• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2010

The Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) has assembled a culture collection of cold-adapted bacterial strains from both the Arctic and Antarctic. To identify excellent protease-producers among the proteolytic bacterial collection (874 strains), 78 strains were selected in advance according to their relative activities and were subsequently re-examined for their extracellular protease activity on $0.1{\times}$ ZoBell plates supplemented with 1% skim milk at various temperatures. This rapid and direct screening method permitted the selection of a small group of 15 cold-adapted bacterial strains, belonging to either the genus Pseudoalteromonas (13 strains) or Flavobacterium (2 strains), that showed proteolytic activities at temperatures ranging between $5-15^{\circ}C$. The cold-active proteases from these strains were classified into four categories (serine protease, aspartic protease, cysteine protease, and metalloprotease) according to the extent of enzymatic inhibition by a class-specific protease inhibitor. Since highly active and/or cold-adapted proteases have the potential for industrial or commercial enzyme development, the protease-producing bacteria selected in this work will be studied as a valuable natural source of new proteases. Our results also highlight the relevance of the Antarctic for the isolation of protease-producing bacteria active at low temperatures.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 1999

The anti-asthmatic activities of the extract of Lonicera japonica (BuOH fraction) and its mode of action were investigated using several in vitro and in vivo models. Lonicera japonica was extracted with 30% ethanol (v/v) and successively partitioned into BuOH. The BuOH fraction reduced antigen-induced contraction of isolated trachea from sensitized guinea pigs in a concentration-dependent manner. The BuOH fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by antigen or calcium ionophore A23187 ($IC_{50}=0.26$ and 0.32mg/ml, respectively). Eosinophil infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluids induced by aeroallergen challenge in passively sensitized guinea pigs was inhibited by the BuOH fraction at a dose of 800mg/kg (51.7%). In addition, the BuOH fraction inhibited leukotriene $B_4$ prodution in rat basophilic leukemia cells ($IC_{50}=0.42\;mg/ml$) as well as phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) isolated from rat brain ($IC_{50}=0.015\;mg/ml$). All results from this study strongly suggest that the BuOH fraction of Lonicera japonica may be useful in the treatment of asthma and its mode of action may be related with inhibition of both 5-lipoxygenase and PDE4 enzyme.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.472-478
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• 2009

Objective : Hyaluronidase (HAse), a degrading enzyme of hyaluronic acid (HA), is highly expressed in patients with malignant glioma. The purpose of this study was to verify whether HAse is related to the invasion of glioma cells. We also investigated if glioma cells with higher mobility in 2-dimensioal (2-D) method have also higher mobility at 3-dimensional (3-D) environment. Methods : Malignant glioma cell lines (U87MG, U251MG, U343MG-A, and U373MG) were used, and their HAse expressions were evaluated by HA zymography. The migration ability was evaluated by simple scratch technique. The invasiveness of each cell lines was evaluated by Matrigel invasion assay and HA hydrogel invasion assay. In HA hydrogel invasion assay, colonies larger than $150\;{\mu}m$ were regarded as positive ones and counted. Statistical analysis of migration ability and invasion properties of each cell lines was performed using t-test. Results : In scratch test to examine migration ability of each cell lines, U87MG cells were most motile than others, and U343MG-A least motile. The HAse was expressed in U251MG and U343MG-A cell lines. However, U87MG and U373MG cell lines did not express HAse activity. In Matrigel invasion assay, the cell lines expressing HAse (U251MG and U343MG-A) were more invasive in the presence of HA than HAse deficient cell lines (U87MG and U373MG). In HA hydrogel invasion assay, the HAse-expressing cell lines formed colonies more invasively than HAse-deficient ones. Conclusion : Malignant Glioma cells expressing HAse were more invasive than HAse-deficient ones in 3-dimensional environment. Therefore, it might be suggested that invasion of malignant gliomas is suppressed by inhibition of HAse expression or HA secretion. Additionally, the ability of 2-D migration and 3-D invasion might not be always coincident to each other in malignant glioma cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.194-206
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• 2004

Objectives : JiaoTeng-Yuan(교등원) is said to be a prescription for preservation of health in $\ulcorner$HuaTuo.ZhongZangJing (화타.중장경)$\lrcorner$. It is known to have the effect of Bu-Shen (보신: strengthening kidney) and Yi-Shou (익수: prolonging the span of one's life). This study investigates whether JTY is effective on inhibition of oxidation stress. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats (12-week-old, weight $300{\pm}20g$) were divided into 3 groups. The normal group (n=8) was injected with PBS (1ml/body, s.c) subcutaneously behind the neck. The control group (n=8) was injected with D-galactose (50mg/kg, 1ml PBS/body, s.c) to induce pathological animals. The JTY group was injected with the same treatment as the control group, and fed containing JTY (10%). All groups were treated 1 time per day for 6 weeks. After the rats were sacrificed anti-oxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, G-px) activity, GSH quantity of RBC and tissue (heart, liver and kidney), and plasma Vit-C quantity were examined. Also, the MDA levels of liver and kidney, lipofuscin of heart and endurance of erythrocyte membrane were measured. Results : In the JTY group, RBC's SOD activity decline was halted by 21 % of the normal level, compared to the control group, G-px activity (unit/g of Hb) increased significantly, compared to the normal group, and the level of Vit-C in plasma increased by 16%. Heart's SOD activity was kept at the same level as that of the normal group; and CAT activity decline was halted by 26%. Kidney's CAT and G-px activities were kept at the same level as that shown in the normal group, implying the existence of a halting effect. Liver also showed a slight halting effect against the decline of anti-oxidant ability, but the effect was not significant (${\alpha}=0.05$). A comparison between the levels of peroxide in SD rats showed that the level of TBARS in plasma increased significantly in the control group and that it was normal in the JTY group. The livers in the JTY group, compared to those in the control group, showed 36% halting effect of the normal level while their kidney's indicated the level significantly lower than the normal level. Heart's lipofuscin increased significantly in the control group, but was alike in both the JTY and the normal groups. Endurance of erythrocyte membrane (%) decreased significantly in the control group while it was kept at the similar level in both the JTY and the normal groups, indicating the halting effect. Conclusions : This study suggests that JTY is effective to defend oxidation stress caused by D-galactose in the animals. It showed that the anti-oxidant ability was maintained and strengthened. On the other hand, it reduced the level of peroxide in animals. In sum, JTY appeared to have the equilibrium normal physiological function in SD rat.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1980

Changes of nucleic acid related substances and their enzymes during rice makkulli koji making were observed and enzymological properties of crude enzymes were examined. The results obtained were as follows : (1) The amounst of acid soluble phosphorus were increased, while no remarkable changes were observed in the component of total phosphorus during koji making. (2) AMP and IMP were increased, while ADP and ATP were decreased gradually in the course of process. (3) Activities of nucleic acid degrading enzymes were increased with the lapse of time. (4) In the crude enzyme solution extracted from rice makkulli koji, the optimal pH of RNase was 4.0~5.0 and those of PDase PNase were 5.0. (5) RNase and PMase were stable at the range of pH 4.0~5.0 and PDase was stable at the pH 4.0. (6) The optimal temperature of RNase was 55$^{\circ}C$, and that of PDase was at the range of 50~55$^{\circ}C$, and 5$0^{\circ}C$ for PMase. (7) Among the three enzymes, the heat stability was in order RNase, PDase and PMase, and especially PMase was so heat labile that it was almost inactivated at 7$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. (8) Inhibition by metal ions and other inhibitors was disclosed : C $u^{++}$ and Z $n^{++}$ inhibited the activity of RNase, and C $u^{++}$, NaF and N $a_2$HP $O_4$ inhibited that of PDase, while C $u^{++}$ and NaF inhibited the PMase activity.ctivity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 1981

Growth responses of Brevibadterium ammoniagenes BA 17-2, which had been obtained by the treatment of several mutagens in our previous report, were investigated to select the preliminary optimal concentrations of phosphate, $Mg^{++}$, $Mn^{++}$ and thiamine for the production of 5'-XMP aminase. In this experiment it was shown that the concentration of phosphate in the medium has an important effect on the growth of microorganism. Using the medium containing 0.2% of $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, 3mg/l of $MnSO_4{\cdot}H_2O$and $1\;mg/l$ of thiamine-HCl, the maximum cell mass was obtained at the concentration of 0.4% of $KH_2PO_4$ and $K_2HPO_4$, respectively. Above the concentration of these phosphates, cell growth was inhibited as the phosphate concentration increased to 1%, but the inhibition was overcome by the addition of 1% of $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ and 3mg/l of thiamine-HCl. The 5'-XMP aminase activity was also influenced by the concentration of phosphate, $Mg^{++}$, $Mn^{++}$, and thiamine. In addition, the optimal culture pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were found to be 6.8 and $32^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

In the course of screening tyrosinase inhibitory activity, EtOAc-soluble fraction of Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf. (Gramineae) roots showed significant inhibition. Further fractionation of the EtOAc-soluble fraction resulted in six compounds, which were identified as (+)-icariol $A_2$ (1), zhepiresionol (2), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3), trans-${\rho}$-coumaric acid (4), N-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetamide (5), and coixol (6). The chemical structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods (MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and comparison with literature values. Compound 1 was first reported from this plant. Also, this is the first time that the isolation of compound 5 has been reported from nature source. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 4 and 6 showed enzyme inhibitory activity, with $IC_{50}$ values of 6.5 and $62.4{\mu}M$, respectively, in comparison with these of positive control, arbutin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2003

Effects of tributyltin chloride (TBTC) in vitro on mixed function oxygenase (MFO) system on liver microsome of eight marine fish species were investigated. To determine the effects on MFO system, cytochrome P45O (CYP) and cytochrome b5 con-tents, activities of two reductases (NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and NADPH-cy-tochrome P450 reductase) and four dealkylation enzymes (EROD, PROD, MROD and ECOD) were measured in fish microsoms exposed to TBTC for 20 min. The WP content was reduced to 10% of the control group in 6 out of 8 species exposed to TBTC, whereas there was no significant change in the cytochrome bs content. the response of NAD(P)H dependant reductases depended on fish species. The dealkylation enzyme activities in microsome were also apparently inhibited by TBTC. The degree of inhibition was different among fish species and four enzymes. The EROD activities in eight species were decreased to the range of 1∼65% of control group.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.119-131
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• 1998

It has been reported that the glycoprotein extracted from Aloe has strong anti-inflammatory response. However, there has been no research report yet about the effect of Aloe on allergic hypersensitivity reactivity. By using guinea pig lung mast cells, this study aimed to examine the effects of Aloe glycoprotein (NY945) on the mediator releases caused by mast cell activation, and also aimed to assess the effects of NY945 on the mechanism of mediator releases in the mast cell activation. We partially purified mast cell from guinea pig lung tissues by using the enzyme digestion, the rough and the discontinuous density percoll gradient method. Mast cells were sensitized with IgG1 (anti-OA) and challenged with ovalbumin. Histamine was assayed by fluorometric analyzer, leukotrienes by radioimmunoassay. The phospholipase D activity was assessed by the production of labeled phosphatidylalcohol. The amount of mass 1, 2-diacylglycerol (DAG) was measured by the $[^3H]DAG$ produced when prelabeled with $[^3H]myristic$ acid. The phospholipid methylation was assessed by measuring the incorporation of the $[^3H]methyl$ moiety into phospholipids of cellular membranes. Pretreatment of NY945 (10 ${\mu}g$) significantly decreased histamine and leukotrienes releases during mast cell activation. The decrease of histamine release was stronger than that of leukotriene during mast cell activation. The phospholipase D activity increased by the mast cell activation was decreased by the dose-dependent manner in the pretreatment of NY945. The amount of DAG produced by PLC activity was decreased by NY945 pretreatment. The amount of mass 1, 2-diacylglycerol produced by activation of mast cells was decreased in the pretreatment of NY945. NY945 pretreatment strongly inhibited the incorporation of the $[^3H]methyl$ moiety into phospholipids. The data suggest that NY945 purified from Aloe inhibits in part an increase of 1, 2-diacylglycerol which is produced by activating mast cells with antigen-antibody reactions, which is mediated via phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase D and phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C systems, and then followed by the inhibition of histamine release. Furthermore, NY945 reduces the production of phosphatidylcholine by inhibiting the methyltransferase I and II, which decreases the conversion of phosphatidylcholine into arachidonic acid and inhibits the production of leukotrienes.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2007

In order to set ADIs for pesticides registered for use in Korea, an analysis of guidelines on setting ADIs and ADIs established by international bodies and advanced countries was conducted General guidelines on the derivation ADIs are very similar among regulatory authorities. However, there were large differences in the ADIs' setting status and ADI values set for some individual pesticides. ADIs were established for 213 pesticides in UN, 332 in USA, 230 in Japan, 219 in UK and 435 in EU and Australia. Of the established ADIs in other countries, 87 to 252 pesticides were the pesticides registered in Korea depending countries. The number of lowest ADIs depending countries was 32 in USA, 23 in Japan, 6 in EU and Australia. The key target organs and endpoints used for setting ADIs were in the order of enzyme inhibition, body weight change and adverse effect on liver. The number of ADIs used for setting MRLs in Korea was high in the order of JMPR, Japan and USA. ADIs of EU and JMPR had highest similarity among bodies investigated. By referring to the guidances investigated at this study, guideline for setting ADI and ADIs for 64 pesticides registered in Korea were proposed.