• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.743-750
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• 1999

Human and bovine dopamine transporters (DAT) demonstrate discrete functional differences in the dopamine (DA) transport and cocaine binding. The functional analyses on the chimeras of human and bovine DAT have revealed that the region from the $133^{rd}{\;}to{\;}186^{th}$ residue(encompassing the $3^{rd}$ trans-membrane domain (TM) is responsible for the substrate transport and cocaine binding. The present studies have been done to find out the specific amino acid(s) which is essential for the binding of cocaine to DAT by interchanging the amino acids in that region between human and bovine DAT. When isoleucine, the $152^{nd}$ residue of chimera B3 (bovine DAT sequence) was transformed back to valine, the human DAT residue at the identical position, the cocaine binding was remarkably recovered to 98% of the human DAT values. In addition, the cocaine binding of the human DAT was decreased by 57% by substituting isoleucine for valine at position 152. When isoleucine at position 152 of the chimera B3 was converted to the other amino acids to provide an possible molecular basis for the functional role of the $152^{nd}$ residue, only the conversion to alanine among acids tested significantly the cocaine by 34%, but these effect were not as much as those by the conversion to valine. In conclusion, valine at position 152 is a crucial amino acid for the interaction of cocaine to the DAT.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.235-241
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• 2002

Sophorolipid, a biosurfactant produced from Candida bombicola ATCC 22214, showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Streptococcus mutans, and Propionibacterium acne at 4, 1, 1, 0.5 ppm, respectively. Also, 100 ppm of sophorolipid inhibited $50\%$ of cell growth of plant pathogenic fungus, Botrytis cineria. However, sophorolipid showed no effect on Escherichia coli, indicating that its selective antimicrobial activity depended on the cell wall structure. Treatment of B. subtilis with sophorolipid increased leakage of intracellular enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, indicating a possible interaction of sophorolipid with a cellular membrane. Comparing lactone-type and acid-type sophorolipids, the former showed a higher antimicrobial activity. Supplementing other surfactants showed no significant effects on the antimicrobial activity. Animal study showed that 5 g of sophorolipid per kg body weight by oral administration caused no toxicity, and sophorolipid induced no irritation on the skin. These results show potential use of sophorolipid as an active ingredient in healthcare products.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.489-490
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• 2006

Branched sulfonated poly(ether sulfone-ketone) copolymer was prepared with bisphenol A, 4,4-difluorobenzophenone, sulfonated chlorophenyl sulfone (40mole% of bisphenol A) and THPE (1,1,1-tris-p-hydroxyphenylethane). THPE was used 0.4 mol% of bisphenol A to synthesize branched copolymers. Organic-inorganic nano composite membranes were prepared with copolymer and a series of $SiO_2$ nanoparticles (20 nm, 4, 7 and 10 wt%). The composite membranes were cast from dimethylsulfoxide solutions. The films were converted from the salt to acid forms with dilute hydrochloric acid. The membranes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Sorption experiments were conducted to observe the interaction of sulfonated polymers with water and methanol. Branched copolymer and nano composite membranes exhibit proton conductivities from $1.12{\times}10^{-3}$ to $6.04{\times}10^{-3}\;S/cm^2$, water uptake from 52.9 to 62.4%, IEC from 0.81 to 1.21 meq/g and methanol diffusion coefficients from $1.2{\times}10^{-7}$ to $1.5{\times}10^{-7}\;cm^2/S$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 1999

Induction of apoptosis is considered to be the underlying mechanism that accounts for the efficiency of chemotherapeutic drugs. It has recently been proposed that doxorubicin (DOX) can induce apoptosis in human leukemic cells via the Fas/Fas Ligand (FasL) system. Comparison of Fas and FasL mRNA expression between drug- and anti-Fas antibody(Fas-Ab)- induced apoptosis was analyzed for examining the role of Fas/FasL system in the mediation of drug-induced apoptosis. After HL-60 cells were routinely cultured, MTT assay was performed for cytotoxicity test. Giemsa staining was carried out to monitor the apoptosis morphologically. By semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis, the expression of Fas and FasL at 4, 10, 24 hours was determined after DOX and Fas-Ab treatment. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was induced by DOX-treatment, while Fas-Ab treatment showed the similar dose-dependent pattern but the cytotoxicity is not reached at LD$_{50}$ at 100 ng/ml concentration of Fas-Ab. In the 10ng/m1 DOX and 10ng/m1 Fas-Ab treated group, typical apoptotic cell morphology was shown such as fragmented nuclei and cell membrane budding in the Giemsa-stained slide. Fas mRNA expression was not changed significantly in the both groups. But, FasL mRNA expression was induced significantly at initial period of apoptosis. In this study, Fas/FasL interaction assumed to be involved in drug-induced apoptosis.s.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.332-336
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• 2018

Alkaline oxygen electrocatalysis, targeting anion exchange membrane alkaline-based metal-air batteries has become a subject of intensive investigation because of its advantages compared to its acidic counterparts in reaction kinetics and materials stability. However, significant breakthroughs in the design and synthesis of efficient oxygen reduction catalysts from earth-abundant elements instead of precious metals in alkaline media still remain in high demand. One of the most inexpensive alternatives is carbonaceous materials, which have attracted extensive attention either as catalyst supports or as metal-free cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction. Also, carbon composite materials have been recognized as the most promising because of their reasonable balance between catalytic activity, durability, and cost. In particular, heteroatom (e.g., N, B, S or P) doping on carbon materials can tune the electronic and geometric properties of carbon, providing more active sites and enhancing the interaction between carbon structure and active sites. Here, we focused on boron and nitrogen doped nanocarbon composit (BNC nanocarbon) catalysts synthesized by a solution plasma process using the simple precursor of pyridine and boric acid without further annealing process. Additionally, guidance for rational design and synthesis of alkaline ORR catalysts with improved activity is also presented.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Macrophage is an important innate immune cell that not only initiates inflammatory responses, but also functions in tissue repair and anti-inflammatory responses. Regulating macrophage activity is thus critical to maintain immune homeostasis. Tyro3, Axl, and Mer are integral membrane proteins that constitute TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Growing evidence indicates that TAM family receptors play an important role in anti-inflammatory responses through modulating the function of macrophages. First, macrophages can recognize apoptotic bodies through interaction between TAM family receptors expressed on macrophages and their ligands attached to apoptotic bodies. Without TAM signaling, macrophages cannot clear up apoptotic cells, leading to broad inflammation due to over-activation of immune cells. Second, TAM signaling can prevent chronic activation of macrophages by attenuating inflammatory pathways through particular pattern recognition receptors and cytokine receptors. Third, TAM signaling can induce autophagy which is an important mechanism to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. Fourth, TAM signaling can inhibit polarization of M1 macrophages. In this review, we will focus on mechanisms involved in how TAM family of RTKs can modulate function of macrophage associated with anti-inflammatory responses described above. We will also discuss several human diseases related to TAM signaling and potential therapeutic strategies of targeting TAM signaling.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

The gut is a complex organ that has played an important role in digestion, absorption, endocrine functions, and immunity. The gut mucosal barriers consist of the immunologic barrier and nonimmunologic barrier. During critical illnesses, the gut is susceptible to injury due to the induction of intestinal hyperpermeability. Gut hyperpermeability and barrier dysfunction may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Additionally, gut microbiota are altered during critical illnesses. The etiology of such microbiome alterations in critical illnesses is multifactorial. The interaction or systemic host defense modulation between distant organs and the gut microbiome is increasingly studied in disease research. No treatment modality exists to significantly enhance the gut epithelial integrity, permeability, or mucus layer in critically ill patients. However, multiple helpful approaches including clinical and preclinical strategies exist. Enteral nutrition is associated with an increased mucosal barrier in animal and human studies. The trophic effects of enteral nutrition might help to maintain the intestinal physiology, prevent atrophy of gut villi, reduce intestinal permeability, and protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury. The microbiome approach such as the use of probiotics, fecal microbial transplantation, and selective decontamination of the digestive tract has been suggested. However, its evidence does not have a high quality. To promote rapid hypertrophy of the small bowel, various factors have been reported, including the epidermal growth factor, membrane permeant inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, mucus surrogate, pharmacologic vagus nerve agonist, immune-enhancing diet, and glucagon-like peptide-2 as preclinical strategies. However, the evidence remains unclear.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.203-210
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• 2021

Difficulties in treating chronic prostatitis cause physical pain and mental problems not only for the treating doctor, but also for the patient. Accordingly, the device of the present research was developed to help patients suffering from prostate symptoms due to the vibration effect of shock wave energy caused by thermal and mechanical interaction of the external shock wave. The purpose of this study is to provide an effective treatment means for prostatitis and BPH(Benign prostatic hyperplasia) by devising an extracorporeal shockwave therapy device that effectively applies the heat and vibration effects of concentrated energy by MCU and spiral coil module.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.102-114
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• 2022

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) is a gram-negative, broad host range bacterial pathogen which causes soft rot disease in potatoes as well as other vegetables worldwide. While Pectobacterium infection relies on the production of major cell wall degrading enzymes, other virulence factors and the mechanism of genetic adaptation of this pathogen is not yet clear. In the present study, we have performed an in-depth genome-wide characterization of Pcc strain ICMP5702 isolated from potato and compared it with other pathogenic bacteria from the Pectobacterium genus to identify key virulent determinants. The draft genome of Pcc ICMP5702 contains 4,774,457 bp with a G + C content of 51.90% and 4,520 open reading frames. Genome annotation revealed prominent genes encoding key virulence factors such as plant cell wall degrading enzymes, flagella-based motility, phage proteins, cell membrane structures, and secretion systems. Whereas, a majority of determinants were conserved among the Pectobacterium strains, few notable genes encoding AvrE-family type III secretion system effectors, pectate lyase and metalloprotease in addition to the CRISPR-Cas based adaptive immune system were uniquely represented. Overall, the information generated through this study will contribute to decipher the mechanism of infection and adaptive immunity in Pcc.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.259-267
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• 2022

Although pesticides are recognized as necessary substances to improve agricultural production, exposure to pesticides is known to have a direct or indirect adverse effect on the reproductive function of mammals. The present study examines the effects of mancozeb, a well-known fungicide, on the fertility capacity of spermatozoa. Boar spermatozoa exposed to varying concentrations of mancozeb (0.01 - 0.5 µM) were evaluated for motility, motion kinetic parameters, viability, acrosome integrity and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) after 30 min or 2 hrs of incubation. A significant reduction in the motility of spermatozoa was observed upon exposure to mancozeb. Similarly, there was a significant reduction of the motion kinematics of sperm treated with mancozeb as compared to untreated controls (p < 0.05). The sperm viability percentage and acrosome integrity also showed dose-dependent decreases upon exposure to mancozeb. High concentrations of mancozeb (0.2 - 0.5 µM) induced higher levels of intracellular ROS production, which resulted in the loss of the sperm membrane and decreased sperm motility due to oxidative stress. Taken together, the results here indicate that direct exposure to mancozeb affects the sperm fertility capacity. Hence, careful research that examines the interaction between reproduction and environmental toxins is crucial to prevent fertility disorders in animals.