• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the physiochemical and microbiological changes of dandelion during fermentation. Thirty and fifty percentage raw sugar groups (SFE30 and SFE50) were introduced into dandelions and fermented for 120 days at $15-20^{\circ}C$. This study was conducted to investigate the utilization of sucrose on lactic acid bacteria from dandelions and their effect on the pH, titratable acidity, microorganism and formation of organic acids in dandelions during fermentation. The number of lactic acid bacteria increased remarkably up to 15 days of fermentation and then decreased rapidly thereafter. The maximum number of lactic acid bacteria, 7.9 log CFU/mL was reached at pH 4.17 and the pH of dandelion showed a slight decrease during fermentation and decreased steadily up to 90 days to reach an optimum pH of 4.0. The titratable acidity of dandelions fermented increased during fermentation. The concentration of organic acid, amino acid and free sugar in SFE30 was higher than both SFE50 and DWE. The results of dandelions fermented were remarkably retarded in the 50% raw sugar group compared to the 30% raw sugar group.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.373-380
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the nutritional components and antioxidant activities of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner flower (lotus flower, LF) and its wine (lotus flower wine, LF wine). The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, and carbohydrate contents of the LF were 85.90, 1.91, 0.30, 1.04, and 10.85%, respectively, and of the LF wine, 92.87, 1.70, 0.30, 0.15, and 5.17%, respectively. The total amino acids in the LF and the LF wine were 2,168 and 6,341 mg/kg, respectively. Palmitic acid (38.63%) was a major fatty acid in the crude fat of the LF, and oleic acid (76.24%) was a major fatty acid in the crude fat of the LF wine. The levels of potassium in the LF ($390.91{\pm}9.60mg/100g$) and the LF wine ($27.40{\pm}1.86mg/100g$) were higher than those of the other minerals. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of both the lotus flower water extract (LFW) and the lotus flower ethanol extract (LFE) were higher than those of the LF wine. In addition, the highest antioxidant activities and ORAC values were obtained from the LFW and the LFE. In conclusion, we found that the LF and the LF wine have potential as natural antioxidants due to their higher bioactive compound contents such as their total phenol and flavonoid contents.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.99-104
• /
• 2005

Corynebacterial clones which exert regulatory effects on the expression of the glyoxylate bypass genes were isolated using a reporter plasmid carrying the enteric lacZ fused to the aceB promoter of Corynebacterium glutamicum. Some clones carried common fragments as turned out by DNA mapping technique. Subcloning analysis followed by the measurement of $\beta-galactosidase$ activity in Escherichia coli identified the region responsible for the aceB-repressing activity. Sequence analysis of the DNA fragment identified two independent ORFs of ORF1 and ORF2. Among them, ORF2 was turned out to be responsible for the aceB-repressing activity. ORF1 encoded a 23,216 Da protein composed of 206 amino acids. Sequence similarity search indicated that the ORF may encode a ECF-type $\sigma$ factor and designated sigH. To identify the function of sigH, C. glutamicum sigH mutant was constructed by gene disruption technique and the sigH mutant showed growth retardation as compared to the wild type strain. In addition, the mutant strain showed sensitivity to oxidative-stress generating agent plumbagin. This result imply that sigH is probably involved in the stress response occurring during normal cell growth.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.455-462
• /
• 2016

Pseudomonas aeruginosa P-5 is an unusual organism capable of synthesizing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) consisting of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) and medium-chain-length (MCL) 3-hydroxyalkanoate (3HA) monomer units when C-odd alkanoic acids are fed as the sole carbon source. Evaluation of the substrate chain-length specificity of two P. aeruginosa P-5 PHA synthases ($PhaC1_{P-5}$ and $PhaC2_{P-5}$) by heterologous expression of $PhaC1_{P-5}$ and $PhaC2_{P-5}$ genes in Pseudomonas putida GPp104 revealed that $PhaC2_{P-5}$ incorporates both 3HV and MCL 3HAs into PHA, whereas $PhaC1_{P-5}$ favors only MCL 3HAs for polymerization. In order to obtain $PhaC2_{P-5}$ mutants with altered substrate specificity, site-specific mutagenesis for $PhaC2_{P-5}$ was conducted. Amino acid substitutions of $PhaC2_{P-5}$ at two positions (Ser326Thr and Gln482Lys) were very effective for synthesizing copolymers with a higher 3HV fraction. When recombinant P. putida GPp104 harboring double mutated $phaC2_{P-5}$ gene ($phaC2_{P-5}QKST$) was grown on nonanoic acid, 2.5-fold increase of copolymer content with 3.8-fold increase of 3HV fraction was observed. The $phaC2_{P-5}QKST$-containing Ralstonia eutropha PHB-4 supplemented with valeric acid also produced copolymers consisting of 3HV and 3-hydroxyheptanoate with a high 3HV fraction. These results suggest that recombinants containing $phaC2_{P-5}QKST$ could be useful for production of new PHA copolymers with improved material properties.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.161-169
• /
• 2008

This study evaluates the protective effects of Korean garlic juice against the toxicity of methyl mercuric chloride (MMC) in relation to fetal ossification in pregnant Fischer 344 rats. This study has as its basis, both theory and data that neutral amino acids in garlic juice have protective effects against mercury poisoning. Pregnant rats were dosed in various combination with 20 mg MMC/kg body wt. and 0.5 or 1.0 garlic juice/kg body wt. on the 7th day of gestation. Fetuses were extracted from the dams on 20th day of gestation, and the fetal bones were stained and measured. The results obtained are as follows: 1. Fetal body weights, body lengths, and head length were significantly decreased by as much as 23.5%, 21.3%, 15.5% respectively in 20 mg/wt kg methyl mercuric chloride groups (p<0.05). But in the garlic treated groups, they were almost similar to the controls. 2. The ossification centers were significantly decreased by as much as 35.1% in pelvic phalanges, 53.5% in pectoral phalanges, 74.1% in ternebrae, 76.2% in tail in 20 mg/wt kg methyl mercuric chloride groups (p<0.05). But in the garlic treated groups, they were significantly increased by as much as $81.2{\sim}88.7%$ and $94.8{\sim}98.9%$ of controls. 3. The ossified pectoral girdles were significantly decreased by as much as 66.6% in clavicle, and in other areas $74.2{\sim}87.4%$ in the 20 mg/wt kg methyl mercuric chloride groups (p<0.05). But in the garlic treated groups, they were significantly increased by as much as $81.2{\sim}88.7%$ and $94.8{\sim}98.9%$ of the controls. 4. The ossified pelvic girdles were significantly decreased by as much as 57.1% and 56.1% in two ischium, $67.2{\sim}81.7%$ in metacarpals in the 20 mg/wt kg methyl mercuric chloride groups (p<0.05). But in the garlic treated groups, they were significantly increased by as much as $67.0{\sim}85.6%$ and $90.1{\sim}98.7%$ of the controls. 5. The ossified terenebrae were unchanged or significantly decreased; 0.0% in 5th, 54.1% in 1st, 83.9% in 2nd, 75.0% in 3rd, 72.7% in 4th, 79.8% in 6th of 20 mg/wt kg methyl mercuric chloride groups (p<0.05). But in the garlic treated groups, they were significantly increased by as much as $29.5{\sim}55.1%$ and $54.5{\sim}84.0%$ of the controls. 6. The ossified ribs were significantly decreased by as much as $8.3{\sim}18.0%$ in 20 mg/wt kg methyl mercuric chloride groups (p<0.05). But in the garlic treated groups, they were significantly increased by as much as $87.1{\sim}93.5%$ and $96.3{\sim}99.7%$ of the controls. In conclusion, Korean garlic juice significantly protected against the toxicity of MMC in relation to the fetal ossification in pregnant rats.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2011

Differentially Expressed Gene (DEG) was obtained from Differential Display Reverse Transcription (DDRT)-PCR using Annealing Control Primer (ACP) to search and clone genes related to developmental stages of Sebastes inermis. By using 120 ACPs, the nucleotide sequences obtained from 16 DEGs showing higher expression in 6-month-old skeletal muscle than 18-month-old ones and from 22 DEGs displaying stronger expression in 18-month-old than 6-month-old were analyzed and BLAST was conducted. The results identified that DEGs shared 69~95% homology with genes of parvalbumin (PVALB), nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK) B, tropomyosin (TPM), troponin I (TnI), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), muscle-type creatine kinase (CKM2), small EDRK-rich factor 2 (SERF2), adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD), Trimeric intracellular cation channel type A (TRICA), Rho GTPase-activating protein 15 (ARHGAP15), S-formylglutathione hydrolase (Esterase D; ESD), heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), type 1 collagen alpha 2 (COL1A2), glutathione S-transferase, Mid1-interacting protein 1 (Mid1lip1), myosin light chain 1 (MYL1), sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 1B (SERCA1B), and ferritin heavy subunit (FTH1). Expression pattern by developmental stage of DEG14 and PVALB exhibiting strong expression in 6-month-old skeletal muscle was investigated using real time PCR. Expression was reduced as Sebastes inermis grew. Expression of PVALB gene was extremely low after 6 months of age. Expression of CKM2 showed higher expression in 18-month-old skeletal muscle than in 6-month-old muscles, and increased continuously until 4 years old, after which CKM2 expression became gradually reduced. By analysis of tissue-specific expression patterns of DEG, DEG14 was expressed mainly in skeletal muscle, liver, kidney and spleen tissues, whereas PVALB expression was expressed in skeletal muscle and kidney, but not in liver and spleen tissues. CKM2 was expressed in skeletal muscle, kidney, and spleen tissues, but not in liver tissues. PVALB gene was composed of 110 amino acids, which constituted 659 bp nucleotides. The results reported here demonstrate that the expression patterns of parvalbumin and CKM2 could be used as molecular markers for selecting fishes exhibiting fast growth.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.34-45
• /
• 1998

We provide the reader with a brief introduction to the neurobiology of neuropeptides. Several comprehensive reviews of the distribution and neurochemical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological and behavioral effects of the major neuropeptides have recently appeared. In reviews of the large number of neuropeptides in brain and their occurance in brain regions thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders, investigators have sought to determine whether alternations in neuropeptide systems are associated with schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, alcoholism and neurodegenerative disease. There is no longer any doubt that neuropeptide-containing neurons are altered in several neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the factors that has hindered neuropeptide research to a considerable extent is the lack of pharmacological agents that specifically alter the synaptic availability of neuropeptides. With the exception of naloxone and naltrexone, the opiate-receptor antagonists, there are few available neuropeptide- receptor antagonists. Two independent classes of neuropeptide-receptor antagonists has been expected to be clinically useful. Naltrexone, a potent ${\mu}$-receptor antagonist, has been used successfully to reduce the need for alcohol consumption. And cholecycstokinin antagonists are now in development as a new class of anxiolytics, which would be expected to be free from tolerance and physical dependence and lack of sedation. In this review, we deal with these two kinds of neuropeptide system, the opioid system and cholesystokinins in the brain. The role of opioid systems in the reinforcement after alcohol consumtion and that of cholesystokinins in the pathogenesis of anxiety will be discussed briefly. As we know, the future for neuropeptides in psychiatry remains bright indeed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7825-7829
• /
• 2015

Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV infection in the world (~14.7%). Around 10-15% of HCV-infected persons will advance to cirrhosis within the first 20 years. The incidence of HCC is expected to grow in the next two decades, largely due to HCV related cirrhosis, and detection of HCC at an early stage is critical for a favorable clinical outcome. No simple reliable non-invasive marker has been available till now. B2M, a non-glycosylated polypeptide composed of 99 amino acids, is one of the components of HLA class I molecules on the surfaces of all nucleated cells. It has been reported that the level of serum B2M is elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCV-related HCC when compared to HCV-negative patients or healthy donors. Determining the clinical utility of serum B2M as a marker for disease progression in Egyptian patients with HCV related chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was the aim of the present study. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross sectional study 92 participants were included in 4 equal groups: Group (1) non cirrhotic chronic HCV; Group (2) HCV related liver cirrhosis; Group (3) HCC on top of HCV,; and Group (4) healthy controls. History taking, clinical examination, routine labs and abdominal ultrasound were conducted for all patients, PCR and Metavir scores for group (1) patients, and triphasic CT abdomen and AFP for Group (3) patients. B2M levels were measured in serum with a fully-automated IMX system. Results: The mean serum B2M level of Group (1) was $4.25{\pm}1.48{\mu}g/ml$., Group (2) was $7.48{\pm}3.04$, Group (3) was $6.62{\pm}2.49$ and Group (4) was $1.62{\pm}0.63$. Serum B2M levels were significantly higher in diseased than control group (p<0.01) being significantly higher in cirrhosis ($7.48{\pm}3.04$) and HCC groups ($6.62{\pm}2.49$) than the HCV group ($4.25{\pm}1.48$) (p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between B2M Level and ALK, total and direct bilirubin and INR (p<0.05), and a significant inverse correlation between B2M level and albumin, total proteins, HB andWBCS values (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between B2M level and viral load or Metavir score, largest tumour size or AFP (p>0.05). The best B2M cut-off for HCV diagnosis was 2.6 with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 97% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. The best B2M cut-off for HCC diagnosis was 4.55 which yielded sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive values of 74%, 62%, 39.5, 87.8% respectively (p-value <0.01) while best cut-off for cirrhosis was 4.9, with sensitivity 74 % and specificity 74%.The sensitivity for HCC diagnosis increased upon B2M and AFP combined estimation to 91%, specificity to 79%, NPV to 95% and accuracy to 83%. Conclusions: Serum B2M level is elevated in HCV related chronic liver diseases and may be used as a marker for HCV disease progression towards cirrhosis and carcinoma.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.162-170
• /
• 2012

The objectives of this study were to isolate and the sequence of novel $F3'H$ gene related to an anthocyanin pathway, and to confirm the expression patterns of the gene involved in the flower color variations of chrysanthemum mutants. In this study, we isolated the full-length cDNAs and the genomic DNAs of an $F3'H$ gene from a wild type (WT) chrysanthemum (cv. Argus) and its three color mutants. The sequence analysis revealed a putative open reading frame of 1,527 bp that encodes a polypeptide of 509 amino acids. Sequence homology ranged from 97% to 99% between 'Argus' and its three color mutants. The sequence analysis from the genomic DNA revealed that the chrysanthemum $DgF3'H$ gene consisted of three exons and two introns spanning a 3,830 bp length. The sizes of the gene for three mutants ranged from a shorter size of 3,828 bp to a longer size of 3,838 bp when compared to the size of WT. The total size of the two introns was 2,157 bp for WT, but those for three color mutants ranged from 2,154 bp to 2,159 bp. A result of an RT-PCR analysis indicated that the color variations of the mutants AM1 and AM2 can be partly explained by the structural modification derived from the sequencial changes in the gene caused by gamma ray. A Southern blot analysis revealed that the $DgF3'H$ gene existing as multiple copies in the chrysanthemum genome. A systemic study will be further needed to provide a genetic mechanism responsible for the color mutation and to uncover any involvement of genetic elements for the expression of the $DgF3'H$ gene for the color variation in chrysanthemum.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2004

Metallothionein (MT) is a family of ubiquitous, low molecular weight (6-7 kDa), cysteine-rich protein with a high affinity to metal ions and has no aromatic amino acids and histidine. Some of the known functions of MT include detoxification of heavy metals and alkylating agents and neutralization of free radicals. Also, this protein may affect a number of cellular processes including gene expression, apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. But, its actual functions are still not clear. The present study was undertaken to examine immunocytochemically the localization of MT in developing rat liver. On the day 11 of gestation, the fetal rat liver has already been formed and contained numerous oval cells with high nuclear cytoplasmic ratio, which were the progenitors of hepatic parenchymal cells, but no reaction products of MT were detected at this time. And then, positive reactions against MT started to appear predominantly in the parenchymal cells of liver from the 13th day after gestation. Reaction products, immunogold particles or brown coloration, were localized at both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the parenchymal cells, except mitochondria. The intensity of this reaction gradually increased, and exhibited the strongest at birth. The intensity of MT staining and immunogold labelling diminished with growth, and by the 15th day after birth weak positive reaction was observed in the cells. In brief, positive reactions for MT were observed in the oval cells and the parenchymal cells during fetal stage, meanwhile they were present only in the parenchymal cells after birth. The present results suggest that MT possibly involves parechymal cell proliferation and differentiation through the storage or the supply of various metal ions in the developing rat liver.