• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-253
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• 2008

Two oleanane-type triterpenes (1, 2) and their glycosides (4-6), and one ursane-type triterpene (3) have been isolated from a methanolic extract of Patrinia saniculaefolia Hemsley (Valerianaceae) through repeated silica gel and reversed-phase C-18 column chromatography. Their chemical structures were determined as oleanolic acid (1), oleanonic acid (2), 23-hydroxyursolic acid (3), 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranosyl-oleanolic acid (4), 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl-oleanolic acid (5), and oleanolic acid 3-O-[${\alpha}$-D-xylopyranosyl-($1{\rightarrow}3$)-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-butyl-ester] (6) on the basis of their MS, $^1H$-, and $^{13}C$-NMR spectral data. All compounds were isolated from the whole plant of the P. saniculaefolia for the first time. These compounds were examined for their anti-complement activity against the classical pathway of the complement system. Among them, compounds 1 - 3 exhibited anti-complement activity with $IC_{50}$ values of 470.1, 212.2, and 121.0 ${\mu}M$, respectively, whereas compounds 4 - 6 were inactive. These results suggest that the carbonyl or hydroxy group at C-3 in the oleananeand/or ursane-triterpenes are important for the anti-complement activity against the classical pathway.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.167-170
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• 2019

Pantoea intestinalis SRCM103226, isolated from edible insect mealworm overproduces zeaxanthin as a main carotenoid. The complete genome of P. intestinalis SRCM103226 was sequenced using the Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) RS II platform. The genome of P. intestinalis SRCM103226 comprises a 4,784,919 bp circular chromosome (53.41% G+C content), and is devoid of any extrachromosomal plasmids. Annotation using the RAST server reveals 4,332 coding sequences and 107 RNAs (22 rRNA genes, 85 tRNA genes). Genome annotation analysis revealed that it has five genes involved in the carotenoid pathway. The genome information provides fundamental knowledge for comparative genomics studies of the zeaxanthin pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.710-716
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• 2016

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid, which is an important inhibitor of neurotransmission in the human brain. GABA is also used as the precursor of biopolymer Nylon-4 production. In this study, the carbon flux from the tricarboxylic acid cycle was directed to the GABA shunt pathway for the production of GABA from glucose. The GABA shunt enzymes succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (GabD) and GABA aminotransferase (GabT) were co-localized along with the GABA transporter (GadC) by using a synthetic scaffold complex. The co-localized enzyme scaffold complex produced 0.71 g/l of GABA from 10 g/l of glucose. Inactivation of competing metabolic pathways in mutant E. coli strains XBM1 and XBM6 increased GABA production 13% to reach 0.80 g/l GABA by the enzymes co-localized and expressed in the mutant strains. The recombinant E. coli system developed in this study demonstrated the possibility of the pathway of the GABA shunt as a novel GABA production pathway.

• Mycobiology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.257-265
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• 2011

L-Phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized in mammals in adequate amounts to meet the requirements for protein synthesis. Fungi and plants are able to synthesize phenylalanine via the shikimic acid pathway. L-Phenylalanine, derived from the shikimic acid pathway, is used directly for protein synthesis in plants or metabolized through the phenylpropanoid pathway. This phenylpropanoid metabolism leads to the biosynthesis of a wide array of phenylpropanoid secondary products. The first step in this metabolic sequence involves the action of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL). The discovery of PAL enzyme in fungi and the detection of $^{14}CO_2$ production from $^{14}C$-ring-labeled phenylalanine and cinnamic acid demonstrated that certain fungi can degrade phenylalanine by a pathway involving an initial deamination to cinnamic acid, as happens in plants. In this review, we provide background information on PAL and a recent update on the presence of PAL genes in fungi.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2023

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that involves exocrine glands. Shikonin is extracted from comfrey, which is conventionally used as an anti-tumor, antibacterial, and antiviral drug in China. However, the application of Shikonin in SS remains unreported. This study aimed to verify the potential functions of Shikonin in SS progression. Firstly, non-obese diabetic mice were used as the SS mouse model, with C57BL/6 mice serving as the healthy control. It was demonstrated that the salivary gland damage and inflammation were aggravated in the SS mouse model. Shikonin improved salivary gland function decline and injury in the SS mouse model. Moreover, Shikonin reduced inflammatory cytokines and immune infiltration in the SS mouse model. Further experiments discovered that Shikonin attenuated the MAPK signaling pathway in the SS mouse model. Lastly, inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway combined with Shikonin treatment further alleviated the symptoms of SS. In conclusion, Shikonin ameliorated salivary gland damage and inflammation in a mouse model of SS by modulating the MAPK signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that Shikonin may be a useful drug for SS treatment.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.53-56
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• 2009

Recent evidence has strongly suggested that the CAP/TC10 pathway is involved in the trafficking, docking, and fusion of vesicles containing the insulin-responsive glucose transporter Glut4 to the plasma membrane. However, little is known about how the genes employed in the CAP/TC10 pathway are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, we sequenced 4 genes of the CAP/TC10 pathway [SORBS1, CBL, CRK, and RHOQ] in 24 individuals to identify genetic variations in these loci. A total of 48 sequence variants were identified, including 23 novel variations. To investigate the possible association with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms from SORBS1, 3 from CBL, and 4 from RHOQ were genotyped in 1122 Korean type 2 diabetic patients and 1138 nondiabetic controls. Using logistic regression analysis, 1 significant association between SNP rs1376405 in RHOQ and type 2 diabetes mellitus [OR = 8.714 (C.I. 1.714-44.29), p = 0.009] was found in the recessive model. Our data demonstrate a positive association of the RHOQ gene in the CAP/TC10 pathway with T2DM in the Korean population.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2012

In plants, the fifth step of the plastidial 2-Cmethyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway is catalyzed by 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (MECP; EC: 4. 6. 1. 12), an enzyme proposed to play a key role in the regulation of isoprenoid biosynthesis. Here we report the isolation and functional characterization of a 823 bp Brassica rapa MECP (Brmecp) cDNA encoding a deduced polypeptide of 230 amino acid residues. Transcription levels of Brmecp were two-fold higher in petal compared to leaves. In addition, Brmecp expression in cabbage seedlings treated with ABA, $H_2O_2$ and drought was higher than control seedlings. These results were consistent with changes in chlorophyll contents in transgenic Arabidopsis. Thus, the Brmecp may contribute to the production of primary (chlorophylls and carotenoids) isoprenoid end-products in chloroplasts.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.37-48
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• 2017

Objectives : This Study was conducted to investigate the melanin synthesis effect of Eclipta prostrata and to determine the relationship between melanin synthesis effect of Eclipta prostrata and cAMP/PKA melanin synthesis pathway. Methods : We measured melanin contents, tyrosinase activity, expression of TRPs, p-CREB in B16F10 cells cultured with Eclipta prostrata ethanol extracts(EEP). And after treatment with H89 and dibutyryl cAMP, which inhibit or promote the activation of PKA, we observed changes in melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity stimulated by EEP. Results : EEP increased melanin synthesis by promoting the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1. It also promoted expression of p-CREB. H89 suppresses melanogenic effect and expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 in B16F10 stimulated by EEP. Dibutyryl cAMP promotes melanogenic effect of EEP. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that melanin synthesis effect of EEP is related to induction of tyrosinase and TRP-1 expression through the cAMP/PKA pathway.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.599-611
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Hwanggi-tang on glucose digestion, uptake, and metabolism in murine C2C12 myotubes. Methods: Hwanggi-tang was prepared according to the Dong-ui-bo-gam (≪東醫寶鑑≫) prescription by 70% ethanol extraction. The effect on glucose digestion was examined by determining the inhibitory effect of Hwanggi-tang on α-glucosidase activity. We also compared and verified the gene and protein expression of genes related to glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes treated with Hwanggi-tang or insulin. Glucose metabolism was assessed by the expression levels of associated enzymes. Results: Hwanggi-tang caused a dose-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase activity, induced glucose uptake by activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in the insulin signaling pathway, and promoted glucose oxidation and β-oxidation. Conclusions: Hwanggi-tang exerts an anti-diabetic effect on murine myotubes by inhibiting glucose digestion and inducing glucose uptake and consumption.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.361-377
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• 2024

The dried rattan stem of the Fibraurea Recisa Pierre plant contains the active ingredient known as fibrauretine (FN). Although it greatly affects Alzheimer's disease (AD), the mechanism of their effects still remains unclear. Proteomics and transcriptomics analysis methods were used in this study to determine the mechanism of FN in the treatment of AD. AD model is used through bilateral hippocampal injection of Aβ_1-40. After successful modeling, FN was given for 30 days. The results showed that FN could improve the cognitive dysfunction of AD model rats, reduce the expression of AE and P-Tau, increase the content of acetylcholine and reduce the activity of acetylcholinesterase. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enriched differentially expressed genes and proteins are involved in signaling pathways including metabolic pathway, AD, pathway in cancer, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathway. Transcriptomics and proteomics sequencing resulted in 19 differentially expressed genes and proteins. Finally, in contrast to the model group, after FN treatment, the protein expressions and genes associated with the PI3K-AKT pathway were significantly improved in RT-qPCR and Western blot and assays. This is consistent with the findings of transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Our study found that, FN may improve some symptoms of AD model rats through PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.