• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.483-491
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• 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8), neutrophil collagenase, is a functional player in the progressive pathology of various inflammatory disorders. In this study, we administered an MMP-8 inhibitor (MMP-8i) in Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) G2019S transgenic mice, to determine the effects of MMP-8i on PD pathology. We observed a significant increase of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)-positive activated microglia in the striatum of LRRK2 G2019S mice compared to normal control mice, indicating enhanced neuro-inflammatory responses. The increased number of Iba1-positive activated microglia in LRRK2 G2019S PD mice was down-regulated by systemic administration of MMP-8i. Interestingly, this LRRK2 G2019S PD mice showed significantly reduced size of cell body area of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in SN region and MMP-8i significantly recovered cellular atrophy shown in PD model indicating distinct neuro-protective effects of MMP-8i. Furthermore, MMP-8i administration markedly improved behavioral abnormalities of motor balancing coordination in rota-rod test in LRRK2 G2019S mice. These data suggest that MMP-8i attenuates the pathological symptoms of PD through anti-inflammatory processes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.710-724
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• 2024

Flavobacterium can synthesize xanthophyll, particularly the pigment zeaxanthin, which has significant economic value in nutrition and pharmaceuticals. Recently, the use of carotenoid biosynthesis by bacteria and yeast fermentation technology has shown to be very efficient and offers significant advantages in large-scale production, cost-effectiveness, and safety. In the present study, JSWR-1 strain capable of producing xanthophyll pigment was isolated from a freshwater reservoir in Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea. Based on the morphological, physiological, and molecular characteristics, JSWR-1 classified as belonging to the Flavobacterium species. The bacterium is strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, and psychrophilic. The completed genome sequence of the strain Flavobacterium sp. JSWR-1 is predicted to be a single circular 3,425,829-bp chromosome with a G+C content of 35.2% and 2,941 protein-coding genes. The optimization of carotenoid production was achieved by small-scale cultivation, resulting in zeaxanthin being identified as the predominant carotenoid pigment. The enhancement of zeaxanthin biosynthesis by applying different light-irradiation, variations in pH and temperature, and adding carbon and nitrogen supplies to the growth medium. A significant increase in intracellular zeaxanthin concentrations was also recorded during fed-batch fermentation achieving a maximum of 16.69 ± 0.71 mg/l, corresponding to a product yield of 4.05 ± 0.15 mg zeaxanthin per gram cell dry weight. Batch and fed-batch culture extracts exhibit significant antioxidant activity. The results demonstrated that the JSWR-1 strain can potentially serve as a source for zeaxanthin biosynthesis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.79-84
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• 2009

Objective : In 1960's Bonghan Kim's team found BongHan(BH) ducts which were presumed as acupuncture meridians and BH corpuscles. They asserted Bonghan theory and SanAl theory which was involved in cell division and cell restoration. However, many other experiments which had been operated to demonstrate and find the existence of BH ducts had failed because of the secret of blue stain drugs. During the last several years, BongHan theory has been revived through experimental researches to find the anatomical structures of BH ducts and corpuscles by Soh's Biomedical Physics Lab. Soh's research team used the staining with Janus Green B, Alcian blue, nanoparticles and Acridine Orange. We used DAPI staining to find the existence of BH ducts and the corpuscles and to observe nuclear arrangement. Methods : We used japan white rabbits as experimental animals. BH ducts and corpuscles were stained with DAPI. The nucleus configuration in BH ducts stained with DAPI were observed with microscope. Results : In this study, we found thread like structures in silver white color distinguished from the blood vessels, nerves and lymph vessels. These thread like vessels in the linear duct shape were connected to same colored mass in the ball shape. Thread like structures we found could be separated easily from the surrounding other organ mass. The nuclei of the thread like structure in DAPI staining, are about 10${\sim}$20${\mu}m$ length, in rod shape and linear arrangement. Conclusion : We concluded that the thread like structure we found was same vessel reported by Soh's research team, BongHan ducts and corpuscle.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.213-226
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• 2005

To treat wastewater efficiently by a one-step process of nitrogen removal, a new bacterial strain producing $N_2$ gas from ${NH_4}^+$ under an aerobic condition was isolated and identified. The cell was motile and a Gram-negative rod, and usually occurred in pairs. By 16S-rDNA analysis, the isolated strain was identified as Enterobacter asburiae with 96% similarity. The isolate showed that the capacity of $N_2$ production under an oxic condition was approximately three times higher than that under an anoxic condition. Thus, the consumption of ${NH_4}^+$ by the isolate was significantly different in the metabolism of $N_2$ production under the two different environmental conditions. The optimal conditions of the immobilized isolate for $N_2$ production were found to be pH 7.0, $30^{\circ}C$ and C/N ratio 5, respectively. Under all the optimum reaction conditions, $N_2$ production by the immobilized isolate resulted in reduction of ORP with both the consumption of DO and the drop of pH. The removal efficiencies of $COD_{Cr}$, and TN were 56.1 and 60.9%, respectively. The removal rates of $COD_{Cr}$, and TN were the highest for the first 2.5 hrs with the removal $COD_{Cr}/TN$ ratios of 32.1, and afterwards the rates decreased as reaction proceeded. For application of the immobilized isolate to a practical process of ammonium removal, a continuous operation was executed with a synthetic medium of a low C/N ratio. The continuous bioreactor system exhibited a satisfactory performance at 12.1 hrs of HRT, in which the effluent concentrations of ${NH_4}^+$-N was measured to be 15.4 mg/L with its removal efficiency of 56.0%. The maximum removal rate of ${NH_4}^+$-N reached 1.6 mg ${NH_4}^+$-N/L/hr at 12.1 hrs of HRT(with N loading rate of $0.08\;Kg-N/m^3$-carrier/d). As a result, the application of the immobilized isolate appears a viable alternative to the nitrification-denitrification processes.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.204-210
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• 2020

ZnO thin films are of considerable interest because they can be customized by various coating technologies to have high electrical conductivity and high visible light transmittance. Therefore, ZnO thin films can be applied to various optoelectronic device applications such as transparent conducting thin films, solar cells and displays. In this study, ZnO rod and thin films are fabricated using aqueous chemical bath deposition (CBD), which is a low-cost method at low temperatures, and environmentally friendly. To investigate the structural, electrical and optical properties of ZnO for the presence of citrate ion, which can significantly affect crystal form of ZnO, various amounts of the citrate ion are added to the aqueous CBD ZnO reaction bath. As a result, ZnO crystals show a nanorod form without citrate, but a continuous thin film when citrate is above a certain concentration. In addition, as the citrate concentration increases, the electrical conductivity of the ZnO thin films increases, and is almost unchanged above a certain citrate concentration. Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cell substrates are used to evaluate whether aqueous CBD ZnO thin films can be applicable to real devices. The performance of aqueous CBD ZnO thin films shows performance similar to that of a sputter-deposited ZnO:Al thin film as top transparent electrodes of CIGS solar cells.

• 한국수정란이식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국수정란이식학회 2002년도 국제심포지엄
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• pp.95-95
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• 2002

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells can be induced to differentiate into tyrosine hydroxylase expressing (TH+) cells that may serve as an alternative for cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD). To examine in vitro differentiation of hES (MB03, registered in NIH) cells into TH+ cells, hES cells were induced to differentiate according to the 4-/4+ protocol using retinoic acid (RA), ascorbic acid (AA), and/or lithium chloride (LiCl) followed by culture in N2 medium for 14 days, during which time the differentiation occurs. Immunocytochemical stainings of the cells revealed that approximately 21.1% of cells treated with RA plus AA expressed TH protein that is higher than the ratio of TH+ cells seen in any other treatment groups (RA, RA+LiCl or RA+AA+LiCl). In order to see the differentiation pattern in vivo and the ability of in vitro differentiation-induced cells in easing symptomatic motor function of PD animal model, cells (2 $\times$ 10$^{5}$ cells/2${mu}ell$) undergone 4-/4+ protocol using RA plus AA without any further treatment were transplanted into unilateral striatum of MPTP-lesioned PD animal model (C57BL/6). Following the surgery, motor behavior of the animals was examined by measuring the retention time on an accelerating rotar-rod far next 10 weeks. No significant differences in retention time of the animals were noticed until 2 weeks post-graft; however, it increased markedly at 6 weeks and 10 weeks time point after the surgery. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed that a reasonable number of TH+ cells were found at the graft site as well as other remote sites, showing the migrating nature of embryonic stem cells. These results suggest that in viかo differentiated hES cells relieve symptomatic motor behavior of PD animal model and should be considered as a promising alternative for the treatment of PD.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.139-145
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• 1999

방향족 탄화수소 화학물질들은 자연계에 오염되면 미생물에 의한 분해가 미미하여 장기 축적됨으로써 생명체에 독성을 나타낸다. 이러한 방향족 탄화수소가 준치사 수준의 농도로 미생물에 노출되면 stress-shock 단백질을 합성하거나 세포 구성물질에 생화학적 변화가 일어나 적응현상이 나타나게 된다. 본 연구에서는 Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12를 여러 가지 농도의 catechol 로 처리했을 때 나타나는 stress-shock 단백질의 합성양상과 함께 세포의 형태와 생존을 위한 내성의 변화를 연구하였다. Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12는 0.5~1mM 의 catechol 이 6시간 배양 후 60% 이상이 분해되었으나, 3mM 도는 그 이상의 농도에서는 전혀 분해되지 않앗고 생존 세포수는 30시간 처리 했을 때부터 \10^2$ cell/ml 또는 그 이상이 사멸되었다. DnaK는 1mM 이상의 catechol 로 10분간 처리할 때 유도 생성되었고, GroEL은 0.5 mM 이상에서 생성되었다. 10mM 의 catechol로 처리한 Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12 의 세포는 세포벽에 구멍이 생겼으며 간균의 형태가 일그러지는 변화가 관찰되었다. 준치사 농도인 1mM의 catechol 이나 benzoate 또는 4-chlorobenzoate 로 전처리한 Pseudomonas sp. DJ-12는 stress-shock 단백질이 합성되었을 뿐 아니라, 치사 농도인 10mM 의 catechol에서 tolerance를 나타내었다.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.12-19
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• 1999

Biopolymer를 생산하는 Bacillus subtilis K-1과 유당 이용능이 있는 Bacillus coagulans를 융합시켜 획득된 융합주에 의해 생산된 biopolymer의 특성 변화, 생산성 향상의 연구의 일환으로 두균주의 융합을 시도하였고 융합주의 특성을 조사하였다. 원형질체 융합은 33% PEG(Mw. 6,000), 1% PVP, 10 mM $CaCl_2$이 함유된 fusion fluid(FF)에서 5분간 반응하였고, 항생제가 함유된 선별배지에 중층 후, 3일간 배양했을 때 Bacillus subtillus coagulans 변이주 들간의 융합빈도는 $4.6{\times}10^{-5}{\sim}1.8{\times}10^{-7}$이었다. 융합주의 세포특성 검토에서 분리된 모든 융합주의 segregation 비는 $1{\sim}6%$로 나타나 유전적으로 안정하였고, 각 균주가 요구하는 영양 요구성 marker와 항생제의 함유배지에서 생육이 확인되었다. 주요 융합주의 DNA함량은 모균주보다 $1.6{\sim}2.7$배 높게 나타났다. 융합주의 전자현미경 관찰에서두 모균주는 간상체로서 두꺼운 세포벽과 이중막을 확인할 수 있었고 원형질체 형성과정에서 팽융된 세포에서 구형의 원형질체 방출이 이루어지고, 원형질체 융합과정 및 형성된 융합체에서 융합체내 전형적인 vesicle이 확인되었으며 모균주보다는 큰 형태의 세포를 확인할 수 있었다.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.87-94
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• 2007

전통 장류 발효식품의 발효도와 저장성을 증진시키기 위하여 전통 콩 발효식품으로부터 cellulase, amylase, protease 활성 및 항균활성 물질 생성이 우수한 바실러스 HS25 균주를 분리하여 그 배양학적 특성을 검토하였다. HS25 균주는 편모와 내생포자를 가지며, 다량의 점질물을 형성하는 그람양성 간균으로 catalase 양성, oxidase 음성으로 esculin을 가수분해하였고, 16S rDNA분석 등을 통하여 Bacillus subtilis로 밝혀져 B. subtilis HS25로 명명하였다. B. subtilis HS25 균주의 생육 및 항균물질 생산을 위하여 최적 배지조성은 soluble starch 1%, yeast extract 0.5%, peptone 0.5% 및 $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_{2}O$ 0.05%이었으며, 최적 배양온도는 $25{\sim}45^{\circ}C$, 초기 pH는 $6.5{\sim}9.5$, 최적 교반속도는 $160{\sim}200$ rpm이었고, 항균활성이 가장 높게 나타나는 배양 시간 범위는 $12{\sim}36$시간째였다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.184-190
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• 2003

군집을 이루어 생활을 하는 세균류의 하나인 M. xanthus의 csgA 유전자는 세포 표면 단백질을 암호화하는데 이 단백질은 M. xanthus의 자실체 및 포자 형성을 수반하는 발생 (development)에 필수적이다. csgA 돌연변이들은 정상적인 성장을 보이지만, 발생 과정에서 자실체 및 포자 형성이 불가능하다. 또한, CsgA 세포간 기인한 신호 전달체계에 의해서 유발되는 CsgA 특이적 유전자들의 발현이 없거나 감소한다. socD500돌연변이는, csgA 돌연변이체로부터 자실체 혹은 포자 형성을 회복하게 해주는 2차 돌연변이 중의 하나로서, csgA 돌연변이체의 포자 형성을 회복하도록 한다. socD500에 의한 포자 형성은 영양원의 고갈 및 자실체의 형성이 없이도, 단순히 성장 온도를 $32^{\circ}C$에서 $15^{\circ}C$로 낮추는 것이 의해서 이루어진다. 이런 과정을 거쳐 형성된 포자의 구조를 전자현미경으로 관찰한 결과 정상 포자와는 다르게 단지 얇은 여러 겹의 막들이 존재하였다. 또한 socD500 돌연변이체에서 10개의 CsgA 특이적 유전자들의 발현율을 측정한 결과, 자실체 형성을 수반하는 정상적인 발생시에만 발현하는 ΩDK4506 및 ΩDK4406 유전자들이 $15^{\circ}C$에서 높게 발현되는 것으로 나타났다. 이 결과는 socD500은 CsgA에 특이적인 신호 전달체계에 관련된 일부 유전자들의 발현을 조절하는 역할에 관련되었다는 것을 알 수가 있었다.