• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.296-302
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• 2011

Insect-resistant transgenic rice was developed by inserting the mCry1Ac1 a modified gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). For biosafety assessment, we studied the effects on survival of cantor Daphnia magna, a commonly used as a model organism in ecotoxicological studies. D. magna fed on Bt rice and its near non-genetically modified (GM) counterparts (Nakdong) grown in the same environment (100% ground rice suspension). The Bt rice was comfirmed to have the insertion of T-DNA and protein expression by the polymerase chain reaction and ELISA analysis. Feeding study showed similar cumulative immobility and abnormal response of D. magna between Bt rice and non-GM counterparts. 48 h-$EC_{50}$ values of Bt rice and non-GM rice showed 4,429 and 2,889 mg/L respectively. The rice no observed effect concentration (NOEC) values for D. magna was suggested 1,000 mg/L. We conclude that the tested Bt-rice and Nakdong similar cumulative immobility for D. magna the widely used model organism. We found out that there is strong possibility that the growth of Bt rice didn't affect to non-target insects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1883-1895
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• 2018

Alcohol dependence is a global public health problem, yet the mechanisms of alcohol dependence are incompletely understood. The traditional view has been that ethanol alters various neurotransmitters and their receptors in the brain and causes the addiction. However, an increasing amount of experimental evidence suggests that gut microbiota also influence brain functions via gut-to-brain interactions, and may therefore induce the development of alcohol use disorders. In this study, a rat model of alcohol dependence and withdrawal was employed, the gut microbiota composition was analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the metagenome function was predicted by PICRUSt software. The results suggested that chronic alcohol consumption did not significantly alter the diversity and richness of gut microbiota in the jejunum and colon, but rather markedly changed the microbiota composition structure in the colon. The phyla Bacteroidetes and eight genera including Bacteroidales S24-7, Ruminococcaceae, Parabacteroides, Butyricimonas, et al were drastically increased, however the genus Lactobacillus and gauvreauii in the colon were significantly decreased in the alcohol dependence group compared with the withdrawal and control groups. The microbial functional prediction analysis revealed that the proportions of amino acid metabolism, polyketide sugar unit biosynthesis and peroxisome were significantly increased in the AD group. This study demonstrated that chronic alcohol consumption has a dramatic effect on the microbiota composition structure in the colon but few effects on the jejunum. Inducement of colonic microbiota dysbiosis due to alcohol abuse seems to be a factor of alcohol dependence, which suggests that modulating colonic microbiota composition might be a potentially new target for treating alcohol addiction.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.1100-1105
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• 2006

Purpose : Because NELL2 expression is strictly restricted only in neurons in developing and post-differentiated neural tissues, it is thought to be involved in the neuronal differentiation during development and in the maintenance of neuronal physiology in the post-differentiated neurons. In this study, we examined whether NELL2 is involved in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis in the hippocampal neuroprogenitor HiB5 cells. Methods : Effects of NELL2 on the cultured HiB5 cell numbers, DNA fragmentation, and proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle were measured. Results : NELL2 induced a decrease in cell numbers and an increase in G1 phase arrest. Moreover, transfection of NELL2 resulted in an increase of DNA fragmentation that shows an evidence of apoptosis. Contents of proteins involved in the regulation of cell cycle were also changed by transfection of NELL2 expression vectors. Conclusion : This study suggests that NELL2 plays an important role in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis of neurons.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.301-310
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• 2010

Bacillus subtilis strains produce a broad spectrum of bioactive peptides. The lipopeptide surfactin belongs to one well-known class, which includes amphiphilic membrane-active biosurfactants and peptide antibiotics. Both the srfA promoter and the ComP-ComA signal transduction system are an important part of the factor that results in the production of surfactin. Bs-M49, obtained by means of low-energy ion implantation in wild-type Bs-916, produced significantly lower levels of surfactin, and had no obvious effects against R. solani. Occasionally, we found strain Bs-M49 decreased spore formation and the development of competence. Blast comparison of the sequences from Bs-916 and M49 indicate that there is no difference in the srfA operon promoter PsrfA, but there are differences in the coding sequence of the comA gene. These differences result in three missense mutations within the M49 ComA protein. RT-PCR analyses results showed that the expression levels of selected genes involved in competence and sporulation in both the wild-type Bs-916 and mutant M49 strains were significantly different. When we integrated the comA ORF into the chromosome of M49 at the amyE locus, M49 restored hemolytic activity and antifungal activity. Then, HPLC analyses results also showed the comA-complemented strain had a similar ability to produce surf actin with wild-type strain Bs-916. These data suggested that the mutation of three key amino acids in ComA greatly affected the biological activity of Bacillus subtilis. ComA protein 3D structure prediction and motif search prediction indicated that ComA has two obvious motifs common to response regulator proteins, which are the N-terminal response regulator receiver motif and the C-terminal helix-turn-helix motif. The three residues in the ComA N-terminal portion may be involved in phosphorylation activation mechanism. These structural prediction results implicate that three mutated residues in the ComA protein may play an important role in the formation of a salt-bridge to the phosphoryl group keeping active conformation to subsequent regulation of the expression of downstream genes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.323-329
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• 2005

In this paper, performance of a hybrid sequential aerobic-anaerobic natural system was investigated. Continuous aerobic and anoxic conditions were created by alternatively placing waste stabilization pond (WSP) and wale. hyacinth pond (WHP). Two pilot-scale treatment lines were built and operated; The first consists of WSP integrated with WHP and the second of WSP connected with Dark Pond(DP), namely control system ponds which were used to examine the effects of water hyacinth on nitrification and de-nitrification. The overall performance in nitrogen was 86% reduction in WSP-WHP and 36% in WSP-control pond system. Nitrogen was mostly removed by nitrification and de-nitrification which simultaneously occurred in the same water hyacinth ponds. For the de-nitrification, benthic layer was found out to be adequate support as a carbon source. In addition, WSP-WHP system was very effective in reducing phosphorus. Overall P removal efficiency in WSP-WHP is 81%, while it is only 16% in WSP-control. difference in phosphorus reduction between those two systems is thought to be caused by the plants and probably their roots producing extra-cellular materials, but these aspects need to be further studied.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.757-769
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• 2020

Background: Panax quinquefolius and Panax notoginseng are widely used and well known for their pharmacological effects. As main pharmacological components, saponins have different distribution patterns in the root tissues of Panax plants. Methods: In this study, the representative ginsenosides were detected and quantified by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis to demonstrate saponin distribution in the root tissues of P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng, and saponin metabolite profiles were analyzed by metabolomes to obtain the biomarkers of different root tissues. Finally, the transcriptome analysis was performed to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms of saponin distribution by gene profiles. Results: There was saponin distribution in the root tissues differed between P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. Eight-eight and 24 potential biomarkers were detected by metabolome analysis, and a total of 340 and 122 transcripts involved in saponin synthesis that were positively correlated with the saponin contents (R > 0.6, P < 0.05) in the root tissues of P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng, respectively. Among them, GDPS1, CYP51, CYP64, and UGT11 were significantly correlated with the contents of Rg1, Re, Rc, Rb2, and Rd in P. quinquefolius. UGT255 was markedly related to the content of R1; CYP74, CYP89, CYP100, CYP103, CYP109, and UGT190 were markedly correlated with the Rd content in P. notoginseng.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.471-481
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• 2016

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the bacteriocin-producing heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acid-resistant yeast isolated from Mukeunji, a Korean ripened kimchi on shelf-life extension and quality improvement of sourdough. According to gene sequence analysis the heterofermentative LAB that showed the antimicrobial activity against bread-spoilage Bacillus strains were identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides LAS112, Lactobacillus brevis LAS129, and L. mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum LAB137. In addition, the yeasts that were able to grow at acidic pH were identified as Pichia membranifaciens YS05, Pichia fermentans YS19, and Pichia anomala YS26. During sourdough fermentation the levels of acetic acid and bacteriocin produced by L. brevis LAS129 strain were higher than those of L. mesenteroides LAS112 and L. mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum LAS 137 strains, whereas LAS112 strain produced the highest levels of lactic acid. The maximum bacteriocin activity (640 AU/g) against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 35421 was obtained in sourdough fermented by mixed culture of L. brevis LAS129 and P. membranifaciens YS05 or P. anomala YS26. After 24 h of fermentation at $30^{\circ}C$, the viable cell counts of LAS129 ($10^9CFU/g$) in sourdough were higher than those of the YS05 or YS26 ($10^7CFU/g$). Meanwhile, the viable cells of bread-spoilage strain in sourdough fermented with these strains were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the control group.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the analysis of apoptosis by Scirpi Tuber in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Methods: For cytotoxic effect of Scirpi Tuber extract, Scirpi Tuber extract were cultured on NIH3T3 cell in vitro. After treatment with various concentration of Scirpi Tuber, cell growth was evaluated in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Hoechst 33342 staining was performed to estimate DNA fragment effect of Scirpi Tuber on the apoptosis in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay was used to estimate the effects of Scirpi Tuber on the early apoptosis in Hela cell MCF-7 cell. All the stained cells were analyzed by a FACS. RT-PCR was used to estimate the apoptosis gene expression effect of Scirpi Tuber extract on Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. Results: Cytotoxic effect of Scirpi Tuber extract was not found on per NIH3T3 cell. The viability of Hela cell was significantly decreased Scirpi Tuber (500, $1000{\mu}g/m\ell$) in Hela cell 1day, 3day and 5days after treatment (p<0.01). The viability of MCF-7 cell was significantly decresed Scirpi Tuber ($1000{\mu}g/m\ell$) in MCF-7 cell (p<0.01), Scirpi Tuber ($500{\mu}g/m\ell$) in MCF-7 cell only 3days after treatment (p<0.01). In RT-PCR analysis, after treatment of $100{\mu}g/m\ell$ of ACR extract, BCL-2 were decreased and BAX, caspase-3 were increased both in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. DNA fragmentation was observed the Scirpi Tuber on Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. As time goes on DNA fragmentation incresed. In Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, after treatment of $1mg/m\ell$ of Scirpi Tuber, the early apoptotic cell increased both in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell. As time goes on apoptotic cell increased. Conclusion: Scirpi Tuber appears to have considerable activity on the apoptosis in Hela cell and MCF-7 cell.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2004

To characterize the recent outbreaks of canine distemper (CD) in Korea, we carried out epidemiological investigations by clinical observations, serum neutralizing (SN) antibody titer determination and RT-PCR on the 315 dogs which were clinically suspected as canine distemper virus (CDV) infection. One hundred and sixty two of 315 dogs were infected with CDV. Breed or gender did not seem to have effects on the prevalence of CD. The major part of dogs were in young age from 6 weeks to 18 weeks of age, and were not vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. Clinical signs of dogs with CD were multi systemic and extremely variable. Dogs died from CD had significantly more ocular signs and neurologic signs than those of dogs survived (p<0.05). The SN titers against CDV of 157 (96.9%) dogs were under 1:16, which is less than protective level. One possible explanation for recent outbreaks of CD in Korea might be low antibody titers against CDV because of vaccination failure. Therefore, to reduce the impact of virulent infection in the dog population, dogs should be vaccinated adequately and prophylactic measures should include isolation of young dogs from the dog population until vaccination can be expected to provide protection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4353-4358
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• 2014

Background: PI3/AKT and NF-kB signaling pathways are constitutively active in acute myeloid leukemia and cross-talk between the two has been shown in various cancers. However, their role in acute myeloid leukemia has not been completely explored. We therefore used cell penetrating inhibitor peptides to define the contributions of AKT and NF-kB to survival and multi drug resistance (MDR) in HL-60 cells. Materials and Methods: Inhibition of AKT and NF-kB activity by AKT inhibitor peptide and NBD inhibitor peptide, respectively, resulted in decreased expression of mRNA for the MDR1 gene as assessed by real time PCR. In addition, treatment of HL-60 cells with AKT and NBD inhibitor peptides led to inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis in a dose dependent manner as detected by flow cytometer. Results: Finally, co-treatment of HL-60 cells with sub-optimal doses of AKT and NBD inhibitor peptides led to synergistic apoptotic responses in AML cells. Conclusions: These data support a strong biological link between NF-kB and PI3-kinase/AKT pathways in the modulation of antiapoptotic and multi drug resistant effects in AML cells. Synergistic targeting of these pathways using NF-kB and PI3-kinase/AK inhibitor peptides may have a therapeutic potential for AML and possibly other malignancies with constitutive activation of these pathways.