• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.486-491
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• 1998

Previously, we have cloned and characterized two ADP-ribosyltransferases (Yac-1 and Yac-2) from mouse Iym-phocyte. Yac-2 transferase contains significant NAD glycohydrolase activity as well as ADP-ribosyltransferase acti-vity. Yac-2 has an arginine at position 221 between two conserved glutamic acids. To investigate the significance of Arg-221 on enzyme activities, Arg-221 was mutagenized to Glu (R221E) and to Ala (R221A). Mutants R221E and R221A were active as wild type for ADP-ribosyltransferase and NAD glycohydrolase activity, suggesting that the arginine 221 in Yac-2 does not play a major role in enzyme activities.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2004

A variety of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed in the presynaptic terminals of central and peripheral synapses and play regulatory roles in transmitter release. The patch-clamp whole-cell recording technique, applied to the calyx of Held presynaptic terminal in brainstem slices of rodents, has made it possible to directly examine intracellular mechanisms underlying the GPCR-mediated presynaptic inhibition. At the calyx of Held, bath-application of agonists for GPCRs such as $GABA_B$ receptors, group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), adenosine $A_1$ receptors, or adrenaline ${\alpha}2$ receptors, attenuate evoked transmitter release via inhibiting voltage-activated $Ca^{2+}$ currents without affecting voltage-activated $K^+$ currents or inwardly rectifying $K^+$ currents. Furthermore, inhibition of voltage-activated $Ca^{2+}$ currents fully explains the magnitude of GPCR-mediated presynaptic inhibition, indicating no essential involvement of exocytotic mechanisms in the downstream of $Ca^{2+}$ influx. Direct loadings of G protein ${\beta}{\gamma}$ subunit $(G{\beta}{\gamma})$ into the calyceal terminal mimic and occlude the inhibitory effect of a GPCR agonist on presynaptic $Ca^{2+}$ currents $(Ip_{Ca})$, suggesting that $G{\beta}{\gamma}$ mediates presynaptic inhibition by GPCRs. Among presynaptic GPCRs glutamate and adenosine autoreceptors play regulatory roles in transmitter release during early postnatal period when the release probability (p) is high, but these functions are lost concomitantly with a decrease in p during postnatal development.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.59-63
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• 2003

The medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) neurons are controlled by excitatory synaptic transmission from the vestibular afferent and commissural projections, and by inhibitory transmission from interneurons. Spontaneous synaptic currents of MVN neurons were studied using whole cell patch clamp recording in slices prepared from 13- to 17-day-old rats. The spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) were significantly reduced by the $GABA_A$ antagonist bicuculline ($20{\mu}M$), but were not affected by the glycine antagonist strychnine ($1{\mu}M$). The frequency, amplitude, and decay time constant of sIPSCs were $4.3{\pm}0.9$ Hz, $18.1{\pm}2.0$ pA, and $8.9{\pm}0.4$ ms, respectively. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) were mediated by non-NMDA and NMDA receptors. The specific AMPA receptor antagonist GYKI-52466 ($50{\mu}M$) completely blocked the non-NMDA mediated sEPSCs, indicating that they are mediated by an AMPA-preferring receptor. The AMPA mediated sEPSCs were characterized by low frequency ($1.5{\pm}0.4$ Hz), small amplitude ($13.9{\pm}1.9$ pA), and rapid decay kinetics ($2.8{\pm}0.2$ ms). The majority (15/21) displayed linear I-V relationships, suggesting the presence of GluR2-containing AMPA receptors. Only 35% of recorded MVN neurons showed NMDA mediated currents, which were characterized by small amplitude and low frequency. These results suggest that the MVN neurons receive excitatory inputs mediated by AMPA, but not kainate, and NMDA receptors, and inhibitory transmission mediated by $GABA_A$ receptors in neonatal rats.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.125-140
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• 2007

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of acupuncture therapy(AT, AT-9), electro-acupuncture therapy(EAT) and low level laser acupuncture therapy(LAT) at LRJ on the focal ischemia-induced by intraluminal filament insertion in rats. Methods : In the present syudy, the focal ischemia was induced by Intraluminal filament insertion into left middle cerebral artery. The subjects were divided into five groups after focal brain ischemia. (n=15, in each group) : Control with no treatment, AT with acupuncture at $LR_3$, AT-9 with acupuncture at $LR_3$ and rotating 9 times in a clockwise direction, EAT with electro-acupuncture at $LR_3$ and LAT with invasive laser acupuncture at $LR_3$. Anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of acupuncture were observed by mGluR5 mRNA, Bax mRNA, Bcl-2 mRNA, Cytochrome C protein, Cresyl violet-stain and Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-stain in the hippocampus. Results: 1. In LAT, mGluR5, Cresyl violet-stain and ChAT-stain were increased. 2. In LAT, Cytochrome C protein was decreased. 3. In AT-9, Bax, Cytochrome C protein and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were decreased. 4. In AT-9, Bcl-2, Cresyl violet-stain and ChAT-stain were increased. 5. In EAT, Bcl-2 and Cresyl violet-stain were increased. Conclusions: These results suggests that LAT and AT-9 show anti-apoptotic and neuro-protective effects and that LAT and AT-9 may be useful for managing stroke by focal brain ischemia.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2010

We investigated the effects of skin hydration and composition analysis of proteoglycan (chia seed polymer) produced from chia (Salvia hispanica) seed. The result showed that proteoglycan of chia seeds is composed of galactose (46.8 %), glucuronic acid (27.1 %), rhamnose (8.7 %), xylose (7.6 %), glucose (4.9 %), fructose (2.3 %), mannose (1.8 %), arabinose (0.9 %) and the amount of proteins contained is 31.3 mg/g with the constituent amino acid compositions (mg/g) of Asp (1.9), Glu (3.6), Ser (0.9), Gly (3.6), Thr (0.8), Arg (1.0), Ala (2.0), Tyr (0.4), Cys (4.8), Val (1.1), Phe (0.5), Ile (0.6), Leu (0.9). The molecular weight of the proteoglycan measured by GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography) is the range of 100,000~250,000 Da and the average molecular weight is 170,000 Da. The moisturizing effects and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) of chia seed polymer in cosmetic products (O/W emulsion) were studied in vivo. Chia seed polymer showed good skin hydration effects when compared with sodium hyaluronate which is a common moisturizer. Taken all together, chia seed polymer should be a very useful cosmetic ingredient as a moisturizer and a protecting agent from various skin irritations.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 2002

The chromophore/protein interactions in the photocycle intermediates of photoactive yel- low protein (PYP) were probed by site-directed mutagenesis. The absorption spectra of L- intermediates produced from E46Q, T50V, and R52Q mutants were calculated using the absorption spectra of dark states and difference absorption spectra between L-intermediates and dark states, and compared with that of PYP$\_$L/. The absorption spectrum of R52Q$\_$L/ agreed with that of PYP$\_$L/, but those of E46Q$\_$L/ and T50V$\_$L/ were red-shifted. The effect of these mutations on the absorption spectrum for L-intermediate was comparable to that for the dark state, suggesting that the interaction around the phe-nolic oxygen of the chromophore is conserved in PYP$\_$L/ unlike the crystal structure. On the other hand, we have reported that the absorption spectra of Y 42F$\_$M/, T50V $\_$M/, and R52Q$\_$M/ agreed with that of PYP$\_$M/, but that of E46Q$\_$M/ was red-shifted, suggesting that the hydrogen bond of the chromophore with Glu46 is conserved but that with Tyr42 is broken in PYP$\_$M/. These results suggest that the chromophore inter-acts with Glu46 throughout the photocycle, but never directly interacts with Arg52. This model con- flicts with some of the structural model of PYP intermediates proposed based on the high-resolution X -ray crystallography.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.302-304
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• 2002

pharaonis phoborhodopsin (ppR), a photophobic sensor of haloalkaliphilic bacteria, Natronobacterium phar-aonis, has retinal as a chromophore covalently bound to Lys in G-helix via a protonated Schiff base (PSB), as is the same as bacteriorhodopsin (bR). For ppR, the corresponding counter-ion is Asp residue (Asp75) located in C-helix. Here we investigated the influence of the protonated state of this counter-ion and its location on the chromophore configuration. Under alkaline condition, the chromophore configuration of D75E mutant was analyzed by HPLC. D75E had a much larger content of 13-cis isomer: the ratio of 13-cis to all-trans was 6:4 while the wild-type had this ratio of 1 :9. On the other hand, under acidic condition where Glu was associated, D75E had no 13-cis retinal isomer. Mutants whose Asp75 was replaced by neutral amino acids (D75N and D75Q) did not contain 13-cis retinal. Furthermore, retinal isomer compositions and the change in the visible ab- sorption spectra (indicating the dissociation state of Glu75) were measured under varying pH, and these were almost the same dependencies. These results indicate that an important factor determining the 13-cis isomer content is the presence of negative charge of the counter-ion against PSB, but not the size of this residue. Com- parison between the wild-type and D75E in alkaline solutions indicates the influence of the location of the counter-ion.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.37-49
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• 2014

In order to elucidate the usefulness of Lycopene, a cherry tomato variety, as a food material, the compositions of free amino acids, amino acid metabolites and polyphenol compounds were analyzed using HPLC and LC-MS/MS method. Lycopene contained eighteen free amino acids except for L-Cys and L-Try. L-Glu was the most abundant free amino acid, followed by L-Gln and L-Asp. The percentages of L-Glu, L-Gln and L-Asp of total free amino acid were 55.5%, 15.9% and 9.9% respectively. Lycopene contained essential amino acids with the exception of tryptophan. The following amino acid metabolites were found : ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid(GABA), carnitine(L-Car), o-phosphoethanolamine(o-Pea), hydroxylysine(Hyl) phosphoserine (p-Ser), N-methyl-histidine(Me-His), ethanolamine($EtNH_2$). Especially, GABA known as a neurotransmitter was present at a high level(305.99 mg/100 g dry weight). We identified the following polyphenol compounds in the cherry tomatoes : caffeic acid-hexose isomer I (CH I), caffeic acid-hexose isomer II (CH II), 3-caffeoylquinic acid(3-CQA), 5-caffeoylquinic acid(5-CQA), caffeoylquinic acid isomer(CQAI), quercetin-hexose-deoxyhexose-pentose(QTS), quercetin-3-rutinoside(Q-3-R), di-caffeoylquinic acid(di-CQA), tri-caffeoylquinic acid(tri-CQA), naringenin chalcone(NGC). Large quantities of Q-3-R and NGC known as bioactive compounds were found. These results revealed that Lycopene variety contained various nutritional and bioactive compounds and would be a potent functional food material.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.1007-1010
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• 2011

The objective was to evaluate in vitro prediction of ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids (AA) for current nursery pig diets (n = 10) by using pepsin and pancreatin incubations. To compare in vivo ileal digestibility, forty nursery pigs (4 pigs per diet) with an initial BW of $12.2{\pm}2.7$ kg were surgically equipped with T-cannula in the distal ileum. In all cases, the values of in vitro digestibility were higher than those of in vivo digestibility (p<0.05). With regard to the relationships of essential and non essential AA (CP), the $r^2$ value was 0.76. With regard to AA, high relationships were observed in Ile, Thr, and Gly (0.85, 0.83, and 0.89, respectively). Also, there was a lower relationship for Arg, Met, Ala, Asp, Glu, Pro, Ser, and Tyr with $R^2$ values of 0.56, 0.54, 0.40, 0.54, 0.45, 0.24, 0.49, and 0.35, respectively between in vitro and in vivo digestibility. The EAA relationship ($R^2$ = 0.71) was generally higher than that of NEAA ($R^2$ = 0.50) numerically. In conclusion, there were strong linear relationships between in vivo and in vitro ileal digestibility (CP, Ile, Thr, and Gly). In vitro prediction of ileal digestibility (CP, Ile, Thr, and Gly) seems to have significant potential for practical application.

• Korea Journal of Cosmetic Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of various pentapeptides on hair repair depending on the characteristics of comprising amino acids using crosslinking agents in hair. Total ten peptides were synthesized with two kinds of amino acids respectively, of which were previously categorized according to R group of the amino acids contributing to the characteristic of each peptide: STTSS (Ser-Thr-Thr-Ser-Ser), LIILL (Leu-Ile-Ile-Leu-Leu), CMMCC (Cys-Met-Met-Cys-Cys), DEEDD (Asp-Glu-Glu-Asp-Asp), RKKRR (Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg), TAMRA-STTSS, TAMRA-LIILL, TAMRA-CMMCC, TAMRA-DEEDD, and TAMRA-RKKRR. Pentapeptide alone, or pentapeptides with crosslinking agents such as polymeric carbodiimide (PCI) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) were treated to chemically damaged hair. Hair diameter and break strength (N = 40/case) were measured to calculate tensile strength of hair for computing hair repair ratio, and fluorescence yields (N = 20/case) were collected for hair treated with TAMRA-peptides. The tensile strength of hair treated with pentapeptides alone, or pentapeptides with cross-linking agents is consistent with the fluorescence yield from the microscope images of the cross-sectioned hair in vision and in numerical values. Pentapeptides consisting of hydrophobic amino acids (LIILL), amino acids with sulfur (CMMCC), and basic amino acids (RKKRR) increased the tensile strength in perm-damaged hair. Pentapeptides with no extra carboxyl/amine groups in R group of amino acids resulted in no significant differences in hair strength and fluorescence yield among hairs treated with alone and with crosslinkers. Pentapeptides with extra carboxyl groups or amine groups enabled further strengthening of hair due to increased bonds within the hair after carbodiimide coupling reaction. The hair repairs of pentapeptides with various amino acid sequences were studied using crosslinking. Depending on the physical characteristics of comprising amino acids, the restoration of damaged hair was observed with tensile strength of hair and fluorescence signals upon cross-sectioned hair in parallel to possibly understand the binding tendency of each pentapeptide within the hair.