• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.203-208
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• 1991

Body weight gain in the niadn deficient group of quail was markedly lowered as compared to that of the control group, but heart, kidney and liver weight were slighdy reduced reladve to the body weight. Nicotinic acid deficiency resulted in the significant increase of serum glucose level but the serum cholesterol, albumin and total protein levels were not affected to any extent. Glutamic oxaloacetate iransaminase and glutamic pyruvate transaminase activities were significandy enhanced but alkaline phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase activities were not influenced. Tryptophan and tyrosine levels were remarkably reduced and a similar observation was also made with aspartic acid, glutamic acid and alanine plus serine. However, the levels of basic amino acids such as arginine, histidine and lysine plus branched chain amino acids such as isoleucine, leucine and valine were not affected.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 1997

The phytase(myo-inositol hexkisphosphate phosphohydrolase ; EC 3.1.3.8) activity was observed only in the homogenate of intestinal mucosa, though the activity of alkaline phisphatase was measurable in various organs. In addition, no protein bands were detected in any other organs on immunoblotting using the anti-90kDa phytase antiserum. Thses results suggest that phytase is specifically present in small intestinal mucosa, and that hydrolysis of phytic acid(inositol-hexakisphosphate) can be allotted for a physiological role of the intestine-specific enzyme. The activities of phytase was increased during development of rat. The 70kDa phytase appeared just after birth, but the 90kDa phytase was not observed until adult period, suggesting that the 90kDa phytase was synthesized in response to weanling.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 1992

To investigate the expression and the secretion of heterologous proteins in yeast, we constructed an yeast secretion vector and produced a human secretory protein, .alpha.-1-antitrypsin (.alpha.-1-AT), from yeast cells. The secretion vector pGAT8 was constructed by inserting the signal sequence of yeast acid phosphatase gene (PH05) into the .alpha.1-AT expression vector pGAT6 which contained .alpha.-1-AT cDNA fused to GAL10-CYC1 promotor. The .alpha.-1-AT was produced efficiently in the yeast cells transformed with plasmid pGAT8, which was onfirmed both by the .alpha.-1-AT activity assay and by the immunoblot method using .alpha.-1-AT antibody. We also showed the secretion of .alpha.-1-AT into the culture media and into the periplasmic space by immunoblot.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2014

Fibrin is a natural provisional matrix found in wound healing, while type I collagen is a major organic component of bone matrix. Despite the frequent use of fibrin and type I collagen in bone regenerative approaches, their comparative efficacies have not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we compared the effects of fibrin and collagen on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and protein adsorption. Compared to collagen, fibrin adsorbed approximately 6.7 times more serum fibronectin. Moreover, fibrin allowed the proliferation of larger MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts, especially at a low cell density. Fibrin promoted osteoblast differentiation at higher levels than collagen, as confirmed by Runx2 expression and transcriptional activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium deposition. The results of the present study suggest that fibrin is superior to collagen in the support of bone regeneration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 1999

We investigated the role of $Ca^{2+}$ and protein kinases/phosphatases in the stimulatory effect of insulin on glucose transport. In isolated rat adipocytes, the simple omission of $CaCl_2$ from the incubation medium significantly reduced, but did not abolish, insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG) uptake. Pre-loading adipocytes with intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, 5,5'-dimethyl bis (o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'N' tetraacetic acetoxymethyl ester (5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM) completely blocked the stimulation. Insulin raised intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ about 1.7 times the basal level of $72{\pm}5$ nM, and 5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM kept it constant at the basal level. This correlation between insulin-induced increases in 2-DG uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ indicates that the elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ may be prerequisite for the stimulation of glucose transport. Studies with inhibitors (ML-9, KN-62, cyclosporin A) of $Ca^{2+}-calmodulin$ dependent protein kinases/phosphatases also indicate an involvement of intracellular $Ca^{2+}.$ Additional studies with okadaic acid and calyculin A, protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A) inhibitors, indicate an involvement of PP-1 in insulin action on 2-DG uptake. These results indicate an involvement of $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ signaling pathway in insulin action on glucose transport.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary garlic powder on cytochrome P450 enzymes and membrane stability in murine hepatocarcinogenesis initiated by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg body wt) dissolved in saline. After 2 weeks on a basal diet, animals were fed diets containing 0. 0.5. 2.0. or 5.0% garlic powder for 6 weeks, and were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy. The areas of placental glutathione S-transferase (GST-P) positive foci were inhibited in rats fed with garlic diets. GST-P is the most effective marker for DEN-initiated lesions. Hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased in rats fed with 2.0 and 5.0% garlic powder diets compared with that observed in the control animals and hepatic microsomal glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activity was found to increase significantly in rats fed 0.5 and 2.0% garlic powder diets. Thus as little as 0.5% garlic powder has a positive effect on the stability of hepatic microsomal membranes. p-Nitrophenol hydroxylase (PNPH) activity and the level of cytochrome P450 2E1 protein in the hepatic microsomes from rats fed diets containing 2.0 and 5.0% garlic powder were much lower than those of control microsomes. Rats fed 5.0% garlic powder diets exhibited the lowest P450 2E1 activity and protein levels among groups. Pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity and immunoblot (cytochrome P450 2B1) analyses were not different between groups. However, the levels of cytochrome P450 1A1/2 protein in rats fed 0.5 and 2.0% garlic powder were significantly induced compared to controls. These results suggest that 2.0% garlic powder is effective in inhibiting the areas of GST-P positive foci, modulating certain isoforms of cytochrome P450 enzymes and stabilizing the hepatic microsomal membrane. Thus, the selective modification of cytochrome P450 enzymes and membrane stability by dietary garlic powder may influence areas of GST-P positive foci and chemoprevention of post-initiation of rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.19-32
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis is associated with increased inflammation in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Vitamin D has been reported to modulate the inflammatory responses of stromal vascular cells (SVCs) and adipocytes in adipose tissue, but the role of vitamin D in atherosclerosis biology is unclear. This study examined the effects of in vitro 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25[OH]₂D₃) treatment on the inflammatory responses of SVCs and adipocytes from atherosclerotic mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/6J (B6) mice were divided randomly into 2 groups and fed a 10% kcal fat control diet (control group, CON) or 41% kcal fat, 0.21% cholesterol (high fat + cholesterol, HFC) diet (obese group, OB), and B6.129S7-Ldlr^tm1Her/J (Ldlr^-/-) mice were fed a HFC diet (obese with atherosclerosis group, OBA) for 16 weeks. SVCs and adipocytes isolated from VAT were pre-incubated with 1,25(OH)₂D₃ for 24 h and stimulated with lipopolysaccarides for the next 24 h. Proinflammatory cytokine production by adipocytes and SVCs, the immune cell population in SVCs, and the expression of the genes involved in the inflammatory signaling pathway in SVCs were determined. RESULTS: The numbers of total macrophages and SVCs per mouse were higher in OB and OBA groups than the CON group. The in vitro 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment significantly reduced macrophages/SVCs (%) in the OBA group. Consistent with this change, the production of interleukin-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) by SVCs from the OBA group was decreased by 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment. The 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment significantly reduced the toll-like receptor 4 and dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (also known as mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1) mRNA levels in SVCs and MCP-1 production by adipocytes from all 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that vitamin D can attribute to the inhibition of the inflammatory response in VAT from atherosclerotic mice by reducing proinflammatory cytokine production.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.99-114
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• 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications are important noncommunicable diseases with high mortality rates. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and aldose reductase inhibitors are recently approached and advanced for T2DM and its complications therapy. Matricaria chamomilla L. is acknowledged as a worldwide medicinal herb that has many beneficial health effects as well as antidiabetic effects. Our research was designed to determine the most potential antidiabetic phytochemicals from M. chamomilla employing in silico study. 142 phytochemicals were obtained from the databases. The first screening employed iGEMdock and Swiss ADME, involving 93 phytochemicals. Finally, 30 best phytochemicals were docked. Molecular docking and visualization analysis were performed using Avogadro, AutoDock 4.2., and Biovia Discovery Studio 2016. Molecular docking results demonstrate that ligand-protein interaction's binding affinities were -5.16 to -7.54 kcal/mol and -5.30 to -12.10 kcal/mol for PTP1B and aldose reductase protein targets respectively. In silico results demonstrate that M. chamomilla has potential antidiabetic phytochemical compounds for T2DM and its complications. We recommended anthecotulide, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, and catechin as antidiabetic agents due to their binding affinities against both PTP1B and aldose reductase protein. Those phytochemicals' significant efficacy and potential as antidiabetic must be investigated in further advanced research.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2009

Purpose: Deproteinized bovine bone substitutes are commonly used in dental regenerative surgery for treatment of alveolar defects. In this study, three different bovine bone minerals - OCS-B (NIBEC, Seoul, Korea), Bio-Oss (Geistlich - Pharma, Switzerland), Osteograft/N - 300 (OGN, Dentsply Friadent Ceramed. TN, USA) - were investigated to analyze the basic characteristics of commercially available bone substitutes. Methods: Their physicochemical properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), surface area analysis, and Kjeldahl protein analysis. Cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of human osteosarcoma cells on different bovine bone minerals were evaluated. Results: Three kinds of bone substitutes displayed different surface properties. Ca/P ratio of OCS - B shown to be lower than other two bovine bone minerals in EDS analysis. Bio-Oss had wider surface area and lower amount of residual protein than OCS - B and OGN. In addition Bio - Oss was proved to have lower cell proliferation and ALP activity due to lots of residual micro particles, compared with OCS - B and OGN. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, three bovine bone minerals that produced by similar methods appear to have different property and characteristics. It is suggested that detailed studies and quality management is needed in operations for dental use and its biological effects on new bone formation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2016

Voltage-gated $Ca^{2+}$ ($Ca_V$) channels are dynamically modulated by Gprotein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The $M_1$ muscarinic receptor stimulation is known to enhance $Ca_V2.3$ channel gating through the activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Here, we found that $M_1$ receptors also inhibit $Ca_V2.3$ currents when the channels are fully activated by PKC. In whole-cell configuration, the application of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, potentiated $Ca_V2.3$ currents by ~two-fold. After the PMA-induced potentiation, stimulation of $M_1$ receptors decreased the $Ca_V2.3$ currents by $52{\pm}8%$. We examined whether the depletion of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ($PI(4,5)P_2$) is responsible for the muscarinic suppression of $Ca_V2.3$ currents by using two methods: the Danio rerio voltage-sensing phosphatase (Dr-VSP) system and the rapamycin-induced translocatable pseudojanin (PJ) system. First, dephosphorylation of $PI(4,5)P_2$ to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) by Dr-VSP significantly suppressed $Ca_V2.3$ currents, by $53{\pm}3%$. Next, dephosphorylation of both PI(4)P and $PI(4,5)P_2$ to PI by PJ translocation further decreased the current by up to $66{\pm}3%$. The results suggest that $Ca_V2.3$ currents are modulated by the $M_1$ receptor in a dual mode-that is, potentiation through the activation of PKC and suppression by the depletion of membrane $PI(4,5)P_2$. Our results also suggest that there is rapid turnover between PI(4)P and $PI(4,5)P_2$ in the plasma membrane.