• Proceeding of EDISON Challenge
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• 2014.03a
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• pp.237-249
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• 2014

Deposition of amyloid-${\beta}$ ($A{\beta}$) proteins is the conventional pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The $A{\beta}$ protein formed from the amyloid precursor protein is predominated by the 40 residue protein ($A{\beta}40$) and by the 42 residue protein ($A{\beta}42$). While $A{\beta}40$ and $A{\beta}42$ differ in only two amino acid residues at the C-terminal end, $A{\beta}42$ is much more prone to aggregate and exhibits more neurotoxicity than $A{\beta}40$. Here, we investigate the molecular origin of the difference in the aggregation propensity of these two proteins by performing fully atomistic, explicit-water molecular dynamics simulations. Then, it is followed by the solvation thermodynamic analysis based on the integral-equation theory of liquids. We find that $A{\beta}42$ displays higher tendency to adopt ${\beta}$-sheet conformations than $A{\beta}40$, which would consequently facilitate the conversion to the ${\beta}$-sheet rich fibril structure. Furthermore, the solvation thermodynamic analysis on the simulated protein conformations indicates that $A{\beta}42$ is more hydrophobic than $A{\beta}40$, implying that the surrounding water imparts a larger thermodynamic driving force for the self-assembly of $A{\beta}42$. Taken together, our results provide structural and thermodynamic grounds on why $A{\beta}42$ is more aggregation-prone than $A{\beta}40$ in aqueous environments.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.419-426
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• 2021

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of treatment with a combination of evogliptin and leucine, a branched-chain amino acid, in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetes. Treatment with evogliptin alone or in combination with leucine reduced the body weight of the mice, compared to the case for those from the HFD control group. Long-term treatment with evogliptin alone or in combination with leucine resulted in a significant reduction in glucose intolerance; however, leucine alone did not affect postprandial glucose control, compared to the case for the mice from the HFD control group. Furthermore, the combination of evogliptin and leucine prevented HFD-induced insulin resistance, which was associated with improved homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, accompanied by markedly reduced liver fat deposition, hepatic triglyceride content, and plasma alanine aminotransferase levels. The combination of evogliptin and leucine increased the gene expression levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, whereas those of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 were not altered, compared to the case in the HFD-fed mice (p<0.05). Thus, our results suggest that the combination of evogliptin and leucine may be beneficial for treating patients with type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis; however, further studies are needed to delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of this combination.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.817-823
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• 2000

Four groups of six growing gilts each were fed ad libitum diets composed of cereals and soyabean (SBM) or rapeseed (RSM) meal and containing two levels of crude protein: high - 18.0% (RSM-H) and 16.9% (SBM-H) or low - 15.6% (RSM-L) and 15.1% (SBM-L). The diets were balanced by supplementation with crystalline amino acids and contained apparent ileal digestible lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan in proportions (1.00:0.32:0.57:0.18) according to CVB (1995). Voluntary feed intake, weight gain and slaughter and chemical body composition of animals were assessed. Protein and energy balances from 25 to 70 kg body weight were calculated by the comparative slaughter method. Protein source had a significant effect on voluntary feed intake; it was 0.12 kg/d lower in pigs fed the SBM than RSM-diets. Pigs fed on the SBM-L diet consumed the least amount of feed (2.17 kg). Daily gain (average, $900{\pm}12.59g$) and feed conversion ratio ($2.54{\pm}0.04kg/kg$) were not statistically affected by source (SMB and RSM) and protein level (high and low). In empty body similar amounts (g/kg) of protein (163 g), water (635 g) and ash (28 g) were found. However, pigs fed the RSM-L diet were fatter than those fed the SBM-L diet (188 vs. 161 g/kg). No statistical differences were observed in daily protein deposition, which on average amounted to $142{\pm}11g$, or carcass characteristics. An improvement of crude protein utilization by 6.3 percentage units was found by decreasing the protein concentration in the diets. Heat production in the body was not significantly affected by the treatments.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.909-916
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• 2004

CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins(C/EBP) are a group of transcription factors expressed during preadipocyte differentiation. In the C/EBPs, C/EBPa plays an important role in lipid deposition and adipocyte differentiation. In this studies, we report the identification, characterization, and expression of a Hanwoo CIEBP$\alpha$ The Hanwoo C/EBP$\alpha$DNA includes a 1059 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 353 amino acids. The CIEBPa amino acid sequences of the Hanwoo show strong conservation with the corresponding sequences reported in other species. The distribution of C/EBP$\alpha$ mRNA in various tissues of Hanwoo aged 12 months were investigated using Northern blotting analysis. The highest expression was detected in adipose tissue and more lower expression was detected in colon and lung. We also identified expression of C/EBPa mRNA in Hanwoo sirloin and adipose tissue aged 12, 26, and 30 months by real-time RT-PCR. The higest expression were detected at 26 months in the sirloin and at 12 and 26 months in the adipose tissue.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.47-59
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• 2016

The formation age and depositional environment of the marine terrace I of the estimated paleoshoreline altitude of 18m in Sanhari of Ulsan coast, southeastern Korea were investigated on the basis of examination of lithofacies and stratigraphy of terrace deposits. Marine deposits of the terrace is composed of rounded boulders(70cm in diameter) and rounded pebbles(1.0cm in diameter) which overlay them. The above rounded boulders which lie on the paleo-shore platform are considered to have been formed by wave abrasion in the same period that the paleo-shore platform was developed. The rounded pebbles which lie on the rounded boulder layer are considered to have been deposited in gravel beach and berm environment, judging from the laminae developed in this layer. The paleo-shore platform and marine rounded gravel layer of the terrace are assumed to have been formed in the large transgression period of the Last Interglacial culmination stage(MIS 5e), judging from the comparision of the formation age of 125ka B.P. of Juckcheon terrace I in the adjacent Pohang coast which was dated by amino acid dating. The terrestrial deposit of this terrace was largely composed of angular and subangular gravel mixed with marine rounded pebble which has been carried away mainly from the deposit of previous marine terraces and redeposited in this terrace. The lowest peat layer of terrastrial deposit was considered to have been deposited during the period from the late MIS 5e which is the estimated finishing time of deposition of the above marine gravels to the early stage of following regression period(MIS 5d) in which the sea level was still high. The sediments of angular and subangular gravel deposit which lie on this peat layer were assumed to have been deposited during the period from the early stage of the first regression period(MIS 5d) of the Last Interglacial to the Last Glacial. The lower part of the angular gravel layer is composed of the deposits of the fluvial and colluvial sediments, whereas most of the upper and middle part of the layer is mainly composed of angular gravels of colluvial sediments formed in the cold environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 1996

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis can not be summarized as a single process. Lipid infiltration hypothesis and endothelial injury hypothesis have been proposed and investigated. Recent developments show that there are many points of potential interactions between them and that they can actually be regarded as two phases of a single, unifying hypothesis. Among the many risk factors of atherosclerosis, plasma homocysteine and lipoprotein(a) draw a considerable interest because they are independent indicators of atherogenicity. Triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (chylomicron and VLDL) are not considered to be atherogenic but they are related to the metabolism of HDL cholesterol and indirectly related to coronary heart disease (CHD). LDL can of itself be atherogenic but the oxidative products of this lipoprotein are more detrimental. HDL cholesterol has been considered to be a favorable cholesterol. The so-called 'causalist view' claims that HDL traps excess cholesterol from cellular membranes and transfers it to TG-rich lipoproteins that are subsequently removed by hepatic receptors. In the so-called 'noncausalist view', HDL does not interfere directly with cholesterol deposition in the arterial wall but instead reflects he metabolism of TG-rich lipoproteins and their conversion to atherogenic remnants. Approximately 70-80% of the human population shows an effective feedback control mechanism in cholesterol homeostasis. Type of dietary fat has a significant effect on the lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis. Generally, saturated fatty acids elevate and PUFA lower serum cholesterol, whereas MUFA have no specific effect. EPA and DHA inhibit the synthesis of TG, VLDL and LDL, and may have favourable effects on some of the risk factors. Phospholipids, particularly lecithin, have an antiatherosclerotic effect. Essential phospholipids (EPL) may enhance the formation of polyunsaturated cholesteryl ester (CE) which is less sclerotic and more easily dispersed via enhanced hydrolysis of CE in the arterial wall. Also, neutral fecal steroid elimination may be enhanced and cholesterol absorption reduced following EPL treatment. Antioxidants protect lipoproteins from oxidation, and cells from the injury of toxic, oxidized LDL. The rationale for lowering of serum cholesterol is the strong association between elevation of plasma or serum cholesterol and CHD. Cholesterol-lowing, especially LDL cholesterol, to the target level could be achieved using diet and combination of drug therapy. Information on the link between cholesterol and CHD has decreased egg consumption by 16-25%. Some clinical studies have indicated that dietary cholesterol and egg have a significant hypercholesterolemic effect, while others have indicated no effect. These studies differed in the use of purified cholesterol or cholesterol in eggs, in the range of baseline and challenge cholesterol levels, in the quality and quantity of concomitant dietary fat, in the study population demographics and initial serum cholesterol levels, and clinical settings. Cholesterol content of eggs varies to a certain extent depending on the age, breed and diet of hens. However, egg yolk cholesterol level is very resistant to change because of the particular mechanism involved in yolk formation. Egg yolk contains a factor of factors responsible for accelerated cholesterol metabolism and excretion compared with crystalline cholesterol. One of these factors could be egg lecithin. Egg lecithin may not be as effective as soybean lecithin in lowering serum cholesterol level due probably to the differences of fatty acid composition. However, egg lecithin may have positive effects in hypercholesterolemia by increasing serum HDL level and excretion of fecal cholesterol. The association of serum cholesterol with egg consumption has been widely studied. When the basal or control diet contained little or no cholesterol, consumption of 1 or 2 eggs daily increased the concentration of plasma cholesterol, whereas that of the normolipemic persons on a normal diet was not significantly influenced by consuming 2 to 3 eggs daily. At higher levels of egg consumption, the concentration of HDL tends to increase as well as LDL. There exist hyper-and hypo-responders to dietary (egg) cholesterol. Identifying individuals in both categories would be useful from the point of view of nutrition guidelines. Dietary modification of fatty acid composition has been pursued as a viable method of modifying fat composition of eggs and adding value to eggs. In many cases beneficial effects of PUFA enriched eggs have been demonstrated. Generally, consumption of n-3 fatty acids enriched eggs lowered the concentration of plasma TG and total cholesterol compared to the consumption of regular eggs. Due to the highly oxidative nature of PUFA, stability of this fat is essential. The implication of hepatic lipid accumulation which was observed in hens fed on fish oils should be explored. Nutritional manipulations, such as supplementation with iodine, inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, garlic products, amino acids and high fibre ingredients, have met a limited success in lowering egg cholesterol.