• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1990

We established an in vitro system of central serotonergic neurons by culturing dissociated rat embryonic (El4) brainstem cells to 14 days in vitro and monitored the serotonergic neuronal growth by measuring 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) contents in the cells with hish performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC). We studied also tile effects of various drugs on the contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, confirming in vivo reports. The 5-HT content (13 ng/mg protein) and 5-HT turnover rate (17 pmol/mg protein/h) at 14 days in vitro were in good agreement with those reported in the adult rat brain. The 5-HT content was more easily depleted with p-chlorophenylalanine, a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor than with NSD 1015 (3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine), an aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) inhibitor. Incubation of the cultures with tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan increased the rate of serotonin formation implying that neither tryptophan hydroxylase nor AADC is saturated with its amino acid substrate in this in vitro system . The 5-HT content was depleted by reserpine. The 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents were increased and decreased, respectively, by monoamine oxidase inhibitors. All the above results indicate that the biochemical properties of the central serotonergic neurons in this culture system reflect reliably those of central serotonergic neurons in vivo. We suggest that measuring 5-HT and 5-HIAA contents in the primary cultured dissociated brainstem-cells with HPLC-EC is useful in the study of pharmacology as well as toxicolgy of the central serotonergic neurons.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.2 s.85
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• pp.265-274
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• 1998

This study was carried out to obtain the basic data for an artificial cultivation of Phellinus sp.. The optimum conditions for the mycelial growth on the different sawdusts (Quercus aliena, Morns alba and Alnus japonica) substrate of an isolated Phellinus sp. were optimized by response surface methodology. The ratio of rice bran addition to sawdust and the suitable moisture content for the mycelial growth in the all sawdust media were about 30% (w/w) and $65{\sim}70%$ (w/v), respectively. The initial pHs for the mycelial growth of Quercus aliena and Morns alba were in the range of $pH\;5{\sim}6$, whereas Alnus japonica was obtained at pH 6. The optimum temperature for the mycelial growth was about $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$, depending on the different kinds of wood substrates. From the response surface analysis, the values of independent variables of Quercus aliena at stationary points were determined to be 31.01 % (w/w) of rice bran, pH of 5.31 and 69.03% (w/v) of moisture content, and the expected value of mycelial growth was about 8.32 cm. Both the ratio of rice bran addition to sawdust $(X_1)$ and moisture content $(X_3)$ were effective to the mycelial growth. In the case of Morns alba, the ratio of rice bran addition to sawdust, initial pH and moisture content at the stationary points were 28.77% (w/w), 5.28 and 69.8 (w/v),respectively, and the expected mycelial growth of 7.60 cm was obtained. Stationary points for the mycelial growth in the sawdust media of Alnus japonica were 28.74% (w/w) of rice bran, pH of 6. 04 and 66.96% (w/v) of moisture content, and the expected values of mycelial growth was about 5.38 cm. Based on the above results, there was correlations between the mycelial growth and independent variables, and the effect of rice bran $(X_1)$ and initial pH $(X_2)$ for the mycelial growth were higher than the moisture content $(X_3)$. The optimum species of sawdust media for the my celial growth of Phellinus sp. was in the order of Quercus aliena > Morns alba > Alnus japonica.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.81-97
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• 2000

Objectives: This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of Hedyotis diffusa which has long been used for cancer treatment in oriental medicines on the induction of apoptotic cell death in human lymphoid leukemia cell line, HL-60. Methods: Cells were treated with various concentrations (200 to $0.4{\mu}g$) and periods (6 to 30 hr) of $H_2O$ and methanol extracts of Hedyotis diffusa. Then, cells were tested for viability by MTT assay. Cells wrere treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol extract fork various periods. Genomic DNA was isolated, separated, on 1.5% agarose gels, stained with ethidium bromide and visualized under UV light. Cells were treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of each extract for 16 hr. Then, cells were treated with Hoechst dye 33342 and observed by fluorescence microscopy. Cells were treated with various doses of each for 12 hr and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol extract for various periods. Lysate from the cells used to measure the activity of Caspase-1 and-3 proteases by using fluorogenic peptide substrates including acetyl-YVAD-AMC and acetyl-DEVD-AMC, respectively. Cells were treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of each extract for various periods. Cell lysates were immunoprecipated with anti-JNKl antibodies. The immune complex was reacted with $32^p-ATP$ and c-Jun as a substrate. The phosphotransferase activity of JNKI was measured by using PhosphoImage analyzer (Fuji Co., Japan). Nuclear extracts were isolated and incubated with oligonucleotide probe of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Transcriptional activation of ${\kappa}B$ was measured by using EMSA and visualized by PhosphoImage analyzer (Fuji Co, Japan). Cell lysates were prepared and analyzed by Western blotting with anti-Bc12 antibodies and anti-Bax antibodies. Cells were pretreated with various doses of methanol extract for 2 hr. Then, the extract was removed by centrifugation. Cells were resuspended with RPMI-1640 media containing 0.3% agarose, 10% FBS, overlayred onto bottom layer agarose and incubated at $CO_2$ incubator for 6 days. The number of colony was counted under light microscopy ($\time100$). Results: The death of HL-60 cells was markedly induced by the addition of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa in a dose and time-dependent manners. The apoptotic characteristic ladder pattern of DNA strand break was observed in death of HL-60 cells. In addition, it was shown nucleus chromatin condensation and fragmentation under Hoechst staining. Therefore, Hedyotis diffusa extract-induced death of HL-60 cells is mediated by apoptotic signaling processes. The activity of Caspase 3-like proteases remained in a basal level in HL-60 cells treated with aqueous extract of Hedyotis diffusa. However, it was markedly increased in HL-60 cells treated with methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. In addition, the phosphotransferase activity of JNKl was increased in HL-60 cells treated with methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. Furthermore, the activation of transcriptional activator, $NF-{\kappa}B$ was markedly induced by methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. Anti-apoptotic Bc12 was cleaved into 23Kda fragment by treatment of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa. However, expression of proapoptotic Bax protein was increased by treatment of methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, methanol extract markedly inhibited the colony forming efficiency of HL-60 cells in semisolid agar culture. Conclusions: Above results suggest that methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa induces the apoptotic death of human leukemic HL-60 cells via activations of Caspase-3 proteases, JNKI, transcriptional activator $NF-{\kappa}B$, In addition, our results also suggest that methanol extract of Hedyotis diffusa reduces the malignant potential of HL-60 cells via down regulation of colony forming effciency through cleavage of Bc12 as well as induction of Bax.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 1998

To evaluate the biological and biochemical characteristics of Trichomonas vaginalis KT9 isolate, the growth and size of trichomonads, pathogenicity in mouse, protein profiles and proteinase activity were examined after shifting the medium from TPS-1 into TYM. Generation time of trichomonads in TYM medium was 4.5 hr in comparison to TPS-1 with 7.1 hr. Size of trichomonads cultured in TPS-1 medium ($8.5{\;}{\pm}{\;}0.9{\;}{\times}{\;}6.0{\;}{\pm}{\;}0.9{\;}{\mu\textrm{m}}$) was significantly smaller than those in TYM medium ($10.9{\;}{\pm}{\;}1.4{\;}{\times}{\;}8.2{\;}{\pm}{\;}0.9{\;}{\mu\textrm{m}}$). Trichomonads cultured in TYM medium produced subcutaneous abscess in 9 out of 10 mice, whereas those in TPS-1 medium produced abscesses in 2 out of 10 mice. In SDS-PAGE, trichomonad Iysates from both media showed ten common bands. However, trichomonads in TYM medium showed additional bands of 136 kDa, 116 kDa and 40 kDa in comparison to those in TPS-1 with 100 kDa. By immunoblot with T. vaginalis-immunized rabbit sera, T. vaginalis cultivated in both TYM and TPS-1 media showed 5 common bands. and unique bands of 116 kDa. 105 kDa. and 86 kDa were observed in trichomonads in TYM while a 140 kDa band in those in TPS-1. In gelatin SDS-PAGE, trichomonads in TYM degraded gelatin stronger than those in TPS-1. Also protease activity of trichomonads in TYM was significantly higher than that of trichomonads in TPS-1 using Bz-Pro-Phe-Arg-Nan as a substrate. According to the results, it is assumed that the shift from TPS-1 into TYM medium for cultivation of T. vaginalis might modulate the biological and biochemical properties of T vaginalis in vitro.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2017

This study aimed to determine the suitable of harvest time on the growth and quality of baby leafy vegetables (Agastsche rugosa O. Kuntze and Lepidium sativum L.) grown on rice seedling tray in a six-layered bench system at 30cm intervals in order to exploit the space during rice growing off-season. Seedlings were grown on the rice seedling tray for 10 days after sowing with coir substrate supplied with nutrient solution at EC $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ every 2 days prior to placing the tray on the bench, which were at $1^{st}$ (Low) layer above 20cm and $6^{th}$ (High) layer above 170cm apart from the ground. Growth and phytochemical contents were measured at 7-day and 14-day harvest time. During the culture periods, daily average of integrated solar radiation and temperature were $9.3{\sim}9.6MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$, $27.5^{\circ}C$ in the High layer and $5.1{\sim}6.2MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ in average, and $26.5{\sim}26.6^{\circ}C$ in the Low layer, respectively. For A. rugosa, the highest growth was observed in the Low layer bench at a 14-day harvest time, while their plant height in the High layer was shorter and the leaf number was lower. For L. sativum, the plant height, leaf length and width, leaf number and fresh weight were higher in the Low layer. For A. rugosa, a high yield was observed with the increase in integrated temperature and integrated solar radiation, while a higher yield of L. sativum was found with the increase in integrated temperature, but not with integrated solar radiation. For A. rugosa, both polyphenol and anthocyanin contents were higher in the High layer at a 14-day harvest time. For L. sativum, polyphenol contents were higher in the High layer, whereas no significant difference in anthocyanin and flavonoid contents was observed depending on the layer and harvest time. The highest chlorophyll content showed in Low layer at a 7-day harvest time in both A. rugose and L. sativum. All of the results suggest that in terms of growth and quality, it may be better growing in the high layer for 14 days after seedling in A. rugosa, and low layer for 7 days in L. sativum.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.212-216
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• 1981

The growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus treated with vanillin, ortho-vanillin and guaiaco1 was studied on synthetic medium in mechanically agitated chemostat culture, The exponential-phase growth rate exhibited a maximum at the cells treated with 50 ppm vanillin. That stimulation, however, appears to be an effect on growth rate rather than total cell growth. And the others were inhibited by the chemicals. Much greater inhibition in growth of the cells treated with 100 ppm of each chemical than oars treated with 50 ppm was observed after 25 hour fomentation. For aerobic microbes, the alcohol dehydrogenase reaction is enhanced for the reproduction of NAD, which consequently cause to stimulate fermentation. For micro-aerophilic microbes , however, the same effect was not observed at the present study at least in the case of cell concentration. However except f or one treated with 50 ppm vanillin the same effect was observed in the case of growth is to. From the result using the glucose as a substrate, it was found that the cell concentrations measured in terms of ultimate optical density (UOB/ml), were 0.96 and 0.92, when treated with 50 and 100 ppm vanillin; 0.40 and 0.45 when treated with ortho-vanillin 50 and 100 ppm: 0.49 and 0.47, when treated with guaiacol 50 and 100 ppm. The specific growth rates were 0.44, 0.15, 0.25, 0.29, 0.37, and 0.34; the specific production rates wire 0.33, 0.15, 0.16, 0.22, 0.28, and 0.26 and the glucose concentrations (g/1) after 25 hour fermentation were 23.5, 32.8, 31.5, 29.5, 28.0 and 28.8, these all in the same sequences as the first.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.89-119
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• 2004

This study was conducted to isolate lactobacilli having probiotic characteristics to be used as health adjuncts with fermented milk products. Acid tolerant strains were selected in Lactobacilli MRS broth adjusted to pH 4.0 from 80 healthy persons (infants, children and adults). And bile tolerant strains were examined in Lactobacilli MRS broth in which 1.0% bile salt was added. By estimation above characteristics, the strains No. 27, which was isolated from adult feces, was selected and identified as Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salivarius based on carbohydrate fermentation and 16S rDNA sequencing. It was used as a probiotic strain in fermented milk products. The pH of fermented milk decreased from pH 6.7 to 5.0 and titratable acidity increased from 0.3% to 1.0% by L. salivarius subsp. salivarius (isolation strain 20, 35, and 37), when incubated for 36 h at $37^{\circ}C$. The number of viable cell counts of fermented milk was maximized at this incubation condition. The SDS-PAGE evidenced no significant change of casein but distinct changes of whey protein were observed by isolated L. salivarius subsp. salivarius for titratable acidity being incubated by $0.9{\sim}1.0%$ at $37^{\circ}C$. All of the strains produced 83.43 to 131.96 mM of lactic acid and 5.39 to 26.85 mM of isobutyric acid in fermented products. The in vitro culture experiment was performed to evaluate ability to reduce cholesterol levels and antimicrobial activity in the growth medium. The selected L. salivarius subsp. salivarius reduced $23{\sim}38%$ of cholesterol content in lactobacilli MRS broth during bacterial growth for 24 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. All of the isolated L. salivarius subsp. salivarius had an excellent antibacterial activity with $15{\sim}25$ mm of inhibition zone to E. coli KCTC1039, S. enteritidis KCCM3313, S. typhimurium M-15, and S. typhimurium KCCM40253 when its pH had not been adjusted. Also, all of the isolated L. salivarius subsp. salivarius had partial inhibition zone to E. coli KCTC1039, E. coli KCTC0115 and S. enteritidis KCCM3313 when it had been adjusted to pH 5.7. The selected strains were determined to have resistances of twelve antibiotic. Strains 27 and 35 among the L. salivarius subsp. salivarius showed the highest resistance to the antibiotics. Purified ${\alpha}$-galactosidase was obtained by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion exchange chromatography, Mono-Q ion exchange chromatography and HPLC column chromatography from L. salivarius subsp. salivarius 27. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 8,994 units/mg protein, representing an 17.09 folds purification of the original cell crude extract. The molecular weight of enzyme was identified about 53,000 dalton by 12% SDS-PAGE. Optimal temperature and pH for activity of this enzyme were $40^{\circ}C$ and 7.0 respectively. The enzyme was found to be stable between 25 and $50^{\circ}C$. ${\alpha}$-galactosidase activity was lost rapidly below pH 5.0 and above pH 9.0. This enzyme was liberated galactose from melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose, and also the hydrolysis rate of substrate was compound by HPLC. These results indicated that some of the L. salivarius subsp. salivarius (strain 27 and 35) are considered as effective probiotic strains with a potential for industrial applications, but the further study is needed to establish their use as probiotics in vivo.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.437-442
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• 1996

Two strains of Lactobacillus(L.) casfi and one strain of L. Pentosus, which were isolated from pickles, were used to investigate in studing their characteristics of ${\beta}-galactosidase$. The preferable carbon sources and pH of the MRS media for enzyme production from L. casei No.10 was found to be 1.0% lactose and pH 7.5, from L. Pentosus No.63 was 1.0% galactose and pH 7.5, and from L. casei No.36 was 1.0% lactose and pH 6.5, respectively. The maximum enzyme production from each strain was found after 48 hours culture at $30^{\circ}C$ in a medium with preferable carbon source. The optimum reaction temperature with substrate for ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity was found at $60^{\circ}C$ for all three strains . The stability of enzyme from L. casei No.36 was found to be at $45^{\circ}C$, from L. Pentosus No.63 was found at $55^{\circ}C$. This stability from L. casei No.36 was found at $40^{\circ}C$, but it was reduced to 60% at $55^{\circ}C$. These stabilities of enzymes remained about 90% at $40^{\circ}C$ for all three strains. The optimal pH for enzyme activities was found to be pH 6.5 for all three strains. Enzyme activity remained over 90% for L. casei No.10 at $pH\;5.0{\sim}6.0$, for L. casei No.36 at $pH\;5.0{\sim}8.0$, and for L. pentosus No.63 at $pH\;6.0{\sim}7.0$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2011

There is a growing recognition of the significance of $H_2S$ as a biological signaling molecule involved in vascular and nervous system functions. In mammals, two enzymes in the transsulfuration pathway, cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CGL), are believed to be chiefly responsible for $H_2S$ biogenesis. Genetic inborn error of CGL leads to human genetic disease, cystathioninuria, by accumulating cystathionine in the body. This disease is secondarily associated with a wide range of diseases including diabetes insipidus and Down's syndrome. Although the human CGL (hCGL) overexpression is essential for the investigation of its function, structure, reaction specificity, substrate specificity, and protein-protein interactions, there is no clear report concerning optimum overexpression conditions. In this study, we report a detailed analysis of the overexpression conditions of the hCGL using a bacterial system. Maximum overexpression was obtained in conditions of low culture temperature after inducer addition, performing low aeration during overexpression, and using a low concentration inducer (0.1 mM, IPTG) for induction. Expressed hCGL was purified by His-tag affinity column chromatography and confirmed by Western blot using hCGL antibody and enzyme activity analysis. We also report that the His tag with TEV site attached protein exhibits 76% activity for ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ elimination reaction with L-cystathionine and 88% for ${\alpha}-{\beta}$ elimination reaction with L-cysteine compared to those of wild type hCGL, respectively. His tag with TEV site attached protein also exhibits a 420 nm absorption maximum, which is attributed to the binding cofactor, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.988-994
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• 2014

The effluents of chemical and petroleum industries often contain non-biodegradable aromatic compounds, with phenol being one of the major organic pollutants present among a wide variety of highly toxic organic chemicals. Phenol is toxic upon ingestion, contact, or inhalation, and it is lethal to fish even at concentrations as low as 0.005 ppm. Phenol biodegradation has been studied in detail using bacterial strains. However, these microorganisms suffer from substrate inhibition at high concentrations of phenol, whereby growth is inhibited. A phenol-degrading bacterium, P21, was isolated from oil-contaminated soil. The phenotypic characteristics and a phylogenetic analysis indicated the close relationship of strain P21 to Rhodococcus pyridinovorans. Phenol biodegradation by strain P21 was studied under shaking condition. The optimal conditions for phenol biodegradation by strain P21 were 0.09% $KNO_3$, 0.1% $K_2HPO_4$, 0.3% $NaH_2PO_4$, 0.015% $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, 0.001% $FeSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, initial pH 9, and $20-30^{\circ}C$, respectively. When 1,000 ppm of phenol was added to the optimal medium, the strain P21 completely degraded it within two days. Rhodococcus pyridinovorans P21 could grow in up to 1,500 ppm of phenol as the sole carbon source in a batch culture, but it could not grow in a medium containing above 2,000 ppm. Moreover, strain P21 could utilize toxic compounds, such as toluene, xylene, and hexane, as a sole carbon source. However, no growth was detected on chloroform.