• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.9
• /
• pp.2649-2655
• /
• 2010

$PKC{\delta}$-catalytic V5 Heptapeptide (FEQFLDI, FP7) interacts with heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and inhibits HSP27-mediated resistance to cell death against various stimuli including radiation therapy. Here, we prepared radio-iodinated heptapeptide and further investigated its uptake properties in HSP27 expression cells. Peptide sequence of FP7 and a negative control peptide (WSLLEKR, QP7) was modified by substituting their C-terminus residue to tyrosine (FP6Y and QP6Y) to label radio-iodine. Iodinated peptides were confirmed by LC mass analysis with cold iodine reaction mixture. Accumulation of [$^{125}I$]iodo-FP6Y and [$^{125}I$]iodo-QP6Y in NCI-H1299 cell line, with higher level of HSP27, and NCI-H460 cell line, with lower level of HSP27, was measured by NaI(Tl) scintillation counter. The modification of substituting C-terminus residue of FP7 to tyrosine (FP6Y) did not affect its interaction with HSP27. Accumulation of [$^{125}I$]iodo-FP6Y in NCI-H1299 cells was 3 fold higher than in NCI-H460 cells. The novel radio-iodinated FP6Y would be used as a tracer for targeting HSP27 protein.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.291-304
• /
• 2007

Mutants of an obligate aerobic bacterium, Vitreoscilla, that have deficiency in heat-labile catalase-peroxidase hydroperoxidase I (HPI) were created by EMS treatment. The catalase-peroxidase HPI-deficient mutant showed substantially lower peroxidase activity in exponential and mid-stationary phase compared with the wild type strain. In late stationary phase, the mutant exhibited no peroxidase activity. Peroxidase deficiency in the mutant was revealed by polyacrylamide gels stained for peroxidase activity. Characteristically, catalase levels in the mutant increased about 14- and 8-fold during growth in the exponential and stationary phases, respectively, compared to those in the wild type, suggesting a compensatory effect for protection from $H_2O_2$ toxicity. The mutant showed differences in physiology from the wild type: retardation in growth rate and decrease in oxygen consumption. Both the wild type and the catalase-peroxidase HPI-deficient mutant of Vitreoscilla had lower growth rates in media containing increasing $H_2O_2$ concentrations. However, the mutant exhibited an additionally decreased growth rate after 6 to 8 h of growth compared to the wild type. The wild type was resistent up to 20 mM $H_2O_2$, whereas the mutant was very sensitive to high concentrations of exogenous $H_2O_2$. Although elevated catalase levels would provide protection of the bacteria from the deleterious effect of $H_2O_2$, it did not appear to be complete. Cell-free extracts of the mutant showed decreased NADH oxidation rates and higher accumulation of $H_2O_2$ during this oxidation. These results may account for the impaired growth and earlier onset of death phase by the catalase-peroxidase HPI-deficient mutant of Vitreoscilla.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.197-201
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-oxidative activity of pectin and other polysaccharides in order to develop a cosmeceutical base having anti-oxidative effects towards retinyl palmitate (RP). The anti-oxidative stabilizing effects of pectin and other polysaccharides on RP were evaluated by DPPH assay and then the stabilizing effect of pectin on RP was examined as a function of time. Among the polysaccharides we examined, pectin exhibited a considerably higher anti-oxidative activity, with an approximately 5-fold greater DPPH radical scavenging effect compared to other polysaccharides. The DPPH radical scavenging effect of pectin increased gradually with increasing concentrations of pectin. At two different RP concentrations, 0.01 and 0.1% in ethanol, addition of pectin improved the stability of RP in a concentration dependent manner. The stabilizing effect of pectin on RP was more effective for the lower concentration of RP (0.01%, v/v). Further, degradation of RP was reduced following the addition of pectin as measured over 8 hours. From the results obtained, it can be suggested that pectin may be a promising ingredient for cosmeceutical bases designed to stabilize RP or other pharmacological agents subject to degradation by oxidation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.395-404
• /
• 2017

Fungal cell walls and cell membranes are the main targets of antifungals. In this study, we report on the antifungal activity of an ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora against Candida albicans, showing that the antifungal activity is associated with the synergistic actions of preventing cell wall synthesis, enabling membrane depolarization, and compromising permeability. First, it was shown that the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora was involved in damaging the integrity of cell walls in C. albicans. In isotonic media, cell bursts of C. albicans by the P. lactiflora ethanol extract could be restored, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the P. lactiflora ethanol extract against C. albicans cells increased 4-fold. In addition, synthesis of $(1,3)-{\beta}-{\small{D}}-glucan$ polymer was inhibited by 87% and 83% following treatment of C. albicans microsomes with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract at their $1{\times}MIC$ and $2{\times}MIC$, respectively. Second, the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora influenced the function of C. albicans cell membranes. C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract formed red aggregates by staining with a membrane-impermeable dye, propidium iodide. Membrane depolarization manifested as increased fluorescence intensity by staining P. lactiflora-treated C. albicans cells with a membrane-potential marker, $DiBAC_4(3)$ ((bis-1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol). Membrane permeability was assessed by crystal violet assay, and C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract exhibited significant uptake of crystal violet in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings suggest that P. lactiflora ethanol extract is a viable and effective candidate for the development of new antifungal agents to treat Candida-associated diseases.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.65-81
• /
• 2005

Objectives: This study was conducted to describe child perceived health knowledge, health education needs, and health behaviors by sex as a representative general characteristic and examined their associations for students' better health behavior changes. Methods: The survey participants were 410 fourth to sixth grade students in two elementary schools in Seoul, Korea. A total of 12 classes in two elementary schools were randomly selected and all students of the selected classes participated in the self-administered survey. The questionnaire contained the items of perceived health knowledge, health education needs (health topics which they want to know more), health behavior, and general characteristics. Results: Perceived health knowledge, health education needs, and health behaviors were, generally, better among girls than boys. Sexual differences were not large in perceived health knowledge, health education needs, health behaviors. Perceived health knowledge had significant positive correlation with health behaviors both in boys and girls(p <.01). The correlation between perceived health knowledge and health behaviors(r =.36) was two fold greater than correlation between health education needs and health behaviors(r =.18) among boys; where as the two correlations were similar to each other among girls. The significant factors were perceived health knowledge, sex, grade, and health education needs in order, and the four factors described health behaviors in 21.0%. The higher perceived health knowledge, girls, lower grade, and more health education needs was associated with the better health behaviors. Conclusions: There was significant sexual difference of the relationship between health knowledge, health education needs, and health behaviors among children. Perceived health knowledge was more important factor to improve health behaviors among boys while perceived health knowledge and health education needs had equal importance on health behaviors among girls. Therefore, knowledge building should be an essential part of health education class goals for building better health behaviors.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.883-887
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to develop a new preparation process for chemical transformation of ginseng saponin glycosides to prosapogenins. Ginseng and ginseng extracts were processed under several treatment conditions using ascorbic acid solution. Treating with ascorbic acid at pH 2-3 and above $80^{\circ}C$ increased the ginsenoside $Rg_3$ content of samples to over 3% as compared to other pH levels and temperatures. In addition, ginseng and ginseng extracts that were processed under a high ascorbic acid solution treatment condition (pH 2.0, 5 hr) contained more ginsenoside $Rg_3$ (approximately 16 times) than those processed under a low ascorbic acid solution treatment condition (pH 3.0, 5 hr). The highest quantity of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ (3.434%) occurred when a sample of fine ginseng root extract (AG2-9) was processed with the ascorbic acid solution at pH 2.0 for 9 hr. However, there was no change in the amount of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ when fine ginseng root extracts were processed with ascorbic acid solution at pH 2.0 for over 9 hr. In conclusion, the results indicated that ascorbic acid treatment of ginseng extracts can produce a level of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ that is over 90-fold the amount found in commercial red ginseng.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.201-210
• /
• 2001

Background : Approximately 10-13% of patients with interstitial lung disease(ILD) die of lung cancer, and patients with ILD have been reported to have a 7 fold higher incidence of lung cancer compared to the normal population. Recently, overexpression of the p53 and p21 proteins were observed in the epithelial cells from pathologic specimens of ILD. Overexpression of these proteins may result from chronic or recurrent DNA damage by unknown causes of inflammation. However, these proteins may also contribute to oncogenesis if other genetic alterations such as K-ras are superimposed. Methods : Immunohistochemical stains for p53 and K-ras proteins were performed with pathologic specimens from 38 cases with ILD(M/F : 27/11, mean agea : $54{\pm}10$ years) and from 10 control subjects. Results : The p53 protein was expressed in 21.1% (8/38 ILD cases) and K-ras protein expression was observed in 65.8% (25/38 ILD cases). However, neither p53 nor the K-ras protein staining was observed in the control subjects. Conclusion : A significant proportion of cases with ILD expressed the p53 and K-ras proteins in their bronchial epithelial cells. These proteins may be potentially oncogenic with the addition of further genetic alterations. However, to clarify the significance of these findings, further studies looking for correlations with the incidence of lung cancer and other genetic changes are needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.264-273
• /
• 2001

Antimicrobial activities of ave different probiotics (Lactobacillus reuteri, L. acidophillus, L. bulgaricus, L. casei and Bifidobacterium longum) against 8 bacterial pathogens were determined on the Mueller Hinton Agar containing supernatant of probiotics obtained from 3 different growth conditions (MRS without glycerol, MRS with 0.5 M glycerol or 0.25 M glycerol solution). Though antimicrobial activity of L. reuteri in the first two conditions was not better than the others', the activity was significantly higher than that of others in 0.25 M glycerol solution. This prominent effect might be attributable to reuterin, produced by L. reuteri using glycerol. We could detect the presence of reuterin in the supernatant of 0.25 M glycerol solution with 500 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The result of minimum bactericidal concentration (dilution fold) has revealed that reuterin showed pan-bactericidal effects against 8 major food-borne pathogens. To examine any changes of antimicrobial activities of the probiotics, the probiotics were treated with different pH conditions, pepsin or trypsin digestion. Antimicrobial activity of reuterin was not entirely affected by any of these treatments, while the activities of the other probiotics were significantly decreased.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.113-124
• /
• 2001

For veterinary imaging diagnosis, we obtained MR images of the canine brain, spine, kidney and pelvis from 3T MRI system which was equipped with the world first 3T active shield magnet. Spin echo (SE) and fast Spin Echo (FSE) images were obtained from the canine brain, spine, kidney and pelvis of normal and sick dogs using a homemade birdcage and transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonators operating in quadrature and tuned to 128 MHz. In addition, we employed a homemade saddle shaped RF coil. Typical common acquisition parameters were as follows: matrix=512$\times$512, field of view (FOV)=20cm, slice thickness=3 w, number of excitations (NEX)=1. For T1-weighted MR images, we used TR=500 ms, TE=10 or 17.4 ms. For T2-weighted MR images, we used TR=4000 ms, TE=108 ms. Signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 3T system was measured 2.7 times greater than that of prevalent 1.57 system. The high resolution images acquired in this study represent more than a 4-fold increase in in-plane resolution relative to conventional images obtained with a 20 cm field of view and a 5 mm slice thickness. MR images obtained from 3T system revealed numerous small venous structures throughout the image plane and provided reasonable delineation between gray and white matter The present results demonstrate that the MR images from 3T system could provide better diagnostic quality of resolution and sensitivity than those of 1.5T system. The elevated SNR observed in the 3T high field magnetic resonance imaging can be utilized to acquire images with a level of resolution approaching the microscopic structural level under in vivo conditions. These images represent a significant advance in our ability to examine small anatomical features with noninvasive imaging methods. Moreover, MRI technique could begin to apply for veterinary medicine in Korea.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2002

Submerged cultures of Ganoderma lucidum, a valuable mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine, were used for production of bioactive Banoderic acids and Ganoderma polysaccharides. The significant effects of oxygen supply were demonstrated in both shake flasks and bioreactors. By changing the medium loading volume in a shake flask, a different value of initial volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient ($K_L$a) was obtained, and a higher $K_L$a value led to a higher biomass density and a higher productivity of both intracellular polysaccharide and ganoderic acid. In a stirred bioreactor, at an initial $K_L$a of 78.2 $h^{-1}$, a maximal cell concentration of 15.6 g/L by dry weight was obtained, as well as a maximal intracellular polysarcharide (IPS) production of 2.2 g/L and its maximal productivity of 220 mg/(L.d). An increase of initial $K_L$a led to a higher production and productivity of GA, and the GA production and productivity at an initial $K_L$a of 96.0 $h^{-1}$ was 1.8-fold those at an initial $K_L$a of 16.4 $h^{-1}$. The fundamental information obtained in this study may be useful for efficient large-scale production of these valuable bioactive products by the submerged cultures.