• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.510-517
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• 2013

This study was performed to evaluate the antiobesity effect of supercritical fluid extracts (SFC) and marc methanol extracts (SFM) from Cinnamomum verum in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In inducing the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in the presence of an adipogenic cocktail, iso-butylmethylanthine (IBMX), dexamathasone, and insulin, treatment with fraction residue SFC and SFM. SFC significantly reduced the mRNA expression of the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activate-dreceptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), the sterol regulatory-element-binding protein-1c (SREBP1c), and the CCAAT enhancer-binding-protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, SFC markedly down-regulated acyl-CoA synthetase-1 (ASC1), fatty acid synthesis (FAS), fatty acid transport-1 (FATP1), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), and perilipin. These findings suggest that SFC may be a potential therapeutic adjunct for obesity by targeting the differentiation of preadipocytes, as well as their functions.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 1999

Self-Assembled monolayers of carboxyl-terminated alkanethiols, which is negatively charged in pH 7.0, were usually used to facilitate the electron transfer between the positively charged protein and the electrode. In case of L-cysteine, as it has both positive and negative group, it can be a candidate for a new modifier to facilitate positively charged protein or negatively charged protein. Our investigation of L-cysteine shows that the electron transfer occurs successfully to both cytochrome c (cyt. c) and pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). By using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dime-thlyaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), we made a covalent bond between cyt. c and monolayer. Then PQQ was electrostatically adsorbed to the same monolayer. Cyclic voltammograms show that both molecules do not interfere each other and electron transfer is appreciable.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1-18
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the association between plant protein intake and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Korean individuals aged 50 years or older. Using the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 7,956 participants (3,434 men and 4,522 women) were included in the study. HRQoL was measured using the Euro-quality of life five-dimension (EQ5D), composed of physical function, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression problems. The EQ5D estimates were converted into an EQ5D index score. The association between daily intake of plant proteins and HRQoL was evaluated using regression analysis. The intake of total plant protein, legume nut seed (LNS), and fermented bean (FERMB) proteins were all positively associated with HRQoL in both men and women (p < 0.01). Of EQ5D's five dimensions, physical function and daily activities were most commonly associated with plant protein intake. Compared to LNS protein or FERMB protein intake, total plant protein intake showed a better association with HRQoL. In conclusion, a significant association was observed between plant protein intake and HRQoL. It suggests that adequate intake of plant protein might be helpful for the maintenance or improvement of HRQoL in Korean adults.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.350-355
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• 2010

Among human antimicrobial peptides (hAMPs), DCD-1L has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity over a wide pH range and in high salt concentrations. It offers a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. The 458-bp-long dermcidin cDNA was amplified by PCR using a human fetal cDNA library as a template. The 147-bp fragment of the MDCD-1L gene encoding an additional methionine residue was subcloned into the pTYB11 vector. Recombinant MDCD-1L was expressed as an intein fusion protein in E. coli, and then purified by affinity chromatography using chitin beads. A small peptide with a molecular mass of about 5 kDa was detected by tricine gel electrophoresis. The recombinant MDCD-1L peptide was purified from the gel and its amino acid sequence was determined by nanoLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. The initiating amino acid, methionine, remained attached to the N-terminal region of recombinant MDCD-1L. Purified MDCD-1L showed antimicrobial activity against a Micrococcus luteus test strain.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.813-820
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• 2013

Monoterpenoids were recently found as main biologically active compounds which is responsible for various physiological effect in goat's beard (Aruncus dioicus). Ethyl acetate extract of A. dioicus (ADE) was treated to B16F10 melanoma cells for the examination of whitening activity. MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell toxicity and the result showed that slight cell toxicity (> 10%) by over $500{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$. Thus, 0, 5, 10, or $50{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ ADE was used for further experiments. We found that tyrosinase activity was decreased according to ADE concentration, and the total melanin content was also dramatically reduced. Especially with $50{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ ADE treatment tyrosinase activity was reduced to 35.6%, and 58.8% of melanin content was lowered. In addition, whitening related proteins including tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein 1 (TRP1), TRP2, microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) and cAMP and protein kinase A (PKA) were reduced by ADE treatment. It caused decreased phosphorylation of cAMP response binding protein (CREB) but increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal related kinase (ERK). Therefore, in this paper we would like to suggest the potent usage of A. dioicus natively grown in Ulleungdo, Korea as materials of functional cosmetics by confirming whitening activity related with melanin content.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1919-1926
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• 2008

Statistical experimental designs; involving (i) a fractional factorial design (FFD) and (ii) a central composite design (CCD) were applied to optimize the culture medium constituents for production of a unique antifreeze protein by the Antartic micro algae Chaetoceros neogracile. The results of the FFD suggested that NaCl, KCl, $MgCl_2$, and ${Na}_{2}{SiO}_{3}$ were significant variables that highly influenced the growth rate and biomass production. The optimum culture medium for the production of an antifreeze protein from C. neogracile was found to be Kalle's artificial seawater, pH of $7.0{\pm}0.5$, consisting of 28.566 g/l of NaCl, 3.887 g/l of $MgCl_2$, 1.787 g/l of $MgSO_4$, 1.308 g/l of $CaSO_4$, 0.832 g/l of ${K_2}{SO_4}$, 0.124 g/l of $CaCO_3$, 0.103 g/l of KBr, 0.0288 g/l of $SrSO_4$, and 0.0282 g/l of ${H_3}{BO_3}$. The antifreeze activity significantly increased after cells were treated with cold shock (at $-5^{\circ}C$) for 14 h. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating an antifreeze-like protein of C. neogracile.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.108-108
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• 2018

In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effect of extracts of leaves (ST-L) and branches (ST-B) from Sageretia theezans in human colorectal cancer cells. ST-L and ST-B significantly inhibited the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells, SW480. ST-L and ST-B decreased cyclin D1 protein level through the induction of cyclin D1 proteasomal degradation via $GSK3{\beta}$-dependent threonine-286 phosphorylation of cyclin D1. In addition, ST-L and ST-B increased HO-1 protein through p38, ROS and $GSK3{\beta}$-dependent Nrf2 activation. These findings suggest that ST-L and ST-B may have great potential for the development of anti-cancer drug to treat human colorectal cancer.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in adipose tissue causes an inflammatory response and leads to metabolic diseases. However, the association between vitamin D and adipose ER stress remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) alleviates ER stress in adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with different concentrations (i.e., 10-100 nM) of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ after or during differentiation (i.e., on day 0-7, 3-7, or 7). They were then incubated with thapsigargin (TG, 500 nM) for an additional 24 h to induce ER stress. Next, we measured the mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in unfold protein response (UPR) and adipogenesis using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting and quantified the secreted protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the mRNA levels of UPR pathway genes were measured in adipocytes transfected with siRNA-targeting Vdr. RESULTS: Treatment with 1,25(OH)₂D₃ during various stages of adipocyte differentiation significantly inhibited ER stress induced by TG. In fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment suppressed mRNA levels of Ddit3, sXbp1, and Atf4 and decreased the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. However, downregulation of the mRNA levels of Ddit3, sXbp1, and Atf4 following 1,25(OH)₂D₃ administration was not observed in Vdr-knockdown adipocytes. In addition, exposure of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to 1,25(OH)₂D₃ inhibited transcription of Ddit3, sXbp1, Atf4, Bip, and Atf6 and reduced the p-alpha subunit of translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α)/eIF2α and p-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK)/PERK protein ratios. Furthermore, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment before adipocyte differentiation reduced adipogenesis and the mRNA levels of adipogenic genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ prevents TG-induced ER stress and inflammatory responses in mature adipocytes by downregulating UPR signaling via binding with Vdr. In addition, the inhibition of adipogenesis by vitamin D may contribute to the reduction of ER stress in adipocytes.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1998

Recombinant polioviruses have been developed by many research groups for use as vaccine vector because poliovirus induces mucosal immunity as well as humoral immunity through oral uptake. We assessed the potential use of poliovirus as a T-cell epitope carrier. Recombinant poliovirus V129 5L was constructed to have a substituted T-helper epitope from the core protein of Hepatitis B virus at neutralization antigenic site 1 on its VP1 capsid protein. The recombinant virus replicated less efficiently than type 1 poliovirus Mahoney strain. The V129 5L formed a little smaller plaques than the Mahoney strain and showed some 1.25 log unit lower titer at the peak in the one-step growth kinetics though it had similar growth profile to that of the Mahoney strain. Since V129 5L recombinant virus was genetically stable even after 24 successive passages in HeLa cells, the antigenic site 1 on VP1 capsid protein was confirmed for its ability of carrying T cell epitope. The genetic stability of V129 5L also indicated that recombinant poliovirus can be successfully utilized for the development of the multivalent vaccines.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1510-1518
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• 2010

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lighting schedule and nutrient density on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of broiler chickens. A total of 576 day old Arbor Acre male chickens was used with a $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement. The four lighting schedules were continuous (23 L:1 D, CL), 20 L:4 D (12 L:2 D:8 L:2 D), 16 L:8 D (12 L:3 D:2 L:3 D: 2 L:2 D) and 12 L:12 D (9 L:3 D:1 L:3 D:1 L:3 D:1 L:3 D) and provided by incandescent bulbs. The two nutrient densities were high (H, starter diet: 13.39 MJ/kg apparent metabolisable energy (AME), 23.00% crude protein (CP); finisher diet: 13.39 MJ AME/kg, 19.70% CP) and low energy and protein level (L, starter diet: 12.03 MJ AME/kg, 20.80% CP; finisher diet: 12.14 MJ AME/kg, 18.30% CP). Houses with dark curtains and solid sidewalls were used. Chickens were randomly allocated to the 8 treatments with each treatment comprising 6 replicates of 12 chickens. Feed and water were available ad libitum. Lighting schedules showed no difference (p>0.05) in growth performance at the end of the experiment. 12 L:12 D significantly reduced (p<0.05) the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to 23 L:1 D treatment. Intermittent lighting (IL) schedules produced higher protein content (p<0.001) in breast meat. Birds on high density diets had higher body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) (p<0.001), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p<0.001) throughout the experiment with the exception of 36 to 42 d. High nutrient density increased (p<0.05) abdominal fat, decreased (p<0.05) the moisture loss of meat, and reduced percentage of wings and legs. There was a significant lighting schedule${\times}$diet interaction (p<0.001) on FCR for days 8 to 14 and 15 to 21. Results indicated that IL can give similar growth performance in comparison with CL, meanwhile with positive effects on meat quality by increasing protein content and decreasing the concentration of MDA. High nutrient density resulted in greater growth performance.