• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 1990

Metabolic inhibitors which act in the process of pyrimidine salvage influenced on the uracil incorporation into nucleic acids of Toxoplasma. Inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase, pyrimethamine and methotrexate, and inhibitors of thymidylate synthase, fluoro-uridine, fluoro·dUMP and fluoro-uracil, diminished isotopic uracil uptake in dose-dependent manners. Azauridine which suppresses do novo pyrimidine biosynthesis did not affect the salvage even in a relatively high dose. These results suggested that the activation of uracil salvage should be closely related with the function of TMP biosynthetic enzymes. The pattern of thymidine uptake had no differences between control HL-60 cells and Toxoplasma infected cells, which did not reject the specific proliferation of Texoplasma. It can be exploited to characterize the elects of various compounds related with the proliferation of Toxoplasma, especially its DNA synthesis. Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, uracil salvage, dihydrofolate reductase, thymidylate synthase TMP biosynthesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.336-342
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• 2010

Obesity-induced disorders contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, fatty liver diseases, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we evaluated the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of aloe formula in high fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6N mice. Male mice fed HFD for 28 weeks received a supplement of aloe formula, PAG, ALS, Aloe QDM, and an Aloe QDM complex for a further 8 weeks and were then compared with regular diet fed mice. After the experimental period, the blood glucose levels of the Aloe QDM complex-and PGZ-supplemented mice were significantly lower than those of the HFD-fed mice. Aloe formula, especially the Aloe QDM complex, and the PGZ treatment group profoundly affected the IPGTT and HOMA-IR. Immunochemistry was done for the morphological observation and the resulting sizes of adipocytes around the epididymis were significantly decreased when comparing the aloe formula-treated and HFD-fed groups. Further, aloe formula decreased mRNA expression of fatty acid synthesis enzymes and led to reduced hepatic steatosis in both liver and WAT. These results suggest that supplementation of Aloe QDM complex in the HFD-fed mice improved insulin resistance by lowering blood glucose levels and reducing adipocytes. Our data suggest that dietary aloe formula reduces obesity-induced glucose tolerance by suppressing fatty acid synthesis in the WAT and liver, both of which are important peripheral tissues affecting insulin resistance. The Aloe QDM complex could be used as a nutritional intervention against T2D.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2020

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus larvae. It seriously affects the development of animal husbandry and endangers human health. Due to a poor understanding of the cystic fluid formation pathway, there is currently a lack of innovative methods for the prevention and treatment of CE. In this study, the protoscoleces (PSCs) in the encystation process were analyzed by high-throughput RNA sequencing. A total of 32,401 transcripts and 14,903 cDNAs revealed numbers of new genes and transcripts, stage-specific genes, and differently expressed genes. Genes encoding proteins involved in signaling pathways, such as putative G-protein coupled receptor, tyrosine kinases, and serine/threonine protein kinase, were predominantly up-regulated during the encystation process. Antioxidant enzymes included cytochrome c oxidase, thioredoxin glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase were a high expression level. Intriguingly, KEGG enrichment suggested that differentially up-regulated genes involved in the vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption metabolic pathway may play important roles in the transport of proteins, carbohydrates, and other substances. These results provide valuable information on the mechanism of cystic fluid production during the encystation process, and provide a basis for further studies on the molecular mechanisms of growth and development of PSCs.

• International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2004

The history of studies in biology regarding reactive oxygen species (ROS) is approximately 40 years. During the initial 30 years, it appeared that these studies were mainly focused on the toxicity of ROS. However, recent studies have identified another action regarding oxidative signaling, other than toxicity of ROS. Basically, it is suggested that ROS are reactive, and degenerate to biomolecules such as DNA and proteins, leading to deterioration of cellular functions as an oxidative stress. On the other hand, recent studies have shown that ROS act as oxidative signaling in cells, resulting in various gene expressions. Recently ROS emerged as critical signaling molecules in cardiovascular research. Several studies over the past decade have shown that physiological effects of vasoactive factors are mediated by these reactive species and, conversely, that altered redox mechanisms are implicated in the occurrence of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases ROS is a collective term often used by scientist to include not only the oxygen radicals($O2^{-{\cdot}},\;{^{\cdot}}OH$), but also some non-radical derivatives of oxygen. These include hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and ozone (O3). The superoxide anion ($O2^{-{\cdot}}$) is formed by the univalent reduction of triplet-state molecular oxygen ($^3O_2$). Superoxide dismutase (SOD)s convert superoxide enzymically into hydrogen peroxide. In biological tissues superoxide can also be converted nonenzymically into the nonradical species hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$). In the presence of reduced transition metals (e.g., ferrous or cuprous ions), hydrogen peroxide can be converted into the highly reactive hydroxyl radical (${^{\cdot}}OH$). Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide may be converted into water by the enzymes catalase or glutathione peroxidase. In the glutathione peroxidase reaction glutathione is oxidized to glutathione disulfide, which can be converted back to glutathione by glutathione reductase in an NADPH-consuming process.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.257-278
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• 1985

The effect of aromatic amino acids such as phenylalaine, tryptophan and tyrosine on somitogenesis at the early stage of chick embryo has been investigated morphologically using light and electron microscopy. Micrographs of aromatic amino acid injected chick embryo showed that an incomplete somite segmentation occurred and some decremental effect on the nervous system were observed. Somites were poorly developed and their size were variable. Electron micrograph of somatic cells from aromatic amino acid injected chick embryo showed that chromatins were coagulated, some of mitochondria were damaged, and nucleus were transformed considerably in some cases. The protein and nucleic acid levels and some enzyme activities of 15-day chick embryo which received the injection of 1mg of aromatic amino acid in 0.05 ml of saline 24 hours after the incubation were analyzed. Protein, DNA and RNA levels of the test group were not lowered significantly but the activities of enzymes for basic metabolism, such as lactate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were considerably lowered as compared with those of control. From the present expeerimental results, it was tentatively suggested that the administration of amino acid might slow down the yolk granule degradation probably by feed back mechanism resulting in the disturbance of amino acid balance in the cell, which might give rise to impair normal metabolic pattern leading to abnormal somitogenesis to chick embryo at very early stage of development.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.260-260
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• 1994

Mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex(PDC) enzyme consists of multiple oopies of three major oligomeric enzymes-El, E2 E3. And protein X is one of the enzymatic constituents which is tightly bound to E2 subunit This complex enzyme is responsible for the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate producing of acetyl CoA which is a key intermediate for the entry of carbohydrates into the TCA cycle for its complete metabolic conversion to CO$_2$. And the overall activity of the complex enzyme is regulated via covalent nodification of El subunit by a El specific phosphatase ad kinase. Protein X has lipoyl moiety that undergoes reduction and acetylation during ezymatic reaction and has been known h be involved in the binding of E3 subunit to E2 core and in the regulatory activity of kinase. The purification of protein X has not been achieved majorly because of its tight binding to E2 subunit The E2-protein X subcomplex was obtained by the established methods and the detachment of protein X from E2 was accomplished in the 0.1M borate buffer containing 150mM NaCl. During the storage of the subcomplex in frozen state at -70$^{\circ}C$, the E2 subunit was precipitated and the dissociated protein X was obtained by cntrifegation into the supernatant The verification of protein X was accomplished by (1)the migration on SDS-PAGE, (2)acetylation by 〔2$\^$-l4/C〕 pyruvate, and (3)internal amino acid sequence analysis of tryptic digested enzyme.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.128-137
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• 2010

This review summarizes gender differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and adverse drug reactions. Gender differences in pharmacokinetics are categorized by four major factors: absorption/bioavailability, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. There are sex-based differences in gastric emptying time, gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity, apparent volume of distribution, ${\alpha}1$-acid glycoprotein level, phase I (CYP) and phase II metabolizing enzymes, glomerular filtration rate, and drug transporters. This review also reports gender differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cardiovascular agents, central nervous system acting agents and antiviral agents. In addition, it has been reported that females experience more adverse reactions such as coughing, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, rash, hypersensitivity, hepatotoxicity, and metabolic disorder after taking cardiovascular, central nervous system acting and antiviral agents. Therefore, in order to provide optimal drug dosage regimens both in male and female, gender differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and adverse drug reactions must be considered.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.494-500
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Evidence indicates that berry anthocyanins are anti-atherogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. However, berries differ vastly in their anthocyanin composition and thus potentially in their biological and metabolic effects. The present study compared hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of blueberry (BB), blackberry (BK), and blackcurrant (BC) in a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat (HF; 35% fat, w/w) control diet or a HF diet supplemented with freeze-dried 5% BB, 6.3% BK or 5.7% BC for 12 weeks (10 mice/group) to achieve the same total anthocyanin content in each diet. Plasma lipids, antioxidant status and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured. The expression of genes involved in antioxidant defense, inflammation, and lipid metabolism was determined in the liver, epididymal adipose tissue, proximal intestine, and skeletal muscle. Histological analysis was performed to identify crown-like structure (CLS) in epididymal fat pads to determine macrophage infiltration. RESULTS: No differences were noted between the control and any berry-fed groups in plasma levels of liver enzymes, insulin, glucose, ferric reducing antioxidant power, superoxide dismutase, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$. However, BK significantly lowered plasma triglyceride compared with the HF control and other berries, whereas BC significantly reduced F4/80 mRNA and the number of CLS in the epididymal fat pad, indicative of less macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence that BB, BK and BC with varying anthocyanin composition differentially affect plasma lipids and adipose macrophage infiltration in DIO mice, but with no differences in their antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory potential.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.650-660
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• 2005

Proteins accumulated in dry, stratified Arabidopsis seeds or young seedlings, totaled 1100 to 1300 depending on the time of sampling, were analyzed by using immobilized pH gradient 2-DE gel electrophoresis. The molecular identities of 437 polypeptides, encoded by 355 independent genes, were determined by MALDI-TOF or TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. In the sum, 293 were present at all stages and 95 were accumulated during the time of radicle protrusion while another 18 appeared in later stages. Further analysis showed that 226 of the identified polypeptides could be located in different metabolic pathways. Proteins involved in carbohydrate, energy and amino acid metabolism constituted to about 1/4, and those involved in metabolism of vitamins and cofactors constituted for about 3% of the total signal intensity in gels prepared from 72 h seedlings. Enzymes related to genetic information processing increased very quickly during early imbibition and reached highest level around 30 h of germination.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1940-1946
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• 2006

The influence of environmental conditions on the ganoderic acid (GA) content in the fungus Ganoderma lucidum was investigated using a one-factor-at-a-time design and orthogonal design. Among the various medium components examined, sucrose, soybean powder or peptone, ferrous sulfate, and pH 6.0 were the most suitable carbon source (factor A), nitrogen source (factor B), mineral source (factor C), and initial pH (factor D), respectively, for the GA content in the one-factor-at-a-time design. According to the orthogonal design, the order of effect for the four factors on the GA content was A>C>D>B. The best level of factor A was $A_2$ (sucrose) with a value of +0.34 mg/100 mg DW. The optimal treatment combination was $A_2B_1C_3D_1$ with which the GA content reached up to 2.63$\pm$0.011 mg/100 mg DW. The interactions between the mineral ion and the nitrogen source, and the mineral ion and the pH were both highly significant (P<0.01). The highest interaction effect was ($B_2{\times}D_2$) with a value of +0.19 mg/100 mg DW, which was higher than the level effect value for $B_2$ (peptone) and D$_2$ (pH 5.0). Therefore, the results proved that interactions between factors cannot be ignored. The results also indicated the importance of the interactions between the factors, which may help to understand the metabolic pathway leading to triterpene biosynthesis and the expression and regulation of the key enzymes involved.