• 약학회지
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.465-470
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• 2005

Octacosanol is known to enhance endurance activities, control cholesterol in body and improve the function of cardiopulmonary. Citrulline, which is main compound of watermelon, is known to improve angiectasia through stimulating production of nitric oxide. To improve endurance activity swimming test on rats was carried out using four samples such as 1$\%$ octacosanol, citrulline, the extracts of barks of watermelon and products, mixture of 1$\%$ octacosanol and the extracts of barks of watermelon (6 : 4). Biochemical assays on the liver and serum of tested rats were also performed using commercial analysis kits. In result, it was shown that swimming time of III group increased by 26$\%$ and that of V group was increased by 22$\%$ at the swimming test. As a result of biological assays on the liver and serum of tested rats it was possible to confirm stability of toxicity When compared with creatine kinase of control group (549.11$\pm$39.15 U/l) citrulline (644.11 $\pm$50.67 U/l) and products group (646.00$\pm$46.99 U/l) were largely increased. When compared with inorganic phosphate of control group (12.01$\pm$0.75 mg/이), citrulline (13.03$\pm$0.94 mg/dl) and products group (12.90$\pm$0.55 mg/dl) showed similar results. Also, when compared with lactic acid and glucose of control group (152.91 $\pm$ 13.45, 103.00$\pm$ 8.69 mg/dl), citrulline (125.53$\pm$15.54, 83.75$\pm$7.29 mg/dl) and products group (135.26$\pm$11.50, 78.57$\pm$9.79 mg/dl) were largely decreased. As these test results, it was determined that 1$\%$ octacosanol and extracts of barks of watermelon had some effect of improving endurance activity. Futhermore, it was thought that it could be used as source of functional food.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.364-370
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• 2005

We show that sulforaphane inhibits osteoclastogenesis in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor for activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) in osteoclast (OC) precursors. Sulforaphane, an aliphatic isothiocyanate, is a known cancer chemo-preventative agent with anti-oxidative properties. Nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) is a critical transcription factor in RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and assay of NF-${\kappa}B$-mediated secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) revealed that sulforaphane selectively inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ activation induced by RANKL. Inhibition may involve interaction of sulforaphane with thiol groups, since it was prevented by reducing agents.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권7호
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• pp.305-315
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• 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences capable of mobilization from one location to another in the genome. Since the discovery of 'Dissociation (Dc) locus' by Barbara McClintock in maize (1), mounting evidence in the era of genomics indicates that a significant fraction of most eukaryotic genomes is composed of TE sequences, involving in various aspects of biological processes such as development, physiology, diseases and evolution. Although technical advances in genomics have discovered numerous functional impacts of TE across species, our understanding of TEs is still ongoing process due to challenges resulted from complexity and abundance of TEs in the genome. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize biology of TEs and their impacts on the host genome, emphasizing importance of understanding TE landscape in the genome. Then, we introduce recent endeavors especially in vivo retrotransposition assays and long read sequencing technology for identifying de novo insertions/TE polymorphism, which will broaden our knowledge of extraordinary relationship between genomic cohabitants and their host.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.520-526
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• 2018

Conessine, a steroidal alkaloid, is a potent histamine H3 antagonist with antimalarial activity. We recently reported that conessine treatment interferes with $H_2O_2$-induced cell death by regulating autophagy. However, the cellular signaling pathways involved in conessine treatment are not fully understood. Here, we report that conessine reduces muscle atrophy by interfering with the expression of atrophy-related ubiquitin ligases MuRF-1 and atrogin-1. Promoter reporter assay revealed that conessine treatment inhibits FoxO3a-dependent transcription, $NF-{\kappa}B$-dependent transcription, and p53-dependent transcription. We also showed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot assays that conessine treatment reduced dexamethasone-induced expression of MuRF1 and atrogin-1. Finally, we demonstrated that conessine treatment reduced dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy using differentiated C2C12 cells. These results collectively suggest that conessine is potentially useful in the treatment of muscle atrophy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.30-35
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• 2006

Munc18, a mammalian homolog of C. elegans Unc, is essential for neurotransmitter release. The aim of this study was to identify estrogen-dependent expression of Munc18-1 and its role in the regulation of glutamate release for puberty onset. Hypothalamic munc18-1 mRNA levels were significantly increased by estrogen treatment in ovariectomized, immature female rats. During pubertal development, the munc18-1 mRNA levels dramatically increased between the juvenile period and the anestrous phase of puberty. Intracerebroventricular administration of an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against munc18-1 mRNA significantly decreased glutamate release and delayed the day of puberty onset. These results suggest that Munc18-1, expressed in an estrogen-dependent manner, plays an important role in the onset of female puberty via the regulation of glutamate release.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.340-344
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• 2002

A gene, npl, encoding neopullulanase from Paenibacillus sp. KCTC 8848P was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. It consisted of an open reading frame of 1,530 bp for a protein that consisted of 510 amino acids with a molecular weight of 58,075 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of the neopullulanase gene had $92\%$ identity with the neopullulanase of Bacillus polymyxa. The npl gene was also expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae secreting Schwanniomyces occidentalis glucoamylase (GAM1) under the control of the yeast actin gene (ACT1) promoter. Secretion of the neopullulanase was directed by the yeast mating pheromone ${\alpha}$ -factor ($MF{\alpha}1$) prepro region. Enzyme assays confirmed that co-expression of npl and GAM1 enhanced starch and pullulan degradation by S. cerevisiae.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.165-168
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• 2008

Measurements of phosphatase activity in peatlands are made difficult by the low levels of activity and the characteristically high concentrations of dissolved organic matter within the sediments. These materials may cause high background absorbances in colorimetric assays, and quenching interference in fluorimetric assays. This review describes the development of a new approach which allows such problems to be overcome by using HPLC to separate the interferences from the products of enzymic hydrolysis. This approach is applicable to various environmental samples such as peat, wetland sediment, and sludge which may contain a large amount of interfering organic matters.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2009

Recently, great advance is achieved in the field of genome-wide functional screening using cell-based assay. Here, we briefly introduce well-established and typical cell-based assays of GPCR and some parameters which should be considered for genome-wide functional screening. Because of characters and importance of GPCR as drug targets, several ways of assay systems were devised. Among them, high-content screening (HCS) that is based on the analysis of image by confocal microscope is becoming favorite choice. The advances in this technology have been driven exclusively by industry for their convenience. Now, it is turn for academy to define more detail signaling networks via HCS using cDNA or siRNA libraries at genome-wide level. By isolating novel signaling mediators using cDNA or siRNA library, and postulating them as new candidates for therapeutic target, more understanding about life science and more increased chances to develop therapeutics against human disease will be achieved.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권8호
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• pp.4651-4654
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• 2013

Choroquine (CQ) and valproic acid (VPA) have been extensively studied for biological effects. Here, we focused on efficacy of combined CQ and VPA on osteosarcoma cell lines. Viability of osteosarcoma cell lines (U20S and HOS) was analyzed by MTT assay. Apoptotic assays and colony formation assays were also applied. ROS generation and Western Blotting were performed to determine the mechanism of CQ and VPA combination in the process of apoptosis. The viability of different osteosarcoma cell lines significantly decreased after CQ and VPA combination treatment compared with either drug used alone, and apoptosis was increased significantly. ROS generation was triggered leading to expression of apoptosis related genes being increased and of antiapoptotic related genes being decreased. From our data shown here, CQ and VPA combination treatment in vitro enhanced cytotoxicy to osteosarcoma cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제56권11호
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• pp.606-611
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• 2023

The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 cleaves 11 sites of viral polypeptide chains and generates essential non-structural proteins for viral replication. Mpro is an important drug target against COVID-19. In this study, we developed a real-time fluorometric turn-on assay system to evaluate Mpro proteolytic activity for a substrate peptide between NSP4 and NSP5. It produced reproducible and reliable results suitable for HTS inhibitor assays. Thus far, most inhibitors against Mpro target the active site for substrate binding. Mpro exists as a dimer, which is essential for its activity. We investigated the potential of the Mpro dimer interface to act as a drug target. The dimer interface is formed of domain II and domain III of each protomer, in which N-terminal ten amino acids of the domain I are bound in the middle as a sandwich. The N-terminal part provides approximately 39% of the dimer interface between two protomers. In the real-time fluorometric turn-on assay system, peptides of the N-terminal ten amino acids, N10, can inhibit the Mpro activity. The dimer interface could be a prospective drug target against Mpro. The N-terminal sequence can help develop a potential inhibitor.