• Journal of Species Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 2020

The goal of this study was to isolate and identify wild yeasts from soil samples. The 15 wild yeast strains were isolated from the soil samples collected in Pocheon city, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Among them, four yeast stains were unrecorded, and 11 yeast stains were previously recorded in Korea. To identify wild yeasts, microbiological characteristics were observed by API 20C AUX kit. Pairwise sequence comparisons of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA were performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool(BLAST). Cell morphology of yeast strains was examined by phase contrast microscope. All strains were oval-shaped and polar budding and positive for assimilation of glucose, 2-keto-ᴅ-gluconate, N-acetyl-ᴅ-glucosamine, ᴅ-maltose and ᴅ-saccharose (sucrose). There is no official report that describes these four yeast species: one strain of the genus Kodamaea in the family Metschnikowiaceae and three strains of the Hannaella in the family Bulleribasidiaceae. Kodamaea ohmeri YI7, Hannaella kunmingensis YP355, Hannaella luteola YP230 and Hannaella oryzae YP366 were recorded in Korea, for the first time.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 1993

Chitin was isolated from crab shells by modified Hackman's method, which was treated again with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to give alkali chitin(sodium alkoxide of chitin). And after, the alkali chitin is allowed to react with monochloroacetic acid to synthesize 6-O-(carboxymethyl) chitin [CM-Chitin] under diminished pressure. In order to synthesize high performance CM-Chitin as hygroscopic agent, it was measured that the yield and degree of subsititution of each CM-Chitin according to molar ratio(monochloroacetic acid equivalent mol/N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residue) and their moisture-absorption and moisture-release properties were measured and compared with those of hyaluronic acid. The moisture-absorption and moisture-release properties of CM-Chitin, especially 0.8 in degree of substitution, were found quite similar to those of hyaluronic acid. The preliminary results show that CM-Chitin might be used as hygroscopic agent instead of hyaluronic acid in field of cosmetics.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2019

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has long been studied in diverse applications. It is a naturally occurring linear polysaccharide in a family of unbranched glycosaminoglycans, which consists of repeating di-saccharide units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid. It is almost ubiquitous in humans and other vertebrates, where it participates in many key processes, including cell signaling, tissue regeneration, wound healing, morphogenesis, matrix organization, and pathobiology. HA is biocompatible, biodegradable, muco-adhesive, hygroscopic, and viscoelastic. These unique physico-chemical properties have been exploited for several medicinal purposes, including recent uses in the adjuvant treatment for chronic inflammatory disease and to reduce pain and accelerate healing after third molar intervention. This review focuses on the post-operative effect of HA after third molar intervention along with its various physio-chemical, biochemical, and pharmaco-therapeutic uses.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.402-408
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• 2015

Protein O-GlcNAcylation, dictated by cellular UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) levels, plays a crucial role in posttranslational modifications. The enzyme GlcNAc kinase (NAGK, E.C. 2.7.1.59) catalyzes the formation of GlcNAc-6-phosphate, which is a major substrate for the biosynthesis of UDP-GlcNAc. Recent studies have revealed the expression of NAGK in different types of cells especially in neuronal dendrites. Here, by immunocytochemistry (ICC) and immunonucleochemistry (INC) of cultured rat hippocampal neurons, HEK293T and GT1-7 cells, we have showed that NAGK immuno-reactive punctae being present in the nucleoplasm colocalized with small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated protein N (snRNPN) and p54NRB, which are speckle and paraspeckle markers, respectively. Furthermore, NAGK IR cluster was also found to be colocalized with GTF2H5 (general transcription factor IIH, polypeptide 5) immuno reactive punctae. In addition, relative localization to the ring of nuclear lamin matrix and to GlcNAc, which is highly enriched in nuclear pore complexes, showed that NAGK surrounds the nucleus at the cytoplasmic face of the nuclear outer membrane. By in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) we confirmed the colocalization of NAGK with snRNPN in the nucleus and in dendrites, while we also verified the interactions of NAGK with p54NRB, and with GTF2H5 in the nucleus. These associations between NAGK with speckle, paraspeckle and general transcription factor suggest its regulatory roles in gene expression.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2014

N-acetylglucosamine kinase (GlcNAc kinase or NAGK; EC 2.7.1.59) is highly expressed and plays a critical role in the development of dendrites in brain neurons. In this study, the authors conducted structure-function analysis to verify the previously proposed 3D model structure of GlcNAc/ATP-bound NAGK. Three point NAGK mutants with different substrate binding capacities and reaction velocities were produced. Wild-type (WT) NAGK showed strong substrate preference for GlcNAc. Conversion of Cys143, which does not make direct hydrogen bonds with GlcNAc, to Ser (i.e., C143S) had the least affect on the enzymatic activity of NAGK. Conversion of Asn36, which plays a role in domain closure by making a hydrogen bond with GlcNAc, to Ala (i.e., N36A) mildly reduced NAGK enzyme activity. Conversion of Asp107, which makes hydrogen bonds with GlcNAc and would act as a proton acceptor during nucleophilic attack on the ${\gamma}$-phosphate of ATP, to Ala (i.e., D107A), caused a total loss in enzyme activity. The overexpression of EGFP-tagged WT or any of the mutant NAGKs in rat hippocampal neurons (DIV 5-9) increased dendritic architectural complexity. Finally, the overexpression of the small, but not of the large, domain of NAGK resulted in dendrite degeneration. Our data show the effect of structure on the functional aspects of NAGK, and in particular, that the small domain of NAGK, and not its NAGK kinase activity, plays a critical role in the upregulation of dendritogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 1997

A strain producing a high amount of chitinase was isolated from soil, identified as Pseudomonas sp., and tentatively named Pseudomonas sp. YHS-A2. An extracellular chitinase of Pseudomonas sp. YHS-A2 was purified according to the procedure of ammonium sulfate saturation, affinity adsorption, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and Phenyl-sepharose CL-4B hydrophobic interaction column chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 55 kDa on SDS-PAGE was confirmed by active staining. Optimal pH and temperature of the enzyme are pH 7.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively, and the enzyme is stable between pH 5.0 and 8.0 and below $50^{\circ}C$. The main products of colloidal chitin by the chitinase were N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N,N'-diacetylchitobiose both of which were detected by HPLC analysis. The enzyme is supposed to be a random-type endochitinase which can degrade any position of ${\beta}$-l,4-linkages of chitin and chitooligosaccharides. The chitinase inhibited the growth of some phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cineria, and Mucor rouxii and these antifungal effects were thought to be due to the characteristics of endochitinase.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2002

Since lectin condense more easily cancer cell than normal cell, it has been investigated very actively. Recently, a lot of researchers gave attention to lectin in natural products especially because lectin has effects on T-cell activation and anticancer activity, and specificity on polysaccharide. The specificity is useful to confirm kind of polysaccharide of the cell surface and to study the polysaccharide. In this research, we purified lectin from shiitake, Lentinula edodes, and then characterized it. The molecular weight of the lectin was 23 kDa, and it was stable only under the $40^{\circ}C$ and in a alkaline solution. As for the specificity of polysaccharide, the lectin had specificity on galactose, fucose, glucose, lactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. In addition, it was confirmed to be a glycoprotein.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.469-472
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• 2002

Solid state fermentation was performed for the production of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae HY-2 using wheat bran media containing rice bran. Fungal growth in a solid state fermentation system was estimated by viable cell count, spore count, and mycelial biomass. It was used chemical method measuring N-acetyl-glucosamine (chitin) content for estimating of mycelial biomass. In static flask culture, viable cell reached 2.40 ${\times}$ $10^8$ cfu/g at 23 days of culture at $27^{\circ}C$ and then mycelial biomass was 41.59 mg/g. Specific growth rate(${\mu}$ max) was 0.0418 $h^{-1}$ between 3 and 9 days when estimated by viable cell count and was 0.00976 $h^{-1}$ between 9 and 17 days when N-acetylglucosamine content was measured. Viable cells reached 1.12 ${\times}$ $10^8$ cfu/g in polypropylene-bag at 28 days of culture at $27^{\circ}C$. Formulated microbial pesticide containing M. anisopliae HY-2 were tested their bio-activity against Chestnut Brown Chafer (Adoretus tenuimaculatus). The protection rate of the liquid culture showed 13 ${\sim}$ 26 % with 1st to 3rd instar, and spore suspension of M. anisopliae HY-2 showed 56 ${\sim}$ 64%. Conidia produced by large scale solid-state fermentation showed 20 ${\sim}$ 27 % activity 60 ${\sim}$ 64 % with M. anisopliae HY-2.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2010

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and chitosan have been used as matrix materials to support the dermal part of skin equivalent which is used for both pharmacological and toxicological evaluations of drugs potentially used for dermatological diseases. However, their biological roles of GAGs and chitosan in the skin equivalent are still unknown. In the present study, we evaluated whether GAGs and chitosan directly affect keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) and their transit-amplifying cells (TA cells). Among supporting matrix materials, chitosan significantly increased the number of ${\alpha}6$ $integrin^{high}/CD71^{high}$ human keratinocyte TA cells by 48.5%. In quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis, chitosan significantly increased CD71 and CD200 gene transcription whereas not ${\alpha}6$ integrin. In addition, the level of the gene transcription of both keratin 1 (K1) and K10 in the chitosan-treated human keratinocytes was significantly lower than those of control, suggesting that chitosan inhibit keratinocyte differentiation. We also found that N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG) and $\beta$-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (D-glc), two components of chitosan, have no effect on the expression of CD71, K1, and K10, suggesting that each monomer component of chitosan is not enough to regulate the number of epidermal keratinocyte lineage. Conclusively, chitosan increases keratinocyte TA cell population which may contribute to the cellular mass expansion of the epidermal part of a skin equivalent system.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1369-1373
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• 2004

The percentages of sperm motility and normal acrosome on the liquid boar semen diluted and preserved at $4^{\circ}C$ with lactose hydrate, egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent were significant differences according to preservation day and incubation time, respectively. The sperm motility steadily declined from 96.9% at 0.5 h incubation to 78.8% at 6 h incubation at 1 day of preservation. However, the sperm motility rapidly declined after 4 day of preservation during incubation. The normal acrosome steadily declined from 93.3% at 0.5 h incubation to 73.8% at 6 h incubation at 1 day of preservation. However, the normal acrosome rapidly declined after 3 day of preservation during incubation. The rates of sperm penetration and polyspermy were higher in 5 and $10{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml than in 0.2 and $1{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml. Mean numbers of sperm in penetrated oocyte were highest in $10{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. The rates of blastocysts from the cleaved oocytes (2-4 cell stage) were highest in $1{\times}10^6$sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. In conclusion, we found out that liquid boar sperm stored at $4^{\circ}C$ could be used for in vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in vitro. Also, we recommend $1{\times}10^6$sperm/ml concentration for in vitro fertilization of pig oocytes.