• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.392-399
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• 2009

Recent studies indicate that green tea may have anticancer, antioxidant, and antihypertensive effects, and aids body weight control and the promotion of various desirable physiological functions. However, few studies have investigated the antimicrobial effects of green tea. We sought to determine the antimicrobial activity of green tea extract against food spoilage microorganisms. The extract showed remarkable antimicrobial effects against a wide spectrum of putrefactive and food spoilage microorganisms when used at concentrations greater than $500{\mu}g/ml$. The extract showed thermal and pH stability in the range of $40{\sim}150^{\circ}C$ and pH 3.11, respectively. Green tea extract seems to be an ideal natural antimicrobial, considering both efficacy and thermal and pH stabilities. Antimicrobial substances in green tea extract were investigated using electron microscopy and a $\beta$-galactosidase assay. The data showed that the extract contains several efficacious materials, and that their activities are not synergistic but are instead independent. Our data indicate that hydrophilic antimicrobial substances in green tea extract might control food spoilage microorganisms owing to perturbation of the microbial cell membrane.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dna2 helicase/endonuclease plays an essential role in removing DNA primers during Okazaki fragment processing in eukaryotic DNA replication. Genome-wide scale co-immunoprecipitation experiments predicted that Dna2 interacts with a novel protein YHR122W (1). In this study, we observed that overexpression of YHR122W gene suppressed the temperature-sensitive phenotype of $dna2\Delta405N$ mutation. To investigate direct interaction between these two proteins, a histidine-tagged recombinant YHR122W protein was expressed and purified from E. coli. Physical interaction between the purified YHR122W and Dna2 proteins was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Further more, the complex formation was most efficient at physiological salt concentration, 150 mM NaCl. The genetic and physical interactions between YHR122W and Dna2 shown in this study suggest that the biological functions of these two proteins may be closely related each other.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.36
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• pp.239-262
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• 1998

The pursuit of freedom by the individual--desire to be liberated from all forms of restrictions-- is one of the defining character-istic of the modern society. As costume is, in part, a product of the spirit of the times, it was only natural that this desire for freedom would find its expression in modern costume as well. Among various forms of restrictions, differentiaton by sex has placed one of the most significant binding influences on individual behavior. From early times, the dichotomous division by sex was incorporated into the disign of costume, and the traditional differestriction of costume by sex imposed a significant restriction on the background,“the modern androhynous look”was born as a by-product of the sexual liberation movement in the second half of the 20th century, based on the concept of the individual as a complete human being rather than as a member exclusively of either the male or the female sex. This paper seeks to examine the androgynous look within a coherent theoretical frame-work, and explore new design possibilities by analyzing and understanding the visual characteristics of the androgynous look. In addition, this paper seeks to define the functional aspects of the androgynous look based on the premise that costume is an embodiment of the spirit of the times. As for research methodology, both theoretical and historical methods are employed. Through a theoretical examination of historical documents, the meaning of the androgynous look is explored from various angles, and order to examine its place in modern fashion, an-drogynous styles are categorized and system atically analyzed. The main findings of the paper can be summarized as follows : 1. Androgyny is a compound word consisting of“andro-”(meaning man) and“gyn-”(meaning woman). In modern times, this word has been associated with the socio-cultural aspect of gender rather than the physical or physiological aspect with the pshchological characteristics of the male and female sexes. Androgynous styles also appear in fashion and general arts such as drama, film, dance, and music. In fashion, the androgynous look, represented by the visual superimposition of “masculine”and “faminine”elements, has emerged as a major element of the 20th-century costume, and has gained broad acceptance among those free spirits wishing to be liberated from the conventional conceptions of male clothing, and the unisex look. 3. The androgynous look in modern fashion reflects the spirit of the 20th century society and culture, and performs various functions as follows : expression of fun, change in gender roles, expression of the inner consciousness, and pursuit of the ideal human type.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.954-965
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• 2017

Mammalian genomes are well established, and highly conserved regions within odorant receptors that are unique from other G-protein coupled receptors have been identified. Numerous functional studies have focused on specific conserved amino acids motifs; however, not all conserved motifs have been sufficiently characterized. Here, we identified a highly conserved 18 amino acid sequence motif within transmembrane domain seven (CAS-TM7) which was identified by aligning odorant receptor sequences. Next, we investigated the expression pattern and distribution of this conserved amino acid motif among a broad range of odorant receptors. To examine the localization of odorant receptor proteins, we used a sequence-specific peptide antibody against CAS-TM7 which is specific to odorant receptors across species. The specificity of this peptide antibody in recognizing odorant receptors has been confirmed in a heterologous in vitro system and a rat-based in vivo system. The CAS-TM7 odorant receptors localized with distinct patterns at each region of the olfactory epithelium; septum, endoturbinate and ectoturbinate. To our great interests, we found that the CAS-TM7 odorant receptors are primarily localized to the dorsal region of the olfactory bulb, coinciding with olfactory epithelium-based patterns. Also, these odorant receptors were ectopically expressed in the various non-olfactory tissues in an evolutionary constrained manner between human and rats. This study has characterized the expression patterns of odorant receptors containing particular amino acid motif in transmembrane domain 7, and which led to an intriguing possibility that the conserved motif of odorant receptors can play critical roles in other physiological functions as well as olfaction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.805-817
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• 2009

This study was to investigate central localization of neurons projecting to the urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints(Wijung, $BL_{40}$) and neurons of immunoreactive to hormones and hormone receptors regulating urinary bladder function by using peudorabies virus(PRV). In this experiment, Bartha's strain of pseudorabies virus was used in rats to trace central localization of urinary bladder-related neurons and urinary bladder-related acupoints($BL_{40}$) which can regulate urinary system. PRV was injected into the urinary bladder and acupoints($BL_{40}$) related urinary system. After six days survival of rats, mainly common labeled neurons projecting to the urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints were identified in spinal cord, medulla, pons and diencephalon by PRV immunohistochemical staining method. First-order PRV labeled neurons projecting to urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints were found in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal cord. Commonly labeled preganglionic neurons were labeled in the lumbosacral spinal cord and thoracic spinal cord. They were found in the lateral horn area(sacral parasympathetic nucleus and intermediolateral nucleus), lamina V-X, intermediomedial nucleus and dorsal column area. The area of sensory neurons projecting to urinary bladder and Wijung($BL_{40}$) was L5-S2 spinal ganglia and T12-L1 spinal ganglia, respectively. In the brainstem, the neurons were labeled most evidently and consistently in the nucleus of tractus solitarius, area postrema, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve, reticular nucleus, raphe nuclei(obscurus, magnus and pallidus), C3 adrenalin cells, parapyramidal area(lateral paragigantocellular nucleus), locus coeruleus, subcoeruleus nucleus, A5 cell group, Barrington's nucleus and periaqueductal gray matter. In the diencephalon, PRV labeled neurons were marked mostly in the paraventricular nucleus and a few ones were in the lateral hypothalamic nucleus, posterior hypothalamic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, median eminence, perifornical nucleus, periventricular nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus. In cerebral cortex, PRV labeled neurons were marked mostly in the frontal cortex, 1,2 area, hind limb area, agranular insular cortex. Immunoreactive neurons to Corticotropin releasiing factor(CRF), Corticotropin releasiing factor-receptor(CRF-R), c-fos and serotonin were a part of labeled areas among the virus-labeled neurons of urinary bladder and Wijung($BL_{40}$). The commonly labeled areas were nucleus tractus solitarius, area postrema, reticular nucleus, raphe nuclei(obscurus, magnus and pallidus), locus coeruleus, A5 cell group, Barrington,s nucleus, arcuate nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, frontal cortex 1, 2 area, hind limb, and perirhinal(agranular insular) cortex. These results suggest that overlapped CNS locations are related with autonomic nuclei which regulate the functions of urinary bladder-relate organs and it was revealed by tracing PRV labeled neurons projecting urinary bladder and urinary bladder-related acupoints. These commonly labeled areas often overlap with the neurons connected with hormones and hormone receptors related to urination.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.397-404
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• 2009

For standardization of LMK02 quality, Ginsenoside Rg3 of Red Ginseng and Decursin of Angelica gigas Nakai in the constituents of LMK02 were estimated as indicative components. From LMK02 water extract, has been used in vitro test for its beneficial effects on neuronal survival and neuroprotective functions, particularly in connection with APP-related dementias and Alzheimer's disease (AD). $A{\beta}$ oligomer derived from proteolytic processing of the ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein (APP), including the amyloid-${\beta}$ peptide ($A{\beta}$), play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's dementia. We determined that oligomer amyloid-${\beta}$ ($A{\beta}$) have a profound attenuation in the increase in rat hippocampus H19-7 cells from. Experimental evidence indicates that LMK02 protects against neuronal damage from cells, but its cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Using a hippocampus cell line on $A{\beta}$ oligomer-induced neuronal cytotoxicity, we demonstrated that LMK02 inhibits formation of $A{\beta}$ oligomer, which are the behavior, and possibly causative, feature of AD. In the Red Ginseng, the average amounts of Ginsenoside Rg3 were $47.04{\mu}g/g$ and $42.3{\mu}g/g$, 90 % of its weight were set as a standard value. And, in the Angelica gigas Nakai, the average amounts of Decursin were 2.71 mg/g and 2.44mg/g, 90 % of its weight were also set as a standard value. The attenuated $A{\beta}$ oligomer in the presence of LMK02 was observed in the conditioned medium of this $A{\beta}$ oligomer-induced cells under in vitro. In the cells, LMK02 significantly activated antiapoptosis and decreased the production of ROS. These results suggest that neuronal damage in AD might be due to two factors: a direct $A{\beta}$ oligomer toxicity and multiple cellular and molecular neuroprotective mechanisms, including attenuation of apoptosis and direct inhibition of $A{\beta}$ oligomer, underlie the neuroprotective effects of LMK02 treatment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.433-437
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to measure circumference of four body parts of each Sasang groups with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), and evaluate its usefulness for Sasang type diagnostic test. We obtained the circumference measures of neck (CN), chest (CC), waist (CW), and hip (CH) of 91 college students using BIA and standardized by sex and age. The validity of Sasang group prediction with CC was evaluated. The Tae-Eum group (104.87${\pm}$5.19, 108.47${\pm}$4.96, 116.00${\pm}$9.39, 110.4${\pm}$5.29. neck, chest, waist and hip, respectively) has significantly (p<0.001) bigger circumferences than So-Yang (97.79${\pm}$3.82, 100.02${\pm}$4.21, 101.02${\pm}$7.88, 101.95${\pm}$4.06) and So-Eum (95.63${\pm}$4.67, 96.93${\pm}$4.80, 97.63${\pm}$7.72, 99.86${\pm}$4.40) groups at very four measures. Discriminant functions with CC can be used for Tae-Eum Sasang type diagnostic test with 91.2% of overall Percentage Correctly Predicted (PCP). Tae-Eum type-specific sensitivity was 73.3% and Tae-Eum type-specific specificity was 94.7%. The strength and weakness of measurement and standardization methods for Sasang type diagnostic test, and the methods for the standardization of physical traits with sex and age were discussed. Our study showed distinctive physical features of Tae-Eum type and the usefulness of BIA for the Sasang type diagnosis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2009

Calcium ion ($Ca^{2+}$) is thought to play the important role as a second messenger for signal transduction that results in various physiological responses to cope with developmental programs and environmental changes in plant. In plant cells, the central vacuole functions as a major calcium store, which is important for both signal transduction and preventing cytotoxicity. Although there is evidence for the biochemical characterizations of a calmodulin-regulated $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase (ACA11) localized to vacuole membrane, the biological function to ACA11 in plant has not been verified. In this study, we show that the cell death as the hypersensitive response (HR) in mature leaves is induced in transgenic plant of a vacuole ACA-type $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase, ACA11. Evidence that cell death phenotype is the result of ACA11 gene silencing is provided by Western blot assay using membrane fraction proteins extracted from transgenic plant. The 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining study provides that the cell death is caused by the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mature leaves of transgenic plants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.488-495
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• 2018

The p53 gene plays a critical role in the transcriptional regulation of cellular response to stress, DNA damage, hypoxia, and tumor development. Keeping in mind the recently discovered manifold physiological functions of p53, its involvement in the regulation of cancer is not surprising. In about 50% of all human cancers, inactivation of p53's protein function occurs either through mutations in the gene itself or defects in the mechanisms that activate it. This disorder plays a crucial role in tumor evolution by allowing the evasion of a p53-dependent response. Many recent studies have focused on directly targeting p53 mutants by identifying selective, small molecular compounds to deplete them or to restore their tumor-suppressive function. These small molecules should effectively regulate various interactions while maintaining good drug-like properties. Among them, the discovery of the key p53-negative regulator, MDM2, has led to the design of new small molecule inhibitors that block the interaction between p53 and MDM2. Some of these small molecule compounds have now moved from proof-of-concept studies into clinical trials, with prospects for further, more personalized anti-carcinogenic medicines. Here, we review the structural and functional consequences of wild type and mutant p53 as well as the development of therapeutic agents that directly target this gene, and compounds that inhibit the interaction between it and MDM2.