• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

Anti-obese effects of mulberry (Morus alba L.) root bark was investigated in vitro by measuring its inhibitory effect against 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and digestive enzymes such as ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Ethanol extract of mulberry root bark (MRE) showed the potent inhibitory activities on ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase with $IC_{50}$ values of $7.86{\pm}0.36$, $0.12{\pm}0.03$ and $7.93{\pm}0.11mg/mL$, respectively. Furthermore, MRE significantly suppressed cellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the mechanism of MRE, we performed qRT-PCR and Western blotting for the expression of genes related with adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Treatment of MRE markedly suppressed the protein expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and SREBP-1c, as well as FAS and ACC, which are the key transcription factors and metabolic enzymes in adipogenesis and lipogenesis. In addition, qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the anti-adipogenesis effect of MRE might be due to its inhibition at transcription levels. These results demonstrate that MRE can effectively suppress adipocyte differentiation and inhibit key enzymes related to obesity. Our findings suggest that mulberry root bark may have a potential benefit in preventing obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2020

Autophagy regulators are often effective as potential cancer therapeutic agents. Here, we investigated paclitaxel sensitivity in cells with knockout (KO) of ATG5 gene. The ATG5 KO in multidrug resistant v-Ha-ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells (Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr) was generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The qPCR and LC3 immunoblot confirmed knockout of the gene and protein of ATG5, respectively. The ATG5 KO restored the sensitivity of Ras-NIH 3T3/Mdr cells to paclitaxel. Interestingly, ATG5 overexpression restored autophagy function in ATG5 KO cells, but failed to rescue paclitaxel resistance. These results raise the possibility that low level of resistance to paclitaxel in ATG5 KO cells may be related to other roles of ATG5 independent of its function in autophagy. The ATG5 KO significantly induced a G₂/M arrest in cell cycle progression. Additionally, ATG5 KO caused necrosis of a high proportion of cells after paclitaxel treatment. These data suggest that the difference in sensitivity to paclitaxel between ATG5 KO and their parental MDR cells may result from the disparity in the proportions of necrotic cells in both populations. Thus, our results demonstrate that the ATG5 KO in paclitaxel resistant cells leads to a marked G₂/M arrest and sensitizes cells to paclitaxel-induced necrosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.348-355
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• 2017

Aster yomena (AY) have been used as a traditional medicine to treat cough, bronchial asthma, and insect bites in Korea. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by AY ethanol extract. Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that AY markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. qRT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by AY treatment. And inhibited the expression of FAS, a protein responsible for lipid synthesis, transport and storage. Oral administration of AY (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg, P.O/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. AY was orally administered for 4 weeks to extract liver and epididymal fat, and hematoxylin and eosin staining(H&E staining) was observed. Observation showed that the fat concentration of liver tissue tended to decrease dose-dependently and decreased significantly at 500 mg/kg concentration. The AY-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased triglycerides and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. These results indicate that AY exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.590-598
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• 2006

In-situ Air sparging (IAS) is a groundwater remediation technique, in which organic contaminants volatilize into air form the saturated to vadose zone. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of sludge and soil microbial community structure on air sparging of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) contaminated groundwater soils. In the laboratory, diesel (10,000 mg TPH/kg) contaminated saturated soil. The Air was injected in intermittent (Q=1500 mL/min, 10 minute injection and 10 minute idle) modes. For Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of eubacterial communities in sludge of wastewater treatment plants and soil of experiment site, the 16S rDNA was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from the sludge and the soil. The obtained 16S rDNA fragments were digested with Msp I and separated by electrophoresis gel. We found various sequence types for experiment with sludge soil samples that were closely related to Agrococcus, Flavobacterium, Thermoanaerobacter, Flexibacter and Shewanella, etc, in the clone library. The results of the present study suggests that T-RFLP method may be applied as a useful tool for the monitoring in the TPH contaminated soil the fate of microorganisms in natural microbial community.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2008

Hot air sparging is a groundwater remediation technique, in which organic contaminants volatilized into hot air from the saturated to vadose zone. In the laboratory diesel (10,000 mg TPH/kg) was spiked in contaminated saturated aquifer soil. The hot air ($34.9{\pm}2.7^{\circ}C$) was injected in intermittent (Q=1,500 mL/min, 10 minute injection and 10 minute idle) modes. We performed microcosm tests using the groundwater samples to assess TPH reductive remediation activity. For Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of eubacterial communities in sludge of wastewater treatment plants and soil of experiment site, the 16S rDNA was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from the sludge and the soil. The obtained 16S rDNA fragments were digested with Msp I and separated by electrophoresis gel. We found various sequence types for hot air sparging experiment with sludge soil samples that were closely related to Bacillus (149 bp, Firmicutes), Methlobacterium (149 bp, Euryarchaeotes), Pseudomonas (492 bp, ${\gamma}$-Proteobacteria), etc., in the clone library. In this study we find that TPH-water was reduced to 78.9% of the initial value in this experiment aquifer. The results of the present study suggests that T-RFLP method may be applied as a useful tool for the monitoring in the TPH contaminated soil fate of microorganisms in natural microbial community.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2005

Mechanical characteristics of Hi-Cr cast irons containing 16.8%Cr and 3.0%C were studied with various heat treatments. After as-cast Y-block ingots were annealed fully, the ingots were machined into cylinderical specimens with the size of 9mm in diameter and 20mm in length in order to investigate the effect of heat-treatments on mechanical characteristics of high Cr cast irons. All specimens were heat-treated by quenching- tempering, austempering and cyclic heat at the various temperatures(950, 1000, 1050 and $1100^{\circ}C$) respectively. The wear amount was measured for each heat-treated specimens against the counterpart of a hardened SKD11 steel at the following conditions; wearing velocity: 0.7 m/s, load: 100N and sliding distance: 70 km. After as-cast specimens were annealed, fine $M_{3}C$ carbides were formed, which affected the hardness and the wear resistance of Hi-Cr specimens. High hardness and good wear resistance were appeared on the specimens treated at 950 and $1000^{\circ}C$ and the austempered specimens show excellent wear resistance as well as high hardness.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2007

Purpose : Menkes disease is an X-linked recessively inherited disorder caused by the mutation of the ATP7A gene encoding copper-transporting P-type AT Pase. The phenotypic features are progressive neurological degeneration, mental retardation, loose skin, and vascular complications. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important for the prognosis of Menkes disease. Here, we describe nov el mutations of the ATP7A gene and prenatal diagnosis by mutation analysis. Methods : Five unrelated Korean Menkes patients were included in this study. They presented with depigmented wool-like hair, progressive neurologic deterioration, and hypotonia in infancy. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels w ere decreased. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed tortuous intracranial vessels. Mutation analysis has been carried out using cDNA from cultured skin fibroblasts or genomic DNA from peripheral leukocytes. Prenatal diagnosis was performed in two cases using chorionic villi samples or amniocytes. Results : Four novel mutations have been identified from four different families; c.3511+1G>A (p.E1099_N1171delinsMfsX 18), c.4005+5 G>A (p.V1268_R1335del), c.1870_2172del (p.S624_Q724del), and c.3352 G>A (p.G1118S). T he remaining one was previously reported (c.1933 C>T (p.V 1268_R1335del)). On prenatal DNA analysis, one w as diagnosed as normal, while the other turned out to be a female heterozygote with p.S624_Q724del mutation of the ATP7A gene. Conclusion : We identified 4 novel mutations of the ATP7A gene. Prenatal diagnosis in families at risk is critical in order to choose preventiv e options including an early treatment with copper-histidine therapy or therapeutic termination. Most mutations of the ATP7A gene were frame-shift mutations and prenatal diagnosis has been successfully carried out.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1406-1415
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• 2018

Based on the antioxidative effects in organic solvent fractions obtained from the main methanolic extract of Houttuynia cordata Thunb, the cytoprotective effects by oxidative-stress were here analyzed. Regarding the antioxidant activity of organic solvent fractions, the electron-donating ability of DPPH increased in a dose-dependent manner, and $ED_{50}$ exhibited the highest concentration at $175{\mu}g/ml$ in the Hc-EtOAc fraction. The cell viability of Hc-EtOAc fractions on $H_2O_2$-induced HaCaT cell death ($IC_{50}$) increased in a concentration-dependent manner and a visible cell survival rate of 74% was observed at a concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. Meanwhile, the gene expression patterns in HaCaT cells treated with $100{\mu}g/ml$ of the Hc-EtOAc fraction for 6 and 24 hr were identified with microarray analysis. The genes involved in signal transduction, cell division, antioxidant activity, and epithelial cell proliferation were found to be 2-fold up-regulated genes in HaCaT cells following the Hc-EtOAc fraction treatment. Especially, proinflammatory cytokines (IL1B, TNF, and IL6) were identified as involved in antioxidant activity based on the expression patterns of the HaCaT cells, and pathway analysis indicated that TLR4 might be considered an upstream regulator of these genes. In order to verify the activity of IL1B, TNF, and IL6, qRT-PCR showed that the expression increased more than 2 times in HaCaT cells treated with at least $100{\mu}g/ml$ of the Hc-EtOAc fraction. The activity of the upstream regulator TLR4 protein was also increased by the Hc-EtOAc fraction. As a result, the antioxidative activity of the Hc-EtOAc fraction is predicted to pass from TLR4 through cytokines such as IL1B, TNF, and IL6.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2017

Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH) is the severe form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and is characterized by adrenal insufficiency with hyperpigmentation and female external genitalia irrespective of genetic sex. The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) is required for the transport of cholesterol into the mitochondria for steroidogenesis, and defects in the StAR gene account for the majority of LCAH cases. In this report, we present a two-day-old hyperpigmented infant with phenotypical female genitalia. With consideration of the clinical and laboratory findings, the infant was suspected of having adrenal insufficiency due to LCAH and treated with glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and sodium chloride. Karyotyping revealed 46, XY. Upon pelvis ultrasonography, adrenal hyperplasia with abdominal masses (thought to be the testicles) was reported. Molecular analysis with targeted exome sequencing revealed the homozygote mutation of c.772C>T ($p.Q258^*$) in exon 7 of the StAR gene. The early detection and treatment of adrenal insufficiency in infants with hyperpigmentation can prevent clinically apparent adrenal crises. During follow-up, the patient had a good clinical condition and maintained normal electrolyte and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels with medication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1022-1030
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• 2004

The gene encoding Aquifex pyrophilus (Apy) DNA polymerase was cloned and sequenced. The Apy DNA polymerase gene consists of 1,725 bp coding for a protein with 574 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of Apy DNA. polymerase showed a high sequence homology to Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I-like DNA polymerases. It was deduced by amino acid sequence alignment that Apy DNA polymerase, like the Klenow fragment, has only the two domains, the $3'{\rightarrow}5'$ exonuclease domain and the $5'{\rightarrow}3'$ polymerase domain, containing the characteristic motifs. The Apy DNA polymerase gene was expressed under the control of T7lac promoter on the expression vector pET-22b(+) in E. coli. The expressed enzyme was purified by heat treatment, and Cibacron blue 3GA and $UNO^{TM}$ Q column chromatographies. The optimum pH of the purified enzyme was 7.5, and the optimal concentrations of KCl and $Mg^{2+}$ were 20 mM and 3 mM, respectively. Apy DNA polymerase contained a double strand-dependent $3'{\rightarrow}5'$ proofreading exonuclease activity, but lacked any detectable $5'{\rightarrow}3'$ exonuclease activity, which is consistent with its amino acid sequence. The somewhat lower thermostability of Apy DNA polymerase than the growth temperature of A. pyrophilus was analyzed by the comparison of amino acid composition and pressure effect.