• Title/Summary/Keyword: Pigment cells

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Molecular Cloning and Characterization of the Gene Encoding Phytoene Desaturase from Kocuria gwangalliensis (Kocuria gwangalliensis 유래 phytoene desaturase 유전자의 cloning과 특성 연구)

  • Seo, Yong Bae;Choi, Seong Seok;Nam, Soo-Wan;Kim, Gun-Do
    • Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.226-235
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    • 2017
  • Carotenoids such as phytoene, lycopene, and ${\beta}-carotene$ are used as food colorants, animal feed supplements, and for human nutrition and cosmetic purposes. Previously, we reported the isolation of a novel marine bacterium, Kocuria gwangalliensis, which produces a pink-orange pigment. Phytoene desaturase (CrtI), encoded by the gene crtI, catalyzes lycopene formation from phytoene and is an essential enzyme in the early steps of carotenoid biosynthesis. CrtI is one of the key enzymes regulating carotenoid biosynthesis and has been implicated as a rate-limiting enzyme of the pathway in various carotenoid synthesizing organisms. Here, we report the cloning of the crtI gene responsible for lycopene biosynthesis from K. gwangalliensis. The gene consisted of 1,584 bases encoding 527 amino acid residues. The nucleotide sequence of the crtI gene was compared with that of other species, including Kocuria rhizophila and Myxococcus xanthus, and was found to be well conserved during evolution. An expression plasmid containing the crtI gene was constructed (pCcrt1), and Escherichia coli cells were transformed with this plasmid to produce a recombinant protein of approximately 57 kDa, corresponding to the molecular weight of phytoene desaturase. Lycopene biosynthesis was confirmed when the plasmid pCcrtI was co-transformed into E. coli containing the plasmid pRScrtEB carrying the crtE and crtB genes required for lycopene biosynthesis. The results from this study will provide valuable information on the primary structure of K. gwangalliensis CrtI at the molecular level.

On the Egg Development and Larvae of Right-eye Flounder, Kareius bicoloratus (Basilewsky) (돌가자미의 난발생과 부화자어)

  • KIM Yong Uk
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.323-328
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    • 1982
  • Kareius bicoloratus (Basilewsky) is one of the commonly found right-eye flounders and widely distributed in the coastal waters of Korea and Japan. On December 11,1980, the ailthors carried out an experiment to obtain a large number of fertilized eggs from wild adult fish caught by a trawler. The fish were obtained from Maisaka fish market, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The egg is pelagic, spherical in shape and measuring 1.014-1.04 mm in diameter. The yolk as well as the egg capsule is colorless and transparent, and contain no oil globules. The hatching took place in 73 hr 45 min after fertilization at the water temperature $8.0-9.5^{\circ}C$. Newly hatched larvae are 3.09-3.146 mm in total length, with the anus situated in the middle of the body. The marginal fin does not have Pigment cells and myotome number is 17+20=37. Within one day after hatching, the larvae attained 3.77 mm in total length, and there appeared three or four melanophore on yolk sac. When the larvae attained 3.96 mm in total length, melanophores began to appear on the eye ball. Two days after hatching, the larvae attained 4.05 mm in total length, most of yolk material was absorbed, and the caudal fin began to grow at the terminal part of the notochord. When the larvae attained 4.21 mm in total length, mouth and eyes began to move. After 3 days, the larvae attained 4.342-4.394 mm in total length, alimentary canal differentiated, melanophores appeared on the lower jaw and posterior part of the fin membrane. When the larvae attaind 4.576 mm in total length, marginal line of dorsal fin membrane became concave.

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SUPPRESSION OF PHORBOL ESTER-INDUCED EXPRESSION OF CYCLLOOXYGENASE-2 AND INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE BY SELCTED CHEMOPREVENTIVE PHYTOCHEMICALS VIA DOWN-REGULATION OF NF-$\textsc{k}$B

  • Surh, Young-Joon
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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    • 2002.05b
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    • pp.88.2-98
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    • 2002
  • A wide arry of naturally occurring substances particularly those present in dietary and medicinal plants, have been reported to possess substantial cancer chemopreventive properties. Certain phytochemicals retain strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties which appear to contribute to their chemopreventive or chemoprotective activities. Inducible cyclooxygenase(COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are important enzymes that mediate inflammatory processes. There is some evidence that expression of both COX-2 and iNOS is co-regulated by the eukaryotic transcription factor NF-$textsc{k}$B. Increased expression of COX-2 and/or iNOS has been associated with pathophysiology of certain types of human cancers as well as inflammatory diseases. Since inflammation is closely linked to tumor promotion, substances with potent anti-inflammatory activies are anticipated to exert chemopreventive effects on carcinogenesis, particularly in the promotion stage. An example is curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa L., Zingiberaceae), that strongly occurring diaryl heptanoids structurally related to curcumin have substantial anti-tumor promotional activities in two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis. Thus, yakuchinone A [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-3heptanone] and yakuchinone B [1-(4'-hydroxy-3'methoxyphenyl)-7-phenylhept-1-en-3-one] present in Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel (Zingiberacease) attenuate phorbol ester-induced inflammation and papilloma formation in female ICR mice. These diarylheptanoids also suppressed phorbol ester-induced activation of epdermal ornithine decarboxylase and its mRNA expression when applied onto shaven backs of mice. Yakuchinone A and B as well as curcumin inhibited phorbol ester-induced expression of COX-2 and iNOS and their mRNA in mouse skin via inactivation of NF-$textsc{k}$B. Capsaicin, a major pungent ingredient of red pepper also attenuated phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation. Similar suppression of COX-2 and iNOS and down-regulation of NF-$textsc{k}$B activation for its DNA binding were observed with the ginsenosied Rg3 and the ethanol extract of Artemisia asiatica. We have also found that certain anti-inflammatory phytochemicals exert inhibitory effects on phorbol ester-induced COX-2 expression and NF-$textsc{k}$B activation in immortalized human breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells in culture. One of the plausible mechanisms undelying inhibition by aforementioned phytochemicals of phorbol ester-induced NF-$textsc{k}$B activation involves interference with degragation of the inhibitory unit, I$textsc{k}$Ba, which blocks subsequent nuclear translocation of the functionally active p65 subunit of NF-$textsc{k}$B. the activation of epidermal NF-$textsc{k}$B by phorbol ester and subsequent induction of COX-2 hence appear to play an important role in intracellular signaling pathwasy leading to tumor promotion and targeted inhibition of NF-$textsc{k}$B may provide a new promising cancer chemopreventive strategy.

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Artificial Vision Project by Micro-Bio Technologies

  • Kim Sung June;Jung Hum;Yu Young Suk;Yu Hyeong Gon;Cho Dong il;Lee Byeong Ho;Ku Yong Sook;Kim Eun Mi;Seo Jong Mo;Kim Hyo kyum;Kim Eui tae;Paik Seung June;Yoon Il Young
    • 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2002.04a
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    • pp.51-78
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    • 2002
  • A number of research groups worldwide are studying electronic implants that can be mounted on retinal optic nerve/visual cortex to restore vision of patients suffering from retinal degeneration. The implants consist of a neural interface made of biocompatible materials, one or more integrated circuits for stimuli generation, a camera, an image processor, and a telemetric channel. The realization of these classes of neural prosthetic devices is largely due to the explosive development of micro- and nano-electronics technologies in the late $20^{th}$ century and biotechnologies more recently. Animal experiments showed promise and some human experiments are in progress to indicate that recognition of images can be obtained and improved over time. We, at NBS-ERC of SNU, have started our own retinal implant project in 2000. We have selected polyimide as the biomaterial for an epi-retinal stimulator. In-vitro and in-vivo biocompatibility studies have been performed on the electrode arrays. We have obtained good affinity to retinal pigment epithelial cells and no harmful effect. The implant also showed very good stability and safety in rabbit eye for 12 weeks. We have also demonstrated that through proper stimulation of inner retina, meaning vision can be obtained.

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Genotoxicity and Anti-Oxidative Effectiveness Study of Functional Food Additive Containing Astaxanthin (Astaxanthin 함유 기능성 식품소재의 유전독성 및 항산화능 검사)

  • Kim, Jun-Sung;Park, Jin-Hong;Jin, Hua;Cho, Hyun-Sun;Hwang, Soon-Kyung;Nah, Woon-Seong;Kang, Hwan-Goo;An, Gil-Hwan;Cho, Myung-Haing
    • Toxicological Research
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.381-390
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    • 2006
  • Astaxanthine is a pigment that belongs to the family of the xanthophylls, the oxygenated derivatives of carotenoids whose synthesis in plants derives from lycopene. Astaxanthine is also a carotenoid widely used in salmonid and crustacean aquaculture to provide the pink color characteristic of that. Recent study reported that astaxanthine has the role as a detoxicant against the free radicals. On our study, we estimated the genotoxicity in ICR mice and possibility as antioxidant reagents of mutant Phaffia rhodozyma strain over expressing the astaxanthine by gamma-lay and carophyll pink including astaxanthine in apoE knock out mice, respectively. In our study, we administered Phaffia rhodozyma (2 mg and 3 mg) and carophyll pink for 4 and 8 week. The clinical sign and mortality were not detected compared with control groups. In the mutant frequency of hprt gene and chromosome aberration in splenic cells, there was not detected abnormality. There was not critical change in hematological and serum biochemical test compared to control. In expression level of repair enzyme, increase of catalase were detected and increase of expression level of Nrf-2 was detected in Phaffia rhodozyma (3 mg) and carophyll pink in 8 week treated group. In GSH level, the group of treated with Phaffia rhodozyma (3 mg) showed the increase of the GSH. In conclusion, mutant Phaffia rhodozyma and caphyll pink may be applied to the effective food additives to reduce the free radical.

Study of 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride for Detection of Pathogenic Microorganisms (2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride를 이용한 병원성 미생물 확인시험에 관한 연구)

  • Kang, Jung Wook;Bae, Jun Tae;Yeon, Jae Young;Kim, Young Ho;Kim, Jin Hwa;Lee, Geun Soo;Pyo, Hyeong Bae
    • Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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    • v.40 no.3
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    • pp.307-311
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    • 2014
  • 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) is used as a redox indicator in culture media. It is colorless in the oxidized form and is reduced to formazan, an insoluble pigment, by dehydrogenases in actively growing microbial cells. The aim of this study was to assess by microbial test of the pathogenic microorganisms using TTC reduction. The pathogenic microorganisms were reduced in medium by dehydrogenase to produce insoluble red formazan. We observed that the optimization method of TTC allowed more than 12 h incubation in 0.04% concentration. Also, the growth of microorganisms with media was increased formazan production. We confirmed that microorganisms were quickly observed to grow colonies cultured red color without affecting the growth of microorganisms. It is suggested that the microbial test using TTC can provide better and quicker test method in cosmetics development.

Down-regulation of Tyrosinase, MITF, TRP-1, and TRP-2 Expressions by Juniperus rigida Sieb. in Murine B16F10 Melanoma (멜라노마세포(B16F10)에서 노간주나무의 tyrosinase, MITF, TRP-1 및 TRP-2 발현 저해능)

  • Lee, Soo-Yeon;Jun, Hye-Ji;Lee, In-Chul;Lee, Jin-Young
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.23 no.12
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    • pp.1445-1453
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    • 2013
  • Human skin is constantly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, polluted air, and chemical products. UV rays, in particular, will affect the skin in a variety of ways, including causing wrinkles, fine lines, rough skin, and xeroderma, thereby resulting in skin aging. This study aimed to investigate the whitening effects of Juniperus rigida Sieb., which is a cedar tree that is found throughout the world. The whitening efficacy that was measured by tyrosinase inhibition revealed 49.4% efficacy in water extract and 80.0% efficacy in ethanol extract. Among the B16F10 black cells, the effect of the ethanol extract was higher than the effect of the water extract in the restrain creation of melanin pigment, tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase related protein-2 (TRP-2). Thus, the results of these studies demonstrated that the ethanol extract had greater efficacy than the water extract and Juniperus rigida Sieb. Ethanol extracts could be utilized as materials for functional cosmetics, such as whitening products.

Characteristics of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Native Hydrangea serrata for. acuminata (자생 산수국의 종자 발아와 유묘 생육 특성)

  • Lee, Seung Youn;Kim, Kwang Jin;Lee, Jeong Sik
    • FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.134-142
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    • 2008
  • This work aims to obtain basic information for seed propagation of Hydrangea serrata for. acuminata. The germination percentage of the seeds taken on 15 November, 30 December, and 23 January was $90.0{\pm}4.16%$, $84.4{\pm}5.52%$, and $88.9{\pm}2.40%$, respectively. This suggest that seeds of Hydrangea serrata for. acuminata are non-dormant seeds. The optimum temperature for germination was $25^{\circ}C$ and light was necessary. Most of the growth parameters (shoot and leaf length, stem diameter, root length, no. of roots, T/R ratio, and fresh and dry wts.) were significantly greater at $25/20^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$ than at the other temperatures. Low T/R ratio at relatively cool temperatures (15 and $20^{\circ}C$) was caused by suppressed top growth. In light quality treatment, red light (RL) significantly enhanced stem elongation. The greatest photosynthetic pigments (total chl, chl a/b, and carotenoid) were observed in seedlings grown in blue light (BL), followed by seedlings grown in RL+BL. When blue light was added, higher pigment contents were found. Effect of plug cell size (50, 72, 128, 162 and 200 cells) on the growth of seedlings was investigated. The highest top growth was observed in seedlings grown in 50 cell trays, followed by seedlings grown in 72, 128, 162, and 200 cell trays. However, there was no significant differences between 162 and 200 cell trays. Especially, smaller size leaves were observed in seedlings grown in smaller cell trays (lower volume and high plant density).

Study on Application of Skin Care Cosmetic and Stabilization of Idebenone by Forming Niosome Vesicle Technology

  • Kim, In-Young
    • Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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    • v.36 no.2
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    • pp.592-599
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    • 2019
  • This study is to stabilize insoluble and unstable active ingredient which is Idebenone (INCI name: hydroxydecyl ubiquinone) in a multi-lamellar vesicle (MLV) and to stabilize it in the skin care cosmetics. Idebenone is good effective raw material in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the medical field and a powerful antioxidant in dermatology. It is well known as a substance that inhibits the formation of melanin and cleans the skin pigment. However, it did not dissolve in any solvent and it was difficult to apply in cosmetic applications. Niosome vesicle was able to develop a nano-particle by making a multi-layer of idebenone encapsulated with a nonionic surfactant, hydrogenated lecithin and glycine soja (soybean) sterols and passing it through a high pressure microfluidizer. Idebenone niosome vesicle (INV) has been developed to have the ability to dissolve transparently in water and to promote transdermal penetration. The appearance of the INV was a yellowish liquid having specific odor, and the particle size distribution of INV was about 10~80 nm. The pH was 5~8 (mean=6.8). This capsulation with idebenone was stored in a $45^{\circ}C$ incubator for 3 months and its stability was observed and quantitatively measured by HPLC. As a result, the stability of the sample encapsulated in the niosome vesicle (97.5%) was about 66.3% higher than that of the non-capsule sample of 32.5%. Idebenone 1% INV was used for the efficacy test and clinical trial evaluation as follows. The anti-oxidative activity of INV was 38.2%, which was superior to that of 12.8% tocopherol (control). The melanin-reducing effect of B16 melanoma cells was better than INV (17.4%) and Albutin (control) (9.6%). Pro-collagen synthesis rate was 128.2% for INV and 89.3% for tocopherol (control). The skin moisturizing effect was 15.5% better than the placebo sample. The elasticity effect was 9.7% better than the placebo sample. As an application field, INV containing 1% of idebenone is expected to be able to develop various functional cosmetic formulations such as skin toner, ampoule essence, cream, eye cream and sunblock cream. In addition, it is expected that this encapsulated material will be widely applicable to emulsifying agents for skin use in the pharmaceutical industry as well as the cosmetics industry.

Chemical and Functional Characteristics of Mechanically Deboned Chicken Meat and its Utilization in Processed Meat -I. Chemical and Functional Characteristics of Mechanically Deboned Chicken Meat- (기계발골가금육(機械拔骨家禽肉)의 특성(特性) 및 이용(利用)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) -제(第) 1 보(報) : 기계발골가금육(機械拔骨家禽肉)의 특성(特性)-)

  • Ahn, Byung-Yoon;Kim, Jong-Won;Lee, Yu-Bang
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.171-175
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    • 1981
  • Hand deboned and mechanically deboned chicken meat were produced from domestic broilers and spent layers. Meat yield, chemical composition, functional characteristics, storage stability and microbiogical properties were investigated. The results obtained were as follows: 1. 35% of carcass freight was recovered primarily as hand deboned chicken meat (HDM) and 45% secondarily as mechanically deboned chicken meat(MDM), total meat yield reaching 80% of carcass weight. 2. Moisture, protein, fat. ash and calcium content of MDM were 65, 12, 20, 1.7 and $0.2{\sim}0.4%$, respectively MDM was higher than HDM in fat, ash and calcium, but significantly lower in moisture and protein Total pigment content of MDM was 2.5 times higher than that of HDM, such high content being attributed to the increased inclusion of hemoglobin during the mechanical masceration of carcass in the deboning process. 3. The emulsifying capacity (ES) of MDM per g meat was only 70% that of HDM, but when ES was expressed on unit g of protein basis MDM showed even higher ES than HDM primarily due to the higher proportion of salt soluble protein fraction of MDM. 4. Since the TBA value of MDM increased rapidly after 4 weeks of frozen storage at $-20^{\circ}C$, the maximum possible storage period of MDM is estimated to be about 4 weeks. 5. Total microbial counts of MDM was approximately $1.8{\times}10\;cells/g$ showing no great difference from HDM or red meat.

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