• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.842-852
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• 2018

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway and involves in the regulation of various cellular and developmental processes. Ligand binding releases the intracellular domain of Notch receptor (NICD), which interacts with DNA-bound CSL [CBF1/Su(H)/Lag-1] to activate transcription of target genes. In the absence of NICD binding, CSL down-regulates target gene expression through the recruitment of various corepressor proteins including SMRT/NCoR (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid receptors/nuclear receptor corepressor), SHARP (SMRT/HDAC1-associated repressor protein), and KyoT2. Structural and functional studies revealed the molecular basis of these interactions, in which NICD coactivator and corepressor proteins competitively bind to ${\beta}-trefoil$ domain (BTD) of CSL using a conserved ${\varphi}W{\varphi}P$ motif (${\varphi}$ denotes any hydrophobic residues). To date, there are conflicting ideas regarding the molecular mechanism of SMRT-mediated repression of CSL as to whether CSL-SMRT interaction is direct or indirect (via the bridge factor SHARP). To solve this issue, we mapped the CSL-binding region of SMRT and employed a 'one- plus two-hybrid system' to obtain CSL interaction-defective mutants for this region. We identified the CSL-interaction module of SMRT (CIMS; amino acid 1816-1846) as the molecular determinant of its direct interaction with CSL. Notably, CIMS contains a canonical ${\varphi}W{\varphi}P$ sequence (APIWRP, amino acids 1832-1837) and directly interacts with CSL-BTD in a mode similar to other BTD-binding corepressors. Finally, we showed that CSL-interaction motif, rather than SHARP-interaction motif, of SMRT is involved in transcriptional repression of NICD in a cell-based assay. These results strongly suggest that SMRT participates in CSL-mediated repression via direct binding to CSL.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.907-919
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• 2005

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a gram negative. black-pigmented anaerobe, associated with periodontitis & peri-implantitis. Fimbriae(fimA) of P. gingivalis are filamentous components on the cell surface and important in the colonization and invasion of periodontal tissue. But all P. gnigivalis strains don't have equal pathogenicity, inequality among strains originates from different fimA genotype. P. gnigivalis fimA gene encoding fimbrillin(structural subunit of fimbriae) has been classified into 5 genotypes(types I to V) based on the nucleotide sequences. In the present study, we examined the prevalence of these fimA genotypes in patients with dental implant and the relationship between prevalence of these genotypes and a condition of peri-implant tissue. Dental plaque specimens obtained from 189 peri-implant sulci of 97 patients with dental implants were analyzed by 16S rRNA fimA gene-directed PCR assay. P. gingivalis were detected in 86.2% of the alll samples. Among the P. gingivalis-positive samples, a significant difference in the occurrence of typeII was observed between test and the two control groups. In two control groups, typeII fimA were detected in 6.3%(PD<5mm/BOP-). 18.7%(PD<5mm/BOP+). In the test $group(PD{\geqq}5mm/BOP+)$, type II fimA genotype were detected most frequently in 50.0% . And a correlation between specific fimA types and peri-implantitis was found in $typeII(R^2=l.105)$. These results suggest that P. gingivalis strains that possess typeII fimA are gradually increased, as a condition of peri-implant tissue is getting complicated and are closely associated with peri-implant health status. We speculate that these organisms be involved in peri-implantitis

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.472-477
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• 2015

This study presents modified microfluidic picoinjector combined Faraday moat with silver nanoparticle electrode to increase electrical efficiency and fabrication yield. We perform simple dropping procedure of silver nanoparticles near the picoinjection channel, which solve complicate fabrication process of electrode deposition onto the microfluidic picoinjector. Based on this approach, the microfluidic picoinjector can be reliably operated at 180 V while conventional Faraday moat usually have performed above 260 V. Thus, we can reduce the operation voltage and increase safety. Furthermore, the microfluidic picoinjector is able to precisely control injection volume from 7.5 pL to 27.5 pL. We believe that the microfluidic picoinjector will be useful platform for microchemical reaction, biological assay, drug screening, cell culture device, and toxicology.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3567-3572
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• 2010

Black pine barks from the southern region of Korea were extracted using pressurized hot water and the water soluble extracts were then separated in a stepwise fashion using a variety of solvents, column chromatography (CC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of each fraction and the active compounds were determined based on the radical scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reductive potential of ferric ion, and total phenol contents. A DPPH test showed that the half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$ value : $6.59{\pm}0.31\;{\mu}g/mL$) of the ethyl acetate fraction (ca. 0.67%) was almost the same as that of the control compounds and inversely proportional to the value of the total phenol contents. The cell viability of the water extracts was confirmed by methyl thiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) with enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Catechin, epicatechin, quercetin and ferulic acid were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction as active compounds and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance. The antioxidant activity as value of DPPH of each of the separated compounds was lower than the ethyl acetate fraction, and ferulic acid was the lowest among these compounds.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.99-103
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to develop a simple detection method, possibly at the species-level, that allows for large-scale screening of bifidobacteria. Human fecal samples were plated on MRS-raffinose agar containing cysteine and neomycin sulfate, serving as selective pressure for bifidobacteria, and 0.003%(w/v) bromocresol green. All of the test strains grew well on this medium at $37{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, forming white colonies surrounded by yellow halos, which presented a sharp contrast against the green background. In this disc assay, the required incubation time to develop a yellowish zone varied with the species of Bifidobacterium that was tested, allowing for differential counts and easy identification at the species-level: 10-14 hr for B. bifidum, 20-22 hr for B. catenulatum and B. infantis. and 24-25 hr for B. longum and B. breve. No apparent color was observed for B. angulatum and B. adolescentis 28 hr after inoculation. To evaluate the results of pH indicator-based identification, individual isolates were subjected to a colony-PCR experiment with genus-specific primers. The amplified products from the isolates were in good accordance with those from the reference strains at a level of 95% agreement. These results suggest that the present method could be conveniently applied to cell counts, as well as to the preliminary identification of bifidobacteria from a variety of sample types including human feces, dairy products, and commercial probiotic supplements.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.393-400
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• 2007

Analysis of protein interactions/functions in a microarray format has been of great potential in drug discovery, diagnostics, and cell biology, because it is amenable to large-scale and high-throughput biological assays in a rapid and economical way. In recent years, the protein microarray have broaden their utility towards the global analysis of protein interactions on a proteome scale, the functional activity analysis based on protein interactions and post-translational modifications (PTMs), and the discovery of biomarkers through profiling of protein expression between sample and reference pool. As a promising tool for proteomics, the protein microarray technology has advanced outstandingly over the past decade in terms of surface chemistry, acquisition of relevant proteins on a proteomic level, and detection methods. In this article, we briefly describe various techniques for development of protein microarray, and introduce developmental state of protein microarray and its applications.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 2014

Phasianus colchicus is not only a beautiful bird but also a great value in science and under the threat of endanger. Hence, the aim of this study was to isolate the pheasant male germ cells (mGCs) and then induce them into elongated sperm-like cells in vitro. The mGCs were purified and enriched by a two-step plating method based on the different adherence velocities of mGCs and somatic cells. The percentage of the c-kit positive cells and c-kit negative cells examined by flow cytometry analysis (FCA) was 92.87% and 2.57%, respectively. Subsequently, the mGCs were induced for 48h in DMEM/F12 medium supplemented factors such as retinol acid, testosterone and bovine FSH, followed by 5 weeks in culture. We found that some elongated sperm-like cells appeared initially in vitro under inducement of stimulated factors. The elongated sperm-like cells showed in the expression of changed morphology and post-transcriptional marker such as spermatid associated (SPERT), spermatid perinuclear RNA binding protein (STRBP), round spermatid basic protein 1 (RSBN1) and SPER1L. Moreover, in DNA content identified assay, induced cells showed that the 1C DNA population markedly increased in differentiated group but it was not change in undifferentiated group. Successful in vitro differentiation of pheasant testicular germline cells into spermatids appears to offer extremely attractive potential for the conservation of endangered birds and treatment of male infertility.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.510-516
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• 2008

New antitumor active polymers, poly(methacryloyl-2-oxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid-co-exo-3,6-epoxy-l,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid) [poly(MTCA-co-ETAc)], poly(methacryloyl-2-oxy-l,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid-co-hydrogen ethyl-exo-3,6-epoxy-l,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalate) [poly(MTCA-co-HEET)], and poly(methacryloyl-2-oxy-l,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid-co-a-ethoxy-exo-3,6-epoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthaloyl-5-fluorouracil) [poly(MTCA-co-EETFU)] were synthesized and characterized. Their antitumor activity, inhibition of DNA replication and antiangiogenesis were examined. The structures of the polymers were identified by FT-IR, $^1H$ and $^{13}C$-NMR spectroscopy. The number average molecular weights of the fractionated polymers determined by GPC ranged from 9,400 to 14,900, and polydispersity indices were less than 1.7. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these polymers was determined and their antitumor activity was evaluated. The $IC_{50}$ values (the drug concentration at inhibition of 50% tumor growth) indicated that the synthesized polymers were much better inhibitors of cancer cells and showed lower cytotoxicity than the free 5-FU. The in vivo antitumor activity of the conjugates was examined using mice bearing the sarcoma 180 tumor cell line. The life spans (TIC) of the mice treated with the conjugates were higher than those treated with the free 5-FU. In addition, the synthesized conjugates showed excellent antiangiogenic activity based on an embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.12-22
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate immune enhancing effect of Houttuyniae Herba water extract(HW) on RAW 264.7 cell of mouse macrophages. Methods: Effects of HW on productions of nitric oxide(NO) and hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages were measured. Effect of HW on production of cytokines such as interleukin(IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ in RAW 264.7 cells was accessed by a multiplex bead array assay based on xMAP technology. All of results were represented P<0.05 compared to the normal. Results: 1. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly NO production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 2. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly hydrogen peroxide production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 3. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly IL-$1{\beta}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 4. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly IL-6 production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 100 and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. 5. After 24 hr incubation, HW increased significantly TNF-${\alpha}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells at the concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 ${\mu}g$/mL. Conclusions: These results suggest that HW has immune enhancing activity related with its increasement of NO, hydrogen peroxide, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ in macrophages.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2004

In order to analyse the detection of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) in marine environment surrounding coastal region of Eastern and Southern sea of Korea, the pools of each organ sample of three fish were taken for virus assay from February to May in 2003. The samples comprised 42, taken from 9 species of marine fishes. The VHSV was detected from chub mackerel Scomber japonicus and striped mullet Mugil cephalus in epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells. The identity of the virus was confirmed a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). VHSV has previously been reported from chub mackerel, but not from striped mullet. The new isolates was classified as a member of genogroup I (American type) of VHSV and was closely related to the VHSV KVHS'01-l based on comparisons of the partial nucleotide sequence of the glycoprotein (G) gene.