• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2010

A pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant combined with rotating biological contactor and tapered aeration reactors was operated with the wastewater discharged from a food factory for 5 months. The bacterial communities of this plant were investigated by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes. In spite of high concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus as well as organic carbon, removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus was 98%, 93%, and 95%, respectively. Bacterial community at the initial operation stage was clearly distinguished from that of the stable operation stage. The most predominant phylum in the sample of stable stage was Bacteroidetes. Major population of operation period was Haliscomenobacter, Sphaerotilus, and candidate division TM7, which were classified as filamentous bacteria. However, sludge bulking caused by these bacteria was not observed. The population that has a close relationship with Haliscomenobacter increased during the stable operation stage, emerging as the most predominant group. These results suggest that the filamentous bacteria participated in nutrient removal when using rotating biological contactor and tapered aeration reactor.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.358-365
• /
• 2020

An organic solvent- and bleach-stable protease-producing strain was isolated from a polluted river water sample and identified as Aeromonas veronii OB3 on the basis of biochemical properties (API 20E) and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The strain was found to hyper-produce alkaline protease when cultivated on fish waste powder-based medium (HVSP, 4080 U/ml). The biochemical properties and compatibility of OB3 with several detergents and additives were studied. Maximum activity was observed at pH 9.0 and 60℃. The crude protease displayed outstanding stability to the investigated surfactants and oxidants, such as Tween 80, Triton X-100, and H₂O₂, and almost 36% residual activity when incubated with 1% SDS. Remarkably, the enzyme demonstrated considerable compatibility with commercial detergents, retaining more than 100% of its activity with Ariel and Tide (1 h, 40℃). Moreover, washing performance of Tide significantly improved by the supplementation of small amounts of OB3 crude protease. These properties suggest the potential use of this alkaline protease as a bio-additive in the detergent industry and other biotechnological processes such as peptide synthesis.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.41 no.10
• /
• pp.716-721
• /
• 2008

To explore the effects of deregulated expression of the EBNA1 binding protein 2 (EBP2) on cell growth, we generated human HEK293 stable clones constitutively expressing an EBP2-EGFP fusion protein. We found both RNA and protein levels of cyclin E1, a dominant oncoprotein, were elevated in the EBP2- EGFP stable clones. These findings were confirmed by flow cytometry bivariate analysis of cyclin expression versus DNA content. Moreover, the increase in p21 expression and the specific phosphorylation at Ser1981 of ATM and Ser15 of p53 were also observed in these stable clones, and these observations may explain the failure to observe an increase in Cdk2 kinase activity. In addition, after one year of passage culture, the EBP2-EGFP stable clones tended to lose 4 to 5 chromosomes per cell when compared to that of control cells. All of these findings provide a possible link between deregulated expression of EBP2 and tumor development.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.614-619
• /
• 2016

The prostate-apoptosis-response-gene-4 (Par-4) protein has been identified as an effector of cell death in response to various apoptotic stimuli in prostate cancer cells. We found that overexpression of Par-4 by stable transfection inhibits cell migration and invasion in Caki cells. The expression of various matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been implicated in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. In this study, we investigated whether ectopic expression of Par-4 modulates MMP-2 expression and activity in human renal carcinoma Caki cells. We found that overexpression of Par-4 markedly inhibited MMP-2 activity, but not MMP-9 activity. However, loss of the leucine zipper domain of Par-4 (Par-4 ΔLZ#1 and #2) did not inhibit MMP-2 activity. Further, knock-down of Par-4 with the corresponding siRNA resulted in increased invasion and metastasis of renal carcinoma Caki cells. Interestingly, overexpression or knock-down of Par-4 did not affect the expression levels of MMP-2 mRNA. Taken together, our findings suggest that Par-4 may inhibit MMP-2 activity through its post-transcriptional regulation in renal carcinoma Caki cells.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.75-85
• /
• 2009

We report here a first evaluation of chilling-responsive gene regulation in the sweetpotato. The growth of sweetpotato plants was severely retarded at $12^{\circ}C$; the lengths of the leaf, petiole, and root were markedly reduced and microscopic observation revealed that the elongation growth of the epidermal cells in each of these organs was significantly reduced. We examined the transcriptional regulation of three sweetpotato expansin genes (IbEXP1, IbEXP2 and IbEXPL1) in response to various chilling temperatures (12, 16, 22, and $28^{\circ}C$). In the leaf and petiole, the highest transcript levels were those of IbEXP1 at $28^{\circ}C$, whereas IbEXPL1 transcript levels were highest in the root. IbEXP1 mRNA levels in the $12^{\circ}C-treated$ petiole showed a fluctuating pattern (transient decrease-recovery-stable decrease) for 48 h. In the leaf and petiole, IbEXP1 and IbEXPL1 exhibited a similar response to chilling in that their mRNA levels decreased at $22^{\circ}C$, increased at $16^{\circ}C$, and decreased dramatically at $12^{\circ}C$. In contrast, mRNA levels of IbEXP2 in the leaf fell gradually as the temperature fell from 28 to $12^{\circ}C$, while they remained unaltered in the petiole. In the root, mRNA levels of IbEXPL1 and IbEXP1 reached maximum levels at $16^{\circ}C$, and decreased significantly at $12^{\circ}C$. These data demonstrated that expression of these three expansin genes was ultimately down-regulated at $12^{\circ}C$; however, transcriptional regulation of each expansin gene exhibited its own distinctive pattern in response to various chilling temperatures.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.101-105
• /
• 2005

[ ${\beta}ig-h3$ ] is a secretory protein that is induced by $TGF-{\beta}$ and implicated in various disease conditions including fibrosis. We have previously reported that ${\beta}ig-h3$ expression is implicated in astrocyte response to brain injury. In this study, we further investigated potential roles of ${\beta}ig-h3$ protein in the injured central nervous system (CNS). We specifically assessed whether the treatment of microglial cells with ${\beta}ig-h3$ can regulate microglial activity. Microglial cells are the prime effector cells in CNS immune and inflammatory responses. When activated, they produce a number of inflammatory mediators, which can promote neuronal injury. We prepared conditioned medium from the stable CHO cell line transfected with human ${\beta}ig-h3$ cDNA. We then examined the effects of the conditioned medium on the LPS- or $IFN-{\gamma}-mediated$ induction of proinflammatory molecules in microglial cells. Preincubation with the conditioned medium significantly attenuated LPS-mediated upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression in BV2 murine microglial cells. It also reduced $IFN-{\gamma}-mediated$ upregulation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and COX-2 mRNA expression but not iNOS mRNA expression. Assays of nitric oxide release correlated with the mRNA data, which showed selective inhibition of LPS-mediated nitric oxide production. Although the regulatory mechanisms need to be further investigated, these results suggest that astrocyte-derived ${\beta}ig-h3$ may contribute to protection of the CNS from immune-mediated damage via controlling microglial inflammatory responses.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.63-75
• /
• 2006

The 5′-region of Potato virus X (PVX) RNA, which contains an AC-rich, single-stranded region and stem-loop structure 1 (SL1), affects RNA replication and assembly. Using Systemic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) and the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we demonstrate that SL1 interacts specifically with tobacco protoplast protein extracts (S100). The 36 nucleotides that correspond to the top region of SL1, which comprises stem C, loop C, stem D, and the tetra loop (TL), were randomized and bound to the S100. Remarkably, the wild-type (wt) sequence was selected in the second round, and the number of wt sequences increased as selection proceeded. All of the selected clones from the fifth round contained the wt sequence. Secondary structure predictions (mFOLD) of the recovered sequences revealed relatively stable stem-loop structures that resembled SL1, although the nucleotide sequences therein were different. Moreover, many of the clones selected in the fourth round conserved the TL and C-C mismatch, which suggests the importance of these elements in host protein binding. The SELEX clone that closely resembled the wt SL1 structure with the TL and C-C mismatch was able to replicate and cause systemic symptoms in plants, while most of the other winners replicated poorly only on inoculated leaves. The RNA replication level on protoplasts was also similarly affected. Taken together, these results indicate that the SL1 of PVX interacts with host protein(s) that play important roles related to virus replication.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.204-211
• /
• 2015

A bacterial strain capable of hydrolyzing xylan and locust bean gum (LBG) was isolated from the Saemangeum tideland of Korea. Based on the biochemical properties and the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the isolate YB-30 was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Xylanase productivity was increased effectively when B. subtilis YB-30 was grown in the presence of wheat bran, while mannanase productivity was increased drastically when grown in the presence of konjac or LBG. Particularly, maximum mannanase and xylanase activities were detected in the culture filtrate of media containing 3.5% konjac and 1% wheat bran. Both enzyme productivities reached maximum levels in the stationary growth phase. The culture filtrate exhibited the highest activity at 60℃ and pH 6.0 for mannanase and at 55℃ and pH 5.5 for xylanase, respectively. Both enzymes were not stable at high temperatures and xylanase was less stable than mannanase. In addition, wheat bran was hydrolyzed to liberate reducing sugar to a greater extent than rice bran by the culture filtrate because the wheat bran contained more arabinoxylan than the rice bran. Hence, xylanase and mannanase produced by B. subtilis YB-30 have a potential use as feed additive enzymes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.661-667
• /
• 2013

Lipase-producing bacterial strains were isolated from Antarctic soil samples using the tricaprylin agar plate method. Seven strains with relatively strong lipase activities were selected. All of them turned out to be Bacillus pumilus strains by the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Their corresponding lipase genes were cloned, sequenced, and compared. Finally, three different Bacillus pumilus lipases (BPL1, BPL2, and BPL3) were chosen. Their amino acid sequence identities were in the range of 92-98% with the previous Bacillus pumilus lipases. Their optimum temperatures and pHs were measured to be $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 9. Lipase BPL1 and lipase BPL2 were stable up to $30^{\circ}C$, whereas lipase BPL3 was stable up to $20^{\circ}C$. Lipase BPL2 was stable within a pH range of 6-10, whereas lipase BPL1 and lipase BPL3 were stable within a pH range of 5-11, showing strong alkaline tolerance. All these lipases exhibited high hydrolytic activity toward p-nitrophenyl caprylate ($C_8$). In addition, lipase BPL1 showed high hydrolytic activity toward tributyrin, whereas lipase BPL2 and lipase BPL3 hydrolyzed tricaprylin and castor oil preferentially. These results demonstrated that the three Antarctic Bacillus lipases were alkaliphilic and had a substrate preference toward short- and medium-chain triglycerides. These Antarctic Bacillus lipases might be used in detergent and food industries.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.435-441
• /
• 1998

We examined effects of interleukin $1{\alpha}$ ($IL1{\alpha}$) and phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate (PDB), an activator of protein kinase C, on mRNA for Prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) and prostanoid production in cultured ovine meningeal fibroblasts. Immuno- and morphologically-identified fibroblasts were derived from cerebral cortex and white matter from fetal lambs (approximately 120 days gestation) and grown to confluence on glass coverslips in 12 well plates. Levels of prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ and the stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (i.e., $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$) were determined using enzyme immunoassay. Relative amounts of mRNA were determined by in situ hybridization using ovine cDNA for PGHS1. $IL1{\alpha}$ (10 ng/ml) increased mRNA levels over baseline by $62{\pm}19%$ (p＜0.05) at 60 min., $37{\pm}12%$ (NS) at 120 min., and $36{\pm}18%$ (NS) at 240 min (n=12). Levels of $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$ were $148{\pm}18%$ pg/ml during baseline, $246{\pm}41%$ pg/ml at 60 min., $248{\pm}40%$ pg/ml at 120 min., and $259{\pm}62%$ pg/ml at 240 min (all p＜0.05) (n=12). $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was increased although it wasn't statistically significant. However, $IL1{\alpha}$ decreased $PGE_2$ level significantly (all p＜0.05). PDB $(10^{-6}M)$ increased mRNA levels over baseline by $25{\pm}6%$ after 30 min., $40{\pm}6%$ after 60 min., and $20{\pm}8%$ after 90 min. (n=9) (all p＜0.05). Levels of $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$ were $200{\pm}43%$ pg/ml during baseline, $202{\pm}43%$ pg/ml after 30 min. (NS), $268{\pm}58%$ pg/ml after 60 min. (p＜0.05), and $296{\pm}60%$ pg/ml after 90 min. (p＜0.05) (n=9). Levels of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were $178{\pm}26%$ pg/ml during baseline, $300{\pm}30%$ pg/ml after 30 min., $299{\pm}35%$ pg/ml after 60 min., and $355{\pm}32%$ pg/ml after 90 min (all p＜0.05) (n=6). Actinomycin-D (1 mg/ml) prevented increases in mRNA, $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$, and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ at 60 min. for both $IL1{\alpha}$ and PDB. We conclude that cerebral fibroblasts are avid producers of prostanoids, and that enhanced production of PGHS is responsible for augmented $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and prostacyclin production in the presence of an activator of protein kinase C and for decreased $PGE_2$ and increased prostacyclin production in the presence of $IL1{\alpha}$.