• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1837-1841
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• 2003

In an attempt to isolate novel molecules that may play a regulatory role in adipocyte differentiation, we devised an experimental strategy to identify adipose tissue-specific genes by modifying cDNA microarray technique. We used genefilter membranes containing approximately 15,000 rat non-redundant EST clones of which 4,000 EST were representative clones of known genes and 11,000 ESTs were uncharacterized clones. A series of hybridization of genefilter membranes with cDNA probes prepared from various rat tissues and nucleic acids sequence analysis allowed us to identify two adipose-tissue specific genes, adipocyte-specific secretory factor (ADSF) and H-rev107. Verification of tissue-specific expression patterns of these two genes by Northern blot analysis showed that ADSF mRNA is exclusive expressed in adipose tissue and the H-rev107 mRNA is predominantly expressed in adipose tissue. Further analysis of gene expression of ADSF and H-rev107 during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation revealed that the ADSF and H-rev107 gene expression patterns are closely associated with the adipocyte differentiation program, indicating their possible role in the regulation of adipose tissue development. Overall, we demonstrated an application of modified cDNA microarray technique in molecular cloning, resulting in identification of two novel adipose tissue-specific genes. This technique will also be used as a useful tool in identifying novel genes expressed in a tissue-specific manner.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.960-966
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• 2003

Macrophages play an important role in host defenses by killing tumors and virus infections and producing secretory products. High mannuronic acid (HMA) containing alginate was examined to determine the mechanisms by which HMA-activated macrophages resist infection with HSV-1 and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. The ability of macro phages to resist infection with HSV-1 or to inhibit the growth of tumor cells was assessed following treatment with HMA alginate in the presence of either antibodies to various cytokines or inhibitors/scavengers of toxic macrophage products. Only antibodies to IFN-$\alpha$/$\beta$ were able to abrogate the protective effects of HMA alginate in macrophages infected with HSV-1, suggesting that the antiviral activity induced by this immunomodulator was mediated by the production of IFN-$\beta$. In contrast, anti-TNF-$\alpha$, anti-IFN and inhibitors of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species were all able to partially abrogate HMA-induced cytostatic activity, suggesting that multiple mechanisms are involved in macrophage cytostasis. These results indicate that the HMA-induced intrinsic antiviral and extrinsic cytotoxic activites are mediated by different mechanisms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.430-434
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• 2003

In vivo antagonistic effect of Lactobacillus helveticus CU 631 and Lactobacillus spp. against typical enteritis causing pathogen Salmonella enteritidis KU 101 have been determined, which showed an increase in survival rate and the decline in viable cell numbers of pathogen in liver and spleen at sacrifice. A signifcant difference in the antagonistic effect against KU 101 were observed, which was species and/or strain dependent of Lactobacillus (p<0.01), the survival rate of the mice in the Salmonella infection by feeding L. helveticus CU 631 has been shown to be 157%, whereas those of L. rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103, L. acidophilus ATCC 4356, L. johnsonii C-4 were 137%, 132%, 119% respectively on the basis of lactobacilli non-associated control KU101 fed mice to be 100%. Viable cells of S. enteritidis KU101 in the liver and in the spleen at sacrifice were decreased in Lactobacillus spp. fed group with no significant difference. The higher level of total secretory IgA concentration in the intestinal fluid of lactobacilli fed mice than control mice have been observed. In vitro antagonistic activity of Lactobacillus spp. against KU101 have been determined, a prominent antagonistic activity of CU 631 against KU 101 were demonstrated.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 1998

A chimeric gene comprising murine whey acidic protein(mWAP) and human growth hormone(hGH) was used to produce transgenic rats express hGH and secrete it into the blood. Two lines of transgenic rats carrying the mWAP/hGH construct were established; High line was characterized by relatively high levels of serum hGH, and low line had relatively low levels. The secretory profiles of rat GH(rGH) as well as hGH, the transgene product, were obtained in transgenic males and females of low line; both hGH and rGH serum levels were flattened with no episodic fluctuations, and the overall mean concentration of rGH was significantly lower than in normal littermates. Although the animals of High line showed an acceles, as assessed by vaginal opening and occurrence of first ovulation, advanced by 7∼8 days in both lines of animals. Accordingly, the body weight at puberty of low line transgenic females was much lower than that of normal littermates, indicating that continuous hGH expression could induce precocious puberty without enhancing the growth rate.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.538-544
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• 1999

To elucidate the involvement of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ converting enzyme (ICE) in the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we induced EAE by immunizing rats with an emulsion of rat spinal cord homogenate with complete Freund's adjuvant supplemented with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Ra, 5mg/ml) and then examined the expression of ICE in the spinal cord of rats with EAE. In normal rat spinal cords, ICE is constitutively, but weakly, expressed in ependymal cells, neurons, and some neuroglial cells. In EAE, many inflammatory cells are positive for ICE, and the majority of ICE+ cells were identified as ED1+ macrophages. During this stage of EAE, the number of ICE+ cells in brain cells, including neurons and astrocytes, increased and these cells also had increased ICE immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that the upregulation of ICE in both brain cells and invading hematogenous cells is stimulated by a secretory product from inflammatory cells, and that this enzyme is involved in the pathogenesis of EAE via the production of IL-1 beta.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.294-299
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• 2005

In this report, we describe the high-yield secretory expression of the recombinant human anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from Pichia pastoris that was achieved by co-integration of the genes encoding the heavy and light chains (both under the control of alcohol oxidase promoter) into the genome of the yeast cells. The fed-batch fermentations were carried out in a 5 L scale. Both chains of the Fab were successfully expressed upon methanol induction. The absorbance ($OD_{600}$) of the broth can reach 350~500 at the end of fed-batch phase. After the induction, the expression level of the recombinant Fab (soluble) reached 420~458 mg/L. The recombinant Fab fragment was purified from the crude culture supernatant by ion exchange chromatography and the purity of the recombinant Fab fragment was over 95%. The affinity activities of the crude fermentation supernatant and the purified Fab were analyzed by indirect ELISA, which showed that the purified recombinant Fab fragment had high affinity activity with hepatitis B surface antigen.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2000

To overproduce endoxylanase from a recombinant Bacillus subtilis harboring the pJHKJ4 plasmid, the effects of carbon and nitrogen sources on the cell growth and expression level of endoxylanase were investigated in the flask cultures. Among the various carbon and nitrogen sources tested, glucose and maltose as carbon source and yeast extract as nitrogen source were found to be the most effective for the cell growth and the endoxylanase expression. When the concentration of glucose was increased from 0.5% to 5%, the highest activity of extracellular endoxylanse, 166 unit/$m\ell$, was observed at 2% glucose. In case of maltose, the endoxylanase was stably produced at the level of 180 unit/$m\ell$, regardless of the concentration of maltose. The higher the concentration of yeast extract, the greater cell growth and endoxylanase expression were obtained. However, the highest endoxylanase activity per unit cell mass was observed with 1% yeast extract. With the optimized medium (2% glucose, 1% yeast extract, etc), about 630 unit/$m\ell$ of endoxylanse was expressed through the batch fermentation in a fermentor, which expression level corresponded to about 0.7 g-endoxylanase protein /$\ell$. It was also found that the plasmid was stably maintained above 70% level, and more than 90% of endoxylanase activity was detected in the extracellular medium.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2007

Acanthopanacis Cortex (AC) has been popularly used as an herbal medicine for medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, impotence and diabetes. Here, we investigated immunostimulating effects of the aqueous extract of AC on macrophage. We studied nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ release in response to AC treatment, as they are important secretory products of macrophage. AC alone induce the NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ production. AC increase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation but does not p38 activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Also AC resulted in the enhanced cell-surface expression of CD80 and CD14. In addition, AC resulted in enhanced T cell-stimulatory capacity and increased T cell secretion of interferon (IFN)-gamma. After feeding with AC to mouse for 10 days, the change of $CD28^+$ and $CD40^+$ population was analyzed. AC increased $CD28^+$ population in splenocytes in vivo. These studies indicate that AC induces macrophage activation and suggest the possible use of AC in macrophage-based immunotherapies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1513-1520
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• 2023

Kex2 protease (Kex2p) is a membrane-bound serine protease responsible for the proteolytic maturation of various secretory proteins by cleaving after dibasic residues in the late Golgi network. In this study, we present an application of Kex2p as an alternative endoprotease for the in vitro processing of recombinant fusion proteins produced by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The proteins were expressed with a fusion partner connected by a Kex2p cleavage sequence for enhanced expression and easy purification. To avoid in vivo processing of fusion proteins by Kex2p during secretion and to guarantee efficient removal of the fusion partners by in vitro Kex2p processing, P₁', P₂', P₄, and P₃ sites of Kex2p cleavage sites were elaborately manipulated. The general use of Kex2p in recombinant protein production was confirmed using several recombinant proteins.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

Reproduction in ruminant species is a highly complex biological process requiring a dialogue between the developing conceptus (embryo-fetus and associated placental membranes) and maternal uterus which must be established during the peri-implantation period for pregnancy recognition signaling and regulation of gene expression by uterine epithelial and stromal cells. The uterus provide a microenvironment in which molecules secreted by uterine epithelia and transported into the uterine lumen represent histotroph, also known as the secretome, that are required for growth and development of the conceptus and receptivity of the uterus to implantation by the elongating conceptus. Pregnancy recognition signaling as related to sustaining the functional lifespan of the corpora lutea, is required to sustain the functional life-span of corpora lutea for production of progesterone which is essential for uterine functions supportive of implantation and placentation required for successful outcomes of pregnancy. It is within the peri-implantation period that most embryonic deaths occur in ruminants due to deficiencies attributed to uterine functions or failure of the conceptus to develop appropriately, signal pregnancy recognition and/or undergo implantation and placentation. The endocrine status of the pregnant ruminant and her nutritional status are critical for successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The challenge is to understand the complexity of key mechanisms that are characteristic of successful reproduction in humans and animals and to use that knowledge to enhance fertility and reproductive health of ruminant species in livestock enterprises.