• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2007

Myostatin (GDF8) is a growth factor that limits muscle tissue growth and development in vertebrates. We isolated a myostatin-like gene (Py-MSTN) from the marine invertebrate, the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis. Py-MSTN was highly expressed in the adductor muscle and in the gill unexpectedly. Amino acid analysis showed that Py-MSTN has 49% amino acid sequence identity and 64% similarity to human myostatin (Hs-MSTN), and 42% identity and 61% similarity to myoglianin, the only invertebrate homolog. These results indicated that Py-MSTN may be functionally similar to the vertebrate MSTN than the invertebrate homolog. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that Py-MSTN is an ancestral form of vertebrate MSTN and GDF11 and does not belong to other $TGF-{\beta}$ family members. Molecular modeling showed that Py-MSTN exhibits a similar tertiary structure to mammalian BMP7, a member of $TGF-{\beta}$ family. In addition, the amino acid residues which contact extracellular domain of the receptor were relavively conserved. Given these results, we propose that Py-MSTN is a functionally active member of the $TGF-{\beta}$ family and is involved In muscle growth and regulation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.610-615
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• 2009

As a provirus, polydnavirus has a segmented DNA genome on chromosome(s) of host wasp. It contains several genes in each segment that presumably play critical roles in regulating physiological processes of target insect parasitized by the wasp. A cysteine-rich protein 1 (CRP1) is present in the polydnavirus Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) genome, but its expression and physiological function in Plutella xylostella parasitized by the viral host C. plutellae is not known. This CpBV-CRP1 encoding 189 amino acids with a putative signal peptide (20 residues) was persistently expressed in parasitized P. xylostella with gradual decrease at the late parasitization period. Expression of CpBV-CRP1 was tissue-specific in the fat body/epidermis and hemocyte, but not in the gut. Its physiological function was analyzed by inducing transient expression of a CpBV segment containing CpBV-CRP1 and its promoter, which caused significant reduction in hemocyte -spreading and delayed larval development. When the treated larvae were co-injected with double-stranded RNA of CpBV-CRP1, the expression of CpBV-CRP1 disappeared, whereas other genes encoded in the CpBV segment was expressed. These co-injected larvae significantly recovered the hemocyte-spreading capacity and larval development rate. This study reports that CpBV-CRP1 is expressed in P. xylostella parasitized by C. plutellae and its physiological function is to alter the host immune and developmental processes.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2014

We measured the reductions in size and solubility of mackerel muscle that was freeze-dried, deoiled by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-$CO_2$), or roasted. The percent size reduction and solubility were high in SC-$CO_2$-treated muscle compared with freeze-dried and roasted muscle. We used oil-free residues to test for heavy metals and determine microbial safety. The SC-$CO_2$, hexane, and ethanol were used to separate oil from muscle. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in all treated muscles were less than the values reported in the literature, as were the concentrations of lead in SC-$CO_2$- and hexane- treated muscle. In contrast, concentrations of arsenic and mercury in muscles were greater than the reported values regardless of treatment. Zinc and iron, which are beneficial for health, were found in high levels after all treatments of muscle tissue. After 6 months of storage at different temperatures, SC-$CO_2$-and ethanol-treated muscle showed few bacterial colonies, and none were found after 4 months of storage at $-20^{\circ}C$. These results will be useful to food-processing industries for maintaining high-quality, safe mackerel muscle.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2009

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) also known as plasma procarboxypeptidase B or U is a 60 kD glycoprotein, which is the major modulator of fibrinolysis in plasma. TAFI is a proenzyme, which is activated by proteolytic cleavage to an active carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme (TAFIa, 35.8 kD) by thrombin/thrombomodulin and plasmin. Modulation of fibrinolysis occurs when TAFIa enzymatically removes C-terminal lysine residues of partially degraded fibrin, thereby inhibiting the stimulation of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) modulated plasminogen activation. TAFIa undergoes a rapid conformational change at $37{^{\circ}C}$ to an inactive isoform called TAFIai. Potato tuber carboxypetidase inhibitor (PTCI) was shown to specifically bind to TAFIa as well as TAFIai. In this study, a novel immunoassay TAFIa/ai ELISA was used for quantitation of the two TAFI activation isoforms TAFIa and TAFIai. The ELISA utilizes PTCI as the capture agent and a double antibody sandwich technique for the detection. Low levels of TAFIa/ai antigen levels were detected in normal plasma and elevated levels were found in hemophilia A plasmas. TAFIa/ai antigen represents a novel marker to monitor fibrinolysis and TAFIa/ai ELISA may be a valuable assay for studying the role of TAFI in normal hemostasis and in pathological conditions.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2006

Common thistle contains water-soluble substances that are phytotoxic to neighboring plant species. A series of aqueous extracts from leaves, stems, roots and flowers of common thistle (Cirsium pendulum Fisch.) were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seedlings to determine their allelopathy, and the results showed highest inhibition in the extracts from flowers and leaves, and followed by stems, and roots. The extracts at 40 g dry tissue $L^{-1}(g\;L^{-1})$ applied on filter paper in a Petri-dish significantly inhibited root growth of test plant by 87%. Methanol extracts at 100 g $L^{-1}$ from leaves inhibited root growth of alfalfa and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) by 89 and 98%, respectively. Hexane and ethylacetate fractions of common thistle reduced alfalfa root growth more than did butanol and water fractions. Incorporation into soil with the leaf residues at $100g\;kg^{-1}$ inhibited shoot fresh weights of barnyardgrass and eclipta (Eclipta prostrate) by 88 and 58%, respectively, showing higher sensitivity in grass species. These results suggest that common thistle plants had allelopathic potential for eco-friendly vegetation management, and that especially their activities were differently exhibited depending on plant part.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 2013

Ferritin is an evolutionarily conserved protein that plays an important role in iron storage and detoxification. In this study, the gene encoding a ferritin H subunit homologue (RbFH) was cloned from rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) and analyzed at the expression. The full-length ferritin H cDNA was 1162 bp long and contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 531 bp that encoded 177 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 20.8 kDa. The 5' UTR was 297 bp in length, and the 3' UTR 298 bp, and preceded by a 5'-untranslated region that contains a putative Iron Regulatory Element (IRE). The deduced amino acid sequence of RbFH shares extensive sequence identities with the H ferritins of a number of fish species and contains the ferroxidase center that is preserved in ferritin H subunits. Examination of tissue specific expression indicated that RbFH expression was most abundant in PBLs, RBC, liver and muscle.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.204-209
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• 2008

We have cloned an LTP gene (PoLTP1) from poplar (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. tremula var. glandulosa) suspension cells and examined changes in its expression levels in response to various stresses and ABA treatment. The full-length PoLTP1 cDNA clone encodes a polypeptide of 116 amino acids with typical characteristics of LTPs, notably a conserved arrangement of cysteine residues. Southern blot analysis indicate that two or three copies of the PoLTP1 are present in the genome of the investigated hybrid poplar. In addition, northern analysis of samples from soil-grown plants indicate that PoLTP1 is tissue-specifically expressed in the leaves and flowers. The gene is significantly up-regulated by treatment with mannitol, NaCl and ABA, but not by either cold or wounding. These results indicate that PoLTP1 is involved in osmotic stress responses in poplar plants and suspension cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.119-132
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• 1985

The apparent effectiveness of 1-naphthyl-N-methyl carbamate (carbaryl) against a wide variety of insects motivated the study of its mammalian toxicity. In this toxicological study of carbaryl, mature male rats inhaled carbaryl at a mean concentration of 112mg, 168mg and 224 mg/$m^{3}$ for one hour. After inhalation, pentobarbital sleeping time, Nadph-cytochrome c reductase activity, cytochrome p-450 and protein content in liver microsomes, various tissue residues, cholinesterase inhibition in plasma and histopathological findings at autopsy were observed. The pentobarbital sleeping time was prolonged in rats inhaled with carbaryl for one day while the sleeping time was shortened in the 3 days inhaled group. The changes of cytochrome p-450 content and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity exhibited biphasic response showing the decrease in the one day inhaled group and the increase in the 3 days inhaled group. The marked depression of plasma ChE activity was observed in rats inhaled with carbaryl at 112 mg/$m^{3}$, however no more progressive effect was observed at the higher concentration of the compound. The main observations in histopathological finding were ciliary detachment, epithelial swelling and subepithelial inflammatory cellular infiltration in trachea due to the irritation.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 1997

The possibility of identification of families of antibacterial agent residues in fish tissue was studied by disk assay using three test organisms, Bacillus subtilis BGA, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, and Bacillus cereus var. mycoides ATCC 11778. In the present method, a simple clean-up procedure was performed to obtain the aqueous solution from homogenized flounder muscle sample(10g) in Mcilvaine buffer. Then, aqueous solution was fractionated into A and B to be used in disk assay by choloroform and Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ cartridge column after being defatted in hexane. The chloroform layer of fraction A was used for the analysis of macrolide antibiotics(ML), sulfa drugs(SA), chloramphenicol(CP), and quinolone antibiotics(QN). Adsorbed materials to Sep-Pak $C_{18}$ of fraction B were also employed for the analysis of penicillins(PC), tetracyclines(TC), and nitrofuran derivatives(NF) Minimun-detectable concentrations by the present method were, $0.1{\mu}g$/g for oxytetracycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, spiramycin and ciprofloxacin, $0.025{\mu}g$/g for erythromycin and ampicillin, $1.0{\mu}g$/g for sodium nifurstyrenate and florfenical, $0.25{\mu}g$/g for sulfamonomethoxie and sulfadimethoxine, $2.5{\mu}g$/g for oxolinic acid and flumequine, and $15{\mu}g$/g for piromidic acid, respectively. Three test organisms showed different sensitivity patterns for each family of antibacterial agent. Sensitivity patterns were B. cereus > B. subtilis > M. luteus for TC and NF, M. luteus > B, subtilis > B. cereus for ML and PC, B. cereus = B. subtilis > M. luteus for CP and QN, and B. subtilis > B. cereus＝M. luteus for SA. The present method utilizing these characteristics could be useful as a routine screening test for the determination of family of antibacterial agent residues in fish tissue.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.456-465
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• 2012

Heterodimeric recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMPs) are powerful tools for bone tissue engineering. However, BMPs have several important limitations in their application to bone regeneration. BMPs have a short half-life and must be used in high concentrations, which may be cost-inefficient. To overcome these problems, we established a stable cell line that expressed the fusion protein comprised of recombinant human BMP2/7 heterodimer protein and PTD (rhBMP2/7-PTD). This stable cell line enabled high process yields by continuously expressing rhBMP2/7-PTD products at high levels throughout cultivation. This synthesized BMP7 was fused to a BMP2 protein with four glycine residues (to allow free bond rotation of the domains) and PTD. To demonstrate that the rhBMP2/7-PTD protein that was secreted from an rhBMP2/7-PTD-expressing stable cell line exhibited biological activity consistent with its role as an osteogenic differentiation induction growth factor, we evaluated BMP-induced ALP activity. Our results suggest that this cell line may be a powerful and efficient tool for applications such as bone tissue regeneration.