• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.609-624
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• 2022

Tenebrio molitor larvae, as known as edible insects, has advantages of being rich in protein, and has been recognized as a suitable alternate protein source for broiler and pig feed. Moreover, given their ability to biodegrade polystyrene, a major pollutant, Tenebrio molitor larvae has been proposed as an innovative solution to environmental problems. In the present study, we investigated the toxicity of Tenebrio molitor larvae powder (TMlp) ingested with expanded-polystyrene (W/ eps) through in vitro and in vivo experiments. The objective of this study was to determine whether TMlp W/ eps can be applied as livestock alternative protein source. For in vitro experiments, cytotoxicity test was performed to investigate the effects of TMlp-extract on the viability of estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells. The possibility of estrogen response was investigated in two groups: Expanded-polystyrene-fed (W/ eps) TMlp group and without expanded-polystyrene-fed (W/o eps) TMlp group. For in vivo experiments, The male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided based on the dosage of TMlp administered and oral administration was performed to every day for 5 weeks. A toxicological assessments were performed, which included clinical signs, food consumption, body and organ weights, hematology, serum chemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver and kidney. There were no specific adverse effect of TMlp W/ eps-related findings under the experimental conditions of this study, but further studies on both sexes and animal species differences should be investigated. In conclusion, TMlp W/ eps was considered non-toxic and observed to be applicable as an alternative protein source for livestock feed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 1995

Famesyl protein transferase involved in the first step of post-translational modification of $p21^{ras}$ proteins transfers the famesyl moiety from famesyl pyrophosphate to a cysteine residue in $p21^{ras}$ proteins. The enzyme was first purified 30,000-fold from bovine testis by use of 30~50% ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatography, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration chromatography, Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography, and hexapeptide (Lys-Lys-Cys-Val-Ile-Met) affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be ~100 kDa by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gels showed two closely spaced bands of ~50 kDa protein. These indicate that the enzyme consists of two nonidentical subunits, a and 13, which have slightly different molecular weights. The enzyme was inhibited by hexapeptide (Lys-Lys-Cys-Val-Ile-Met), which acted as an alternative substrate that competed for famesylation. Kinetic analysis by measuring initial velocities showed that famesyl protein transferase is a very slow enzyme. EDTA-treated famesyl protein transferase showed little activity with $Mg^{2+}$ or $Zn^{2+}$ alone, but required both $Mg^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ for the catalytic activity.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 2006

The Lowry method was used in this study to measure protein in Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines (polyribosylibitol phosphate-tetanus toxoid; PRP-TT) using deoxycholic acid (DOC) to induce protein precipitation. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) did not induce precipitation adequately from the Hib conjugate bulk and the freeze-dried Hib conjugate product. Its yield was approximately 50%. The matrix structure of Hib conjugate inhibits precipitation by TCA. Although the Lowry method can be carried out without precipitation in Hib conjugate bulk when no residual impurities (adipic acid dihydrazide [ADH], 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl) carbodiimide-HCI [EDAC], phenol and cyanogens bromide [CNBr], etc.) are present, it cannot be used for Hib conjugate products that contain sucrose 8.5%, because 8.5% concentration of sucrose enhanced the protein concentration. DOC- and HCl-induced precipitation is an alternative method for evaluating the protein content of the Hib conjugate bulk and the Hib conjugate product. The precipitation was optimal with a final concentrate of 0.1% for DOC at $4^{\circ}C$ and pH 2. This Lowry method, using DOC/HCI precipitation to induce protein precipitation, was confirmed a consistent, reproducible, and valid test for proteins in Hib conjugate bulk and its freeze-dried product.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.138-140
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• 2003

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.323-326
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• 2009

SR proteins are essential splicing regulators and also modulate alternative splicing events, which function both as redundant and substrate-specific manner. The Drosophila B52/SRp55, a member of the SR protein family, is essential for the fly development in vivo, as deletion of B52 gene results in lethality of animals at the second instar larval stage. Identification of the splicing target genes of B52 thus should be crucial for the understanding of the specific developmental role of B52 in vivo. In this study, we performed whole-genome DNA microarray experiments with a B52- knock-out animal. Analysis of the microarray data not only provided the B52-dependent gene expression signature, but also revealed a larval-stage specific, alternative splicing target gene of B52. Our result thus provides a starting point to understand the essential function of B52 at the organismal level.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2023

In eukaryotic cells, a key RNA processing step to generate mature mRNA is the coupled reaction for cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) at the 3' end of individual transcripts. Many transcripts are alternatively polyadenylated (APA) to produce mRNAs with different 3' ends that may either alter protein coding sequence (CDS-APA) or create different lengths of 3'UTR (tandem-APA). As the CPA reaction is intimately associated with transcriptional termination, it has been widely assumed that APA is regulated cotranscriptionally. Isoforms terminated at different regions may have distinct RNA stability under different conditions, thus altering the ratio of APA isoforms. Such differential impacts on different isoforms have been considered as post-transcriptional APA, but strictly speaking, this can only be considered "apparent" APA, as the choice is not made during the CPA reaction. Interestingly, a recent study reveals sequential APA as a new mechanism for post-transcriptional APA. This minireview will focus on this new mechanism to provide insights into various documented regulatory paradigms.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2001

Spin is an abundant maternal transcript comprising up to 0.2% of the total mRNA stock in mouse oocyte, whose protein product is associated with the meiotic spindle. We have identified a new isoform of Spin transcript containing a distinct 5'-untranslated region and the N-terminus of encoded protein. Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis showed that the new isoform is expressed in embryos and most of adult tissues, while the previously identified transcript is expressed solely in mouse oocyte. We thus designated these two Spin isoforms as somatic type and oocyte type, respectively. To investigate the underlying mechanism for the differential expression, genomic structure of Spin was examined. Spin exists as multiple copies in the genome, some of which appears to be pseudogenes, and characterization of Spin genomic clones indicates that oocyte- and somatic-isoforms were generated by alternative splicing. The complex organization of Spin genomic locus and its multifaceted control of expression provide a good model to study the molecular mechanisms of elaborate genome usage in mammals.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.696-701
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• 2015

Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes viral double-stranded RNA. It stimulates pro-inflammatory cytokine and interferon production. Here we reported the expression of a novel isoform of TLR3 in human astrocyte cell lines whose message is generated by alternative splicing. The isoform represents the N-terminus of the protein. It lacks many of the leucine-rich repeat domains, the transmembrane domain, and the intracellular Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain of TLR3. Type I interferons (interferon-α and interferon-β) induced the expression of this isoform. Exogenous overexpression of this isoform inhibited interferon regulatory factor 3, signal transducers and activators of transcription 1, and Inhibitor of kappa B α signaling following stimulation. This isoform of TLR3 also inhibited the production of chemokine interferon-γ-inducible protein 10. Our study clearly demonstrated that the expression of this isoform of TLR3 was a negative regulator of signaling pathways and that it was inducible by type I interferons. We also found that this isoform could modulate inflammation in the brain.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.661-668
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• 1997

By using several solvents, barley extracts containing the anticomplementary activities in classical pathway were prepared (250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml): methanol (83.1%), ethanol (71.9%), water extract (25.4%), M-1 (250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), and the soluble part of methanol extract which showed the highest activity (83.4%) and the yield. Anticomplementary activity of methanol extract as well as protease digestion in classical pathway showed 82.4% and 78.4% in the concentration of 250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. It was found that protein was not involved in anticomplementary activity in the classical pathway and the methanol extract made an impact on classical pathway, but not on alternative pathway. For the immune-stimulating effect, the T cell proliferation effect of the protease digestion displayed little effect irrespective of the dose. In addition, the T cell proliferation effect of methanol extract showed 13-fold higher proliferation effect compared with positive control. It was revealed that the substance containing protein serves as an important factor for the immune proliferation. Therefore, the anticomplementary activity ${\beta}$-glucan in classical pathway and alternative pathway displayed the lowest activity, showing 2.2%, 22.3% respectively. However, the immune-stimulating effect of ${\beta}$-glucan showed the T cell stimulating effect 13 times higher than positive control.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.890-894
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• 2001

The isolation of genomic DNA from mammalian cells is usually performed by cell lysis followed by protein digestion, extraction, and finally, ethanol precipitation of the chromosomal DNA. However, in the case of large sample numbers or when only small amounts of starting materials are available, such conventional methods are not efficient and are cumbersome to be applied. Some alternative methods have been described as well as having commercial DNA isolation kits to be available, nevertheless, there is room left for much improvement. In the present study, a novel method is introduced, where it simplifies conventional protocols by omitting some time-consuming steps such as protease incubation or DNA precipitation and its resuspension. Using paramagnetic silica resins, the genomic DNA was purified over a magnetic field, and the bound DNA was eluted with a low-salt buffer. The fidelity and effectiveness of this novel method was determined by using normal and apoptotic cells as a starting material and then compared to other protocols. The high speed and convenience along with its high efficiency in detecting apoptotic chromosomal DNA will prove this method to be an improved alternative in the isolation of genomic DNA from mammalian cells.