• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2012

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative bacterium, is an ubiquitous and opportunistic human pathogen, which expresses many virulence factors through quorum sensing (QS) regulation. QscR, one of the QS signal receptors of P. aeruginosa, has unique features that make it possible to distinguish QscR from other QS receptors. In the present study, we focused on amino acid residues responsible for such a broad signal specificity of QscR. Thus we constructed mutant QscRs: $QscR_{T72I}$, $QscR_{R132M}$, and $QscR_{T140I}$ by substituting $72^{nd}$ threonine, $132^{nd}$ arginine, and $140^{th}$ threonine residues with isoleucine, methionine, and isoleucine, respectively by site-directed mutagenesis. When we examined the activity of these mutant QscRs, $QscR_{R132M}$ failed to respond to N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL), but $QscR_{T72I}$ and $QscR_{T140I}$ remained the ability to respond to 3OC12-HSL despite much reduction of the sensitivity. When we treated a variety of acyl-HSLs with different structure, $QscR_{T72I}$ and $QscR_{T140I}$ showed better responsiveness to N-decanoyl HSL (C10-HSL) or N-dodecanoyl HSL (C12-HSL) that has no oxo-moiety at $3^{rd}$ carbon of acyl group than to 3OC12-HSL, and $QscR_{R132M}$ showed no responsiveness to any acyl-HSLs tested here. In addition, $QscR_{T72I}$ and $QscR_{T140I}$ were inhibited by 5f, a QscR inhibitor as similarly as wild type QscR was. These results suggest that while the $130^{th}$ arginine is crucial in both activity and acyl-HSL binding of QscR, the $72^{nd}$ and $140^{th}$ threonines are important in the activity, but they are little responsible for the discrimination of acyl-HSLs or competitive inhibitor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition Conference
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• 2000.12a
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• pp.29-34
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• 2000

산업 발달에 따라 날로 많은 식품들이 새롭게 개발되어지고 있다. 또한 이와 병행해서 식품으로 인한 알레르기 발생 빈도도 날로 증가하고 있으며 그 증상 또한 점차 심화되고 있는 것이 세계적인 추세이다. 우리나라도 예외는 아니어서 일반 알레르기 환자뿐 아니라 식품으로 인한 알레르기 환자들이 점차 증가됨이 보고되어지고 있다. 농산물 시장의 수입개방이후 우리나라에는 많은 해외 농산물이 수입되어지고 있으며 그 중 작년 한해의 경우 총 수입 농산물의 10%를 넘는 유전자 재조합 농산물이 우리나라에 수입되어진 것으로 통계 보고되어졌다. 이러한 관점에서 알레르기 환자의 증가와 새로운 식품 (특히 유전자 재조합 식품)의 증가에는 서로 관련성이 있을 것으로 추측되어지고 있어 (새로운) 식품에 대한 알레르기성의 예측과 관리가 필요한 실정이다. 이에 몇몇 발표된 유전자 재조합 식품에 관련된 알레르기성 검사 논문들과 실험실에서 이루어진 연구 결과들을 중심으로 유전자 재조합 식품의 알레르기 위험성에 대해 알아보고자 한다. 일반적으로 식품의 단백질이 알레르겐(allergen)으로 작용하기 위해서는 먼저 소화효소에 의해 분해되어지고 장에서 흡수되어져서 immunopotent cell에 의해 process 되어 immune system에 present 되어져야 한다. 따라서 단백질로 인한 알레르기 반응은 그 단백질의 자연적 형태 뿐만이 아니라 소화 효소에 분해된 단편들의 구조 또는 다른 알레르겐 단백질과의 유사 구조로 인한 교차 반응에 의해 발생함을 기억해야 한다. 식품 단백질 중 어떤 단백질이 알레르겐으로 작용하는가에 대한 특이성 조사에 많은 관심이 집중되어지고 있지만 아직까지는 대략 다섯 개 정도의 일반적인 특성으로서 요약되어질 수 있다. 그러나 이러한 대략의 특성에 적용되지 않는 식품 알레르겐도 많음을 잊어서는 안 될 것이다. 알레르겐으로 작용하는 식품 단백질의 일반적 특성 1. 좋은 수용성 2. 식품내에 많은 부분을 차지하는 주 단백질이 주 알레르겐으로 작용 3. 단백질내에 하나 이상의 IgE-binding site 존재 4. 위장액에 대한 저항성 5. 10～70 kDa 크기 유전자 재조합 기술이란 말 그대로 유전자를 인위적으로 새롭게 조합하는 기술로 이전의 기술로는 불가능했던 유전적 변형을 농작물과 동물에 가능하게 했으며 이로 인해 유전적으로 변형된 식용 동식물의 개발이 가능하게 되었다. 새로운 유전인자를 개체에 삽입함으로 새로운 단백질이 발현 될수 있고 그로 인해 1) 해충과 질병에 대한 저항성 증가, 2) 화학 제초제에 대한 새로운 저항성 부여, 3) 식품의 저장성 향상, 4) 식품의 영향적 보충/향상 등의 이점을 얻을 수 있다 (표 1). 세계적으로 유전자 재조합 된 새로운 농산물의 재배는 날로 증가추세에 있으며 그 중에서 가장 많은 부분을 차지하는 농산물로 soybean을 들 수 있으며 (표 2) soybean을 중심으로 그 알레르기성의 변화가 연구 조사된 몇 가지 예를 살펴보고자 한다. (표 3)에 요약된 soybean중 첫 번째 경우는 재초제에 대한 저항성을 높여주기 위해 Agrobacterium에 존재하는 EPSPS라는 단백질을 콩에서 발현하도록 찬 유전자 재조합 된 콩의 경우이다. 이 콩의 경우에는 첫째. 이전된 새로운 단백질 EPSPS가 다른 여러 식물에 이미 존재하고 있는 단백질로서 우리가 이미 이러한 식품을 섭취할 때 이 단백질도 같이 섭취해오고 있었다는 점, 둘째. 이 단백질이 소화액 분해 실험에서 짧은 시간내에 분해가 되었다는 점, 셋째. 재조합 된 콩과 자연 콩이 성분 분석에서 차이를 나타내지 않았다는 점, 네 번째. 쥐를 통한 다양섭취 실험에서 아무런 이상 반응이 없었다는 점등의 결과를 기준으로 알레르기에 대한 개별 검사 없이 안전한 콩으로 결론짓고 있다. 영양성을 높이기 위해 Brazil nut에서 methionine 함량이 풍부한 2s albumine을 콩에서 발현하도록 한 두 번째 유전자 재조합 콩의 경우 이전된 단백질 때문에 Brazil nut에 알레르기 반응을 일으키는 알레르기 환자들을 조사한 결과 역시 재조합 된 콩에도 알레르기 반응을 일으켰다는 보고이다. Brazil nut에서 콩으로 이전된 단백질이 Brazil nut에서의 알레르기성을 그대로 유지한 점을 볼 때 새로운 단백질이 어디에서 유래하는가가 중요함을 잘 보여준 연구이다 세 번째 콩의 경우 역시 영양성을 높여주기 위해 corn에서 10 kDa과 HSZ 단백질을 콩에서 발현하도록 유전자 재조합했는데 이 콩의 경우는 알레르기 환자들이 유전자 재조합 된 콩과 자연 콩에 반응의 차이를 나타내지 않았다는 결과 보고이다. 위의 세 실험 결과들을 종합해 볼 때 무엇보다도 새롭게 발현된 단백질이 원래 어떤 성질을 갖고 있으며 어디에서 유래했는지가 알레르기성 조사에 중요한 역할을 한다 할 수 있겠다. 또한 유전자 재조합된 식품들은 알레르기 환자들을 위해 표기되어져야 할 것인데 이를 위한 알레르기성 검사 실험은 공공단체를 통해 이루어져야 할 것이며 환자들마다 알레르겐으로 작용하는 단백질의 인식부위(epitope)가 다를 수 있기 때문에 적어도 10명 이상의 알레르기 환자들이 조사되어져서 검사가 이루어져야 할 것이다. 환자들의 혈청을 통한 in vitro 실험에서는 ELISA, RAST, immunoblotting과 같은 검사 방법들이 적용될 수 있고, 그 결과가 음성인 경우에 그 다음 단계로 in vivo 실험에서는 직접 환자의 피부반응검사 (skin prick test)나 DBPCFC (double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge) 검사 방법을 통해 확인되어져서 이 모든 경우가 음성인 경우와 하나라도 양성인 경우를 구별하여 식품에 표기함으로 알레르기 환자들의 유전자 재조합 식품에 대한 안전성이 보장되어져야 할 것이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.488-498
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• 2003

Background : Activation of the transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ has been shown to protect cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha, chemotherapy, and radiation-induced apoptosis. NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent cIAP expression is a major antiapoptotic mechanism for that. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and cIAP expression in A549 lung cancer cells which is relatively resistant to radiation-induced cell death were investigated for the mechanism of radioresistance. Materials and methods : We used A549 lung cancer cells and Clinac 1800C linear accelerator for radiation. Cell viability test was done by MTT assay. NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was tested by luciferase reporter gene assay, Western blot for $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation, and electromobility shift assay. For blocking ${\kappa}B$, MG132 and transfection of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-superrepressor plasmid construct were used. cIAP expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and cIAP2 promoter activity was performed using luciferase assay system. Results : MTT assay showed that cytotoxicity even 48 hr after radiation in A549 cells were less than 20%. Luciferas assay demonstrated weak NF-${\kappa}B$ activation of $1.6{\pm}0.2$ fold compared to PMA-induced $3.4{\pm}0.9$ fold. Radiation-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation was observed in Western blot and NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA binding was confirmed by EMSA. However, blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ using MG132 and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$-superrepressor transfection did not show any sensitizing effect for radiation-induced cell death. The result of RT-PCR for cIAP1 & 2 expression was negative induction while TNF-${\alpha}$ showed strong expression for cIAP1 & 2. The cIAP2 promoter activity also did not show any change compared to positive control with TNF-${\alpha}$. Conclusion : We conclude that activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ does not determine the intrinsic radiosensitivity of cancer cells, at least for the cell lines tested in this study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.609-615
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• 2013

Glyceollin I has gained attention as a useful therapy for various dermatological diseases. However, the binding property of glyceollin I to the mammalian adenylyl cyclase (hereafter mAC), a critical target enzyme for the down-regulation of skin melanogenesis, has not been fully explored. To clarify the action mechanism between glyceollin I and mAC, we first investigated the molecular docking property of glyceollin I to mAC and compared with that of SQ22,536, a well-known mAC inhibitor, to mAC. Glyceollin I showed superiority by forming three hydrogen bonds with Asp 1018, Trp 1020, and Asn 1025, which exist in the catalytic site of mAC. However, SQ22,536 formed only two hydrogen bonds with Asp 1018 and Asn 1025. Secondly, we confirmed that glyceollin I effectively inhibits the formation of forskolin-induced cAMP and the phosphorylation of PKA from a cell-based assay. Long term treatment with glyceollin I had little effect on the cell viability. The findings of the present study also suggest that glyceollin I may be extended to be used as an effective inhibitor of hyperpigmentation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.991-998
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• 2016

NF-κB acts as a critical transcription factor for the survival of cells via the induction of antiapoptotic genes. Constitutive activation of NF-κB in many types of solid tumors suggests that the inhibition of NF-κB might prevent or inhibit tumorigenesis. Although a number of studies demonstrated that Hsp70 regulated NF-κB activity, the exact mechanism is not clear. This study investigated the functional relationship of Hsp70 and IKKγ in the regulation of NF-κB activation using expression plasmids of components of the IKK complex. Wild-type and deletion mutants of IKKγ were expressed together with Hsp70, and the combined regulatory effect of Hsp70 and IKKγ on NF-κB activation was assayed. Hsp70 suppressed the activation of NF-κB in a reporter plasmid assay. Hsp70 also suppressed the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα. The suppressive effect of Hsp70 on NF-κB activation was synergistically elevated by IKKγ. The N-terminal IKKβ binding site, C-terminal leucine zipper, and zinc finger domains of IKKγ were not necessary for the suppressive effect. Furthermore, Hsp70 and IKKγ synergistically suppressed the induction of COX-2 expression by lipopolysaccharides in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that overexpression of Hsp70 and IKKγ may be a strategic method for inhibition of NF-κB and related diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1133-1140
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• 2006

Human HtrA1 (High temperature requirement protein A1) is a homologue of the E. coli periplasmic serine protease HtrA. A recent study has demonstrated that HtrA1 is a serine protease involved in processing of insulin like growth factor binding protein (ICFBP), indicating that it serves as an important regulator of IGF activity. Additionally, several lines of evidence suggest a striking correlation between proteolytic activity of HtrA1 serine protease and the pathogenesis of several diseases; however, physiological roles of HtrA1 remain to be elucidated. We used the pGEX bacterial expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying HtrA1, and the recombinant HtrA1 protein was utilized to investigate the optimal conditions in executing its proteolytic activity. The proteolytically active HtrA1 was purified to approximately 85% purity, although the yield of the recombinant HtrA1 protein was slightly low $460{\mu}g$ for 1 liter E. coli culture). Using in vitro endoproteolytic cleavage assay, we identified that the HtrA1 serine protease activity was dependent on the enzyme concentration and the incubation time and that the best reaction temperature was $42^{\circ}C$ instead of $37^{\circ}C$. We arbitrary defined one unit of proteolytic activity of the HtrA1 serine protease as 200nM of HtrA1 that cleaves half of $5{\mu}M\;of\;{\beta}-casein$ during 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which HtrA1 serine protease activity contributes in regulating its physiological function and to identify natural substrates of HtrA1.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1301-1309
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• 2011

The major function of adipocytes is to store fat in the form of triglycerides. One of the signaling pathways known to affect adipogenesis, i.e. fat formation, is the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway which inhibits the expression and activity of key regulators of adipogenesis. The purpose of this research is to find genes among the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway which regulate adipogenesis by using small interfering (si) RNA and to find the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the gene with serum triglyceride levels in the human population. To elucidate the effects of ${\beta}$-catenin siRNA on adipogenesis key factors, PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$, we performed real-time PCR and western blotting experiments for the analyses of mRNA and protein levels. It was found that the siRNA-mediated knockdown of ${\beta}$-catenin upregulates adipogenesis key factors. However, upstream regulators of the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway, such as DVL2 and LRP6, had no significant effects compared to ${\beta}$-catenin. These results indicate that ${\beta}$-catenin is a candidate gene for human fat accumulation. In general, serum triglyceride level is a good indicator of fat accumulation in humans. According to statistical analyses of the association between serum triglyceride level and SNPs of ${\beta}$-catenin, -10,288 C>T SNP (rs7630377) in the promoter region was significantly associated with serum triglyceride levels (p<0.05) in 290 Korean subjects. On the other hand, serum cholesterol levels were not significantly associated with SNPs of the ${\beta}$-catenin gene. The results of this study showed that ${\beta}$-catenin is associated with fat accumulation both in vitro and in the human population.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.994-1004
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• 2005

The dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) promoter contains cis-acting element for the transcription factors Spl and E2F. Transcription of dhfr gene shows maximal activity during the Gl/S phase of cell cycle. The member of the Spl transcriptional factor family can act as both negative and positive regulators of gene expression. There was a report that Spl-Rb and E2F4-pl30 complexes cooperate to establish stable repression of dhfr gene expression in CHOC400 cells. Here, we examined the role of HDAC in dhfr, cyclin E, and cyclin A gene regulation using the histone deacetylation inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA) in U2OS and C33A cells, a Rb-positive human osteosarcoma cell line, and a Rb-negative cervical carcinoma cell line, respectively. When the dhfr promoter constructs were applied in U2OS cells, TSA markedly stimulated over 14-fold of dhfr promoter activity through dhfr-Spl sites by the deletion of an E2F element. In contrast, the deletion of dhfr-Spl binding sites completely abolished promoter stimulation by TSA. The dhfr promoter activity including dhfr-Spl sites increased only 2-fold in C33A cells. Promoter activity containing only dhfr-E2F site did not have much effect by the treatment of TSA in both U2OS and C33A cells. On the other hand, treatment with TSA induced significantly mRNA expression of dhfr and cyclin E, whereas levels of cyclin A decreased in U2OS cells, but had no effect in C33A cells. These results indicate that TSA have contradictory effect, activation of dhfr and cyclin E genes on Gl phase, and down-regulation of cyclin A on G2 phase through transcriptional regulation in U2OS cells.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to attempt new analysis on Soswaewon Garden(瀟灑園) where is Korea's traditional garden, focusing on which the tendency of its change is a relational-formation tool similar to the Eastern Mode of Thought, with paying attention to conversion as the new view of world. Accordingly, the aim is to reanalyze by connecting with Soswaewon Garden based on the theory of complexity, which tries to look at the whole through relationship rather than characteristics in individual components. Given summarizing findings, those are as follows. First, it was found that complexity shown in space and open system of physical dimension was characterized by 'event(situation)', 'non-determination' and 'homogeneous relationships between part and whole', and a variety of techniques introduced the nature positively. In particular, it was found that there were many cases of topographic usage, since the Soswaewon Garden selected its construction site proactively and was a product from architectural works in compliance with a given flow of natural topography. This has a nature of open text in the situation of emergent behaviors. Second, it was found that complexity shown in experiences and open system on the invisible dimension was characterized primarily by 'event(situation)' and 'relationships of interactive response between actors and environment', and various techniques appeared as a space for interactive combination of nature and daily experiences. This is typical of bilateral harmony based on interactions between subject and object, and between mankind and nature, and becomes also a space to accommodate temporary emergent behaviors in our life. Third, the compositional elements are reconstituted as space of organic property with dismantling steady relations. Especially, 'Soswaewon Garden's 48 poems(瀟灑園四十八詠)' will be the origin of the emotionally spatial experience to the current performers. Ultimately, the performer in the space of Soswaewon Garden simultaneously becomes a creator of space, and will generate new space with intertextuality with environment. Therefore, Soswaewon Garden becomes a place of binding me and the other together while maintaining mutual relationship based on organic thinking between a human being and nature and between the whole and a part.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.481-488
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• 2005

Purpose: Functional imaging of dopamine transporter (DAT) defines integrity of the dopaminergic system, and DAT is the target site of drugs of abuse such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Functional imaging the DAT may be a sensitive and selective indicator of neurotoxic change by the drug. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical implications of qualitative/quantitative analyses of dopamine transporter imaging in methamphetamine abusers. Materials and Methods: Six detoxified methamphetamine abusers (abuser group) and 4 volunteers (control group) were enrolled in this study. Brain MRI was performed in all of abuser group. Abuser group underwent psychiatric and depression assessment using brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD), respectively. All of the subjects underwent I-123 IPT SPECT (IPT SPECT). IPT SPECT image was analysed with visual qualitative method and quantitative method using basal ganglia dopamine transporter (DAT) specific/non-specific binding ratio (SBR). Comparison of DAT SBR between abuser and control groups was performed. We also performed correlation tests between psychiatric and depression assessment results and DAT SBR in abuser group. Results: All of abuser group showed normal MRI finding, but had residual psychiatric and depressive symptoms, and psychiatric and depressive symptom scores were exactly correlated (r=1.0, p=0.005) each other. Five of them showed abnormal finding on qualitative visual I-123 IPT SPECT Abuser group had lower basal ganglia DAT SBR than that of control ($2.38{\pm}0.20\;vs\;3.04{\pm}0.27$, p=0.000). Psychiatric and depressive symptoms were negatively well correlated with basal ganglia DAT SBR (r=-0.908, p=0.012, r=-0.924, p=0.009). Conclusion: These results suggest that dopamine transporter imaging using I-123 IPT SPECT may be used to evaluate dopaminergic system of the basal ganglia and the clinical status in methamphetamine abusers.