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Biomedical subjects

H Park

Publications and source records attributed to H Park.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Heterogeneity of IgE response to TDI-HSA conjugates by ELISA in toluene diisocyanate (TDI) -induced occupational asthma (OA) patients.

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a low molecular weight reactive chemical, is known to be a main cause of occupational asthma (OA) in Korea. Although it is thought that inhaled TDI may act as a hapten, the precise mechanisms of TDI-induced OA are unknown. In this study, TDI-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugates (5, 10, 20 and 30 min) were prepared in the range of 1.5 to 5.0 TDI mole/HSA mole. Specific binding of serum IgE to TDI-HSA (30 min) was observed using IgE ELISA as well as ELISA inhibition assay. Around 40% of TDI-induced OA patients were positive for serum specific IgE by ELISA. Degrees of serum IgE binding were different depending on which TDI-HSA conjugate was used as an antigen. Moreover, binding patterns were different depending on the individuals. Interestingly, higher binding of IgE to TDI-HSA (5 min) than to TDI-HSA (30 min) which was more highly substituted was observed in some patients. Probably new antigenic epitopes on carrier proteins were targets of the specific IgE. The results of this study indicated that IgE responses to TDI-HSA conjugates were heterogeneous in TDI-induced OA patients and self-proteins modified by reactive chemicals can become a major target antigen of IgE in certain cases.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1998

Biological and biochemical modulation of Trichomonas vaginalis KT9 isolate after shifting of culture medium from TPS-1 into TYM.

To evaluate the biological and biochemical characteristics of Trichomonas vaginalis KT9 isolate, the growth and size of trichomonads, pathogenicity in mouse, protein profiles and proteinase activity were examined after shifting the medium from TPS-1 into TYM. Generation time of trichomonads in TYM medium was 4.5 hr in comparison to TPS-1 with 7.1 hr. Size of trichomonads cultured in TPS-1 medium (8.5 +/- 0.9 x 6.0 +/- 0.9 microns) was significantly smaller than those in TYM medium (10.9 +/- 1.4 x 8.2 +/- 0.9 microns). Trichomonads cultured in TYM medium produced subcutaneous abscess in 9 out of 10 mice, whereas those in TPS-1 medium produced abscesses in 2 out of 10 mice. In SDS-PAGE, trichomonad lysates from both media showed ten common bands. However, trichomonads in TYM medium showed additional bands of 136 kDa, 116 kDa and 40 kDa in comparison to those in TPS-1 with 100 kDa. By immunoblot with T. vaginalis-immunized rabbit sera, T. vaginalis cultivated in both TYM and TPS-1 media showed 5 common bands, and unique bands of 116 kDa, 105 kDa, and 86 kDa were observed in trichomonads in TYM while a 140 kDa band in those in TPS-1. In gelatin SDS-PAGE, trichomonads in TYM degraded gelatin stronger than those in TPS-1. Also protease activity of trichomonads in TYM was significantly higher than that of trichomonads in TPS-1 using Bz-Pro-Phe-Arg-Nan as a substrate. According to the results, it is assumed that the shift from TPS-1 into TYM medium for cultivation of T. vaginalis might modulate the biological and biochemical properties of T. vaginalis in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Gastric retentive drug-delivery systems.

The development of a long-term oral controlled-release dosage form has been difficult mainly because of the transit of the dosage form through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Several approaches to extend gastric residence time have been tried. The most commonly used systems are (1) intragastric floating systems, (2) high-density systems, (3) mucoadhesive systems, (4) magnetic systems, (5) unfoldable, extendible, or swellable systems, and (6) superporous hydrogel systems. The concept of each approach is examined, and improvements that are needed for further development are discussed. Background materials in the GI physiology that are necessary for understanding the concept and usefulness of each approach are also provided.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Development of an in vitro bioassay system for human thrombopoietin by constructing a recombinant murine cell line expressing human thrombopoietin receptor.

We have developed a simple and rapid in vitro bioassay system for human thrombopoietin (hTPO) by constructing a recombinant murine BaF3 cell line expressing the hTPO receptor. The cDNA encoding hTPO receptor (c-Mpl) was cloned from human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and linked to the human cytomegalovirus promoter in pcDNA3 to yield expression plasmid phTR. The expression plasmid was stably transfected into BaF3 cells. The resulting transformants were initially selected in RPMI medium containing G418 and murine IL-3 (MuIL-3) and subjected to positive selection in the medium containing hTPO. Finally, cell proliferation of the selected clones in response to hTPO was measured using a colorimetric MTT assay. Most transformants showed a dose-dependent proliferation in response to 0.1 to 100 ng/ml hTPO, among them a cell clone (BaF-mpl), that showed a saturation density of 1.0 x 10(6) cells/ml and a doubling time of 16 h in the log growth phase. This clone was chosen for further characterization of hTPO-dependent proliferation. The BaF-mpl cells showed specificity for TPO, and they died within 24 h in the absence of TPO, which enabled us to complete the assay within 2 days. In addition, optimal MTT assay conditions were established for MTT treatment time and the number of cells to be added in the assay.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Phosphorylation of two regulatory tyrosine residues in the activation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase via alternative receptors.

Mutation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) impairs B cell maturation and function and results in a clinical phenotype of X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Activation of Btk correlates with an increase in the phosphorylation of two regulatory Btk tyrosine residues. Y551 (site 1) within the Src homology type 1 (SH1) domain is transphosphorylated by the Src family tyrosine kinases. Y223 (site 2) is an autophosphorylation site within the Btk SH3 domain. Polyclonal, phosphopeptide-specific antibodies were developed to evaluate the phosphorylation of Btk sites 1 and 2. Crosslinking of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) or the mast cell Fcepsilon receptor, or interleukin 5 receptor stimulation each induced rapid phosphorylation at Btk sites 1 and 2 in a tightly coupled manner. Btk molecules were singly and doubly tyrosine-phosphorylated. Phosphorylated Btk comprised only a small fraction (</=5%) of the total pool of Btk molecules in the BCR-activated B cells. Increased dosage of Lyn in B cells augmented BCR-induced phosphorylation at both sites. Kinetic analysis supports a sequential activation mechanism in which individual Btk molecules undergo serial transphosphorylation (site 1) then autophosphorylation (site 2), followed by successive dephosphorylation of site 1 then site 2. The phosphorylation of conserved tyrosine residues within structurally related Tec family kinases is likely to regulate their activation.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Constitutive membrane association potentiates activation of Bruton tyrosine kinase.

Mutations in the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Btk result in the B cell immunodeficiencies X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) in humans and X-linked immunodeficiency (xid) in mice. Genetic and biochemical evidence implicates Btk as a key component of several B cell signaling pathways. Activation of Btk by a point mutation (E41K) within the PH domain (Btk*) results in fibroblast transformation and is correlated with increased membrane localization of Btk. When wild type Btk is activated by coexpression with Lyn, the tyrosine phosphorylated pool of Btk is highly enriched in the membrane fraction. To determine whether membrane association is sufficient to activate Btk, we targeted Btk to the plasma membrane using a series of fusion proteins including GagBtk, CD16Btk and CD4Btk. Constitutive membrane association greatly enhanced the ability of Btk to transform Rat2 fibroblasts in the presence of high levels of Src activity. All membrane targeted forms of Btk were highly tyrosine phosphorylated. Transformation required membrane localization, Btk kinase activity, transphosphorylation by Src family kinases, and an intact SH2 domain but not the PH or SH3 domains. These data suggest that membrane localization is a critical early step in Btk activation.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Cloning of a cysteine proteinase cDNA of adult Paragonimus westermani by polymerase chain reaction.

Cysteine proteinase cDNA fragment from adult mammalian trematode, Paragonimus westermani was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from conserved cysteine proteinase sequences. The 5' and the 3' regions of the cysteine proteinase gene were amplified using the PCR protocol for the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). It has an open reading frame of 804 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence consists of 268 amino acids. Sequence analysis and alignment showed significant sequence similarity to other eukaryotic cysteine proteinases and conservation of the cysteine, histidine, and asparagine residues that form the catalytic triad. The cysteine proteinase cDNA fragment was also subcloned in the expression vector pET and expressed as a C-terminal His-tag fusion protein in Escherichia coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Mechanistic studies of R67 dihydrofolate reductase. Effects of pH and an H62C mutation.

R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is encoded by an R-plasmid, and expression of this enzyme in bacteria confers resistance to the antibacterial drug, trimethoprim. This DHFR variant is not homologous in either sequence or structure with chromosomal DHFRs. The crystal structure of tetrameric R67 DHFR indicates a single active site pore that traverses the length of the molecule (Narayana, N., Matthews, D. A., Howell, E. E., and Xuong, N.-H. (1995) Nat. Struct. Biol. 2, 1018-1025). A pH profile of enzyme activity in R67 DHFR displays an acidic pKa that is protein concentration-dependent. This pKa describes dissociation of active tetramer into two relatively inactive dimers upon protonation of His-62 and the symmetry-related His-162, His-262, and His-362 residues at the dimer-dimer interfaces. Construction of an H62C mutation results in stabilization of the active tetramer via disulfide bond formation at the dimer-dimer interfaces. The oxidized, tetrameric form of H62C R67 DHFR is quite active at pH 7, and a pH profile displays increasing activity at low pH. These results indicate protonated dihydrofolate (pKa = 2.59) is the productive substrate and that R67 DHFR does not possess a proton donor.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1997

Purification, visualization, and biophysical characterization of Kv1.3 tetramers.

The voltage-gated K+ channel of T-lymphocytes, Kv1.3, was heterologously expressed in African Green Monkey kidney cells (CV-1) using a vaccinia virus/T7 hybrid expression system; each infected cell exhibited 10(4) to 5 x 10(5) functional channels on the cell surface. The protein, solubilized with detergent (3-[cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid or cholate), was purified to near-homogeneity by a single nickel-chelate chromatography step. The Kv1.3 protein expressed in vaccinia virus-infected cells and its purified counterpart are both modified by a approximately 2-kDa core-sugar moiety, most likely at a conserved N-glycosylation site in the external S1-S2 loop; absence of the sugar does not alter the biophysical properties of the channel nor does it affect expression levels. Purified Kv1.3 has an estimated size of approximately 64 kDa in denaturing SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels, consistent with its predicted size based on the amino acid sequence. By sucrose gradient sedimentation, purified Kv1.3 is seen primarily as a single peak with an approximate mass of 270 kDa, compatible with its being a homotetrameric complex of the approximately 64-kDa subunits. When reconstituted in the presence of lipid and visualized by negative-staining electron microscopy, the purified Kv1.3 protein forms small crystalline domains consisting of tetramers with dimensions of approximately 65 x 65 A. The center of each tetramer contains a stained depression which may represent the ion conduction pathway. Functional reconstitution of the Kv1.3 protein into lipid bilayers produces voltage-dependent K+-selective currents that can be blocked by two high affinity peptide antagonists of Kv1.3, margatoxin and stichodactylatoxin.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Demonstration of dimer formation of the cytoplasmic domain of a transmembrane osmosensor protein, EnvZ, of Escherichia coli using Ni-histidine tag affinity chromatography.

EnvZ is a transmembrane osmosensor which regulates the phosphorylation of OmpR, a transcription factor for ompF and ompC genes which encode the major outer membrane porin proteins, OmpF and OmpC in Escherichia coli. Autophosphorylation of EnvZ occurs through a transphosphorylation reaction between two EnvZ molecules. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of signal transduction by EnvZ, we examined the dimer formation of the EnvZ cytoplasmic domain [EnvZ(C)]. For this purpose, we developed a method to determine the complex formation between the purified EnvZ(C) and the purified His6-EnvZ(C) by means of Ni-6xhistidine tag affinity chromatography. When the mixture of EnvZ(C) and His6-EnvZ(C) was applied to Ni-NTA resin, both His6-EnvZ(C) and EnvZ(C) were bound to the resin, indicating that EnvZ can form an oligomer without the periplasmic and transmembrane domains. Binding experiments using the Ni-NTA resin revealed that EnvZ(C) forms a dimer with the Ka value for dimerization being approximately 10(5) M(-1) in the equilibrium state.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Multiple kinesin family members expressed in teleost retina and RPE include a novel C-terminal kinesin.

Kinesins comprise a large superfamily of microtubule-based motor proteins, individual members of which mediate specific types of motile processes. To identify kinesin family members (KIFs) that are critical to retinal function and thus to vision, a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cloning strategy was used to isolate putative KIFs expressed in the neural retina and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) of the striped bass, Morone saxatilus. Eleven fish KIFs (FKIFs) were isolated from neural retina and six of the same FKIFs were also isolated from RPE. One of the KIFs identified in this screen, FKIF2, was the most prevalent clone detected both in the retina (41% of clones) and RPE (72% of clones). Based on predicted amino acid sequence homology within the motor domain, seven of the FKIFs have been tentatively assigned to known kinesin families: the kinesin heavy chain family (FKIF1, 5 and 9), the unc104/KIF1 family (FKIF3 and 8), the KIF2 family (FKIF4), and the cKIF family (FKIF2). Northern blot analysis revealed that each detectable FKIF exhibited a unique tissue-specific expression pattern. Since FKIF2 was more highly expressed in retina than in any other tissue tested, including brain, and was the most abundant KIF message expressed in both retina and RPE, it was examined in more detail and the complete approximately 2.3 kb open reading frame for FKIF2 was cloned and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence indicates that FKIF2 has a C-terminal motor domain, and thus is a member of the cKIF family. FKIF2 is only 36.5% identical at the amino acid level to the most closely related cKIF in the database, suggesting that FKIF2 may be a novel member of this family. Antibodies raised against a unique peptide specific to FKIF2 recognize an approximately 80 kd protein in homogenates of retina, RPE, brain and kidney. The pronounced expression of FKIF2 in retina and RPE suggests that FKIF2 may play an important role in microtubule-dependent motile events in these two tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Ethanol production from spent cherry brine.

Spent cherry brine is an acidic byproduct of maraschino cherry processing and typically consists of variable amounts of glucose and fructose of up to 11% fermentable solids, 0.5-1.5% CaCl2, up to 0.4% sulfur dioxide, sorbitol, and lesser amounts of other cherry constituents. Disposal of brine represents a significant cost to processors because of its high biological oxygen demand. As an alternative, brine was tested as a substrate for ethanol production. Initially, the toxic level of sulfur dioxide was reduced by raising brine pH to 8.0 to precipitate calcium sulfite. Because alkalinization was subsequently found to result in a 10-fold reduction in phosphorous, brines were titrated with phosphoric acid to pH 6.0 prior to inoculation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae tested were able to ferment all lots of Ca(OH)2-treated and phosphorous-enriched brines efficiently. One lot of brine containing 10% (w/v) fermentable sugar yielded 4.7% (w/v) ethanol in 4 days.

Ethanol↗
PubMed1997

Signal transduction via the histidyl-aspartyl phosphorelay.

The histidyl-aspartyl phosphorelay, formerly described as the two-component system, is the predominant mode of signal transduction in bacteria. Adaptation to environmental changes occurs through a sensor histidine protein kinase and a response regulator. The histidine protein kinase is usually a transmembrane receptor and the response regulator is a cytoplasmic protein. Together the histidyl-aspartyl phosphorelay proteins mediate reversible phosphorylation events that control downstream effectors. Following autophosphorylation at a conserved histidine residue, the histidine kinase serves as a phospho-donor for the response regulator. Once phosphorylated, the response regulator mediates changes in gene expression or cellular locomotion. The EnvZ-OmpR phosphorelay system in Escherichia coli, which monitors external osmolarity and responds by differentially modulating the expression of the OmpF and OmpC major outer membrane porins, will be described as a model system. While histidine kinases were thought to be present only in prokaryotes, they have recently been identified in eukaryotic systems. Here, we review the unique and conserved features of this growing family of signal transducers.

Aspartic Acid↗
PubMed1997

A glutamine 67--> histidine mutation in homotetrameric R67 dihydrofolate reductase results in four mutations per single active site pore and causes substantial substrate and cofactor inhibition.

R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a type II DHFR produced by bacteria as a resistance mechanism to increasing clinical use of the antibacterial drug trimethoprim. Type II DHFRs are not homologous in either sequence or structure with chromosomal DHFRs. The crystal structure of R67 DHFR shows a single active site pore that spans the length of the homotetramer. Related sites (due to a 222 symmetry element at the center of the pore) are used to bind ligands, i.e. each half of the pore can accommodate either the substrate, dihydrofolate (DHF), or the cofactor, NADPH, although DHF and NADPH are bound differently. To evaluate the role of glutamine 67 (and its symmetry-related Q167, Q267 and Q367 residues which occur at the center of the active site pore), a Q67H mutation was constructed. Binary binding of dihydrofolate (DHF; monitored by isothermal titration calorimetry) displays two identical sites with a Kd value of 0.04 microM, while binding of NADPH shows two sites possessing negative cooperativity with Kd values of 0.027 and 0.62 microM. A comparison of ligand binding in Q67H versus wild-type (wt) R67 DHFR indicates both ligands bind more tightly (80-6000-fold) and DHF binding in Q67H R67 DHFR no longer displays positive cooperativity as seen in wt R67 DHFR. Ternary complex binding in the Q67H mutant indicates a total of two ligands can bind per pore. Substantial substrate and cofactor inhibition are observed during catalysis, consistent with non-productive binding of either two DHF or two NADPH molecules in Q67H R67 DHFR. Because of the symmetry-related binding sites in the active site pore, the accumulation of potentially positive mutations in R67 DHFR is limited by the balance between tighter binding of ligands (and thus potentially increased catalytic efficiency) and inhibition that arises upon tighter binding of two identical ligands at symmetry-related sites.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1997

Mutational analysis of the linker region of EnvZ, an osmosensor in Escherichia coli.

EnvZ, a transmembrane signal transducer, is composed of a periplasmic sensor domain, transmembrane domains, and a cytoplasmic signaling domain. Between the second transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic signaling domain there is a linker domain consisting of approximately 50 residues. In this study, we investigated the functional role of the EnvZ linker domain with respect to signal transduction. Amino acid sequence alignment of linker regions among various bacterial signal transducer proteins does not show a high sequence identity but suggests a common helix 1-loop-helix 2 structure. Among several mutations introduced in the EnvZ linker region, it was found that hydrophobic-to-charged amino acid substitutions in helix 1 and helix 2 and deletions in helix 1, loop, and helix 2 (delta14, delta8, and delta7) resulted in constitutive OmpC expression. In the linker mutant EnvZ x delta7, both kinase and phosphatase activities were significantly reduced but the ratio of kinase to phosphatase activity increased, consistent with the constitutive OmpC expression. In contrast, the purified cytoplasmic fragment of EnvZ x delta7 possessed both kinase and phosphatase activities at levels similar to those of the cytoplasmic fragment of wild-type EnvZ. In addition, the linker mutations had no direct effect on EnvZ C-terminal dimerization. These results together with previous data suggest that the linker region is not directly involved in EnvZ enzymatic activities and that it may have a crucial role in propagating a conformational change to ensure correct positioning of two EnvZ molecules within a dimer during the transmembrane signaling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Hypoxia and ischaemia in buffer-perfused toad hearts.

Previous studies on the effects of ischaemia or hypoxia in ectothermic vertebrate hearts have generally used preparations that were not performing at physiological levels of pressure and flow. The conclusions that ischaemia or hypoxia are not stressful to these organisms were examined in another species, Bufo marinus, in which a buffer-perfused heart was performing physiological levels of work. The in situ preparation demonstrated the Frank-Starling relationship and mechanical characteristics similar to the hearts of intact animals. The hearts recovered from 60 min of ischaemia and reperfusion with no reduction in pressure, flow or heart rate parameters. Hearts exposed to 30 min of hypoxia at physiological filling and diastolic afterload pressures ceased generating a continuous cardiac output during the hypoxia. In most cases, there was a gradual reduction of cardiac output to zero, but in 27% of the hearts studied, intermittent beating was observed. During reoxygenation, the hearts recovered 50-90% of their prehypoxic function and were damaged. Hearts exposed to hypoxia with reduced filling and diastolic afterload continued to develop a cardiac output throughout the hypoxia and demonstrated an overshoot phenomena with the onset of reoxygenation. If demand is in the normal range at the onset of hypoxia, the hearts intrinsically reduce demand either by reducing pressure development or by conversion to intermittent beating. Toad hearts appear not to be damaged by ischaemia, a condition in which demand is low.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Nucleoside-diphosphate kinase-mediated signal transduction via histidyl-aspartyl phosphorelay systems in Escherichia coli.

Nucleoside-diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase), a key enzyme in nucleotide metabolism, is also known to be involved in growth and developmental control and tumor metastasis suppression. Interestingly, we find that coexpression of NDP kinase with Taz1, a Tar/EnvZ chimera, in the absence of its native signal, can activate a porin gene ompC-lacZ expression in Escherichia coli. Further studies show that NDP kinase can act as a protein kinase to phosphorylate histidine protein kinases such as EnvZ and CheA which are members of the His-Asp phosphorelay signal transduction systems in E. coli. Instead of ATP, the exclusive phosphodonor for histidine kinases, GTP can be utilized in vitro in the presence of NDP kinase to phosphorylate EnvZ and CheA, which then transfer the phosphoryl group to OmpR and CheY, the respective response regulators. The direct involvement of GTP for the phosphorylation of EnvZ through NDP kinase was further demonstrated by the use of a mutant EnvZ, which lost ability to be autophosphorylated with ATP. Phospho-OmpR thus formed can bind specifically to an ompF promoter sequence. These results suggest that NDP kinase may play a physiological role in signal transduction.

Aspartic Acid↗