• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.838-844
• /
• 2010

A fibrinolytic enzyme of Streptomyces corcohrussi from soil sediment was purified by chromatography using DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and Sephadex G-50. The analysis of SDS-polyacrylamide gel suggested that the purified enzyme is a homogeneous protein and the molecular mass is approximately 34 kDa. The purified enzyme showed activity of 0.8 U/ml in a plasminogen-rich fibrin plate, while its activity in a plasminogen-free fibrin plate was only 0.36 U/ml. These results suggested that the purified enzyme acts as a plasminogen activator. The fibrinolytic activity of the enzyme under the supplementation of protease inhibitors, $\varepsilon$-ACA, t-AMCHA and mercuric chloride in the enzyme reaction was less than 24%, indicating that it could be modulated by the plasmin and/or fibrinogen inhibitors involved in the fibrinogen-to-fibrin converting process. As time passed, $Zn^{2+}$, a heavy metal ion, inhibited the activity to 34.1%. The optimum temperature of the purified enzyme was approximately $50^{\circ}C$ and over 92% of the enzyme activity was maintained between pH 5.0 and 8.0. Therefore, our results provide a potential fibrinolytic enzyme as a noble thrombolytic agent from S. corcohrussi.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.700-707
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the implications of dietary intake and the level of serum micronutrients (Se, Mn, Cu, Zn), lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant capacity in Korean women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) . From October 2002 to March 2003, 50 patients diagnosed with CIN (confirmed with colposcopy directed biopsy) and 50 patients without any cervical disease as the control group were enrolled in the study at the Department of Gynecology Cancer Center at Samsung Cheil Hospital. Animal fat intake in CIN group was significantly higher than that of the control group, but plant protein intake in the CIN group was significantly lower than that of the Control group. Energy and zink intakes were similar in the two groups. The serum concentration of antioxidant minerals in the CIN group were not significantly different from the control group. The total radical trapping antioxidant potential concentration of plasma was significantly lower in the CIN group (1.12mM) than in the control group (1.25mM) (p<0.05). But MDA (malondialde-hyde) of serum was significantly higher in the CIN group (7.60mM) than in the control group (4.99mM) (p<0.005). The serum selenium concentration of the control group showed significant positive correlation with the MDA level (r=0.311). These findings are suggestive of protective roles for healthy dietary habit including increasing antioxidant nut-rients and decreasing intake of fat.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.860-875
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seasonal variation in the mineral contents of fruits and vegetables available all the year -round. We analyzed Na, K, Mg, Ca, P, Fe Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, and Al concentrations by ICP-mass in 4 fruits and 17 vegetables items which are frequently consumed in Koreans. For Na content, fall apples showed the highest levels among 4 seasons, but fall tangerines contained the lowest amount of Na among the four seasons. Among the vegetables, the spinach, carrots, and lettuce contained relatively high amounts of Na. The K contents of cucumbers, cabbage, and zucchini were higher in the fall than in the other seasons. For Ca and Fe contents, spring strawberries, fall pears, and fall cabbage had the highest levels. The Cr contents of the apples were higher in the fall and winter than those were in the spring and summer. The strawberries contained their highest amounts of Cr, Mn, and Cu in the spring. The above results showed there are seasonal differences in the mineral contents of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, the fruits and vegetables tended to contain more minerals in the season they were harvested. Therefore, it is recommended to consume those fruits and vegetables during their harvest season.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.145-154
• /
• 2003

The present study was designed to demonstrate ionic zinc in the rat nasal mucosa by means of zinc selenium autometallography ($ZnSe^{AMG}$). Rats were given sodium selenide either intraperitoneally (i.p) or intranasally (i.n). Prior to the i.n. administration the rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg, i.p.). A thin plastic tube coupled to a Hamilton syringe was then inserted into the right nostril and $10{\mu}l$ of the solution was instilled. For the i.p. administration non-anesthetized rats were given $100{\mu}l$ of the sodium selenide solution (10 mg/kg). Control rats were instilled with saline. After 2 hrs survival, the rats were anaesthetized and transcardially perfused with 3% glutaraldehyde. The olfactory area was removed and put into same fixative. The nose was then sectioned ($30{\mu}m$) horizontally, autometallography (AMG) was performed according to Danscher et al. (1997). After silver enhancement, fine AMG grains were scattered in the whole length of the olfactory epithelium containing olfactory receptor neurons, sustentacular and basal cells. However, much higher concentration of the AMG grains occupied near the surface and in the basal region of the olfactory epithelium. Both groups of i.p. and i.n. administration showed almost same level in the concentration of the AMG grains. In i.n. group, few AMG grains were also found in olfactory nerves of the lamina propria, suggesting zinc transport into the olfactory bulb via olfactory axons. At the electron microscopic level, the AMG grains were most entirely found in the supporting cells of the olfactory epithelium, and they were mostly localized in lysosome-like organelles. The i.n. group showed various signs of tissue damage of the olfactory mucosa, where dense concentration of AMG grains were localized at crystalloid structures. The present study demonstrated dense population of ionic zinc in the rat olfactory epithelium. zinc may play a role in the olfactory functioin and in the pathogenesis of the neurodegerative disorders affecting nose.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.86-94
• /
• 2015

Chironomous is aquatic insect belonging to order Diptera, family Chironomidae. Their larval stage can be found mainly in aquatic benthic environment, hence good model organism to study environmental toxicology assessments and consider as useful bio indicators of contamination of the aquatic environment. In this study, Chironomus Heat Shock Proteins, Cytochrome 450, Glutathione S-transferase, Serine-type endopeptidase gene expressions were compared between polluted field areas (Chironomus plumosus) and under laboratory conditions (Chironomus riparious) to investigate molecular indicators for environmental contaminant stress assessment. Heavy metal (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn, Se, Pb, As, Cd) concentrations in sediments collected from three study areas exceeded the reference values. Moreover, HSPs, CYP450 and GST gene expression except SP for C. plumosus showed higher expression than C. riparious gene expression. Similar gene expression pattern was observed in C. riparious that exposed environment waters up to 96 h when compared to C. plumosus exposed to waters that grown in lab conditions. In summary, this comparative gene expression analysis in Chironomous between field and laboratory condition gave useful information to select candidate molecular indicators in heavy metal contaminations in the environment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.64-71
• /
• 2015

Soil contamination with arsenic and heavy metals is a worldwide problem. Main objective of this research was to evaluated effects of reducing heavy metal leaching under reduced soil condition amended with industrial by-products. The contaminated soil was amended with 3% (w/w) of limestone (Ls), steel slag (SS) and acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS). Synthetic acid rain ($H_2SO_4:HNO_3=6:4$, pH 5.5 fixed) was used for feeding solution with flow rate of $0.78{\sim}0.88mL\;min^{-1}$. Results showed that similar pH and EC of leachate was observed in all treatments regardless of applied industrial by-products. However, arsenic concentration of leachate increased when industrial by-products were mixed. Meanwhile, concentration of heavy metal in the leachate decreased from 11.3 to 4.59 mg for Cd, from 92.3 to 7.93 mg for Pb, and from 11,716 to 1,788 mg for Zn via immobilization in soil with AMDS amended, respectively. Overall, application of industrial by-products can be an environmentally-friendly way to remediate soil and(or) leachate contaminated with metal(loid)s in metal mine site.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.177-193
• /
• 2009

The Samgwang deposit consists of eight massive mesothermal quartz veins that filled NE and NW-striking fractures along fault zones in Precambrian granitic gneiss of the Gyeonggi massif. The mineralogy and paragenesis of the veins allow two separate discrete mineralization episodes(stage I=quartz and calcite stage, stage II-calcite stage) to be recognized, temporally separated by a major faulting event. The ore minerals are contained within quartz and calcite associated with fracturing and healing of veins that occurred during both mineralization episodes. The hydrothermal alteration of stage I is sericitization, chloritization, carbonitization, pyritization, silicification and argillization. Sericitic zone occurs near and at quartz vein and include mainly sericite, quartz, and minor illite, carbonates and chlorite. Chloritic zone occurs far from quartz vein and is composed of mainly chlorite, quartz and minor sericite, carbonates and epidote. Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios of sericite and chlorite range 0.45 to 0.50(0.48$\pm$0.02) and 0.74 to 0.81(0.77$\pm$0.03), and belong to muscovite-petzite series and brunsvigite, respectiveIy. Calculated $Al_{IV}$-FE/(FE+Mg) diagrams of sericite and chlorite suggest that this can be a reliable indicator of alteration temperature in Au-Ag deposits. Calculated activities of chlorite end member are $a3(Fe_5Al_2Si_3O_{10}(OH)_6$=0.0275${\sim}$0.0413, $a2(Mg_5Al_2Si_3O_{10}(OH)_6$=1.18E-10${\sim}$7.79E-7, $a1(Mg_6Si_4O_{10}(OH)_6$=4.92E-10${\sim}$9.29E-7. It suggest that chlorite from the Samgwang deposit is iron-rich chlorite formed due to decreasing temperature from high temperature(T>450$^{\circ}C$). Calculated ${\alpha}Na^+$, ${\alpha}K^+$, ${\alpha}Ca^{2+}$, ${\alpha}Mg^{2+}$ and pH values during wallrock alteration are 0.0476($400^{\circ}C$), 0.0863($350^{\circ}C$), 0.0154($400^{\circ}C$), 0.0231($350^{\circ}C$), 2.42E-11($400^{\circ}C$), 7.07E-10($350^{\circ}C$), 1.59E-12($400^{\circ}C$), 1.77E-11($350^{\circ}C$), 5.4${\sim}$6.4($400^{\circ}C$), 5.3${\sim}$5.7($350^{\circ}C$)respectively. Gain elements(enrichment elements) during wallrock alteration are $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3(T)$,CaO, MnO, MgO, As, Ag, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, W, V, Br, Cs, Rb, Sc, Bi, Nb, Sb, Se, Sn and Lu. Elements(Ag, As, Zn, Sc, Sb, Rb, S, $CO_2$) represents a potential tools for exploration in mesothermal and epithermal gold-silver deposits.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.485-491
• /
• 2009

In order to examine the nutritional value of prickly pear(Opuntia humifusa), contents of ash, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins were determined on freeze-dried stem, fruit, seed and root from plants harvested in autumn. The average moisture contents for stem, fruit, seed and root were 67~87%. Crude ash content determined on dry weight basis was 2~3%. Crude protein existed mostly in seed(2.95%) and root(2.37%). Crude fat was detected mainly in seed(4.49%). Contents of major minerals(mg/100 mg dry weight) was generally higher in stem. Ca in stem(4,142.30) and fruit(2,790.86) were much higher than in seed(43.37). P in stem, seed and fruit were 448.19, 263.20 and 161.59, respectively. Stem also displayed more abundant Mg(1,110.86), Zn(35.62) and Mn(37.07). However, fruit contained higher amounts of Fe(13.38) and Se(0.15). Vitamin A was negligible in all plant parts. Vitamin E contents in fruit and stem were 1.78 mg and 1.22 mg/mg dry weight, respectively. Vitamin C was detected mostly in fruit(445.40) and stem(260.94). Use of a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-based microtiter assay of cell viability demonstrated an anti-proliferative effect of O. humifusa extract on the MCF-7 estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cell line.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.1271-1283
• /
• 2007

A fibrinolytic protease (PoFE) was purified from the cultured mycelia of the edible oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, using a combination of various chromatographies. The purification protocol resulted in an 876-fold purification of the enzyme, with a final yield of 6.5%. The apparent molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 32 kDa by SDS-PAGE, fibrin-zymography, and size exclusion using FPLC. The optimal reaction pH value and temperature were pH 6.5 and $35^{\circ}C$, respectively. PoFE effectively hydrolyzed fibrinogen, preferentially digesting the $A{\alpha}$-chain and the $B{\beta}$-chain over the ${\gamma}$-chain. Enzyme activity was enhanced by the addition of $Ca^{2+},\;Zn^{2+},\;and\;Mg^{2+}$ ions. Furthermore, PoFE activity was potently inhibited by EDTA, and it was found to exhibit a higher specificity for the chromogenic substrate S-2586 for chymotrypsin, indicating that the enzyme is a chymotrypsin-like metalloprotease. The first 19 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence were ALRKGGAAALNIYSVGFTS, which is extremely similar to the metalloprotease purified from the fruiting body of P. ostreatus. In addition, we cloned the PoFE protein, encoding gene, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cDNA of cloned PoFE is 867 nucleotides long and consists of an open reading frame encoding 288 amino acid residues. Its cDNA showed a high degree of homology with PoMEP from P. ostreatus fruiting body. The mycelia of P. ostreatus may thus represent a potential source of new therapeutic agents to treat thrombosis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.82-89
• /
• 1998

This study was performed to elucidate the purification and characterization of pretease from saewoo-jeot, a Korean traditional salt-fermented shrimp product. The protease in saewoo-jeot (Acetes japonicus) were extracted, desalted through electrodialysis and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Purified enzyme had specific activity of 8.4 unit/mg, yield of 14% and purification fold of 9.8. Purified enzyme was confirmed as single band protein by polyacrylamide gel electrophresis and the molecular weight was estimated to be about 24 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were 8.0 and $40^{\circ}C$, respectively. The range of its stability to the pH and temperature were 7.0 to 10.0 and $30^{\circ}C\;to\;60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity of enzyme to synthetic substrate showed BAPNA and TAME. The enzyme was activated significantly by manganese ions, while inhibited by STI, TLCK. metals $(K^+,\;Li^+,\;Na^+,\;Ca^{++},\;Co^{++},\;Cu^{++},\;Mg^{++},\;Ba^{++},\;Hg^{++},\;Zn^{++},\;Fe^{+++})$. The Km value of the enzyme was $5.1{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ to hammersten casein. It's suggested that purified protease from saewoo-jeot seemed to be trypsin-like enzyme.