• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cryopreservation methods for the effect of various vitrification containers, such as EM-grid, OPS, or cryo-loop on the survival and developmental rate of vitrified mouse pronuclear embryos, and mouse cleavage embryo, at 21, 24, 27 and 30 hr after hCG injection. Post-thaw cleavage was similar among treatments, while the developmental rates of mouse blastocyst and hatched blastocyst were higher ($p$ <0.05) in 27 hr and 30 hr than 21 hr. The developmental rate of hatched blastocyst at vitrified cleavage mouse embryos in cryo-loop was significantly higher than vitrified pronuclear embryos of control group as well as EM-grid and OPS ($p$ <0.05). The developmental rate using cryo-loop was higher than EM-grid, but in case of OPS at vitrified cleavage and mouse pronuclear embryos, no significant difference was noticed. These results of our study show that the developmental rates of mouse embryos were unaffected by various vitrification containers, but in case of mouse embryos and hatched blastocysts at late vitrified pronuclear embryos the developmental rates were higher than early vitrified pronuclear embryos. Moreover, the developmental rate of hatched blastocyst at vitrified cleavage mouse embryos was significantly higher than vitrified pronuclear embryos. For better execution of this study, it will be mandatory to include improvement of vitrification containers, cryopreservation methods and conditions, higher survival rate, safe preservation, contamination and embryo loss.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.385-389
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• 2015

In this study, it is reported that a large polyprotein can be stoichiometrically cleaved by the use of caspase-3-dependent proteolysis. Previously, it has been shown that the proteolytic IETD motif was partially processed when treated with caspase-3, while the DEVD motif was completely cleaved. The cleavage efficiency of the DEVD-based substrate was approximately 2.0 times higher than that of the IETD substrate, in response to caspase-3. Based on this, 3 protein genes of interest were genetically linked to each other by adding two proteolytic cleavage sequences, DEVD and IETD, for caspase-3. Particularly, glutathione-S transferase (GST), maltose binding protein (MBP), and red fluorescent protein (RFP) were chosen as model proteins due to the variation in their size. The expressed polyprotein was purified by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) via a hexa-histidine tag at the C-terminal end, showing 93 kDa of a chimeric GST:MBP:RFP fusion protein. In response to caspase-3, cleavage products, such as MBP:RFP (68 kDa), MBP (42 kDa), RFP (26 kDa), and GST (25 kDa), were separated from a large precursor GST:MBP:RFP (93 kDa) via SDS-PAGE. The results obtained from this study indicate that a multi-protein can be stoichiometrically produced from a large poly-protein by using proteolytic recognition motifs, such as DEVD and IETD tetra-peptides, for caspase-3.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.306-311
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• 2003

Solid-phase refolding of immobilized proteins can be an effective way to reuse an immobilized enzyme column. Oriented immobilization methods are known to provide higher activity of the immobilized enzymes. In this study, using recombinant EK (enterokinase) as a model enzyme and a fusion protein, that consisted of recombinant human growth hormone and six His tag that was linked by the peptide of EK-specific recognition sequence, as a model substrate, we evaluated two oriented immobilization methods, i. e., reductive alkylation of N-terminus ${\alpha}$-amine and affinity interaction between poly-histidine tag and Ni-NTA (nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid). The immobilization yield, activity and cleavage of the immobilized enzymes, and the yield of solid-phase refolding were compared. The Ni affinity immobilization and the covalent immobilization yields were about 100％ and 65％, respectively. But the specific activities were the same, about 50％ of that of the soluble enzyme. The cleavage rate by the covalently immobilized EK was higher than the soluble enzyme and the side reaction of cryptic cleavage was significantly decreased. Covalently immobilized EK showed almost 100％ refolding yield but the affinity immobilized EK showed only 70％ yield, which suggested the covalent conjugation provided more rigid ‘reference structure’ for the solid-phase refolding. The monomeric hGH could be easily obtained by capturing the cleaved poly Histidine tag by the Ni affinity column.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.985-990
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• 2000

${\zeta}-Carotene$ was subjected to ozonolysis in ice-cold dichloromethane. The ozonolysis products were fractionated with a silica column and the carbonyl fraction was analyzed by ODS-HPLC with a photodiode array detector. ${\zeta}-Carotene$ was solubilized in toluene, and then oxidized by incubating at $37^{\circ}C$, 72 hr under atmospheric oxygen. Carbonyl compound and acidic compound were produced. In comparison with autoxidation and ozonolysis, each compound showed the same retention time and UV-vis spectra were identical to the reference cleavage products prepared by ozonolysis of ${\zeta}-carotene$. Absorption spectrum of acidic compound was similar to that of standard 4,5-didehydrogeranyl geranyl acid which is known to possess biological activity. Thus, eccentric cleavage of ${\zeta}-carotene$ was confirmed to occur in vitro under oxidation condition.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2023

Objective: Reconstructed oocytes after polar body genome transfer constitute a potential therapeutic option for patients with a history of embryo fragmentation and advanced maternal age. However, the rescue of genetic material from the first polar body (PB1) through introduction into the donor cytoplasm is not yet ready for clinical application. Methods: Eighty-five oocytes were obtained following in vitro maturation (IVM) and divided into two groups: PB1 nuclear transfer (PB1NT; n=54) and control (n=31). Following enucleation and PB1 genomic transfer, PB1 fusion was assessed. Subsequently, all fused oocytes underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and were cultured in an incubator under a time-lapse monitoring system to evaluate fertilization, embryonic morphokinetic parameters, and cleavage patterns. Results: Following enucleation and fusion, 77.14% of oocytes survived, and 92.59% of polar bodies (PBs) fused. However, the normal fertilization rate was lower in the PB1NT group than in the control group (56.41% vs. 92%, p=0.002). No significant differences were observed in embryo kinetics between the groups, but a significant difference was detected in embryo developmental arrest after the four-cell stage, along with abnormal cleavage division in the PB1NT group. This was followed by significant between-group differences in the implantation potential rate and euploidy status. Most embryos in the PB1NT group had at least one abnormal cleavage division (93.3%, p=0.001). Conclusion: Fresh PB1NT oocytes successfully produced normal zygotes following PB fusion and ICSI in IVM oocytes. However, this was accompanied by low efficiency in developing into cleavage embryos, along with an increase in abnormal cleavage patterns.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.553-557
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• 2005

The formation of striped phases of unsymmetric hexyl octadecyl disulfide ($CH_3(CH_2)_5SS(CH_2)_{17}CH_3$, HOD) and 1-hydroxyundecyl octadecyl disulfide ($CH_3(CH_2)_{17}SS(CH_2)_{11}$OH, HUOD) on Au(111) and graphite has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to understand the self-assembly processes of dialkyl disulfides. STM imaging clearly shows the formation of striped phases having corrugation periodicities that are nearly consistent with the molecular length of alkanethiolate moieties formed after the S-S bond cleavage of dialkyl disulfide on a gold surface. On the other hand, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of dialkyl disulfides on a graphite surface displayed long-range, well-ordered monolayers with one striped pattern that shows periodicity as a function of molecular length via nondissociative adsorption. From a nonoscopic viewpoint, we have clearly demonstrated that dialkyl disulfide SAMs on gold form via S-S bond cleavage of disulfide.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 1999

Blocking the 1st mitotic cleavage was performed in mud loach (Misgurmus mizolepis) using UV-irradiated cyprinid loach (M. anguillicaudatus) sperm and ternal shocks Optimum UV range for inactivation of cyprinid loach sperm and thermal shocks. Optimum UV range for inactivation of cyprinid loach sperm was between 3,150 to 4,050 ergs/m$m^2$. Heat shock treatment ($41^{\circ}C$ for 3mins) with various treatment initiation times ranged from 22 to 50 min post insemination resulted wide range of success for induced gynogenesis. Best result was obtained when haploid egges were shocked at 28 min after insemination (corresponding to metaphase division of the 1st cleavage); 26% of total eggs inseminated were viable diploid gynogens. The hatching success and early survival of the both meiotic and mitotic gynogenetic groups were significantly lower than those of control crosses (P<0.05). Maternal origin of induced gynogenetic mud loach was verified by multi-locus DNA fingerprinting.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.79-82
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• 2013

Various types of alkaloids observed in several herbal medicines were analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. In the present study, MS/MS spectralpatterns were investigated for eight-types of alkaloids (aporpine, protoberberine, tetrahydroprotoberberine, benzylisoquinoline, protopine, phthalide, morpine, and bisbenzylisoquinoline). For aporpine- and protoberberine-type alkaloids, main fragmentations occurred at substituted groups on rigid ring structures, not showing ring fusion. Interesting fragmentations due to iminolization and retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) reaction were observed in MS/MS spectra of protopine- and tetrahydroprotobereberine-type alkaloids. Also, several types of fragmentations such as inductive cleavage and ${\alpha}$-cleavage, or bond cleavage between two ring structures were observed depending on their structural characteristics. These fragmentation patterns are expected to allow instant classification of the specific alkaloid type in various MS/MS spectra of alkaloids.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.310-318
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• 2006

In this study, we investigate the feasibility of in-situ crack propagation by using a double cleavage drilled compression (DCDC) specimen showing a slow crack velocity down to 0.03 mm/s under 0.01 mm/s of displacement control. Finite element analysis predicted that the DCDC specimens would show at least 4.3 fold delayed crack initiation time than conventional tensile fracture specimens under a constant loading speed. Using DCDC specimens, we were able to observe the in-situ crack propagation process in a particle reinforced transparent polymer composite. Our results confirmed that the DCDC specimen would be a good candidate for the in-situ observation of the behavior of particle reinforced composites with slow crack velocity, such as the self-healing process of micro-particle reinforced composites.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.429-433
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• 2011

Eggs of Korean rose bitterling Rhodeus uyekii were collected and fertilized to observe temperature-related cleavage rates and mitotic intervals (${\tau}_0$). As the water temperature was increased, the slope of first cleavage frequency with elapsed time after fertilization increased, and approximately 30% of fertilized eggs reached first cleavage frequency at every 15 min. At higher temperatures, eggs developed faster and underwent further identical developmental processes. There were strong, negative correlations between ${\tau}_0$ and water temperatures at all temperatures studied (Y = -1.225X + 70.05, $r^2=0.988$, where Y is ${\tau}_0$ and X is temperature).