• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2016

Marine organisms are sources of many bioactive compounds, such as essential fatty acids, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, making them useful candidates for the production of safe bioactive substances. They also synthesize glutamic acid, which can be used to produce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), via fermentation with Lactobacillus brevis BJ-20. This study investigated the degree to which fermented sea tangle (FST) inhibits enzymes such as acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) and affects memory of normal mice using the T-maze test. FST inhibited more than 90% of AChE at 1 mg/mL and 50% of PEP at 8 mg/mL. Oral FST (100 mg/kg) significantly improved performance of normal mice on the T-maze. Therefore, sea tangle fermented with L. brevis BJ20 effectively contributes to memory improvement and might be a useful functional food ingredient.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.75-75
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• 1995

Succinic semialdehyde reductase, one of key enzyme of GABA shunt in CNS, is inactivated by o-phthalaldehyde, The inactivation followed pseudo first-order kinetics, and the second-order rate constant for the inactivation process was 28 M$\^$-1/s$\^$-1/ at pH 7.4 and 25$^{\circ}C$. The absorption spectrum(λ$\_$max/=377nm), fluorescence exitation(λ$\_$max/=340nm) and fluorescence emission spectra (λ$\_$max/=409nm) were consistent with the formation of an isoindole derivative in the catalytic site between a cysteine and a lysine residues about 3${\AA}$ apart. The substrate, succinic semialdehyde, did not protect the enzymatic activity against inactivation, whereas the coenzyme, NADPH, protected against o-phthalaldehyde induced inactivation of the enzyme. About 1 isoindole group per moi of the enzyme was formed following complete loss of the enzymatic activity. These results suggest that the amino acid residues of the enzyme participating in reaction with o-phthalaldehyde more likely residues at or near the coenzyme binding site.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-2
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• 2016

Of the numerous events that occur in daily life, we readily remember salient information, but do not retain most less-salient events for a prolonged period. Although some of the episodes contain putatively emotional aspects, the information with lower saliency is rarely stored in neural circuits via an unknown mechanism. We provided substantial evidence indicating that synaptic plasticity in the dorsal ITC of amygdala allows for selective storage of salient emotional experiences, while it deters less-salient experience from entering long-term memory. After activation of D4R or weak fear conditioning, STDP stimulation induces LTD in the LA-ITC synapses. This form of LTD is dependent upon presynaptic D4R, and is likely to result from enhancement of GABA release. Both optogenetic abrogation of LTD and ablation of D4R at the dorsal ITC in vivo lead to heightened and over-generalized fear responses. Finally, we demonstrated that LTD was impaired at the dorsal ITC of PTSD model mice, which suggests that maladaptation of GABAergic signaling and the resultant LTD impairment contribute to the endophenotypes of PTSD. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 1-2]

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.55-65
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• 2010

목적 : 기존 연구에서 신문혈 자침은 알코올 및 코카인을 자가섭취하는 동물 모델에서 효과적이라는 점이 밝혀졌으며, 또한 모르핀 자가섭취를 억제할 수 있음이 밝혀졌다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 본 연구에서는 자침의 효과가 얼마나 지속될 수 있는지 알아보았다. 재료 및 방법 : 체중 270~300g의 수컷 SD계 흰쥐를 이용하였다. 먹이섭취 훈련을 통과한 후 오른쪽 경정맥에 관을 삽입하는 수술을 거쳐, 0.1mg/kg의 모르핀을 매일 1시간, 총 3주 동안 자가섭취 하도록 하였다. 모르핀을 일정하게 섭취한 동물에게는 다음날 침술을 시행하였다. 두 번째 실험에서는 GABAA 및 GABAB 길항제를 자침 30분 전에 투여하여 침술의 효능과 GABA 수용체계 사이의 관계를 검증하였다. 결과 : 모르핀 자가섭취를 억제하는 신문혈 자침의 효과는 매일 비슷하게 나타나지 않았으며, 4일째에는 유의한 효과가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 5일째와 6일째에는 다시 유의한 효과가 나타나 뒤집어진 U 자형 곡선을 나타내었다. 또한 GABA 수용체의 길항제들은 자침의 효과가 유의하게 나타났을 때 이를 차단하는 결과를 보였다. 결론 : 모르핀 중독 치료에서 침술의 효과는 항상 비슷하게 발휘되는 것이 아니므로 침 치료는 적어도 1주일에 2회 이상 받을 필요가 있다. 아울러 보다 심도 있는 연구를 위하여 뇌신경 체계에 대한 연구가 이루어질 필요가 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.940-946
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• 2008

Neurotransmitter transporters, which remove neurotransmittesr from the synaptic cleft, are regulated by second messenger such as protein kinases and binding proteins. Neuronal ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid transporters (GATs) are responsible for removing the inhibitory neurotransmitter ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA) from the synaptic cleft. ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid transporters 2 (GAT2/BGT1) is involved in regulating neurotransmitter recycling, but the mechanism how they are stabilized and regulated by the specific binding protein has not yet been elucidated. Here, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify the specific binding protein(s) that interacts with the C-terminal region of GAT2 and found a specific interaction with the mammalian LIN-7b (MALS-2). MALS-2 protein bound to the tail region of GAT2 but not to other GAT members in the yeast two-hybrid assay. The "T-X-L" motif at the C-terminal end of GAT2 is essential for interaction with MALS-2. In addition, this protein showed specific interactions in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay. An antibody to GAT2 specifically co-immunoprecipitated MALS associated with GAT2 from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that MALS may stabilize GAT2 in brain.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.767-773
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic-like effect of the methanol extract of Sophorae fructus (MESF) using elevated plus-maze (EPM), open field test, and horizontal wire test in mice. MESF was orally administered at doses of 50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg to ICR mice 1 h before behavioral evaluation. The control group was given an equal volume of 10% Tween 80, and the positive control group was given diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). The administration of MESF significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms and the entries into the open arms of the EPM compared with the 10% Tween 80-treated control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the anxiolytic-like activities of MESF were antagonized by flumazenil (a GABAA antagonist, 10 mg/kg) but not by WAY-100635 (a 5-HT1A antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg). Futhermore, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects of the experimental group, as opposed to the 10% Tween 80-treated control group. Therefore, these findings suggest that MESF promotes the anxiolytic-like activity mediated by the GABAergic nervous system in mice.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2006

This study investigated the effect of the addition of germinated brown rice extract powder (0, 0.67, 3.35 and 6.70%) to the fermentation of Korean cabbage kimchi. During the fermentation of Korean cabbage kimchi with GBREP, content of total free amino acid and essential amino acid was showed higher value by increasing the addition of GBREP. In particular, ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of Korean cabbage kimchi, prepared with 6.70% GBREP was 2 times higher than control Korean cabbage kimchi. By increasing the content of GBREP, total phenol content was showed high value and the content was more increased during fermentation except control Korean cabbage kimchi. By increasing the content of GBREP, electron donating activity and superoxide radical scavening activity were showed higher value and then showed maximum scavening activity on palatable period. Nitrite-scavenging ability of Korean cabbage kimchi with GBREP was higher than control Korean cabbage kimchi and showed the highest scavenging ability at pH 1.2.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.134-144
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• 2017

This study evaluated the changes of physiochemical properties, phytochemical compounds (isoflavones and phenolic acids), and biological activity during the fermentation of Doenjang without and with bitter melon powder (BMP). The pH decreased from 6.41-5.83 to 5.81-5.24, during the fermentation of Doenjang, while the acidity increased from 0.42-0.65% to 1.28-1.48%. The viable cell numbers of Bacillus and Yeast, salinity, and total amino acid contents increased at the end fermentation (60 day). Also, the fermented Doenjang (FD) with 10% BMP showed the highest ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 129.87 mg/100 g) contents, among all the Doenjang samples. The FD exhibited significantly higher inhibitory activities than unfermented Doenjang (UFD) on radicals and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase. The phytochemical compounds including isoflavone-aglycones and phenolic acids increased, whereas isoflavoneglycosides decreased in the BM following fermentative processing. Moreover, the total phenolic, isoflavone-aglycone, and phenolic acid contents were markedly increased, leading to a general increase in antioxidant and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities after fermentation. These results suggest that BMP may be used to prepare a new type of fermented Doenjang with improved antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.553-560
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• 2021

Theanine, the major amino acid and a sweet umami component of green tea, has anti-stress effects in humans. From green tea, theanine was extracted at 80℃ for 2 h using a low temperature, high pressure extractor, and caffeine was removed using an HP-20 column with 80% ethanol. Theanine extracts were applied to produce functional jelly using three kinds of gelling agents (I, II, and III) or various concentrations of theanine extracts (10-50%). Theanine jelly was characterized with respect to its physical properties, product stability, and physiological function. Gelling agent III (tamarind gum, xanthan gum, and locust bean gum=2:3:5, w/w/w) and S3 (35% theanine extracts) jelly exhibited the optimum textural properties with lower hardness and high springiness. Among theanine jellies, S3 exhibited optimum product stability, high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. These results indicate that the anine extracts could be used as a neuroprotective source in the food industry.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 1995

The effects of toluene inhalation on the contents of amino acid neurotransmitters in rat brain were investigated and blood toluene concentrations inducing changes of behavior and amino acid neurotransmitter contents in rat brain were observed. Male wistar rats were exposed to toluene vapor (single dose : 1700, 5000 and 10000 ppm for 2 hrs, repeated dose : 1700 and 5000 ppm for 2 hrs/day$\times$6 days). Toluene concentrations in blood and the inhalation chamber were assayed by GC with headspace sampler. HPLC method following PITC derivatization was used to measure the amino acid contents in brain tissues such as frontal cortex, caudate, hippocampus, cerebellum and brain stem. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid levels were increased by single inhalation of toluene (5000 ppm) in all the brain areas assayed in this experiment. In caudate and cerebellum, taurine levels were decreased by single inhalation of low dose toluene (1700 ppm), but increased by repeated administration. At high blood toluene concentration, GABA levels were increased in all the brain areas assayed in this experiment and the increasing extents of inhibitory amino acid contents measured in caudate and hippocampus were greater than those of excitatory amino acids. These results suggest that the changes of amino acid neurotransmitter contents in brain by exposure to toluene may modulate toluene-induced behaviors.