• Nutritional Sciences
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.214-217
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• 2004

Dietary intervention and simvastatin is beneficial in the prevention cardiovascular diseases by lowering plasma lipid levels. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with coronary artery disease and its risk factors and is reversed by dietary intervention. It has been suggested that hyperlipidemia contributes to the development of atherosclerosis by increasing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression via intimal thickening. Statins treatment has been found to decrease iNOS expression and atherogenensis in animal models. We hypothesized that dietary intervention and simvastatin therapy could decrease plasma nitric oxide in hypercholesterolemic patients, which would suggest the opportunity for modulation of iNOS expression through the use of statins in a clinical situation. We measured the plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate (NOx) in 19 hyperlipidemia patients. The subjects were under dietary intervention following simvastatin therapy for 12 weeks. As a result, the plasma level of NOx, stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NO), saw a two-fold elevation in hyperlipidemic patients as compared to normal levels. Although 12 weeks of dietary intervention did not lower NOx levels, subsequent 12-week simvastatin (10 mg/day) treatment, along with dietary intervention, lowered NOx levels significantly. This NOx reduction, induced by simvastatin therapy, positively correlated with lowered coronary risk factors (r=0.40, p=0.02). It indicated that simvastatin therapy decreases plasma NOx levels by, perhaps, decreasing iNOS expression or activity leading to the attenuation of the development of neointima.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권12호
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• pp.2019-2029
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• 2016

Zinc finger proteins are among the most extensively applied metalloproteins in the field of biotechnology owing to their unique structural and functional aspects as transcriptional and translational regulators. The classical zinc fingers are the largest family of zinc proteins and they provide critical roles in physiological systems from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Two cysteine and two histidine residues ($Cys_2His_2$) coordinate to the zinc ion for the structural functions to generate a ${\beta}{\beta}{\alpha}$ fold, and this secondary structure supports specific interactions with their binding partners, including DNA, RNA, lipids, proteins, and small molecules. In this account, the structural similarity and differences of well-known $Cys_2His_2$-type zinc fingers such as zinc interaction factor 268 (ZIF268), transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA), GAGA, and Ros will be explained. These proteins perform their specific roles in species from archaea to eukaryotes and they show significant structural similarity; however, their aligned amino acids present low sequence homology. These zinc finger proteins have different numbers of domains for their structural roles to maintain biological progress through transcriptional regulations from exogenous stresses. The superimposed structures of these finger domains provide interesting details when these fingers are applied to specific gene binding and editing. The structural information in this study will aid in the selection of unique types of zinc finger applications in vivo and in vitro approaches, because biophysical backgrounds including complex structures and binding affinities aid in the protein design area.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권10호
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• pp.1589-1603
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• 2018

Twenty analogs of $[Orn^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ were synthesized and assayed for their biological activities: seven analogs of $[Orn^6,X^9]{\alpha}-factor$, seven analogs of $[X^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$, five analogs of $[X^5,X^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$, and native ${\alpha}-factor$ (X = amino acids). Their biological activities (halo, gene induction, and affinity) were measured using S. cerevisiae Y7925 and LM102 and compared with those of native ${\alpha}-factor$ (100%). G protein-coupled receptor was expressed in strain LM102 containing pESC-LEU-STE2 vector. $[Dap^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ with weak halo activity (10%) showed the highest receptor affinity (> 230%) and the highest gene induction activity (167%). $[Arg^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor$ showed the highest halo activity (2,000%). The number of active binding sites per cell (about 20,000 for strain LM102) was determined using a newly-designed fluorescence-based detector, $[Arg^6,D-Ala^9]{\alpha}-factor-Edan$, with high sensitivity (12,500-fold higher than the absorption-based detector $[Orn^6]{\alpha}-factor-[Cys]_3$).

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.101-119
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• 2004

Ginseng Radix Alba and Cyperi Rhizoma were investigated for their anti-depressant effects. For this purpose, forced-swimming test, tail suspension test, hot plate test, reserpine-induced hypothermia, aggressive behavior test were performed. In addition, the brain content of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(a metabolite of serotonin), the monoamine oxidase activity, anticonvulsant effect, sleep enhancement effect were determined. The results are as follows: In the forced swimming test, Ginseng Radix diminished the duration of immobility by 45.5% compared to the control group, while Cyperi Rhizoma showed weaker effect (12.4% reduction) at 2g/kg. In the tail suspension test, the effect of Ginseng Radix(43.7% reduction) are also better than that of Cyperi Rhizoma(15.6% reduction) at 2g/kg. In the hot plate test, Ginseng Radix showed no difference as compared to control, while Cyperi Rhizoma increased the jump latency time by about 25% after administration for 10 days. In the reserpine-induced hypothermia test, both drugs slowly dropped the body temperature compared to the control group, especially the rate of hypothermia of Ginseng Radix was 24.0% at 1g/kg. In the aggressive behavior test, both drugs delayed the onset time, decreased the duration and frequency, of which effects were better in Cyperi Rhizoma. The content of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in mice brain was slightly increased in Ginseng Radix, while Cyperi Rhizoma increased its level almost to the control group. Both drugs inhibited the monoamine oxidase activity in a dose-dependent manner, but the effect(51.2%) of Cyperi Rhizoma was more potent than the effect(11.8%) of Ginseng Radix. In the pentobarbital-induced sleep test, Cyperi Rhizoma exhibited no significant difference against the control group, while Ginseng Radix showed about two-fold enhancement at 2g/kg. The anticonvulsant effect of both drugs delayed the onset time, shortened the duration of convulsion and diminished the lethality, but Ginseng Radix were better than Cyperi Rhizoma.

• 대한미생물학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.43-48
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• 1978

항균제내성(抗菌劑耐性)인 Salmonella typhi를 공시(供試)하여 chloramphenicol(Cm), tetracycline(Tc), ampicillin(Ap), kanamycin(Km) 및 rifampicin(Rif)의 항균작용(抗菌作用)을 한천평판희석법(寒天平板稀釋法)(평판법(平板法))과 broth 희석법(稀釋法)(broth법(法))으로 비교(比較)하였다. 공시균(供試菌)의 최소발육저지농도(最少發育沮止濃度)(MIC)를 보면 Cm, Tc 및 Rif에 있어서는 평판법(平板法)과 broth법(法) 사이에 유의(留意)할만한 차이(差異)는 없었으나 Km에 있어서는 broth법(法)의 MIC가 평판법(平板法)보다 높은 것이 약(約) 반수(半數)있었고 Ap에 있어서도 소수(少數) 있었다. Cm과 Rif는 대부분(大部分)의 공시균(供試菌)에 대(對)하여 정균적(靜菌的)으로 작용(作用)하였으나 Tc, Ap 및 Km은 살균적(殺菌的)으로 작용(作用)하였고 그 작용(作用)은 균주(菌株)에 따라 차이(差異)가 있었다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.431-436
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• 2008

To identify genes whose expression correlated with biological features of therapy-related AML (t-AML), we analyzed the expression profiles of de novo AML t(9;11) and t-AML t(9;11) bone marrow samples using previously published SAGE data. Three-hundred twenty-nine transcripts that satisfied statistical (P<0.05) and magnitude-of-change ($\geq$ 4-fold) criteria were identified as differentially expressed between de novo AML t(9;11) and t-AML t(9;11) cells. Of these transcripts, 301 (91%) matched known genes or ESTs and were classified according to functional categories (http://david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov/). The majority of differentially expressed genes in t-AML t(9;11) were involved in the regulation of biological and metabolic processes. Especially prominent among these were genes related to immune and drug responses. These results establish a framework for developing new drugs for the treatment of t-AML.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.217-224
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• 2001

The present study examines the expression and regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor (GnRH-R) mRNA levels during mouse ovarian development. A fully processed, mature GnRH mRNA together with intron-containing primary transcripts was expressed in the immature mouse ovary as determined by Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The size of ovarian GnRH mRNA was similar to that of hypothalamus, but its amount was much lower than that in the hypothalamus. Quantitative RT-PCR procedure also revealed the expression of GnRH-R mRNA in the ovary, but the estimated amount was a thousand-fold lower than that in the pituitary gland. We also examined the regulation of ovarian GnRH and GnRH-R mRNA levels during the follicular development induced by pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Ovarian luteinizing hormone receptor (LH-R) mRNA was abruptly increased st 48 h after the PMSG administration and rapidly decreased to the basal level thereafter. Ovarian GnRH mRNA level was slightly decreased at 48 h after the PMSG administration, and then returned to the basal value. GnRH-R mRNA level began to increase at 24 h after the PMSG treatment, decreased below the uninduced basal level at 48 h, and gradually increased thereafter. HCG administration did not alter ovarian GnRH mRNA level, while it blocked the PMSG-induced increase in GnRH mRNA level. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that the expression of GnRH and GnRH-R mRNA are regulated by gonadotropin during follicular development, suggesting possible intragonadal paracrine roles of GnRH and GnRH-R in the mouse ovarian development.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.24-27
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• 2006

A simple HPLC quantification method was developed for genistein, genistin, daidzein, and daidzin in soybeans and soybean products. The procedure used a $4.6{\times}100\;mm$ $Chromolith^{(R)}$ RP-18e column with a mobile phase of 1% HOAc in 20% MeOH to 1% HOAc in 80% MeOH for 10 min. The injection volume was $2\;{\mu}L$ at a flow rate of 2 mL/min. Detection was carried out under UV at 254 nm. Under these conditions, the major isoflavones daidzein, daidzin, genistein, and genistin in soybean and soybean pastes were eluted within 7 min with baseline separation. Optimal extraction of the above four major isoflavones was achieved when 40 g of soybean or soybean paste was refluxed in 100 mL of 95% ethanol for 2 hr. Ten different soybean cultivars and nine commercial soybean pastes were analyzed by this method. The total isoflavone content was highest in the cultivar Somyung ($2,497\;{\mu}g/g$ dry weight). The isoflavone content in soybean pastes varied widely from manufacturer to manufacturer (an almost five-fold difference between the highest and lowest values). Such variations were presumably due to differences in fermentation conditions, type of soybeans used, and levels of such additives as starch and salt.

• BMB Reports
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• 제41권11호
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• pp.784-789
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• 2008

Mac-2BP is a ligand of the galectin family that has been suggested to affect tumor proliferation and metastasis formation. We assessed Mac-2BP expression at the transcriptional and translational levels to evaluate nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced Mac-2BP expression. A time kinetic analysis using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that NGF-induced Mac-2BP transcript levels were 4-5 times higher than in controls. Mac-2BP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immuno-fluorescence staining showed a 2-3-fold increase in intracellular and secreted Mac-2BP as a result of NGF stimulation. This increase was regulated by Akt activation and NF-${\kappa}B$ binding. p65 and p50-NF-${\kappa}B$ are major transcriptional factors in the Mac-2BP promoter region, and were shown to be regulated in accordance with the Akt activation states. Collectively, these results suggest that NGF induces Mac-2BP expression via the PI3K/Akt/NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.18-23
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• 2011

Objective: Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play an important role in regulating cellular differentiation and proliferation in several types of mammalian cells. This report examined the expression of Prx isotype I in the rat ovary after hormone treatment. Methods: Immature rats were injected with 10 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) to induce the growth of multiple preovulatory follicles and 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce ovulation. Immature rats were also treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES), an estrogen analogue, to induce the growth of multiple immature follicles. Northern blot analysis was performed to detect gene expression. Cell-type specific localization of Prx I mRNA were detected by in situ hybridization analysis. Results: During follicle development, ovarian Prx I gene expression was detected in 3-day-old rats and had increased in 21-day-old rats. The levels of Prx I mRNA slightly declined one to two days following treatment with DES. A gradual increase in Prx I gene expression was observed in ovaries obtained from PMSG-treated immature rats. Furthermore, hCG treatment of PMSG-primed rats resulted in a gradual stimulation of Prx I mRNA levels by 24 hours (2.1-fold increase) following treatment, which remained high until 72 hours following treatment. In situ hybridization analysis revealed the expression of the Prx I gene in the granulosa cells of PMSG-primed ovaries and in the corpora lutea of ovaries stimulated with hCG for 72 hours. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the gonadotropin and granulosa cell-specific stimulation of Prx I gene expression, suggesting its role as a local regulator of follicle development.