• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1386-1394
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• 2013

In our previous study, the 25-mer antimicrobial peptide pleurocidin (Ple) had been thought to induce apoptosis in Candida albicans. This study demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was a major cause of Ple-induced apoptosis. Four truncated analogs were synthesized to understand the functional roles in the N- and C-terminal regions of Ple on the apoptosis. Ple, Ple (4-25), Ple (1-22), and Ple (1-19) produced ROS, including hydroxyl radicals, on the order of [Ple > Ple (1-22) > Ple (4-25) > Ple (1-19)], whereas Ple (7-25) did not induce any ROS production. The results suggested that the N-terminal deletion affected the ROS-inducing activities much more than that of the C-terminal deletion, and net hydrophobicity [Ple > Ple (1-22) > Ple (4-25) > Ple (1-19) > Ple (7-25)] was related to ROS generation rather than other primary factors like net charge. Hence, we focused on the N-terminal-truncated peptides, Ple (4-25) and Ple (7-25), and examined other apoptotic features, including mitochondrial membrane depolarization, caspase activation, phosphatidylserine externalization, and DNA and nuclear fragmentation. The results also confirmed the disappearance of apoptotic activity of Ple (7-25) by the truncation of the N-terminal region (1-6) and the specific activity patterns between Ple and analogs. In conclusion, the N-terminal region of Ple played an important role in apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4311-4317
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• 2014

Background: Nano-biotechnology is recognized as offering revolutionary changes in the field of cancer therapy and biologically synthesized gold nanoparticles are known to have a wide range of medical applications. Materials and Methods: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were biosynthesized with an aqueous extract of the red alga Corallina officinalis, used as a reducing and stabilizing agent. GNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive analysis (EDX) and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and tested for cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, considering their cytotoxicty and effects on cellular DNA. Results: The biosynthesized GNPs were $14.6{\pm}1nm$ in diameter. FT-IR analysis showed that the hydroxyl functional group from polyphenols and carbonyl group from proteins could assist in formation and stabilization. The GNPs showed potent cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells, causing necrosis at high concentrations while lower concentrations were without effect as indicated by DNA fragmentation assay. Conclusions: The antitumor activity of the biosynthesized GNPs from the red alga Corallina officinalis against human breast cancer cells may be due to the cytotoxic effects of the gold nanoparticles and the polyphenolcontent of the algal extract.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3395-3403
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• 2016

Conjugated linoleic acid, a functional lipid, produced from Lactobacillus plantarum (LP-CLA), has been demonstrated to possess apoptotic activity. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential of LP-CLA was here evaluated in vitro using the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell line as a model system. Proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells was inhibited with increasing concentrations of LP-CLA with altered morphological features like cell detachment, rounding of cells and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA. Flow cytometry confirmed the apoptotic potential of LP-CLA by ANNEXIN V/PI double staining. Furthermore, outcome results indicated that the apoptosis was mediated by downregulation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway which in turn acted through proteasome degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, inhibition of p65 nuclear translocation, release of cytochrome-C from mitochondria and finally overexpression of Bax protein. Thus, conjugated linoleic acid, a natural product derived from probiotics, could therefore be a possible potential chemotherapeutic agent due to its apoptotic activity against estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.295-299
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• 2003

Adenovirus (Ad) precursor to the terminal protein (pTP) plays an essential roles in the viral DNA replication. Ad pTP serves as a primer for the synthesis of a new DNA strand during the initiation step of replication. In addition, Ad pTP forms organized spherical replication foci on the nuclear matrix (NM) and anchors the viral genome to the NM. Here we identified the interferon inducible gene product 1-8D (Inid) as a pTP binding protein by using a two-hybrid screen of a HeLa cDNA library. Of the clones obtained in this assay, nine were identical to the Inid, a 13-kDa polypeptide that shares homology with genes 1-8U and Leu-13/9-27, most of which have little known functions. The entire open reading frame (ORF) of Inid was cloned into the tetracycline inducible expression vector in order to determine the biological functions related with adenoviral infection. When Inid was introduced to the cells along with adenoviruses, fifty to sixty percent of Ad-infected cells expressing Inid had rounded morphology, which was suggestive of apoptosis. Results from the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed that Inid induces apoptosis in Ad-infected or in uninfected cells. The Inid binding to pTP may target the cell for apoptotic destruction as a host defense mechanism against the viral infection.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 2000

Programmed cell death, apoptosis, is a mechanism to maintain tissue homeostasis. Although the apoptotic process in rodent mammary tissues has been known to occur at the onset of involution, little is known about programmed cell death in the bovine tissues. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular and cellular basis of apoptotic process in bovine mammary cells. Mammary tissues were obtained at different lactational and involurional stages. By apoptosis in situ endlabeling assay, apoptotic cells were found around the acinar celt lining in regressing bovine mammary tissues. The apoptosis-related genes bel-2 and bax were detected throughout involution by Northern blotting assay. The level of bax mRNA was dominantly expressed during involution. On the other hand, the bel-2 RNA transcripts were constantly expressed by 14 of post-lactation and declined thereafter. The expression of the testosterone-repressed prostate message-2 (TRPM-2) RNA transcripts, a marker for tissue remodeling, was increased as involution progressed. TNF a, were induced the DNA fragmentation and enhanced the expression of bax mRNA. In addition, milk protein secretion and amino acid uptake were decreased in mammary acinar culture treated with TNF $\alpha$. These results indicate that bovine mammary cells undergo apoptotic process after the cessation of milking and that TNF $\alpha$ may trigger apoptosis in lactating bovine mammary acini.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2024

Rhododendron arboreum (Sm.) is one of the most frequently distributed an evergreen small tree species at 1500-3300m in Nepal. The flowers of Rhododendron are a promising source of bioactive constituents and could be used as functional food and edible colorants. The purpose of this study was to reveal the components of R. arboreum flowers by LC-MS/MS. Twelve compounds were identified by LC-ESI-MS/MS from the different crude fractions prepared by liquid-liquid extraction process. The MS/MS fragmentation patterns of each compound were determined and proposed. The isolated compounds belong to flavonoids, anthocyanins, triterpenoids and phosphatidylcholines. The major anthocyanin identified was cinnamtannin. The identified flavonoids are quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-pentoside, kaempferol-3-O-pentoside, quercetin and kaempferol. Ursolic acid represents triterpenoid derivative. 1-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, 1-linolenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-Palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine belong to phosphatidylcholines. These phosphatidylcholines have been first time reported from the genus Rhododendron.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2015

If the Nakdong River estuary is to be sustainable, land use management practices need to consider bird habitat requirements, especially given that the area serves as an important migratory bird sanctuary. In this study, bird habitats found in the Nakdong River estuary were classified into 11 different types including Phragmites australiss, mud flat, farmland, open surface in freshwater, sand bar, riparian forest, Scirpus planiculmis, waterway, construction, grasslands, and open surface in sea or brackish water. Taking into consideration the regional characteristics, habitat properties, and landscape indices, a total of 12 study sites were analyzed. Mud flat, construction, farmland, and P. australis account for 80% of the total land area. The high area ratio of construction and farmland to other types of habitat revealed a high amount of historical human activity and intervention in the area. Both patch numbers as well as patch density were high in West Nakdong River, Samrak Waterfront, Maekdo River, and Daejeo Floodgate, with these areas showing the greatest fragmentation as well. Total numbers of species and individuals had a positive correlation with the area and the number of habitat types. Findings suggest that protecting the habitat area, especially in S. planiculmis, is the most important factor for bird habitat management and that future development could result in habitat loss, having a profoundly adverse impact on bird populations. Therefore, it is important that the total area should be carefully protected by land use regulations in order to ensure that the Nakdong River estuary maintains its functional integrity as a migratory bird sanctuary.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.102-113
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• 2005

Ecosystem is composed of human, biotic and abiotic environment. Landscape is an ecosystem which appear in a unit region. These landscape are the spatiotemporal land mosaic which is combined with various landscape elements. And, land use and land cover changes are important factors of landscape structure changes. This study is mainly focused on the analysing the spatiotemporal change patterns of Daegu metropolitan sphere forest landscape, using landscape indices and Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) which quantify ecosystem structures and functions. The results of this study are as follow: The encroachment and fragmentation of forest were due to linear developments, i. e. road construction, rather than large-scale developments such as residental lands or industrial complexes. And, the core area percentages of landscape gradually decreased and these could possibly deteriorate the soundness of forest areas by reducing the core areas which are habitats of species. In addition, there was intimate relations between ESV and forest landscape area. The results of this study can be detached standards for impartial judgements between the logic of development & conservation, and basic standards for the establishment of development plans, i. e. metropolitan-plans, which are adequately reflected ecosystem value.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.941-951
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• 2012

The changes of forest habitats and maeulsoops(village forests) in Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea are examined using landscape indices and morphological pattern analysis, and their landscape-ecological implications on conserving biological diversity are presented. We used FRAGSTATS and GUIDOS software, as well as land cover maps(of 1989 and 2006) to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of habitat composition and configuration in surrounding landscapes of 34 representative maeulsoops and Jinan-gun. The results showed decreases in the amount of core habitats and corridors and habitat connectivity at a regional scale since 1989. In addition, multi-scale habitat analysis at a focal scale revealed that the structural and functional connectivity between forest habitats surrounding maeulsoops of the year 2006 was lower than that of the year 1989. In order to reduce forest fragmentation and to enhance the connectivity among habitats, it is necessary to provide the additional habitat corridors as well as preserving existing corridors and surrounding landscapes of maeulsoops. We also suggest that a combination of landscape indices and morphological spatial pattern analysis can provide an effective tool to assess the habitat functions and configuration in a rapidly changing landscape.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.78-88
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• 2013

Marinated beef galbi is a traditional Korean dish cooked with soy sauce, pear juice, onion, sesame oil, and sugar. However, there are many differences in beef galbi, including flavor and physicochemical aspects, depending on cooking conditions. Therefore, the physicochemical characteristics of marinated beef galbi prepared through various recipes was evaluated for its effects on pH, texture, aging, proteolysis, heating conditions, cooking time, and flavor compounds (pyrazines, IMPs, or FAAs). There were significant differences in salt concentration (0.8~3.03%), pH (4.89~6.22), and solid soluble contents (1.34-6.31 Brix) between recipes in this study. In the Pearson assay for sensory evaluation, overall preference correlated well with texture (a well-known sensory attribute in meat evaluation). Controlling the pH of meat through soaking in lemon solution, alkali water, phosphate, and baking powder solution, improved water holding capacity as much as 9 to 15% compared with the control. The myofibril index (MFI) of marinated meat stored at $4^{\circ}C$ increased 32% with 24 hours of aging and reached 39% at 48 hours of aging, and its fragmentation was observed through microscopy. SDS-PAGE showed hydrolysis of acid-soluble collagen by the pear juice, possibly related to meat tenderness. On the basis of surface temperature, the cooking time was estimated to be 8 minutes with pan heating at $170^{\circ}C$, 6 minutes at $270{\sim}300^{\circ}C$, and 4 minutes with charcoal at $700{\sim}900^{\circ}C$. Different pyrazine compounds, such as 2-methyl-3-phenylpyrrol(2,3-b) pyrazine (the typical product of the browning reaction) was mainly detected, and IMP (one of the main taste compounds in beef) was in higher amounts with the charcoal treatment, potentially related to its flavor preference among treatments. Our results demonstrate an effective case study and cooking system for beef galbi.