• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.984-988
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• 2001

Since anti-angiogenesis could lead to the suppression of tumor growth, angiogenesis inhibitors have received particular attention for their therapeutic potential. In this study, two angiogenic inhibitors using the bioactive sequence from the kring le 5, AK1(KLYDY), AK2(KLWDF) were designed and synthesized. We have investigated their solution structures using NMR spectroscopy and their activities as angiogenesis inhibitors. AK2 has an intramolecular hydrogen bon d between the side chain amino proton of Lys1 and the carboxyl oxygen of Asp4 with a N ${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$O distance of $3.27\AA$, while AK1 shows more flexible structures than AK2. Indole ring in Trp is much bigger than the phenyl ring in Tyr and may have good face-to-edge interaction enforcing more rigid and constrained conformational features of AK2. Because of this relatively stable structure, Trp3 in AK2 may have better hydrophobic interaction with Phe5 than Tyr3 in AK1 if two adjacent aromatic groups are located in hydrophobic pocket of receptor. Since AK2 shows the similar anti-angiogenic activities to AK1, we are also able to confirm that the activity of AK1 is irrelevant to the Tyr phosphorylation. More rigid drug with higher activities can be provided by the mimetic approaches. For the further development of the angiogenesis inhibitors, these conformational studies on our lead peptides will be helpful in design of peptidomimetics.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.493-500
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• 2021

Argyrins are a group of anticancer and antibacterial octapeptide bioactive substances isolated from myxobacteria. In this study, we showed that the myxobacterium Archangium gephyra MEHO_001, isolated in Korea, produces argyrins A and B. MEHO_001 cells tend to aggregate when cultured in liquid media. Hence, a dispersion mutant, MEHO_002, was isolated from MEHO_001. The MEHO_002 strain produced approximately 3.5 times more argyrins than that produced by the wild-type strain MEHO_001. We determined the whole-genome sequence of A. gephyra MEHO_002 and identified a putative argyrin biosynthetic gene cluster comprising five genes, arg1-arg5, encoding non-ribosomal peptide synthases and tailoring enzymes. Inactivation of arg2 by plasmid insertion disrupted argyrin production. The amino acid sequences of the proteins encoded by arg2-arg5 of A. gephyra MEHO_002 were 90-98% similar to those encoded by the argyrin biosynthetic genes of Cystobacter sp. SBCb004, an argyrin-producing myxobacterium with identical domain organization.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2020

Purpose: The rice germ fraction is a better source of protein, lipid, and fiber than the rice endosperm. Furthermore, the rice germ is rich in bioactive phytochemicals such as γ-aminobutyric acid, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytic acid, and so on. In this study, the phytosterol content and antioxidant activity of Keunnunjami germ (KG) or normal rice germ supplement were investigated in healthy adult rats. Methods: In vitro, quantitative assessment of phytosterols, including β-sitosterol, campesterol, cycloartenol, and stigmasterol, was performed. Comparative antioxidant activities of 2 rice germs were measured based on DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and ABTS radical scavenging capacity. In vivo, male Spraque-Dawley rats (30-weeks-old) were randomly assigned a diet of normal control (NC, AIN-93M diet), AIN-93M diet supplemented with normal rice germ 3% (NG3), or AIN-93M diet supplemented with KG 3% (KG3) and fed for 8 weeks. Results: KG contained significantly higher campesterol and stigmasterol contents and antioxidant activity than normal rice germ. The KG3 group exhibited significantly lower body weight gain as well as inguinal and total white adipose tissue weights. There were no significant differences in plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance level among the 3 groups. The plasma tumor necrosis factor-α concentration was significantly lower while leptin, advanced oxidation protein products, and interleukin-6 showed downward trends in the KG3 group. In addition, the superoxide dismutase level of the KG3 group was significantly higher compared to the NC and NG3 groups. Conclusion: This study indicates that KG can be considered as a valuable source of phytosterol components. Lastly, KG has strong antioxidant properties and may have potential to ameliorate elevation of proinflammatory cytokine production with age.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.223-226
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• 2014

In the fermented soybean product known as "chungkookjang", diverse bioactive compounds are produced when the soybean proteins are degraded during fermentation. Vascular endothelial cells (EC) are crucial in vein function and the formation of new vessels. A treatment to stimulate formation of new blood vessels is needed in cerebrovascular diseases that lead to ischaemic stroke and heart attack, as well as for diabetic ulcers. VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) simulates EC formation. The effect of Chungkookjang ethanol extract (CEE) on the proliferation of EC was studied. CEE (100, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) and boiled CEE were as effective as VEGF (10 ng/ml) for the proliferation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). The effect of CEE on the migration of HUVEC was investigated using sprout analysis. CEE ($100{\mu}g/ml$) was as effective as VEGF (10 ng/ml) for the migration of HUVEC. Isolation of specific peptides influencing the growth and migration of EC is needed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.715-723
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• 2015

Insects represent the largest class within the animal kingdom in terms of species number. Humans had been utilized insect in the broad area, including food, agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals and so on. At present, insects are emerging as a leading group for identifying and extracting novel bioactive substances due to enormous number and a high nutritional value. Insects rely on a suite of systemic response to resist infection such as immune cells, hemocytes, activation of enzymes cascades, and antimicrobial peptide/protein. Among the substances, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are main components of potent antimircrobial innate defense system into the insect hemolymph. AMPs raise influential candidate as avenue to resolve the development of antibiotic-resistant microbial organism. Insect AMPs are classified into four main classes: cecropins, insect defensins, glycine/proline-rich peptides. Insect AMPs have been purified, over 150. In this review, AMPs derived from several insects were summarized including honey bee, dung beetle, butterfly and longicorn beetle. These peptides almost exhibited potent antimicrobial activities against human microbial pathogens without causing remarkable hemolysis to erythrocytes excluding melittin, and their mode of action(s) are based on disruption of the plasma membrane or fungal apoptosis. Therefore, study of insect AMPs is expected to be useful for designing novel therapeutic antimicrobial applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.537-543
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• 2003

The mouse interferon gene (MuIFN-${\gamma}$) was cloned and then used to transform Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expressed MuIFN-$\{gamma}$ protein (MuIFN-${\gamma}$) was successfully secreted into culture medium due to the presence oi the signal peptide of rice amylase 1A. Two different promoters fused to MuIFN-${\gamma}$ were tested: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) promoter and a yeast hybrid ADH2-GPD (AG) promoter consisting of alcohol dehydrogenase II (ADH2) and GPD promoter. Using the hybrid promoter, the accumulation of MuIFN-${\gamma}$transcript was the highest after the 24 h cultivation, and then gradually decreased as the cultivation proceeded. However, both cell growth and recombinant MuIFN-${\gamma}$production reached their peaks after the 4-day cultivation. It was possible to produce 6.5 mg/l of MuIFN-${\gamma}$ without any changes in cell growth. Using GPD promoter, the MuIFN-${\gamma}$ transcript accumulation and the recombinant MuIFN-${\gamma}$ production followed the same pattern as the cell growth. However. compared to that of the hybrid promoter, the production of recombinant MuIFN-${\gamma}$ was 0.2 mg/l. The secreted MuIFN-${\gamma}$ had estimated molecular masses of 21 kDa and 23 kDa, which were larger than that of the encoded size due to glycosylation. The protection assay against the viral infection indicated that the recombinant MuIFN-${\gamma}$ was bioactive.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1817-1823
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• 2020

Objective: The increasing consumer awareness of food, which can provide health benefits and potentially aid disease prevention, has become the driving force of the functional food market. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chicken genotype on the macronutrient content, bioactive peptide content, and antioxidant capacity within different breast meat. Methods: In this experiment, three genotypes of chicken, Thai indigenous, black-boned, and broiler (control), were reared with commercial feed under the same conditions. Thirty chickens were slaughtered at typical market age and the breasts were separated from the carcass to determine macronutrient content using the AOAC method. The antioxidant capacities of the chicken breasts were evaluated by in vitro antioxidant assays and the protein pattern was investigated using gel electrophoresis. Carnosine and anserine, which have antioxidant properties in animal tissue, were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The results showed that breast meat from Thai indigenous chickens had a greater macronutrient content and higher antioxidant capacity compared with the other genotypes (p<0.05). The protein pattern was similar between genotypes, however Thai indigenous chickens had the greatest myosin and actin content (p<0.05). In addition, carnosine and anserine values were greatest in the black-boned and Thai indigenous chickens compared with the broiler genotype (p<0.05). Conclusion: Thai indigenous chicken breast meat may be classified as a functional food as it has good nutritional value and is rich in antioxidant peptides.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1581-1588
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• 2018

The growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) generates a high number of metabolites related to aromas and flavors in fermented dairy foods. These microbial proteases are involved in protein hydrolysis that produces necessary peptides for their growth and releases different molecules of interest, like bioactive peptides, during their activity. Each genus in particular has its own proteolytic system to hydrolyze the necessary proteins to meet its requirements. This review aims to highlight the differences between the proteolytic systems of Streptococcus thermophilus and other lactic acid bacteria (Lactococcus and Lactobacillus) since they are microorganisms that are frequently used in combination with other LAB in the elaboration of fermented dairy products. Based on genetic studies and in vitro and in vivo tests, the proteolytic system of Streptococcus thermophilus has been divided into three parts: 1) a serine proteinase linked to the cellular wall that is activated in the absence of glutamine and methionine; 2) the transport of peptides and oligopeptides, which are integrated in both the Dpp system and the Ami system, respectively; according to this, it is worth mentioning that the Ami system is able to transport peptides with up to 23 amino acids while the Opp system of Lactococcus or Lactobacillus transports chains with less than 13 amino acids; and finally, 3) peptide hydrolysis by intracellular peptidases, including a group of three exclusive of S. thermophilus capable of releasing either aromatic amino acids or peptides with aromatic amino acids.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Colostrum, a nutrient-rich fluid produced by female mammals after giving birth, is the specific initial diet of mammalian neonates. Colostrum is important for the nutrition, growth, and development of newborn infants and contributes to the immunologic defense of neonates. It contains immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, such as lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase, and other bioactive molecules, including growth factors, such as IGF (insulin-like growth factor), EGF (epithermal growth factor), $TGF-{\beta}$ (transforming growth factor), and FGF (fibroblast growth factor). Bovine colostrum is a rich source of growth factors, which play a central role in wound healing. The biological activities of colostrum emphasize the relevance of the synergistic activity of growth factors to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation and migration, which are essential for tissue repair. Colostrum increases the expression of early differentiation markers, such as keratin 1 and 10 and involucrin, and late differentiation markers, including loricrin and filaggrin. Additionally, colostrum increases granulation tissue volume in the dermis, suggesting that it has a beneficial effect on wound healing. The therapeutic use of colostrum or individual peptides present in colostrum has a positive and curative influence on various gastrointestinal diseases.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.31.1-31.20
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• 2020

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that can degrade collagen in hybrid layer and reduce the longevity of adhesive restorations. As scientific understanding of the MMPs has advanced, useful strategies focusing on preventing these enzymes' actions by MMP inhibitors have quickly developed in many medical fields. However, in restorative dentistry, it is still not well established. This paper is an overview of the strategies to inhibit MMPs that can achieve a long-lasting material-tooth adhesion. Literature search was performed comprehensively using the electronic databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus including articles from May 2007 to December 2019 and the main search terms were "matrix metalloproteinases", "collagen", and "dentin" and "hybrid layer". MMPs typical structure consists of several distinct domains. MMP inhibitors can be divided into 2 main groups: synthetic (synthetic-peptides, non-peptide molecules and compounds, tetracyclines, metallic ions, and others) and natural bioactive inhibitors mainly flavonoids. Selective inhibitors of MMPs promise to be the future for specific targeting of preventing dentin proteolysis. The knowledge about MMPs functionality should be considered to synthesize drugs capable to efficiently and selectively block MMPs chemical routes targeting their inactivation in order to overcome the current limitations of the therapeutic use of MMPs inhibitors, i.e., easy clinical application and long-lasting effect.