The chromate reductase purified from Pseudomonas ambigua was found to be homologous with several nitroreductases. Escherichia coli DH5␣ and Vibrio harveyi KCTC 2720 nitroreductases were chosen for the present study, and their chromate-reducing activities were determined. A fusion between glutathione Stransferase (GST) and E. coli DH5␣ NfsA (GST-EcNfsA), a fusion between GST and E. coli DH5␣ NfsB (GST-EcNfsB), and a fusion between GST and V. harveyi KCTC 2720 NfsA (GST-VhNfsA) were prepared for their overproduction and easy purification. GST-EcNfsA, GST-EcNFsB, and GST-VhNFsA efficiently reduced nitrofurazone and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) as their nitro substrates. The K m values for GST-EcNfsA, GST-EcNfsB, and GST-VhNfsA for chromate reduction were 11.8, 23.5, and 5.4 M, respectively. The V max values for GST-EcNfsA, GST-EcNfsB, and GST-VhNfsA were 3.8, 3.9, and 10.7 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. GST-VhNfsA was the most effective of the three chromate reductases, as determined by each V max /K m value. The optimal temperatures of GST-EcNfsA, GST-EcNfsB, and GST-VhNfsA for chromate reduction were 55, 30, and 30°C, respectively. Thus, it is confirmed that nitroreductase can also act as a chromate reductase. Nitroreductases may be used in chromate remediation. GST-EcNfsA, GST-EcNfsB, and GST-VhNfsA have a molecular mass of 50 kDa and exist as a monomer in solution. Thin-layer chromatography showed that GST-EcNfsA, GST-EcNfsB, and GST-VhNfsA contain FMN as a cofactor. GST-VhNfsA reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Cr(III) was much less toxic to E. coli than Cr(VI).Environmental pollution by chromium may be severe. Chromium contamination is known to be prevalent at U.S. Department of Energy sites (29). The electroplating and leather-tanning industries also contribute to environmental contamination with Cr(VI) (23). Chromate compounds containing Cr(VI) are used widely in the cooling towers of heavy industry and atomic power plants, since Cr(VI) prevents corrosion and the growth of organisms (2). Cr(VI) is soluble, toxic, and carcinogenic, whereas Cr(III) is less soluble and less toxic (12). Thus, it is desirable to change Cr(VI) into Cr(III). This approach is taken in the bioremediation of Cr(VI) pollution. It shows promise for solving pollution problems and has advantages over various other physical and chemical methods.Chromate-reducing activities can be found in the cell extracts of many bacteria (4,5,8,10,13,18,25,30,(33)(34)(35). Chromate reductase can reduce the toxicity of Cr(VI) by reducing it to Cr(III) and lowering its solubility (5, 9). The chromate reductase from Pseudomonas ambigua has been purified and characterized (33). Chromate-reducing activities have been associated with DT-diaphorase (7) and aldehyde oxidase (1) in the cell cytoplasm. Cytochrome P450 located in the cell membrane is also known to have chromate-reducing activity (21). It seems that various reductases in the cell can function in chromate reduction. P. ambigua chromate reductase (33) has high homology with Escherichia coli NfsA (59%) ...

Laminarin polysaccharides (LP1) were prepared from Laminaria japonica, a marine brown alga with potential biological activities, by hot water extraction, ultrafiltration and gel chromatography; the molecular weights of the LP1s were between 5 and 10 kDa. Laminarin oligosaccharides (LO) derived by hydrolyzing LP1 with an endo-beta-(1-->3)-glucanase from Bacillus circulans were mainly di- and penta-oligosaccharides. Treatment of mouse thymocytes with LO or LP1 (1-4 mg ml(-1)) suppressed apoptotic death around 3- or 2-fold and extended cell survival in culture at a rate of about 30 or 20%. A mouse cDNA microarray showing the genes coding for immune response proteins were induced and apoptotic cell death proteins were reduced significantly by LO provided preliminary information regarding the immunomodulatory mechanism of LO. These results suggest that laminarin oligosaccharides and polysaccharides can be utilized to develop new immunopotentiating substances and functional alternative medicines.

AIM:To understand the complex reaction of gastric inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori (H pylori ) in a systematic manner using a protein interaction network. METHODS:The expression of genes significantly changed on microarray during H pylori infection was scanned from the web literary database and translated into proteins. A network of protein interactions was constructed by searching the primary interactions of selected proteins. The constructed network was mathematically analyzed and its biological function was examined. In addition, the nodes on the network were checked to determine if they had any further functional importance or relation to other proteins by extending them. RESULTS:The scale-free network showing the relationship between inflammation and carcinogenesis was constructed. Mathematical analysis showed hub and bottleneck proteins, and these proteins were mostly related to immune response. The network contained pathways and proteins related to H pylori infection, such as the JAK-STAT pathway triggered by interleukins. Activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kB, TLR4, and other proteins known to function as core proteins of immune response were also found. These immune-related proteins interacted on the network with pathways and proteins related to the cell cycle, cell maintenance and proliferation, and transcription regulators such as BRCA1, FOS, REL, and zinc finger proteins. The extension of nodes showed interactions of the immune proteins with cancerrelated proteins. One extended network, the core network, a summarized form of the extended network, and cell pathway model were constructed. CONCLUSION:Immune-related proteins activated by H pylori infection interact with proto-oncogene proteins. The hub and bottleneck proteins are potential drug targets for gastric inflammation and cancer.

Chungkookjang is a Korean fermented soybean containing microorganisms, proteinase, and diverse bioactive compounds, including a high concentration of isoflavones and peptides. Growth of breast cancer MCF7 cells decreased dependent on the concentration of fermented soybean extracts. The effect of fermented soybean on cellular gene expression was determined in a systematic manner comprehensively. DNA microarray analysis was performed using 25,804 probes. Ninety one genes whose expression levels were significantly changed were selected. TGFβI and Smad3 were upregulated. Downregulation of inflammation-related CSF2, CSF2RA, and CSF3 was found. Differential expression of chemokines CCL2, CCL3, CCL3L3, CXCL1, and CXCL2 were observed. Network analysis identified ERβ in the network. Based on the experimental results, taking fermented soybean might be helpful for preventing breast cancer by a mechanism activating TGFβ pathway and depressing inflammation.