• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.370-376
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• 1998

Src-Homology 2 (SH2) domains have a capacity to bind phosphotyrosine-containing sequence context and play essential roles in various cellular signaling pathways. Due to the specific nature of the binding between SH2 domains and their counterpart proteins, inhibitors of SID domain binding have drawn extensive attention as a potential candidate for therapeutic agents. Here, we describe the binding assay system to screen for the ligands or blockers of the SH2 domains with an emphasis on the $p56^{lck}$ SH2 domain. In our assay system, SID domains expressed and purified as fusion proteins to Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were covalently attached to 96-well microtitre plates through amide bond formation, which were subsequently allowed to bind the biotinylated phosphotyrosine (pY)containing synthetic pep tides. The binding of biotinylated pY peptides was detected by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated streptavidin. Using the various combinations of SH2 domain-pY peptides, we observed that: (1) The binding of pY-peptides to its counterpart SH2 domain is concentration-dependent and saturable; (2) The binding is highly specific for a particular combination of SH2 domain-pY peptide pair; and (3) The binding of Lck SH2-cognate pY-peptides is specifically competed by the nonbiotinylated peptides with expected relative affinity. These results indicate that the established assay system detects the SH2-pY peptide interaction with reproducible sensitivity and specificity and is suitable for screening the specific inhibitors of $p56^{lck}$ SH2 function.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.398-401
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• 1995

Two fibrinolytic enzymes from the autolysate of Lumbricus rubellus were purified in homogeneous form. Their molecular sizes were 31,000 (Enz1) and 35,000 (Enz2) Da. respectively. However, the N-Terminal amino acid sequences of Enz1 and Enz2 were exactly the same: Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Ile-Glu-Ala-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Glu-Phe-Pro-Trp-Gln-. These results indicate that Enz1 is a shortened form of Enz2 formed during autolysis. When a synthetic substrate, Ile-Pro-Arg-pNA, was used, the catalytic activity were observed in the pH range of 5-10 and the kinetic parameters including $K_m$ (1.6 ${\mu}m$) and $V_{max}$ (40 nmol/jmin/mg) were almost identical between the two enzymes. However, the fibrinolytic activity of Enz2 was at least 1.25 times higher than that of Enz1, suggesting that the C-terminal region of Enz2 is important in fibrinolysis but not in amidolysis. Furtheimore. fibrinolytic activity of the enzymes was increased by the addition of the lipid extracted from L. rubellus in the presence of $MgCl_2$ or $CaCl_2$. The stimulatary effect of lipid on Enz2 was higher compared to Enz1.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 1989

For improvement of photobiological hydrogen production, Rhodopseudomonas El5-1, a photo-synthetic becterium capable of producing n high yield of hydrogen, was immobilized and conditions for hydrogen production by immobilized cells were examined. The optimum concentration for the combined matrix was obtained when sodium alginate was used at final concentration of 4%. The immobilized cells may reduce the inhibitory effects of nitrogen or oxygen. To minimize the diffusion resistance of the nutrients in alginate gel, the bend size less than 2 mm in diameter was desirable. The immobilized cells were also able to utilize n wide range of organic substrates for the production of hydrogen. The hydrogen producing activity of the immobilized cells was maintained for 20 days without loss of activity during semi-continuous operation of the reactor by feeding of new medium periodically and continuous production of hydrogen could be successfully performed for 30 days.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2002

Twenty nine strains of photosynthetic purple nonsulfur bacteria were isolated from Kyonggi area in Korea. The isolated strains were identified as Rhodopseudomonas blastica, Rhodocyclus gelatinosus, Rhodocyclus tenuis, and Rhodopseudomonas rutila. The enhanced nutrients removal system for wastewater using phototrophic purple non-sulfur bacteria was developed. Experiments were performed into two Phases and the results were compared: the synthetic wastewater was tested for the removal efficiency of nutrients and organics during Phase 1 and the real wastewater during Phase2. Results showed that 97∼99％ of organics were removed during Phase 1 and 96∼99％ during Phase 2. Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) were also removed efficiently: 85∼91％ removal of T-N and 78∼92％ removal of T-P were achieved for Phase 1, and 76∼89％ removal of T-N and 73∼88％ removal of T-P for Phase 2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.784-789
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• 2020

Background: The separation of isomeric compounds from a mixture is a recurring problem in chemistry and phytochemistry research. The purification of pharmacologically active ginsenoside Rb₃ from ginseng extracts is limited by the co-existence of its isomer Rb₂. The aim of the present study was to develop an enzymatic elimination-combined purification method to obtain pure Rb₃ from a mixture of isomers. Methods: To isolate Rb₃ from the isomeric mixture, a simple enzymatic selective elimination method was used. A ginsenoside-transforming glycoside hydrolase (Bgp2) was employed to selectively hydrolyze Rb₂ into ginsenoside Rd. Ginsenoside Rb₃ was then efficiently separated from the mixture using a traditional chromatographic method. Results: Chromatographic purification of Rb₃ was achieved using this novel enzymatic elimination-combined method, with 58.6-times higher yield and 13.1% less time than those of the traditional chromatographic method, with a lower minimum column length for purification. The novelty of this study was the use of a recombinant glycosidase for the selective elimination of the isomer. The isolated ginsenoside Rb₃ can be used in further pharmaceutical studies. Conclusions: Herein, we demonstrated a novel enzymatic elimination-combined purification method for the chromatographic purification of ginsenoside Rb₃. This method can also be applied to purify other isomeric glycoconjugates in mixtures.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Weed management under organic farming systems is very problematic since organic agriculture does not allow synthetic herbicides. Bioherbicide is needed to develop for weed management in organic agriculture systems. This review covers current status and perspectives of bioherbicide development for effective nonchemical weed management in organic farming systems. Bioherbicides are products of natural origin derived from living organisms, and more specifically bacteria, fungus and plants including natural metabolites for weed control. Bioherbicides derived from microorganisms or natural molecules are currently available on the pesticide markets. Devine, Lockdown (Collego), BioMal, Camperico, Organo-Sol and Opportune were derived from bacteria, Woad Warrior, Smolder, Mygogen, Chontrol Paste, Starritor and Phoma derived from fungus, and Katoun (pelargonic acid) and Beloukha were derived from plants. Corn gluten meal products and plant essential oils products are also available for nonselective weed control in organic agriculture. Organic weed management methods may be more feasible in small scale farming and high-value crops, and bioherbicides may be applied with other weed control practices in organic farming systems.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2018

Natural product substances have historically served as the most significant also be prepared by source of new leads for pharmaceutical development. They can chemical synthesis(both semisynthesis and total synthesis) and have played a important role in the field of organic chemistry by providing synthetic targets. Rcently, they have also been extended for commercial purpose to refer to medicinal products, health functional foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics from natural sources. A large number of currently prescribed drugs have been either directly derived from or inspired by natural products. However, with the advent of robotics, bioinformatics, high throughput screening(HTS), molecular biology-biotechnology, combinatorial chemistry, in silico(molecular modeling) and other methodologies, the pharmaceutical industry has largely moved away from plant derived natural products as a source for leads and prospective drug candidates. The strategy for natural prduct industry is now changing from drug approaches to health foods by identifying effective natural products as preparations. In Korea, a lot of development of natural product based drugs have been done, but very few on health functional foods. The concept of natural product based health foods is not active components as lead compounds but standardized extracts or preparation mixed with other medicinal plants. The representative material has been recently known to be a standardized ginseng extract "Ginsana G 115" developed by Swiss Pharmaton company. The purpose of this presentation is to underline how natural products research continues to make significant contributions in the domain of discovery and development of new health functional foods. It is proposed to present the development of high value added health food or health functional foods through scientific investigation on efficacy and standardization of new materials form natural products.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.644-648
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• 2005

Dextranase (${\alpha}$-1,6-D-glucan-6-glucanogydrolase:E.C. 3.2.1.11) catalyzes the hydrolysis of ${\alpha}$-(1.6) linkages of dextran. A lsd1 gene encoding an extracellular dextranase was isolated from the genomic DNA of L. starkeyi. The lsd11 gene is a synthetic dextranase (lsd1) after codon optimization for gene expression with Pichia pastoris system. A open reading frame of lsd11 gene was 1827 bp and it was inserted into the pPIC3.5K expression vector. The plasmid linearized by Sac I was integrated into the 5'AOX region of the chromosomal DNA of P. pastoris. The lsd11 gene fragment encoding a mature protein of 608 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 70 kDa, was expressed in the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris by controling the alcohol oxidase-1 (AOX1) promoter. The recombinant lds11 was optimized by using the shake-flask expression and upscaled using fermentation technology. More than 9.8 mg/L of active dextranase was obtained after induction by methanol. The optimum pH of LSD11 was found to be 5.5 and the optimum temperature $28^{\circ}C$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.279-282
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• 2009

"Two-cysteine" peroxiredoxins are antioxidant enzymes that exert a cytoprotective effect in many models of oxidative stress. However, under highly oxidizing conditions they can be inactivated through hyperoxidation of their peroxidatic active site cysteine residue. Sulfiredoxin can reverse this hyperoxidation, thus reactivating peroxiredoxins. Here we review recent investigations that have shed further light on sulfiredoxin's role and regulation. Studies have revealed sulfiredoxin to be a dynamically regulated gene whose transcription is induced by a variety of signals and stimuli. Sulfiredoxin expression is regulated by the transcription factor AP-1, which mediates its up-regulation by synaptic activity in neurons, resulting in protection against oxidative stress. Furthermore, sulfiredoxin has been identified as a new member of the family of genes regulated by Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) via a conserved cis-acting antioxidant response element (ARE). As such, sulfiredoxin is likely to contribute to the net antioxidative effect of small molecule activators of Nrf2. As discussed here, the proximal AP-1 site of the sulfiredoxin promoter is embedded within the ARE, as is common with Nrf2 target genes. Other recent studies have shown that sulfiredoxin induction via Nrf2 may form an important part of the protective response to oxidative stress in the lung, preventing peroxiredoxin hyperoxidation and, in certain cases, subsequent degradation. We illustrate here that sulfiredoxin can be rapidly induced in vivo by administration of CDDO-TFEA, a synthetic triterpenoid inducer of endogenous Nrf2, which may offer a way of reversing peroxiredoxin hyperoxidation in vivo following chronic or acute oxidative stress.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.454-459
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• 2013

LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) has been identified as a gene corresponding to PARK8, an autosomal-dominant gene for familial Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 pathogenic-specific mutants induce neurotoxicity and shorten neurites. To elucidate the mechanism underlying LRRK2 expression, we constructed the LRRK2-promoter-luciferase reporter and used it for promoter analysis. We found that the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transactivated LRRK2 in a ligand-dependent manner. Using quantitative RT-PCR and Western analysis, we further showed that treatment with dexamethasone, a synthetic GR ligand, induced LRRK2 expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels, in dopaminergic MN9D cells. Dexamethasone treatment also increased expression of ${\alpha}$-synuclein, another PD causative gene, and enhanced transactivation of the ${\alpha}$-synuclein promoter-luciferase reporter. In addition, dexamethasone treatment to MN9D cells weakly induced cytotoxicity based on an LDH assay. Because glucocorticoid hormones are secreted in response to stress, our data suggest that stress might be a related factor in the pathogenesis of PD.