• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1101-1106
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• 2009

Multivalent and multi-specific antibodies can provide valuable tools for bio-medical research, diagnosis and therapy. In antigen-antibody interactions, the avidity of antibodies depends on the affinity and the number of binding sites.$^1$ As artificial multivalent antibody agents, single chain Fv-streptavidin fusion tetramer proteins $(scFv-SA)_4$ have been previously tested.$^{1,\;2}$ Although, the Fab domain is known to be more stable than scFv in animal models,$^{3,\;4}$ it has never been used to make a multivalent agent with a streptavidin fusion. In this study, we prepared tetra-valent $(Fab-cSA)_4$ by fusing Fab with core streptavidin (cSA). This molecule was made using inclusion body production, refolding and chromatography purification. Affinities of the Fab-cSA tetramer and a scFv-cSA tetramer to a cell surface antigen were compared by ELISA using biotin-HRP. The Fab-cSA tetramer showed higher binding avidity than the scFv-cSA tetramer. The higher binding avidity of the Fab-cSA tetramer demonstrates its potential as a therapeutic agent for target-specific antibody therapy.

• Mycobiology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2009

Ganoderma applanatum is one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms due to the various biologically active components it produces. This study was conducted to obtain basic information regarding the mycelial culture conditions of Ganoderma applanatum. Based on the colony diameter and mycelial density, PDA, YMA and MCM media were suitable for the mycelial growth of the mushroom. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth was found to be $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$. The optimum carbon and nitrogen sources were mannose and dextrin, respectively, and the optimum C/N ratio was 2 to 10 when 2% glucose was used. Other minor components required for the optimal growth included thiamine-HCl and biotin as vitamins, succinic acid and lactic acid as organic acids, and $MgSO_4$ $7H_2C$, $KH_2PO_4$ and NaCl as mineral salts.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.364-373
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• 1994

Alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor[PI] was known as a major protective enzyme against to excessive hydrolytic and proteolytic reaction. So, it was suggested that Alpha 1-PI may implicated in growth of bronchogenic cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of Alpha 1-PI in local invasion of bronchogenic cancer. Three groups of patients were studied; Preliminary research group of 15 bronchogenic cancer patients, Main research group of 13 bronchogenic cancer patients and Normal control group of 10 nephrectomy donor. Serum Alpha 1-PI level was observed in each group of patients during pre-and postoperative days. Pre-operative serum Alpha 1-PI level in preliminary research group [329.2$\pm$14.21mg/dl]and main research group[406.2$\pm$39.30mg/dl] were higher than in normal control group[236.2$\pm$19.55mg/dl] significantly[p<0.005]. Serial Alpha 1-PI level in each group during pre-and postoperative days shows peaked at 3rd. postoperative day in preliminary and main research group, thereafter decreased gradually. Immunohistochemical study for Alpha 1-antitrypsin[A1AT] was carried out by ABC[avidin-biotin peroxidase complex] method using Alpha-1 antitrypsin DAKOR to tumor tissues of 13 lung cancer patients in main research group. 6 cases[46.2%, squamous cell ca.;5, adenocarcinoma;1] of above 13 cases show positive immunoreactivity for A1AT. In conclusion, alpha 1-PI and elastase are disclosed that have defined actions for lung cancer growing or spreading.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2001

The cytological distinction of carcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells in serous effusions nay be difficult or imposslble based on morphology alone, especially In specimens containing reactive mesothelial cells which form glandular or ball- or papillary-shaped conglomerates or which mimic malignant nuclear features. Calretinin is a newly reported immunocytochemical marker for mesothelial cells, which can potentially be utilized for facilitating this distinction. This study evaluated the usefulness of calretinin for the discrimination between reactive mesothelial and metastatic carcinoma cells in serous effusion. Immunocytochemical staining was undertaken on 33 benign reactive and 87 malignant serous effusion specimens with histologically confirmed diagnoses. The specimens including smears and cell blocks were stained with polyclonal antibody to calretinin by labelled streptavidin-biotin method. The positive expression of calretinin was noted In 32(97.0%) of 33 benign reactive effusions and 9(10.3%) of 87 malignant effusions. The sensitivity and specificity of the calretinin immunostaining for reactive mesothelial cells was 97.0% and 89.7%, respectively. In conclusion, calretinin is a useful marker for distinguishing between reactive mesothelial cells and carcinoma cells in serous effusions.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.29.1-29.11
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• 2013

Certain dietary contents, biological supplements might influence the occurrence or treatment of epilepsy. Some studies have found that the supplementation with individual nutrients reduced seizure frequency or improved other aspects of health in patients with epilepsy. Potentially beneficial dietary interventions include treating blood glucose dysregulations. Identifying and avoiding allergenic foods, and avoiding suspected triggering agents such as alcohol, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate. The Atkins diet (very low in carbohydrates) is a less restrictive type diet that may be effective in some cases. Nutrients that may reduce seizure frequency include vitamin B6, magnesium, vitamin E, manganese, taurine, dimethylglycine, and omega-3 fatty acids. Administration of thiamine may improve cognitive function in patients with epilepsy. Supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, vitamin D, and L-carnitine may be needed to prevent or treat deficiencies resulting from the use of anticonvulsant drugs. Vitamin K1 has been recommended near the end of pregnancy for women taking anticonvulsants. Melatonin may reduce seizure frequency in some cases, and progesterone may be useful for women with cyclic exacerbations of seizures. In most cases, nutritional therapy is not a substitute for anticonvulsant medications. However, in selected cases, depending on the effectiveness of the interventions, dosage reductions or discontinuation of medications may be possible. However, nutrient supplementation may be necessary to prevent or reverse the effects of certain deficiencies that frequently result from the use of antiepileptic drugs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2003

The heterogeneous bioluminescence immunoassay for digoxin was developed using photoprotein, native aequorin as a label and the site-directed immobilization technique based on avidin/biotin interaction. Aequorin is a bioluminescence protein, originally isolated from the jellyfish Aequoria Victoria and an attractive label in analytical applications because of sensitive detection due to virtually no background bioluminescent signal. Digoxin is a cardioactive drug, and its therapeutic level in serum is at low concentration with very narrow therapeutic index. The aequorin-digoxigenin conjugates were synthesized by the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester method and characterized in terms of bioluminescent residual activity. The resulting dose-response curve shows that the detection limit is $1.0\;{\times}\;10^{-10}\;M$ and a dynamic range is three orders of magnitude, which was obtained by $1.0\;{times}\;10^{-10}\;M$ conjugate and 0.9 μg/mL anti-digoxin antibody. Three structurally similar molecules to digoxin were examined for their cross-reactivity. None of these three compounds showed any crossreactivity with digoxin antibody employed in this study. Standard amounts of digoxin corresponding to the therapeutic range were spiked into the each serum solution. Study of the serum matrix effect indicated that correlation coefficient shows good agreement between luminescence light intensity between in buffer and in serum.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.432-437
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• 2006

Objective : In order to establish the index of degeneration, the authors performed a histochemical study with Safranin-O staining and investigated the occurrence of apoptosis in the human intervertebral disc. Methods : Eighteen intervertebral disc specimens surgically extracted from the patients and two additional specimens from the autopsied cases were stained with Safranin-O for proteoglycan according to a standard protocol. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate- biotin nick end labeling[TUNEL] was used to detect the fragmented DNA known to be associated with apoptotic cell death and classification scheme was formulated for categorization of the degree of Safranin-O staining [normal, moderate reduction, faint] by modification of Makin's histological-histochemical grading. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results : The statistical results showed a significant difference in the mean age between "normal" Safranin-O staining group and the others [19.3 versus 55, 43.4, p=0021]. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between Safranin-O staining and MR grading of disc degeneration. Only six of eighteen surgical specimens and none in autopsies showed positive apoptotic cells in TUNEL staining. Conclusion : The determination of the degree of degeneration in surgically obtained disc tissue per se by histochemical staining or by the degree of apoptosis that corresponds to its morphologic change was not feasible.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1154-1158
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• 2004

The classical ABC (avidin-biotin peroxidase complex) method for immunohistochemistry in the paraffin-embedded tissues bring into being disadvantage such as low sensitivity of antigen detection and highly background. The biotinyl-tyramide conjugation recently introduced for sensitive immunohistochemistry was applied to light microscopy in paraffin-embedded pancreatic and liver tissues. The protocol consists of an indirect method in which 4-5㎛ tissue sections are reacted successively within a specific primary antibody, followed by a biotinylated secondary antibody, streptavidin-horseradich peroxidase (HRP), and then finally with biotinyl-tyramide. The labeling obtained for insulin and collagen antigen tested in pancreatic and liver tissues, respectively, was found to be highly specific with the labeling for each antigen confined to its particular cellular compartment. In this study, fish (flounder) serum was specially applied to remove nonspecific binding. Background levels and nospecific deposition of the staining were negligible. This results suggest that super-signal induction method by biotinyl-tyramide conjugate can readily applied to antigen detection of the paraffin-embedded tissues.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.505-509
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• 2005

For the purpose of developing a direct label-free electrochemical detection system, we have systematically investigated the electrochemical signatures of each step in the preparation procedure, from a bare gold electrode to the hybridization of label-free complementary DNA, for the streptavidin-modified electrode. For the purpose of this investigation, we obtained the following pertinent data; cyclic voltammogram measurements, electrochemical impedance spectra and square wave voltammogram measurements, in $Fe(CN)_6^{3-}/Fe(CN)_6^{4-}$ solution (which was utilized as the electron transfer redox mediator). The oligonucleotide molecules on the streptavidin-modified electrodes exhibited intrinsic redox activity in the ferrocyanide-mediated electrochemical measurements. Furthermore, the investigation of electrochemical electron transfer, according to the sequence of oligonucleotide molecules, was also undertaken. This work demonstrates that direct label-free oligonucleotide electrical recognition, based on biofunctional streptavidin-modified gold electrodes, could lead to the development of a new biosensor protocol for the expansion of rapid, cost-effective detection systems.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 2008

BirA ligase is a prokaryotic ortholog of holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) that can biotinylate proteins. This study tested the hypothesis that BirA ligase catalyzes the biotinylation of eukaryotic histones. If so, this would mean that recombinant BirA ligase is a useful surrogate for HCS in studies of histone biotinylation. The biological activity of recombinant BirA ligase was confirmed by enzymatic biotinylation of p67. In particular, it was found that BirA ligase biotinylated both calf thymus histone H1 and human bulk histone extracts. Incubation of recombinant BirA ligase with H3-based synthetic peptides showed that lysines 4, 9, 18, and 23 in histone H3 are the targets for the biotinylation by BirA ligase. Modification of the peptides (e.g., serine phosphorylation) affected the subsequent biotinylation by BirA ligase, suggesting crosstalk between modifications. In conclusion, this study suggests that prokaryotic BirA ligase is a promiscuous enzyme and biotinylates eukaryotic histones. Moreover the biotinylation of histones by BirA ligase is consistent with the proposed role of human HCS in chromatin.