• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.264-269
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• 2012

Recently, we reported that the synthetic Coprisin analog peptide 9-mer dimer CopA3 (consisted of all-L amino acid sequence) was designed based on a defensin-like peptide, Coprisin isolated from Copris tripartitus. The 9-mer dimer CopA3 (L-CopA3) had antibacterial activity and induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells via a caspase-independent pathway. In this study, all of amino acid sequences of L-CopA3 were modified to all D-form amino acids (DCopA3) to develop a more effective antimicrobial peptide. We investigated whether D-CopA3 had antimicrobial activities against pathogenic microorganisms and pro-apoptotic effects in human leukemia cells (U937, Jurkat, and AML-2). The synthetic peptide D-CopA3 had antimicrobial activities against various pathogenic bacteria and yeast fungus with MIC values in the 4~64 ${\mu}M$ range. Moreover, D-CopA3 caused cell growth inhibition, and increased the chromosomal DNA fragmentation and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL1-${\beta}$, transcripts in human leukemia cells. The all-D amino acid peptide DCopA3 proved as effective as the L-CopA3 reported previously. These results provide the basis for developing D-CopA3 as a new antibiotic peptide.

• Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2003

In this study, as preliminary research for the development of natural estrogen supplement the chemical properties of Iranian black pomegranate juice concentrate and seeds were evaluated. Proximate compositions of pomegranate juice concentrate and seeds were as follows; crude lipid 0.4% and 8.2%, moisture 39.9% and 6.6%, crude protein 0.9% and 12.2%, ash 1.4% and 1.7%, and carbohydrate 42.0% and 84.5% respectively. Major amino acids are glutamic acid (1310.0ppm) and aspartic acid (896.2ppm) in juice concentrate, and glycine (611.1ppm) and arginin (401.6ppm) in seeds. Ascorbic acid has the highest concentration of 20.0mg/l00g in juice concentrate and 0.23mg/l00 in seeds. The compositions of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid were higher than those of saturated fatty acids such as stearic palmitic acid. Major minerals were potassium, calcium and sodium, potassium was highest in both juice concentrate and seeds. Vitamins were composed of ascorbic acid (20.0mg/l00g), vitamin B$_1$(0.12mg/100g) and niacin (0.80mg/l00g) in juice concentrate, and only ascorbic acid(0.23mg/l00g) in seeds. Organic acids such as citric and L-malic acid were detected only in pomegranate juice concentrate. The contents of total polyphenols were 4.55g/L in juice concentrate and 3.5mg/l00g in seeds, respectively. Phytoestrogens detected in pomegranate juice concentrate and seeds were daidzein, quercetin, genistein and 17 $\beta$-estradiol.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2002

Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to isolate wound-induced cDNAs from wounded soybean. One of wound-induced cDNA, gmwi33 showed high homology with genes encoding $\beta$-amyrin synthase. The full length cDNA of gmwi33, designated GmAMS1, is 2416 bp long and contains an open reading frame consisted of 739 amino acids. GmAMS1 protein showed 89% identity with licorice GgbAS1 and 86% identity with pea OSCPSY. In 5 day-old, dark-grown seedlings, the expression of GmAMS1 was most strongly induced by light and weakly induced by methyl jasmonate and by low temperature. However, GmAMS1 was not induced by elicitor or UV-B treatment. Such expression pattern might be closely related with the oxygen-radical scavenging activity of soyasaponin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.683-690
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• 2006

The chemical compositions of amino acids, minerals, betaine, and polyphenolic compounds from Salicornia herbacea (Hamcho) according to harvest periods were analyzed. Changes of chemical characteristics in water and ethanol extracts from Hamcho were evaluated for titratable acidity, pH, soluble solid, and Hunter's color values. The antioxidative activity of water extract from Hamcho was also determined by DPPH $({\alpha},{\alpha}'-diphenyl-{\beta}-picrylhydrazyl)$ scavenging radical activity. Total polyphenolic compounds of Hamcho were shown the highest in August harvested by 201.6 ppm. The betaine of Hamcho water-extract was identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which content was 0.248%, 0.269% and 0.204% in June, August, and October, respectively. Major compositional amino acids (mg%) were glutamic acid (582: 519: 664), proline (552: 471: 322), phenylalanine (480: 431: 424), aspartic acid (322: 297: 330), and arginine (282: 321: 483) in June, August, and October, respectively, and major free amino acids (mg%) were proline (9.7: 3.4), asparagine (6.7: 1.4), hydroxyproline (6.4: 2.8), valine (3.9: 2.5), arginine (1.7: 3.0) in June and August, respectively. Mineral contents (mg%) were Na (5,695: 7,536: 5,529), K (1,640: 963: 931), Mg (359: 428: 348), Ca (221: 234: 251), and P (207: 189: 259) in June, August, and October, respectively. Especially, K was high in June, Na and Mg were high in August, and Ca and P were high in October, respectively. DPPH scavenging radical activity was shown in the following order; 0.05% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)> August> June> October harvested Hamcho. The chemical components of polyphenolic compounds, betaine, amino acids and minerals were changed by harvest periods according to the growing season, and the highest concentrations of polyphenolic compounds and betaine of Hamcho were shown in August harvested.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2000

In order to investigate the composition, seasonal and regional variation of extractive nitrogenous components in the raw anchovy (Engraulis japonica) harvested from June 1991 to June 1992 at Nam-hae and Ki-jang in the southern coast of Korea, the contents of extractive nitrogen (EN), free amino acids (FAA), oligopeptides (OP), ATP and its related compounds (ARC), quaternary ammonium bases, and guanidino compounds were measured. The EN contents of raw anchovy were $444{\~}773\;mg/100\;g$. Thirty-four kinds of FAA were found and their total amount were $1,049{\~}2,079\;mg/100\;g$. Histidine, taurine, alanine, leucine and glutamic acid were the major free amino acids in the anchovy extracts. The amount of ARC was average $5.02\;{\mu}mol/g$, and IMP was the major compound among them, who and creatine contents in the extracts or raw anchovy were average 164 and 229 mg/100 g, respectively. The contents of glycinebetaine,${\brta}-alaninebetaine,\;{\gamma}-burobetaine$, homarine, TMA, and creatinine were extremely small. As for the regional and seasonal disparities, the Nam-hae samples contained more EN, FAA, OP, betaines and creatine than the Ki-jang samples. On the other hand the Ki-jang samples contained more ARC and TMAO. The spring samples contained more EN, FAA, OP, ARC and betaines than the autumn samples. On the other side the autumn samples contained more TAMO and creatine.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2010

Glycoprotein hormones have a common $\alpha$-subunit that is involved in the signaling pathway together with G protein, adenylcyclase and cAMP induction; however, it is an unclear how this common structure is related to hormonal action. To determine the biological functions of the COOH-terminal amino acids in the $\alpha$-subunit of these glycoprotein hormones, a tethered-molecule was constructed by fusing the $NH_2$-terminus of the $\alpha$-subunit to the COOH-terminus of the $\beta$-subunit of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). The following deletion mutants were created by PCR; Ile was inserted at position 96 to form ${\Delta}96$, Lys was substituted at position 95 to form ${\Delta}95$, His was inserted at position 93 to form ${\Delta}93$ and Tyr was substituted at position 87 to form ${\Delta}87$. Each mutant was transfected into CHO-K1 cells. Tethered-wt eCG, and ${\Delta}96$, ${\Delta}95$, and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were efficiently secreted into the medium but the ${\Delta}87$ mutant was not secreted. Interestingly, the RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and northern blot analyses confirmed that the RNA was transcribed in the ${\Delta}87$ mutant. However, the ${\Delta}87$ mutant protein was not detected in the medium or the intracellular fraction of the cell lysates. The LH- and FSH-like activities of the recombinant proteins were assayed in terms of cAMP production using rat LH/CG and rat FSH receptors. The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was determined by injecting rec-eCG (2 IU) into the tail vein. The ${\Delta}95$ and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were completely inactive in both the LH- and FSH-like activity assays. The ${\Delta}96$ mutant showed slight activity in the LH-like activity assay. In comparison to the wild type, the activity of the ${\Delta}96$ mutant in the FSH-like activity assay was the highest among all the mutants. The MCR assay in which rec-eCG was injected showed a peak at 10 min in all the treatment groups, which disappeared 4 h after injection. These results imply a direct interaction between the receptor and the COOH-terminal region of the a-subunit. The data also reveal a significant difference in the mechanism by which the eCG hormone interacts with the rLH and rFSH receptors. The COOH-terminal region of the $\alpha$-subunit is very important for the secretion and functioning of this hormone.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.644-649
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• 2012

The edible barnyard millets(Echinochloa spp.) which have essentially vanished in the farmhouses environment and in agricultural germplasm were evaluated with the aim of restoration as a crop. The proximate components and mineral elements of milled millet were nutritionally similar or better than brown rice, and the vitamin contents of $B_1$ and $B_2$ exceeded those of rice by 1.3 times and 2.3 times, respectively. ${\beta}$-Carotene which is absent from brown rice was detected at levels ranging from 15~31 ${\mu}g$ in millet samples. Nine essential amino acids, including histidine and arginine and eight non-essential amino acids, such as aspartic acid were detected. The sum of all amino acids was determined to be IEC518>525>510 in the range of 69~106 mg/g. Analysis of physiological active substances via their electron donating ability(EDA) revealed values ranging from 3.4~8.2%, with the total polyphenol component being 51.1~69.4 mg/g and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition ability determined as 8.3~10.9%. In terms of agronomical characteristics and yields of barnyard millet, three millet varieties(IEC510, 518, and 525) were suitable as edible crops. IEC525 was selected as optimum variety for cultivation on the basis of nutritional ingredients, physiological active substances, and yield.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.643-649
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• 2013

The antioxidant activity and amino acid composition of various Cheonggukjang extracts, such as the water extract from Cheonggukjang (CWE), the alcohol extract from Cheonggukjang (CEE), the water extract from Cheonggukjang with black garlic (BWE) and the alcohol extract from Cheonggukjang with black garlic (BEE), were examined to investigate the effect of black garlic on the sensory quality and functional properties of Cheonggukjang. The total polyphenol contents of various extracts were 7.03 mg/100 g (BWE), 3.64 mg/100 g (CWE), 2.88 mg/100 g (BEE) and 0.81 mg/100 g (CEE). The radical scavenging activity of the DPPH radical was highest in BWE (91.83%), followed by BEE (37.35%), CWE (25.54%) and CEE (14.80%), in that order. The SOD-like activity was highest in BWE (20.20%), followed by BEE (9.22%), CWE (7.91%) and CEE (6.45%). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were highest in BWE (35.18%), followed by BEE (28.33%), CWE (17.40%) and CEE ((14.93%). The total amino acid content of Cheonggukjang (CC) was higher than that of Cheonggukjang with black garlic (CCWB), but the essential amino acid content of CCWB (43.18%) was higher than that of CC (42.27%). The 27 kinds of free amino acid were found in CC, but only 23 kinds were found in CCWB. The L-lysine content was highest (9.23%) in CC, and the L-phenylalanine content was highest (23.14%) in CCWB. The free amino acids (L-threonine, L-serine, L-sarcosine, L-proline, L-alanine, L-valine and D,L-${\beta}$-aminoisobutyric acid) were found in CC but not in CCWB. The ${\gamma}$-amino-n-butyric acid (GABA) was found in CCWB but not in CC. These results suggest that the addition of black garlic has beneficial effects on the functionality of Cheonggukjang without decreasing its sensory characteristics.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.350-354
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• 1999

Soybean varieties derived from Korea are classified into four groups on the basis of their food types such as soybeans for vegetable, sprout, sauce and paste and soybeans with colored seed coat. This study was carried out to know the differences in storage protein concentrations among these four groups. There were differences in storage protein concentrations among four groups. In 7S protein, the $\alpha$'-and $\alpha$-subunit concentrations did not vary among four groups, while a $\beta$-subunit concentration greatly varied. 7S protein concentration was the highest(40.6%) in soybean for sauce and paste and the lowest(37.7%) in soybean for vegetable, while 11S protein concentration was the highest (62.3%) in soybean for vegetable and the lowest (59.4%) in soybean for sauce and paste. In view of the fact that 11S protein has much higher sulfur containing amino acids than 7S protein, it was shown the soybeans for vegetable may have higher nutrition value than other groups.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.579-584
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• 1999

Mantis egg fibrolase (MEF-3) was purified from the egg cases of Tenodera sinensis using ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-60, DEAE Affi-Gel blue gel affinity chromatogragphy, and MONO-Q anion-exchange chromatography. This protease had a molecular weight of 35,600 Da as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions and its isoelectric point was 6.0. The N-terminal amino acids sequence was Ala-Thr-Gln-Asp-Asp-Ala-Pro-Pro-Gly-Leu-Ala-Arg-Arg. This sequence was 80% homologous to the serine protease from Tritirachium album. MEF-3 readily digested the ${\alpha}$-and ${\beta}$-chains of fibrinogen and more slowly the ${\gamma}$-chains. It showed strong proteolytic and fibrinolytic activities. Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and chymostatin inhibited its proteolytic activity, while EDTA, EGTA, cysteine, ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol, elastinal, tosyl-lysine chloromethylketone, and tosyl-amido-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone did not affect its proteolytic activity. Among the chromogenic protease substrates, the most sensitive one to the hydrolysis of MEF-3 was benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-p-nitroanilide. Based on these experimental results, we speculated that MEF-3 is a serine protease with a strong fibrin(ogen)olytic activity.