• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.106-116
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• 2008

Objectives : Peroxynitrite $(ONOO^-)$, superoxide anion radical $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ and nitric oxide (NO) are cytotoxic because they can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. They have been implicated in the aging processes, and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the $ONOO^-$, NO, and $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities of Mori Fructus in ob/ob mice. Methods : Mice were grouped and treated for 5 weeks as follows. Both the normal lean (C57/BL6J black mice) and control obese (ob/ob mice) groups received the standard chow. The experimental groups were fed a diet of chow supplemented with 7.5, 15 and 30 mg Mori Fructus per 1 kg of body weight for 14 days. For this study, the fluorescent probes, namely 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used. Western blotting was performed using anti-phospho $I{\kappa}B-\alpha$, anti-IKK-$\alpha$, anti-NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50, p65), anti-COX-2 and anti-iNOS respectively. Results : Mori Fructus inhibited the generation of $ONOO^-$, NO and $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mouse kidney postmitochondria in vitro. The generation of $ONOO^-$, NO and $({\cdot}O2^-)$ were inhibited in the Mori Fructus-administered ob/ob mice groups. The GSH/GSSG ratio decreased in the ob/ob mice, whereas they improved in the Mori Fructus-administered groups. Mori Fructus inhibited the expression of phospho $I{\kappa}B-\alpha$, IKK-$\alpha$, COX-2, iNOS genes, and thereby the activation of NF-$I{\kappa}B$. Conclusions : These results suggest that Mori Fructus is an effective $ONOO^-$, $({\cdot}O_2^-)$ and NO scavenger, and therefore it might be a potential therapeutic drug against the inflammation process and inflammation-related diseases.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2003

B. mandarina of Korean population apparently differs B. mori in isozyme analysis. Fourteen polymorphism occurred B. mandarina not in B. mori at 6 isozymes, Bph, Bes, Amy-hc, Ies, Ict-D, Ict-E. Korean population has shared with the Korean native strain of B. mori in B genotype of Bes, F of Amy-hc, n of Ict-E, M and S of Ict-H. These 5 genotype were known that detection only Korean native strains of B. mori. Nei's genetic distance based on the genotype of isozyme and hemolymph protein using 4 populations of B. mandarina varied from 0.0350 to 0.0624. The distances of 0.0350 is between Jinju and Chilgok population and between Jinju and Kosung population has the largest distances, 0.0624. In genus of Bombyx, B. mandarina and B. mori, genetic distance varied from 0.3822 to 0.5074. Phylogenetic tree obtained using the subprogram UPGMA of NTSYS represented that Bombyx devided two group, B. mandarina and B. mori. B. mandarina has genetic differences according to the population within the Korean peninsula, but that was not recognized genetic variation or divergence considering low values of genetic distance.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2007

As the genome of B.mori is available in GenBank and the EST database of B.mori is expanding, identification of novel genes of B.mori is conceivable by data-mining techniques. We used the in silico cloning method to get the vacuolar-type $H^+-ATP$ synthetase (V-ATPase) c subunit (16 kDa proteolipid subunit) gene of B.mori and analysed with bioinformatics tools. The result was confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing. The V-ATPase c subunit cDNA contains a 468 bp ORF. The ORF encoded a 155-residue protein that showed extensive homology with V-ATPase c subunits from other 15 species and contained four membrane-spanning helices. Tissue expression pattern analysis revealed that V-ATPase c expressed strongly in Malpighian tubules, not in fat body. This gene has been registered in GenBank under the accession number EU082222.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2010

For stable germline transformation, the promoter of Bombyx mori cytoplasmic actin gene (BmA3) has been used for ubiquitous expression of transgenes. So far, no strong promoter is available for ubiquitous expression in B. mori, excluding BmA3 promoter. To identify more powerful promoter than previously reported BmA3 promoter, we isolated 9 clones that show stronger signal compared to BmA3 by a dot blot hybridization. Among these 9 clones, we focused on one clone which has high amino acid homology (85%) with hypothetical protein 32 gene of Lonomia obliqua. This clone, named bHp32 (B. mori hypothetical protein 32) was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues and developmental stage of fifth instar B. mori larvae. As result of promoter assay using dual luciferase assay system, we found the highest transcription activity region (-1,200/+220) in the 5'-flanking region of bHp32 gene, which has 42-fold more intensive promoter activity than BmA3 promoter. Moreover, the bHp32 promoter was normally regulated in Bm5, Sf9, and S2 cells. Therefore, we suggest that bHp32 promoter may be used more powerful and effectively for transgene expression in various insects containing B. mori as a universal promoter.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2005

Mating is an essential behavioural social event in the life cycle of silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.) for the perpetuation of population. A number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors and events of significant importance are involved in successful mating and egg deposition by an adult silk moth which besides biochemical, physiological and environmental factors also includes attraction of reproductively competent male and female moth for mating, duration and frequency of mating, age of moth at the time of mating, reuse of male moth in the production of eggs etc. An attempt has been made in this review article to elucidate briefly the behaviour of male towards female moth after eclosion, impact of duration and frequency of mating on egg deposition and oviposition, reuse of mated male moth in the production of quality and quantity eggs etc. in the silk-worm, B. mori and its significance in silkworm seed production.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.159-165
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• 2013

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor (TGF-${\beta}$) superfamily and are involved in osteoblastic differentiation. The largest TGF-${\beta}$ superfamily subgroup shares genetic homology with human BMPs (hBMPs) and silkworm decapentaplegic (dpp). In addition, hBMPs are functionally interchangeable with Drosophila dpp. Bombyx mori dpp may induce bone formation in mammalian cells. To test this hypothesis, we synthesized the 1,285-base pairs cDNA of full-length B. mori dpp using total RNAs obtained from the fat body of 3-day-old of the $5^{th}$ instar larvae and cloned the cDNA into the pCEP4 mammalian expression vector. Next, B. mori dpp was expressed in C3H10T1/2 cells. The target cells transfected with the pCEP4-Bm dpp plasmid showed biological functions similar to those of osteogenic differentiation induction growth factors such as hBMPs. We determined the relative mRNA expression rates of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osterix, osteocalcin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to validate the osteoblast-specific differentiation effects of B. mori dpp by performing quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Interestingly, mRNA expression levels of the 3 marker genes except RUNX2, in cells expressing B. mori dpp were much higher than those in control cells and C3H10T1/2 cells transfected with pCEP4. These results suggested that B. mori dpp signaling regulates osterix expression during osteogenic differentiation via RUNX2-independent mechanisms.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2003

We describe here the cloning of a cDNA encoding putative calreticulin (CRT) from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The CRT cDNA comprised of 1,194 bp encoding 398 amino acid residues. B. mori. CRT has a HDEL sequence at the end of the C-domain. The B. morl, CRT showed 88% protein sequence identity to the G. mellonella CRT, 71 % to A. aegypti CRT, and 63% to H. sapiens CRT, Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the deduced amino acid sequences of the B. mori CRT formed a highly inclusive subgroup with other insect CRTs. Northern blot analysis exhibited an expression of the B. mori CRT gene in the fat body, evidencing the fat body as a major site for CRT synthesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fashion and Beauty
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• v.4 no.4 s.10
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• pp.81-86
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• 2006

Numerous novel ingredients have been introduced for the hight functionality of whitening cosmetics. Tough the preliminary research, we have found water extracts Bombyx mori have high whitening efficacy. The results of the research for the whitening effect of Bombyx Mori L. are as follow 1. Bombyx Mori L. inhibited concentration dependently the generation of melanin increased by the stimulation of $\alpha$-MSH and protoporphyrin IX, and $IC_{50}$ value was 8.3, 9.2 ${\mu}M$ respectively. 2. Melanin increased by the stimulation of $\alpha$-MSH and protoporphyrin IX was five to seven times superior in the inhibiting effect, compared with kojic acid used as positive control group. 3. Bombyx Mori L. did not have a decolorizing effect on melanin already generated. 3. Bombyx Mori L. was observed to have toxicity of over 100 ${\mu}M$ for the mouse melanoma B16 cells. Therefore, These results suggest that water extracts of Bombyx mori have inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase and inhibitory activity of melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells in vitro.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.517-522
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• 2011

In our previous study, we isolated and characterized a 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ)-producing bacterium, Bacillus subtilis MORI, from chungkookjang, a Korean traditional food. B. subtilis MORI was subjected to ${\gamma}$-irradiation and the resulting bacteria were screened for increased DNJ production. A mutant was identified that produced 7.6 times more DNJ and named B. subtilis MORI 3K-85. In this study, the protein profiles of both strains were compared by one-dimensional and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (1-DE and 2-DE, respectively) under both native and denaturing conditions. The 1-DE native-PAGE and 1-DE SDS-PAGE analyses identified 5 and 7 bands, respectively, that were found at higher concentrations in B. subtilis MORI 3K-85 than in B. subtilis MORI. Similarly, 2-DE analyses identified 20 protein spots which were found at higher concentrations in B. subtilis MORI 3K-85. The peptide mass profiles of these 20 proteins were analyzed by MALDI-TOF and compared with peptide sequences of B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens in the MASCOT database. This screening suggested that three dehydrogenases, an aldolase, a synthetase, an isomerase, a reductase, and a peroxidase are elevated in B. subtilis MORI 3K-85. Based on this data, one or more of the elevated 8 enzymes might be related to the DNJ biosynthetic pathway.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.131-135
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• 2004

Oral supplementation with potassium permanganate (30, 50 and 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$) to fifth instar larvae of the ${CSR_2}{\times}{CSR_4}$ race of the silkworm, B. mori resulted in a significant increase in the glycogen content of the fat body and haemolymph trehalose. The protein content of the fat body is also significantly increased in all the potassium permanganate treated groups where as that of the haemolymph is significantly increased only in the 30 ${\mu}g4 fed group. The total lipids content of the fat body increased significantly in all the potassium permanganate treated groups. This indicates that the potassium permanganate may stimulate metabolic activity, there by influencing the biochemical contents in the fat body and haemolymph of the silkworm, B. mori.