• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.213-217
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• 2006

Although AIMP1 (previously known as p43) is one of three auxiliary proteins bound to a macromolecular aminoacyl tRNA complex, it is also secreted as a cytokine controlling both angiogenesis and immune responses. Here we show that systemically administered purified recombinant human AIMP1 had anti-tumor activity in mouse xenograft models. In Meth A-bearing Balb/c mice, tumor volume increased about 28 fold in the vehicle treatment group, while an increase of about 16.7 fold was observed in the AIMP1-treated group. We also evaluated the anti-tumor activity of AIMP1 in combination with a sub-clinical dose of the cytotoxic anti-tumor drug, paclitaxel. The growth of NUGC-3 human stomach cancer cells was suppressed by 84% and 94% by the combinations of 5 mg/kg paclitaxel + 25 mg/kg AIMP1 (p = 0.03), and 5 mg/kg paclitaxel + 50 mg/kg AIMP1 (p = 0.02), respectively, while 5 mg/kg paclitaxel alone suppressed growth by only 54% (p = 0.02). A similar cooperative effect of AIMP1 and paclitaxel was observed in a lung cancer xenograft model. These results suggest that AIMP1 may be useful as a novel anti-tumor agent.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2008

Karyotypic analysis and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) with 45S and 5S rRNA genes were carried out in Persicaria tinctoria H Gross. The somatic metaphase chromosomes were ranged from 2.25 ${\mu}m$ to 1.50 ${\mu}m$ in length. Chromosome number was 2n = 4x = 40 with the basic number of x = 10. The chromosome complement of the species consisted of 16 pairs of metacentrics (chromososomes 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19 and 20) and 4 pairs of submetacentrics (chromosome 5, 14, 16 and 17). The karyotype formula was K(2n) = 4x = 32 m + 8 sm. In FISH analysis, three pairs of 45S rRNA gene loci on the terminal region of submetacentrics (chromosomes 5, 16 and 17) and two pairs of 5S rRNA gene loci on the centromeric region of metacentrics (chromosomes 9 and 11) were detected, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

We isolated and cultured bacteria inhabiting solar saltern ponds in Taean-Gun, Chungnam Province, Korea. All of the isolated 64 strains were found to be moderately halophilic bacteria, growing in a salt range of 2-20 %, with an optimal concentration of 5% salt. Bacterial diversity among the isolated halophiles was evaluated via RFLP analyses of PCR-amplified 16S rDNAs, followed by phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rDNA sequences. The combination of restriction enzyme digestions with HaeIII, CfoI, MspI and RsaI generated 54 distinct patterns. A neighbor-joining tree of the partial 16S rDNA sequences resulted in the division of the 64 strains into 2 major groups, 45 strains of ${\gamma}-Proteobacteria$ (70.3%) and 19 strains of Firmicutes (29.7%). The ${\alpha}-Proteobacteria$ and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacterioides groups, which were repeatedly found to exist in thalassohaline environments, were not represented in our isolates. The ${\gamma}-Proteobacteria$ group consisted of several subgroups of the Vibrionaceae (37.5%), Pseudoalteromonadaceae (10.9%), Halomonadaceae (7.8%), Alteromonadaceae (7.8%), and Idiomarinaceae (6.3%). Members of Salinivibrio costicola (29.7%) were the most predominant species among all of the isolates, followed by Halobacillus treperi (12.5%). Additionally, three new species candidates were found, based on similarities of the 16S rDNA sequences to those of previously published species.

• Korean Journal of Korean Medical Institute of Dermatology and Aesthetics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2005

(1) Objectives: To discover natural skin-lightening agents, we have evaluated the inhibitory activity of EtOH extracts from 20 medicinal plants against mushroom tyrosinase. (2) Methods: Tyrosinase activity was determined by the dopachrome method using L-tyrosine as the substrates. (3) Results: Of the plant extracts tested, the extracts of 4 plants, Albizzia julibrissin, Curcuma longa, Anethum graveolens and Sophora flavescens, exhibited potent inhibitory activity (> 50%) in mushroom tyrosinase assay. Four plant extract, extracts of Agrimonia pilosa, Paeonia moutan, Magnolia obovata and Eugenia caryophyllata also showed relatively strong inhibitory (> 40%) against mushroom tyrosinase. (4) Conclusion: These active medicinal plants may be useful for the development of skin-whitening agents. Since the active medicinal plants may contain effective tyrosinase inhibitors even more than kojic acid, further study to identify the active constituents from the plants is expected.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2002

Biotechnology in the 21st century will be driven by three emerging technologies: genomics, high-throughput biology, and bioinformatics. These technologies are complementary to one another. A large number of economically important crops are currently subjected to whole genome sequencing. Functional genomics for determining the functions of the genes comprising the given plant genome is under progress by using various means including phenotyping data from transgenic mutants, gene expression profiling data from DNA microarrays, and metabolic profiling data from LC/mass analysis. The aim of plant molecular breeding is shifting from introducing agronomic traits such as herbicide and insect resistance to introducing quality traits such as healthful oils and proteins, which will lead to improved and nutritional food and feed products. Plant molecular breeding is also expected to aim to develop crops for producing human therapeutic and industrial proteins.

• ALGAE
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 2021

The hepatoprotective effect of liposoluble portion of Pyropia yezoensis (PYLP) was investigated against alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. Fatty acids were predominant in PYLP obtained from hexane fraction of 70% EtOH extract after ultrasonication. In particular, polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid and linoleic acid accounted for 56.91% of the total lipids. PYLP significantly reduced liver damage induced by the alcohol treatment in mice. PYLP treatment increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathion peroxidase by reducing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Histological observations showed that PYLP minimizes damage to living tissue induced by alcohol treatment by modulating the expression level of proteins involved in the anti-apoptotic signaling pathway. Our results suggest that PYLP, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids extracted from the red alga P. yezoensis, will be useful as a potential liver protectant in the hangover industry.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.141-150
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• 2021

This short review on the chemistry, pharmacological properties and patents of obovatol and obovatal from Magnolia obovata is the first publication. Pharmacological properties are focused on anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet and neuroprotective activities. Obovatol and obovatal were first isolated from the leaves of M. obovata. Also reported in the bark and fruits of M. obovata, obovatol and obovatal are neolignans i.e., biphenolic compounds bearing a C-O coupling. Other classes of compounds isolated and identified from M. obovata include sesquiterpene-neolignans, dineolignans, trineolignan, lignans, dilignans, phenylpropanoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenes, ketone and sterols. The anti-cancer properties of obovatol and obovatal involve apoptosis, inhibition of the growth, migration and invasion of cancer cell lines. However, obovatol displays cytotoxicity against cancer cells but not obovatal. Similarly, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet, neuroprotective, anxiolytic and other pharmacological activities were only observed in obovatol. The disparity in pharmacological properties of obovatol and obovatal may be attributed to the -CHO group present in obovatal but absent in obovatol. From 2007 to 2013, eight patents were published on obovatol with one mentioning obovatal. They were all published at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by scientists of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) as inventors and assignee, respectively. Some future research and prospects are suggested.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.459-469
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• 2018

Plants and microorganisms (microbes) use information from chemicals such as volatile compounds to understand their environments. Proficiency in sensing and responding to these infochemicals increases an organism's ecological competence and ability to survive in competitive environments, particularly with regard to plant-pathogen interactions. Plants and microbes acquired the ability to sense and respond to biogenic volatiles during their evolutionary history. However, these signals can only be interpreted by humans through the use of state-of the-art technologies. Newly-developed tools allow microbe-induced plant volatiles to be detected in a rapid, precise, and non-invasive manner to diagnose plant diseases. Beside disease diagnosis, volatile compounds may also be valuable in improving crop productivity in sustainable agriculture. Bacterial volatile compounds (BVCs) have potential for use as a novel plant growth stimulant or as improver of fertilizer efficiency. BVCs can also elicit plant innate immunity against insect pests and microbial pathogens. Research is needed to expand our knowledge of BVCs and to produce BVC-based formulations that can be used practically in the field. Formulation possibilities include encapsulation and sol-gel matrices, which can be used in attract and kill formulations, chemigation, and seed priming. Exploitation of biogenic volatiles will facilitate the development of smart integrated plant management systems for disease control and productivity improvement.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.19-19
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• 2019

전 세계 고등 식물자원은 약 350,000종, 한반도 식물자원은 약 4.500~5,000종 이라고 알려져 있습니다. 2018년 8월부터 국내에도 나고야의정서 발효되어 국내 산학연 연구자들의 해외생물자원 활용을 통한 연구개발에 장벽이 높아졌습니다. 저희 한국생명공학연구원에서는 지난 2001 ~ 2010년 동안 자생식물이용기술개발사업단을 운영하여 국내 유용식물자원을 확보하여 추출물 또는 건조시료 형태로 연구자들에게 분양을 해오고 있습니다. 또한 해외생물소재센터에서는 2006년부터 현재까지 해외 36개 국가와 국제공동연구협약을 체결 하여 ABS 규정에 따라 약 35,000종의 식물자원을 확보해 오고 있습니다. 또한 해외 4개 국가(중국, 베트남, 인도네시아, 코스타리카)에 거점센터를 구축하고 박사급 연구자를 파견하여 열대식물 자원전문가로 양성해오고 있습니다. 4개 거점센터에서는 국내 바이오 기업들의 산업화 지원을 위하여 야생종의 대량재배 시스템 구축 및 원료 표준화 작업을 지원해오고 있습니다. 현재까지 산학연 연구자들에게 누적 3,000,000점(1점 : 20mg)이상의 해외추출물을 분야하여 식물자원을 활용한 연구개발을 지원해 오고 있습니다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.126-140
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• 2022

Stem cells can be applied usefully in basic research and clinical field due to their differentiation and self-renewal capacity. The aim of this study was to establish an effective novel therapeutic cellular source and create its molecular expression profile map to elucidate the possible therapeutic mechanism and signaling pathway. We successfully obtained a mesenchymal stem cell population from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) cultured on chemically defined feeder-free conditions and treated with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and performed the expressive proteomic approach to elucidate the molecular basis. We further selected 12 differentially expressed proteins in CTGF-induced hESC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (C-hESC-MSCs), which were found to be involved in the metabolic process, immune response, cell signaling, and cell proliferation, as compared to bone marrow derived-MSCs(BM-MSCs). Moreover, these up-regulated proteins were potentially related to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These results suggest that C-hESC-MSCs are a highly proliferative cell population, which can interact with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; thus, due to the upregulated cell survival ability or downregulated apoptosis effects of C-hESC-MSCs, these can be used as an unlimited cellular source in the cell therapy field for a higher therapeutic potential. Overall, the study provided valuable insights into the molecular functioning of hESC derivatives as a valuable cellular source.