• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1420-1430
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• 2018

Objective: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major ingredient of catechin polyphenols and is considered one of the most promising bioactive compounds in green tea because of its strong antioxidant properties. However, the protective role of EGCG in bovine oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of EGCG on IVM of bovine oocytes. Methods: Bovine oocytes were treated with different concentrations of EGCG (0, 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}M$), and the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, cumulus cell expansion, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity, the early apoptosis and the developmental competence of in vitro fertilized embryos were measured. The mRNA abundances of antioxidant genes (nuclear factor erythriod-2 related factor 2 [NRF2], superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase 4 [GPX4]) in matured bovine oocytes were also quantified. Results: Nuclear maturation which is characterized by first polar body extrusion, and cytoplasmic maturation characterized by peripheral and cortical distribution of cortical granules and homogeneous mitochondrial distribution were significantly improved in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated group compared with the control group. Adding $50{\mu}M$ EGCG to the maturation medium significantly increased the cumulus cell expansion index and upregulated the mRNA levels of cumulus cell expansion-related genes (hyaluronan synthase 2, tumor necrosis factor alpha induced protein 6, pentraxin 3, and prostaglandin 2). Both the intracellular ROS level and the early apoptotic rate of matured oocytes were significantly decreased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG group, and the total antioxidant ability was markedly enhanced. Additionally, both the cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes after in vitro fertilization than in the control oocytes. The mRNA abundance of NRF2, SOD1, CAT, and GPX4 were significantly increased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes. Conclusion: In conclusion, $50{\mu}M$ EGCG can improve the bovine oocyte maturation, and the protective role of EGCG may be correlated with its antioxidative property.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 1995

Escherichia Coli ornithine transcarbamylase is the enzyme which catalyzes the L-citrulline biosynthesis from L-ornithine and carbamyl phosphate. To facilitate the purification of enzyme which will be used for many biochemical studies such as structure and function relationships and catalytic mechanisms, the cloning and expression of E. coli argI gene for ornithine transcarbamylase was conducted. argI was amplified from genomic DNA of E. coli strain of $DH5{\alpha}$, by polymerization chain reaction (PCR) method. The amplified argI gene was ligated to the prokaryotic expression vector pKK223-3 and used for transformation of E. coli TB2 which was deficient of ornithine transcarbamylase. The over-produced enzyme by the tnansformant was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, heat denaturation and affinity chromatography. The result of SDS denaturation gel electrophoresis for the purified enzyme showed a single band of about 38 kDa of ornithine transcarbamylase. Kinetic data for the expressed enzyme gave almost the s?????? values as those of the wild type enzyme. The $k_{cat}$, of the enzyme was $1.0{\times}10^5min^{-1}$, and $K_ms$ for ornithine and carbamyl phosphate were 0.35 mM and 0.06 mM, respectively.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.7-18
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• 2015

Objectives: Lawsone (1,4 naphthoquinone) is a non redox cycling compound that can be catalyzed by DT diaphorase (DTD) into 1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene (THN), which can generate reactive oxygen species by auto oxidation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of the phytomarker 1,4 naphthoquinone and its metabolite THN by using the molecular docking program AutoDock 4. Methods: The 3D structure of ligands such as hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) were drawn using hyperchem drawing tools and minimizing the energy of all pdb files with the help of hyperchem by $MM^+$ followed by a semi-empirical (PM3) method. The docking process was studied with ligand molecules to identify suitable dockings at protein binding sites through annealing and genetic simulation algorithms. The program auto dock tools (ADT) was released as an extension suite to the python molecular viewer used to prepare proteins and ligands. Grids centered on active sites were obtained with spacings of $54{\times}55{\times}56$, and a grid spacing of 0.503 was calculated. Comparisons of Global and Local Search Methods in Drug Docking were adopted to determine parameters; a maximum number of 250,000 energy evaluations, a maximum number of generations of 27,000, and mutation and crossover rates of 0.02 and 0.8 were used. The number of docking runs was set to 10. Results: Lawsone and THN can be considered to efficiently bind with NOS, CAT, GSH, GR, G6PDH and NADPH, which has been confirmed through hydrogen bond affinity with the respective amino acids. Conclusion: Naphthoquinone derivatives of lawsone, which can be metabolized into THN by a catalyst DTD, were examined. Lawsone and THN were found to be identically potent molecules for their affinities for selected proteins.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2006

We investigated the mechanism of contraction induced by S1P in esophageal smooth muscle cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that $S1P_1$, $S1P_2$, $S1P_3$, and $S1P_5$ receptors existed in the cat esophagus. Only penetration of EDG-5 ($S1P_2$) antibody into permeabilized cells inhibited S1P-induced contraction. Pertussis toxin (PTX) also inhibited contraction, suggesting that it was mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to a PTXsensitive $G_i$ protein. Specific antibodies to $G_{i2}$, $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ inhibited contraction, implying that the S1P-induced contraction depends on PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ dimers as well as the PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$. Contraction was not affected by the phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor DEDA, or the PLD inhibitor ${\rho}$-chloromercuribenzoate, but it was abolished by the PLC inhibitor U73122. Incubation of permeabilized cells with $PLC{\beta}3$ antibody also inhibited contraction. Contraction involved the activation of a PKC pathway since it was affected by GF109203X and chelerythrine. Since $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited contraction, $PKC{\varepsilon}$ may be required. Preincubation of the muscle cells with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked S1P-induced contraction, but the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB202190 did not. In addition, co-treatment of cells with GF 109203X and PD98059 did not have a synergistic effect, suggesting that these two kinases are involved in the same signaling pathway. Our data suggest that S1P-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells is mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$ proteins, and PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ proteins, and that the resulting activation of the $PLC{\beta}3$ and $PKC{\varepsilon}$ pathway leads to activation of a p44/p42 MAPK pathway.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.407-413
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of a beverage that contained Bulnesia sarmienti(BSP, 2.5%) on rats to which alcohol was administered. The treatment of the BSP group reduced the serum alcohol concentration to 52%, compared to 47% in the positive control(PC) group. Similar pattell1s were observed in the enhancement of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH), alkaline phosphate(ALP), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), asparate aminotransferase(AST), total cholesterol(CHOL), ${\gamma}$-glutamyltrasferase(GGT), glucose(GLU), total bilirubin, and total protein(TP) in the serum. Also, in the BSP group, the lipoxidase(LPO), glutathion-S-transferase(GST), XO, catalase(CAT), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were significantly reduced, compared to the CO and PC groups in the liver. The glutathione(GSH) activity increased in the BSP group, though. These results indicate that Bulnesia sarmienti extract can enhance alcohol metabolization activity.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1892-1903
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• 2022

Objective: A series of experiment were conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing a part of soybean meal (SBM) at 6% of broiler diets with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) obtained by single or two-stage fermentation by measuring growth performance, antioxidant activity in the jejunum and distal intestinal microflora. Methods: Soybean meal samples were prepared by single-stage fermentation using Bacillus velezensis (Bv) (FSBM_B), or Lactobacillus spp. (as commercial control) (FSBM_L). Additional SBM sample was prepared by two-stage fermentation using Bv and subsequently using Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 367 (Lb) (FSBM_B+L). Enzyme activity, chemical composition, trichloroethanoic acid-nitrogen solubility index (TCA-NSI) and antioxidant activity were measured. Then, in an in vivo study, 320 Ross308 broilers were divided into four groups with ad libitum supply of feed and water. Four groups were fed either a corn-soybean meal diet (SBM), or one of fermented SBM diets (FSBM_B+L, FSBM_B, and FSBM_L). Growth, serum characteristics, microflora, and the mRNA expression of selected genes were measured. Results: Compared to SBM, FSBM_B+L contained lower galacto-oligosaccharide, allergic protein, and trypsin inhibitor, and higher TCA-NSI by about three times (p<0.05). Reducing power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging ability correlated positively with the TCA-NSI content in FSBM. Growth performances were not significantly different among four groups. In jejunum of 35-day-old broilers, partial replacement of SBM by FSBM_B+L increased the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT), and the FSBM_B group had the highest catalase activity (p<0.05). Partial replacement of SBM by FSBM increased relative mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) (p<0.05); however, FSBM_B+L increased CAT mRNA level to 5 times of the control (p<0.05). Conclusion: Using Bv- and Lb-processed SBM through two-stage fermentation to partially replace 6% of diets will improve the gut's antioxidant activity under commercial breeding in broilers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.1157-1164
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• 2015

The present investigation evaluated the antioxidant activities of water extracts from dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) aerial parts, roots, and mixed extracts. Mixed extract of T. officinale was a mixture of aerial parts and roots at 9:1 and 8:2 weight ratios. Extracts from aerial parts (DAE), roots (DRE), and mixture of aerial parts and roots (DME) were measured for cell viability and catalase activity in HepG2 cells, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. Cell viabilities of HepG2 cells treated with DAE, DRE, DME 8:2, and DME 9:1 against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative damage were 63.4%, 54.6%, 76.7% and 83.4% at a concentration of $400{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Catalase activity was highest in DME 9:1 (12.2 mU/min/mg protein) compared with DAE (9.0 mU/min/mg protein) and DRE (9.7 mU/min/mg protein). DPPH radical scavenging activity of DME showed a significantly lower $EC_{50}$ value than DAE ($EC_{50}$ value of DME $9:1=163.3{\mu}g/mL$, DME $8:2=172.4{\mu}g/mL$, and $DAE=173.7{\mu}g/mL$). Lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity of DME showed a significantly lower $EC_{50}$ value than DAE [$EC_{50}$ values of DME $(9:1)=454.4{\mu}g/mL$, DME $(8:2)=426.6{\mu}g/mL$, and $DAE=654.7{\mu}g/mL$]. The results indicate that a small amount of T. officinale roots increased antioxidant activity of aerial parts. Especially, a 9:1 mixture was more valuable than 8:2 mixture for industry.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 1996

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), acetylcholine (ACh) and KCl caused a dose dependent contraction in muscle cells enzymatically digested from cat gallbladder. Maximal contraction was obtained at concentration of $10^{-9}M$ for CCK-8, $10^{-5}M$ for ACh and 20mM for KCl. CCK-8 induced contraction was unaffected in calcium free physiological salt solution (PSS) and was completely blocked by strontium substitution for calcium (p<0.001). In contrast, KCl evoked contraction was blocked in calcium free PSS (p<0.01) but was unaffected by strontium replacement of calcium. The contraction elicited by ACh was only slightly reduced in calcium free PSS (p<0.05) and was unaltered by strontium. Muscle cells permeabilized with saponin contracted in response to inositol 1,4.5-trisphosphate $(IP_3)$ and CCK-8. The contraction was blocked by the calmodulin antagonist CGS 9343B (p<0.001), whereas heparin completely blocked the effect of $IP_3$ (p<0.001). The protein kinase C (PKC) antagonist H7 had no effect on either agonist. We conclude that CCK-8 induced gallbladder muscle contraction is mediated by $IP_3$ dependent intracellular calcium release from intracellular stores and a calmodulin dependent pathway; ACh may utilize both extracellular and intracellular calcium. KCl causes muscle contracrion through influx of extracellular calcium and a calmodulin independent machanism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1032-1038
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• 2011

Recently identified Ciona intestinalis voltage sensor-containing phosphatase (Ci-VSP) consists of an ion channel-like transmembrane domain (VSD) and a phosphatase-like domain. Ci-VSP senses the change of membrane potential by its VSD and works as a phosphoinositide phosphatase by its phosphatase domain. In this study, we present the construction of His-tagged phosphatase-like domain of Ci-VSP, its recombinant expression and purification, and its enzymatic activity behavior in order to examine the biochemical behavior of phosphatase domain of Ci-VSP without interference. We found that Ci-VSP(248-576)-His can be eluted with an elution buffer containing 25 mM NaCl and 100 mM imidazole during His-tag purification. In addition, we found the proper measurement condition for kinetics study of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His against p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). We measured the kinetic constant of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His at $37^{\circ}C$, pH 5.0 or 5.5, under 30 min of reaction time, and less than $2.0\;{\mu}g$ of protein amount. With these conditions, we acquired that Ci-VSP(248-576)-His has $K_m$ of $354{\pm}0.143\;{\mu}M$, $V_{max}$ of $0.0607{\pm}0.0137\;{\mu}mol$/min/mg and $k_{cat}$ of $0.359{\pm}0.009751\;min^{-1}$ for pNPP dephosphorylation. Therefore, we produced a pure form of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His, and this showed a higher activity against pNPP. This purified protein will provide the road to a structural investigation on an interesting protein, Ci-VSP.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2015

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is now the second largest oilseed crop after soybean. Cold temperature tolerance is an important agronomic trait in winter rapeseed that determines the plant's ability to control below freezing temperatures. To improve cold tolerance of rapeseed plants, an expression vector containing an Barley Ice recrystallization inhibition protein (HvIRIP) cDNA driven by a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter was transferred into rapeseed plants. Transgenic expression of HvIRIP was proved by southern- and northern-blot analyses. The level of freezing tolerance of transgenic $T_3$ plants was found to be significantly greater than that of wild-type rapeseed plants by freezing assay. Proline accumulation during cold stress was also highly induced in the transgenic rapeseed plants. The transgenic plants exhibited considerable tolerance against oxidative damage induced by cold stress. Our results indicated that heterologous HvIRIP expression in transgenic rapeseed plants may induce several oxidative-stress responsive genes to protect from cold stress.