• Title/Summary/Keyword: Science and Technology (S&T)

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Effect of all-trans retinoic acid on casein and fatty acid synthesis in MAC-T cells

  • Liao, Xian-Dong;Zhou, Chang-Hai;Zhang, Jing;Shen, Jing-Lin;Wang, Ya-Jing;Jin, Yong-Cheng;Li, Sheng-Li
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.33 no.6
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    • pp.1012-1022
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    • 2020
  • Objective: Caseins and fatty acids of milk are synthesized and secreted by the epithelial cells of the mammary gland. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, has been shown to promote mammary development. This study was conducted to determine the effect of ATRA on casein synthesis and fatty acid composition in MAC-T cells. Methods: MAC-T cells were allowed to differentiate for 4 d, treated with ATRA (0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 μM), and incubated for 3 d. We analyzed the fatty acid composition, the mRNA expression of casein and fatty acid synthesis-related genes, and the phosphorylation of casein synthesis-related proteins of MAC-T cells by gas chromatography, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting, respectively. Results: In MAC-T cells, ATRA increased the mRNA levels of αS1-casein and β-casein, janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and E74-like factor 5 of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 β (STAT5-β) pathway, ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, inhibited the mRNA expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E of the mTOR pathway, and promoted the phosphorylation of STAT5-β and S6K1 proteins. Additionally, ATRA increased the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, reduced the content of long-chain fatty acids, the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (SFA), the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to SFA, and the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA. The mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) were enhanced by ATRA. Conclusion: ATRA promotes the synthesis of casein by regulating JAK2/STAT5 pathway and downstream mTOR signaling pathway, and it improves the fatty acid composition of MAC-T cells by regulating SREBP1-related genes.

Detection of Pectobacterium chrysanthemi Using Specific PCR Primers Designed from the 16S-23S rRNA Intergenic Spacer Region

  • Kwon, Soon-Wo;Myung, In-Sik;Go, Seung-Joo
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.16 no.5
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    • pp.252-256
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    • 2000
  • The 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions (ISRs) were sequenced and analyzed to design specific primer for identification of Pectobacterium chrysanthemi. Two types ISRs, large and small ISRs, were identified from three strains (ATCC 11663, KACC 10163 and KACC 10165) of P. chrysanthemi and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum ATCC 15713.Large ISRs contained transfer RNA-Ile(tRNA$^{Ile}$)and tRNA$^{Ala}$, and small ISRs contained tRNA$^{Glu}$. Size of the small ISRs of P. chrysanthemi ranged on 354-356 bp, while it was 451 bp in small ISR of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum ATCC 15713. From hypervariable region of small ISRs, species-specific primer for P. chrysanthemi with 20 bp length (CHPG) was designed from hypervariable region of small ISRs, which was used as forward promer to detect P. chrysanthemi strains with R23-1R produced PCR product of about 260bp size (CHSF) only from P. chrysanthemi strains, not from other Pectobacterium spp. and Erwinia spp. Direct PCR from bacterial cell without extracting DNA successfully amplified a specific fragment, CHSF, from P. chrysanthemi ATCC 11663. The limit of PCR detection was 1${\pm}10^2$ cfu/ml.

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Inhibition of Tyrosinase by Metabolites Originating from Thrichoderma atroviride (Thrichoderma atroviride 배양액의 tyrosinase 억제제에 관한 연구)

  • Kang, Dong Woo;Kim, Kyu-Min;Kim, Ye-Seong;Seo, Yu-Jin;Song, Da-Yeong;Oh, Da-Yun;Choi, Si-On;Hwang, Ju-Hyeon;Kim, Sam Woong;Bang, Kyu Ho;Gal, Sang Wan
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.47-51
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    • 2021
  • In today's society, functional whitening cosmetics are important to beauty. Fungi are known to produce a variety of whitening-related metabolites. In this study, we searched for tyrosinase inhibitors with metabolic products derived from Trichoderma atroviride supernatant in order to apply a material for whitening functional cosmetics. In addition, the inhibitory effect was compared to arbutin, which has already been approved as a whitening raw material by the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (KMFDS). The metabolites from the T. atroviride supernatant showed higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity than that of arbutin. Some of the tyrosinase inhibitors were stable to heat, whereas some were unstable. The heat unstable material was exhibited in the case of samples treated with little amounts, such as 0.02~0.2%. They were very unstable in acidic and alkali pHs, especially under acidic conditions. However, it was found that a weakly-acidic to neutral pH range was the optimal working pH, especially neutral pH. Since the activity of the inhibitory substances in the T. atroviride supernatant was maintained regardless of proteinase K treatment, it was assumed that the metabolites, but not the bioactive peptides, were involved in the activity. In summary, we propose that the metabolites derived from T. atroviride supernatant have strong potential as whitening raw material.

A Quantitative Analysis on the NSC(Nature, Science, Cell) Publications of Korean Researchers (Nature, Science, Cell지(誌)에 게재된 한국인 과학자의 논문현황 분석)

  • Heo, Jeong-Eun;Kim, Hae-Do;Choi, Tae-Jin;Kim, Seong-Baek;Jo, Yeong-Don;Kim, In-Ho
    • Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.558-577
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    • 2006
  • With the rapid shift to a knowledge-based economy, science and technology (S&T) is considered as the principle drivers in a nation's competitiveness. All countries are focused on upgrading the level of their S&T of nations and strengthening their national competitiveness. With these factors in mind, Korea has increased its support of national research and development (R&D). As a result of this added support, Korea S&T has made great strides. This improvement can be seen in the drastic increase in the number of Korean researchers who have been published in Nature, Science and Cell (NSC), three top journals in the fields of S&T. This study is a quantitative analysis on the NSC Publications of Korean researchers. The purpose of this study is to derive research policy suggestions to improve Korea's national competitiveness in S&T.

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Diurnal Variation in Hydration of the Cervical Intervertebral Disc Assessed Using T2 Mapping of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • Chanyuan Liu;Jingyi Wang;Bowen Hou;Yitong Li;John N. Morelli;Peisen Zhang;Jun Ran;Xiaoming Li
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
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    • v.23 no.6
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    • pp.638-648
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    • 2022
  • Objective: The study aimed to investigate the diurnal variation in cervical disc hydration and its relationship with cervical degeneration. Materials and Methods: C3-C7 discs of 86 prospectively enrolled participants (37 males, 49 females; mean age ± standard deviation, 23.5 ± 2.5 years) were assessed using T2 mapping in the morning and evening. All discs were stratified by Miyazaki grade or C2-C7 Cobb angle and T2 values (T2). The degree of diurnal T2 variation (T2-DDV), defined as (morning T2 - evening T2)/morning T2 x 100%, was measured for the entire disc, annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus (NP), and endplate zones. Results: T2 of the entire disc decreased significantly after the daytime load (p < 0.001), with a T2-DDV of 13.3% for all discs and 16.0%, 12.2%, and 13.0% for healthy (grade I), mild degenerative (grade II), and advanced degenerative (grade III/IV) discs, respectively. T2 of regional NPs and AFs decreased significantly from morning to evening (p ≤ 0.049) except in the healthy anterior inner AF (p = 0.092). Compared with healthy discs, mild degenerative discs displayed lower T2 and T2-DDV in regional NPs (p < 0.001). Advanced degenerative discs showed higher T2-DDV in the anterior inner AF compared with healthy discs (p = 0.050). Significant diurnal T2 changes in the endplate zones were observed only in healthy discs (p = 0.013). Cervical discs in the low Cobb angle group showed higher T2-DDV in the anterior AFs and anterior NP and lower T2-DDV in the posterior AF than those in the high Cobb angle group (p ≤ 0.041). Conclusion: This study characterized the diurnal variation in hydration of the cervical discs as assessed using T2 mapping and revealed early chemo-mechanical coupling dysfunction in degenerating discs. Cervical sagittal alignment on MRI can affect the diurnal stress patterns of the cervical discs. T2 mapping is sensitive to disc biomechanical dysfunction and offers translational potential from biomechanical research to clinical application.

Inhibitory Effect of Crude Extracts from a Brown Alga Sargassum siliquanstrum on 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation (꽈배기모자반 추출물이 3T3-L1 지방세포 분화에 미치는 영향)

  • Kong, Chang-Suk;Lee, Jung Im;Kwon, Myeong Sook;Seo, Youngwan
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.279-285
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    • 2015
  • In this study, the potential capacity of the crude extract and its solvent fractions from S. siliquanstrum against adipocyte differentiation were evaluated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The anti-adipogenic effect of S. siliquanstrum was evidenced by the fact that its crude extract decreases the lipid accumulation of differentiating cells and the expression levels of crucial adipogenesis markers, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $(PPAR){\gamma}$ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein $(C/EBP){\alpha}$. All solvent fractions except the water fraction showed an observable decrease in lipid accumulation and $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ expressions. In conclusion, these results suggest that S. siliquanstrum possesses obesity inhibiting components, which may possibly be used as a valuable anti-obesity agent for reducing the risk of obesity.