• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.13
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• 2021

Levodopa (L-DOPA) therapy is normally practised to treat motor pattern associated with Parkinson disease (PD). Additionally, several inhibitory drugs such as Entacapone and Opicapone are also cosupplemented to protect peripheral inactivation of exogenous L-DOPA (~80%) that occurs due to metabolic activity of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Although, both Entacapone and Opicapone have U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval but regular use of these drugs is associated with high risk of side effects. Thus, authors have focused on in silico discovery of phytochemicals and evaluation of their effectiveness against human soluble COMT using virtual screening, molecular docking, drug-like property prediction, generation of pharmacophoric property, and molecular dynamics simulation. Overall, study proposed, nine phytochemicals (withaphysalin D, withaphysalin N, withaferin A, withacnistin, withaphysalin C, withaphysalin O, withanolide B, withasomnine, and withaphysalin F) of plant Withania somnifera have strong binding efficiency against human COMT in comparison to both of the drugs i.e., Opicapone and Entacapone, thus may be used as putative bioenhancer in L-DOPA therapy. The present study needs further experimental validation to be used as an adjuvant in PD treatment.

• Journal of Research and Publication Ethics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to derive clues about the development direction of research ethics and areas of interest which has recently become a social issue in Korea by confirming overseas research trends. Research design, data and methodology: We collected 2,760 articles in scienceON, which including 'research ethics' in their paper. For analysis, frequency analysis, word clouding, keyword association analysis, and LDA topic modeling were used. Results: It was confirmed that many of the papers were published in medical, bio, pharmaceutical, and nursing journals and its interest has been continuously increasing. From word frequency analysis, many words of medical fields such as health, clinical, and patient was confirmed. From topic modeling, 7 topics were extracted such as ethical policy development and human clinical ethics. Conclusions: We founded that overseas research trends on research ethics are related to basic aspects than Korea. This means that a fundamental approach to ethics and the application of strict standards can become the basis for cultivating an overall ethical awareness. Therefore, academic discussions on the application of strict standards for publishing ethics and conducting researches in various fields where community awareness and social consensus are necessary for overall ethical awareness.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.41.1-41.11
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• 2023

The Dengue virus M protein is a 75 amino acid polypeptide with two helical transmembranes (TM). The TM domain oligomerizes to form an ion channel, facilitating viral release from the host cells. The M protein has a critical role in the virus entry and life cycle, making it a potent drug target. The oligomerization of the monomeric protein was studied using ab initio modeling and molecular dynamics simulation in an implicit membrane environment. The representative structures obtained showed pentamer as the most stable oligomeric state, resembling an ion channel. Glutamic acid, threonine, serine, tryptophan, alanine, isoleucine form the pore-lining residues of the pentameric channel, conferring an overall negative charge to the channel with approximate length of 51.9 Å. Residue interaction analysis for M protein shows that Ala94, Leu95, Ser112, Glu124, and Phe155 are the central hub residues representing the physicochemical interactions between domains. The virtual screening with 165 different ion channel inhibitors from the ion channel library shows monovalent ion channel blockers, namely lumacaftor, glipizide, gliquidone, glisoxepide, and azelnidipine to be the inhibitors with high docking scores. Understanding the three-dimensional structure of M protein will help design therapeutics and vaccines for Dengue infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.615-621
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• 2023

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) plays a key role in heme oxygenase (HO)-1 induction under physical and moderate oxidative stress conditions. The transient and mild induction of HO-1 is beneficial for cell protection, mitochondrial function, regeneration, and intercellular communication. However, chronic HO-1 overexpression is detrimental in severely injured regions. Thus, in a chronic pathological state, diminishing HO-1-mediated ferroptosis is beneficial for a therapeutic approach. The molecular mechanisms by which KRG protects various cell types in the central nervous system have not yet been established, especially in terms of HO-1-mediated mitochondrial functions. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the multiple roles of KRG in the regulation of astrocytic HO-1 under pathophysiological conditions. More specifically, we discuss the role of the KRG-mediated astrocytic HO-1 pathway in regulating mitochondrial functions in acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases as well as physiological conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1442-1446
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• 2008

Seven populations of 586 Hanwoo have been characterized by using 10 microsatellite DNA markers. Size of microsatellite markers decided using GeneMapper Software (v.4.0) after analyze in kinds of ABI machine of name of 3130. Frequencies of microsatellites markers were used to estimate heterozygosities and genetic distances. Genetic distancesbetween populations were obtained using Ne's DA distance method. Expected heterozygosity between each population was estimated very analogously. Genetic distances (0.0413) between Kangwan (KW) and Gyonggi (GG), Jeonpuk (JP) were nearest than distances between other populations by 0.021. Genetic distances between Gyonggi (GG) and Kyongpuk (KP) showed far distance than other populations by 0.032. In the UPGMA tree that is made based on DA distance matrix. Each individuals were not ramified to different group and were spread evenly in phylogenetic dendrogram about all Hanwoo of each regional area populations. But Hanwoo proven population was ramified to different group.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.275-280
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• 2022

The treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) is challenging due to its complex etiology. From epidermal disruption to chronic inflammation, various cells and inflammatory pathways contribute to the progression of AD. As with immunosuppressants, general inhibition of inflammatory pathways can be effective, but this approach is not suitable for long-term treatment due to its side effects. This study aimed to identify a plant extract (PE) with anti-inflammatory effects on multiple cell types involved in AD development and provide relevant mechanistic evidence. Degranulation was measured in RBL-2H3 cells to screen 30 PEs native to South Korea. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Parasenecio auriculatus var. matsumurana Nakai extract (PAE) in AD, production of cytokines and nitric oxide, activation status of FcεRI and TLR4 signaling, cell-cell junction, and cell viability were evaluated using qRT-PCR, western blotting, confocal microscopy, Griess system, and an MTT assay in RBL-2H3, HEK293, RAW264.7, and HaCaT cells. For in vivo experiments, a DNCBinduced AD mouse model was constructed, and hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, toluidine blue, and F4/80-staining were performed. The chemical constituents of PAE were analyzed by HPLC-MS. By measuring the anti-degranulation effects of 30 PEs in RBL-2H3 cells, we found that Paeonia lactiflora Pall., PA, and Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Steud. show an inhibitory activity of more than 50%. Of these, PAE most dramatically and consistently suppressed cytokine expression, including IL-4, IL-9, IL-13, and TNF-α. PAE potently inhibited FcεRI signaling, which mechanistically supports its basophil-stabilizing effects, and PAE downregulated cytokines and NO production in macrophages via perturbation of toll-like receptor signaling. Moreover, PAE suppressed cytokine production in keratinocytes and upregulated the expression of tight junction molecules ZO-1 and occludin. In a DNCB-induced AD mouse model, the topical application of PAE significantly improved atopic index scores, immune cell infiltration, cytokine expression, abnormal activation of signaling molecules in FcεRI and TLR signaling, and damaged skin structure compared with dexamethasone. The anti-inflammatory effect of PAE was mainly due to integerrimine. Our findings suggest that PAE could potently inhibit multi-inflammatory cells involved in AD development, synergistically block the propagation of inflammatory responses, and thus alleviate AD symptoms.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.347-353
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• 2014

${\beta}$-Glucosidase from Aspergillus usamii KCTC 6954 was used to convert ginsenoside Rb1 to compound K, which has a high bio-functional activity. The enzymatic activities during culturing for 15 days were determined using ${\rho}$-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-glucopyranoside. The growth rate of the strain and the enzymatic activity were maximized after 6 days (IU; $175.93{\mu}M\;ml^{-1}\;min^{-1}$). The activities were maximized at $60^{\circ}C$ in pH 6.0. During culturing, Rb1 was converted to Rd after 9 d and then finally converted to compound K at 15 d. In the enzymatic reaction, Rb1 was converted to the ginsenoside Rd within 1 h of reaction time and compound K could be detected after 8 h. As a result, this study demonstrates that $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}$compound K is the main metabolic pathway catalyzed by ${\beta}$-glucosidase and that ${\beta}$-glucosidase is a feasible option for the development of specific bioconversion processes to obtain minor ginsenosides such as Rd and compound K.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1505-1509
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• 2008

Comparative molecular simulations were performed to establish molecular interaction and inhibitory effect of flavonoid myricetin on formation of amyloid fibris. For computational comparison, the conformational stability of myricetin with amyloid $\beta$ -peptide (A$\beta$ ) and $\beta$ -amyloid fibrils (fA$\beta$) were traced with multiple molecular dynamics simulations (MD) using the CHARMM program from Monte Carlo docked structures. Simulations showed that the inhibition by myricetin involves binding of the flavonoid to fA$\beta$ rather than A$\beta$ . Even in MD simulations over 5 ns at 300 K, myricetin/fA$\beta$ complex remained stable in compact conformation for multiple trajectories. In contrast, myricetin/A$\beta$ complex mostly turned into the dissociated conformation during the MD simulations at 300 K. These multiple MD simulations provide a theoretical basis for the higher inhibitory effect of myricetin on fibrillogenesis of fA$\beta$ relative to A$\beta$ . Significant binding between myricetin and fA$\beta$ observed from the computational simulations clearly reflects the previous experimental results in which only fA$\beta$ had bound to the myricetin molecules.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.216-220
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• 2004

${\beta}$-CD and CM- ${\beta}$-CD as chiral NMR shift agents were used to resolve the enantiomers of noradrenaline (NA). The stoichiometry of each complex formed between the CDs and the enantiomers of NA was found to be 1 : 1 through the continuous variation plots. The binding constants (K) of the complexes were determined from $^1H$ NMR titration curves. This result indicated that both ${\beta}$-CD and CM- ${\beta}$-CD formed the complexes with the S(+)-NA more preferentially than its R(-)-enantiomer. The K values for the complexes with ${\beta}$-CD ($K_{S(+)}$ = 537 $M^{-1}$ and $K_{R(-)}$ = 516 $M^{-1}$ was larger than those with CM- ${\beta}$-CD ($K_{S(+)}$ = 435 $M^{-1}$ and $K_{R(-)}$ = 313 $M^{-1}$), however, enantioselectivity (${\alpha}$) of S(+)- and R(-)-NA to CM- ${\beta}$-CD ( ${\alpha}$ = 1.38) was larger than that to ${\beta}$-CD ( ${\alpha}$ = 1.04), indicating that CM- ${\beta}$-CD was the better chiral NMR solvating agents for the recognition of the enantiomers of NA. Two dimensional rotating frame nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (ROESY) experiments were also performed to explain the binding properties in terms of spatial fitting of the NA molecule into the macrocyclic cavities.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.31-40
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• 2005

In the post-genomic era, researches on proteins as well as genes have been increasingly required. Particularly, work on protein-protein interaction and protein network construction have been recently establishing. Most biologists publish their research results through papers or other media. However, biologists do not use the information effectively, because the published research results are very large. As the growth of internet field, it becomes easy to access these research results. It is important to extract information with a biological meaning from various media. Therefore, In this paper, we efficiently extract the protein information from many open papers or other media and construct the database of the extracted information. We build a protein network from the established database and then design and implement various pathway analysis algorithms which find biological meaning from the protein network.