• BMB Reports
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.60-65
• /
• 1997

Expression of human Cu.Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) with activity comparable to human erythrocyte enzyme was achieved in E. coli B21(DE3) by using the pET-17b expression vector containing a T7 promoter. Recombinant human SOD was found in the cytosol of disrupted bacterial cells and represented > 25% of the total bacterial proteins. The protein produced by the E. coli cells was purified using a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephacryl S-100 gel filtration and DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatography. The recombinant Cu,Zn-SOD and human erythrocyte enzyme were compared using dismutation activity, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting analysis. The mass of the subunits was determined to be 15,809 by using a electrospray mass spectrometer. The copper specific chelator. diethyldithiocarbamate (DOC) reacted with the recombinant Cu,Zn-SOD. At $50{\mu}M$ and $100{\mu}M$ concentrations of DOC, the dismutation activity was not inhibited for one hour but gradually reduced after one hour. This result suggests that the reaction of DOC with the enzyme occurred in two distinct phases (phase I and phase II). During phase I of this reaction, one DOC reacted with the copper center, with retention of the dismutation activity while the second DOC displaced the copper, with a loss of activity in phase II.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.147-156
• /
• 2013

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans JG22 isolated from pepper leaf jangajji on the mutagenic activity of N-methyl, N'-nitro, N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and 2-nitrofluene (2-NF) and to evaluate the effect of physico-chemical pretreatment on the antimutagenic activity of the strain. The viable cells of JG22 strain displayed a significantly high (p <0.05) antimutagenic activity against both mutagens tested. The antimutagenic effect of JG22 strain seems to be positively correlated with the amounts of the cells in the incubation time. This strain produced the antimutagenic activity of the maximum levels after preincubation for 30 min. The binding of this strain against the mutagenic compounds might be mainly present in the cell wall fraction rather than the cytosol fraction. Pretreatment with proteolytic enzymes and simulated gastric and intestinal juices and at different pH values had no significant effect on two mutagens removal by the viable cells. However, the binding activity of the mutagen by the strain seems to be affected by heating, enzymes including $\alpha$-amylase and lysozyme, divalent ions, and sodium metaperiodate. Thus, carbohydrates consisting of the cell walls may be important elements responsible for the binding of MNNG and 2-NF by this strain. In conclusion, the binding of the mutagens to cells of JG 22 strain may play a vital role in suppressing the process of mutagenesis induced by mutagens.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.121-132
• /
• 2010

Inflammatory reaction is characterized by over-production of inflammatory mediators due to an up-regulation of inflammatory pathways, which produce pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$), prostaglantin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and nitric oxide (NO) in U937 cells. We investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of water extracts from Lonicerae Flos and Scutellariae Radix in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated U937 cells. Each extract suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-$\alpha$, and $PGE_2$) and the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS- stimulated U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These suppressive effects were synergistically increased by their combination. Their combination extract also inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA complex of NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity and translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus. These results suggest that the combination of water-extractable components of Lonicerae Flos and Scutellariae Radix may be useful for therapeutic drugs against inflammatory immune diseases, probably by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.928-933
• /
• 2007

Cameleon is a genetically engineered $Ca^{2+}$ sensing molecule consisting of two variants of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), calmodulin and calmodulin-binding protein, M13. HEK-293 cells stably expressing three types of cameleons, yellow cameleon-2, cameleon-3er, and cameleon-2nu, were constructed, and the expression and localization of these cameleons were confirmed by fluorescent imaging. Among the cameleons, the yellow cameleon-2 was selected for analyzing the change in $Ca^{2+}$ induced by the olfactory receptor-mediated signal transduction, because it is localized in the cytosol and binds to cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ ions. Cells stably expressing yellow cameleon-2 were transfected with each of the test olfactory receptor genes, odr-10 and 17, and the expression of the olfactory receptor genes were examined using immunocytochenmical methods and RT-PCR. Stimulating each olfactory receptor with its specific odorant caused an increase in the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level, which was measured using yellow cameleon-2. These results demonstrate that yellow cameleon-2 can be conveniently used to examine the function of the olfactory receptors expressed in heterologous cells.

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

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.337-345
• /
• 2001

A Cd-binding protein was identified in the renal cytosol of the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica which naturally contains high concentrations of Cd. The Cd-binding protein showed similar characteristics of metallothionein (MT) in molecular weight (about 10-12 kDa) and low spectral absorbance at 280 nm with relatively high absorbance at 254nm. Results of immuno-histochemical staining suggested that the MT-like Cd-binding protein was mainly located in the epithelial cells of the kidney. The MT-like protein was a major ligand of cytosolic Cd as shown in the elution profiles of chromatography and may play an important role in Cd sequestration and accumulation in L. elliptica kidney. A considerable amount of Cd was also found to be associated with particulate fraction, indicating the sequestration to particulate fraction is as important as binding to the cytosolic MT-like protein in Cd accumulation in the kidney.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.245-249
• /
• 2011

Amphetamine, a synthetic psychostimulant, is transported by the dopamine transporter (DAT) to the cytosol and increases the exchange of extracellular amphetamine by intracellular dopamine. Recently, we reported that the phosphorylation levels of ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are regulated by psychostimulant drugs in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area important for drug addiction. However, the significance of ERM proteins phosphorylation in response to drugs of abuse has not been fully investigated. In this study, using PC12 cells as an in vitro cell model, we showed that amphetamine increases ERM proteins phosphorylation and protein kinase C (PKC) ${\beta}$ inhibitor, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) inhibitors, abolished this effect. Further, we observed that DAT inhibitor suppressed amphetamine-induced ERM proteins phosphorylation in PC12 cells. These results suggest that $PKC{\beta}$-induced DAT regulation may be involved in amphetmaine-induced ERM proteins phosphorylation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.181-187
• /
• 1993

Steroid $\Delta^1$-dehydrogenase which introduces a double bond into the 1, 2 positions of steroid ring A was purified from Arthrobacter simplex, an excellent biotransformer of hydrocortisone into prednisolone. Hydrocortisone-induced cells were disrupted by vigorous agitation with glass beads, and a solubilized enzyme was obtained after centrifugation at 100, 000$\times$g for 90 minutes. The enzyme was purified 123-fold in three steps of chromatographic procedures with 13% yield. The last step of testosterone-agarose affinity column decisively contributed to the successful purification. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 98, 000 by SDS-PAGE and 100, 000 by gel filtration, indicating that this enzyme behaves as a monomer. The enzyme showed demands for artificial electron acceptor, and among the several reagents tested, phenazine methosulfate acted as the most effective electron acceptor. Subcellular distribution of this enzyme was studied by centrifugation experiment. Comparison of the enzyme activities in pelleted membrane and cytosol fractions suggests that the enzyme may be a weakly attached peripheral membrane protein in vivo. But considerable amounts of enzyme was solubilized without any additional treatments for membrane protein.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.208-211
• /
• 2009

This study investigated the effect of vitamin $B_6$ deficiency on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profile in rats with exercise-induced oxidative stress. Forty eight rats were fed either a vitamin $B_6$ deficient diet (B6-) or a control diet (control) for 4 weeks and then subdivided into 3 groups: pre-exercise (PreE); post-exercise (PostE); recess after exercise (recessE). Compared to those of control group, plasma catalase and hepatic cytosol superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) activities of B6- group were lower regardless of exercise. The ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) of B6 - group was lower in PreE and there was no difference between PostE and recessE. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) of B6- was significantly higher in PreE and PostE. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level of B6- group was lower regardless of exercise. Atherosclerotic index of $B_6$- group was higher in PreE and there was no difference between PostE and recessE. It is suggested that a reduction in antioxidative status caused by vitamin $B_6$ deficiency may be aggravated under exercise-induced oxidative stress.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.435-438
• /
• 2006

In eukaryotes, ER stress induces UPR (unfolded protein response) via IRE1 activation which sends a molecular signal for XBP1 mRNA splicing in the cytosol. During this mRNA splicing, 23 nt removed in which contains PstI site and then resulting XBP1 product is not digested with PstI restriction enzyme. In this study, using this XBP1 mRNA splicing mechanism, the effect of heat shock on thyrocytes is studied, because heat shock response in the thyrocytes needs more study to understand thyroid physiology under alternative environments. ER inducible drugs (tunicamycin, DTT, $Ca^{2+}$ ionopore A23187, BFA) induce ER stress in the thyrocytes. From 3 hours after heat shock, ER stress is induced and which is reversible when heat shock is without. While $Ca^{2+}$ ionopore A23187 is reversible from ER stress by washing out the drug, thapsigagin is irreversible. Other ER inducible drugs are not so sensitive to ER stress repairing. XBP1 mRNA splicing in a cell is very available method to detect ER stress. It needs only a small quantity of total RNA and processing also very easy.