• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2110-2115
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• 2015

A liquid-based colorimetric assay using a pH indicator was introduced for high-throughput monitoring of lysine decarboxylase activity. The assay is based on the color change of bromocresol purple, measured at 595 nm in liquid reaction mixture, due to an increase of pH by the production of cadaverine. Bromocresol purple was selected as the indicator because it has higher sensitivity than bromothymol blue and pheonol red within a broad range and shows good linearity within the applied pH. We applied this for simple determination of lysine decarboxylase reusability using 96-well plates, and optimization of conditions for enzyme overexpression with different concentrations of IPTG on lysine decarboxylase. This assay is expected to be applied for monitoring and quantifying the liquid-based enzyme reaction in biotransformation of decarboxylase in a high-throughput way.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 2007

In clinical practice, homocysteine has gained popularity because its elevated values are strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. More recently, a new enzymatic colorimetric assay for homocysteine in biological sample, suitable for automated clinical analyzers, has been proposed. To evaluate one of these enzymatic methods and compare the results obtained with this method with those of an immunoenzymatic method, thirty-two samples were analyzed for total homocysteine by HiSens$^{(R)}$ homocysteine reagent on the automated chemistry analyzers TBA 200FR and compared to the widely used immunoenzymatic method ADVIA Centaur. In TBA 200FR, the within-run CVs of two control materials were 3.23% and 0.92%, respectively; the between run CVs were 4.58% and 2.55%, respectively. And in ADVIA 1650, the within-run CVs were 6.81% and 0.99%, respectively; the between run CVs were 9.0% and 3.9%, respectively. The recovery for homocysteine was 100% ($60.8{\mu}mol/L$), 99.1% ($48.64{\mu}mol/L$), 96.3% ($36.48{\mu}mol/L$), 96.1% ($24.32{\mu}mol/L$), and 92.1% ($12.16{\mu}mol/L$). The regression equation of TBA 200FR vs. ADVIA Centaur was y=0.9095x-2.5086 (r=0.9632). And the regression equation for the ADVIA 1650 chemistry vs. Immulite 2000 was y=0.8418x + 0.3207 (r=0.9625). In conclusion, this enzymatic method using automated chemistry analyzer for homocysteine assay shows acceptable analytical performance. I suggest that this assay will be suitable for routine analysis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.541-546
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• 1999

When we compared the chitinase activity of various plant sources using colorimetric or active gel-staining assay methods, the specific activity of pumpkin leaves was the highest among the samples we analyzed. The highly active chitinase from pumpkin leaves (designated PL-ChtIII) was purified to homogeneity using affinity chitin gel and HPLC Mono-Q anion-exchange cloumn chromatographies. In contrast to other members of the class III chitinase family, PL-ChtIII showed a strong binding affinity to the regenerated chitin gel column. The apparent molecular weight of PL-ChtIII was estimated to be 29 kDa on SDS-PAGE gel, while its optimum pH and temperature were shown to be pH 6.0 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. Analyzing the reaction products of PL-ChtIII with swollen chitin as substrate, the dimer and tetramer of N-acetylglucosamine were produced as major products in the first hour of the enzymatic reaction along with a small amount of monomers and trimers. As the reaction time increased, dimeric N-acetylglucosamine became the predominant form of reaction product.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 1994

Characteristics of TNP-cellulose which prepared from carboxymethyl cellulose powder, CM32, as substrate for cellulase activity assay were investigated. Enzymatic hydrolysis of TNP-cellulose occured on the cellulose moiety but not on amide bonds, following Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Three cellulase preparations from Trichoderma viride, Aspergillus niger, and Cellulomonas sp. were tested for their pH and temperature dependences and compared with the method determining the increase in reducing power. The enzyme activity was found to have the same temperature range in both methods, however the pH range was broadened in the case of using TNP-cellulose as substrate. The colorimetric method for cellulase assay using TNP-cellulose as substrate was compared with the other methods: one based on determination of the increase in reducing power; and the other based on determining the decrease in viscosity of Na-CM-cellulose solution. The activities measured by the colorimetric method showed a linear correlation with the enzyme concentration of certain range in all three enzymes tested, and the activity values were proportional to those obtained from the other methods. Depending on the enzyme, however, the activity values from this method were not always in proportion to those from the viscometric method. suggesting that this method was not specific for determination of the endo-type cellulase.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.53
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• pp.298.1-298.10
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• 2018

Background: The renal function of individuals is one of the reasons for the variations in therapeutic response to various drugs. Patients with renal impairment are often exposed to drug toxicity, even with drugs that are usually eliminated by hepatic metabolism. Previous study has reported an increased plasma concentration of indoxyl sulfate and decreased plasma concentration of $4{\beta}$-hydroxy (OH)-cholesterol in stable kidney transplant recipients, implicating indoxyl sulfate as a cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibiting factor. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of renal impairment severity-dependent accumulation of indoxyl sulfate on hepatic CYP3A activity using metabolic markers. Methods: Sixty-six subjects were enrolled in this study; based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), they were classified as having mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment. The plasma concentration of indoxyl sulfate was quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Urinary and plasma markers ($6{\beta}$-OH-cortisol/cortisol, $6{\beta}$-OH-cortisone/cortisone, $4{\beta}$-OH-cholesterol) for hepatic CYP3A activity were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total plasma concentration of cholesterol was measured using the enzymatic colorimetric assay to calculate the $4{\beta}$-OH-cholesterol/cholesterol ratio. The correlation between variables was assessed using Pearson's correlation test. Results: There was a significant negative correlation between MDRD eGFR and indoxyl sulfate levels. The levels of urinary $6{\beta}$-OH-cortisol/cortisol and $6{\beta}$-OH-cortisone/cortisone as well as plasma $4{\beta}$-OH-cholesterol and $4{\beta}$-OH-cholesterol/cholesterol were not correlated with MDRD eGFR and the plasma concentration of indoxyl sulfate. Conclusion: Hepatic CYP3A activity may not be affected by renal impairment-induced accumulation of plasma indoxyl sulfate.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 2022

Purpose: Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid abundant in many fruits and vegetables. It has potential health-beneficial properties, such as antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the lipid metabolism improvement effect of quercetin affected the regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and microRNA (miR)-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with normal diet, quercetin-free diet and diets containing 0.05% or 0.1% quercetin for six weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. Serum and liver triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations were analyzed using a commercial enzymatic colorimetric kit. AMPK activity was quantified using an AMPK kinase assay kit. The levels of miR-21 and genes involved in lipid metabolism were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Supplementation of quercetin reduced serum and hepatic TG and TC levels without changing body weight and food intake. Dietary quercetin significantly inhibited the mRNA levels of hepatic sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and fatty acid synthesis, which are involved in hepatic lipogenesis. Dietary quercetin enhanced AMPK activity and suppressed miR-21 expression, promoting hepatic lipid accumulation. Conclusion: These results suggest that the lipid-lowering effect of quercetin on the serum and liver of mice may be partially mediated by the regulation of lipogenic gene expression, AMPK activity and miR-21 expression in the liver of mice fed a high-cholesterol diet.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.618-630
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• 2021

Purpose: The ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) is widely cultivated as a spice for its aromatic and pungent components. One of its constituents, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is usually thought to cross the cell membrane through dopamine uptake transporters, and induce inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study examines the neuroprotective effect and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of fermented ginger extracts (FGEs) on 6-OHDA induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Methods: Ginger was fermented using 2 species of Bacillus subtilis, with or without enzyme pretreatment. Each sample was extracted with 70% ethanol. Neurotoxicity was assessed by applying the EZ-Cytox cell viability assay and by measuring lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Morphological changes of apoptotic cell nuclei were observed by Hoechst staining. Cell growth and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells were determined by Western blotting and enzyme activity analysis of caspase-3, and AChE enzymatic activity was determined by the colorimetric assay. Results: In terms of cell viability and LDH release, exposure to FGE showed neuroprotective activities against 6-OHDA stimulated stress in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, FGE reduced the 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis, as determined by Hoechst staining. The occurrence of apoptosis in 6-OHDA treated cells was confirmed by determining the caspase-3 activity. Exposure to 6-OHDA resulted in increased caspase-3 activity of SH-SY5Y cells, as compared to the unexposed group. However, pre-treatment with FGE inhibited the activity of caspase-3. The neuroprotective effects of FGE were also found to be caspase-dependent, based on reduction of caspase-3 activity. Exposure to FGE also inhibited the activity of AChE induced by 6-OHDA, in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Taken together, our results show that FGE exhibits a neuroprotective effect in 6-OHDA treated SH-SY5Y cells, thereby making it a potential novel agent for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.227-239
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of water-soluble mulberry leaf extract (ME) on hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-fed rats via the regulation of hepatic microRNA (miR)-221/222 and inflammation. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 7 each) and fed with 10 kcal% low-fat diet (LF), 45 kcal% high-fat diet (HF), or HF + 0.8% ME for 14 weeks. Lipid profiles and cytokine levels of the liver and serum were measured using commercial enzymatic colorimetric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and miR levels in liver tissue were assayed by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Supplementation of ME reduces body weight and improves the liver and serum lipid profiles as compared to the HF group. The mRNA levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, and fatty acid translocase, which are genes involved in lipid metabolism, were significantly downregulated in the ME group compared to the HF group. In contrast, the mRNA level of hepatic carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (involved in fatty acid oxidation) was upregulated by ME supplementation. Furthermore, administration of ME significantly downregulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory mediators such as hepatic tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide were also significantly reduced in ME group compared to the HF group. Expression of hepatic miR-221 and miR-222, which increase in the inflammatory state of the liver, were also significantly inhibited in the ME group compared to the HF group. Conclusion: These results indicate that ME has the potential to improve hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-fed rats via modulation of inflammatory mediators and hepatic miR-221/222 expressions.