• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.336-342
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• 2010

Obesity-induced disorders contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, fatty liver diseases, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we evaluated the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of aloe formula in high fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6N mice. Male mice fed HFD for 28 weeks received a supplement of aloe formula, PAG, ALS, Aloe QDM, and an Aloe QDM complex for a further 8 weeks and were then compared with regular diet fed mice. After the experimental period, the blood glucose levels of the Aloe QDM complex-and PGZ-supplemented mice were significantly lower than those of the HFD-fed mice. Aloe formula, especially the Aloe QDM complex, and the PGZ treatment group profoundly affected the IPGTT and HOMA-IR. Immunochemistry was done for the morphological observation and the resulting sizes of adipocytes around the epididymis were significantly decreased when comparing the aloe formula-treated and HFD-fed groups. Further, aloe formula decreased mRNA expression of fatty acid synthesis enzymes and led to reduced hepatic steatosis in both liver and WAT. These results suggest that supplementation of Aloe QDM complex in the HFD-fed mice improved insulin resistance by lowering blood glucose levels and reducing adipocytes. Our data suggest that dietary aloe formula reduces obesity-induced glucose tolerance by suppressing fatty acid synthesis in the WAT and liver, both of which are important peripheral tissues affecting insulin resistance. The Aloe QDM complex could be used as a nutritional intervention against T2D.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.621-626
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• 2011

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a heterotrimeric complex comprising a catalytic ${\alpha}$ subunit and regulatory ${\beta}$ and ${\gamma}$ subunits, has been primarily studied as a major metabolic regulator in various organisms, but recent genetic studies discover its novel physiological functions. The first animal model with no functional AMPK ${\gamma}$ subunit gene was generated by using Drosophila genetics. AMPK ${\gamma}$ flies demonstrated lethality with severe defects in cuticle formation. Further histological analysis found that deletion of AMPK ${\gamma}$ causes severe defects in cell polarity in embryo epithelia. The phosphorylation of nonmuscle myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC), a critical regulator of epithelial cell polarity, was also diminished in AMPK ${\gamma}$ embryo epithelia. These defects in AMPK ${\gamma}$ mutant epithelia were successfully restored by over-expression of AMPK ${\gamma}$. Collectively, these results suggested that AMPK ${\gamma}$ is a critical cell polarity regulator in metazoan development.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1288-1302
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to analyze the proteome expression of bovine satellite cells from longissimus dorsi (LD), deep pectoral (DP) and semitendinosus (ST) muscle depots during in vitro myogenic differentiation. Proteomic profiling by twodimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry of differentiating satellite cells revealed a total of 38 proteins that were differentially regulated among the three depots. Among differentially regulated proteins, metabolic proteins like lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) were found to be up regulated in ST, while alpha-enolase (NNE) in LD and DP depot satellite cells were down regulated. Also, our analysis found that there was a prominent up regulation of cytoskeletal proteins like actin, actincapping protein and transgelin along with chaperone proteins like heat shock protein beta 1 (HSPB 1) and T-complex protein 1 (TCP-1). Among other up regulated proteins, LIM domain containing protein, annexin 2 and Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 1 (Rho GDI) are observed, which were already proven to be involved in the myogeneis. More interestingly, satellite cells from ST depot were found to have a higher myotube formation rate than the cells from the other two depots. Taken together, our results demonstrated that, proteins involved in glucose metabolism, cytoskeletal modeling and protein folding plays a key role in the myogenic differentiation of bovine satellite cells.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2010

The phytopathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is a major limiting factor in rice production. To understand the genetic basis of M. oryzae pathogenic development, we previously analyzed a library of T-DNA insertional mutants of M. oryzae, and identified ATMT0879A1 as one of the pathogenicity-defective mutants. Molecular analyses and database searches revealed that a single TDNA insertion in ATMT0879A1 resulted in functional interference with an annotated gene, MGG00056, which encodes a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR). The mutant and annotated gene were designated as $MoSDR1^{T-DNA}$ and MoSDR1, respectively. Like other SDR family members, MoSDR1 possesses both a cofactor-binding motif and a catalytic site. The expression pattern of MoSDR1 suggests that the gene is associated with pathogenicity and plays an important role in M. oryzae development. To understand the roles of MoSDR1, the deletion mutant ${\Delta}Mosdr1$ for the gene was obtained via homology-dependent gene replacement. As expected, ${\Delta}Mosdr1$ was nonpathogenic; moreover, the mutant displayed pleiotropic defects in conidiation, conidial germination, appressorium formation, penetration, and growth inside host tissues. These results suggest that MoSDR1 functions as a key metabolic enzyme in the regulation of development and pathogenicity in M. oryzae.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1940-1946
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• 2006

The influence of environmental conditions on the ganoderic acid (GA) content in the fungus Ganoderma lucidum was investigated using a one-factor-at-a-time design and orthogonal design. Among the various medium components examined, sucrose, soybean powder or peptone, ferrous sulfate, and pH 6.0 were the most suitable carbon source (factor A), nitrogen source (factor B), mineral source (factor C), and initial pH (factor D), respectively, for the GA content in the one-factor-at-a-time design. According to the orthogonal design, the order of effect for the four factors on the GA content was A>C>D>B. The best level of factor A was $A_2$ (sucrose) with a value of +0.34 mg/100 mg DW. The optimal treatment combination was $A_2B_1C_3D_1$ with which the GA content reached up to 2.63$\pm$0.011 mg/100 mg DW. The interactions between the mineral ion and the nitrogen source, and the mineral ion and the pH were both highly significant (P<0.01). The highest interaction effect was ($B_2{\times}D_2$) with a value of +0.19 mg/100 mg DW, which was higher than the level effect value for $B_2$ (peptone) and D$_2$ (pH 5.0). Therefore, the results proved that interactions between factors cannot be ignored. The results also indicated the importance of the interactions between the factors, which may help to understand the metabolic pathway leading to triterpene biosynthesis and the expression and regulation of the key enzymes involved.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.130-140
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• 2017

It is vital to understand the changing characteristics of interphase microbial communities and interspecies synergism during the fermentation of Chinese liquors. In this study, microbial communities in the three indispensable phases (pit mud, zaopei, and huangshui) of Luzhou-flavored liquor manufacturing pits and their shifts during cellars use were first investigated by polyphasic culture-independent approaches. The archaeal and eubacterial communities in the three phases were quantitatively assessed by combined phospholipid ether lipids/phospholipid fatty acid analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. In addition, qualitative information regarding the microbial community was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Results suggested that the interphase microbial community profiles were quite different, and the proportions of specific microbial groups evolved gradually. Anaerobic bacteria and gram-positive bacteria were dominant and their numbers were higher in pit mud ($10^9$ cells/g) than in huangshui ($10^7$ cells/ml) and zaopei ($10^7$ cells/g). Hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea were the dominant archaea, and their proportions were virtually unchanged in pit mud (around 65%), whereas they first increased and then decreased in zaopei (59%-82%-47%) and increased with pit age in huangshui (82%-92%). Interactions between microbial communities, especially between eubacteria and methanogens, played a key role in the formation of favorable niches for liquor fermentation. Furthermore, daqu (an essential saccharifying and fermentative agent) and metabolic regulation parameters greatly affected the microbial community.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2006

New proteomic techniques have been pioneered extensively in recent years, enabling the high-throughput and systematic analyses of cellular proteins in combination with bioinformatic tools. Furthermore, the development of such novel proteomic techniques facilitates the elucidation of the functions of proteins under stress or disease conditions, resulting in the discovery of biomarkers for responses to environmental stimuli. The ultimate objective of proteomics is targeted toward the entire proteome of life, subcellular localization biochemical activities, and the regulation thereof. Comprehensive analysis strategies of proteomics can be classified into three categories: (i) protein separation via 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) or liquid chromatography (LC), (ii) protein identification via either Edman sequencing or mass spectrometry (MS), and (iii) proteome quantitation. Currently, MS-based proteomics techniques have shifted from qualitative proteome analysis via 2-DE or 2D-LC coupled with off-line matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and on-line electrospray ionization (ESI) MS, respectively, toward quantitative proteome analysis. In vitro quantitative proteomic techniques include differential gel electrophoresis with fluorescence dyes. protein-labeling tagging with isotope-coded affinity tags, and peptide-labeling tagging with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation. In addition, stable isotope-labeled amino acids can be in vivo labeled into live culture cells via metabolic incorporation. MS-based proteomics techniques extend to the detection of the phosphopeptide mapping of biologically crucial proteins, which ale associated with post-translational modification. These complementary proteomic techniques contribute to our current understanding of the manner in which life responds to differing environment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

Harmful algal blooms (HABs or red tides), caused by uncontrolled proliferation of marine phytoplankton, impose a severe environmental problem and occasionally threaten even public health. We sequenced the genome of an EPS-producing marine bacterium Hahella chejuensis that produces a red pigment with the lytic activity against red-tide dinoflagellates at parts per billion level. H. chejuensis is the first sequenced species among algicidal bacteria as well as in the order Oceanospirillales. Sequence analysis indicated a distant relationship to the Pseudomonas group. Its 7.2-megabase genome encodes basic metabolic functions and a large number of proteins involved in regulation or transport. One of the prominent features of the H. chejuensis genome is a multitude of genes of functional equivalence or of possible foreign origin. A significant proportion (${\sim}23%$) of the genome appears to be of foreign origin, i.e. genomic islands, which encode genes for biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides, toxins, polyketides or non-ribosomal peptides, iron utilization, motility, type III protein secretion and pigment production. Molecular structure of the algicidal pigment was determined to be prodigiosin by LC-ESI-MS/MS and NMR analyses. The genomics-based research on H. chejuensis opens a new possibility for controlling algal blooms by exploiting biotic interactions in the natural environment and provides a model in marine bioprospecting through genome research.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7187-7191
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• 2013

Most of the exogenous and endogenous chemical compounds are metabolized by enzymes of xenobiotic processing pathways, including the phase I cytochrome p450 species. Carcinogens and their metabolites are generally detoxified by phase II enzymes like glutathione-S-transferases (GST). The balance of enzymes determines whether metabolic activation of pro-carcinogens or inactivation of carcinogens occurs. Under certain conditions, deregulated expression of xenobiotic enzymes may also convert endogenous substrates to metabolites that can facilitate DNA adduct formation and ultimately lead to cancer development. In this study, we aimed to test the association between deregulation of metabolizing genes and brain tumorigenesis. The expression profile of metabolizing genes CYP1A1 and GSTP1 was therefore studied in a cohort of 36 brain tumor patients and controls using Western blotting. In a second part of the study we analyzed protein expression of GSTs in the same study cohort by ELISA. CYP1A1 expression was found to be significantly high (p<0.001) in brain tumor as compared to the normal tissues, with ~4 fold (OR=4, 95%CI=0.43-37) increase in some cases. In contrast, the expression of GSTP1 was found to be significantly low in brain tumor tissues as compared to the controls (p<0.02). This down regulation was significantly higher (OR=0.05, 95%CI=0.006-0.51; p<0.007) in certain grades of lesions. Furthermore, GSTs levels were significantly down-regulated (p<0.014) in brain tumor patients compared to controls. Statistically significant decrease in GST levels was observed in the more advanced lesions (III-IV, p<0.005) as compared to the early tissue grades (I-II). Thus, altered expression of these xenobiotic metabolizing genes may be involved in brain tumor development in Pakistani population. Investigation of expression of these genes may provide information not only for the prediction of individual cancer risk but also for the prevention of cancer.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2005

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces synthesis of several inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). NO in brain is involved not only in the regulation of important metabolic pathways via intracellular cyclic GMP-dependent path­ways, but also in neurotoxic damage by reacting with superoxide ion leading to form peroxynitrite radical. Oxidative stress has suggested to be related to the inhibition of NO synthase/cyclic GMP pathway. OQ21 is a new fluorinated quinone compound that is recently known to have inhibitory effects on both NO synthase (NOS) and guanylyl cyclase (GC). In this study, we examined effects of OQ21, other known NOS or GC inhibitors, or an antioxidant, melatonin, on the oxidative stress produced by LPS in rat brain. Oxidative stress was observed by using the 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate to measure intra-cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and by measuring the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances to measure lipid peroxidation. LPS induced significant increase in both ROS produdction and lipid peroxidation in all brain regions tested (striatum, hippocampus and cortex), which were dissected 6hr after intraperitoneal administration of LPS to rats. Direct striatal injection of two NOS inhibitors, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and diphenyleneiodonium, or a GC inhibitor, IH-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-l-one, produced no significant ROS increase. However, OQ21 enhanced ROS formation in striatal tissues from LPS-treated rats. Melatonin decreased LPS-induced ROS formation and decreased ROS formation increased by OQ21 in striatum of LPS-treated rats.