CJ CheilJedang

About: CJ CheilJedang is a company organization based out in Seoul, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Fermentation & Polynucleotide. The organization has 1342 authors who have published 859 publications receiving 7826 citations.

p38 kinase is a key signaling molecule for H-Ras-induced cell motility and invasive phenotype in human breast epithelial cells.

Abstract: Ras expression has been suggested as a marker for tumor aggressiveness of breast cancer,including the degrees of invasion and tumor recurrence.We showed previously that H-ras, but not N-ras, up-regulates matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression and induces invasive phenotype in MCF10A human breast epithelial cells (A. Moon, et al. Int. J. Cancer, 85: 176–181, 2000). In this study, we show that H-ras also promotes cell motility more effectively than N-ras in MCF10A cells. We have investigated H-ras-specific signaling pathway(s) critical for H-ras-mediated cell motility and invasive phenotype. Whereas neither H-ras nor N-ras activated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1, both H-ras and N-ras effectively activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) -1,2. Importantly, prominent activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was shown only in H-ras-activated cells but not in N-ras-activated MCF10A cells. Functional significance of H-ras-activated p38 in invasiveness and cell motility was evidenced by studies using SB203580, a chemical inhibitor of p38, and a dominant-negative construct of p38. Whereas inhibition of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 activity had no effect on H-ras-induced MCF10A cell invasion and motility, the inhibition of the ERK pathway using a chemical inhibitor PD98059 or dominant-negative mutant of mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase 1, an activator of ERKs, significantly reduced H-ras-induced invasion and migration. We also provide evidence that p38 and, to a lesser degree, ERKs, are critical for H-ras-mediated up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase 2. Taken together, the present study shows that H-ras activation of both p38 and ERKs induces cell invasion and motility, whereas N-ras activation of ERKs alone is not sufficient. This study reveals the p38 kinase as a key signaling molecule differentially regulated by H-ras and N-ras, leading to H-ras-specific cell invasive and migrative phenotypes in human breast epithelial cells.

Improvement of bioactivity of soybean meal by solid-state fermentation with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens versus Lactobacillus spp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract: To evaluate the impact of fermentation with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens U304 on nutritional quality and bioactivity of soybean meal (SBM), we analyzed the solid-state fermentation process for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Lactobacillus spp., and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. B. amyloliquefaciens showed significant improvement in nutritional quality and bioactivity by removing the protein- and carbohydrate-based anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), as well as allergens. The total phenolic content, reducing power, free radical scavenging ability, and Ca2+ chelating ability of SBM, as indicators of the antioxidant activity, increased to 195.8, 201.7% (at 10 mg/mL), 136.6% (at 10 mg/mL), and 122.3%, respectively, after Bacillus fermentation. S. cerevisiae decomposed carbohydrate-based but not protein-based ANFs, and fermentation with this organism produced similar values of the antioxidant markers of unfermented soybean meal, except for the reducing power (160.0% at 10 mg/mL). Lactobacillus spp. was only effective for decreasing the activity of trypsin inhibitors, but not other ANFs, resulting in lower bioactivity of fermented soybean meal. B. amyloliquefaciens U304 can substantially improve both the nutritional quality and bioactivity of SBM.

Biological systems for manufacture of polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers containing 4-hydroxyacids

Abstract: The gene encoding a 4-hydroxybutyryl-Co A transferase has been isolated from bacteria and integrated into the genome of bacteria also expressing a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase, to yield an improved production process for 4HB-containing polyhydroxyalkanoates using transgenic organisms, including both bacteria and plants. The new pathways provide means for producing 4HB containing PHAs from cheap carbon sources such as sugars and fatty acids, in high yields, which are stable. Useful strains are obtaining by screening strains having integrated into their genomes a gene encoding a 4HB-CoA transferase and/or PHA synthase, for polymer production. Processes for polymer production use recombinant systems that can utilize cheap substrates. Systems are provided which can utilize amino acid degradation pathways, α-ketoglutarate, or succinate as substrate.