KyungBae Pi

The effect of low pH on protein expression by the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri

The ability of a lactic acid bacterium to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract is a key point in its function as a probiotic. In this study, protein synthesis by the probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, was analyzed under transiently decreased pH conditions. L. reuteri cells grown to the midexponential growth phase at 37°C were exposed to transient (1 h) low‐pH stresses from pH 6.8 to pH 5.0, 4.5, or 4.0. 2‐DE allowed us to identify 40 common proteins that were consistently and significantly altered under all three low‐pH conditions. PMF was used to identify these 40 proteins, and functional annotation allowed them to be distributed to six major classes: (i) transport and binding proteins; (ii) transcription–translation; (iii) nucleotide metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis; (iv) carbon energy metabolism; (v) pH homeostasis and stress; and (vi) unassigned. These findings provide new insight into the inducible mechanisms underlying the capacity of gastrointestinal L. reuteri to tolerate acid stress.

Effect of transient acid stress on the proteome of intestinal probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri

We report the acid tolerance response and changes in the level of protein expression of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri subjected to transient (1.5 h) acid stress at pH 3.0. Sixteen acid-responsive proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting including members of five broad functional categories: metabolism, transcription/translation, DNA replication/repair, transport and binding proteins, and pH homeostasis and stress responses. This work can provide some new and relevant information on the inducible mechanisms underlying the capacity of probiotic L. reuteri to tolerate acid stress.

Proteomic analysis of protein expression in Lactobacillus plantarum in response to alkaline stress

Lactobacillus plantarum, a probiotic organism that plays an important role in the microbial fermentation of alkaline materials in fermenting foods, faces alkaline stress during the fermentation process. Here, we report the patterns of protein expression in L. plantarum subjected to transient (1h) alkaline stress at pH 7.7, 8.7 or 9.7. Thirty-three alkaline-responsive proteins were identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Identification of proteins showing differential expression in response to alkaline stress revealed that the alkaline stress response of L. plantarum is a complex process. Some proteins appear to be induced, others repressed. These proteins could be clustered into nine groups based on their probable functions: energy metabolism, transport system, purine/pyrimidine metabolism, amino acid metabolism, proteolytic activity, transcription-translation, stress-related, general function, and unknown functions. These proteomic analyses are expected to prove useful in understanding the adaptive response of L. plantarum strains to alkaline stress and may facilitate future investigations into the genetic and physiological aspects of this response.

Buffer optimization for high resolution of human lung cancer tissue proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

A problem in proteomic analysis of lung cancer tissue is the presence of complex components of different histological backgrounds (squamous cell carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma). The efficient solubilization of protein components before two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) is a very critical. Poor solubilization has been associated with a failure to detect proteins and diffuse, streaked and/or trailing protein spots. Here, we have optimized the solubilization of human lung cancer tissue to increase protein resolution. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) rehydration buffer containing a thiourea–urea mixture provided superior resolution, whereas a buffer without thiourea yielded consistently poor results. In addition, IEF rehydration buffers containing CHAPS and DTT gave superior resolution, whereas buffers containing Nonidet P-40 (NP-40) and/or Triton X-100 did not. A tributylphosphine-containing buffer gave consistently poor results. Using optimized conditions, we used 2-D gel analysis of human lung cancer tissue to identify 11 differentially-expressed protein spots by MALDI-mass spectrometry. This study provides a methodological tool to study the complex mammalian proteomes.

Effect of separation dimensions on resolution and throughput using very narrow-range IEF for 2-DE after solution phase isoelectric fractionation of a complex proteome

This paper describes how the lengths of the first and second dimensions in narrow pH-range 2-DE affect the number of detected protein spots, by analysis of human breast carcinoma cell line lysates prefractionated by solution phase IEF. The aim is to maximize throughput while minimizing experimental costs. In this study, systematic evaluation of narrow-range IPG strip lengths showed that separation distances were very important, with dramatic increases in resolution when longer gels were used. Compared with 7 cm minigels, maximal resolution was obtained using 18 and 24 cm IPG strips. Systematic evaluation of SDS-PAGE gel length showed a far weaker influence of separation length on resolution in the second dimension compared with that observed for the IEF dimension. There was little benefit in using separation distances greater than 12-15 cm, at least with currently available electrophoresis units. The work shows that regions of the IPG strip not containing any proteins can be excised to fit a smaller gel if prefractionation using IEF in solution has been performed. As expected, larger 2-DE gel volumes resulting from the use of longer IPG strips and second dimension gels decreased detection sensitivity when equal protein loads were used. However, this effect could be readily eliminated by increasing the loads applied to IPG strips.

Influence of gel dimensions on resolution and sample throughput on two-dimensional gels

To achieve high throughput and economical format of 2-D PAGE, comparison between gel size and resolution was conducted on human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7/AZ) proteins. SDS gel length showed a weaker influence of separation length on resolution in the second dimension, and there was little benefit of separation distances greater than 15 to 19 cm. IPG strip separation distances were very important with dramatic increase in resolution of longer gels compared with smaller gels, and maximal resolution was obtained using 18-and 24-cm IPG strips. Loading optimal amount of proteins on 2-D gels can also increase the number of detected spots. Therefore, taken together, compromise 2-D gels are crucial for higher capacity and higher throughput.

Prunus mume extract exerts antioxidant activities and suppressive effect of melanogenesis under the stimulation by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone in B16-F10 melanoma cells

In the current study, we examined the antioxidant and skin-whitening properties of Prunus mume extract (PME). The ability of PME to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was investigated in vitro. At a concentration of 1000 μg/mL, PME neutralized >45% free radical activity. Cell viability assessment with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that at concentrations <1500 μg/mL, PME does not exert cytotoxic effects on murine B16 melanoma (B16) cells. Morphological analysis disclosed that melanin production is inhibited in B16 cells treated with 250 nM α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and PME. We conclude that fruit extracts of P. mume exert a skin-whitening effect by inhibiting melanin production via regulation of melanogenesis-associated protein expression in melanocytes. We conclude that fruit extracts of P. mume exert a skin-whitening effect by inhibiting melanin production via regulation of melanogenesis-associated protein expression in melanocytes.

Mussel adhesive Protein-conjugated Vitronectin (fp-151-VT) Induces Anti-inflammatory Activity on LPS-stimulated Macrophages and UVB-irradiated Keratinocytes

ABSTRACT Background: Skin inflammation and dermal injuries are a major clinical problem because current therapies are limited to treating established scars, and there is a poor understanding of healing mechanisms. Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) have great potential in many tissue engineering and biomedical applications. It has been successfully demonstrated that the redesigned hybrid type MAP (fp-151) can be utilized as a promising adhesive biomaterial. The aim of this study was to develop a novel recombinant protein using fp-151 and vitronectin (VT) and to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effects of this recombinant protein on macrophages and keratinocytes. Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate macrophages and UVB was used to stimulate keratinocytes. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were analyzed by Western Blot. Inflammatory cytokines and NO and ROS production were analyzed. Result: In macrophages stimulated by LPS, expression of the inflammatory factors iNOS, COX-2, and NO production increased, while the r-fp-151-VT-treated groups had suppressed expression of iNOS, COX-2, and NO production in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, keratinocytes stimulated by UVB and treated with r-fp-151-VT had reduced expression of iNOS and COX-2. Interestingly, in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes, inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, were significantly reduced by r-fp-151-VT treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of r-fp-151-VT was more effective in keratinocytes, suggesting that it can be used as a therapeutic agent to treat skin inflammation.