• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.509-511
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• 2002

In this study, we investigated apoptotic cell death induced by photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA-PDT) in human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60). ALA-PDT induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells as confirmed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342. The apoptotic cell death was inhibited by addition of broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor Z-Asp-CH$_2$-DCB, indicating that the apoptotic cell death was induced in a caspase-dependent manner. Actually, western blotting analysis revealed that caspase-3 was processed as early as 1.5 h after ALA-PDT. Cytoplasmic cytochrome c released from mitochondria was detected by western blotting. However, inhibitor of caspase-9, a cysteine protease located in the downstream of cytochrome c release, was not able to reduce the apoptotic cell death. Therefore, the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway was not involved in the ALA-PDT-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, it was found that ALA-PDT-induced apoptosis was clearly inhibited by pretreatment of caspase-8 inhibitor. These data suggest that caspase-8-mediated apoptotic pathway is important in ALA-PDT-induced cell death.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 1993

In metal-affinify aqueous two-phase systems, protein partitioning is affected by a variety of parameters such as pH, the number of surface-accessible histidines, and the amount and partition coefficient of metallated polythylene glyco(PEG) ligand. To enhance partitioning of proteins with surface-accessible histidines, we have synthesized and used a (Cu(II)-ininodiacetic acid)$_2$-PEG20,000($Cu(II)_2IDA_2$-PEG20,000) as well as Cu(II)IDA-PEG5,000 as an affinity ligand. The partition coefficient of $Cu(II)_2-IDA_2$-PEG20,000 in a PEG5,000/dextran two-phase system was 30.1, which corresponded to a 3.8-fold increase over that of Cu(II)IDA-PEG5,000. The partitioning experiments were performed on four proteins, horse cytochrome c, S. cerevisiae cytochrome c, horse myoglobin, and sheep myoglobin. Partitioning of proteins which convey surface-accessible histidines was enhanced dramatically by the addition of $Cu(II)_2IDA_2$-PEG20,000 ligand. These results demonstrate that enhanced partitioning of metal-binding proteins in an aqueous two -phase system can by achieved by using an appropriate metallated PEG ligand.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.436-441
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• 2009

The final bio-metabolites of lipid peroxidation (LPO) such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) have been suggested to mediate the oxidative stress-linked pathological incidences. Natural phytochemicals such as polyphenolic compounds in green tea have been known in preventing the LPO induced cellular growth inhibition and apoptosis. We investigated that green tea ethanol extracts (GTE) inhibit LPO-induced apoptosis in ECV 304 cells. GTE had time- or dose-dependent anti-apoptotic effects as evidenced by changes in cell morphology, MTT assay, DNA fragmentation, LPO production, and the Western blotting for apoptotic expression. In the 4-HNE-induced apoptosis model, GTE $10-20{\mu}g/mL$ decreased cell death through decreasing LPO production. GTE protected 4-HNE induced apoptosis, as evidence with down regulation of mitochondrial signaling such as cytochrome C and caspase-3 activity. GTE increased bcl2, survival signaling protein, compared to 4-HNE alone within 6 hr incubation. Since polyphenols in GTE are effective antioxidants in endothelial ECV 304 cells, we suggested that natural polyphenols might be anti-atherosclerotic.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.488-497
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• 2012

A DNA barcode based on 648 bp of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene aims to build species-specific libraries for animal groups. However, it is hard to recover full-length (648 bp) barcode gene from environmental fecal samples due to DNA degradation. In this study, we designed a new primer set (K_Bird), which amplifies a 226 bp fragment targeted an inner position of full-length COI barcode based on 102 species of Korean birds to improve amplification success, and we attempted to identify bird species from 39 avian fecal samples collected during 4 months from Jinan, South Korea. Simultaneously, we conducted a dietary analysis using a universal DNA mini-barcode (Uni_Minibar) from same fecal samples. In silico analysis on newly designed mini-barcode represented that genetic distances were 0.5% in species and 9.1% in genera. Intraspecific variations of 149 species out of 174 species (86%) between Korea and North America were within the threshold (5.3% threshold in this study). From environmental fecal samples collected in Jinan, we identified seven avian species, which have high similarity (99-100%) with registered COI sequences in GenBank. Eight kinds of prey species, such as moth, spider, fly, and dragonfly, were identified in dietary analysis. We suppose that our strategy applying mini-barcode for environmental fecal samples, might be a useful and convenient tool for species identification and dietary analysis for birds.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.8.1-8.6
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• 2018

Desmarestia japonica (Phaeophyceae, Desmarestiales) was recently established from the Japanese ligulate Desmarestia and is morphologically similar to D. ligulata. This species has been reported only from Japan. However, the taxonomic reports based on additional regional distributions are needed to clarify this taxonomic entity and its species boundaries. Because Desmarestia species have restricted distributions in Korea, we reexamined herbarium specimens of D. ligulata deposited at the National Institute of Biological Resources (South Korea). To improve the amplification efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction and avoid contamination by the DNA of other organisms, we developed taxon-specific molecular markers suitable for DNA barcoding of Desmarestia species. Nuclear ribosomal small subunit RNA (18S rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) regions were selected as target DNA. As a result, both were successfully isolated from herbarium specimens of D. japonica acquired over 10 years. These molecular markers provide useful genetic information for herbarium specimens for which conventional molecular analysis is challenging.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.129-135
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• 2004

We compared the DNA sequences of the genus Metagonimus: M. yokogawai, M. takahashii, and M. miyatai. We obtained 288 D1 ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) fragments from the adult worms by PCR, that were cloned and sequenced. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from the nucleotide sequences of the 28S D1 rDNA and mtCOI gene. M. takahashii and M. yokogawai are placed in the same clade supported by DNA sequence and phylogenie tree analysis in 28S D1 rDNA and mtCOI gene region. The above findings tell us that M. takahashii is closer to M. yokogawai than to M. miyatai genetically. This phylogenetic data also support the nomination of M. miyatai as a separate species.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.90-103
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• 2008

목적 : 본 연구는 현호색의 메탄올 추출물(Corydalis Tuber Extract:CTE)이 인간 유방암 세포인 MCF-7 세포의 자멸사에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법 : 현호색 메탄올 추출물로 인간유방암에서 유래된 MCF-7 세포를 처리하였다. CTE의 세포자멸사 유도 효과는 MTT, FACS, TUNEL, DNA laddering and immunoblot assay를 통하여 측정하였다. 결과: 본 연구에서 현호색 메탄올 추출물은 MCF-7 세포의 활성을 감소시켰다. CTE로 처리한 MCF-7 세포는 용량에 따라 세포 자멸사 과정이 증가했다. CTE에 노출하였을 때 Bcl-2와 $Bcl-_{XL}$의 발현을 억제하고, 미토콘드리아로부터 세포질로 cytochrome-c를 방출하며, caspase와 PARP의 절단을 유발하여 세포자멸사가 증가했다. 현호색 메탄올 추출물에 존재하는 성분중에서 coptisine이 세포 활성도를 효과적으로 감소시킨 것으로 사료된다. 결론: 실험결과 현호색 메탄올 추출물이 유방암의 임상 치료에 있어 가능성 있는 치료 방법이 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.272-281
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• 2003

Nontraditional or alternative medicine is becoming an increasingly attractive approach for the treatment of various inflammatory disorders and cancers. Curcumin is the major constitute of turmoric powder extracted from the rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa. Resveratrol is a phytoalexin present in grapes and a variety of medicinal plants. In this report, We investigated the effect of curcumin and resveratrol on regulatory protein of cell cycle, induction of apoptosis and MMP activity. Treatment with 75 M curcumin for 24 hrs produced morphological changing in HN-4 cells. Curcumin and resveratrol inhibited the cellular growth in HN-4 cells. Inhibition of cell growth was associated with down-regulation of cell cycle regulatory proteins. Curcumin-induced caspase-3 activation and Bax degradation were dose-dependent with a maximal effect at a concentration of 100 M. The elevated caspase-3 activity in curcumin treated HN-4 cells are correlated with down-regulation of survivin and cIAP1, but not cIAP2. Curcumin induced a dose-dependent increase of cytochrome c in the cytosol. Curcumin induced-apoptosis was mediated through the release of cytochrome c. In addition, curcumin-induced apoptosis was caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species, which was prevented by antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Cotreatment with NAC markedly prevented cytochrome c release, Bax cleavage and cell death. Also resveratrol-induced apoptosis was preceded by down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, cIAP1, and caspase-3 activity. However, resveratrol-induced apoptosis was not prevented by antioxidant NAC. In addition, HN-4 cells release basal levels of MMP2 when cultured in serum-free medium. Treatment of the cells with various concentrations of PMA for 24 hr induced the expression and secretion of latent MMP9 as determined by gelatin zymography. HN-4 cells were treated with various concentrations of curcumin and resveratrol in the presence of 75 nM PMA, and MMP2 and 9 activities were inhibited by curcumin and resveratrol. These findings have implications for developing curcumin-based anticancer and anti-inflammation therapies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.334-339
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• 2007

We evaluated the potential of 20 herbal medications (HMs), commonly used in Korea, to inhibit the catalytic activities of several cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms. The abilities of 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ of aqueous extracts of 20 HMs to inhibit phenacetin O-deethylation (CYP1A2), coumarin 6-hydroxylation (CYP2A6), bupropion hydroxylation (CYP2B6), rosiglitazone hydroxylation (CYP2C8), tolbutamide 4-methylhydroxylation (CYP2C9), S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan O-demethylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation (CYP2E1), and midazolam 1'-hydroxylation (CYP3A) were tested using human liver microsomes. The HMs Woohwangcheongsimwon suspension and Hwanglyeonhaedok-Tang strongly inhibited CYP2B6 and CYP2D6 isoform activity, respectively. These results suggest that some of the HMs used in Korea have potential to inhibit CYP isoforms in vitro. Although the plasma concentrations of the active constituents of the HMs were not determined, some herbs could cause clinically significant interactions because the usual doses of those individual herbs are several grams of freeze-dried extracts.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 1997

The only observed morphological difference between Spirometra erinqsei and S. mcnsonoides is the uterine shape of the mature proglottid. Two species of worms are thought to be evolutionarily closely related. Biomolecular colnparison of the ho worms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was conducted to observe the genetic distance. The 285 rDNA, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mCOI), and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITSI) fragments were obtained from the worms by PCR. The PCR products were cleaved by 5 four-base pair restriction enzyme combinations (Msp I, Hae III, Alu I, Cfo I, Rsa I) , electrophoresed and analyzed with PAUP 3.1.1. The fragment Patterns or 285 rDNA and Lni demonstrated that two worms were in identical systematic tree with bootstrap number 94 and 100, respectively As for mCOI, bootstrap number was 74 in a different tree. Above results are indicative of recent common ancestry between S. etinocei and S. mansonoides.