• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.664-670
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• 2016

Cheonggukjang (CKJ) is a Korean traditional food made of fermented soybeans. In comparison to normal intake of soybeans, Cheonggukjang has high digestibility with bioactive, antioxidant substances, and thrombolytic enzymes. Recent studies have reported anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity activities as well as inhibitory activities against osteoporosis for CKJ. In this study, we identified the effects of CKJ on osteoblast differentiation by increasing the polyglutamic acid (PGA) content of CKJ. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization significantly increased in response to treatment with both natural CKJ (CKJ A) and PGA-increased CKJ (CKJ B). However, CKJ B exhibited higher ALP activity and mineralization than CKJ A. Real-time reverse transcription PCR demonstrated that mRNA expression of osteoblastic-associated genes such as type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osteopontin in C2C12 cells was significantly up-regulated by CKJ A or B treatment. These results indicate that treatment with CKJ has an anabolic effect on bone by increasing osteoblastic differentiation and ALP activity. Increasing PGA content in CKJ had a greater effect than CKJ A on up-regulation of osteoblastic gene expression in osteoblast cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.1257-1262
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• 2010

This study investigated the anti-diabetic effects of the mixed water extract (JDG 100) composed of Lycii Cortex, Acanthopanax senticosus and Cordyceps militaris on glucose-regulating key enzymes such as glucokinase (GK), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). In the current study, HepG2 cells were exposed to pathological condition such as hyperglycemic condition (4.5 g glucose/L) with JDG 100 and then experiments such as RT-PCR and Western blotting were carried out. JDG 100 treated cells increased to $168{\pm}0.04%$ and $182.4{\pm}0.03%$ in GK mRNA and protein expressions, respectively, compared to control. Treatment of the JDG 100 up-regulated ACC mRNA ($127.3{\pm}0.02%$) and protein ($126.7{\pm}0.24%$) of HepG2 cells in the high glucose media. These observations suggest that JDG 100 mixed water extract may have a potential as an anti-diabetic agent in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.343-354
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• 2014

Rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most serious diseases of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) in most rice-growing regions of the world. In order to investigate early response genes in rice, we utilized the transcriptome analysis approach using a 300 K tilling microarray to rice leaves infected with compatible and incompatible M. oryzae strains. Prior to the microarray experiment, total RNA was validated by measuring the differential expression of rice defense-related marker genes (chitinase 2, barwin, PBZ1, and PR-10) by RT-PCR, and phytoalexins (sakuranetin and momilactone A) with HPLC. Microarray analysis revealed that 231 genes were up-regulated (>2 fold change, p < 0.05) in the incompatible interaction compared to the compatible one. Highly expressed genes were functionally characterized into metabolic processes and oxidation-reduction categories. The oxidative stress response was induced in both early and later infection stages. Biotic stress overview from MapMan analysis revealed that the phytohormone ethylene as well as signaling molecules jasmonic acid and salicylic acid is important for defense gene regulation. WRKY and Myb transcription factors were also involved in signal transduction processes. Additionally, receptor-like kinases were more likely associated with the defense response, and their expression patterns were validated by RT-PCR. Our results suggest that candidate genes, including receptor-like protein kinases, may play a key role in disease resistance against M. oryzae attack.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.258-265
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• 1999

Entry into meiosis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by two major factors: the cell type MATa/MAT${\alpha}$ and the nutriational state (starvation) of the cell. The two independent regulations act through IME1and IME2 expression to initiate meiosis. IME2 encodes a meiosis-specific protein kinase, and it enabled MATa/MAT${\alpha}$ diploid cells to undergo meiosis and sporulation. The PCR mutagenesis method was applied for the isolation of thermosensitive ime2 mutants. Among sixty two mutants isolated from the phenotype of defective spore formation under the restrictive temperature, three with the most easily observed temperature-sensitive phenotype (ts ${\cdot}$ime2-11, ts ${\cdot}$ime2-12 and ts ${\cdot}$ime2-13) were selected for further study. To understand the detailed functions of IME2, we examined the defects of these mutants in the early meiotic pathway including the premeiotic DNA replication and exhibited decreased level in meiotic recombination. These results suggest that the IME2 gene plays essential role in meiotic recombination pathway as well as premeiotic DNA replication. As the result of the IME2 overexpression in ${\Delta}$mre4. moreover, it was suggested that the IME2 and MRE4 genes act on the same pathway of initiation step in meiotic recombination.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.550-555
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• 2001

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a mitogenic peptide with a molecular mass of 7 kDa. It is produced mainly in the liver and has important functions in the regulation of development and somatic growth. Moreover, Serum IGF-I concentration is regulated by the quantity and the nutritional quality of dietary protein. To determine the IGF-I level in Korean rockfish, Sabastes schlegeli, were fed four experiment diets that contained different protein quantities, namely $30\%,\;40\%,\;50\%\;and\;60\%$ for 70 days. Weight gain of the fish increased depending dietary protein quantity, Also, IGF-I concentrations increased according to dietary protein quantity, Feeding experiments were conducted to examine the effects of dietary protein sources on the serum IGF-I level in Korean rockfish, Fish meal (CO), soybean meal (SM), corn-gluten meal (CGM), meat meal (MM) and feather meal (FM) were used as variable protein sources of the formulated diet. IGF-I concentrations of the CO and MM groups ($277.7\pm23.2,\;291.5\pm41.2\;ng/mL$) were higher than those of the CGM and FM groups ($208.9\pm21.3,\;217.2\pm38.2\;ng/mL$). And IGFBP-3 levels by western blot analysis increased in good protein diets such as in the CO and MM groups. In conclusion, IGF-I may be a sensitive indicator the protein metabolism in fish as well as mammalian.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2011

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/$EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin C or E on the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lipid and glucose metabolism associated genes in broiler chickens. A total of 216 one-day-old male broilers was randomly alloted to 4 treatments with 6 replicate pens per treatment and 9 broilers per pen for 35 days. The dietary treatments were control, vitamin C (control diet + ascorbic acid 200 mg/kg diet), vitamin E (control diet + ${\alpha}$-tocopherol 100 mg/kg diet), vitamin C + E (control diet + vitamin C 200 mg/kg + vitamin E 100 mg/kg), respectively. To evaluate gene expressions by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, total RNA was extracted from the liver of the chicken at 35 days of age. Dietary supplementation of vitamins was significantly down-regulated the expression of stress marker genes including HSP70, HSP90, and HMGCR, as compared to the control (p<0.05). The expressions of ER stress associated genes also inhibited by supplementation of vitamins as well (p<0.05). Vitamin C supplementation suppressed the expression of lipid associated genes such as FASN, FATP1 and ACSL1. Vitamin supplementation did not affect the glucose transporters, GLUT2 and GLUT8, in the liver. The results of the present study indicated that dietary supplementation of vitamin C or E could be beneficial for the alleviating physiological stress in broiler chickens.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.354-359
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• 2012

We examined that the protective effects of ANX1 on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced skin inflammation in animal models using a Tat-ANX1 protein. Topical application of the Tat-ANX1 protein markedly inhibited TPA-induced ear edema and expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$). Also, application of Tat-ANX1 protein significantly inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in TPA-treated mice ears. The results indicate that Tat-ANX1 protein inhibits the inflammatory response by blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK activation in TPA-induced mice ears. Therefore, the Tat-ANX1 protein may be useful as a therapeutic agent against inflammatory skin diseases.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

Uncontrolled cell growth and increased cell proliferation are major features of cancer that are dependent on the stable structure and dynamics of the cytoskeleton. Since stable cytoskeleton structure and dynamics are partly regulated by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), many current studies focused on MLCK inhibition as a chemotherapeutic target. As a potent and selective MLCK inhibitor, ML-7 [1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1 H-hexahydro-1,4-diazapine hydrochloride] is a promising candidate for an anticancer agent, which would induce apoptosis as well as prevents invasion and metastasis in certain types of cancer cells. This study assessed cytotoxic effects of ML-7 against HL-60 cells and therapeutic efficacy of ML-7 as a potential antileukemia agent. Trypan-blue exclusion assays showed dose- and time- dependent decreases in ML-7 treated HL-60 cells (p<0.05). Comet assays revealed a significant increase in DNA damage in HL-60 cells after treatment with $40{\mu}M$ ML-7 for 2h. Sub-G1 fractions, analyzed by flow cytometry increased in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that ML-7 can induce apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells. ML-7 was selectively cytotoxic towards HL-60 cells; not affecting normal human lymphocytes. That selective effect makes it a promising potential anti-leukemia agent. In addition, anticancer efficacy of ML-7 in combination with flavonoids (genistein or quercetin) or anticancer drugs (cisplatin or Ara-C) against HL-60 cells was assessed. Combination of ML-7 with flavonoids increased the anti-cancer effect of ML-7 to a greater extent than combination with the anticancer drugs. This implies that ML-7 in combination with flavonoids could increase the efficacy of anticancer treatment, while avoiding side effects cansed by conventional anticancer drug-containing combination chemotherapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.637-643
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• 2013

We have demonstrated that 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) isolated from Bacillus subtilis MORI could enhance the levels of adiponectin and its receptors in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity. DNJ was not toxic to differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes for up to a concentration of $5{\mu}M$. In terms of expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), DNJ in concentrations as low as $0.5{\mu}M$ elevated both mRNA and protein levels of adiponectin and transcript levels of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. In addition, DNJ increased phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a statistically significant manner. Finally, treatment with DNJ resulted in increased mRNA expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), which encodes for a glucose transporter, along with a significant increase in glucose uptake into the adipocytes based on results of a 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$] glucose uptake assay. Our findings indicate that DNJ may greatly facilitate glucose uptake into adipose tissues by increasing the action of adiponectin via its up-regulated expression as well as its receptor genes. In addition, the glucose-lowering effects of DNJ may be achieved by an increased abundance of GLUT4 protein in the plasma membrane, as a consequence of the increased transcript levels of the GLUT4 gene and the activation of AMPK.