• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.355-362
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• 2017

The ${\beta}2$ integrins are cell surface transmembrane proteins regulating leukocyte functions, such as adhesion and migration. Two members of ${\beta}2$ integrin, ${\alpha}M{\beta}2$ and ${\alpha}X{\beta}2$, share the leukocyte distribution profile and integrin ${\alpha}X{\beta}2$ is involved in antigen presentation in dendritic cells and transendothelial migration of monocytes and macrophages to atherosclerotic lesions. ${\underline{R}}eceptor$ for ${\underline{a}}dvanced$ ${\underline{g}}lycation$ ${\underline{e}}nd$ ${\underline{p}}roducts$ (RAGE), a member of cell adhesion molecules, plays an important role in chronic inflammation and atherosclerosis. Although RAGE and ${\alpha}X{\beta}2$ play an important role in inflammatory response and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the nature of their interaction and structure involved in the binding remain poorly defined. In this study, using I-domain as a ligand binding motif of ${\alpha}X{\beta}2$, we characterize the binding nature and the interacting moieties of ${\alpha}X$ I-domain and RAGE. Their binding requires divalent cations ($Mg^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$) and shows an affinity on the sub-micro molar level: the dissociation constant of ${\alpha}X$ I-domains binding to RAGE being $0.49{\mu}M$. Furthermore, the ${\alpha}X$ I-domains recognize the V-domain, but not the C1 and C2-domains of RAGE. The acidic amino acid substitutions on the ligand binding site of ${\alpha}X$ I-domain significantly reduce the I-domain binding activity to soluble RAGE and the alanine substitutions of basic amino acids on the flat surface of the V-domain prevent the V-domain binding to ${\alpha}X$ I-domain. In conclusion, the main mechanism of ${\alpha}X$ I-domain binding to RAGE is a charge interaction, in which the acidic moieties of ${\alpha}X$ I-domains, including E244, and D249, recognize the basic residues on the RAGE V-domain encompassing K39, K43, K44, R104, and K107.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1591-1598
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• 2004

To isolate the $\beta$-galactosidase producing thermophilic bacteria, samples of mud and water were collected from hot springs of avolcanic area near Golden Springs in New Zealand. Among eleven isolated strains, the strain of KNOUC112 produced the highest amounts of $\beta$-galactosidase at 40 h incubation time (0.013 unit). This strain was aerobic, asporogenic bacilli, immobile, gram negative, catalase positive, oxidase positive, and pigment producing. Optimum growth was at 70-72$^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0-7.2, and it could grow in the presence of 3% NaCl. The main fatty acids of cell components were iso-15:0 (30.26%), and iso-17:0 (31.31%). Based on morphological and biochemical properties and fatty acid composition, the strain could be identified as genus Thermus, and finally as Thermus thermophilus by phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequence. So the strain is designated as Thermus thermophilus KNOUC112. A gene from Thermus thermophilus KNOUC112 encoding $\beta$-galactosidase was amplified by PCR using redundancy primers prepared based on the structure of $\beta$-galactosidase gene of Thermus sp. A4 and Thermus sp. strain T2, cloned and expressed in E. coli JM109 DE3. The gene of Thermus thermophilus KNOUC112 $\beta$-galactosidase(KNOUC112$\beta$-gal) consisted of a 1,938 bp open reading frame, encoding a protein of 73 kDa that was composed of 645 amino acids. KNOUC112$\beta$-gal was expressed as dimer and trimer in E. coli JM109 (DE3) via pET-5b.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.103-115
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• 2006

$\beta$-Glucan is a glucose polymer that has linkage of $\beta$-(1,3), -(1,4) and -(1,6). As exclusively found in fungal and bacterial cell wall, not in animal, $\beta$-glucans are recognized by innate immune system. Dendritic cells (DC) or macrophages possesses pattern recognition molecule (PRM) for binding $\beta$-glucan as pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP). Recently $\beta$-glucan receptor was cloned from DC and named as dectin-l which belongs to type II C-type lectin family. Human dectin-1 is consisted of 7 exons and 6 introns. The polypeptide of dectin-1 has 247 amino acids and has cytoplasmic, transmembrane, stalk and carbohydrate recognition domains. Dectin-1 could recognize variety of beta-1,3 and/or beta-1,6 glucan linkages, but not alpha-glucans. In our macrophage cell line culture system, dectin-1 mRNA was detected in RA W264.7 cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Dectin-1 was also detected in the murine organs of spleen, thymus, lung and intestines. Treatment of RA W264.7 cells with $\beta$-glucans of Ganoderma lucidum (GLG) resulted in increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ in the presence of LPS. However, GLG alone did not increase IL-6 nor TNF-$\alpha$. These results suggest that receptor dectin-1 cooperate with CD14 to activate signal transduction that is very critical in immunoresponse.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.103-115
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• 2006

[ ${\beta}-Glucan$ ] is a glucose polymer that has linkage of ${\beta}-(1,3)$, -(1,4) and -(1,6). As exclusively found in fungal and bacterial cell wall, not in animal, ${\beta}-glucans$ are recognized by innate immune system. Dendritic cells (DC) or macrophages possesses pattern recognition molecule (PRM) for binding ${\beta}-glucans$ as pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP). Recently ${\beta}-glucans$ receptor was cloned from DC and named as dectin-l which belongs to type II C-type lectin family. Human dectin-l is consisted of 7 exons and 6 introns. The polypeptide of dectin-l has 247 amino acids and has cytoplasmic, transmembrane, stalk and carbohydrate recognition domains. Dectin-l could recognize variety of beta-l,3 and/or beta-l,6 glucan linkages, but not alpha-glucans. In our macrophage cell line culture system, dectin-l mRNA was detected in RA W264.7 cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Dectin-l was also detected in the murine organs of spleen, thymus, lung and intestines. Treatment of RA W264.7 cells with ${\beta}-glucans$ of Ganoderma lucidum (GLG) resulted in increased expression of IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the presence of LPS. However, GLG alone did not increase IL-6 nor $TNF-{\alpha}$ These results suggest that receptor dectin-l cooperate with CD14 to activate signal transduction that is very critical in immunoresponse.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.383-388
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• 2007

It has been reported that sulfur-containing intermediates or products in the transsulfuration pathway including S-adenosylmethionine, 5'-methylthioadenosine, glutathione and taurine can prevent liver injury mediated by inflammation response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. The present study examines the modulation of hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acid in a model of acute sepsis induced by LPS treatment (5 mg/kg, iv). Serum TNF-alpha and hepatotoxic parameters were significantly increased in rats treated with LPS, indicating that LPS results in sepsis at the doses used in this study. LPS also induced oxidative stress determined by increases in malondialdehyde levels and decreases in total oxy-radical scavenging capacities. Hepatic methionine and glutathione concentrations were decreased, but S-adenosylho-mocysteine, cystathionine, cysteine, hypotaurine and taurine concentrations were increased. Hepatic protein expression of methionine adenosyltransferase, cystathionine beta-synthase and cysteine dioxygenase were induced, but gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit levels were decreased. The results show that sepsis activates transsulfuration pathway from methionine to cysteine, suggesting an increased requirement for methionine during sepsis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1135-1141
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• 1996

In order to investigate the composition and the actual status of extractive nitrogenous compounds in saeujeot, a salted and fermented seawater shrimp(Acetes japonicus), the extract was analyzed separately into extractive nitrogen, free amino acids, oligpopeptides, nucleotides and related compounds, quaternary ammonium bases, and guanidino compounds, using specimens collected at fish markets from July in 1994 November in 1995. The extractive nitrogen of saeujeot was ranging from 430 mg to 528 mg, and the total of free amino acids in it was ranging from 1,509 mg to 2,131 mg, The extract was rich in free amino acids especially in lysine, glutamic acid, leucine, arginine, glycine, histidine, and glutamine, However, the content of most free amino acids was fluctuated from collection to collection. The total of nucleotides and related compounds in the extract was ranging from $1.38\;{\mu}mol\;to\;7.41\;{\mu}mol$, and the rage of fluctuation was essential identical with those of the extractive nitrogen and free amino acids. Homarine, trigonelline, ${\beta}-alaninebetaine$, and glycinebetaine were found in the saeujeot extract. Among them, homarine was the most abundant, ranging from 97 mg to 224 mg, but trigonelline, ${\beta}-alaninebetaine$, and glycinebetaine were very low. TMAO and TMA in the saeujeot extract were $13{\sim}80\;mg\;and\;12{\sim}280\;mg$, respectively. A small amount of creatine (less than 6 mg) and creatinine (less than 1 mg) was detected in all samples.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1942-1947
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• 2014

Nutritional compositions of Korean traditional actinidia (Actinidia arguta) cultivars, such as Otumsense, Chiak, and Skinny green, were investigated as high value-added food substances. Among minerals, K content of three cultivars was the highest, and P, Ca, and Na contents were relatively higher than those of other minerals. Contents of essential amino acids were analyzed as follows: Otumsense (198.48 mg/100 g), Chiak (413.50 mg/100 g), and Skinny green (270.07 mg/100 g). Total amino acids of Chiak were the highest among the three cultivars, and major amino acids of the three cultivars were glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Analysis of fatty acids showed that major fatty acids were palmitic acid as a saturated fatted acid and ${\alpha}$-linoleic acid as an unsaturated fatty acid in the three cultivars. Glucose and fructose were major free sugar constituents in the three cultivars. Total free sugar content of Otumsense was relatively higher than others. Finally, niacin and vitamin $B_6$ of Skinny green (1.55 mg/100 g, 1.92 mg/100 g) were the highest among the cultivars. However, ${\beta}$-carotene as a vitamin A precursor ($3.82{\mu}g/100g$) and vitamin C as a natural antioxidant substance (47.18 mg/100 g) of Otumsense cultivar were the highest.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1058-1067
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• 2000

In this study, eel, puffer and snake head fish, which are widely taken and highly valued for processing into baked fish, soup or fish juice were studied by classifying them into wild fish and cultured fish, and evaluated in terms of taste. The samples were gathered in the area including Kimhae, Samchonpo and Haman in Kyungsangnam-do, Kangsu-Gu in Pusan and Bukcheju-Gun in Cheju-do. Proximate compositions, the content of nucleotides and their related compounds, total and free amino acids, organic acids and fatty acids of the fishes were analysed. Generally, as for the compositions, wild fish had a higher crude fat content and a lower moisture content as compared with cultured fish, while there was no great difference between them in terms of crude protein and ash contents. Nucleotides and their related compounds including ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, HxR, Hx were detected, and the amounts of which were nearly the same with respect to the growth conditions. IMP content was high in all of the samples, while ATP content was extremely low. Total 17 amino acids were detected from the samples, and most of the samples had high contents of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, leucine, glycine, alanine and arginine, and low contents of cystein, isoleucine and methionine. As for the other amino acids, generally same level of contents were detected for each samples. In cases of eel and snake head fish, the wild fish had higher total amino acid contents in comparison with cultured fish. And the result to the contrary was obtained for the case of puffer. Sample fishes had nearly the same compose distribution of free amino acid though the contents of which were a little different according to the samples. Each sample had high contents of taurine, hydroxyproline, glutamic acid, glycine, cystathionine, ${\beta}-aminoisobutyric$ acid and lysine. Total organic acid contents of cultured fish was higher than that of wild fish. All fishes commonly had high contents of lactic acid, iso-valeric acid, oxalic acid and fumaric acid. High levels of $C_{16:0},\;C_{16:1},\;C_{18:1(cis)},\;C_{18:3},\;and\;C_{22:6}$ were shown in all of the samples and ${\omega}-3$ polyunsaturated fatty acid content of cultured fish was higher than that of wild fish, and as for the essential fatty acid, wild fish has higher content in comparison with cultured fish.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.284-291
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• 2006

In this study, the cDNA of a new peptide from the venom of the scorpion, Buthotus saulcyi, was cloned and sequenced. It codes for a 64 residues peptide (Bsaul1) which shares high sequence similarity with depressant insect toxins of scorpions. The differences between them mainly appear in the loop1 which connects the $\beta$-strand1 to the $\alpha$-helix and seems to be functionally important in long chain scorpion neurotoxins. This loop is three amino acids longer in Bsaul1 compared to other depressant toxins. A comparative amino acid sequence analysis done on Bsaul1 and some of $\alpha$-, $\beta$-, excitatory and depressant toxins of scorpions showed that Bsaul1 contains all the residues which are highly conserved among long chain scorpion neurotoxins. Structural model of Bsaul1 was generated using Ts1 (a $\beta$-toxin that competes with the depressant insect toxins for binding to $Na^+$ channels) as template. According to the molecular model of Bsaul1, the folding of the polypeptide chain is being composed of an anti-parallel three-stranded $\beta$-sheet and a stretch of $\alpha$-helix, tightly bound by a set of four disulfide bridges. A striking similarity in the spatial arrangement of some critical residues was shown by superposition of the backbone conformation of Bsaul1 and Ts1.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2007

In order to evaluate the utilization of immature green barley kernels as food processing material, these experiments were carried out to analyze free sugars, free amino acids, mineral contents and color of two naked barley varieties according to their heading dates. Contents such as moisture, protein, fat, ash, and free sugars were gradually decreased according to the days after heading of the nonwaxy naked barley 'Saessalbori' and waxy naked barley 'Hinchalssalbori', while crude fiber and starch were gradually increased. Contents like maltose and maltotriose in immature green kernels were high, but free amino acids showed a tendency to decrease, among which the alanine content was the highest. As barley matured, beta-glucan content, redness and yellowness increased, while lightness decreased. Considering chemical composition and color, the immature green cereals were produced through blanching the spikes harvested before the yellow ripe stage around $26{\sim}27$ days after heading. The optimum duration of harvest was very limited to produce green whole grains. The harvested green barley cereals is able to eat raw barley or cook it as food processing material.