulation of cell function. The effect of AA on functions of granulosa cells was investigated in pre-hierarchical small yellow follicles of laying hens. Immuno-cytochemical staining showed that AA ($10^{-7}-10^{-5}$ M) increased the expression of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein laminin, gap junction connexin 43 and protein kinase C (PKC). Therefore, mediated by the PKC signal pathway, AA may regulate the intercellular communication of granulosa cells and follicular development by increasing the expression of laminin and connexin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10495-10500
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• 2015

Background: To evaluate the effects of bufalin in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells in vitro and assess the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Human A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells were treated with various concentrations of bufalin. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay, apoptotic cell percentage was calculated by flow cytometry and morphological change was observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy/transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the membrane potential of mitochondria was detected by JC-1 fluorescence microscopy assay, and the related protein expression of cytochrome C and caspase-3 was analyzed by Western blotting. Results: Bufalin could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells via induction of apoptosis, with the evidence of characteristic morphological changes in the nucleus and mitochondria. Furthermore, bufalin decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential with up-regulation of cytochrome C in the cytosol, and activation of caspase-3. Conclusions: Bufalin inhibits the proliferation of A549 cells and triggers mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, pointing to therapeutic application for NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10181-10185
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• 2015

Background: MicroRNAs, small noncoding RNA molecules, can regulate mammalian cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation by controlling the expression of target genes. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of miR-323-5p in the glioma cell line, U251. Materials and Methods: After over-expression of miR-323-5p using miR-323-5p mimics, cell growth, apoptosis and migration were tested by MTT, flow cytometry and cell wound healing assay, respectively. We also assessed the influence of miR-323-5p on the mRNA expression of IGF-1R by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR), and on the protein levels by Western blot analysi. In addition, dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to determine the target site of miR-323-5p to IGF-1R 3'UTR. Results: Our findings showed that over-expression of miR-323-5p could promote apoptosis of U251 and inhibit the proliferation and migration of the glioma cells. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that increased expression of miR-323-5p might be related to glioma progression, which indicates a potential role of miR-323-5p for clinical therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 1995

The cytoplasmic endo-$\beta$-l, 4-glucanase (endoglucanase) was purified from cell extracts of Escherichia coli (pBS1) transformant carrying the Bacillus subtilis endo-$\beta$-l, 4-glucanase gene after full growth, and its molecular weight was found to be 52 kilodaltons (kDa). The endo-$\beta$-l, 4-glucanase isolated from the periplasmic space was smaller than 52-kDa cytoplasmic enzyme. The 52-kDa endoglucanase was found to be cleaved in the periplasm and finally converted to 34.5-kDa protein. Small amounts of both 52-kDa and 34.5-kDa proteins were secreted into the culture broth. The cleavage took place in the C-terminal portion of the enzyme. The N-terminal amino acid residues of both 52-kDa and 34.5-kDa enzymes were determined to be the same, Ala, the 30th residue of the primary translation product. Cleavage of the C-terminal portion showed to have no significant effect on the basic enzyme properties.