• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.170-175
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• 2006

The extensive isolation of genes responsive to stressful conditions from a soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum was described. Soft coral colonies were exposed to thermal and chemical stressors to induce the expression of stress related genes. Differentially expressed genes by natural or anthropogenic stressors were identified by construction of standard and stress exposed-paired subtractive cDNA library. Thirty-two and thirty-seven kinds of candidate genes were identified from thermal or benzo[a]pyrene stress exposed group, respectively, which are associated with cell cycle, cell signaling, transcription, translation, protein metabolism, and other cellular functions. The expected function of each gene was described. The isolated and identified differentially expressed genes have a great potential to identify environmental stressors in global environmental changes and could act as molecular biomarkers for biological responses against environmental changes. Finally, it may open a new paradigm on soft coral health assessment.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.186-196
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• 2023

Dyglomera^® is an aqueous ethanol extract derived from the fruit and pods of Dichrostachys glomerata. A previous study has revealed that Dyglomera regulates adipogenesis and lipolysis by modulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and increased expression levels of lipolysis-related proteins in white adipose tissue of high fat diet-induced mice and 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. To further investigate mechanisms of Dyglomera, additional studies were performed using 3T3-L1 cells. Results revealed that Dyglomera downregulated adipogenesis by inhibiting the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway and reconfirmed that it downregulated gene expression levels of proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, sterol-regulation element-binding protein-1c. Dyglomera also reduced adipokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin 6 by regulating leptin expression. Moreover, Dyglomera promoted beige-and-brown adipocyte-related phenotypes and regulated metabolism by increasing mitochondrial number and expression levels of genes such as T-box protein 1, transmembrane protein 26, PR domain 16, and cluster of differentiation 40 as well as thermogenic factors such as uncoupling protein 1, proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1α, Sirtuin 1, and PPARα through AMPK activation. Thus, Dyglomera not only can inhibit adipogenesis, but also can promote lipolysis and thermogenesis and regulate metabolism by affecting adipokine secretion from 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2015

Water chestnut (Trapa japonica Flerov.) is an annual aquatic plant. In the present study, we showed that the treatment of water chestnut extracted with boiling water resulted in a significant increase 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and decrease the intracellular $H_2O_2$-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species. In addition, water chestnut extract (WCE) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production and suppressed mRNA and protein expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene. The cytokine array results showed that WCE inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion. Also, WCE reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$- and interleukin-6-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activity. Furthermore, during sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation of human skin, WCE reduced SLS-induced skin erythema and improved barrier regeneration. These results indicate that WCE may be a promising topical anti-inflammatory agent.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 1987

A Peri-and Postnatal Study was Carried out to examine the effects of rHuIFN-${\alpha}A$, produced by gene-manipulated E. coli, on offsprings of Wistar rats. The substance was administered intraperitoneally to dams at dose levels of $1{\times}10^5$, $4{\times}10^5$ and $1.2{\times}10^6$ I.U/kg/day during the period from day 17 of gestation to day 21 after delivery. All the pregnant dams were allowed to deliver naturally, and the postnatal development of the offsprings was observed. No noticeable toxic effects and pathological changes on dams were observed, and no detectable variations in postnatal development of offsprings occured.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2006

A bacterial strain capable of hydrolyzing carrageenan was isolated from the coast of Busan in Korea. The isolated strain (HS5322) is aerobic, gram-negative, rod-shaped, and motile. Comparison of the 16S rDNA of the isolate with that of known Pseudomonas sp. showed that sequence similarity was at most 95%, implying that the isolate is a new Pseudomonas species. The organism grew optimally at NaCl concentrations of 2.0 to 2.5%. The optimum temperature and pH for carrageenase production in a 72-h flask culture containing 1% carrageenan was $20^{\circ}C$ and pH 8.5, respectively. Of the synthetic substrates tested, the highest enzyme activity was obtained with p-nitrophenyl ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.221-227
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• 2019

During the operation, maintenance and decommissioning of nuclear power plant radioactive contaminated waste is produced. This waste is stored in an underground repository 60-100 meters below the surface. The metallic portion of this waste comprises mostly carbon and stainless steel. A long-term field exposure showed high corrosion rates, general corrosion up to 29 ㎛ a^-1 and localized corrosion even higher. High corrosion rate is possible if microbes produce corrosive products, or alter the local microenvironment to favor corrosion. The bacterial and archaeal composition of biofilm formed on the surface of carbon steel was studied using 16S rRNA gene targeting sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analyses of the microbial community. The functional potential of the microbial communities in biofilm was studied by functional gene targeting quantitative PCR. The corrosion rate was calculated from weight loss measurements and the deposits on the surfaces were analyzed with SEM/EDS and XRD. Our results demonstrate that microbial diversity on the surface of carbon steel and their functionality is vast. Our results suggest that in these nutrient poor conditions the role of methanogenic archaea in corrosive biofilm, in addition to sulphate reducing bacteria, could be greater than previously suspected.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.21-28
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• 2004

모든 생명체의 genetic information에는 보존적 염기서열과 다형적 염기서열이 존재한다. 다형적 염기서열과 보존적 염기서열은 하나의 종(species)을 감별하거나, 여러 종류의 종을 동시에 감별할 수 있는 genotyping의 표지자로 각각 이용될 수 있다. 본 논문은 병원성 감염질환 세균, 식중독 유발 세균, 생물의약품 오염 유발 세균 및 환경오염 세균 등 세균의 존재 유무와 속과 종 감별을 위해 대부분 세균 종의 보존적 염기서열과 다형적인 염기서열을 포함하고 있는 23S rDNA 유전자의 표적 염기 서열로부터 고안된 세균 특이적(bacterial-specific), 속 특이적(genus-specific), 종 특이적(species-specific) 올리고 뉴클레오티드프로브와 프라이머를 디자인하는 시스템을 소개한다. 시스템을 통해서 얻어진 프로브와 프라이머들은 PCR을 통한 검증단계를 거쳐서 디자인 결과의 정확성을 확인하였다. 본 시스템의 이용으로 프로브와 프라이머를 디자인하는데 몇 주가 소요되는 시간을 몇 일 내로 줄일 수 있었으며, 체계적인 데이터의 관리로 결과의 정확성을 높일 수 있었다.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2013

Objectives: Hyaluronic acid, high molecular glycosaminoglycan, exists in extracellular matrix of tissue, especially, in skin and has been known to be deeply involved in skin hydration. In this study, we investigated the effect of methanol extract of Hwang-gi, Astragalus membranaceus root, on hyaluronic acid production in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Methods: We determined hyaluronic acid synthase 2 gene expression and hyaluronic acid production in HaCaT cells by using RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Results: Hwang-gi extract didn't show the toxicity to HaCaT cells within the treated concentration and increased the hyaluronic acid synthase 2 gene expression and hyaluronic acid production. Conclusions: Hyaluronic acid production increased by Hwang-gi could be, partially, contribute to the moisturing effect in skin by it.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.304-309
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• 2009

Nanoparticulate platinum (II) (nano Pt) is a powerful antioxidant that is widely used to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidant activity of nano Pt has gained attention as a potentially useful therapeutic for a variety of diseases including cancer and aging. In the present study, we prepared nanoparticulate saponin-Pt (II) (nano saponin-Pt) conjugates using the ethanol reduction method to enhance the permeability and retention effect of Pt. The nano saponin-Pt conjugates were found to restore the viability of approximately 40% of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, we found that nano saponin-Pt conjugates acted as a potent antioxidant that reduced the production of ROS and inhibited activation of the MAP kinase pathway and MIP-2 gene expression in response to DNFB. These results provide insight into the potential usefulness of nano saponin-Pt conjugates as a treatment for contact hypersensitivity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2015

This study describes a novel strategy to regulate the metabolic flux for lactic acid production in Lactobacillus casei. The ldhL gene encoding _L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH) was overexpressed in L. casei, and a two-stage oxygen supply strategy (TOS) that maintained a medium oxygen supply level during the early fermentation phase, and a low oxygen supply level in the later phase was carried out. As a consequence, a maximum L-LDH activity of 95.6 U/ml was obtained in the recombinant strain, which was over 4-fold higher than that of the initial strain. Under the TOS for L. casei (pMG-ldhL), the maximum lactic acid concentration of 159.6 g/l was obtained in 36 h, corresponding to a 62.8% increase. The results presented here provide a novel way to regulate the metabolic flux of L. casei for lactic acid production in different fermentation stages, which is available to enhance organic acid production in other strains.