• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.342-354
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• 2021

Purpose: Obesity is a serious public health issue for the modern society and is considered a chronic health hazard. There are many surgical and pharmacological approaches to treat obesity. However, various potentially hazardous side effects remain the biggest challenge. Therefore, diets based on foods derived from natural products have gained increasing attention compared to anti-obesity drugs. Recently, research on edible insects as a food source has been a topic of considerable interest in the scientific communities. This study examined the anti-obesity effects of ingesting an edible insect by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse models with a diet containing Tenebrio molitor larvae powder (TMLP). Methods: Six-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups according to treatment: 100% normal diet (ND), 100% HFD (HFD), HFD 99% + TMLP 1% (TMLP), and HFD 97% + TMLP 3% (TMLP 3%). TMLP was added to the HFD for 6 weeks for the latter two groups. Results: Compared to the HFD group, mice in the TMLP group showed weight loss, and micro-computed tomographic imaging revealed that the volume of the adipose tissue in the abdominal area also showed significant reduction. After an autopsy, the fat weight was found to be significantly reduced in the TMLP group compared to the HFD group. In addition, the degree of fat cell deposition in the liver tissue and the size of the adipocytes significantly decreased in the TMLP group. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis for the mRNA expression of adipogenesis-related genes namely CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP-β, C/EBP-δ), and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) showed that the expression levels of these genes were significantly reduced in the TMLP group compared to the HFD group. Serum leptin level also decreased significantly in the TMLP group in the comparison with the HFD group. In addition, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels in mouse serum also decreased in the TMLP group. Conclusion: Taken together, our results showed that TMLP effectively inhibited adipocyte growth and reduced body weight in obese mice.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2022

In this study, in order to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of sargassum horneri extract, the effects of the extract on lipase activity and preadipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells were investigated. S. horneri extract between 0.0 and 1.0 mg/mL showed no cytotoxicity and inhibited lipase activity by 68.1%. When S. horneri extract was utilized at levels of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/mL in 3T3-L1 cells, preadipocytes differentiation decreased by 11.4, 19.7, and 25.6%, respectively, showing anti-obesity effects. In addition, after treatment with 1.0 mg/mL S. horneri extract, the mRNA expression levels of sterol regulatory element binding proteins-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT enhancer binding protein-α (CEBP-α), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase1 (SCD1) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) by 65.2, 54.9, 50.0, 33.8, and 33.8% respectively. These results showed that S. horneri extract suppresses lipase activity and prophylactic preadipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1, and thus can be used as an anti-obesity agent in functional foods and medicines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1240-1249
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• 2005

Saccharomyces cerevisiae KNU5377 has potential as an industrial strain that can ferment wasted paper for fuel ethanol at $40^{\circ}C$ [15, 16]. To understand the characteristics of the strain, genome-wide expression was performed using DNA microarray technology. We compared the homology of the DNA microarray between genomic DNAs of S. cerevisiae KNU5377 and a control strain, S. cerevisiae S288C. Approximately $97\%$ of the genes in S. cerevisiae KNU5377 were identified with those of the reference strain. YHR053c (CUP1), YLR155c (ASP3), and YDR038c (ENA5) showed lower homology than those of S. cerevisiae S288C. In particular, the differences in the regions of YHR053c and YLR155c were confirmed by Southern hybridization, but did not with that of the region of YDR038c. The expression level of mRNA in S. cerevisiae KNU5377 and S288C was also compared: the 550 ORFs of S. cerevisiae KNU5377 showed more than two-fold higher intensity than those of S. cerevisiae S288C. Among the 550 ORFs, 59 ORFs belonged to the groups of ribosomal proteins and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, and 200 ORFs belonged to the group of cellular organization. DIP5 and GAP1 were the most highly expressed genes. These results suggest that upregulated DIP5 and GAP 1 might take the place of ASP3 and, additionally, the sensitivity against copper might be contributable to the lowest expression level of copper-binding metallothioneins encoded by CUP 1a (YHR053c) and CUP1b (YHR055c) in S. cerevisiae KNU5377.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2016

Potato is one of the most important crops worldwide. Its commercial cultivars are highly susceptible to many fungal and bacterial diseases. Among these, bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum causes significant yield loss. In the present study, integrated proteomics and genomics approaches were used in order to identify bacterial wilt resistant genes from Rs resistance potato cultivar CT-206-10. 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS analysis identified eight differentially abundant proteins including glycine-rich RNA binding protein (GRP), tomato stress induced-1 (TSI-1) protein, pathogenesis-related (STH-2) protein and pentatricopeptide repeat containing (PPR) protein in response to Rs infection. Further, semi-quantitative RT-PCR identified up-regulation in transcript levels of all these genes upon Rs infection. Taken together, our results showed the involvement of the identified proteins in the Rs stress tolerance in potato. In the future, it would be interesting to raise the transgenic plants to further validate their involvement in resistance against Rs in potato.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.174-179
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• 2006

A cDNA library was constructed from leaf samples of 4-year-old Panax ginseng cultured in a field. 3,000 EST from a size selected leaf cDNA library were analyzed. The 349 of 2,896 cDNA clones has related with energy metabolism genes. The 349 known genes were categorized into nine groups according to their functional classification, aerobic respiration(48.4%), accessory proteins of electron transport and membrane associated energy conservation(17.2%), glycolysis and gluconeogenesis(3.4%), electron transport and membrane associated energy conservation(2.9%), respiration(2.0%), glycolysis methylglyoxal bypass(1.7%), metabolism of energy reserves(0.6%) and alcohol fermentation(0.3%).

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2008

Adipogenesis is a complex sequence of events that culminates in the differentiation of fibroblast-like preadipocytes into specialized lipid-filled adipocytes and also involves a cascade of expression of many transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}(PPAR{\gamma})$ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs). $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/EBPs transcriptionally transactivate adipocyte specific genes, including fatty acid transport protein (FAT/CD36) and leptin. To determine whether $17{\beta}$-estradiol modulates $C/EBP{\alpha}$ actions on adipogenesis in high fat diet-fed female ovariectomized (OVX) C57BL/6 mice, mice were treated with $17{\beta}$-estradiol for 7 days and the effects of $17{\beta}$-estradiol on adipose tissue mass and expression of adipocyte specific gene as well as $C/EBP{\alpha}$ were measured. Compared to vehicle-treated OVX control mice, OVX mice treated with $17{\beta}$-estradiol for 7 days had lower adipose tissue weights that were similar to weights in high fat diet-fed sham-operated (Sham) mice. OVX mice showed the increased expression of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ mRNA compared with Sham mice. However, $17{\beta}$-estradiol treatment in OVX mice inhibited OVX induced-$C/EBP{\alpha}$ activation, indicating that $17{\beta}$-estradiol may act as an inhibitor of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ action. Moreover, $17{\beta}$-estradiol decreased mRNA levels of adipocyte marker genes, such as lipoprotein lipase, FAT/CD36 and leptin, to levels in Sham mice. These results suggest that down-regulation of adipogenesis by $17{\beta}$-estradiol may be due to reduced adipose $C/EBP{\alpha}$ activities in female OVX C57BL/6 mice.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2007

Hoxc8 is one of the homeotic developmental control genes regulating the expression of many downstream target genes, through which animal body pattern is established during embryonic development. In previous proteomics analysis, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) which is also known as cyclin, has been implied to be regulated by Hoxc8 in F9 murine embryonic teratocarcinoma cell. When the 5' upstream region of PCNA was analyzed, it turned out to contain 20 Hox core binding sites (ATTA) in about 1.17 kbp (kilo base pairs) region ($-520{\sim}-1690$). In order to test whether this region is responsible for Hoxc8 regulation, the upstream 2.3 kbp fragment of PCNA was amplified through PCR and then cloned into the pGL3 basic vector containing a luciferase gene as a reporter. When the luciferase activity was measured in the presence of effector plasmid (pcDNA : c8) expressing murine Hoxc8, the PCNA promoter driven reporter activity was reduced. To confirm whether this reduction is due to the Hoxc8 protein, the siRNA against Hoxc8 (5'-GUA UCA GAC CUU GGA ACU A-3' and 5'-UAG UUC CAA GGU CUG AUA C-3') was prepared. Interestingly enough, siRNA treatment up regulated the luciferase activity which was down regulated by Hoxc8, indicating that Hoxc8 indeed regulates the expression of PCNA, in particular, down regulation in NIN3T3 cells. These results altogether indicate that Hoxc8 might orchestrate the pattern formation by regulating PCNA which is one of the important proteins involved in several processes such as DNA replication and methylation, chromatin remodeling, cell cycle regulation, differentiation, as well as programmed cell death.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.973-983
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• 2019

It is well known that iron is critical for bacterial growth and pathogenic virulence. Due to chemical similarity, $Ga^{3+}$ competes with $Fe^{3+}$ for binding to compounds that usually bind $Fe^{3+}$, thereby interfering with various essential biological reactions. In our present study, gallium(III) nitrate [$Ga(NO_3)_3$] could repress the growth of V. splendidus Vs without complete inhibition. In the presence of $Ga(NO_3)_3$, the secretion of homogentisic acid-melanin (HGA-melanin) in V. splendidus Vs cells could be increased by 4.8-fold, compared to that in the absence of $Ga(NO_3)_3$. HGA-melanin possessed the ability to reduce $Fe^{3+}$ to $Fe^{2+}$. In addition, HGA-melanin increased the mRNA levels of feoA and feoB, genes coding Fe2+ transport system proteins to 1.86- and 6.1-fold, respectively, and promoted bacterial growth to 139.2%. Similarly, the mRNA expression of feoA and feoB was upregulated 4.11-fold and 2.71-fold in the presence of $640{\mu}M$ $Ga(NO_3)_3$, respectively. In conclusion, our study suggested that although $Ga(NO_3)_3$ could interfere with the growth of V. splendidus Vs, it could also stimulate both the production of $Fe^{3+}$-reducing HGA-melanin and the expression of feoA and feoB, which facilitate $Fe^{2+}$ transport in V. splendidus Vs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.572-579
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• 2019

Background: Panax ginseng has been used in traditional medicine to strengthen the body and mental well-being of humans for thousands of years. Many elite ginseng cultivars have been developed, and ginseng cultivation has become well established during the last century. However, heat stress poses an important threat to the growth and sustainable production of ginseng. Efforts have been made to study the effects of high temperature on ginseng physiology, but knowledge of the molecular responses to heat stress is still limited. Methods: We sequenced the transcriptomes (RNA-Seq) of two ginseng cultivars, Chunpoong (CP) and Yunpoong (YP), which are sensitive and resistant to heat stress, respectively, after 1- and 3-week heat treatments. Differential gene expression and gene ontology enrichment along with profiled chlorophyll contents were performed. Results: CP is more sensitive to heat stress than YP and exhibited a lower chlorophyll content than YP. Moreover, heat stress reduced the chlorophyll content more rapidly in CP than in YP. A total of 329 heat-responsive genes were identified. Intriguingly, genes encoding chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins, WRKY transcription factors, and fatty acid desaturase were predominantly responsive during heat stress and appeared to regulate photosynthesis. In addition, a genome-wide scan of photosynthetic and sugar metabolic genes revealed reduced transcription levels for ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase under heat stress, especially in CP, possibly attributable to elevated levels of soluble sugars. Conclusion: Our comprehensive genomic analysis reveals candidate loci/gene targets for breeding and functional studies related to developing high temperature-tolerant ginseng varieties.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

Objectives: Tanshinone I is a bioactive constituent in Salvia miltiorrhiza. At present, the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of tanshinone I are not fully understood. Here we investigated the effect of tanshinone I on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and zebrafish. Methods: Lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. The expression and phosphorylation levels of adipogenic/lipogenic proteins in 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated by Western blotting. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adipogenic/lipogenic markers and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lipid accumulation in zebrafish was assessed by LipidGreen2 staining. Results: Tanshinone I at 5 μM largely blocked lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, tanshinone I decreased the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, tanshinone I increased the phosphorylation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) while decreased the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content with no change in the phosphorylation and expression of liver kinase-B1 in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Importantly, tanshinone I also reduced the extent of lipid deposit formation in developing zebrafish. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that tanshinone I has strong anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and reduces adiposity in zebrafish, and these anti-adipogenic effect in 3T3-L1 cells are mediated through control of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, STAT-3, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, and AMPK.