• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1206-1212
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• 2023

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays essential roles in regulating various cellular behaviors, including proliferation, survival, and differentiation [1-3]. The intracellular β-catenin level, which is regulated by a proteasomal degradation pathway, is critical to Wnt/β-catenin pathway control [4]. Normally, casein kinase 1 (CK1) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which form a complex with the scaffolding protein Axin and the tumor suppressor protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), phosphorylate β-catenin at Ser45, Thr41, Ser37, and Ser33 [5, 6]. Phosphorylated β-catenin is ubiquitinated by the β-transducin repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP), an F-box E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, and ubiquitinated β-catenin is degraded via a proteasome pathway [7, 8]. Colorectal cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Abnormal up-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a major pathological event in intestinal epithelial cells during human colorectal cancer oncogenesis [9]. Genetic mutations in the APC gene are observed in familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) and sporadic colorectal cancers [10]. In addition, mutations in the N-terminal phosphorylation motif of the β-catenin gene were found in patients with colorectal cancer [11]. These mutations cause β-catenin to accumulate in the nucleus, where it forms complexes with transcription factors of the T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) family to stimulate the expression of β-catenin responsive genes, such as c-Myc and cyclin D1, which leads to colorectal tumorigenesis [12-14]. Therefore, downregulating β-catenin response transcription (CRT) is a potential strategy for preventing and treating colorectal cancer. Plant cytokinins are N⁶-substituted purine derivatives; they promote cell division in plants and regulate developmental pathways. Natural cytokinins are classified as isoprenoid (isopentenyladenine, zeatin, and dihydrozeatin), aromatic (benzyladenine, topolin, and methoxytopolin), or furfural (kinetin and kinetin riboside), depending on their structure [15, 16]. Kinetin riboside was identified in coconut water and is a naturally produced cytokinin that induces apoptosis and exhibits antiproliferative activity in several human cancer cell lines [17]. However, little attention has been paid to kinetin riboside's mode of action. In this study, we show that kinetin riboside exerts its cytotoxic activity against colon cancer cells by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promoting intracellular β-catenin degradation.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2024

Inland wetlands provide important ecosystem services or functions, including biodiversity conservation, water purification, flood control, and carbon sequestration. However, many inland wetlands are being degraded by urbanization and industrialization, raising the need for conservation and restoration. This study proposes the adoption of No Net Loss(NLL) of Wetland for wetland conservation and restoration in Korea by the review of the literatures. To this end,, we analyzed the wetland conservation and management systems of the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Australia, and identified institutional features and success factors of each country, and sought ways to adapt them to domestic conditions of Korea. The case of the United States highlights the importance of legal frameworks and public-private collaboration, Canada demonstrates systematic management approaches, Germany maintains a balance between development and conservation, Japan underscores the need for cooperative conservation efforts, and Australia emphasizes the efficiency of offset markets. The introduction and operation of these schemes are expected to contribute to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and water quality improvement, but ongoing research and policy efforts are needed to ensure that the schemes are well established.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.659-666
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• 2010

Lysobacter antibioticus HS124 was isolated from rhizosphere soil in previous experiments, which produced lytic enzymes such as chitinase, gelatinase, lipase and protease. In addition, HS124 released an antibiotic compound, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4-HPAA). When larvae of P. xylostella was treated with HS124 culture broth, its body was destroyed, and degraded with the increase of incubation time, yielding glycine which was detected from HS124 culture broth. When 4-HPAA produced from HS124 was sprayed, larvae mortality increased with increasing concentration of 4-HPAA. When HS124 culture supplemented with Tween 80 was sprayed, its insecticidal activity against larvae was approximately 1.4 times higher compared to the culture without Tween 80. Insecticide (IS), HS124 culture broth (HS124), Magic-pi (MP) and HS124 culture broth+Magic-pi (HS124+MP) were each treated against larvae of P. xylostella to investigate their insecticidal effect where sterile diluted water (SDW) was used as a control. The highest mortality of larvae was found in HS124+MP, followed by IS, MP, HS124 and SDW respectively. Mortality of larvae in HS124 was 31% higher than that in SDW, but 41% lower than that in HS124+MP, meaning that both enzymes and antibiotics produced from HS124 may synergistically act as active agents with plant extract containing neem oil and turmeric in HS124+MP treatment. These results suggested that L. antibioticus HS124 together with plant extract can be one of candidates for biocontrol agents against Plutella xylostella.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2009

Appenzeller cheese samples were prepared by addition of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% green tea (Camellia sinensis, CS) powder and control cheese. We examined various quality characteristics of the novel cheese, such as viable-cell counts, pH, water-soluble nitrogen (WSN), non-casein nitrogen (NCN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), and catechin level during maturation for 16 weeks at $14^{\circ}C$. To develop a Korean natural cheese containing green tea powder, we also analyzed the changes in the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern, chemical composition, and sensory qualities. The viable cell counts of the samples were not significantly different. Until the $3^{rd}$ week, the pH of the CS cheese decreased with an increase in the maturation time. However, the pH gradually increased by the $12^{th}$ week, while WSN, NCN, NPN also increased. The WSN, NCN, NPN, and catechin values for the CS cheese samples were significantly higher than the values for the control cheese. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern of caseins for the CS cheese indicated that this cheese degraded more rapidly than the control cheese did. In the sensory evaluation, cheese with 1.0% CS powder showed the highest scores in taste and appearance and good scores in flavor and texture. These results indicate that 1.0% CS is the optimal value for addition to cheese, and cheese containing 1.0% CS shows good physiological properties and reasonably high overall sensory acceptability.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1985

The preservative effect of modified-atmosphere storage on the shelf-life of packed semi-salted and dried mackerel, Scomber japonicus, was examined. The semi-salted and dried mackerel fillets were packed in laminated plastic film bags (polyester/nylon/casted polypropylene: $12{\mu}m/15{\mu}m/60{\mu}m,\;15{\times}16cm$) filled with air (control, C), nitrogen gas (N), deoxygenized air (O) prepared by using free-oxygen absorber enclosed in the bag, in vacuum(V), and stored at $5^{\circ}C$. The quality of packed sample during the storage were examined in terms of viable cell counts of bacteria, thiobarbituric acid(TBA) value, perozide value(POV), volatile basic nitrogen(VBN), trimethylamine(TMA), adenosine triphosphate(ATP) and its related compounds and sensory evaluation. The results obtained are as follows: The pH of all the samples was in the range of $6.1{\pm}0.2$, and the contents of VBN and amino nitrogen of them increased during storage. In color values, L value(lightness) decreased while a and b values (red and yellow) revealed a tendency to increase during storage. The viable cell counts of the control sample(C) increased to $3.0{\times}10^6/g$ after 15 days storage but those of the other samples(V, N and O)were in the range of $2{\sim}6{\times}10^5/g$ after 20 days storage. The content of TMA increased during storage, but the histamine content showed a little change during storage and its content of all samples were less than 16 mg/100g. The inosinic acid(IMP) was rapidly degraded while inosine and hypoxanthine increased during storage. The TBA value of the control(C) reached a peak in 9 days and then decreased gradually while that of the sample(O) showed a little change during storage. The changes in POV of all the samples during storage showed a similar tendency to the TBA value. Fatty acid composition of raw mackerel consists of $35.6\%$ of saturated acid, $30.3\%$ of monoenoic acid and $34.2\%$ of polyenoic acid. The major fatty acid of the sample products were oleic acid($C_{18:1}$), palmitic acid($C_{16:0}$), docosahexaenoic acid($C_{22:6}$). The contents of polyenoic acid such as $C_{22:6},\;C_{20:5}$ decreased during storage while the other fatty acids showed a little change. From the results of sensory evaluation, the shelf-life of the control sample(C) was about 7 days and that of sample(V), (N) and (O) was about 15 days. It was concluded that deoxygenized atmosphere(free-oxygen absorber enclosed in the bag) was a good condition for preserving the quality of semi-salted and dried mackerel.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.313-337
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• 1993

The aim of this study was to clarify the role of Kupffer cells in the mechanism of endotoxin-induced liver injury. The study on fine structure of Kupffer cells was performed after the injection of endotoxin. The endotoxin(Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide 026 : B6. 1.5mg/100 g of body weight) was intraperitoneally injected in Sprague-Dewley rats. Animals were sacrificed at 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 72 and 120 hours after the injection of endotoxin. Livers were extirpated and processed to be examined by light and electron microscopy. The results obtained were summerized as follows: Early changes observed in liver after endotoxin injection included the increased number and hypertrophy of Kupffer cells, infiltration of neutrophils and presence of fibrin thrombi within the sinusoids. The continuous increase of the Kupffer cells in number with hypertrophy, congestion and infiltration of inflammatory cells within the sinusoids were observed. Hepatocytes showed fatty change and occasional necrosis. At 72 hours the congestion decreased. At 120 hours the number of Kupffer cells was increased, but the morphology of Kupffer cells became similar to that of the control group. The numbers and sizes of primary and secondary lysosomes and amount of euchromatin of Kupffer cells increased. Swellings and increase in number of mitochondria, Golgi complex, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, rough endoplasmic reticulum were evident. Microthrombi were present within the sinusoids. The swelling of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, decrease of glycogen particles, fatty change, hypoxic vacuoles, pyknotic nuclei and occasional necrosis were observed in hepatocytes. At 72 hours the number of secondary lysosomes in Kupffer cells decreased. At 120 hours the morphology of Kupffer cells became similar to that of the control group. According to these results, it was postulated that the endotoxin was initially taken up by pinocytosis into Kupffer cells and degraded in secondary lysosomes of activated Kupffer cells. Kupffer cells may play an important role in the defense mechanism of liver during endotoxemia. The dysfunction of Kupffer cells and ischemia by sinusoidal microthrombi may cause liver injury.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 1998

The microbial degradation, photosensitizer-mediated photolysis, and bioceramic- accelerated degradation of the herbicide imazapyr were investigated using four types of soil. 1. Seven strains of microorganisms isolated from the soil A and the active sludge collected from the waste water disposal plant in CheongJu did not give any distinct degradation products in pure culture. When imazapyr (10ppm) was incubated for 14days with each of the 6strains of the known bacteria, they did not produce any noticeable products, either, suggesting that imazapyr was degraded very little by microorganisms in aqueous media. Meanwhile, when 50ppm of imazapyr was incubated in soil A and B for 6months, a degradation product of m/z 279 was detected. It turned out to be 2-[(1-carbamoyl-1,2-dimethylpropyl)carbamoyl]nicotinic acid, which was formed by the hydrolytic cleavage of the imidazolinone ring and by tautomerism. When imazapyr was exposed to sunlight, degradation rates were 14.6% under the control and 66.0, 76.5, 26.7, and 90.0% in the presence of PS-1 (100ppm), PS-1 (200ppm), PS-2(100ppm), and PS-3(100ppm), respectively, and a degradation product of m/z 149 was tentatively identified in the treatment of PS-1. 2. When soil C and D treated with bioceramic were incubated for 7weeks, the $^{14}C$-activities of $^{14}CO_2$ evolved were 2.03 and 1.12% of the originally applied ones, respectively, whereas those in control soils without bioceramic were 1.88 and 0.82% showing no significant defferences.After 5 weeks, however,the differences in the amounts of $^{14}CO_2$ between the two treatments increased gradually, suggesting the bioceramic effect.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2009

To evaluate the effects of chemical pretreatments of lignocellulosic biomass on enzymatic hydrolysis process, Populus euramericana was pretreated for 1 hr with 1% sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) at $150^{\circ}C$ and 1% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at $160^{\circ}C$, respectively. Before the enzymatic hydrolysis, each pretreated sample was subjected to drying process and thus finally divided into four subgroups; dried or non-dried acid pretreated samples and dried or non-dried alkali pretreated samples and chemical and physical properties of them were analyzed. Biomass degradation by acid pretreatment was determined to 6% higher compared to alkali pretreatment. By the action of acid ca. 24.5% of biomass was dissolved into solution, while alkali degraded ca. 18.6% of biomass. However, reverse results were observed in delignification rates, in which alkali pretreatment released 2% more lignin fragment from biomass to the solution than acid pretreatment. Unexpectedly, samples after both pretreatments were determined to somewhat higher crystallinity than untreated samples. This result may be explained by selective disrupture of amorphous region in cellulose during pretreatments, thus the cellulose crystallinity seems to be accumulated in the pretreated samples. SEM images revealed that pretreated samples showed relative rough and partly cracked surfaces due to the decomposition of components, but the image of acid pretreated samples which were dried was similar to that of the control. In pore size distribution, dried acid pretreated samples were similar to the control, while that in alkali pretreated samples was gradually increased as pore diameter increased. The pore volume which increased by acid pretreatment rapidly decreased by drying process. Alkali pretreatment was much more effective on enzymatic digestibility than acid pretreatment. The sample after alkali pretreatment was enzymatically hydrolyzed up to 45.8%, while only 26.9% of acid pretreated sample was digested at the same condition. The high digestibility of the sample was also influenced to the yields of monomeric sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, drying process of pretreated samples affected detrimentally not only to digestibility but also to the yields of monomeric sugars.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.524-531
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• 2012

Soybean is one of the most common food materials causing food hypersensitivity reactions in Korea. In this study, we have investigated the effect of roasting and fermentation on the allergenicity of soybean. Three kinds of soybean ($Daepung$, $Daewon$, and $Taegwang$) were prepared as raw, roasted, and fermented by $Bacillus$ $subtilis$ GSK 3580, and then their proteins were extracted. The proteins were separated using SDS-PAGE, and the detection of IgE specific to soybean proteins was performed by immunoblotting using 7 sera of soybean allergy patients and non-allergic control individuals. Serum specific IgE to soybean was measured by ELISA. The SDS-PAGE of raw soybean proteins showed various-sized bands ranging from 9 to 76 kDa, which are known as major allergens. In particular, 9, 21, 34, 52, 72, and 76 kDa proteins are known as LTP, Kunits trypsin inhibitor, $Gly$ m Bd 30K, ${\beta}$-subunit, ${\alpha}$-subunit, and ${\alpha}$'-subunit of ${\beta}$-conglycinin, respectively; these are major allergens in soybean. In contrast, only peptides of less than 35 kDa were found in roasted and fermented soybeans. IgE immunoblot analysis of three roasted species of soybeans commonly detected at 38-40 kDa and 10-15 kDa. The protein bands in fermented soybean showed very weak signals or were not detected. In addition, the reactivity of most patients' sera to soybean was decreased after roasting and fermentation. With these results, it may be concluded that the allergenicity of soybeans is reduced by the roasting and fermentation processes. It is supposed that allergenic proteins in soybean were degraded by heat treatment methods and proteolytic enzymes were secreted from fermenting microorganisms.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to determine the usability of biodegradable plastic in the mulching cultivation of sweetpotato. For this, we investigated the physical characteristics, biodegradability, leaching, yield, workability, etc. of biodegradable films. Compared with general mulching materials, biodegradable Poly butyleneadipate-co-butylene succinate (PBSA) and PLC+starch showed $2{\sim}27$% higher tensile strength, but $2{\sim}22$% lower elongation and $2{\sim}6$% lower tear strength. In the leaching test on the biodegradable films, heavy metals were detected very little or not at all. As to difference in ground temperature according to mulching material, the temperature was high in order of PLC+starch > PBSA > Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) > Control during the period from late June to mid July, but in order of LDPE > PLC+starch > PBSA > None during the period from late July to late September. In the mulching cultivation of sweet potato, biodegradable films PBSA (EA, EB, EC) and PLC+starch (DD, DE, DF) began to degrade after 60 days from the cut planting of sweet potato, and over 95% degraded after 120 days. The quantity of roots was 3,070 kg/10a for PBSA, 3,093 kg/10a for PLC-starch, and 2,946 kg/l10a for LDPE, showing no significant difference according to mulching material. Considering the physical characteristics, biodegradability, environment, convenience in harvesting work, yield, etc. of the films in the mulching cultivation of sweet potato, biodegradable films are expected to be very useful.