• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 1991

In order to study the sperm-egg interaction during fertilization process in mouse, the effects of sperm concentration, the duration of capacitation and insemination, the stages of maturation and development of eggs, and sperm extracts and BSA on sperm binding to egg were examined. Sperm-egg binding was increased depending on sperm concentration within the range of $10^3-10^6$ sperm/ml. It showed the most numbers of sperm-egg binding at 60min from the beginning of preincubation(capacitation) and insemination, respectively. During sperm capacitation, sperm-egg binding inhibitor was released from sperm into the incubation medium. Sperm extracts containing trypsin-like enzyme which is secreted through the acrosome reaction increased the binding. BSA in the culture medium showed a positive effect on the binding. It is suggested that physicochemical alterations of zona pellucida in the process of maturation and fertilization of eggs leaded to inhibition of sperm-egg binding.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 1999

To analyze scientifically the prescription principle of polyprescriptions (Gamchotang, Daewhanggamchotang, Jakyakgamchotang, Gamchogungangtang and Gilkyungtang) containing Glycyrrhizae Radix, the transforming rate of glycyrrhizin in these polyprescriptions to 18 ${\beta}-glycyrrhetinic$ acid and their inhibitory effect on ${\beta}-glucuronidase$, hyaluronidase, phosphodiesterase and trypsin were investigated. When Glycyrrhizae Radix containing polyprescriptions were extracted with water, the contents of glycyrrhizin in water extract of Glycyrrhizae Radix with Rhei Rhizoma or with Zingiberis Rhizoma were higher than that of Glycyrrhizae Radix only, but that in water extract of Glycyrrhizae Radix with Platicodi Radix was lower than that of Glycyrrhizae Radix only. By human intestinal bacteria, glycyrrhizin was metabolized to 18 ${\beta}-glycyrrhetinic$ acid. These metabolism of glycyrrhizin in polyprescriptions containing Glycyrrhizae Radix was inhibited by Rhei Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix and Platicodi Radix, but was not affected by Zingiberis Rhizoma. The inhibitory activity of Glycyrrhizae Radix on hyaluronidase and ${\beta}-glucuronidase$, was synergistic with Rhei Rhizoma or Zingiberis Rhizoma, but was antagonistic by Platicodi Radix.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.308-314
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• 1994

Four Taro isolectins (I, II, III, IV) were purified by ammonium sulfate, chromatography on CM-celluose and isoelectric focusing. I and IV lectins proved homogeneous by disk polyacrylamid gel electrophoresis and densitometric patterns. But in the presence of urea, IV lectin further dissociated into two different subunits. These lectinis had different hemagglutinating activities and inhibition in their activities after mixed with pepsin particuclary, but not with carbohydrates, heating pH, urea, guanidine, trypsin, pronase and $Ca^{2+}$.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.245-249
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• 2005

The flower of Magnolia denudata Desrousseaux(Magnoliaceae) has long been used for treatment of nasal disorder in Korea. The physiological activity of the Magnoliae Flos ethanol extract (MFX) was investigated. MFX showed antimicrobial activity. At doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, MFX showed significant inhibition on both change in paw volume and vascular permeability. MFX (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited PAR2 agonist-induced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in paw tissue. These results indicate that MFX has anti-inflammatory activity in PAR2-mediated paw edema.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.1 s.136
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• pp.52-61
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• 2004

Inhibitory activities of 264 methanol extracts, which were prepared from different parts of 210 kinds of wild and medicinal plants, against human thrombin were evaluated. Based on the anti-coagulation activity determined by thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, the 14 extracts were screened. The fibrinolytic activity, heat stability and inhibition of other proteolytic digestive enzymes, such as pepsin, papain, trypsin and chymotrypsin, of the 14 extracts were further determined, and Ginko biloba (herba), Ephedra sinica (radix), Reynoutria elliptica (herba), Amomum tsao-ko Crevost (fructus), and Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils (bark) were finally selected as possible plant sources for anti-thrombosis agent. These results suggested that medicinal and wild plants could be the potential source of thrombin inhibitor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1228-1236
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• 1997

Lactobacillus strains were isolated from volunteer's feces, including from newly-born infants and adults in their 20's, by using differential MRS-BPB plates. Total 56 presumptive Lactobacillus strains were isolated and the bacteriocin productions by the isolates were examined by agar diffusion method. Six bacteriocin-producing strains were confirmed. Among them, two isolates, HU-1 and H22-3, showed the most outstanding antimicrobial activities, which were not affected by pH adjustments or catalase treatments of culture. HU-1 was originated from a two-years old boy and H22-3 was originated from a newly-born infant. HU-1 and H22-3 had the same morphology(short rod) when examined by scanning electron microscope, and the same biochemical traits including growth temperature range, salt tolerance and sugar-fermenting abilities. But the growth-inhibition spectrum and plasmid profiles of HU-1 and H22-3 were different. Both strains inhibited the growth of various Gram (+) microorganisms including Listeria monocytogenes. Micrococcus luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus in addition to many species of lactic acid bacteria, indicating the production of broad-spectrum bacteriocins. Bacteriocins produced by HU-1 and H22-3 were stable up to 90℃, 15 min heat treatments. Their activities were not affected by pepsin or trypsin treatments but destroyed by proteinaseK or pronase treatments.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 1990

Various conditions of cultures were performed to investigate the role of tight junctions formed between adjacent MDCK cells on the entry of Toxoplasma. When MDCK cells were cocultured with excess number of Toxoplasma at the seeding density of 1×105, 3×105, and 5×105 cells/ml for 4 days, the number of intracellular parasites decreased rapidly as the host cells reached saturation density, i.e., the formation of tight junctions. When the concentration of calcium in the media (1.8 mM in general) was shifted to $5{\mu}M$ that resulted in the elimination of tight junction, the penetration of Toxoplasma increased about 2-fold(p<0.05) in the saturated culture, while that of non-saturated culture decreased by half. Trypsin-EDTA which was treated to conquer the tight junctions of saturated culture favored the entry of Toxoplasma about 2.5-fold(P<0.05) compared to the non-treated, while that of non- saturated culture decreased to about one fifth. It was suggested that the tight junctions of epithelial cells play a role as a barrier for the entry of Toxoplasma and Toxoplasma penetrate into hoot cells through membrane structure-specific, i.e., certain kind of receptors present on the basolateral rather than apical surface of MDCK cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1670-1674
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• 2007

Duffy binding protein (DBP) plays a critical role in Plasmodium vivax invasion of human red blood cells. We previously reported a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) that was specific to P. vivax DBP (PvDBP). However, the stabilization and the half-life of scFvs have not been studied. Here, we investigated the effect of PEGylated scFvs on their biological activity and stability in vitro. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that three clones (SFDBII-12, -58, and -92) were formed as monomers (about 70 kDa) with PEGylation. Clone SFDBII-58 gave the highest yield of PEGylated scFv. Binding analysis using BIAcore between DBP and scFv showed that both SFDBII-12 and -58 were decreased approximately by two folds at the level of binding affinity to DBP after PEGylation. However, the SFDBII-92 clone still showed a relatively high level of binding affinity ($K_D=1.02{\times}10^{-7}\;M$). Binding inhibition assay showed that PEGylated scFv was still able to competitively bind the PvDBP and playa critical role in inhibiting the interactions between PvDBP protein expressed on the surface of Cos-7 cells and Duffy receptor on the surface of erythrocytes. When both scFvs and their PEGylated counterparts were exposed to trypsin, scFv was completely degraded only after 24 h, whereas 35% of PEGylated scFvs remained intact, maintaining their stability against the proteolytic attack of trypsin until 72 h. Taken together, these results suggest that the PEGylated scFvs retain their stability against proteolytic enzymes in vivo, with no significant loss in their binding affinity to target antigen, DBP.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2009

In nitrogen-limited conditions, rhizobia lead to formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules on the roots of leguminous plants. The process of nodulation is autoregulated by pre-existing nodules in the same root system. The altered profile of sap proteins by inoculation with B. japonicum may indicate presence of a signal responsible for autoregulation transferred through stem. The 20 kDa protein enhanced by innoculation significantly decreased in intensity from 2.5 to 7 days after inoculation (DAI). However 6 kDa protein did increase during such a transition period. Western blot analysis showed that both 20 kDa and 6 kDa were cross-reacted with the SKTI antiserum. This suggests that SKTI may be involved in soybean nodulation by specific induction and degradation in stem sap during early stage of nodulation. RNAi technique and Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation were applied to investigate the function of SKTI in nodulation. We have found that the number of rhizobium-induced nodule was much less in SKTIi-silenced hairy roots than the non-silenced. Indeed the quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression level of SKTI gene was reduced over 40% in the transgenic hairy roots compared to the non-transgenic. It appears that the observed early induction of SKTI and degradation into small peptide in a specific time manner may be involved in autoregulation of nodulation in soybean and the specific mechanism of such regulation remains to be investigated.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2014

Background: Low levels of serum vitamin D is associated with several lung diseases. The production and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of emphysema. The aim of the current study therefore is to investigate if vitamin D modulates the expression and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) cells. Methods: HFL-1 cells were cast into three-dimensional collagen gels and stimulated with or without interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) in the presence or absence of 100 nM 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D ($1,25(OH)_2D$) for 48 hours. Trypsin was then added into the culture medium in order to activate MMPs. To investigate the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, gelatin zymography was performed. The expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of MMP-9 mRNA and TIMP-1, TIMP-2 mRNA was quantified by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: IL-$1{\beta}$ significantly stimulated MMP-9 production and mRNA expression. Trypsin converted latent MMP-2 and MMP-9 into their active forms of MMP-2 (66 kDa) and MMP-9 (82 kDa) within 24 hours. This conversion was significantly inhibited by 25(OH)D (100 nM) and $1,25(OH)_2D$ (100 nM). The expression of MMP-9 mRNA was also significantly inhibited by 25(OH)D and $1,25(OH)_2D$. Conclusion: Vitamin D, 25(OH)D, and $1,25(OH)_2D$ play a role in regulating human lung fibroblast functions in wound repair and tissue remodeling through not only inhibiting IL-$1{\beta}$ stimulated MMP-9 production and conversion to its active form but also inhibiting IL-$1{\beta}$ inhibition on TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 production.