• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.535-539
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• 1999

1,3-Dimethyllumazine derivatives were synthesized by using Timmis reaction. The reaction of 4-amino-1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrosouracil(1) with 2,4-pentanedione, ethyl cyanoacetate, and ethyl acetoacetate provided 6-acetyl-1,3,7-trimethyllumazine (2), ethyl 7-amino-1,3-dimethyllumazine-6-carboxylate (4), and ethyl 1,3,7-trimethyllumazine-6-carboxylate (5) in good yieId, respectively. The various 1,3-dimethyllumazine derivatives were prepared from the side chain reactions of 6-acetyl and ester group in compound 2,4, and 5. The structure and physical properties of obtained compounds were characterized NMR, UV, IR spectrum, and elementary analysis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.64-72
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• 2002

Objective: Ramulus mori (RM) has been known to be effective for the treatment of obesity. To show the effectiveness of RM in a more scientific way, RM extract was prepared and evaluated in high fat diet rats by measuring the changes of body weight and lipid metabolism as described briefly below. Methods: 200 g of crushed RM was extracted withmethyl alcohol. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 33.4 g. For 10 weeks, control group rats were fed a high fat diet, while the test group rats were fed with the same diet plus RM extract. The normal group was fed with a normal diet. 150 mg of RM extract per 1 kg of body weight was added to the diet in the test group rats. Results: The control group rats on the high fat diet gained weight significantly, whereas the test group rats on the high fat diet plus RM extract gamed less weight. The significant increase of liver weight caused by the high fat diet was also inhibited by the RM extract treatment. Total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels of serum in the high fat diet rats were remarkably increased, whereastheir levels on the high fat diet plus RM extract were less increased. While serum HDL-cholesterol levels were remarkably decreased in the high fat diet, its level was less decreased in the high fat diet plus RM extract. Furthermore, we observed that the activities of hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase increased under the high fat diet, while their activities under the high fat diet plus RM extract were getting back nearly to the normal levels of the normal diet rats. Conclusions: These result show that the obesity caused by a high fat diet was effectively inhibited by an RM extract. Our results also showed that the abnormal lipid metabolism caused by a high fat diet was effectively cured by adding RM extract.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.313-319
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• 2002

N-Acetyl-$\beta$-D-hexosaminidase ($\beta$-HexNAc'ase) (EC 3.2.1.52) was purified from rice seeds (Oryza sative L. var. Dongjin) using ammonium sulfate (80%) precipitation, Sephadex G-150, CM-Sephadex, and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, sequentially. The activities were separated into 7 fractions($F_1-F_7$) by CM-Sephadex chromatography. Among them, F6 was further purified to homogeneity with a 13.0% yield and 123.3 purification-fold. The molecular mass was estimated to be about 52 kDa on SDS-PAGE and 37.4 kDa on Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of both p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-hexosaminide (pNP-GlcNAc) and p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-hexosaminide (pNP-GalNAc) as substrates, which are typical properties of $\beta$-HexNAc'ase. The ratio of the pNP-GlcNAc'ase activity to the pNP-GalNAc'ase activity was 4.0. However, it could not hydrolyze chitin, chitosan, pNP-$\beta$-glucopyranoside, or pNP-$\beta$-glucopyranoside. The enzyme showed $K_m$, $V_{max}$ and $K_{cat}$ for pNP-GlcNAc of 1.65 mM, $79.49\;mM\;min^{-1}$, and $4.79{\times}10^6\;min^{-1}$, respectively. The comparison of kinetic values for pNP-GlcNAc and pNP-GalNAc revealed that the two enzyme activities are associated with a single binding site. The purified enzyme exhibited optimum pH and temperature for pNP-GlcNAc of 5.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme activity for pNP-GlcNAc was stable at pH 5.0-5.5 and $20-40^{\circ}C$. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited at a concentration of 0.1 mM $HgCl_$ and $AgNO_3$, suggesting that the intact thiol group is essential for activity. Chloramine T completely inhibited the activity, indicating the possible involvement of methionines in the mechanism of the enzyme.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2017

To increase the productivity of in vitro development, the antioxidants have been used for culture system of bovine oocytes and embryos. However, comparative studies on these molecules are rare and direct beneficial effects on blastocyst production cannot be discriminated for best results. The study was conducted to determine the influence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), N-acetyl-L-cysteine amide (NACA), glutathione (GSH) and cysteamime (CYS) on maturation competence of COCs from GV to MII stage and productivity of blastocyst formation during in vitro fertilization and culture. There was no difference among maturation rates of oocytes to metaphase II with polar body with antioxidants for any of the treatment groups (p>0.05). However, the significant improvement on the rate of blastocysts ($32.3{\pm}5.0%$) was found in 0.1 mM CYS treatment than 0.3 mM NAC, 0.2 mM NACA or 0.5mM GSH (p<0.05). The addition of NAC ($18.8{\pm}3.7%$) or NACA ($21.2{\pm}3.9%$) did not improve development competence to morula and blastocysts than control ($24.4{\pm}4.1%$) and GSH ($26.5{\pm}5.0%$) (p>0.05). Our study showed that medium supplementation with CYS during IVM and IVC improved the rate of bovine embryo development but not with NAC, NACA and GSH addition.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.316-321
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• 2021

Objective: Amino acids can protect sperm structure in cryopreservation due to their antioxidant properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of L-carnitine (LC) and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage, and human sperm intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) during vitrification. Methods: Twenty normal human sperm samples were examined. Each sample was divided into six equal groups: LC (1 and 10 mM), NAC (5 and 10 mM), and cryopreserved and fresh control groups. Results: The groups treated with LC and NAC showed favorable findings in terms of motility parameters, DNA damage, and MMP. Significantly higher levels of intracellular ROS were observed in all cryopreserved groups than in the fresh group (p≤0.05). The presence of LC and NAC at both concentrations caused an increase in PMI, MMP, and progressive motility parameters, as well as a significant reduction in intracellular ROS compared to the control group (p≤0.05). The concentrations of the amino acids did not show any significant effect. Conclusion: LC and NAC are promising as potential additives in sperm cryopreservation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.226-229
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• 2004

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) removes acetyl group in lysine residue of histone protein, which is transferred by histone acetylase. HDAC is important in the stabilization and regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic organisms. PCR has been carried out to clone HDAC genes using cDNA library and genomic DNA as the templates from Ganoderma lucidum isolated in Korea. One 470 bp cDNA gene fragment, and 3 genomic HDAC fragments (585 bp, 589 bp, 630 bp) were amplified. When their deduced amino acid sequences were compared with other fungal HDACs, they showed 59-72％ homology.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.495-499
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• 1991

The changes in the free energy and hydration free energy of N-acetyl-N'-methylalaninamide in the unhydrated and hydrated states were calculated with ECEPP/2 and the hydration shell model. The configurational entropy change of each conformation in both states were computed by a harmonic method. To understand the hydration structure of each hydrated conformation, the hydration-shell coordination numbers of functional. groups of the molecule were estimated from water-accessible volumes, and the contributions of water-accessible volume and polarization of each group to the hydration free energy were analyzed. The results show a reasonable agreement with those of recent theoretical studies and experiments.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 1990

In recent years, tissue antigens and enzymes that will serve as phenotypic markers for malignant cells are becoming increasingly important as diagnostic aids. This study was undertaken to investigate the specific activities of these enzymes in DMBA-induced rat submaxillary gland carcinogenesis. One hundred and twenty Sprague-Dawley rats about 100 gms of body weight were used. In experimental group, DMBA pellet (5mg) was implanted into right submaxillary gland and sham operation was performed into left gland to serve as control. The animals were sacrificed every three weeks up to 15 weeks. Submaxillary glands were excised on both sides and enzyme assays for ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase (GGT), 5'-Nucleotidase, Ornithine decarboxylase(ODC) and Acetyl-Co A carboxylase were carried out biochemically. The obtained results were as follows ; 1. In control group, there was no significant weight change of submaxillary gland, while experimental group, weight was increased remarkably about 7-fold at 15th week since DMBA implantation. 2. In control group, there was no change in specific activities of enzymes during the experimental period. 3. GGT activity was rapidly increased reaching a peak of 1.766${\pm}$0.082units/mg of DNA, 8-fold greater than that of onset. 4. 5'-Nucleotidase activity was increased reaching a peak of $362.1{\pm}53.2{\mu}moles/mg$ of DNA at 9th week. 5. ODC activity was rapidly increased, reaching a peak of 26.2${\pm}$4.8nmoles/mg of DNA at 9th week and quickly returned to that of control at 15th week. 6. Acetyl-Co A carboxylase activity was rapidly increased earlier than other enzymes, reaching a peak of 0.178${\pm}$0.013units/mg of DNA at 6th week and quickly declined to the control level at 15th week.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.569-575
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of chromium picolinate (CrP) on fat deposition, genetic expression and enzymatic activity of lipid metabolism-related enzymes. Methods: Two hundred forty one-day-old Ross broilers were randomly divided into 5 groups with 4 replicates per group and 12 Ross broiler chicks per replicate. The normal control group was fed a basal diet, and the other groups fed the same basal diet supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg CrP respectively. The experiment lasted for 21 days. Results: Added CrP in the basal diet decreased the abdominal fat, had no effects on subcutaneous fat thickness and inter-muscular fat width; 0.2 mg/kg CrP significantly decreased the fatty acid synthase (FAS) enzymatic (p<0.05); acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) enzymatic activity decreased in all CrP groups (p<0.05); hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) enzymatic activity also decreased, but the change was not significant (p>0.05); 0.4 mg/kg CrP group significantly decreased the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) enzymatic activity. FAS mRNA expression increased in all experimental groups, and the LPL mRNA expression significantly increased in all experimental groups (p<0.05), but not 0.2 mg/kg CrP group. Conclusion: The results indicated that adding CrP in basal diet decreased the abdominal fat percentage, had no effects on subcutaneous fat thickness and inter-muscular fat width, decreased the enzymatic activity of FAS, ACC, LPL and HSL and increased the genetic expression levels of FAS and LPL.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1409-1419
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• 2021

A growing number of healthy dietary ingredients in fruits and vegetables have been shown to exhibit diverse biological activities. Phloretin, a dihydrochalcone flavonoid that is abundant in apples and pears, has anti-inflammatory effects on ulcerative colitis (UC) mice. The gut microbiota and metabolism are closely related to each other due to the existence of the food-gut axis in the human colon. To investigate the interplay of faecal metabolites and the microbiota in UC mice after phloretin treatment, phloretin (60 mg/kg) was administered by gavage to ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Gut microbes and faecal metabolite profiles were detected by high-throughput sequencing and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, respectively. The correlations between gut microbes and their metabolites were evaluated by Spearman correlation coefficients. The results indicated that phloretin reshaped the disturbed faecal metabolite profile in UC mice and improved the metabolic pathways by balancing the composition of faecal metabolites such as norepinephrine, mesalazine, tyrosine, 5-acetyl-2,4-dimethyloxazole, and 6-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4(1H)-pyridinone. Correlation analysis identified the relations between the gut microbes and their metabolites. Proteus was negatively related to many faecal metabolites, such as norepinephrine, L-tyrosine, laccarin, dopamine glucuronide, and 5-acetyl-2,4-dimethyloxazole. The abundance of unidentified Bacteriodales_S24-7_group was positively related to ecgonine, 15-KETE and 6-acetyl-2,3-dihydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4(1H)-pyridinone. The abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was negatively related to the levels of 15-KETE and netilmicin. Stenotrophomonas and 15-KETE were negatively related, while Intestinimonas and alanyl-serine were positively related. In conclusion, phloretin treatment had positive impacts on faecal metabolites in UC mice, and the changes in faecal metabolites were closely related to the gut microbiota.