• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

We describe here the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding the glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the bumblebee Bombus ignitus. The Delta-class B. ignitus GST (BiGSTD) gene spans 1668 bp and consists of four introns and five exons that encode 216 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of approximately 24561 Da and a pI of 8.03. The N-terminal domain of BiGSTD has a conserved Ser residue, as well as conserved Lys, Pro, Glu, Ser and Tyr residues that are involved in the GSH-binding site of GST. The BiGSTD showed 60% protein sequence identity to the Bombyx mori GSTT1, 58% to Musca domestica GST, 57% to Drosophila melanogaster GST, and 55% to Anopheles gambiae GST1. BiGSTD was close to the insect-specific Delta class of GSTs in a phylogenetic tree. Northern blot analysis showed that BiGSTD is highly expressed in the fat body and midgut, and less so in the muscles of B. ignitus worker bees.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.127-132
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• 2014

Optimization of carnosine and anserine extraction from chicken breast was performed using response surface methodology (RSM) to obtain the maximized physiological activities for anti-glycation and anti-oxidation. The optimum extraction conditions were water extraction for 1.6 h in the case of the 20-wk laying hen muscle and water extraction for 2.12 h in the case of 90-wk laying hen muscle. Higher carnosine and anserine contents were measured in the 20-wk laying hen muscle, along with higher physiological activities, which increased in direct proportion with the dipeptide contents. The extracts prepared from the 20-wk laying hen under optimum conditions showed 57% inhibition of advanced glycated end-product formation, 64% inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and 61% of DPPH radical scavenging effects. On the other hand, 52% inhibition of AGE formation, 62% inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and 53% of DPPH radical scavenging effect were demonstrated within the 90-wk laying hen. In addition, the ratio of carnosine was a key indicator for the physiological activities of the extracts.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.283-297
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• 2020

Technology used by human beings has developed drastically over the years. Although people enjoy affluent lives as a result of this development, the depletion of resources has brought about a variety of environmental problems such as emission of fine dust, treatment of waste water, and global warming. Although studies on environmental pollution are being conducted continuously, there are a limited number of studies that analyze research trends from quantitative and qualitative perspectives. In order to examine the current research landscape, we employed Scopus to combine research interest in environmental science with bibliographic analysis. Among 74,089 papers published in 57 journals of environmental science, 3,212 papers were published by Korean authors and citations per publications and Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) of those papers were 7.3 and 1.0, respectively. By assessing the bibliometric indicators in the field of environmental science, this study provides insight into research trends and related data to aid researchers in developing research strategies.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2016

To characterize the features of particle apparent density, continuous measurements of particle number size distributions from optical particle sizer (OPS) and 24 hr integrated particle mass concentrations from filter based sampler were conducted at the National institute of environmental research NamBu Supersite (NNBS, $35.22^{\circ}N$, $126.84^{\circ}E$) in Gwangju for 16 days from Nov. 4 in 2014. Source apportionment model was carried out by applying Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) to particle size distribution data. Three different distributions related to primary and secondary sources were investigated by the diurnal patterns of identified factors. Density estimated by gaussian model has been calculated as $1.69g/cm^3$ with 95% confidence bounds ($1.57{\sim}1.81g/cm^3$).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1066-1070
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• 2001

The PhyA gene, encoding myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase in Aspergillus niger var. awamori (wild-type), was cloned and sequenced. The cDNA was overexpressed by a multicopy gene expression system in Pichia pastoris KM71. Recombinant, wild-type and commercial phytase from Aspergilus ficuum NRRL 3135 (Natuphos) were purified. The PhyA gene of Aspergillus niger var awamori showed perfect homology to the phytase of Aspergillus ficcum and $97\%$ homology to A. niger var awamori (L02421). Wild-type phytase was highly glycosylated and more thermostable than the other two, while deglycosylated farms of three phytases showed identical molecular weight, 507 kDa. After heating at $80^{\circ}C$, wild-type, commercial, and recombinant phytases retained $57\%, 32%,\;and\;8\%$ of their original activities, respectively. In conclusion, glycosylation plays a key role in the thermostability of phytase and its enzymatic characterization.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.159-163
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• 2005

We screened the anti-oxidative effect on V79-4 hamster lung fibroblast cells induced by hydrogen peroxide with fifteen herbal extracts. Uncariae rhynchophylla JACKS and Rheum coreanum NAKAI were found to show DPPH radical scavenge activity (25 and 29% compared to control). Rheum coreanum NAKAI and Siegesbeckia orientalis L. were shown to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species (57 and 55% compared to control) which is measured by dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate method (DCHF-DA). Rheum coreanum NAKAI which showed the most strong intracellular reactive oxygen species scavenging activity had low DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to Uncariae rhynchophylla JACKS.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.380-384
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• 2014

Inhibition effects of peptide hydrolysates from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge. on the expression of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human dermal fibroblasts were evaluated in vitro. Crude peptides were obtained by the hydrolysis of proteins extracted from A. membranaceus. Peptides were purified partially by the basis on the molecular weight using 40% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis before treatment with human dermal fibroblasts. Basis on the doseeffect experiments, expressions of MMPs including MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-13 in human dermal fibroblasts were evaluated. Expressions of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-8 and MMP-13 were reduced in 43%, 5%, 22% and 57% respectively. The mass spectrometric analysis of partially purified peptides from A. membranaceus, which strongly inhibit expressions of MMPs, indicated that the peptides were composed of molecules below 1500 Da.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.2613-2619
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• 2020

This work investigated the gamma-ray shielding performance, and the physical and mechanical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites embedded with 0-44.0 wt% bismuth trioxide (Bi₂O₃) fabricated by the fast ultraviolet (UV) curing method. The results showed that the addition of Bi₂O₃ had significantly improved the gamma shielding ability of PMMA composites. Mass attenuation coefficient and half-value layer were examined using five gamma sources (Cs-137, Ba-133, Cd-109, Co-57, and Co-60). The high loading of Bi₂O₃ in the PMMA samples improved the micro-hardness to nearly seven times that of the pure PMMA. With these enhancements, it was demonstrated that PMMA/Bi₂O₃ composites are promising gamma shielding materials. Furthermore, the fast UV curing exerts its great potential in significantly shortening the production cycle of shielding material to enable rapid manufacturing.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-38
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of herb formula HDDM, a modification of Huangdan decoction that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of glomerulonephritis and chronic renal failure, on the blood glucose levels in multiple low doses (MLD; 50 mg/kg for five consecutive days) of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated female B6C3F1 mice. Initial studies were performed to compare diabetes induction in five strains (e.g., B6C3F1, NOD, CD-1, C3H/HeN and C57BL/6) of mice by MLD-STZ, and immune changes following the treatment. The results suggested that the order of susceptibility to diabetes induction was NOD $\approx$ CD-1 > B6C3F1 $\approx$ C3H > C57BL/6. Furthermore, STZ modulation of T cell development, differentiation and activation might play a role in diabetes induction by MLD-STZ treatment. MLD-STZ-induced diabetes in female B6C3F1 mice was moderate, which allowed the evaluation of drug-induced protection or exacerbation of diabetes to be performed. As such, modulation of blood glucose by HDDM, which consisted of Da Huang (Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei), Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Seu Hedysari), Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Yin Yang Huo (Herba Epimedii), Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis or Coix lacryma-jobi), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) and Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni), was evaluated in MLD-STZ-treated female B6C3F1 mice. The results suggested that HDDM could lower the blood glucose levels, but it had no immunomodulatory activities. Additionally, HDDM-treated mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance. In conclusion, these studies have suggested that MLD-STZ-induced diabetes in female B6C3F1 mice is a useful model to evaluate drug modulation of diabetes, and that the herb formula HDDM possesses anti-diabetic effects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.343-357
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• 1992

Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF), a polypeptide hormone secreted primarily by activated macrophages, was originally identified on the basis of its ability to cause hemorrhagic necrosis and tumor regression in vivo. Subsequently, TNF has been shown to be an important component of the host responses to infection and cancer and may mediate the wasting syndrome known as cachexia. These systemic actions of TNF are reflected in its diverse effects on target cells in vitro. TNF initiates its diverse cellular actions by binding to specific cell surface receptors. Although TNF receptors have been identified on most of animal cells, regulation of these receptors and the mechanisms which transduce TNF receptor binding into cellular responses are not well understood. Therefore, in the present study, the mechanisms how TNF receptors are being regulated and how TNF receptor binding is being transduced into cellular responses were investigated in rat liver plasma membranes (PM) and ME-180 human cervical carcinoma cell lines. $^{125}I$-TNF bound to high ($K_d=1.51{\pm}0.35nM$)affinity receptors in rat liver PM. Solubilization of PM with 1% Triton X-100 increased both high affinity (from $0.33{\pm}0.04\;to\;1.67{\pm}0.05$ pmoles/mg protein) and low affinity (from $1.92{\pm}0.16\;to\;7.57{\pm}0.50$ pmoles/mg protein) TNF binding without affecting the affinities for TNF, suggesting the presence of a large latent pool of TNF receptors. Affinity labeling of receptors whether from PM or solubilized PM resulted in cross-linking of $^{125}I$-TNF into $M_r$ 130 kDa, 90 kDa and 66kDa complexes. Thus, the properties of the latent TNF receptors were similar to those initially accessible to TNF. To determine if exposure of latent receptors is regulated by TNF, $^{125}I$-TNF binding to control and TNF-pretreated membranes were assayed. Specific binding was increased by pretreatment with TNF (P<0.05), demonstrating that hepatic PM contains latent TNF receptors whose exposure is promoted by TNF. Homologous up-regulation of TNF receptors may, in part, be responsible for sustained hepatic responsiveness during chronic exposure to TNF. As a next step, the post-receptor events induced by TNF were examined. Although the signal transduction pathways for TNF have not been delineated clearly, the actions of many other hormones are mediated by the reversible phosphorylation of specific enzymes or target proteins. The present study demonstrated that TNF induces phosphorylation of 28 kDa protein (p28). Two dimensional soidum dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE) resolved the 28kDa phosphoprotein into two isoforms having pIs of 6.2 and 6.1. The pIs and relative molecular weight of p28 were consistent with those of a previously characterized mRNA cap binding protein. mRNA cap binding proteins are a class of translation initiation factors that recognize the 7-methylguanosine cap structure found on the 5' end of eukaryotic mRNAs. In vitro, these proteins are defined by their specific elution from affinity columns composed of 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate($m^7$GTP)-Sepharose. Affinity purification of mRNA cap binding proteins from control and TNF treated ME-180 cells proved that TNF rapidly stimulates phosphorylation of an mRNA cap binding protein. Phosphorylation occurred in several cell types that are important in vitro models of TNF action. The mRNA cap binding protein phosphorylated in response to TNF treatment was purifice, sequenced, and identified as the proto-oncogene product eukaryotic initiation factor-4E(eIF-4E). These data show that phosphorylation of a key component of the cellular translational machinery is a common early event in the diverse cellular actions of TNF.