• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2018

Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng) is in the spotlight of Oriental medicine and is proclaimed as the king of medicinal plants owing to its adaptogenic characteristics. Ginseng root rot is a devastating disease caused by the fungus, Ilyonectria mors-panacis that generally attacks younger roots (~2 years), leading to defects in root quality, ginsenoside accumulation and also life cycle of the plant. Hence, there is an indispensable need to develop strategies resulting in tolerance against ginseng root rot. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of silica nanoparticles(N-SiO2) in Panax ginseng during I. mors-panacis infection. Long term analysis (30 dpi) revealed a striking 50% reduction in disease severity index upon 1mM and 2mM treatment of N-SiO2. However, N-SiO2 did not have any direct antifungal activity against I. mors-panacis. Membrane bound sugar efflux transporter, SWEET (Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters) was identified in ginseng and as expected, its expression was suppressed upon N-SiO2 treatment in the root rot pathosystem. Furthermore, the total and reducing sugars in the apoplastic fluid clearly revealed that N-SiO2 regulates sugar efflux into apoplast. In a nut shell, N-SiO2 administration induces transcriptional reprogramming in ginseng roots, leading to regulated sugar efflux into apoplast resulting in enhanced tolerance against I. mors-panacis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2004

PURPOSE: Tourette's disorder (TD), which is characterized by multiple waxing and waning motor tics and one or more vocal tics, is known to be associated with abnormalities in the dopaminergic system. To testify our hypothesis that risperidone would improve tic symptoms of TD patients through the change of the dopaminergic system, we measured the dopamine transporter (DAT) densities between drug-naive children with TD and normal children, and investigated the DAT density before and after treatment with risperidone in drug-naive children with TD, using iodine-123 labelled $N-(3-iodopropen-2-yl)-2{\beta}-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane$ ($[^{123}I]IPT$) single photon omission computed tomography (SPECT). MATERIALS and METHODS: $[^{123}I]IPT$ SPECT Imaging and Yale Global Tic Severity Scale-Korean version (YGTSS-K) for assessing the tic symptom severity were carried out before and after treatment with risperidone for 8 weeks in nine drug-naive children with TD. Eleven normal children also underwent SPECT imaging 2 hours after an intravenous administration of $[^{123}I]IPT$. RESULTS: Drug-naive children with TD had a significantly greater increase in the specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of both basal ganglia compared with the normal children. However, no significant difference in the specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia before and after treatment with risperidone in children with TD was found, although tic symptoms were significantly improved with risperidone. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that DAT densities are directly associated with the pathophysiology of TD, however, that the effect of risperidone on tic symptoms in children with TD is not attributed to the change of dopaminergic system.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2009

Purpose: We investigated quantification of dopaminergic transporter (DAT) and serotonergic transporter (SERT) on $^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT for differentiating between multiple systemic atrophy (MSA) and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Materials and Methods: N-fluoropropyl-$2{\beta}$-carbomethoxy-$3{\beta}$-4-[$^{123}I$]-iodophenylnortropane SPECT ($^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT) was performed in 8 patients with MSA (mean age: $64.0{\pm}4.5yrs$, m:f=6:2), 13 with early IPD (mean age: $65.5{\pm}5.3yrs$, m:f=9:4), and 12 healthy controls (mean age: $63.3{\pm}5.7yrs$, m:f=8:4). Standard regions of interests (ROls) of striatum to evaluate DAT, and hypothalamus and midbrain for SERT were drawn on standard template images and applied to each image taken 4 hours after radiotracer injection. Striatal specific binding for DAT and hypothalamic and midbrain specific binding for SERT were calculated using region/reference ratio based on the transient equilibrium method. Group differences were tested using ANOVA with the postHoc analysis. Results: DAT in the whole striatum and striatal subregions were significantly decreased in both patient groups with MSA and early IPD, compared with healthy control (p<0.05 in all). In early IPD, a significant increase in the uptake ratio in anterior and posterior putamen and a trend of increase in caudate to putamen ratio was observed. In MSA, the decrease of DAT was accompanied with no difference in the striatal uptake pattern compared with healthy controls. Regarding the brain regions where $^{123}I$-FP-CIT binding was predominant by SERT, MSA patients showed a decrease in the binding of $^{123}I$-FP-CIT in the pons compared with controls as well as early IPD patients (MSA: $0.22{\pm}0.1$ healthy controls: $0.33{\pm}0.19$, IPD: $0.29{\pm}0.19$), however, it did not reach the statistical significance. Conclusion: In this study, the differential patterns in the reduction of DAT in the striatum and the reduction of pontine $^{123}I$-FP-CIT binding predominant by SERT could be observed in MSA patients on $^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT. We suggest that the quantification of SERT as well as DAT using $^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT is helpful to differentiate parkinsonian disorders in early stage.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

The nitrogen phosphotransferase (PTS) system is a regulatory cascade present in most Proteobacteria, where it controls different functions. The nitrogen PTS is usually composed of $EI^{Ntr}$ (encoded by the ptsP gene), NPr (encoded by the ptsO gene), and $EIIA^{Ntr}$ (encoded by the ptsN gene). While $EIIA^{Ntr}$ plays a role in a variety of cellular processes, such as potassium homeostasis, regulation of ppGpp accumulation, nitrogen and carbon metabolisms, and regulation of ABC transporters, little information is available for a physiological role of NPr. A recent study showed that dephosphorylated NPr affects adaptation to envelope stresses in Escherichia coli. In this study, we provide another phenotype related to NPr. The ptsP mutant showed a filamentation phenotype. The filamentation phenotype of the ptsP mutant was recovered by additional deletion of the ptsO gene, but not by additional deletion of the ptsN gene, suggesting that an increased level of dephosphorylated NPr in the ptsP mutant renders cells the filamentous growth. This idea was confirmed by the fact that cells with increased levels of dephosphorylated NPr shows the filamentation phenotype. Additionally, we showed that cell size of E. coli increases with incremental dephosphorylated NPr concentrations. These results suggested that dephosphorylated NPr induces morphological change of E. coli.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.421-426
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• 1997

We evaluated the in vivo kinetics, distribution, and pharmacology of N-(4-[$^{18}F$]fluoromethylbenzyl)spiperone ([$^{18}F$]FMBS), a newly developed derivative of spiperone, as a potentially more selective radiotracer for the dopamine (DA) $D_2$ receptors. Mice received 1.9-3.7 MBq (1.8-3.6 nmol/kg) of [$^{18}F$]FMBS by tail vein injection. The time course and regional distribution of the tracer in brain were assessed. Blocking studies were carried out by intravenously preinjecting DA $D_2$ receptor blockers (spiperone, butaclamol) as well as drugs with high affinity for DA $D_1$ (SCH 23390), DA transporter (GBR 12909), and serotonin $S_2$ ($5-HT_2$) (ketanserin) sites. After injection of the tracer, the radioactivity in striatum increased steadily over time, resulting in a striatal-to-cerebellar ratio of 4.8 at 120 min postinjection. By contrast, the radioactivity in cerebellum, frontal cortex, and remaining cortex washed out rapidly. Preinjection of unlabeled FMBS (1 mg/kg) and spiperone (1 mg/kg) reduced [$^{18}F$]FMBS striatal-to-cerebellar ratio by 41% and 80%, respectively. (+)-Butaclamol (1 mg/kg) blocked 80% of the striatal [$^{18}F$]FMBS binding, while (-)-butaclamol (1 mg/kg) did not. Preinjection of SCH 23390 (1 mg/kg) and GBR 12909 (5 mg/kg) had no significant effect on [$^{18}F$]FMBS binding. Ketanserin (1 mg/kg), a ligand for the $5-HT_2$ receptors, did not cause significant inhibition either in striatum, in frontal cortex, or the remaining cortex. The results demonstrate that [$^{18}F$]FMBS labels DA $D_2$ receptors selectively in vivo in the mouse brain. It may hold promise as a selective radiotracer for studying DA $D_2$ receptors in vivo by PET.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.859-867
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• 2023

Lupeol is a type of pentacyclic triterpene that has been reported to have therapeutic effects for treating many diseases; however, its effect on insulin resistance is unclear clear. This study examined the inhibitory effect of lupeol on the serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 in insulin resistance-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were cultured and treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) for 24 hours to induce insulin resistance. Cells treated with different concentrations of lupeol (15 μM or 30 μM) or 100 nM of rosiglitazone were incubated. Then, lysed cells underwent western blotting. Lupeol exhibited a positive effect on the negative regulator of insulin signaling and inflammation-activated protein kinase caused by TNF-α in adipocytes. Lupeol inhibited the activation of protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B)-a negative regulator of insulin signaling-and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK); it was also an inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase (IKK) and inflammation-activated protein kinases. In addition, Lupeol downregulated serine phosphorylation and upregulated tyrosine phosphorylation in insulin receptor substrate-1. Then, the downregulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway was activated, the translocation of glucose transporter type 4 was stimulated to the cell membrane, and intracellular glucose uptake increased in the insulin resistance-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Lupeol may improve TNF-α-induced insulin resistance by downregulating the serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 by inhibiting negative regulators of insulin signaling and inflammation-activated protein kinases in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2015

Purpose: This study evaluates a new banana bulk packaging method under the real transport conditions of Sri Lanka. Methods: A field evaluation of optimized 8-mm thick Styrofoam sheets used as the cushioning material was applied. A trial transport was conducted from Thambuttegama to Colombo using a medium-sized open truck, with banana leaves as the control material. Data were recorded at the farmer, transporter, retailer, and consumer stages of the supply chain. Mechanical damage, physiological loss in weight, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, ripeness index, visual quality ratings, and the physical damage index of the bananas were measured at each stage. A cost-benefit analysis was also conducted for both packaging methods. Results: The 8-mm styrofoam sheets significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the mechanical damage from 26.3% to 12.9% compared to the conventional method for long-distance transport, and the physiological loss in weight showed a decrease of 2.88%. The loss of firmness of the fruits followed a simmilar pattern for both methods until reaching the retailer, but at the consumer was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the control. However, the physical damage index at the retail stage for the control showed symptoms of physical injury, whereas the bananas transported using the cushioning materials exhibited only minor symptoms. Further, the visual quality of the fruits after transport from the farmer to the consumer was preserved, which is one of the main factors affecting consumer preference and retail price. The proposed method increases the profit margin by 51.2% for Embul bananas owing to the reduced postharvest losses. Conclusion: The 8-mm thick Styrofoam sheets reduced the physical damage to the bananas, with the quality parameters maintained at the prefered level. Moreover, profits may be increased.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1189-1196
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• 2005

The cyclohexanol dehydrogenase (ChnA), produced by Rhodococcus sp. TK6, which is capable of growth on cyclohexanol as the sole carbon source, has been previously purified and characterized. However, the current study cloned the complete gene (chnA) for ChnA and its flanking regions using a combination of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified ChnA and plaque hybridization from a phage library of Rhodococcus sp. TK6. A sequence analysis of the 5,965-bp DNA fragment revealed five potential open reading frames (ORFs) designated as partial pte (phosphotriesterase), acs (acyl-CoA synthetase), scd (short chain dehydrogenase), stp (sugar transporter), and chnA (cyclohexanol dehydrogenase), respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the chnA gene exhibited a similarity of up to $53\%$ with members of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family. The chnA gene was expressed using the pET21 a(+) system in Escherichia coli. The activity of the expressed ChnA was then confirmed (13.6 U/mg of protein) and its properties investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.106-106
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• 2003

Choline serves critical roles in the CNS both as a precursor of neurotransmitter and as an essential component of membrane phospholipids. The long-term maintenance of brain choline concentration is dependent on choline transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), And, we examined to elucidate the characteristics of transport of choline across the BBB using conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) in vitro. The ［$^3$H］choline in TR - BBB was increased by time dependently, but independent on Na$\^$＋/, and the transport process is saturable with Michaelis-Menten constrant, Km of about 26 ${\mu}$M. The uptake of ［$^3$H］choline is susceptible for inhibition by various organic cationic compounds including hemicholinium-3, tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and $\ell$-carnitine. Also, we investigated the relationship of transport of choline and cationic drugs. The uptake of ［$^3$H］choline is inhibited by antioxidant, a-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) with IC$\sub$50/ of 1.2 mM. and by Alzheimer's disease therapeutics, such as acetyl $\ell$-carnitine, tacrine and donepezil. Also, choline uptake presented competitive inhibition with PBN, donepezil and acetyl $\ell$-carnitine in Lineweaver-Burk plot. In conclusion, TR-BBB cells express a saturable transport system for uptake of choline, and several cationic drugs may be transported into the brain by BBB choline transporter.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 2008

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common form of human genetic variation. Non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) change an amino acid. Organic anion transporters (OATs) play an important role in eliminating or reabsorbing endogenous and exogenous organic anionic compounds. Among OATs, hOAT4 mediates high affinity transport of estrone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The rapid bone loss that occurs in post-menopausal women is mainly due to a net decrease of estrogen. In the present study we searched for SNPs within the exon regions of hOAT4 in Korean women osteoporosis patients. Fifty healthy subjects and 50 subjects with osteoporosis were screened for genetic polymorphism in the coding region of SLC22A11 (hOAT4) using GC-clamp PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). We found three SNPs in the hOAT4 gene. Two were in the osteoporosis group (C483A and G832A) and one in the normal group (C847T). One of the SNPs, G832A, is an nsSNP that changes the $278^{th}$ amino acid from glutamic acid to lysine (E278K). Uptake of [$3^H$] estrone sulfate by oocytes injected with the hOAT4 E278K mutant was reduced compared with wild-type hOAT4. Km values for wild type and E278K were $0.7{\mu}M$ and $1.2{\mu}M$, and Vmax values were 1.8 and 0.47 pmol/oocyte/h, respectively. The present study demonstrates that hOAT4 variants can causing inter-individual variation in anionic drug uptake and, therefore, could be used as markers for certain diseases including osteoporosis.