• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.197-206
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• 2007

P2X receptors are membrane-bound ion channels that conduct $Na^+,\;K^+$, and $Ca^{2+}$ in response to ATP and its analogs. There are seven subunits identified so far ($P2X_1-P2X_7$). $P2X_2$ receptors are known to be expressed in a wide range of organs including brains and adrenal grands. PC12 cells are originated from adrenal grand and differentiated by nerve growth factor or pituitary adenylate cyclase activating poly peptide (PACAP). Previous studies indicate that $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells couples to $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ release of catecholamine and ATP. It is known that acidic pH potentiates ATP currents at $P2X_2$ receptors. This leads to a hypothesis that $P2X_2$ receptors may play an important role in PC12 cell differentiation, one of the characteristics of which is neurite outgrowth, induced by the hormones under lower pH. In the present study, we isolated several clones which potentiate neurite outgrowth by PACAP in acidic pH (6.8), but not in alkaline pH (7.6). RT-PCR and electrophysiology data indicate that these clones express only functional $P2X_2$ receptors in the absence or presence of PACAP for 3 days. Potentiation of neurite outgrowth resulted from PACAP (100 nM) in acidic pH is inhibited by the two P2X receptor antagonists, suramin and PPADS ($100\;{\mu}M)$ each), and exogenous exprerssion of ATP-binding mutant $P2X_2$ receptor subunit ($P2X_2[K69A]$). However, acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are not involved in PACAP-induced neurite outgrowth potentiation in lower pH since treatments of an inhibitor of ASICs, amyloride ($10\;{\mu}M$), did not give any effects to neurite extension. The vesicular proton pump ($H^+-ATPase$) inhibitor, bafilomycin (100 nM), reduced neurite extension indicating that ATP release resulted from $P2X_2$ receptor activation in PC12 cells is needed for neurite outgrowth. These were confirmed by activation of mitogen activated protein kinases, such as ERKs and p38. These results suggest roles of ATP and $P2X_2$ receptors in hormone-induced cell differentiation or neuronal synaptogenesis in local acidic environments.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.280-287
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• 2015

Current influenza vaccines are produced in embryonated chicken eggs. However, egg-based vaccines have various problems. To address these problems, recombinant protein vaccines have been developed as new vaccine candidates. Unfortunately, recombinant proteins frequently encounter aggregation and low stability during their biogenesis. It has been previously demonstrated that recombinantly expressed proteins can be greatly stabilized with high solubility by fusing stabilizing peptide (SP) derived from the C-terminal acidic tail of human synuclein (ATS). To investigate whether SP fusion proteins can induce protective immunity in mice, we produced influenza HA and SP fusion protein using a baculovirus expression system. In in vitro tests, SP-fused recombinant HA1 (SP-rHA1) was shown to be more stable than recombinant HA1 (rHA1). Mice were immunized intramuscularly with baculovirus-expressed rHA1 protein or SP-rHA1 protein ($2{\mu}g/mouse$) formulated with aluminum hydroxide. Antibody responses were determined by ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition assay. We observed that SP-rHA1 immunization elicited HA-specific antibody responses that were comparable to rHA1 immunization. These results indicate that fusion of SP to rHA1 does not negatively affect the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate. Therefore, it is possible to apply SP fusion technology to develop stable recombinant protein vaccines with high solubility.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.59-67
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• 2024

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has memory impairment associated with aggregation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Although anti-amyloid β (Aβ) protein antibody and chemical drugs can be prescribed in the clinic, they show adverse effects or low effectiveness. Therefore, the development of a new drug is necessarily needed. We focused on the cognitive function of Panax ginseng and tried to find active ingredient(s). We isolated panaxcerol D, a kind of glycosyl glyceride, from the non-saponin fraction of P. ginseng extract. Methods: We explored effects of acute or sub-chronic administration of panaxcerol D on cognitive function in scopolamine- or Aβ_25-35 peptide-treated mice measured by several behavioral tests. After behavioral tests, we tried to unveil the underlying mechanism of panaxcerol D on its cognitive function by Western blotting. Results: We found that pananxcerol D reversed short-term, long-term and object recognition memory impairments. The decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) or Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in scopolamine-treated mice was normalized by acute administration of panaxcerol D. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), caspase 3, NF-kB p65, synaptophysin and brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression levels in Aβ_25-35 peptide-treated mice were modulated by sub-chronic administration of panaxcerol D. Conclusion: Pananxcerol D could improve memory impairments caused by cholinergic blockade or Aβ accumulation through increased phosphorylation level of ERK or its anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, panaxcerol D as one of non-saponin compounds could be used as an active ingredient of P. ginseng for improving cognitive function.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.718-724
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• 2017

The combination of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) with a vaccine is currently effective against rabies infections, but improvements are needed. Genetic engineering antibody technology is an attractive approach for developing novel antibodies to replace RIG. In our previous study, a single-chain variable fragment, scFv57R, against rabies virus glycoprotein was constructed. However, its inherent weak stability and short half-life compared with the parent RIG may limit its diagnostic and therapeutic application. Therefore, an acidic tail of synuclein (ATS) derived from the C-terminal acidic tail of human alpha-synuclein protein was fused to the C-terminus of scFv57R in order to help it resist adverse stress and improve the stability and half-life. The tail showed no apparent effect on the preparation procedure and affinity of the protein, nor did it change the neutralizing potency in vitro. In the ELISA test of molecular stability, the ATS fusion form of the protein, scFv57R-ATS, showed an increase in thermal stability and longer half-life in serum than scFv57R. The protection against fatal rabies virus challenge improved after fusing the tail to the scFv, which may be attributed to the improved stability. Thus, the ATS fusion approach presented here is easily implemented and can be used as a new strategy to improve the stability and half-life of engineered antibody proteins for practical applications.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.554-560
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• 1998

Biopolymer from alkaline-tolerant Bacillus so. was purified, and its physico-chemical and structural properties were investigated. Crude biopolymer, precipitated by acetone from culture broth was fractionated into two fractions by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200. Among two fractions, one fraction(PS I), which an acidic biopolymer precipitated by the CPC(cetylpyridinium chloride) treatment was studied further. PS I fraction had carboxyl groups and was positive at color reaction of sugar. PS I fraction also showed UV absorbance at 190-225nm. The purified acidic biopolymer was composed of 4% glucose, 8% glucosamine and 88% glutamic acid. Sugar components of the purified acidic biopolymer seemed to be linked to PGA(polyglutamic acid) which existed in the from of ${\gamma}$-peptide bond. By the results of Smith degradation of sugar components, glucose and glucosamine was bound by 1,3 glocosidic linkage. Therefore, this biopolymer was a glycopeptide, oligosaccaride ${\gamma}$-PGA. We concluded that the equivalent weight and the molecular weight of this biopolymer were estimated as about 171 and 5x105 dalton, respectively.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.263-272
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• 2011

A number of surface modification techniques using immobilization of biofunctional molecules of Titanium (Ti) for dental implants as well as surface properties of Ti and Ti alloys have been developed. The method using passive surface oxide film on titanium takes advantage of the fact that the surface film on Ti consists mainly of amorphous or low-crystalline and nonstoichiometric $TiO_2$. In another method, the reconstruction of passive films, calcium phosphate naturally forms on Ti and its alloys, which is characteristic of Ti. A third method uses the surface active hydroxyl group. The oxide surface immediately reacts with water molecules and hydroxyl groups are formed. The hydroxyl groups dissociate in aqueous solutions and show acidic and basic properties. Several additional methods are also possible, including surface modification techniques, immobilization of poly(ethylene glycol), and immobilization of biomolecules such as bone morphogenetic protein, peptide, collagen, hydrogel, and gelatin.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 1996년도 정기총회 및 학술발표회
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• pp.37-37
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• 1996

Tenecin fragments are antimicrobial and antifungal peptide from Tenebrio molitor with highly positive charged amino acid residues. To elucidate their membrane selectivity and molecular mechanism, various forms of tenecin fragments were synthesized, and their interaction with acidic phospholipid, Gram (+), fungal and human erythrocyte membrane were investigated by ANTS/DPX leakage, membrane binding and fusion assay. (omitted)

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.93-101
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• 1998

In order to improve the functional properties of several fish meat extracts as an alternate protein source, theri basic plastein reactions were evaluated. The UV absorption at 270 and 290 nm indicated that plasteins had higher amount of hydrophobic peptide or amino acid than the fish meat extracts. The water solubilities of the extracts were reduced at acidic pH. Values for the emulsifying capacity of the extracts and plasteins were over 30% although the latter showed the higher ones than the former. The osmolalities of the extracts at 1.0% concentration were 39(loach), 33(bastard halibut), 30(jacopever) and 24(crucan carp) milliosmole. Generally the slightly higher osmolalities were noted in the plasteins to be compared with the extracts. Both the extracts and plasteins exhibited a higher antioxidative effect than tocopherol. The hydrophobic amino acid which had been introduced at plastein reaction attributed the stronger antionxidative effect of its product than the extracts.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.68-72
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• 2010

Bacillus licheniformis B1의 ${\beta}$-1,4-glucanase 유전자는 Escherichia coli BL21에서 발현되어, 이로부터 수용성의 50 kDa 단백질이 과량생산되었다. 반면에 B. licheniformis에서는 37 kDa의 형태가 분비되었다. E. coli에서 발현된 ${\beta}$-1,4-glucanase는 leader peptide가 제거되지 않고 포함되어 있고 Bacillus에서는 효소의 carboxy 말단에서 processing이 일어난 것으로 보인다. E. coli에서 생산된 ${\beta}$-1,4-glucanase의 최적온도는 $40^{\circ}C$이었지만, $60^{\circ}C$에서도 최대치의 76% 활성을 유지하였다. 효소의 최적 pH는 7이었고, 효소의 활성은 전체적으로 보면 약산성, 중성 및 약알칼리 영역에 널리 걸쳐 있었다. Cellulase는 식품, 세제, 펄프, 제지, 섬유산업 등 다양한 분야에서 주로 산성의 곰팡이계 효소가 이용되고 있으나, 중성 및 알칼리성 cellulase 연구 및 개발은 미흡한 편이다. 본 연구에서 개발된 중성 cellulase가 바이오 연료 개발 등의 분야에서 활용되기를 기대해 본다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.145-252
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• 1987

Isolated rat adipocytes are well known to possess opposite pathways of lipid metabolism: lipolysis and ipogenesis. Both of the metabolism respond to various biologically active substances such as epinephrine, ACTH and insulin. Epinephrine and ACTH stimulate lipolysis and insulin accelerates lipogenesis. Recently, Korean red ginseng powder was found to contain adenosine and an acidic poptide which inhibited epinephrine-induced lipolysis and sl imulated insulin-mediated lipogenesis from added glucose. The acidic peptide is consisted mainly of glutamic acid and glucose. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Re inhibited ACTH-induced lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes, while they did not affect insulinstimulated lipogenesis, Thus, all these substances extracted from Korean red ginseng exhibited selective modulations toward the opposite metabolic pathways in rat adipocyte; They inhibited the lipolysis but not the lipogenesis. We call these substances"selective modulators". Recently, we isolated a toxic substance named "toxohormone-L " from ascites fluid of patients with various malignant tumors. The toxohormone-L stimulated lipolysis in rat adipocytes and induced anorexia in rats. Both the lipolytic and the anorexigenic actions of toxohormone-L were found to be inhibited by ginsenoside Rb2 in Korean red ginseng. Based on these results, physiological signifi¬cances of these substances in Korean red ginseng were discussed. Pan ax ginseng is a medicinal plant long used in treatment of various pathological states including general complaints such as head ache, shoulder ache, chilly constitution and anorexia in cancer patients, There have been many pharmacological studies on Panax ginseng roots. Petkovllreported that oral administration of an aqueous alcoholic extract of ginseng roots decreased the blood sugar levtl of rabbits. Saito2lreported that Panax ginseng suppressed hyperglycemia induced by epinephrine and high carbohydrate diets. These findings suggest that Panax ginseng roots contain insulin-like substances. Previously, we demonstrated that gin¬seng roots contain an insulin-like peptide which inhibits epinephrine-induced lipolysis and stimulated insulin-mediated lipogenesis. In 1984, we suggested that such an insulin-like substance should be called a selective modulator4). Present investigation describes the details of the selective modulators in ginseng roots. During progressive weight loss in patients with various neoplastic disease, depletion of fat stores have been observed. The depletion of body fat during growth of neoplasms is associated with increase in plasma free fatty acids. Recently, we found that the ascites fluid from patients with hepatoma or ovarian tumor and the pleural fluid from patients with malignant lymphoma elicited fatty acid release in slices of rat adipose tissue in vitro. The lipolytic factor, named"toxohormone-L". was purifed from the ascites fluid of patients with hepatoma. The isolated preparation gave a single band on both disc gel electrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS)-acrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol. Its molecular weight was determined to be 70,000-75,000 and 65,000 by SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation, respectively. Injection of toxohormone-L into the lateral ventricle of rats significantly suppressed food and water intakes. There was at least 5 hr delay between its injection and appearance of its suppressive effect. In the present study, we also tried to find a inhibitory substance toward toxohormone-L from root powder of ginseng.