• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.591-604
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• 2020

The objectives of this study were to find out the best condition of extracting methods of limonene from citron and to determine effects of limonene on immune modulation activity by measuring cytokine secretion using RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. When distilled water was used as a solvent instead of organic solvents to extract limonene from citron, addition of refluxing process to simultaneous steam distillation extraction method was found to be much effective in extracting limonene. However, it required longer extraction time than using other organic solvents. Limonene extracts showed increased IL-β and IL-6 but decreased the TNF-α gene expression in limonene concentration dependant manner. However oral administration of limonene extracts to mice did not influence significantly compared to control in in vivo experiment. It might be due to that the mice were kept in well controlled and complete environment. Limonene, a natural material from citron has been approved to have a immune-modulation activity in the present study and have a potential as a feed additive that is environmentally friendly and no harmful. Further study with protected limonene, for example, for the protection of limonene from oxidation or bypass the ruminal degradation in order consequently to increase immune-modulation activity might be useful as a further research.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.391-403
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• 2018

Genome resequencing by next-generation sequencing technology can reveal numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a closely-related cultivar group, which would enable the development of sufficient SNP markers for mapping and the identification of useful genes present in the cultivar group. We analyzed genome sequence data from 13 Korean japonica rice varieties and discovered 740,566 SNPs. The SNPs were distributed at 100-kbp intervals throughout the rice genome, although the SNP density was uneven among the chromosomes. Of the 740,566 SNPs, 1,014 SNP sites were selected on the basis of polymorphism information content (PIC) value higher than 0.4 per 200-kbp interval, and 506 of these SNPs were converted to Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers. The 506 KASP markers were tested for genotyping with the 13 sequenced Korean japonica rice varieties, and polymorphisms were detected in 400 KASP markers (79.1%) which would be suitable for genetic analysis and molecular breeding. Additionally, a genetic map comprising 205 KASP markers was successfully constructed with 188 $F_2$ progenies derived from a cross between the varieties, Junam and Nampyeong. In a phylogenetic analysis with 81 KASP markers, 13 Korean japonica varieties showed close genetic relationships and were divided into three groups. More KASP markers are being developed and these markers will be utilized in gene mapping, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis, marker-assisted selection and other strategies relevant to crop improvement.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2019

Background: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a transmembrane protein, binds to the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor, and anti-PD-1 therapy enables immune responses against tumors. This study aimed to assess clinical characteristics of PD-L1 expression using immunohistochemistry among Korean patients with lung cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with pathologically proven lung cancer from a single institution. PD-L1 expression determined by Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) was detected using 22C3 pharmDx (Agilent Technologies) and SP263 (Ventana Medical Systems) assays. Results: From July 2016 to July 2017, 267 patients were enrolled. The main histologic type was adenocarcinoma (69.3%). Most participants were smokers (67.4%) and had clinical stage IV disease (60.7%). In total, 116 (42%) and 58 (21%) patients had TPS ${\geq}1%$ and ${\geq}50%$, respectively. The patients were significantly older in TPS ${\geq}1%$ group than in TPS <1% group ($64.83{\pm}9.38years$ vs. $61.73{\pm}10.78years$, p=0.014), not in TPS ${\geq}50%$ cutoff value ($64.69{\pm}9.39$ vs. $62.36{\pm}10.51$, p=0.178). Regarding histologic grade, higher proportions of poorly differentiated tumor were observed in the TPS ${\geq}1%$ (40.8% vs. 25.8%, p=0.020) and TPS ${\geq}50%$ groups (53.2% vs. 27.2%, p=0.004). Among 34 patients examined with 22C3 and SP263 assays, 27 had positive results in both assays, with a cutoff of TPS ${\geq}1%$ (r=0.826; 95% confidence interval, 0.736-0.916). Conclusion: PD-L1 expression, defined as TPS ${\geq}1%$, was related to older age and poorly differentiated histology. There was a similar distribution of PD-L1 expression in both 22C3 and SP263 results.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.211-226
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• 2019

Pig CD45, the leukocyte common antigen, is encoded by the PTPRC gene and CD45 is a T cell-type specific tyrosine phosphatase with alternative splicing of its exons. The CD45 is a coordinated regulator of T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signal transduction achieved by dephosphorylating the phosphotyrosine of its substances, including $CD3{\zeta}$ chain of TCR, Lck, Fyn, and Zap-70 kinase. A dysregulation of CD45 is associated with a multitude of immune disease and has been a target for immuno-drug discovery. To characterize its key structural features with the effects of regulating TCR signaling, this study predicted the unknown structure of pig CD45RO (the smallest isoform) and the complex structure bound to the ITAM (REEpYDV) of $CD3{\zeta}$ chain via homology modeling and docking the peptide, based on the known human CD45 structures. These features were integrated into the structural plasticity of extracellular domains and functional KNRY and PTP signature motifs (the role of a narrow entrance into ITAM binding site) of the tyrosine phosphatase domains in a cytoplasmic region from pig CD45RO. This contributes to the selective recognition of phosphotyrosine from its substrates by adjusting the structural stability and binding affinity of the complex. The characterized features of pigCD45RO can be applied in virtual screening of the T-cell specific immunomodulator.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2019

H-NS binds to promoter DNA and works as a general transcription silencer. DicA protein, by binding to the promoter DNA of dicA, activates dicA expression and at the same time inhibits expression of dicF and dicB, thus, exerting cell division control in Escherichia coli. H-NS complexed with a nucleoid protein Cnu was known to be involved in dicA expression. However, the exact nature of H-NS binding to dicA promoter DNA and the consequences of H-NS binding in expression of dicA is not clear. In this study, we explored the DNA binding activity of H-NS on the promoter DNA of dicA and found that H-NS binding occurs exclusively to the dicA promoter DNA. We never observed, however, H-NS binding at the vicinity of the dicA promoter. Temperature dependent oligomerization of H-NS was observed during DNA binding and the Cnu protein enhances the oligomerization process of H-NS binding. In vivo measurement of dicA expression in an hns deleted strain showed that dicA expression increased. These results demonstrated that H-NS binds specifically to dicA promoter DNA and functions as a transcription silencer.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.398-409
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• 2018

In the present study, biogenic amine-forming Bacillus spp. and bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from Doenjang were generally identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of cheonggukjang prepared using the isolated strains were investigated. Biogenic amine-producing bacteria from the samples were identified as Bacillus licheniformis DB102, B. subtilis DB203, B. stearothermophilus DB206, B. pumilus DB209, B. subtilis DB310, B. coagulans DB311, B. cereus DB313, B. amyloliquefaciens DB714, B. amylolique-faciens DB915, B. licheniformis DB917, B. cereus DB1019, B. subtilis DB1020, B. megaterium DB1022. The bacteriocin-producing LAB showed antibacterial effect against biogenic amine-producing Bacillus spp. were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum DLA205, L. brevis DLA501, L. fermentum DLA509, L. acidophilus DLA703, and Enterococcus faecalis DLA804. The bacteriocin produced by the LAB significantly decreased the viable numbers and the amine production ability of the biogenic amine-forming Bacillus spp. in a concentration dependent manner. Therefore, the pH, ammonia nitrogen and biogenic amine content of cheonggukjang prepared by mixed culture of the LAB and Bacillus spp. were significantly decreased compared to the control group.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.351-363
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• 2018

In ornamental crops, the color and shape of flowers are one of the important traits. Generally, flower colors are determined by accumulating pigments such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and betalains. Among them, flavonoids are responsible for broad ranges of colors. Chrysanthemums are one of the most popular ornamental crops in the world, and there have been many efforts to change their flower color. In chrysanthemum flowers, cyanidin-based anthocyanin confers pink or red color, whereas terpenoid-based carotenoids are mainly responsible for yellow and green colors. However, blue colored chrysanthemums do not occur in nature. To date, there have been attempts to obtain blue or violet-colored chrysanthemum flowers through the introduction of a novel gene for accumulating delphinidin-based anthocyanins, while other studies have reported changing endogenous metabolites through the reconstruction of flavonoid biosynthesis. Since various transcription factors are involved in the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis, it is important to understand not only the structural genes, but also the transcription factors required for the modification of flavonoid-based flower color. Therefore, in this paper, we describe the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and its regulation, and review previous studies on the change in flower color through modification of flavonoid biosynthesis. This effort could be an important milestone in successfully achieving the modification of chrysanthemum flower color by means of plant biotechnology.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1808-1816
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• 2022

Objective: The study of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) has mainly been focused on meat quality and productivity. Recently the field of microbiome research has increased dramatically. However, the information on the microbiome in Hanwoo is still insufficient, especially relationship between vagina and feces. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the microbial community characteristics by analyzing the 16S rRNA sequencing data of Hanwoo vagina and feces, as well as to confirm the difference and correlation between vaginal and fecal microorganisms. As a result, the goal is to investigate if fecal microbiome can be used to predict vaginal microbiome. Methods: A total of 31 clinically healthy Hanwoo that delivered healthy calves more than once in Cheongju, South Korea were enrolled in this study. During the breeding season, we collected vaginal and fecal samples and sequenced the microbial 16S rRNA genes V3-V4 hypervariable regions from microbial DNA of samples. Results: The results revealed that the phylum-level microorganisms with the largest relative distribution were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria in the vagina, and Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes in the feces, respectively. In the analysis of alpha, beta diversity, and effect size measurements (LefSe), the results showed significant differences between the vaginal and fecal samples. We also identified the function of these differentially abundant microorganisms by functional annotation analyses. But there is no significant correlation between vaginal and fecal microbiome. Conclusion: There is a significant difference between vaginal and fecal microbiome, but no significant correlation. Therefore, it is difficult to interrelate vaginal microbiome as fecal microbiome in Hanwoo. In a further study, it will be necessary to identify the genetic relationship of the entire microorganism between vagina and feces through the whole metagenome sequencing analysis and meta-transcriptome analysis to figure out their relationship.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ginseng extract (GSE) and taurine (TR) are widely used antifatigue resources in functional foods. However, the mechanism underlying the antifatigue effects of GSE and TR are still unclear. Hence, we investigated whether GSE and TR have synergistic effects against fatigue in mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: L6 cells were treated with different concentrations of TR and GSE, and cell viability was determined using 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium. Oxidative stress was analyzed by immunocytochemistry using MitoTracker^TM Red FM and an anti-8-oxoguanine antibody. Respiratory gas analysis was performed to investigate metabolism. Expression of an activated protein kinase was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of cluster of differentiation 36 and pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Mice were orally administered TR, GSE, or their combination for 30 days, and then fatigue-related parameters, including lactate, blood urea nitrogen, and glycogen, were measured after forced swimming. RESULTS: TR and GSE reduced oxidative stress levels in hydrogen peroxide-stimulated L6 cells and enhanced the oxygen uptake and lipid metabolism in mice after acute exercise. After oral administration of TR or GSE for 30 days, the fatigue-related parameters did not change in mice. However, the mice administered GSE (400 mg/kg/day) alone for 30 days could swim longer than those from the other groups. Further, no synergistic effect was observed after the swimming exercise in mice treated with the TR and GSE combination for 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data suggest that TR and GSE may exert antifatigue effects in mice after acute exercise by enhancing oxygen uptake and lipid oxidation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.729-733
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• 2022

Aggregation of normally soluble proteins can cause disease-related problems. Tryptophan synthase α-subunit (αTS) in E. coli adopts one of most popular structural scaffolds, the TIM barrel fold. Previous mutagenesis of the αTS gene resulted in many aggregation-prone mutant proteins. Here, Y173F (Tyr at residue 173 to Phe) substitution, which imparts increased stability, was tested for its ability to suppress aggregation of aggregation-prone mutant proteins (Y4C, S33L, P28L, P28S, G44S, D46N, P96L, and P96S). Aggregation was suppressed in all eight severe aggregate-forming mutants (all differing in their mutation positions), by the Y173F replacement. P28L αTS, which was available in pure form, was further analyzed and showed reduced secondary structure content, lower stability, and a looser structure with more exposed hydrophobic surface compared to the wild type protein. A double mutant P28L/Y173F protein showed almost no indication of these changes compared to the wild type protein. We hypothesized that Tyr at position 173 in αTS is positioned at the hydrophobic core and may serve to suppress the aggregation of this protein caused by other residues. Important residue (s) could be working widely in the prevention/suppression of protein aggregation.