• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2006

Objectives : Polymorphisms of genes from glutathione Stransferases (GSTs) and N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) have been associated with increased susceptibility to various cancers. Previous results showed that East Asians such as Koreans, Japanese and Chinese have a much higher frequency of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and NAT2 rapid acetylator type. Therefore, we investigated the association between the polymorphic types of GSTs (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1) and NAT2 and the incidence of gastric cancer which is one of the most prevalent cancers among the East Asians. Methods : It was performed in a case-control study consisting of 238 healthy subjects and 108 cancer patients (54 distal and 54 proximal carcinomas). We also evaluated the association between GSTs and NAT2 and the risk factors for gastric cancer such as alcohol consumption, smoking, H. pylori infection, family history of gastric cancer, and tumor location. Results : In our study, the percentage of cases whose hometown was rural was higher than those of controls (odds ratio (OR) =2.88; 95% CI=1.72-4.76), and the frequency of the lower socio-economic status increased significantly in patients (OR=2.53; 95% CI=1.59-4.02). There was no significant difference in the GST polymorphic types between the cases and controls. However, NAT2 rapid or intermediate acetylator types were frequently detected in the cases with family history of gastric cancer (OR=1.92; 95% CI=1.79-26.0). Conclusions : These results suggest that the hometown and socio-economic status are important environmental factors for gastric carcinogenesis, and NAT2 polymorphic types could be associated with familial gastric carcinoma.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2019

Recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum producing N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) was constructed by metabolic engineering. To construct a basal strain producing GlcNAc, the genes nagA, nagB, and nanE encoding N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase, glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase, and N-acetylmannosamine-6-phosphate epimerase, respectively, were sequentially deleted from C. glutamicum ATCC 13032, yielding strain KG208. In addition, the genes glmS and gna1 encoding glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase and glucosamine-6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase, which originated from C. glutamicum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively, were expressed in several expression vectors. Among several combinations of glmS and gna1 expression, recombinant cells expressing glmS and gna1 under control of the ilvC promoter produced 1.77 g/l of GlcNAc and 0.63 g/l of glucosamine in flask cultures.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.155-157
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• 1993

DNA transfection conditions were investigated by calcium phosphate-DNA co-precipitation in SK-N-BE(2)C human neuroblastoma cells. The DNA plasmid of TH2400CAT was used in which rat tyrosine hydroxylase gene was inserted into chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gent. The transfection efficiency was 25-30% and the method was simple and reproducible. So, the method will be a good tool for transient transfection analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2014

Saccharothrix algeriensis NRRL B-24137 produces naturally different dithiolopyrrolone derivatives. The enzymatic activity of pyrrothine N-acyltransferase was determined to be responsible for the transfer of an acyl group from acyl-CoA to pyrrothine core. This activity was also reported to be responsible for the diversity of the dithiolopyrrolone derivatives. Based on this fact, nine dithiolopyrrolone derivatives were produced in vitro via the crude extract of Sa. algeriensis. Three of them have never been obtained before by natural fermentation: acetoacetyl-pyrrothine, hydroxybutyryl-pyrrothine, and dimethyl thiolutin (holomycin). Two acyltransferase activities, acetyltransferase and benzoyltransferase catalyzing the incorporation of linear and cyclic acyl groups to the pyrrothine core, respectively, were biochemically characterized in this crude extract. The first one is responsible for formation of acetyl-pyrrothine and the second for benzoyl-pyrrothine. Both enzymes were sensitive to temperature changes: For example, the loss of acetyltransferase and benzoyltransferase activity was 53% and 80% respectively after pre-incubation of crude extract for 60 min at $20^{\circ}C$. The two enzymes were more active in neutral and basal media (pH 7-10) than in the acidic one (pH 3-6). The optimum temperature and pH of acetyltransferase were $40^{\circ}C$ and 7, with a $K_m$ value of $7.9{\mu}M$ and a $V_{max}$ of $0.63{\mu}M/min$ when acetyl-CoA was used as limited substrate. Benzoyltransferase had a temperature and a pH optimum at $55^{\circ}C$and 9, a $K_m$ value of $14.7{\mu}M$, and a $V_{max}$ of $0.67{\mu}M/min$ when benzoyl-CoA was used as limited substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.22-37
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• 2001

Melatonin is secreted during the hours of darkness and is thought to influence the circadian and seasonal timing of a variety of physiological processes. Serotonin N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) which is found to be expressed in pineal gland, retina, and various tissues, catalyses the conversion of serotonin to N-acetylserotonin and is known as the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of melatonin. The compounds that modulate the activity of AA-NAT can be used to treat serotonin-and melatonin-related diseases such as insomnia, depression and seasonal affective disorders (SAD). Several assay methods have been developed by which to measure AA-NAT activity. We have also developed a simple, rapid and sensitive AA-NAT assay method that takes advantage of differences in the organic solubilities between acetyl CoA and N-acetyltryptamine. We screened modulators of AA-NAT activity from the water extracts of the medicinal plants. We found MNP1005 which strongly inhibited the activity of AA-NAT ($IC_{50}$=2.2$\mu$M). Enzyme inhibitory kinetic studies revealed that MNP1005 exhibited a noncompetitive inhibition toward tryptamine. The antidepressant effect of MNP1005 was investigated on behavioral despair test so called forced swimming test (FST). MNP1005 significantly increased swimming behavior by reducing immobility with treatment of 10 mg/kg when compared to the vehicle-treated control group (P < 0.05). This suggests that MNP1005 possesses antidepressant activity. The influence of chronic MNP1005 treatment on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was examined by in situ hybridization and Northern blot. Chronic treatment of MNP1005 blocked the downregulation of BDNF mRNA in the frontal cortex and other cortex regions in response to restraint stress.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.404-409
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• 1997

Trout CYP1A-CAT expression construct was generated by cloning -3.5 Kb $5^I$ flanking DNA of trout liver CYP1A gene in front of CAT gene at pCAT-basic vector. Hepa 1 cells, which are known to contain a functional arylhydrbcarbon $receptor^I$ were transfected with trout CYP1A-CAT using lipofectin. 3-Methylcholanthrene (1 nM) was added into hepa 1 cells in culture in order to examine if $5^I$ flanking DNA of trout CYP1A gene could interact with mouse transactivating factors to bring about transcription of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) reporter gene. The level of CAT protein was measured by CAT ELISA and the level of CAT mRNA was determined by RTPCR. The treatment of 1 nM 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in two fold increases in CAT protein as well as CAT mRNA compared to untreated control hepa 1 cells. These data indicate that arylhydrocarbon receptors of mouse hepa 1 cells are functional to activate exogenously transfected trout CYP1A-CAT construct in terms of both transcription and translation of CAT. We also examined the effect of 3-methylcholanthrene on endogenous cyplal activity in hepa 1 cell. 3-Methylcholanthrene (1 nM) treatment to hepa 1 cells trahsfected with trout CYP1A-CAT construct stimulated the level of cyp1a1 mRNA by two folds and the activity of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase by two fold compared to that of control cells. In this study we reported that trout CYP1A-CAT reporter gene expression construct could be expressed by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment in mouse hepa 1 cells. Thus trout CYP1A-CAT could serve as a good model to study the mechanism of regulation of CYP1A1 gene expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1064-1072
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• 2013

Circadian rhythm is controlled by hormonal oscillations governing the physiology of all living organisms. In mammals, the main function of the pineal gland is to transform the circadian rhythm generated in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus into rhythmic signals of circulating melatonin characterized by a largely nocturnal increase that closely reflects the duration of night time. The pineal gland has lost direct photosensitivity, but responds to light via multi-synaptic pathways that include a subset of retinal ganglion cells. Rhythmic control is achieved through a tight coupling between environmental lighting and arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) expression, which is the rhythm-controlling enzyme in melatonin synthesis. Previous studies on the nocturnal expression of AANAT protein have described transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulatory mechanisms. Molecular mechanisms for dependent AANAT expression provide novel aspects for melatonin's circadian rhythmicity. Extensive animal research has linked pineal melatonin for the expression of seasonal rhythmicity in many mammalian species to the modulation of circadian rhythms and to sleep regulation. It has value in treating various circadian rhythm disorders, such as jet lag or shift-work sleep disorders. Melatonin, also, in a broad range of effects with a significant regulation influences many of the body's physiological functions. In addition, this hormone is known to influence reproductive, cardiovascular, and immunological regulation as well as psychiatric disorders.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2002

Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDP)와 kinase는 당대사시 해당과정에서의 대사 산물인 pyruvate를 acetyl CoA로 만들어 구연산 회로로 진입시켜 주는 효소인 pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC)의 활성을 조절하는 중요한 효소이다. PDP의 catalytic subunit는 PDC의 dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2), PDP regulatory subunit (PDPr), 그리고 칼슘 결합 도메인 등으로 구성되어 있는 것으로 추측되어지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 그 구조와 기능과의 상관관계를 알아보기 위해 PDPc를 E. coli JM101에서 발현시켜 순수 정제 후 단백분해 효소를 이용한 제한적 가수분해 방법을 이용해 그 구조와 기능과의 상관관계에 대해 연구하고자 하였다 정제된 PDPc는 trypsin, chymotrypsin, Arg-C 그리고 elastase를 이용하여 3$0^{\circ}C$ 그리고 pH 7.0에서 제한적으로 분해시켰으며 각 분해산물의 아미노 말단의 아미노산 배열을 분석하였다. 그 결과 PDPc는 trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase에 의해 N-terminal의 50 kD과 C-terminal의 10 kD의 두개의 분해산물을 만들었으며, Arg-C에 의해 50kD의 분해산물은 약 35kD와 15kD으로 더 가수분해가 되었다. 이러한 결과로 볼 때 PDPc는 앞에서 추측한데로 세개의 주요한 기능적 도메인으로 이루어져 있음을 알 수 있었다 또한 C-terminal의 10kD은 PDPc의 활성에는 영향을 주지 않는 것으로 밝혀졌으나 다른 도메인의 기능은 더 연구가 되어져야 할 것으로 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.772-777
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• 1999

The uncaped genomic RNA of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) initiates translation by recruitment of eukaryotic translation initiation factors at the internal ribosome entry site (IRES). N-terminal protease ($N^{pro}$) is the first translation product of the open reading frame (ORF). By using the vaccinia virus SP6 RNA polymerase transient expression system, we showed previously that deletion of $N^{pro}$ region reduced translation by 21%. To better understand the biological significance of $N^{pro}$ for translation, we carried out a mutational analysis of the $N^{pro}$ region of BVDV cloned in the intercistronic region of a bicistronic reporter plasmid. We constructed a bicistronic expression vector in which the entire 5 UTR and the mutated $N^{pro}$ region (${\Delta}386-901$, ${\Delta}415-901$ and ${\Delta}657-901$) was cloned between two reporter genes, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and luciferase (LUC). In vivo translation analyses showed that $N^{pro}$ region was dispensible for efficient translation. The results indicate that the $N^{pro}$ region is not essential for BVDV RNA translation and the 3' boundary of BVDV IRES is expanded into $N^{pro}$ region, suggesting that $N^{pro}$ may not play a major role in BVDV replication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.329-332
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• 1997

Cell-free extracts of Streptomyces neyagawaensis SL-387 grown on a chemically defined medium supplemented with DL-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid (APP) produced N-acetyl-APP (Ac-APP) in the presence of APP and acetyl coenzyme A. The APP obtained by acid hydrolysis of the Ac-APP was D-configuration: $[\alpha]_D+6.5^{\circ}(H_2O)\;at\;20^{\circ}C$, optical purity 92% enantiomeric excesses (ee). These results suggest that an N-acetyltransferase exists in the cell-free extract as a novel enzyme with specificity for D-APP.