Hye-Jin Kim

Statistical Optimization for Production of Carboxymethylcellulase of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DL-3 by a Recombinant Escherichia coli JM109/DL-3 from Rice Bran Using Response Surface Method

The optimal conditions for production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DL-3 by a recombinant Escherichia coli JM109/DL-3 were established at a flask scale using the response surface method (RSM). The optimal conditions of rice bran, tryptone, and initial pH of the medium for cell growth extracted by Design Expert Software were 66.1 g/L, 6.2 g/L, and 7.2, respectively, whereas those for production of CMCase were 58.0 g/L, 5.0 g/L, and 7.1. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of results from central composite design (CCD) indicated that significant factor (“probe > F” less than 0.0500) for cell growth was rice bran, whereas those for production of CMCase were rice bran and initial pH of the medium. The optimal temperatures for cell growth and the production of CMCase by E. coli JM109/DL-3 were found to be 37°C. The optimal agitation speed and aeration rate of 7 L bioreactors for cell growth were 498 rpm and 1.4 vvm, whereas those for production of CMCase were 395 rpm and 1.1 vvm. The ANOVA of results indicated that the aeration rate was more significant factor (“probe > F” less than 0.0001) than the agitation speed for cell growth and production of CMCase. The optimal inner pressure for cell growth was 0.08 MPa, whereas that for the production of CMCase was 0.06 MPa. The maximal production of CMCase by E. coli JM109/DL-3 under optimized conditions was 871.0 U/mL, which was 3.0 times higher than the initial production of CMCase before optimization.

Optimization of salts in medium for production of carboxymethylcellulase by a psychrophilic marine bacterium, Psychrobacter aquimaris LBH-10 using two statistical methods

The concentration of four mineral salts in the medium for the production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) by Psychrobacter aquimaris LBH-10 were optimized using orthogonal array method (OAM) and response surface method (RSM) and their results from two statistical methods were compared. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of data from central composite design (CCD) based on OAM indicated that potassium phosphate gave the highest percentage participation for cell growth as well as production of CMCase. However, their relative participations of four salts for cell growth were different from those for production of CMCase. The ANOVA of results from RSM indicated that highly significant factors (“probe>F” less than 0.0001) for cell growth were K2HPO4 and (NH4)2SO4, whereas those for production of CMCase were K2HPO4, NaCl, and MgSO4·7H2O. The optimal concentration of K2HPO4, NaCl, MgSO4·7H2O, and (NH4)2SO4 for cell growth extracted by Design Expert Software based on RSM were 7.10, 0.84, 0.24, and 0.33 g/L, respectively, whereas those for production of CMCase were 3.00, 0.52, 0.34, and 0.45 g/L. The optimal concentrations of salts for cell growth and production of CMCase using RSM basically coincided with those using OAM as well as those from ‘one-factor-at-a-time’ method. The production of CMCase by P. aquimaris LBH-10 with optimized concentrations of salts was 273.0 U/mL, which was enhanced by 1.27 times higher than the previous report.

Statistical Optimization for Production of Carboxymethylcellulase from Rice Hulls by a Newly Isolated Marine Microorganism Bacillus licheniformis LBH-52 Using Response Surface Method

A microorganism utilizing rice hulls as a substrate for the production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) was isolated from seawater and identified as Bacillus lincheniformis by analyses of its 16S rDNA sequences. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for production of CMCase were found to be rice hulls and ammonium nitrate. The optimal conditions for cell growth and the production of CMCase by B. lincheniformis LBH-52 were investigated using the response surface method (RSM). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of results from central composite design (CCD) indicated that a highly significant factor (“probe＞F” less than 0.0001) for cell growth was rice hulls, whereas those for production of CMCase were rice hulls and initial pH of the medium. The optimal conditions of rice hulls, ammonium nitrate, initial pH, and temperature for cell growth extracted by Design Expert Software were 48.7 g/l, 1.8 g/l, 6.6, and 35.7℃, respectively, whereas those for the production of CMCase were 43.2 g/l, 1.1 g/l, 6.8, and 35.7℃. The maximal production of CMCase by B. lincheniformis LBH-52 from rice hulls under optimized conditions was 79.6 U/㎖ in a 7 l bioreactor. In this study, rice hulls and ammonium nitrate were developed to be substrates for the production of CMCase by a newly isolated marine microorganism, and the time for production of CMCase was reduced to 3 days using a bacterial strain with submerged fermentation.

Characterization of Acidic Carboxymethylcellulase Produced by a Marine Microorganism, Psychrobacter equimeris LBH-10

A microorganism hydrolyzing carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was isolated from seawater, identified as Psychrobacter aquimaris by analysis of 16S rDNA sequences, and named P. aquimari LBH-10. This strain produced an acidic carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), which hydrolyzed carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), cellobiose, curdlan, filter paper, p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG), pullulan, and xylan, but there was no detectable activity on avicel and cellulose. The optimal temperature for CMCase produced by P. aquimari LBH-10 was 50℃ and more than 90% of its original activity was maintained at broad temperatures ranging from 20 to 50℃ after 24 hr. The optimal pH of the CMCase was 3.5, and more than 70% of its original activity was maintained under acidic conditions between pH 2.5 and 7.0 at 50℃ after 24 hr. The optimal pH of CMCase produced by P. aquimaris LBH-10 seems to be lower than those produced by any other bacterial and fungal strain. CoCl₂, EDTA, and PbCl₂ at a concentration of 0.1 M enhanced CMCase-produced P. aquimaris LBH-10, whereas HgCl₂, KCl, MnCl₂, NiCl₂, and SrCl₂ inhibited it.

Gecko Proteins Exert Anti-Tumor Effect against Cervical Cancer Cells Via PI3-Kinase/Akt Pathway

Anti-tumor activity of the proteins from Gecko (GP) on cervical cancer cells, and its signaling mechanisms were assessed by viable cell counting, propidium iodide (PI) staining, and Western blot analysis. GP induced the cell death of HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner while it did not affect the viability of normal cells. Western blot analysis showed that GP decreased the activation of Akt, and co-administration of GP and Akt inhibitors synergistically exerted anti-tumor activities on HeLa cells, suggesting the involvement of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in GP-induced cell death of the cancer cells. Indeed, the cytotoxic effect of GP against HeLa cells was inhibited by overexpression of constituvely active form of Akt in HeLa cells. The candidates of the functional proteins in GP were analyzed by Mass-spectrum. Taken together, our results suggest that GP elicits anti-tumor activity against HeLa cells by inhibition of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Antitumor Activity of TRAIL Recombinant Adenovirus in Human Malignant Glioma Cells

Tumor necrosis factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) has been reported to specifically kill malignant cells but to be relatively nontoxic to normal cells. One of disadvantages to previous in vivo protocols was the need for large quantities of TRAIL recombinant protein to suppress tumor growth. To evaluate the antitumor activity and therapeutic value of the TRAIL gene, we constructed adenoviral vectors expressing the human TRAIL gene (Ad.hTRAIL) and transferred them into malignant glioma cells in vitro and tumors in vivo, as an alternative to recombinant soluble TRAIL protein. The results show that TRAIL-sensitive glioma cells infected Ad.hTRAIL undergo apoptosis through the production and expression of TRAIL protein. The in vitro transfer elicited apoptosis, as demonstrated by the quantification of viable or apoptotic cells and by the analysis of cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Furthermore, in vivo administration of Ad.hTRAIL at the site of tumor implantation suppressed the outgrowth of human glioma xenografts in SCID mice. These results further define Ad.hTRAIL as an anti-tumor therapeutic and demonstrate its potential use as an alternative approach to treatment for malignant glioma.

Enhanced Production of carboxymethylcellulase by a marine bacterium, Bacillus velezensis A-68, by using rice hulls in pilot-scale bioreactor under optimized conditions for dissolved oxygen

The optimal conditions for the production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) by Bacillus velezensis A-68 at a flask scale have been previously reported. In this study, the parameters involved in dissolved oxygen in 7 and 100 L bioreactors were optimized for the pilot-scale production of CMCase. The optimal agitation speed and aeration rate for cell growth of B. velezensis A-68 were 323 rpm and 1.46 vvm in a 7 L bioreactor, whereas those for the production of CMCase were 380 rpm and 0.54 vvm, respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) implied that the highly significant factor for cell growth was the aeration rate, whereas that for the production of CMCase was the agitation speed. The optimal inner pressures for cell growth and the production of CMCase by B. velezensis A-68 in a 100 L bioreactor were 0.00 and 0.04 MPa, respectively. The maximal production of CMCase in a 100 L bioreactor under optimized conditions using rice hulls was 108.1 U/ml, which was 1.8 times higher than that at a flask scale under previously optimized conditions.

Anti-cancer Activity of Novel TM4SF5-Targeting Antibodies through TM4SF5 Neutralization and Immune Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity

The transmembrane four L6 family member 5 (TM4SF5) protein is a novel molecular target for the prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. TM4SF5 is highly expressed in liver, colon, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers and is implicated in tumor progression. Here, we screened monoclonal antibodies that specifically bound to the extracellular loop 2 (EC2) of TM4SF5 from a phage-displayed murine antibody (single-chain variable fragment; scFv) library. We constructed and characterized chimeric antibodies, Ab27 and Ab79, of scFv fused with Fc domain of human IgG1. The affinity (KD) of Ab27 and Ab79 for soluble EC2 was approximately 9.2 nM and 16.9 nM, respectively, as determined by surface plasmon resonance analysis. Ab27 and Ab79 efficiently bound to native TM4SF5 on the cell surface were internalized into the cancer cells, leading to a decrease in cell surface TM4SF5. Ab27 and Ab79 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of TM4SF5-positive liver and colon cancer cells and reduced FAK and c-Src phosphorylation. Ab27 and Ab79 also enhanced anoikis sensitivity and reduced survivin. Ab27 mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. Ab27 and Ab79 efficiently inhibited tumor growth in a liver cancer xenograft model. These results strongly support the further development of Ab27 as a novel anti-cancer agent in the clinic.