• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2007

Functional elements of the conserved helix 7 in the poreforming domain of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$- endotoxins have not yet been clearly identified. Here, we initially performed alanine substitutions of four highly conserved aromatic residues, $Trp^{243}$, $Phe^{246}$, $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$, in helix 7 of the Cry4Ba mosquito-larvicidal protein. All mutant toxins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli as 130-kDa protoxins at levels comparable to the wild-type. Bioassays against Stegomyia aegypti mosquito larvae revealed that only W243A, Y249A or F264A mutant toxins displayed a dramatic decrease in toxicity. Further mutagenic analysis showed that replacements with an aromatic residue particularly at $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ still retained the high-level toxin activity. In addition, a nearly complete loss in larvicidal activity was found for Y249L/F264L or F264A/ Y249A double mutants, confirming the involvement in toxicity of both aromatic residues which face towards the same direction. Furthermore, the Y249L/F264L mutant was found to be structurally stable upon toxin solubilisation and trypsin digestion, albeit a small change in the circular dichroism spectrum. Altogether, the present study provides for the first time an insight into the highly conserved aromaticity of $Tyr^{249}$ and $Phe^{264}$ within helix 7 playing an important role in larvicidal activity of the Cry4Ba toxin.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.264-268
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• 1998

Many enzymes catalyze a primary reaction and/or secondary reaction. Dextransucrase usually synthesizes dextran from sucrose as a primary reaction. The secondary reaction of dextransucrase is the transfer of glucose from sucrose to carbohydrate accepters. We have reacted dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-742CB with sucrose and pullulan as an acceptor under different reaction conditions; various concentrations of pullulan, enzyme, sucrose and different pHs and temperatures of reaction digests. The yield of modified pullulan was 57%(<${\pm}$5%) of theoretical under the reaction condition of pH 5.2, temperature 28$^{\circ}C$, 0.37% of pullulan, and 0.l U/$m\ell$ of dextransucrase. Modified products were more resistant against the hydrolysis of pullulanase and endo-dextranase than those of native pullulan. The positions of glucose substitution in the modified products were determined by methylation followed by acid hydrolysis and analyzed by TLC. The products were modified by the addition of glucose to the position of C3, C4, C6 free hydroxyl group of glucose residues in the pullulan.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.271-278
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• 1995

The relative distribution ratio of barbiturates between hyarocarbon interior and surface region of outer monolayer of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (RSPMV) isolated from rat whole brain was determined by employing the fluorescent probe technique. The two fluorescent probes N- octadecylnaphthyl-2-amine-6-sulfonic acid (ONS) and 12-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic acid (AS) were utilized as probes for hydrocarbon interior and surface of outer monolayer of RSPMV. respectively. The Stern-Volmer equation for fluorescent quenching was modified to calculate the relative distribution ratio. The analysis of preferential quenching of these probes by barbiturates indicates that pentobarbital, hexobarbital, amobarbital and phenobarbital are predominantly distributed on the surface region. whereas thiopental sodium has an accessibility to the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the RSPMV. From these results, it is strongly suggested that the more effective penetration into the hydrocarbon interior of the outer monolayer of the membrane lipid bilayer could result in higher general anesthetic activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.169-183
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• 1997

We have investigated the two types of voltage-dependent outward potassium (K) currents, i.e. delayed rectifier K current ($I_{K(V)}$) and 'A-like' transient outward K current ($I_{to}$) with patch-clamp technique in single smooth muscle cells (SMCs) isolated from rabbit basilar artery, and investigated the characteristics of them. The time-courses of activation were well fitted by exponential function raised to second power ($n^2$) in $I_{K(V)}$ and fourth power ($n^4$) in $I_{to}$. The activation, inactivation and recovery time courses of $I_{to}$ were much faster than that of $I_{K(V)}$. The steady-state activation and inactivation of $I_{K(V)}$ was at the more hyperpolarized range than that of $I_{to}$ contrary to the reports in other vascular SMCs. Tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA; 10 mM) markedly inhibited $I_{K(V)}$ but little affected $I_{to}$. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) had similar inhibitory potency on both currents. While a low concentration of $Cd^{2+}$ (0.5 mM) shifted the current- voltage relationship of $I_{to}$ to the positive direction without change of maximum conductance, $Cd^{2+}$ did not cause any appreciable change for $I_{K(V)}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2004

The kinesin proteins (KIFs) make up a large superfamily of molecular motors that transport cargo such as vesicles, protein complexes, and organelles. KIF5 is a heterotetrameric motor that conveys vesicles and plays an important role in neuronal function. Here, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify the neuronal protein(s) that interacts with the tail region of KIF5 and found a specific interaction with ${\beta}III$ spectrin. The amino acid residues between 1394 and 1774 of ${\beta}III$ spectrin were required for the interaction with KIF5C. ${\beta}III$ spectrin also bound to the tail region of neuronal KIF5A and ubiquitous KIF5B but not to other kinesin family members in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In addition, these proteins showed specific interactions, confirmed by GST pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation. ${\beta}III$ spectrin interacted with GST-KIF5 fusion proteins, but not with GST alone. An antibody to ${\beta}III$ spectrin specifically co-immunoprecipitated KIF5s associated with ${\beta}III$ spectrin from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that KTF5 motor proteins transport vesicles or organelles that are coated with ${\beta}III$ spectrin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1092-1100
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• 2010

Bacteria, fungi, and protozoa inhabiting the rumen, the largest chamber of the ruminants' stomach, release large quantities of hydrogen during the fermentation of carbohydrates. The hydrogen is used by coexisting methanogens to produce methane in energy-yielding processes. This work shows, for the first time, a fundamental possibility of using a hydrogen-rich fermentation gas produced by selected rumen ciliates to feed a low-temperature hydrogen fuel cell. A biohydrogen fuel cell (BHFC) was constructed consisting of (i) a bioreactor, in which a hydrogen-rich gas was produced from glucose by rumen ciliates, mainly of the Isotrichidae family, deprived of intra- and extracellular bacteria, methanogens, and fungi; and (ii) a chemical fuel cell of the polymer-electrolyte type (PEFC). The fuel cell was used as a tester of the technical applicability of the fermentation gas produced by the rumen ciliates for power generation. The average estimated hydrogen yield was ca. 1.15 mol $H_2$ per mole of fermented glucose. The BHFC performance was equal to the performance of the PEFC running on pure hydrogen. No fuel cell poisoning effects were detected. A maximum power density of $1.66\;kW/m^2$ (PEFC geometric area) was obtained at room temperature. The maximum volumetric power density was $128\;W/m^3$ but the coulombic efficiency was only ca. 3.8%. The configuration of the bioreactor limited the continuous operation time of this BHFC to ca. 14 h.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.409-415
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• 2000

Fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) was used to evaluate the effects of dopamine HCl on the range of the rotatioanl mobility of bulk bilayer structure of the synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from whole bovine brain. In a dose-dependent manner, dopamine decreased the anisotropy $({\gamma}),$ limiting anisotropy $({\gamma}{infty})$ and order parameter (S) of DPH in the membranes. These indicate that dopamine increased the rotational mobility of the probe in the neuronal membranes. Cationic 1-[4-(trimethylammonio)-phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) and anionic 3-[p-(6-phenyl)-1,3,5-hexatrienyl]-phenylpropionic acid (PRO-DPH) were utilized to examine the range of transbilayer asymmetric rotational mobility of the neuronal membranes. Dopamine had a greater increasing effect on the mobility of the inner monolayer as compared to the outer monolayer of the neuronal membranes. It has been proven that dopamine exhibits a selective rather than nonselective fluidizing effect within the transbilayer domains of the SPMV.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 1991

Inactivation properties of Ca current in the unfertilized eggs of mouse were studied by using the whole cell voltage clamp technique and single microelectrode voltage clamp technique. Membrane potential was held at -80 mV and step depolarization was applied from -50 mV to 50 mV for $200{\sim}500\;ms$. Peak of inward Ca currents was $-2{\sim}-4\;nA$ at a membrane Potentials from -20 mV to 0 mV and outward currents were not observed within the membrane voltage range studied $(-50{\sim}50\;mV)$. Inward currents were fully inactivated within 200 ms after the onset of step depolarization. As the membrane became depolarized, time constant of inactivation (${\tau}$) was decreased but remained around $20{\sim}30\;ms$ beyond 10 mV. When $Ca^{2+}$ was used as a charge earlier, inactivation of inward $Ca^{2+}$ current also occured and time course of inactivation was similar to that of $Ca^{2+}$ currents as charge carrier. In the bathing solution containing high potassium $(131\;mM\;K^+)$, process of inactivation was not changed except a parallel decrease of value for the entire range of membrane potential. Steady-state inactivation of the $current(h_{\infty})$ obtained from the double pulse experiment showed the voltage-dependent change. These results suggested that inactivation of Ca currents in the unfertilized eggs of mouse was voltage-dependent.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.479-492
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• 2004

The objectives of this study were to investigate 1) the foods intake as well as nutrients intake, 2) the nutritional knowledge, and 3) the relations between the foods and nutrients intakes and nutritional knowledge in adolescent rhythmic gymnasts (RGs). The results are summarized as follows. Average daily intakes of energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B$_1$ vitamin B$_2$ and niacin were in 45-74％ of the RDAs for Koreans. Average daily energy intake was only about 50％ of energy expenditure by physical activities. Average daily intakes of each food group were generally lower, but intakes of breads and confectionaries, sugar and sweets, milks and dairy products, and instant foods were higher in the RGs compared to the nonathletic students of the same age from the National Health and Nutrition Suvey. The contribution of empty-calorie foods such as breads and confectionaries, beverage and instant foods to the major energy nutrients were high. Mean of total nutritional knowledge score of RGs was 28.4 of total score 50. In categorical score of nutritional knowledge, the RGs make a best score on food sources and they get the lowest marks for food exchange. Among the nutrients, intakes of crude fiber, animal Fe, Na, K, vitamin A, carotene, vitamin B$_1$ niacin and vitamin C and, among the food groups, intakes of mushrooms, fruits and meats had relations with one of the total or categorical nutritional knowledge scores in the RGs. In conclusion, nutritional status of adolescent RGs was poor due to their unbalanced diet composed of empty-calorie foods, and their undesirable food intake pattern was supposed to be related to the low nutritional knowledge score of them. These results indicate that the RGs should be given more nutritional knowledge to improve their nutritional status and the exercise performance.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2005

Very little research has been carried out on safflower seed for the prevention and treatment of the bone deficiency diseases, including osteoporosis, which are supported by scientific evidences. In the present study, $3{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried crude extract or $2{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried aqueous fraction were shown to significantly accelerate the rate of differentiation of osteoblast. Also, the crude extract and aqueous fraction increased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells: $3{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried crude extract and $2{\mu}l$ of 0.1% dried aqueous fraction significantly increased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells ($8{\times}10^{-4}$) to the extent that it deserves a considerable attention. Furthermore, the crude extract and aqueous fraction increased the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells, and $300{\mu}M$ $Cd^{2+}$, specific calcium channel blocker, completely blocked the increase. Therefore, the increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ of the cultured osteoblast cells by safflower seed component continued to activate calcium channel.