• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1995

Since the turn of the century, scientists have earnestly sought to develop a single laboratory assay or combination of laboratory assays which accurately predict the fertility of a semen sample. Most of these assays have focused on evaluating physical characteristics of sperm such as motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and morphology. In recent years new approches have been used to assess the functional aspects of a sperm that are needed to reach the oocyte, fertilize it and contribute to successful embryo development. Among these techniques are the ability of sperm to undergo a heparin induced acrosome reaction and in vitro fertilization, and the affinity of sperm to bind heparin binding protein. Intensification of research efforts in the area of control of sperm fertilizing ability should be a high priority, in view of undoubted benifits both to our basic understanding of sperm fertilizing ability and to our ability to modify it for Al industry.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1019-1021
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• 2009

Antiproliferative activity of the ethanol extract of Atractylodes japonica rhizomes (AJEX) was investigated using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays with various cancer cell lines (HL-60, MCF-7, SK-Br-3, MDA-MB-453, HepG2, Hep3B, PC-3, LNCaP, MKN 28, MKN 45, and HT-29 cells). Gastric carcinoma cell lines were the most responsive in terms of cell proliferation. The $IC_{50}$ of MKN 28 and MKN 45 cells were 35.98 and 27.57 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Moreover, gastric carcinoma cells exposed to AJEX underwent apoptosis, as determined by Annexin V binding assay. Compared to respective control level, exposure to the AJEX at each $IC_{50}$ concentration resulted in a remarkable increase in the shift of cell populations. Present results suggest that AJEX possess potential anticancer properties.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2000

Nef is a lentiviral protein involved in pathogenesis of AIDS, but its molecular mechanism of action remains incompletely understood. Here we report the isolation of the interacting protein with the HIV-1 Nef, using the yeast two hybrid system for expression cloning. One of the positive colonies was selected as the final candidate for the interacting protein gene. The nucleotide sequencing revealed that this interacting protein is Human Ikaros/LyF-1. This protein interacted with the C-terminal region of Nef specifically in yeast system, not with the N-terminal region. This interaction was also confirmed by in vitro binding assay.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.69-69
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• 1997

In the screening of tropical medicinal plants using PAE receptor binding assay, the ether extract of Ardisia crispa showed the potent antagonistic activity. Ardisia crispa have been used to heal the scurf, earache, orchitis, fever and diarrhoea, cough and given to the mother after childbirth to ‘wash out dirty blood’ in Malaysia. By means of activity guided isolation, compound AC7-1 was isolated as the potent PAF antagonist. In this study, antiplatelet effects of compound AC7-1 were examined in vitro platelet aggregation assay using the chronolog aggregometer. Compound AC7-1 inhibited PAF-, collagen-, ADP-, thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in human, rabbit and rat platelet rich plasma. In vitro rabbit platelet aggregation, the IC$\_$50/ value of compound AC7-1 was 5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-6/ M against PAF(5 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-7/M)-induced aggregation. The IC$\_$50/ values of AC7-1 on PAF-induced platelet aggregation increased with increase of the concentration of PAF used. This result suggested the competitive nature of the AC7-1 antagonism. In vitro rat platelet aggregation, the IC$\_$50/ values of AC7-1 on collagen-, ADP-induced platelet aggregation were 4 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-6/ M, 2 ${\times}$ 10$\^$-5/ M, respectively. Also in vitro human platelet aggregation, AC7-1 potently inhibited both the primary phase and secondary phase of thrombin-induced aggregation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a permeability glycoprotein also known as multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1). P-gp is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that pumps various types of drugs out of cells. These transporters reduce the intracellular concentrations of drugs and disturb drug absorption. The Caco-2 cell permeability assay system is an effective in vitro system that predicts the intestinal absorption of drugs and the functions of enzymes and transporters. Rhodamine-123 (R-123) and digoxin are well-known P-gp substrates that have been used to determine the function of P-gp. Efflux of P-gp substrates by P-gp has been routinely evaluated. To date, a number of herbal medicines have been tested with Caco-2 cell permeability assay system to assess bioavailability. There are growing efforts to find phytochemicals that potentially regulate P-gp function. The Caco-2 cell permeability assay system is a primary strategy to search for candidates of P-gp inhibitors. In this mini review, we have summarized the P-gp modulation by herbal extracts, decoctions or single components from natural products using Caco-2 cell permeability assays. Many natural products are known to regulate P-gp and herbal medicines could be used in combination with conventional drugs to enhance bioavailability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.60-60
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• 1995

새로운 혈소판 활성화인자 (PAF) 수용체 결합 저해활성 유효성분인 pinusolide ($IC_{50}$/=2.5$\times$$10^{-7}$M)와 arctigenin($IC_{50}$/=5.2$\times$$10^{-6}$M)을 측백엽(Biota orientalis)과 우방자(Arctium lappa)로부터 분리하여 이미 보고한 바 있다. PAF 수용체에 대한 구조활성 상관관계를 규명하고자 또한 용해도가 우수한 강력한 PAF 길항제를 개발하고자 이 길항제들의 유도체들을 다양한 유기화학반응을 이용하여 합성하였고 in vitro PAF receptor binding assay로 그 활성의 강도를 비교 검토하였다. 그 결과, lactone ring 부분은 unsaturated lactone이 saturated lactone보다 활성이 강하였고 ring이 개열되면 활성이 현저히 감소하였다. pinusolide 경우 exocylclic double bond 부분은 sp$^2$구조의 hydrophobic한 유도체가 활성이 강하였으며, methyl ester 부분은 hydrophobic한 유도체가 활성이 강하였다. Arctigenin의 경우 aromatic unit가 hydrophobic할수록 활성이 강하였다.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.277-282
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• 2002

Topoisomearse II is an essential enzyme in all organisms with several independent roles in DNA metabolism. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the C-terminal region of topoisomerases II is associated with hetero-logous protein-protein interactions in human and yeast. In this study, we identified that RTP1, a rat homologue of EIA binding protein BS69, is another topoisomerae II interacting protein by yeast two-hybrid screening. RTP1 has an E1A-binding domain and a MYND motif, which are known to be required for transcriptional regulation by binding to other proteins and interaction with the leucine zipper motif of topoisomerase II. The physical interaction between RTP1 and topoisomerase ll$\alpha$ was examined by GST pull-down assay in vitro. The expression level of RTP1 peaks in S phase as that of topoisomerase ll$\alpha$. These results suggest that the interaction between topoisomerase ll$\alpha$ and RTP1 might play an important role in regulating the transcription of genes involved in DNA metabolism in higher eukaryotes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2013

CTLA-4Ig is regarded as an inhibitory agent of the T cell proliferation via blocking the costimulatory signal which is essential for full T cell activation. To improve applicability, we developed the CTLA-4Ig-CTKC in which the c-terminal lysine had been replaced by cysteine through single amino acid change. The single amino acid mutation of c-terminus of CTLA-4Ig was performed by PCR and was checked by in vitro transcription and translation. DNA construct of mutant form was transfected to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by electroporation. The purified proteins were confirmed by Western blot and B7-1 binding assay for their binding ability. The suppressive capacity of CTLA-4Ig-CTKC was evaluated by the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and in the allogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation model. CTLA-4Ig-CTKC maintained binding ability to B7-1 molecule and effectively inhibits T cell proliferation in MLR. In the murine allogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation, short-term treatment of CTLA-4Ig-CTKC prolonged the graft survival over 100 days. CTLA-4Ig-CTKC effectively inhibits immune response both in MLR and in allogeneic islet transplantation model, indicating that single amino acid mutation does not affect the inhibitory function of CTLA-4Ig. CTLA-4Ig-CTKC can be used in vehicle-mediated drug delivery system such as liposome conjugation.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 1997

Although extensively characterized in human cells, no heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein(hnRNP) has been found in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe which is amenable to genetic studies and more similar to mammals than Saccharomyces cerevisiae is in terms of RNA processing. As a first step to characterize hnRNPs from S. pombe, attempt was made to find human hnRNP A1 homologs from S. pombe. The RNA molecule (A1 winner) containing the consensus high-affinity hnRNP A1 binding site (UAGGGA/U) was synthesized in vitro and used in an ultraviolet(UV) light-induced protein-RNA cross-linking assay. A number of S, pombe proteins bound to the A1 winner RNA. An approximately 50-kDa protein(p50) cross-linked more efficiently to the A1 winner RNA than other proteins. The p50 protein did not cross-link to a nonspecific RNA, but rather to the A1-5’ SS RNA in which the consensus 5’ splice junction sites of S. pombe introns were abolished. This suggests that the p50 protein, however, did not bind to the single-stranded DNA to shich the human hnRNP A1 could bind and be eluted with 0.5M NaCl. Further analysis should reveal more features of this RNA-binding protein.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.414-421
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• 1998

In order to compare the suppressive effect of quercetin and its glycosides, such as quercitrin (quercetin-3-rhamnoside), isoquercitrin (quercetin-3-glucoside), hyperin (querceti n-3-galactoside)and rutin (quercetin-3-rhamnosyl glucoside), on the genotocicity by benzo(a)pyrene(B(a)P), in vitro sister chromatid exchange(SCE) test using mouse spleen lymphocytes and in vivo micronucleus test using mouse peripheral blood were performed. B(a)P-induced SCEs in vitro were slightly decreased by the simultaneous treatment of quercetin and its glycosides, although there was no significant decrease. On the other hand, MNU induced micronucleated reticulocytes(MNRL7s) in vivo were significantly decreased with a dose-dependent manner in all compounds tested. However, there were no differences between quercetin aglycone and glycosides in the suppressive effects under experimental condition of this study. To elucidate, the action mechanism of quercetin aglycone and its glycosides against B(a)P-induced genotoxicity, the assay of DNA binding with B(a)P was studied. Quercetin aglycone and its glycosides inhibited B(a)P metabolism in the presence of S-9 mix and decreased the B(a)P/DNA binding in the calf thymus DNA with S-9 mix. These results suggest that antigenotoxicity of quercetin antiglycosides on B(a)P-induced genotoxicity is due to decrease of DNA binding with B(a)P through the inhibition of metabolism with B(a)P in the calf thymus DNA. Therefore, quercetin and its glycosides may act as an antigenotoxicity agent and may be useful as a chemopreventive agent of polycyclic aromaic hydrocarbons like B(a)P.