• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.113-124
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• 2024

Background: The increasing need to minimize animal testing has sparked interest in alternative methods with more humane, cost-effective, and time-saving attributes. In particular, in silico-based computational toxicology is gaining prominence. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) is a biological map depicting toxicological mechanisms, composed of molecular initiating events (MIEs), key events (KEs), and adverse outcomes (AOs). To understand toxicological mechanisms, predictive models are essential for AOP components in computational toxicology, including molecular structures. Objectives: This study reviewed the literature and investigated previous research cases related to AOP and in silico methodologies. We describe the results obtained from the analysis, including predictive techniques and approaches that can be used for future in silico-based alternative methods to animal testing using AOP. Methods: We analyzed in silico methods and databases used in the literature to identify trends in research on in silico prediction models. Results: We reviewed 26 studies related to AOP and in silico methodologies. The ToxCast/Tox21 database was commonly used for toxicity studies, and MIE was the most frequently used predictive factor among the AOP components. Machine learning was most widely used among prediction techniques, and various in silico methods, such as deep learning, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics, were also utilized. Conclusions: We analyzed the current research trends regarding in silico-based alternative methods for animal testing using AOPs. Developing predictive techniques that reflect toxicological mechanisms will be essential to replace animal testing with in silico methods. In the future, since the applicability of various predictive techniques is increasing, it will be necessary to continue monitoring the trend of predictive techniques and in silico-based approaches.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권12호
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• pp.736-741
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• 2012

Certain members of the cytochromes P450 superfamily metabolize polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids to several classes of oxygenated metabolites. An approach based on in silico analysis predicted that Streptomyces peucetius CYP107N3 might be a fatty acid-metabolizing enzyme, showing high homology with epoxidase enzymes. Homology modeling and docking studies of CYP107N3 showed that oleic acid can fit directly into the active site pocket of the double bond of oleic acid within optimum distance of $4.6{\AA}$ from the Fe. In order to confirm the epoxidation activity proposed by in silico analysis, a gene coding CYP107N3 was expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified CYP107N3 was shown to catalyze $C_9-C_{10}$ epoxidation of oleic acid in vitro to 9,10-epoxy stearic acid confirmed by ESI-MS, HPLC-MS and GC-MS spectral analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.571-577
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• 2003

The intracellular metabolic fluxes can be calculated by metabolic flux analysis, which uses a stoichiometric model for the intracellulal reactions along with mass balances around the intracellular metabolites. In this study, metabolic flux analyses were carried out to estimate flux distributions for the maximum in silico yields of various metabolites in Escherichia coli. The maximum in silico yields of acetic acid and lactic acid were identical to their theoretical yields. On the other hand, the in silico yields of succinic acid and ethanol were only 83% and 6.5% of their theoretical yields, respectively. The lower in silico yield of succinic acid was found to be due to the insufficient reducing power. but this lower yield could be increased to its theoretical yield by supplying more reducing power. The maximum theoretical yield of ethanol could be achieved, when a reaction catalyzed by pyruvate decarboxylase was added in the metabolic network. Futhermore, optimal metabolic pathways for the production of various metabolites could be proposed, based on the results of metabolic flux analyses. In the case of succinic acid production, it was found that the pyruvate carboxylation pathway should be used for its optimal production in E. coli rather than the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation pathway.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
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• 제11권10호
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• pp.823-829
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• 2005

We have newly constructed an in silico model of fermentative metabolism for Lactococcus lactis in order to analyze the characteristics of metabolite flux for dynamic network. A rigorous mathematical model for metabolic flux has been developed and simulation researches have been performed by using GEPASI program. In this simulation task, we were able to predict the whole flux distribution trend for lactate metabolism and analyze the flux ratio on the pyruvate branch point by using metabolic flux analysis(MFA). And we have studied flux control coefficients of key reaction steps in the model by using metabolic control analysis(MCA). The role of pyruvate branch seems to be essential for the secretion of lactate and other organic byproducts. Then we have made an effort to elucidate its metabolic regulation characteristics and key reaction steps, and find an optimal condition for the production of lactate.

• 한국지능시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국퍼지및지능시스템학회 2004년도 춘계학술대회 학술발표 논문집 제14권 제1호
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• pp.273-276
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• 2004

Genome-scale expression data provides us with valuable insights about organisms, but the biological validation of in-silico analysis is difficult and often controversial. Here we present a new approach for integrating previously established knowledge with computational analysis. Based on the known biological evidences, IGAM (Integrated Gene Association Matrix) automatically estimates the relatedness between a pair of genes. We combined this association knowledge to the regulatory network modeling and fuzzy clustering in yeast 5. Cerevisiae. The result was found to be more effective for extracting biological meanings from in-silico inferences for gene expression data.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.522-535
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• 2024

Objective: Transition period is considered from 3 weeks prepartum to 3 weeks postpartum, characterized with dramatic events (endocrine, metabolic, and physiological) leading to occurrence of production diseases (negative energy balance/ketosis, milk fever etc). The objectives of our study were to analyze the periodic concentration of serum beta-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA), glucose and oxidative markers along with identification, and validation of the putative markers of negative energy balance in buffaloes using in-silico and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Methods: Out of 20 potential markers of ketosis identified by in-silico analysis, two were selected and analyzed by qRT-PCR technique (upregulated; acetyl serotonin o-methyl transferase like and down regulated; guanylate cyclase activator 1B). Additional two sets of genes (carnitine palmotyl transferase A; upregulated and Insulin growth factor; downregulated) that have a role of hepatic fatty acid oxidation to maintain energy demands via gluconeogenesis were also validated. Extracted cDNA (complementary deoxyribonucleic acid) from the blood of the buffaloes were used for validation of selected genes via qRTPCR. Concentrations of BHBA, glucose and oxidative stress markers were identified with their respective optimized protocols. Results: The analysis of qRT-PCR gave similar trends as shown by in-silico analysis throughout the transition period. Significant changes (p<0.05) in the levels of BHBA, glucose and oxidative stress markers throughout this period were observed. This study provides validation from in-silico and qRT-PCR assays for potential markers to be used for earliest diagnosis of negative energy balance in buffaloes. Conclusion: Apart from conventional diagnostic methods, this study improves the understanding of putative biomarkers at the molecular level which helps to unfold their role in normal immune function, fat synthesis/metabolism and oxidative stress pathways. Therefore, provides an opportunity to discover more accurate and sensitive diagnostic aids.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.483-492
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• 2021

곽향은 식욕부진, 메스꺼움 등의 치료에 사용될 뿐만 아니라 최근에는 항당뇨 효능도 알려졌다. 본 연구에서는 곽향의 항산화력과 주요 성분들을 조사한 다음, in-silico 방법론을 적용하여 타겟 단백질들을 예측하였다. 먼저 메탄올 추출물의 DPPH와 ABTS 라디칼 소거능의 EC50 값은 각각 78.6 ㎍/mL과 31.0 ㎍/mL이었다. 이것은 ascorbic acid의 값(9.9 ㎍/mL, 5.2 ㎍/mL)과 비교할 때 항산화력이 뛰어나다고 할 수 있다. HPLC-PDA-MS/MS를 이용하여 성분들을 정성 분석한 결과, 추출물의 주요 화합물로 rosmarinic acid, tilianin, agastachoside 그리고 acacetin을 확인하였다. 이들 성분들의 항당뇨 작용 타겟 단백질을 DIA-DB 서버를 사용하여 구조 유사도와 inverse doking 방법론을 적용하여 예측하였다. 본 가상 탐색 결과, 주요 타겟 단백질들은 PPAR-γ, DPP IV, glucokinase, α-glucosidase, SGLT2, aldose reductase, corticosteroid 11-beta-dehydrogenase로 예측되었다. 그리고 이들 단백질들 중 일부는 이미 실험적으로 검증된 타겟 단백질이었다. 따라서 in silico 검색 방법이 유효하다고 생각할 수 있다. 마지막으로 활성성분들의 최적의 추출 조건을 결정하기 위하여 여러 추출 용매들로 곽향을 추출하였다. 여러 유기 용매들 중에는 메탄올이 그리고 에탄올-물 혼합용매에서는 80% 에탄올이 가장 효과적인 추출 용매로 확인되었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권11호
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• pp.1773-1784
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• 2008

Effects of various industrially important carbon sources (glucose, sucrose, xylose, gluconate, and glycerol) on shikimic acid (SA) biosynthesis in Escherichia coli were investigated to gain new insight into the metabolic capability for overproducing SA. At the outset, constraints-based flux analysis using the genome-scale in silico model of E. coli was conducted to quantify the theoretical maximum SA yield. The corresponding flux distributions fueled by different carbon sources under investigation were compared with respect to theoretical yield and energy utilization, thereby identifying the indispensable pathways for achieving optimal SA production on each carbon source. Subsequently, a shikimate-kinase-deficient E. coli mutant was developed by blocking the aromatic amino acid pathway, and the production of SA on various carbon sources was experimentally examined during 51 batch culture. As a result, the highest production rate, 1.92 mmol SA/h, was obtained when glucose was utilized as a carbon source, whereas the efficient SA production from glycerol was obtained with the highest yield, 0.21 mol SA formed per mol carbon atom of carbon source consumed. The current strain can be further improved to satisfy the theoretically achievable SA production that was predicted by in silico analysis.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.31.1-31.7
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• 2019

We sought the novel concept, transcript capacity (TC) and analyzed TC. Our approach to estimate TC was through an in silico method. TC refers to the capacity that a transcript exerts in a cell as enzyme or protein function after translation. We used the genome-wide association study (GWAS) beta effect and transcription level in RNA-sequencing to estimate TC. The trait was body fat percent and the transcript reads were obtained from the human protein atlas. The assumption was that the GWAS beta effect is the gene's effect and TC was related to the corresponding gene effect and transcript reads. Further, we surveyed gene ontology (GO) in the highest TC and the lowest TC genes. The most frequent GOs with the highest TC were neuronal-related and cell projection organization related. The most frequent GOs with the lowest TC were wound-healing related and embryo development related. We expect that our analysis contributes to estimating TC in the diverse species and playing a benevolent role to the new bioinformatic analysis.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.371-378
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• 2010

For sensitive and accurate gene expression analysis, normalization of gene expression data against housekeeping genes is required. There are conventional housekeeping gene (e.g. ACT) that primarily function as an internal control of transcription. In this study, we performed an in silico analysis of 278 rice gene expression samples (GSM) in order to identify the gene that is most consistently expressed. Based on this analysis, we identified novel candidate housekeeping genes that displayed improved stability among the cross experimental conditions. Furthermore four of the most conventional housekeeping genes were included in our 30 other housekeeping genes among the most stable genes. Therefore, these 30 genes can he used to normalize transcription results in gene expression studies on rice at a broad range of experimental conditions.