• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1995

A nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) isolated from the electric tissues of Torpedo californica has been reconstituted into a vesicle comprising a bifunctional azo-ligand (Bae 1) compound, and a liposome containing phospholipids and cholesterol (1 : 1, w/w). The liposome-mediated reconstituted receptor showed a concentration-dependent response to cholinergic drugs in a lithium ion flux assay. This liposome-mediated reconstituted nAchR was immobilized onto an electrode using various synthetic polymers which were tested for their response to the cholinergic ligands. The immobilized nAchR not only exhibited a linear response to a wide range of cholinergic ligand concentrations but also retained an operational stability which lasted for longer than 6 days. Thus, this result provides a basis for application of the immobilized nAchR-based biosensor in detecting cholinergic ligands in vitro.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.277-284
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• 1993

A possible involvement of maturation promoting factor (nfPF) in the two-cell block phenomenon was studied by fusion experiments. Germinal vesicle (GlF) ooeyte was fused with a blastomore from late or blocked 2-cell mouse embryos. and germinal vesicle breakdoum (GVBD) of fused GV oocvtes in the presence of dbcAMP (100$\mu$g/ml) was scored as an index of MPF aniviD. GnD was induced approximately 30% by fusion of a blastomere derived from late 2-cell embryos, but not from blocked 2-cell embryos. The rate of GVBD was changed when GV oocyte was fused with a blastomere from late 2-cell embryos which were treated with u-amanitin, puromvcin or colcemid before and after hsion: Treatment of late 2-cell embryos with puromycin (50 Is/mll but not with u-amanitin (100 Is/ml) clearly inhibited GVBD, indicating that do novo protein synthesis maw be required for the appearance of MPF activity in late 2-cell embryos. Treatment of late 2-cell embryos w기h colcemid (0.1 Is/mll doubled GVBD, presumably due to the maintenance of metaphase or mitotic phase. SDS-PAGE and twoiimensional electrophoresis revealed that there was no difference in protein synthetic pattern in late and blocked 2-cell embryos, but three phosphoproteins with 27, 35 and 46 M)a, presumsblv M-phase components were phosphorylated in late 2-cell embryos but not in blocked 2-cell embryos. It seems then that MPF activity is closely related to phosphorylstion of M-phase components in late 2-cell embryos.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 1998

The sphingomyelin cycle and ceramide generation have been recognized as potential growth suppression signals in mammalian cells. Ceramide has been shown to induce differentiation, cell growth arrest, senescence, and apoptosis. Although the intracelluar target for the action of ceramide remains unknown, recent studies have demonstrated the role of cytosolic ceramideactivated protein phosphatase(CAPP). In this study, the cytotoxic effect of C2-ceramide, a synthetic cellpermeable ceramide analog, on HEp-2 cells and the mechanism by which ceramide induces cell death were investigated. The addition of exogenous C2-ceramide resulted in a concentration dependent cell death. Okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of CAPP, enhanced ceramide-mediated cell death, which suggests that CAPP is not involved in this process. To understand the mechanism of action of ceramide, we studied the relationship between ceramide and c-Myc and pRb which are defined components of cell growth regulation. Western blot analyses revealed that C2-ceramide (10${\mu}M$) induced c-Myc down-regulation, but there were no significant changes in pRb. However, treatment of okadaic acid (10 nM) enhanced c-Myc and pRb down-regulation. Reduction of the amount of c-Myc and pRb occurred during HEp-2 cell death. These results suggest that the cytotoxic effect of ceramide in HEp-2 cells may not be mediated through the action of CAPP and that the downstream target for ceramide is c-Myc and pRb.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.223-227
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• 2018

This study reports a cyanide resistant and/or tolerant fungus, isolated from the rhizosphere of Zea mays contaminated with cyanide-based pesticides. The isolate was characterised using molecular biology. The effect of free cyanide and heavy metals on the growth of isolate in a synthetic gold mine wastewater was examined. The molecular analyses identified the isolate as Fusarium oxysporum EKT01/02 (KU985430/KU985431). The isolate had a free cyanide degradation efficiency of 77.6%. The results indicated greater growth impairment in culture containing Arsenic (optical density 1.28 and 1.458) and cyanide (optical density 1.315 and 1.385). Higher growth was observed in all cultures supplemented with extracellular polymeric substance. This study showed that the isolate possesses wide substrate utilisation mechanism that could be deployed in environmental engineering applications.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.254-254
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• 2006

The sensitivity of plasmid DNA (pDNA) to S1 nuclease, an enzyme to cleave a single-strand DNA, was dramatically modulated through a supramolecular assembly (polyion complex micelle) with a synthetic block copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lysine) (PEG-PLL). The pDNA condensed in stoichiometric charge ratio was cleaved into 7 fragments each being 10/12, 9/12, 8/12, 6/12, 4/12, 3/12, and 2/12 of the original DNA length, on the other hand, the pDNA condensed in higher charge ratios (>4), were digested into non-specific manner. Condensation of the pDNA was investigated from two viewpoints that how does the rigid DNA molecules fold and condense and how does the condensation influence their biological activity.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.847-852
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• 2003

It was examined carefully that the bacterial die-off between Chlorella vulgaris and E. coli. W3110 was tested through adding TOC (total organic carbon) with the lab-scaled continuous river water flow system (CRWFS). Artificial synthetic wastewater was applied at two levels of organic carbon concentration; 1,335 mg/l in treatment type 1 and 267 mg/l in type 2. In both types, the population densities of Chlorella vulgaris were similar in a maximum 8.25 ${\times}$ 10$\^$6/ cells/ml (type 1) and 6.925 ${\times}$ 10$\^$6/ cells/ml (type 2). The maximum densities of E. coli. W3110 were 2.0 ${\times}$ 10$\^$8/ colony forming unit (CFU)/ml in type 1 and 3.9 ${\times}$ 10$\^$8/ CFU/ml in type 2. The densities increased for 11 days in type 1 and 4 days in type 2, then decreased rapidly till the 35th day, then slightly increased again. This trend was prominent in type 2. It implied that a wider range of nutrients was required in the growth of heterotrophic bacteria in type 2 than in type 1. We could not expect successful bacterial die-off if the wastewater retention time was not furnished sufficiently.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.507-516
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• 2005

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been isolated and characterized from tissues and organisms representing virtually every kingdom and phylum. Their amino acid composition, amphipathicity, cationic charge, and size allow them to attach to and insert into membrane bilayers to form pores by 'barrel-stave', 'carpet' or 'toroidal-pore' mechanisms. Although these models are helpful for defining mechanisms of AMP activity, their relevance to resolving how peptides damage and kill microorganisms still needs to be clarified. Moreover, many AMPs employ sophisticated and dynamic mechanisms of action to carry out their likely roles in antimicrobial host defense. Recently, it has been speculated that transmembrane pore formation is not the only mechanism of microbial killing by AMPs. In fact, several observations suggest that translocated AMPs can alter cytoplasmic membrane septum formation, reduce cell-wall, nucleic acid, and protein synthesis, and inhibit enzymatic activity. In this review, we present the structures of several AMPs as well as models of how AMPs induce pore formation. AMPs have received special attention as a possible alternative way to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. It may be possible to design synthetic AMPs with enhanced activity for microbial cells, especially those with antibiotic resistance, as well as synergistic effects with conventional antibiotic agents that lack cytotoxic or hemolytic activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1996

The binding interaction of ethidium to a series of synthetic deoxyoligonucleotides containing a B-Z junction between left-handed Z-DNA and right-handed B-DNA, was studied. The series of deoxyoligonucleotides was designed so as to vary a dinucleotide step immediately adjacent to a B-Z junction region. Ethidium binds to the right-handed DNA forms and hybrid B-Z forms which contain a B-Z junction, in a highly cooperative manner. In a series of deoxyoligonucleotides, the binding affinity of ethidium with DNA forms which were initially hybrid B-Z forms shows over an order of magnitude higher than that with any other DNA forms, which were entirely in B-form DNA The cooperativity of binding isotherms were described by an allosteric binding model and by a neighbor exclusion model. The binding data were statistically compared for two models. The conformation of allosterically converted DNA forms under binding with ethidium is found to be different from that of the initial B-form DNA as examined by CD spectra. The ratio of the binding constant was interestingly correlated to the free energy of base unstacking and the conformational conversion of the dinucleotide. The more the base stacking of the dinucleotide is unstable, or the harder the conversion of B to A conformation, the higher the ratio of the binding constant of ethidium with the allosterically converted DNA forms and with the initial B-Z hybrid forms. DNA sequence around a B-Z junction region affects the binding affinity of ethidium. The results in this study demonstrate that ethidium could preferentially interact with unusual DNA structures.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 2008

BirA ligase is a prokaryotic ortholog of holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) that can biotinylate proteins. This study tested the hypothesis that BirA ligase catalyzes the biotinylation of eukaryotic histones. If so, this would mean that recombinant BirA ligase is a useful surrogate for HCS in studies of histone biotinylation. The biological activity of recombinant BirA ligase was confirmed by enzymatic biotinylation of p67. In particular, it was found that BirA ligase biotinylated both calf thymus histone H1 and human bulk histone extracts. Incubation of recombinant BirA ligase with H3-based synthetic peptides showed that lysines 4, 9, 18, and 23 in histone H3 are the targets for the biotinylation by BirA ligase. Modification of the peptides (e.g., serine phosphorylation) affected the subsequent biotinylation by BirA ligase, suggesting crosstalk between modifications. In conclusion, this study suggests that prokaryotic BirA ligase is a promiscuous enzyme and biotinylates eukaryotic histones. Moreover the biotinylation of histones by BirA ligase is consistent with the proposed role of human HCS in chromatin.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.240-245
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• 1997

Interactions between ganglioside $G_{M3}$ and glucose transporter, GLUT1 were studied by measuring the effect of $G_{M3}$ on steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence of purified GLUT1 in synthetic lipids and on the 3-O-methylglucose uptake by human erythrocytes. The intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence showed a GLUT 1 emission maximum of 335 nm, and increased in the presence of $G_{M3}$ by 12% without shifting the emission maximum, The fluorescence lifetimes of intrinsic tryptophan on GLUT1 consisted of a long component of 7.8 ns and a short component of 2,3 ns and $G_{M3}$ increased both lifetime components. Lifetime components were quenched by acrylamide and KI. Acrylarnide-mduced quenching of long-lifetime components was partly recovered by $G_{M3}$ However. KI-induccd quenching of short- and long-lifetime components was not rescued by $G_{M3}$. The anisotropy of 1.6-diphenyl-1.3.5-hexatriene (DPH)-probed dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) model membrane was also increased with $G_{M3}$ incorporation, The transport rate of 3-O-methylglucose increased by 20% with $G_{M3}$ incorporation on the erythrocytes, Therefore, $G_{M3}$ altered the environment of lipid membrane and induced the conformational change of GLUT1.