• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2007

Tau plays a role in numerous neuronal processes, such as vesicle transport, microtubule-plasma membrane interaction and intracellular localization of proteins. SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) modification (SUMOylation) appears to regulate diverse cellular processes including nuclear transport, signal transduction, apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle control, ubiquitin-dependent degradation, as well as gene transcription. We noticed that putative SUMOylation site is localized at $^{340}K$ of $Tau(^{339}VKSE^{342})$ with the consensus sequence information (${\Phi}KxE$ ; where ${\Phi}$ represents L, I, V or F and x is any amino acid). In this report, we demonstrated that $^{340}K$ of Tau is the SUMOylation site and that a point mutant of Tau S214E (an analog of the phospho $^{214}S$ Tau) promotes its SUMOylation at $^{340}K$ and its nuclear or nuclear vicinity localization, by co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy analysis. Further, we demonstrate that the Tau S214E (neither Tau S214A nor Tau K340R) mutant increases its protein stability. However, the SUMOylation at $^{340}K$ of Tau did not influence cell survival, as determined by FACS analysis. Therefore, our results suggested that the phosphorylation of Tau on $^{214}S$ residue promotes its SUMOylation on $^{340}K$ residue and nuclear vicinity localization, and increases its stability, without influencing cell survival.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.506-518
• /
• 2021

The imprinted tumour suppressor NOEY2 is downregulated in various cancer types, including ovarian cancers. Recent data suggest that NOEY2 plays an essential role in regulating the cell cycle, angiogenesis and autophagy in tumorigenesis. However, its detailed molecular function and mechanisms in ovarian tumours remain unclear. In this report, we initially demonstrated the inhibitory effect of NOEY2 on tumour growth by utilising a xenograft tumour model. NOEY2 attenuated the cell growth approximately fourfold and significantly reduced tumour vascularity. NOEY2 inhibited the phosphorylation of the signalling components downstream of phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase (PI3K), including phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK-1), tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC-2) and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), during ovarian tumour progression via direct binding to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Particularly, the N-terminal domain of NOEY2 (NOEY2-N) had a potent anti-angiogenic activity and dramatically downregulated VEGF and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), key regulators of angiogenesis. Since no X-ray or nuclear magnetic resonance structures is available for NOEY2, we constructed the three-dimensional structure of this protein via molecular modelling methods, such as homology modelling and molecular dynamic simulations. Thereby, Lys15 and Arg16 appeared as key residues in the N-terminal domain. We also found that NOEY2-N acts as a potent inhibitor of tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. These findings provide convincing evidence that NOEY2-N regulates endothelial cell function and angiogenesis by interrupting the VEGFR-2/PDK-1/GSK-3β signal transduction and thus strongly suggest that NOEY2-N might serve as a novel anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic agent against many diseases, including ovarian cancer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.96-105
• /
• 2005

For screening of autoregulator receptor gene from Streptomyces longwoodensis, PCR was performed with primers of receptor gene designed on the basis of amino acid sequences of autoregulator receptor proteins with known function. PCR products were subcloned into the BamHIsite of pUC19 and transformed into the E. coli $DH5{\alpha}$. The isolated plasmid from transformant contained the fragment of 100 bp, which was detected on $2\%$ gel after BamHI treatment. The insert, 100 bp PCR product, was confirmed as the expected internal segment of gene encoding autoregulator receptor protein by sequencing. Southern and colony hybridizations with the 100 bp fragment as a probe allowed to select a genomic clone of S. longwoodensis, pSLT harboring a 4.4 kb SphI fragment. Nucleotide sequencing analyses revealed a 651 bp open reading frame(ORF) were isolated protein showing moderate homology ($35{\sim}46\%$) with the ${\Gamma}$-butyrolactone autoregulator receptors from Streptomyces sp., and this ORF was named sltR The sltR/pET-17b plasmid was constructed to overexpress the recombinant SltR protein (rSltR) in E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pLysS, and the rSltR protein was purified to homogeneity by DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography, and DEAE-5PW chromatography (HPLC). The molecular mass of the purified rSltR protein was 55 kDa by HPLC gel-filtration chromatography and 28 kDa by SDS-PAGE, indicating that the rSltR protein is present as a dimer. A binding assay with tritium-labeled autoregulators revealed that the rSltR has clear binding activity with a A-factor type autoregulator as the most effective ligand.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.293-299
• /
• 2000

Many methods have been developed for screening chemicals with hormonal activity. Using recombinant yeasts expressing either human estrogen receptor [Saccharomyces cerevisiae ER + LYS 8127 (YER)] or androgen receptor [S. cerevisiae AR + 8320 (YAR)], we evaluated the hormonal activities of several chemicals by induction of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity. The chemicals were $17{\beta}-estradiol$ (E2), testosterone (T), ${\rho}-nonylphenol$ (NP), bisphenol A (BPA), genistein (GEN), 2-bromopropane (2-BP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), and butylparaben (BP). To assess the estrogenicity of NP, the result of the in vitro recombinant yeast assay was compared with an E-screen assay using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and an uterotrophid assay using ovariectomized mice. In the YER yeast cells, E2, NP, BPA, GEN, and BP exhibited estrogenicity in a doseresponse manner, while TCDD did not. All the chemicals tested, except T, did not show androgenicity in the YAR yeast cell. The sensitivity of the yeast (YER) assay system to the estrogenic effect of NP was similar to that of the E-screen assay. NP was also estrogenic in the uterotrophic assay. However, in terms of convenience and costs, the yeast assay was superior to the E-screen assay or uterotrophic assay. These results suggest that the recombinant yeast assay can be used as a rapid tool for detecting chemicals with hormonal activities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1996.04a
• /
• pp.181-181
• /
• 1996

The (Na, K) ATPase is a membrane ion transporting ATPase composed of an ${\alpha}$ catalytic subunit and a ${\beta}$ glycoprotein subunit. The topology of the rat ${\alpha}$1 and ${\beta}$1 subunits has been studied by insertion of epitope(s) : at the NH2-terminus and COOH-terminus and between Glu117 and Glul18, Lys828 and Arg829, Gln900 and Trp901, and Va1939 and Phe940 of the ${\alpha}$ subunit; and at the NH2-terminus and COOH-terminus and between Glu228 and Tyr229 of the ${\beta}$ subunit. The epitope-tagged ${\alpha}$l, constructs were expressed in HeLa cells to select for stable cell lines expressing a functional (Na, K)ATPase. All constructs, except for the one tagged between Gln900 and Trp901, resulted in ouabain-resistant colonies indicating that modified proteins retained functional integrity. The epitope-tagged ${\beta}$ constructs were transiently expressed in Cos-7 cells. The orientation of the epitopes with respect to the cell membrane was revealed by indirect immunofluorescence performed on permeabilized and non-permeabilized cells expressing the (Na, K)ATPase chains. The results indicate that the ${\alpha}$ subunit has 4 transmembrane segments in the COOH terminal membrane bound domain between residues 760 and 938, and that both the NH2-terminus and the COOH-terminus are in the cytosol; it was not determined whether there are more transmembrane segments between residue 938 and the COOH-terminus. The ${\beta}$ subunit has only one transmembrane spanning region with the NH2-terminus in the cytosol and the COOH-terminus on the extracytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.449-452
• /
• 2013

Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes have been shown to influence DNA repair processes and to modify cancer susceptibility. Here we conducted a case-control study to assess the role of potential SNPs of DNA repair genes on the risk of glioma and meningioma. We included 297 cases and 458 cancer-free controls. Genotyping of XRCC1 Gln399Arg, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC2 Arg188His, XRCC3 Thr241Met, XRCC4 Ala247Ser, ERCC1 Asn118Asp, ERCC2 Lys751Gln and ERCC5 Asp1558His were performed in a 384-well plate format on the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. XRCC1 Arg194Trp (rs1799782) and ERCC2 Asp312Asn rs1799793 did not follow the HWE in control group, and genotype distributions of XRCC1 Gln399Arg rs25487, XRCC2 Arg188His rs3218536 and ERCC2 Asp312Asn rs1799793 were significantly different between cases and controls (P<0.05). We found XRCC1 399G/G, XRCC1 194 T/T and XRCC3 241T/T were associated with a higher risk when compared with the wild-type genotype. For ERCC5 Asp1558His, we found G/G genotype was associated with elevated susceptibility. In conclusion, our study has shown that XRCC1 Gln399Arg, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC3 Thr241Met and ERCC5 Asp1558His are associated with risk of gliomas and meningiomas. This finding could be useful in identifying the susceptibility genes for these cancers.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.109-117
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Mitochondrial diseases are clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders, which make their exact diagnosis and classification difficult. The purpose of this study was to identify pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in 2 Korean families with myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) and Leigh syndrome, respectively. Materials and Methods: Whole mtDNAs were sequenced by the method of mtDNA-targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: Two causative mtDNA mutations were identified from the NGS data. An m.8344A>G mutation in the tRNA-Lys gene (MT-TK) was detected in a MERRF patient (family ID: MT132), and an m.9176T>C (p.Leu217Pro) mutation in the mitochondrial ATP6 gene (MT-ATP6) was detected in a Leigh syndrome patient (family ID: MT130). Both mutations, which have been reported several times before in affected individuals, were not found in the control samples. Conclusion: This study suggests that mtDNA-targeted NGS will be helpful for the molecular diagnosis of genetically heterogeneous mitochondrial diseases with complex phenotypes.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.147-161
• /
• 2015

Brown algal extracts have long been used as feed supplements to promote health of farm animals. Here, we show new molecular insights in to the mechanism of action of a fucose containing polymer (FCP) rich fraction from the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum using the Caenorhabditis elegans-Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 infection model. FCP enhanced survival of C. elegans against pathogen stress, correlated with up-regulation of key immune response genes such as: lipases, lysozyme (lys-1), saponin-like protein (spp-1), thaumatin-like protein (tlp-1), matridin SK domain protein (msk-1), antibacterial protein (abf-1), and lectin family protein (lfp). Further, FCP caused down regulation of P. aeruginosa quorum sensing genes: (lasI, lasR, rhlI, and rhlR), secreted virulence factors (lipase, proteases, and elastases) and toxic metabolites (pyocyanin, hydrogen cyanide, and siderophore). Biofilm formation and motility of pathogenic bacteria were also greatly attenuated when the culture media were treated with FCP. Interestingly, FCP failed to mitigate the pathogen stress in skn-1, daf-2, and pmk-1 mutants of C. elegans. This indicated that, FCP treatment acted on the regulation of fundamental innate immune pathways, which are conserved across the majority of organisms including humans. This study suggests the possible use of FCP, a seaweed component, as a functional food source for healthy living.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.496-501
• /
• 2006

This study was to isolate a bacterium producing a alkaline protease from mud flats of the west seaside of Korea and to investigate the biochemical analysis of the alkaline protease producing from the isolate. The isolate was named as Gelidibacter sp. HK-1 based on 16S rRNA sequence, Gram staining and the photograph of electron microsceope. Optimum temperature for growth and pretense production of the isolate was $25^{\circ}C$. Growth of the isolate was reached at stationary phase after 10hrs followed by inoculation. Maximum activity of protease produced from the isolate was shown after 14hrs. Optimum temperature and pH for the protease activity were $45^{\circ}C$ and pH 9, respectively. Molecular weight of the pretense was about 50KD and the partial amino acid sequence of the pretense was Ala-Try-Ala-Leu-Asn-Thr-Ser-Val-Thr-Glu-Thr-Phe-Ala-Lys. The partial amino acid sequences of the protease showed significant homology with a pretense produced from Streptomyces avermitilis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.402-409
• /
• 2017

A novel peptide having free radical scavenging activity was separated, using an on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) - ABTS screening method, from bovine skim milk fermented by Lactococcus lactis SL6 (KCTC 11865BP). It was further purified using reverse phase-HPLC (RP-HPLC) and sequenced by RP-HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. The amino acid sequence of the identified peptide was determined to be Phe-Ser-Asp-Ile-Pro-Asn-Pro-Ile-Gly-Ser-Glu-Asn-Ser-Glu-Lys-Thr-Thr-Met-Pro-Leu-Trp (2,362 Da), which is corresponding to the C-terminal fragment of bovine ${\alpha}_{s1}$-casein (f179-199). The hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ $28.25{\pm}0.96{\mu}M$) of the peptide chemically synthesized based on the MS/MS data showed a slightly lower than that of the natural antioxidant Trolox ($IC_{50}$ $15.37{\pm}0.52{\mu}M$). Furthermore, derivatives of the antioxidant peptide were synthesized. The antioxidative activity of the derivatives whose all three proline residues replaced by alanine significantly decreased, whereas replacement of two proline residues in N-terminal region did not affect its antioxidative activity, indicating that $3^{rd}$ proline in C-terminal region is critical for the antioxidative activity of the peptide identified in this study. In addition, N-terminal region of the antioxidant peptide did not show its activity, whereas C-terminal region maintained antioxidative activity, suggesting that C-terminal region of the peptide is important for antioxidative activity.