• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2015

Among the various human growth factors, epidermal growth factor (hEGF, consisting of 53 amino acids) has various effects on cell regeneration, stimulation of proliferation, migration of keratinocytes, formation of granulation tissues, and stimulation of fibroblast motility, which are important for wound healing. Owing to their multiple activities, EGFs are used as pharmaceutical and cosmetic agents. However, their low productivity, limited target specificity, and short half-life inhibit their application as therapeutic agents. To overcome these obstacles, we fused the collagen-binding domain (CBD) of Vibrio mimicus metalloprotease to EGF protein. About 18 or 12 amino acids (aa) (of the 33 total amino acids), which were essential for collagen-binding activity, were combined with the N- and C-termini of EGF. We constructed, expressed, and purified EGF (53 aa)-CBD (18 aa), EGF (53 aa)-CBD (12 aa), CBD (18 aa)-EGF (53 aa), and CBD (12 aa)-EGF (53 aa). These purified recombinant proteins increased the numbers of cells in treated specimens compared with non-treated specimens and control hEGF samples. The collagen-binding activities were also evaluated. Furthermore, CBD-hybridized hEGF induced phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. These results suggested that these fusion proteins could be applicable as small therapeutic agents in wound tissue healing.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.601-606
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• 2019

Arginine methylation plays crucial roles in many cellular functions including signal transduction, RNA transcription, and regulation of gene expression. Protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8), a unique brain-specific protein, is localized to the plasma membrane. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying PRMT8 plasma membrane targeting remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8 are sufficient for plasma membrane localization and that oligomerization enhances membrane localization. The basic amino acids, combined with myristoylation within the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8, are critical for plasma membrane targeting. We also found that substituting Gly-2 with Ala [PRMT8(G2A)] or Cys-9 with Ser [PRMT8(C9S)] induces the formation of punctate structures in the cytosol or patch-like plasma membrane localization, respectively. Impairment of PRMT8 oligomerization/dimerization by C-terminal deletion induces PRMT8 mis-localization to the mitochondria, prevents the formation of punctate structures by PRMT8(G2A), and inhibits PRMT8(C9S) patch-like plasma membrane localization. Overall, these results suggest that oligomerization/dimerization plays several roles in inducing the efficient and specific plasma membrane localization of PRMT8.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological and sleep-promoting effects of combined ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) using caffeine-induced sleepless fruit flies, ICR mice, and Sprague-Dawley rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Video-tracking analysis was applied to investigate behavioral changes of Drosophila melanogaster. Pentobarbital-induced sleep test and electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns were used for analysis of sleep latency, duration, and quantity and quality of sleep in vertebrate models. RESULTS: Administration of combined GABA/5-HTP could significantly reverse the caffeine induced total distance of flies (P < 0.001). Also, individually administered and combined GABA/5-HTP significantly increased the total sleeping time in the caffeine-induced sleepless ICR mice (P < 0.001). In the caffeine-induced sleepless SD-rats, combined GABA/5-HTP showed significant differences in sleep quality between individual amino acid administrations (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, we identified inhibitory effects of combined GABA/5-HTP in locomotor activity, sleep quantity and quality in caffeine-induced sleepless models, indicating that combined GABA/5-HTP may be effective in patients with insomnia by providing sufficient sleep.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.130-135
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• 1977

The transesterifcation of some hydroxylated amino acids derivatives was studied by gas-liquid chromatography and combined gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and the fragmentation of these two different O-derivatives was discussed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.239-249
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• 1999

The role of amino acids in culture media for IVF-ET was examined in a total of 76 cycles. Patients received clomiphene citrate (CC) followed by hMG or GnRH-a combined with gonadotropins (FSH/hMG) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Severe male (<$4{\times}10^6$ motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. No significant differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, the level of $E_2$ on the day of hCG injection, the mean number of oocytes retrieved, total motile sperm count, fertilization rate and the mean number of embryos transferred between bHTF (without amino acids) and mHTF (with amino acids) groups. However, total ampules of gonadotropins were higher (p<0.01) in mHTF group than bHTF group. Significantly (p<0.05) more clinical pregnancies were recorded in mHTF group (13/30) compared with bHTF group (9/46). The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF group. There were one ectopic pregnancy in mHTF group and one heterotopic pregnancy in bHTF group. Abortion rates were 22.2% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF, respectively. The ongoing pregnancy or livebirth rate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in mHTF group (12/30) than bHTF group (7/46). These results suggest that the addition of amino acids in culture media is essential for culture of zygotes in vitro and adjustment of energy substrates in phosphate-free culture media appears to be beneficial for human IVF-ET procedure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.485-493
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• 2015

This study evaluated the in situ ruminal degradability, and subsequent small intestinal digestibility (SID) of dry matter, crude protein (CP), and amino acids (AA) of cottonseed meal (CSM), sunflower seed meal (SFSM) and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) by using the modified three-step in vitro procedure. The ruminal degradability and subsequent SID of AA in rumen-undegradable protein (RUP-AA) varied among three protein supplements. The result show that the effective degradability of DM for SFSM, CSM, and DDGS was 60.8%, 56.4%, and 41.0% and their ruminal fermentable organic matter was 60.0%, 55.9%, and 39.9%, respectively. The ruminal degradable protein (RDP) content in CP for SFSM, CSM, and DDGS was 68.3%, 39.0%, and 32.9%, respectively, at the ruminal solid passage rate of 1.84%/h. The SFSM is a good source of RDP for rumen micro-organisms; however, the SID of RUP of SFSM was lower. The DDGS and CSM are good sources of RUP for lambs to digest in the small intestine to complement ruminal microbial AA of growing lambs. Individual RUP-AA from each protein source was selectively removed by the rumen microorganisms, especially for Trp, Arg, His, and Lys (p<0.01). The SID of individual RUP-AA was different within specific RUP origin (p<0.01). Limiting amino acid was Leu for RUP of CSM and Lys for both RUP of SFSM and DDGS, respectively. Therefore, different protein supplements with specific limitations should be selected and combined carefully in growing lambs ration to optimize AA balance.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 1971

1) Among five lactic acid bacteria examined, Str. thermophilus and Str. diacetilactis produced remarkably greater amount of acids in soybean milk than Str. lactis, Str. cremoris and L. bulgaricus. 2) Soybean milk and skimmed dry milk were combined in the ratio of 7 : 3 and were carried out in lactic acid fermentation for 24 hours at optimum temperature. The result indicated that the yield of precipitation and protein content of it were the most, the moisture content was the least and curd structure formed was considered too hard. 3) Based on these and other results, following procedure was used for manufacturing: soybean milk and skimmed dry milk were combined in the ratio of 7 : 3, heated at $121^{\circ}C$ for 20 min., cooled, added Str. thermophilus as lactic acid starter and incubated for 24 hours and $37{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The curd was cooked, hooped, and pressed for 24 hours, to the surface of which, Penicillium caseicolum and sodium chloride were spread. During ripening of the curd at $15^{\circ}C$ and $85{\sim}90%$ RH for 21 days, Pen. caseicolum was highly developed after 7 days, pH was increased and proteolytie activity has reached to the peak point after 14 days. After 7 days of ripening total water soluble nitrogen, water soluble protein nitrogen and amino acids nitrogen were begun to increase. After 21 days of ripening total water soluble nitrogen, water soluble protein nitrogen and amino-N reached to 52%, 32% and 14% of total nitogen. In the soybean cheese, after 21 days of ripening, 17 or more kinds of amino acids were detected by two-dimentional paper chromatography. The product contained 63.2% of moisture, 17.5% of crude protein, 13.2% of crude fat, 2.8% of crude ash and 2.5% of sodium chloride.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

Riboflavin (Rb), in the presence of methionine (Met) under light, generates superoxide radicals that can reduce nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) to its corresponding formazan. The Rb-Met/NBT system has been used to measure the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities of various antioxidants. However, the reaction mechanisms have not been clearly defined, and the assay conditions are not consistent. In this study, the effects of different photosensitizers and amino acids on NBT reduction in different solvents were investigated. NBT reduction in the Rb-Met/NBT system was more pronounced in phosphate-buffered saline, compared to distilled water or Tris (pH 7.5); histidine (His) instead of Met also led to considerable Rb-induced NBT reduction. Among the photosensitizers, methylene blue with His caused potent NBT reduction in Tris. Rb-induced NBT reduction combined with Met or His was quantitatively inhibited by SOD or gallic acid, but did not affect MB-induced reduction sensitively.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 1999

Excitatory amino acid (EAA) and substance P (SP) have been known to be primary candidates for nociceptive neurotransmitter in the spinal cord, and calcium ions are implicated in processing of the sensory informations mediated by EAA and SP in the spinal cord. In this study, we examined how $Ca^{2+}$ modified the responses of dorsal horn neurons to single or combined iontophoretical application of EAA and SP in the rat. All the LT cells tested responded to kainate, whereas about 55% of low threshold (LT) cells responded to iontophoretically applied NMDA. NMDA and kainate excited almost all wide dynamic range (WDR) cells. These NMDA- and kainate-induced WDR cell responses were augmented by iontophoretically applied EGTA, but suppressed by $Ca^{2+},\;Mn^{2+},$ verapamil and ${\omega}-conotoxin$ EVTA, effect of verapamil being more prominent and well sustained. $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ antagonized the augmenting effect of EGTA. On the other hand, prolonged spinal application of EGTA suppressed the response of WDR cell to NMDA. SP had triple effects on the spontaneous activity as well as NMDA-induced responses of WDR cells: excitation, inhibition and no change. EGTA augmented, but $Ca^{2+},\;Mn^{2+}$ and verapamil suppressed the increase in the NMDA-induced responses and spontaneous activities of WDR cells following iontophoretical application of SP. These results suggest that in the spinal cord, sensory informations mediated by single or combined action of EAA and SP can be modified by the change in calcium ion concentration.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.474-480
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the effects of high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) treatment on the recovery efficiency and characteristics of porcine placenta hydrolysates. The placenta hydrolysates were characterized by solubility, free amino acid contents, gel electrophoresis, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and amino acid composition. Placenta was treated at 37.5 MPa of pressure combined with various temperatures (150, 170, and $200^{\circ}C$) or various holding times (0, 30, and 60 min at $170^{\circ}C$). Insoluble raw placenta collagen was partially solubilized (> 60% solubility) by the HPHT treatment. Free amino group content of placenta collagen was increased from 0.1 mM/g collagen to > 0.3 mM/g collagen after HPHT treatment, reflecting partial hydrolysis of collagen. The molecular weight ($M_w$) distribution showed evidence of collagen hydrolysis by shifting of $M_w$ peaks toward low molecular weight when treated temperature or holding time was increased. Alanine (Ala), glycine (Gly), hydroxyproline (Hyp), and proline (Pro) contents increased after the HPHT treatments compared to a decrease in the others. In particular, the increase in Gly was obvious, followed by Hyp and Pro, reflecting that placenta hydrolysates were mainly composed of these amino acids. However, increasing temperature or holding time hardly affected the amino acid compositions. These results indicate that the HPHT treatment is advantageous to hydrolyze collagen derived from animal by-products.