• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2008

The effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on pacemaker currents in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine were investigated using the whole-cell patch clamp technique at $30^{\circ}C$. Under voltage clamping at a holding potential of -70 mV, CGRP decreased the amplitude and frequency of pacemaker currents and activated outward resting currents. These effects were blocked by intracellular $GDP{\beta}S$, a G-protein inhibitor and glibenclamide, a specific ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels blocker. During current clamping, CGRP hyperpolarized the membrane and this effect was antagonized by glibenclamide. Pretreatment with SQ-22536 (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor) or naproxen (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) did not block the CGRP-induced effects, whereas pretreatment with ODQ (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) or L-NAME (an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) did. In conclusion, CGRP inhibits pacemaker currents in ICC by generating nitric oxide via G-protein activation and so activating ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels. Nitric oxide- and guanylate cyclase-dependent pathways are involved in these effects.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.153-156
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• 2000

Xylan, the major hemicellulose component of many plants, occurs naturally in a partially acetylated form and lignin, the most resistant component in plant cell wall degradation, is also attached to ${\beta}-1,4-linked-D-xylose$ backbone through the ester linkage. Esterases are required to release the esterified substituent and acetyl esterases are important in the complete degradation of acetylated polysaccharides, like pectins and xylans. The gene(Axe) encoding acetyl xylan estarase(AXE) was isolated from genomic ${\lambda}$ library from Aspergillus ficuum. Nucleotide sequencing of the Axe gene indicated that the gene was separated with two intervening sequences and the amino acid sequence comparison revealed that it was closely related to that from A. awamori with the 92 % indentity. Heterologous expression of AXE was conducted by using YEp352 and Saccharomyces cerevisae 2805 as a vector and host expression system, respectively. The Axe gene was placed between GAL1 promoter and GAL7 terminator and then this recombinant vector was used to transform S. cerevisiae 2805 strain. Culture filtrate of the transformed yeast was assayed for the presence of AXE activity by spectrophotometry and, comparing with the host strain, four to five times of enzyme activity was detected in culture filtrate of transformed yeast.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.375-381
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• 1995

Two forms of glucoamylase (GI and GII) from starch-grown Lipomyces kononenkoae CBS 5608 mutant were purified to apparent homogeneity by means of ultrafiltration, Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration and DEAE Sephadex A-50 chromatography. The apparent molecular weight was calculated as ca. 150 kDa for GI and ca. 128 kDa for GII, respectively. Both enzymes were glycoproteins with isoelectric points of 5.6 (GI) and 5.4 (GII). They had a pH optimun of 4.5 and were stable from pH 5 to 8. The temperature optimum for both enzymes was $60^{\circ}C$, but they were rapidly inactivated above $70^{\circ}C$. The $K_m$ values toward starch were estimated to be 6.57 mg per ml for GI and 4.52 mg per ml for GII, and the $V_{max}$ values were 16.28 ${\mu}M$ per mg for GI and 32.25 ${\mu}M$ per mg for GII, respectively. The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values of GII for ${\alpha}-$ or ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ were estimated to be 0.15 mg per ml and 2.0 mg per ml, respectively ($K_m$) and 1.02 ${\mu}M$ per mg or 1.02 ${\mu}M$ per mg, respectively ($V_{max}$). Neither enzyme exhibited pullulanase activity but they released only glucose from starch or cyclodextrin. Amino acid analysis indicated that both glucoamylases were enriched in proline and acid amino acids. Glucoamylase GII strongly cross-reacted with a monoclonal antibody raised against GI enzymes, and the two enzymes shared very similar amino acid composition. Western blot analysis indicated that L. kononenkoae CBS 5608 mutant produced two forms of glucoamylase on starch, and that synthesis of them was subject to glucose repression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.771-780
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• 2014

A putative lipolytic enzyme gene, named as est9x, was obtained from a marine microbial metagenome of the South China Sea. Sequence analysis showed that Est9X shares lower than 27% sequence identities with the characterized lipolytic enzymes, but possesses a catalytic triad highly conserved in lipolytic enzymes of the ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ hydrolase superfamily. By phylogenetic tree construction, Est9X was grouped into a new lipase/esterase family. To understand Est9X protein in depth, it was recombinantly expressed, purified, and biochemically characterized. Within potential hydrolytic activities, only lipase/esterase activity was detected for Est9X, confirming its identity as a lipolytic enzyme. When using p-nitrophenol esters with varying lengths of fatty acid as substrates, Est9X exhibited the highest activity to the C2 substrate, indicating it is an esterase. The optimal activity of Est9X occurred at a temperature of $65^{\cric}C$, and Est9X was pretty stable below the optimum temperature. Distinguished from other salt-tolerant esterases, Est9X's activity was tolerant to and even promoted by as high as 4 M NaCl. Our results imply that Est9X is a unique esterase and could be a potential candidate for industrial application under extreme conditions.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.138-143
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• 2006

Our continuing interest on Garcinia and Mesua species has led us to carry out a detail study on the chemistry of the root bark of Garcinia mangostana (Guttiferae) since this part of the plant has not been investigated before, and the strm bark of Mesua corneri (Guttiferae) an uninvestigated species. This study has yielded six xanthones, ${\alpha}-mangostin$ (1), ${\beta}-mangostin$ (2), ${\gamma}-mangostin$ (3), garcinone-D (4), mangostanol (5) and gartanin (6) from Garcinia mangostana and two xanthones rubraxanthone (7) and inophyllin B (8) from Mesua corneri. Structural elucidations were achieved using $^1H,\;^{13}C$ NMR and MS data. The crude hexane and chloroform extracts of the root bark of Garcinia mangostana and the hexane extract of the stem bark of Mesua corneri were found to be active against CEM-SS cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values less than $30\;{mu}g/ml$. Moreover, ${\gamma}-mangostin$ gave a very low $LC_{50}$ value of $4.7\;{mu}g/ml$ while rubraxanthone gave an $LC_{50}$ value of $5.0\;{mu}g/ml$ indicating these two compounds to be potential lead compounds for anti-cancer activity against the CEM-SS cell line. This paper reports the isolation and identification of these compounds as well as bioassay data for the crude extracts, ${\gamma}-mangostin$ and rubraxanthone.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1342-1348
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• 2007

POU1F1 is a positive regulator for GH, PRL and TSH${\beta}$ and its mutations associate with production traits in ruminant animals. We described a DdeI PCR-RFLP method for detecting a silent allele in the goat POU1F1 gene: TCT (241Ser)>TCG (241Ser). Frequencies of $D_1$ allele varied from 0.600 to 1.000 in Chinese 801 goats. Significant associations of DdeI polymorphism with production traits were found in milk yield (*p<0.05), litter size (*p<0.05) and one-year-old weight (*p<0.05) between different genotypes. Individuals with genotype $D_1D_1$ had a superior performances when compared to those with genotype $D_1D_2$ (*p<0.05). Hence, the POU1F1 gene was suggested to the potential candidate gene for superior milk performance, reproduction trait and weight trait. Genotype $D_1D_1$, characterized by a DdeI PCR-RFLP detection, was recommended to geneticists and breeders as a molecular marker for better performance in the goat industry.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.104-125
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the anti-microbial of various herbal extracts on six types of bacteria related to skin diseases and effects of Saussurea lappa extract on dermatitis and acne. The results are followed ; 1. In the experiment on P. acnes using paper disk methods, Eugenia caryophyllata extract made 19mm clear zone, Saussurea lappa extract and Morus alba extract made 13mm and MIC of Morus alba extract and Eugenia caryophyllata extract was below 0.01$\%$. 2. In the experiment on S. aureus, extract of Eugenia caryophyllata, Poncirus trifoliata and Rubus coreanus made 9-10mm clear zone. 3. In the experiment on C. xerosis, Sesamum indicum extract made 16mm clear zone and MIC of that was 0.3$\%$. 4. In the experiment on C. albicans, extract of Cinnamomum cassia, Eugenia caryophyllata and Asparagus cochinchinensis made 9-10mm clear zone. 5. In the experiment on P. ovale, Cinnamomum cassia extract made 25mm clear one, MIC of that was 0.05$\%$. 6. In the experiment on T. mentagrophytes, Cinnamomum cassia extract made 26mm clear zone, extract of Eugenia caryophyllata, Rhizoma kaempferiae, Piper longum, Saussurea lappa and Zingiber officinale made 18-22mm clear zone, MIC of all extracts was below 0.02$\%$. 7. Saussurea lappa extract inhibited 85$\%$ and 28$\%$ of NO production at 50㎍／㎖ and 5 ㎍／㎖ 8. Saussurea lappa extract inhibited activity of COX Ⅱ over 50$\%$ at 10㎍／㎖ 9. Saussurea lappa extract had not radical scavenging activity and Saussurea lappa extract didn't inhibit manifestation of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$, and activity of 50- reductase I.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1306-1318
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• 2009

The filamentous ascomycete Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is well known for its ability to produce a large variety of hydrolytic enzymes. Two $\alpha$-amylases ScAmy54 and ScAmy43 predicted to play an important role in starch degradation were showed to produce specific oligosaccharides essentially maltotriose that have a considerable commercial interest. Primary structure of the two enzymes was established by N-terminal sequencing, MALDI-TOF masse spectrometry and cDNA cloning. The two proteins have the same N-terminal catalytic domain and ScAmy43 derived from ScAmy54 by truncation of 96 amino acids at the carboxyl-terminal region. Data of genomic analysis suggested that the two enzymes originated from the same $\alpha$-amylase gene and that truncation of ScAmy54 to ScAmy43 occurred probably during S. sclerotiorum cultivation. The structural gene of Scamy54 consisted of 9 exons and 8 introns, containing a single 1,500-bp open reading frame encoding 499 amino acids including a signal peptide of 21 residues. ScAmy54 exhibited high amino acid homology with other liquefying fungal $\alpha$-amylases essentially in the four conserved regions and in the putative catalytic triad. A 3D structure model of ScAmy54 and ScAmy43 was built using the 3-D structure of 2guy from A. niger as template. ScAmy54 is composed by three domains A, B, and C, including the well-known $(\beta/\alpha)_8$ barrel motif in domain A, have a typical structure of $\alpha$-amylase family, whereas ScAmy43 contained only tow domains A and B is the first fungal $\alpha$-amylase described until now with the smallest catalytic domain.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.108-117
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• 2003

Objective : The central opioid mechanism of acupuncture analgesia has been fairly well documented in acute behavioral experiments, but little electrophysiological study has been performed on the peripheral mechanism and subtypes of opioid receptors responsible for acupuncture-induced antinociception in chronic animal models. In the present electrophysiological experiment, we studied the peripheral mechanism and opioid receptor subtypes which Were implicated in electroacupuncture-induced antinociception in the rat with chronic inflammatory and neurogenic pain. Methods : In the rat with complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation and spinal nerve injury, dorsal horn cell responses to afferent C fiber stimulation were recorded before and after electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation applied to the contralateral Zusanli point for 30 minutes. Also studied Were the effects of specific opioid receptor antagonists and naloxone methiodide, which can not cross the blood-brain barrier, on EA-induced inhibitory action. Results : EA-induced inhibitory action was significantly attenuated by naloxone methiodide, suggesting that EA-induced inhibition was mediated through peripheral mechanism. Pretreatment, but not posttreatment of naltrexone and spinal application significantly blocked EA-induced inhibitory actions. In inflammatory and neurogenic pain models, ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptor antagonists (${\beta}-funaltrexamine$ & naltrindole) significantly reduced EA-induced inhibitory action, but ${\kappa}-opioid$ receptor antagonist had weak inhibitory effect on EA-induced antinociception. Conclusion : These results suggest that 2Hz EA-stimulation induced antinoeiceptive action is mediated through peripheral as well as central mechanism, and mainly through ${\mu}-$ and ${\delta}-opioid$ receptors.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.167-175
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• 2011

Purpose: Periodontal ligament (PDL) cell differentiation into osteoblasts is important in bone formation. Bone formation is a complex biological process and involves several tightly regulated gene expression patterns of bone-related proteins. The expression patterns of bone related proteins are regulated in a temporal manner both in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this study was to observe the gene expression profile in PDL cell proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization in vitro. Methods: PDL cells were grown until confluence, which were then designated as day 0, and nodule formation was induced by the addition of 50 ${\mu}g$/mL ascorbic acid, 10 mM ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate, and 100 nM dexamethasone to the medium. The dishes were stained with Alizarin Red S on days 1, 7, 14, and 21. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for the detection of various genes on days 0, 1, 7, 14, and 21. Results: On day 0 with a confluent monolayer, in the active proliferative stage, c-myc gene expression was observed at its maximal level. On day 7 with a multilayer, alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, and BMP-4 gene expression had increased and this was followed by maximal expression of osteocalcin on day 14 with the initiation of nodule mineralization. In relationship to apoptosis, c-fos gene expression peaked on day 21 and was characterized by the post-mineralization stage. Here, various genes were regulated in a temporal manner during PDL fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix maturation, and mineralization. The gene expression pattern was similar. Conclusions: We can speculate that the gene expression pattern occurs during PDL cell proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization. On the basis of these results, it might be possible to understand the various factors that influence PDL cell proliferation, extracellular matrix maturation, and mineralization with regard to gene expression patterns.