• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.239-245
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• 2001

Objective : Dopamine transporter is member of family of Na/Cl dependent neurotransmitter transporter, 12 transmembrane domain, that has high substrate specificity, affinity. It is related with dopamine reuptake in presynaptic vesicle. DAT has a VNTR in its 3'-untranslated region(UTR). 3'-UTR VNTR polymorphism is related with modification of dopamine transmission. The association between with VNTR polymorphism and neuropsychiatric disorders such as alcohol dependence, and low activity ALDH has been studied, but their relationship is unclear. We study about association of 3'-UTR VNTR of DAT gene and G2319A and alcohol dependence. Method : Group of Korean subjects were studied with alcohol dependence(n=49 male) compared to mentally healthy controls(n=53 male). The peripheral blood sample was acquired, and Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR) amplification, MspI procedure was done. Result : There was a significant difference between alcohol dependence group and normal control(genotype frequency p<0.05, allele frequency p<0.05) Allele A frequency and genotype(GG, GA) frequency was a significant difference between alcohol dependence group and normal control(p<0.05). Conclusion : Our study showed that genetic polymorphism of DAT1 G2319A had relation with alcohol dependence.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.719-724
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• 2011

The $Sec61{\alpha}$ subunit is the core subunit of the protein conducting channel which is required for protein translocation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In this study, we cloned a $Sec61{\alpha}$ subunit from Penicillium ochrochloron ($PoSec61{\alpha}$). Sequence and 3D structural model analysis showed that $PoSec61{\alpha}$ conserved the typical characteristics of eukaryotic and prokaryotic $Sec61{\alpha}$ subunit homologues. The pore ring known as the constriction point of the channel is formed by seven hydrophobic amino acids. Two methionine residues from transmembrane ${\alpha}$-helice 7 (TM7) contribute to the pore ring formation and projected notably to the pore area and narrowed the pore compared with the superposed residues at the corresponding positions in the crystal structures or the 3D models of the $Sec61{\alpha}$ subunit homologues in archaea or other eukaryotes, respectively. Results reported herein indicate that the pore ring residues differ among $Sec61{\alpha}$ subunit homologues and two hydrophobic residues in the TM7 contribute to the pore ring formation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.230-230
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• 2002

Class Ⅲ chitin synthases in filamentous fungi are important for hyphal growth and differentiation of several filamentous fungi. A genomic clone containing the full gene encoding Chs4, a class Ⅲ chitin synthase in Penicillium chrysogenum, was cloned by PCR screening and colony hybridization from the genomic library. Nucleotide sequence analysis and transcript mapping of chs4 revealed an open reading frame (ORF) that consisted of 5 exons and 4 introns and encoded a putative protein of 915 amino acids. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5′flanking region of the ORF revealed a potential TATA box and several binding sites for transcription activators. The putative transcription initiation site at -716 position was identified by primer extension and the expression of the chs4 during the vegetative growth was confirmed by Northern blot analysis. Amino acid sequence analysis of the Chs4 revealed at least 5 transmembrane helices and several sites for past-transnational modifications. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of Chs4 with those of other fungi showed a close relationship between P chrysogenum and genus Aspergillus.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2017

The opsin family of light sensitive proteins family makes up are the universal photoreceptor molecules of all visual systems in the vertebrates including teleosts. They can change their conformation from a resting state to a signaling state upon light absorption, which activates the G-protein coupled receptor, thereby resulting in a signaling cascade that produces physiological responses. However, this species is poorly characterized at molecular level due to little sequence information available in public databases. We have investigated the opsin family of nocturnal cutlass fish using the whole transcriptome sequencing method. The opsin genes were cloned and its expression in the tissues and organs were examined by qPCR. We cloned 6 opsin genes (RRH, Opn4, Rh1, Rh2, VA-opsin, and Opn3) in retina and brain tissue. It contained the seven presumed transmembrane domains that are characteristic of the G-protein-coupled receptor family. However, short wavelength sensitive pigment (SWS) and long wavelength sensitive pigment (LWS) were not detected in this study. The mRNA expression of the 6 photoreceptor genes were detected in retina and peripheral tissue. Our studies will lead to further investigation of the photic entrainment mechanism at molecular and cellular levels in cutlass fish and can be used in comparative studies of other fishes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2192-2198
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• 2016

The myeloid-specific IgA Fc receptor ($Fc{\alpha}R$) is a cell surface molecule on immunocytes that provides a fundamental connection between humoral and cellular immunity. In this study, the full-length cDNA sequence of swine $Fc{\alpha}RI$ ($swFc{\alpha}RI$) was isolated and characterized and found to contain a 792-base-pair open reading frame, encoding a 264-amino-acid transmembrane glycoprotein with a predicted molecular mass of 29.4 kDa. The $swFc{\alpha}RI$ shares high amino acid sequence homology (>50%) with its counterparts from cattle, seal, and horse. Rosetting analysis confirmed that COS-7 cells transfected with an $swFc{\alpha}RI$ expression plasmid was able to combine with chicken erythrocytes sensitized with porcine IgA, but not IgG.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2006

The promoting effect of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) against the cytotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$) in differentiated PC12 cells was assessed by measuring the effect on the mitochondrial membrane permeability. Treatment of PC12 cells with $MPP^+$ resulted in the nuclear damage, decrease in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3, increase in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depletion of GSH. Addition of $H_2O_2$ enhanced the $MPP^+-induced$ nuclear damage and cell death. Catalase, Carboxy-PTIO, Mn-TBAP, N-acetylcysteine, cyclosporin A and trifluoperazine inhibited the cytotoxic effect of $MPP^+$ in the presence of $H_2O_2$. Addition of $H_2O_2$ promoted the change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability, ROS formation and decrease in GSH contents due to $MPP^+$ in PC12 cells. The results show that the $H_2O_2$ treatment promotes the cytotoxicity of $MPP^+$ against PC12 cells. $H_2O_2$ may enhance the $MPP^+$-induced viability loss in PC12 cells by promoting the mitochondrial membrane permeability change, release of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of caspase-3, which is associated with the increased formation of ROS and depletion of GSH. The findings suggest that $H_2O_2$ as a promoting agent for the formation of mitochondrial permeability transition may enhance the neuronal cell injury caused by neurotoxins.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.423-431
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• 2001

Some recent investigations revealed that vasodilatory action of adenosine is mainly not mediated by surface A2 receptor and suggested the existence of an intracellular action site. In the present study, we tried to differentiate intracellular from extracellular site of adenosine action in the regulation of coronary flow. In perfused rabbit hearts, concentration-response curve of coronary flow to exogenous adenosine was constructed in the presence or absence of dipyridamole, an inhibitor of transmembrane purine transport. Inhibition of cellular adenosine uptake by dipyridamole suppressed the increase of flow rate while enhancing the decrease in heart rate induced by exogenous adenosine. In another series of experiments, perfused rabbit hearts were subjected to energy deprivation in order to increase the production of endogenous adenosine. Energy deprivation along with dipyridamole administration resulted in higher coronary flow rate. Lower perfusate adenosine concentration was observed along with higher tissue adenosine content in this group. These results implied that coronary flow rate is determined not by interstitial adenosine concentration but by intracellular activity of adenosine. To confirm the effects of dypiridamole in vivo, direct measurement of interstitial adenosine concentration by mycrodialysis along with the assay of intracellular adenosine content was performed after intranenous dipyridamole administration. After dipyridamole infusion, intracellular adenosine content was markedly increased while interstitial adenosine concentration was not altered. In another series of experiments, the right shift of concentration-response curve of adenosine-induced vasodilation by 8-phenyltheophilline, a representative adenosine receptor antagonist, was mostly abolished by prior administration of prazosin, indicating that the influence of 8-PT on the adenosine action is not attributed to the inhibition of A2 receptor but related to the suppression of ${\alpha}-adrenoceptor$ activation. From these results, we concluded that adenosine acts intracellularly to regulate the coronary blood flow.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.376-383
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• 2008

High-flux dialysis treatment removes various toxins via diffusion as well as convection, which is induced by ultrafiltration and backfiltration. In this study, in vitro (Using the distilled water and the bovine's blood) comparison test was performed to determine whether utilization of a high flux dialyzer paired with different pumps would increase the efficiency of convection. At the same blood flow rates, a pulsatile pump and a roller pump were employed to propel the distilled water and bovine whole blood to a high flux dialyzer. Pressures at the dialyzer inlet and outlet in the blood circuit and in the dialysate circuit were measured, respectively. From these data, we calculated the transmembrane pressure and predicted the ultrafiltration and backfiltration rates developed by both pumps. Using the bovine's blood experiment, ultrafiltration and backfiltration rates were 1.6 times higher with the pulsatile pump than with the roller pump. We conclude that utilization of a pulsatile pump in high flux hemodialysis treatments increases ultrafiltration volume, compared with a roller pump under conditions of the same blood flow rate.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1322-1329
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• 2008

Mulberry has been reported to contain wide range of polyphenols and have chemopreventive activity. However, little has been known regarding the effect of mulberry fruits on cell viability in human glioma cells. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of mulberry fruit (Mar; Fructus) on cell viability and to determine its underlying mechanism in human glioma cells. Cell viability and cell death were estimated by MTT assay and trypanblue exclusion assay, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured using the fluorescence probe DCFH-DA. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was measured with $DiOC_6$(3). Bax expression and cytochrome c release were measured by Western blot analysis. Caspase activity was estimated using colorimetric kit. Mori Fructus resulted in apoptotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mori Fructus increased ROS generation and the Mori Fructus-induced cell death was also prevented by antioxidants, suggesting that ROS generation plays a critical role in Mari Fructus-induced cell death. Western blot analysis showed that Mori Fructus treatment caused an increase in Bax expression, which was inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Mori Fructus induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and its effect was inhibited by the antioxidants NAC and catalase. Mori Fructus induced cytochrome c release, which was inhibited by NAC. Caspase activity was stimulated by Mori Fructus and caspase inhibitors prevented the Mori Fructus-induced cell death. These findings suggest that Mori Fructus results in human glioma cell death through ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathway in human glioma cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 1999

Identification of the genes responsible for the recovery of virulence in brain-passaged Acanthamoeba culbertsoni was attempted via mRNA differential display polymerase chain reaction (mRNA DD-PCR) analysis. In order to identify the regulatory changes in transcription of the virulence related genes by the brain passages, mRNA DD-PCR was performed which enabled the display of differentially transcribed mRNAs after the brain passages. Through mRNA DD-PCR analysis. 96 brain-passaged amoeba specific amplicons were observed and were screened to identify the amplicons that failed to amplify in the non-brain-passaged amoeba mRNAs. Out of the 96 brain-passaged amoeba specific amplicons, 12 turned out to be amplified only from the brain-passaged amoeba mRNAs by DNA slot blot hybridization. The clone, A289C, amplified with an arbitrary primer of UBC ＃289 and the oligo dT$_{11}$-C primer, revealed the highest homology (49.8％) to the amino acid sequences of UPD-galactose lipid transferase of Erwinia amylovora, which is known to act as an important virulence factor. The deduced amino acid sequences of an insert DNA in clone A289C were also revealed to be similar to cpsD, which is the essential gene for the expression of type III capsule in group B streptococcus. Upregulated expression of clone A289C was verified by RNA slot blot hybridization. Similar hydrophobicity values were also observed between A289C (at residues 47-66) and the AmsG gene of E. amylovora (at residues 286-305: transmembrane domains). This result suggested that the insert of clone A289C might play the same function as galactosyl transferase controlled by the AmsG gene in E. amylovora.a.