• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.517-520
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• 1992

Solvent exchange rates of selected protons were measured by NMR saturation recovery method for yeast $tRNA^{Phe}$, at temperature from 25 to $40^{\circ}C$, in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl and various low levels of added magnesium ion. The exchange rates in zero $Mg^{2+}$ concentration indicate early melting of acceptor stem, D stem, and tertiary structure. Addition of magnesium ion stabilizes the entire D stem more effectively than any other secondary or tertiary interactions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.911-916
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• 2003

The mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) D-loop region was amplified from Duroc(Sus scrofa) by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The oligonucleotide primer used to amplify the Sus scrofa mtDNA D-loop region was designed using tRNA-Pro and tRNA-Phe sequence in mtDNA regions highly conserved in many other animal species. There were 1,145 base pairs(bp) in the D-loop region. The middle of the region contained 10 tandem repeat of an 10-bp Sus scrofa-specific sequence, TACACGTGCG. We designed primers for PCR-mediated single stranded conformation polymorphism(SSCP) analysis that amplified a 345 bp fragment, which contained the most variable region according to our sequencing data. SSCP analysis of denatured amplification products was carried out by polyacrylamide(8%) gel electrophoresis followed by ethidium bromide staining. The SSCP analysis identified two band patterns(A and B) and comparision of these two nucleotide sequences identified 21 base substitutions. These results show that SSCP analysis of the D-loop region is useful for detecting the genetic polymorphism.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.350-359
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• 2020

Pathogenic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are attractive targets for anti-infective agents because their catalytic active sites are different from those of human ARSs. Mupirocin is a topical antibiotic that specifically inhibits bacterial isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS), resulting in a block to protein synthesis. Previous studies on Thermus thermophilus IleRS indicated that mupirocin-resistance of eukaryotic IleRS is primarily due to differences in two amino acids, His581 and Leu583, in the active site. However, without a eukaryotic IleRS structure, the structural basis for mupirocin-resistance of eukaryotic IleRS remains elusive. Herein, we determined the crystal structure of Candida albicans IleRS complexed with Ile-AMP at 2.9 A resolution. The largest difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic IleRS enzymes is closure of the active site pocket by Phe55 in the HIGH loop; Arg410 in the CP core loop; and the second Lys in the KMSKR loop. The Ile-AMP product is lodged in a closed active site, which may restrict its release and thereby enhance catalytic efficiency. The compact active site also prevents the optimal positioning of the 9-hydroxynonanoic acid of mupirocin and plays a critical role in resistance of eukaryotic IleRS to anti-infective agents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

Objective : Lonicera japonica THUNB. a traditional herbal medicine, has been commonly used anti-inflammatory disease. It has been very complicated with respect to its sources on the market. The significant selection of medicine depends on its origin. However, it is difficult to discrimination criteria for confirming L. japonica authenticity using the senses. This study was performed to determine the discriminant analysis of L. japonica and L. confusa. Methods : The identification of L. japonica and L. confusa were performed by the classification and identification committee of the national center for standardization of herbal medicines. And we examined its differences using HPLC and genetic marker analysis. Results : The analytical pattern of High Performance Liquid Chromatography was determined from the corresponding peak curves ((E)-aldosecologanin, chlorogenic acid, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, sweroside). For L. japonica, additional unknown peaks were detected at 13.8 min, 20.6 min, and 36.9 min. And, we developed genetic marker using the the tRNA-Leu gene, trnL-trnF intergenic spacer and tRNA-Phe region of chloroplast DNA. By the method, 164 bp PCR product amplified from L. confusa was distinguished into L. japonica and L. confusa efficiently. Conclusion : Base on these results, two techniques provide effective approaches to distinguish L. japonica from L. confusa.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 1983

To understand the importance of Y-base adjacent to the anticodon stabilizing codon-anticodon interaction, a study has been undertaken for the model compound involving the interaction between Y-base and anticodon as well as the participation of water molecule by calculating the conformational free energy using an empirical potential function. We restrict our analysis to sites directly associated with Y-base by varying only the backbone torsion angles of Y-base. The hydration and $Mg^{+2}$ binding effects on the conformational stability of Y-base are calculated and discussed. The free Y-base is proved to be less stable than the hydrated one. The free energy change due to the hydration of Y-base amounts to -119.5 kcal/mole, in which the conformational energy change is -142.4 kcal/mole and the configurational entropy change is -76.9 e. u. It is found that the water molecules bound to Y-base and $Mg^{+2}$ contribute to the conformation of Y-base dominantly.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 1998

Ochratoxin A (OA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus as well as other molds. It is a natural contaminant of mouldy food and feed. OA has a number of toxic effects, the most prominant being nephrotoxicity. Futhermore, OA is immunosuppressive, genotoxic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. OA inhibits protein synthesis by competition with phenylalanine in the phenylalanine-tRNA aminoacylation reaction. Recently, lipid peroxidation induced by OA has been reported, indicating that the lesion induced by this mycotoxin could be also related to oxidative pathway. Since it seems impossible to avoid contamination of foodstuffs by toxigenic fungi, detoxification and detoxication of OA are needed. In this study we investigated the protective effects of aspartame (Asp), phenylalanine (Phe), polyphenol 70S (PP) and aloe extract (AE) on the nephrotoxicity induced by subacute exposure to the OA. Asp and Phe are structural analogues of OA. PP, an ingredient of Green Tea and AE have been known as antioxidant and radical scavenger. Phe (40 mg/kg, i.p.) and Asp (25 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats simultaneously with OA (2.0 mg/kg, p.o.) for 2 weeks. PP (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and AE (50 mg/kg, i.v.) were pretreated before administration of OA, for 2 weeks and 3 days, respectively. Using enzymuria, BUN level, creatinemia and histophathologic examination as indices of renal damage, we observed that all of four compounds prevented the nephrotoxic effects induced by OA. It seems that structural analogues of OA such as Asp and Phe have better protective effect on the nephrotoxicity of OA than antioxidants. These results indicate that 1) formation of free radical and lipid peroxidation are likely to be involved in the nephrotoxicity of OA in vivo, 2) Asp, PP and AE might be used for prevention of renal lesions in cases of ochratoxicosis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.15-21
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• 2011

Objectives : The application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the discrimination of the herbal medicine Leonuri Herba (Leonurus japonicus) was evaluated by the comparison of the DNA sequence with Lamiaceae herbal medicine. Method : Genetic analysis showed that phylogenetic tree and comparing sequences through the DNA analysis of rbcL (ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphatecarboxylase) region and trnL-F (tRNA-Leu, trnL-trnF intergeni cspacer, and tRNA-Phe) region of chloroplast DNA from six Lamiaceae sold in market. And we developed IMCF and IMCR primers in order to distinction Leonuri Herba in six Lamiaceae using rbcL and trnL-F sequences. Results : Genetic analysis showed that six Lamiaceae showed individual group on phylogenetic tree. PCR amplification product of Leonuri Herba and another five Lamiaceae were developed for amplification of a 281 bp sequence and the specific PCR amplification of a 460 bp sequence that was exclusive to Leonuri Herba was designed using IMCF and IMCR primers. Conclusion : PCR analysis based on the chloroplast DNA sequences allows the discrimination of Leonuri Herba-based medicine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.421-429
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• 2011

For precise identification of a Lactobacillus K1 isolate, LC-MS/MS analysis of the putative surface layer protein was performed. The results obtained from LTQ-FT-ICR mass spectrometry confirmed that the analyzed protein spot is the surface layer protein originating from Lb. helveticus species. Moreover, the identified protein has the highest similarity with the surface layer protein from Lb. helveticus R0052. To evaluate the proteomic study, multilocus sequence analysis of selected housekeeping gene sequences was performed. Combination of 16S rRNA sequencing with partial sequences for the genes encoding the RNA polymerase alpha subunit (rpoA), phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase alpha subunit (pheS), translational elongation factor Tu (tuf), and Hsp60 chaperonins (groEL) also allowed to classify the analyzed isolate as Lb. helveticus. Further classification at the strain level was achieved by sequencing of the slp gene. This gene showed 99.8% identity with the corresponding slp gene of Lb. helveticus R0052, which is in good agreement with data obtained by nano-HPLC coupled to an LTQ-FT-ICR mass spectrometer. Finally, LC-MS/MS analysis of surface layer proteins extracted from three other Lactobacillus strains proved that the proposed method is the appropriate molecular tool for the identification of S-layer-possessing lactobacilli at the species and even strain levels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1791-1801
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• 2013

Diketopiperazine is produced by various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and animals, and has been suggested as a novel signal molecule involved in the modulation of genes with various biological functions. Vibrio vulnificus, which causes septicemia in humans, produces cyclo($\small{L}$-phenylalanine-$\small{L}$-proline) (cFP). To understand the biological roles of cFP, the effect of the compound on the expression of the total mRNA in V. vulnificus was assessed by next-generation sequencing. Based on the transcriptomic analysis, we classified the cFP-regulated genes into functional categories and clustered them according to the expression patterns resulted from treatment with cFP. From a total of 4,673 genes, excepting the genes encoding tRNA in V. vulnificus, 356 genes were up-regulated and 602 genes were down-regulated with an RPKM (reads per kilobase per million) value above 3. The genes most highly induced by cFP comprised those associated with the transport and metabolism of inorganic molecules, particularly iron. The genes negatively regulated by cFP included those associated with energy production and conversion, as well as carbohydrate metabolism. Noticeably, numerous genes related with biofilm formation were modulated by cFP. We demonstrated that cFP interferes significantly with the biofilm formation of V. vulnificus.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2001

Cocaine-amphetamine regulated transcript (CART), a satiety factor regulated by leptin, is associated with food intake and motor behavior. In knock out studies, Leu34Phe mutation of human CART gene resulted in obese phenotype but mice carrying a targeted deletion of the CART gene exhibited no dramatic increase of body weight on normal fat diet. To establish a new transgenic mouse model for determining the function of CART on feeding behavior in vivo, we constructed the fusion gene, CART gene under the control of neurofilament light chain promoter, which regulates gene expression at the stage of neuronal differentiation. Transgenic mice were generated by microinjection method and screened by PCR and Southern blot analyses. In these transgenic mice, overexpression of CART was detected by in situ hybridization in spinal cords and brains at 13.5 days post-coitum embryos. At six weeks of age, RT-PCR analysis showed that exogenous CART mRNA was expressed strongly in brains and spinal cords, but not much in other tissues. Our results suggest that these transgenic mice provide a new model to investigate the function of CART gene in neuronal network associated with feeding behavior.