• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2004

This study was investigated the physiological properties of auxin-producing bacteria that have plant growth promoting activity and plant pathogen antagonistic ability. Auxin-producing bacteria were isolated from field soils of Gyeongsan, Korea. Selected strains were identified as a Pseudumonas fulva N21 and a Pantoea agglomerans; K35 by morphological and physiological test, and Biolog (Microlog) system. Auxins were determined by Salkowski in vitro test and mungbean adventitious root induction bioassay. Also produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was identified by TLC. During cell growth, auxin production were highest in their idiophase after log phase and $35^{\circ}C$ at pH 7.5.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7527-7532
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• 2014

Saussurea involucrata is a Mongolian medicinal plant well known for its effects in promoting blood circulation, and anti-inflammation and analgesic functions. Earlier studies reported that Saussurea involucrata has anticancer activity. The purpose of this study was to confirm the anticancer activity of an ethanol extract of Saussurea involucrata against hepatic cancer and elucidate its mechanisms of action. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells were tested in vitro for cytotoxicity, AO/EB staining for apoptotic cells, apoptotic DNA fragmentation and cell cycle distribution in response to Saussurea involucrata extract (SIE). The mRNA expression of caspase-3,-9 and Cdk2 and protein expression of caspase-3,-9, PARP, XIAP, Cdk2 and p21 were analyzed through real time PCR and Western blotting. Treatment with SIE inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation dose- and time-dependently, but SIE only exerted a modest cytotoxic effect on a viability of Chang human liver cells. Cells exposed to SIE showed typical hallmarks of apoptotic cell death. Cell cycle analysis revealed that SIE caused G1-phase arrest in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, Saussurea involucrata ethanol extract has potential cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Its mechanism of action might be associated with the inhibition of DNA synthesis, cell cycle (G1) arrest and apoptosis induction through up-regulation of the protein expressions of caspase-3,-9 a nd p21, degradation of PARP and down-regulation of the protein expression of Cdk2 and XIAP.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2016

Background: This study aims to describe the characterization of Paenibacillus polymyxa GBR-1 (GBR-1) with respect to its positive and negative effects on plants. Methods: The morphological characteristics of GBR-1 were identified with microscopy, and subjected to Biolog analysis for identification. Bacterial population and media optimization were determined by a growth curve. The potential for GBR-1 as a growth promoting agent, to have antagonistic activity, and to have hydrolytic activity at different temperatures was assessed. The coinoculation of GBR-1 with other microorganisms and its pathogenicity on various stored plants, including ginseng, were assessed. Results: Colony morphology, endospore-bearing cells, and cell division of GBR-1 were identified by microscopy; identification was performed by utilizing the Biolog system, gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters (GC-FAME). GBR-1 showed the strongest antagonistic activity against fungal and bacterial pathogens. GBR-1 cell numbers were relatively higher when the cells were cultured in brain heart infusion (BHI) medium when compared with other media. Furthermore, the starch-hydrolytic activity was influenced by GBR-1 at higher temperature compared to low temperatures. GBR-1 was pathogenic to some of the storage plants. Coinoculation of GBR-1 with other pathogens causes differences in rotting on ginseng roots. A significant growth promotion was observed in tobacco seedlings treated with GBR-1 suspensions under in vitro conditions, suggesting that its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might play a role in growth promotion. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that GBR-1 has both positive and negative effects on ginseng root and other stored plants as a potential biocontrol agent and eliciting in vitro growth promotion.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.446-451
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• 2005

Diap1 is an essential Drosophila cell death regulator that binds to caspases and inhibits their activity. Reaper, Grim and Hid each antagonize Diap1 by binding to its BIR domain, activating the caspases and eventually causing cell death. Reaper and Hid induce cell death in a Ring-dependent manner by stimulating Diap1 auto-ubiquitination and degradation. It was not clear that how Grim causes the ubiquitination and degradation of Diap1 in Grim-dependent cell death. We found that Grim stimulates poly-ubiquitination of Diap1 in the presence of UbcD1 and that it binds to UbcD1 in a GST pull-down assay, so presumably promoting Diap1 degradation. The possibility that dBruce is another E2 interacting with Diap1 was examined. The UBC domain of dBruce slightly stimulated poly-ubiquitination of Diap1 in Drosophila extracts but not in the reconstitution assay. However Grim did not stimulate Diap1 poly-ubiquitination in the presence of the UBC domain of dBruce. Taken together, these results suggest that Grim stimulates the poly-ubiquitination and presumably degradation of Diap1 in a novel way by binding to UbcD1 but not to the UBC domain of dBruce as an E2.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.340-349
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• 2023

Mad2B (Mad2L2), the human homolog of the yeast Rev7 protein, is a regulatory subunit of DNA polymerase ζ that shares sequence similarity with the mitotic checkpoint protein Mad2A. Previous studies on Mad2B have concluded that it is a mitotic checkpoint protein that functions by inhibiting the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). Here, we demonstrate that Mad2B is activated in response to cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Mad2B co-localizes at nuclear foci with DNA damage markers, such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen and gamma histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), following cisplatin-induced DNA damage. However, unlike Mad2A, the binding of Mad2B to Cdc20 does not inhibit the activity of APC/C in vitro. In contrast to Mad2A, Mad2B does not localize to kinetochores or binds to Cdc20 in spindle assembly checkpoint-activated cells. Loss of the Mad2B protein leads to damaged nuclei following cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Mad2B/Rev7 depletion causes the accumulation of damaged nuclei, thereby accelerating apoptosis in human cancer cells in response to cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Therefore, our results suggest that Mad2B may be a critical modulator of DNA damage response.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.253-264
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• 1998

Porcine follicular oocyte, collected from antral follicles (2~5 mm in diameter) of gilt ovaries were matured in vitro porcine follicular fluid (pFF) with PMSG (pFF-PMSG) buffer with at 37$^{\circ}C$ under 5% CO2 in air their ability of maturation promoting factor (MPF), of GV and GVBD formation was examined followed during time after in vitro culture. Formation of second metaphase was observed in 57.6% and 71.2% of matured in with pFF-PMSG buffer to 45 and 50 hours after invitro. Porcine oocytes cultured in pFF-PMSG for various periods of up to 30 hours were stained with Hoechst-33342 and classified according to maturation before assaying. Histone H1 kinase (H1K) activity was assayed during meiotic maturation in porcine oocytes matured in pFF-PMSG buffer in vitro. In oocytes matured in pFF-PMSG, H1K activity was at the 30 hours after culture and increased about 15 fold than at the germinal vesicle stage with before at the cultured in vitro. This pattern is similar to those reported in non-mammalian species and su, pp.rts the concepts that H1K is ubiquitous in eukaryotes and controls the meiotic cell cycle in mammals. These results suggest that the maturation pFF-PMSG buffer used influences the fluctuation pattern of H1K activity and biological characteristics of porcine oocytes cultured in vitro.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2023

Pumilio (Pum) is an RNA-binding protein and translational repressor important to diverse biological processes. In the Drosophila ovary, Pum is expressed in female germline stem cells (GSCs), wherein it acts as an intrinsic stem cell maintenance factor via repressing target mRNAs that are as yet mostly unknown. Pum recognizes the Pum binding sequence (PBS) in the mRNA 3'UTR through its C-terminus Puf domain. Translational repression is mediated through its N-terminal domain, but the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. We previously showed that Bag-of-marbles, a critical differentiation-promoting factor of female GSCs, physically interacts with the N-terminus of Pum. We further showed that this interaction is critical to Bam inhibition of Pum repressive action in cultured cells, but the physiological relevance was not addressed. Here we design an in vivo GFP translational reporter bearing the PBS in its 3'UTR and show that GFP expression is reduced in cells wherein Pum is known to be active. Furthermore, we demonstrate in pum mutant ovary that this GFP repression requires Pum, and also that the sensor faithfully monitors Pum activity. Finally, we show that forced expression of Bam inhibits Pum-mediated repression, validating that Bam inhibits Pum activity in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.445-457
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• 2020

Prebiotics are defined as "Nondigestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria in the intestine" and as defined improve host health. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium lactis BB12 and Bifidobacterium longum BB536) growth enhancer (BE0623) supplement as a prebiotic. The addition of BE0623, a growth promoting material for bifidobacteria, significantly increased bifidobacteria viable cells counts in fermented milk by about 45 to 75 times compared to the non-added control group. In addition, microscopic observation showed a significant effect on proliferation of bifidobacteria in fermented milk with added BE0623. The viable cell counts in bifidobacteria also increased roughly 102-fold compared to the control group (non-added BE0623) and was higher than that of commercial growth promoters. Each fraction obtained though the purification of BE0623 influenced the increase of bifidobacteria growth. Culturing bifidobacteria with a combination of fractions of BE0623 had a synergistic effect compared to culturing bifidobacteria with each fraction individually. When any of the fractions were not added, the effect of the growth enhancer on bifidobacteria was reduced. These results indicate that all fractions contain substances that promote the growth of bifidobacteria. Therefore, BE0623 is considered to be available as a growth promoting material for bifidobacterium.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.369-377
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• 2023

Background: In this study, we investigated the potential use of keratin for oral tissue regeneration. Keratin is well-known for its effectiveness in skin regeneration by promoting keratinization and enhancing the elasticity and activity of fibroblasts. Because of its structural stability, high storability, biocompatibility, and safety in humans, existing research has predominantly focused on its role in skin wound healing. Herein, we propose using keratin proteins as biocompatible materials for dental applications. Methods: To assess the suitability of alpha-keratin protein as a substrate for cell culture, keratin was extracted from human hair via PEGylation. Viabilities of primary human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) were assessed. Fluorescence immunostaining and migration assays were conducted using a fluorescence microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope. Wound healing and migration assays were performed using automated software to analyze the experimental readout and gap closure rate. Results: We confirmed the extraction of alpha-keratin and formation of the PEG-g-keratin complex. Treatment of HGFs with keratin protein at a concentration of 5 mg/ml promoted proliferation and maintained cell viability in the test group compared to the control group. HOKs treated with 5 mg/ml keratin exhibited a slight decrease in cell proliferation and activity after 48 hours compared to the untreated group, followed by an increase after 72 hours. Wound healing and migration assays revealed rapid closure of the area covered by HOKs over time following keratin treatment. Additionally, HOKs exhibited changes in cell morphology and increased the expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the potential of hair keratin for soft tissue regeneration, with potential future applications in clinical settings for wound healing.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.869-876
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• 2022

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a dicarbonyl compound formed in cells mainly by the spontaneous degradation of the triose phosphate intermediates of glycolysis. MG is a powerful precursor of advanced glycation end products, which lead to strong dicarbonyl and oxidative stress. Although divergent functions of MG have been observed depending on its concentration, MG is considered to be a potential antitumor factor due to its cytotoxic effects within the oncologic domain. MG detoxification is carried out by the glyoxalase system. Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), the ubiquitous glutathionedependent enzyme responsible for MG degradation, is considered to be a tumor promoting factor due to it catalyzing the removal of cytotoxic MG. Indeed, various cancer types exhibit increased expression and activity of Glo1 that closely correlate with tumor cell growth and metastasis. Furthermore, mounting evidence suggests that Glo1 contributes to cancer stem cell survival. In this review, we discuss the role of Glo1 in the malignant progression of cancer and its possible use as a promising therapeutic target for tumor therapy. We also summarize therapeutic outcomes of Glo1 inhibitors as prospective treatments for the prevention of cancer.