• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1330-1335
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• 2011

N-Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) serve as the vital quorum-sensing signals that regulate the virulence of the pathogenic bacterium Erwinia carotovora. In the present study, an approach to efficiently restrain the pathogenicity of E. carotovora-induced soft rot disease is described. Bacillus thuringiensis-derived N-acyl homoserine lactonase (AiiA) was projected onto the surface of Pseudomonas putida cells, and inoculation with both strains was challenged. The previously identified N-terminal moiety of the ice nucleation protein, InaQ-N, was applied as the anchoring motif. A surface display cassette with inaQ-N/aiiA was constructed and expressed under the control of a constitutive promoter in P. putida AB92019. Surface localization of the fusion protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy. The antagonistic activity of P. putida MB116 expressing InaQ-N/AiiA toward E. carotovora ATCC25270 was evaluated by challenge inoculation in potato slices at different ratios. The results revealed a remarkable suppressing effect on E. carotovora infection. The active component was further analyzed using different cell fractions, and the cell surface-projected fusion protein was found to correspond to the suppressing effect.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.669-676
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• 2019

Zanthoxylum piperitum D.C. (ZP) peels has been used as a natural spice and herb medicine for hypertension reduction, for strokes, and for its anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activity. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms employed by ZP have yet to be completely understood. In this study, we elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ZP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. We evaluated the effects of ZP in LPS-induced levels of inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and caspase-1 using ELISA. The expression levels of inflammatory-related genes, including cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), were assayed by Western blot analysis. We elucidated the effect of ZP on nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation by means of a luciferase activity assay. The findings of this study demonstrated that ZP inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokine and PGE₂ and inhibited the increased levels of COX-2 and iNOS caused by LPS. Additionally, we showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of ZP arises by suppressing the activation of NF-κB and caspase-1 in LPS- induced RAW264.7 cells. These results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of ZP as a potential candidate for development of new drugs to treat inflammatory diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.687-692
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• 2016

We recently reported the anti-inflammatory effects of 3-(naphthalen-2-yl(propoxy)methyl)azetidine hydrochloride (KHG26792) on the ATP-induced activation of the NFAT and MAPK pathways through the P2X7 receptor in microglia. To further investigate the underlying mechanism of KHG26792, we studied its protective effects on hypoxia-induced toxicity in microglia. The administration of KHG26792 significantly reduced the hypoxia-induced expression and activity of caspase-3 in BV-2 microglial cells. KHG26792 also reduced hypoxia-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression, which correlated with reduced nitric oxide accumulation. In addition, KHG26792 attenuated hypoxia-induced protein nitration, reactive oxygen species production, and NADPH oxidase activity. These effects were accompanied by the suppression of hypoxia-induced protein expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and NADPH oxidase-2. Although the clinical relevance of our findings remains to be determined, these data results suggest that KHG26792 prevents hypoxia-induced toxicity by suppressing microglial activation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.925-934
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• 2017

The Cdc6 protein is essential for the initiation of chromosomal replication and functions as a licensing factor to maintain chromosome integrity. During the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, Cdc6 has been found to inhibit the recruitment of pericentriolar material (PCM) proteins to the centrosome and to suppress centrosome over-duplication. In this report, we analyzed the correlation between these two functions of Cdc6 at the centrosome. Cdc6 depletion increased the population of cells showing centrosome over-duplication and premature centrosome separation; Cdc6 expression reversed these changes. Deletion and fusion experiments revealed that the 18 amino acid residues (197-214) of Cdc6, which were fused to the Cdc6-centrosomal localization signal, suppressed centrosome over-duplication and premature centrosome separation. Cdc6 mutant proteins that showed defective ATP binding or hydrolysis did not exhibit a significant difference in suppressing centrosome over-duplication, compared to the wild type protein. In contrast to the Cdc6-mediated inhibition of PCM protein recruitment to the centrosome, the independence of Cdc6 on its ATPase activity for suppressing centrosome over-duplication, along with the difference between the Cdc6 protein regions participating in the two functions, suggested that Cdc6 controls centrosome duplication in a manner independent of its recruitment of PCM proteins to the centrosome.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.218-224
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• 2020

The antitumor effects of octyl gallate (OG) were investigated on FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. At various concentrations, OG inhibited the proliferation of FaDu cells by suppressing cell cycle regulators and induced apoptosis by activating caspase 3 and its downstream poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, thereby damaging DNA. Immunoblotting demonstrated that OG significantly suppressed the expression of integrin family proteins (integrin α4, αv, β3, β4), hindering cell adhesion. The reduced expression of integrins subsequently mediated the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway to stimulate the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and c-jun N-terminal kinases, leading to apoptosis. Thus, OG demonstrated antitumor activity on hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells by suppressing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2012

A new method for the high throughput screening of antagonistic substances against rice pathogens using rice leaf explants was developed. This method can be used to confirm the activities of any compound or mixture suppressing rice bacterial blight (BB) before field tests. Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) culture medium was distributed in 96 well plates with equally sized explants and the active compounds were added to the wells. The strength suppressing BB was converted into an area percent of the lesion on the rice explants. The explants under BB suppressing activity remained uninfected maintaining their actual green color, while infected explants exhibited pale yellow-colored lesions. Based on the results, this method seems to be faster and easier, dose-dependent, and can be performed all-at-once with a small amount of unspecified compounds. This method also has the potential to be applied to inspection activities for the suppression of other waterborne crop diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2021

Donggwaja (Benincasae Semen), the seed of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn., has been used in Korean traditional medicine to control the body heat and water retention caused by various diseases. Both the symptoms targeted by the herbal medicine in clinic and studies with disease mouse models support the potential anti-inflammatory effect of Donggwaja. However, it is less understood how Donggwaja exerts its possible anti-inflammatory effect. Here, we present evidence that Donggwaja suppresses macrophage inflammatory reactions via expressing tumor necrosis factor a-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3 or A20) and suppressing NF-kB activity. The ethanol extract of Donggwaja (EED) showed no toxicity when added to RAW 264.7 cells less than 100mg/ml. When treating the cells for 16 h, EED significantly suppressed the nuclear localization of NF-kB, suggesting that EED suppresses NF-kB activity. Concordantly, a semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that EED decreased the expression of prototypic pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, IL(interleukin)-6, and IL-1b. EED induced in RAW 264.7 cells the expression of A20, a ubiquitin modulator that suppresses inflammatory signaling cascades initiated from TLR4 and TNF and IL-1 receptors, while not affecting the induction of Nrf2, an anti-inflammatory factor that could suppress the effect of NF-kB. These results suggest that EED exerts its suppressive effect on inflammation, at least in part, by expressing anti-inflammatory factor A20 and suppressing pro-inflammatory factor NF-kB activity.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.207-210
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• 2013

In this study, matured silkworm hemolymph was studied for inhibitory effect on melanin formation, tyrosinase activities. A matured silkworm hemolymph mass purification method was developed and some of suppressing melanin formation effects were investigated, too. As a result, the advanced purification method was higher in yield rate than existing one by 53%. A free radical scavenging activity of hemolymph was higher than sericin on the market($IC_{50}$, $202.9{\pm}33.1$) and lower than vitamin C($0.57{\pm}0.02$) by $6.4{\pm}0.3{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. An inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis was higher in hemolymph compared to Morus bark and arbutin by 9.15% and 11.56%, respectively. An inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity was higher in hemolymph than Morus bark and lower than arbutin. Effect of hemolymph $45{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ on suppressing of tyrosinase was almost 90%. Thus, these results suggest that hemolymph of matured silkworm may have beneficial properties as a material for cosmetics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.951-957
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• 2004

Hypoglycemic effect of Prunus mume (PM) extract containing in Sangjinyangheul-tang and Hwangkeumtang, one of the diabetic herbal medicines, was determined by investigating insulin-like action, insulin sensitizing action and a-glucoamylase suppressing action. Insulin-like activity of 3T3-L1 fibroblast was not shown with the treatment of PM methanol extracts. However, treatment with 20% or 40% PM methanol extracts and differentiation inducers significantly decreased the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to adipocytes. A significant insulin sensitizing activity was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving PM extracts (60%, 80% and 100%) with 1 ng/mL insulin to reach glucose uptake level increased by 50 ng/mL of insulin alone. In addition, 20% and 40% methanol extracts of PM suppressed the a-glucoamylase activity by 30% in vitro. However, there was no significant differences in the peak of serum glucose levels and area under the curve in Sprague Dawley male rats treated with PM ethanol extract or cellulose and 2 g maltose or dextrin/kg body weight. These data suggested that PM extracts contain effective insulin sensitizing compounds, lipid synthesis suppressing compounds and possibly a-glucoamylase suppressing compounds. Therefore, PM extracts are beneficial for anti-diabetic treatment in obese diabetic patients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.134-137
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• 2000

Spontaneous bursting activity was studied in rat thalamocortical slices using extracellular field potential recording to test the potential utilization of ginsenoside Rb$_1$ in controlling overactivated neural systems. In order to induce bursting activity, slices were perfused with Mg$\^$2+/-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). Two major types of spontaneous bursting activity, simple thalamocortical burst complexes (sTBCs) and complex thalamocortical burst complexes (cTBCs), were recorded in Mg$\^$2+/ -free ACSF. Ginsenoside Rb$_1$ selectively suppressed cTBCs. Duration and occurrence rate of cTBCs were reduced by 87.3${\pm}$10.2% and 85.3${\pm}$ 14.7% in the presence of 90 ${\mu}$M ginsenoside Rb$_1$ respectively, while amplitude and intraburst frequency were slightly changed by ginsenoside Rb$_1$. In contrast, ginsenoside Rb$_1$was much less effective in reducing duration and occurrence rate of sTBCs. We also tested effects of ginsenoside Rb$_1$ on bursting activity in the presence of a GABA$\sub$A/ receptor antagonist, bicuculline methiodide (BMI). Ginsenoside Rb$_1$ had no effect in suppressing BMI-induced bursting activities. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rbi may be useful in controlling seizure-like bursting activity under pathological conditions.