• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2016

A soil metagenome contains the genomes of all microbes included in a soil sample, including those that cannot be cultured. In this study, soil metagenome libraries were searched for microbial genes exhibiting lipolytic activity and those involved in potential lipid metabolism that could yield valuable products in microorganisms. One of the subclones derived from the original fosmid clone, pELP120, was selected for further analysis. A subclone spanning a 3.3 kb DNA fragment was found to encode for lipase/esterase and contained an additional partial open reading frame encoding a wax ester synthase (WES) motif. Consequently, both pELP120 and the full length of the gene potentially encoding WES were sequenced. To determine if the wes gene encoded a functioning WES protein that produced wax esters, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy was conducted using ethyl acetate extract from an Escherichia coli strain that expressed the wes gene and was grown with hexadecanol. The ethyl acetate extract from this E. coli strain did indeed produce wax ester compounds of various carbon-chain lengths. DNA sequence analysis of the full-length gene revealed that the gene cluster may be derived from a member of Proteobacteria, whereas the clone does not contain any clear phylogenetic markers. These results suggest that the wes gene discovered in this study encodes a functional protein in E. coli and produces wax esters through a heterologous expression system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.430-435
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• 2013

Multidrug resistance, especially multidrug efflux mechanisms that extrude structurally unrelated cytotoxic compounds from the cell by multidrug transporters, is a serious problem and one of the main reasons for the failure of therapeutic treatment of infections by pathogenic microorganisms as well as of cancer cells. Streptococcus mutans is considered one of the primary causative agents of dental caries and periodontal disease, which comprise the most common oral diseases. A fragment of chromosomal DNA from S. mutans KCTC3065 was cloned using Escherichia coli KAM32 as host cells lacking major multidrug efflux pumps. Although E. coli KAM32 cells were very sensitive to many antimicrobial agents, the transformed cells harboring a recombinant plasmid became resistant to several structurally unrelated antimicrobial agents such as tetracycline, kanamycin, rhodamin 6G, ampicillin, acriflavine, ethidium bromide, and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride. This suggested that the cloned DNA fragment carries a gene encoding a multidrug efflux pump. Among 49 of the multidrug-resistant transformants, we report the functional gene cloning and characterization of the function of one multidrug efflux pump, namely MdeA from S. mutans, which was expressed in E. coli KAM32. Judging from the structural and biochemical properties, we concluded that MdeA is the first cloned and characterized multidrug efflux pump using the proton motive force as the energy for efflux drugs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2011

This study was conducted to improve the food functional and sensory food quality of Hizikia fusiforme by the fermentation of lactic acid bacteria. Seven strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional Korean fermented food were inoculated and cultivated in H. fusiforme water extract. Among them, Lactobacillus brevis LB-20, isolated from Kimchi, was selected for further study by considering the results of bacterial growth, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and sensory evaluation. No significant differences in proximate compositions (moisture, crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash) were observed by the fermentation of L. brevis LB-20. The most dramatical change was the conversion from glutamate to ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in H. fusiforme water extract fermented by L. brevis LB-20. The GABA content increased approximately 60-fold after 48 hr of fermentation. The bacterial fermentation also resulted in low-molecularization of the extract. The particle size of the fermented extract became approximately 4-fold smaller than that of the law extract. In addition, the analysis of volatile flavor compounds using GC/MS revealed that the bacterial fermentation dramatically removed off-flavors such as acetaldehyde, haxanal, diallyl disulphide and 1-penten-2-ol in the H. fusiforme extract.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1645-1652
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• 2015

We investigated the anti-wrinkle efficacy of hydrolysate from oyster protein by Protamex and Neutrase for the purpose of finding materials to assist skin health originating from marine organisms. There were about 7.9% free amino acids in the oyster hydrolysate, and contents of urea, taurine, alanine, and glycine were high. Oyster hydrolysate also showed collagenase inhibitory activity and was not toxic to CCD986sk human fibroblast cells. Yield of the fractions according to the molecular weight of oyster hydrolysate was 40% for less than 1,000 Da and 60.4% for less than 5,000 Da, respectively. Antioxidative effect, procollagen production, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 inhibitory activity were highest in 1,000~3,000 Da fractions. We observed that oyster hydrolysate and its less than 5,000 Da fraction are potential functional compounds for skin health and for improving wrinkles.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.8-8
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• 2018

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Many conditions are associated with muscle atrophy, such as aging, denervation, disuse, starvation, severe injury and inflammation, prolonged bed rest, glucocorticoid treatment, sepsis, cancer, and other cachectic diseases. On the other hand, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and is wide spread in the elderly population and is characterized by erosion of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. The cytokine network plays an important role in the development and progression of OA with the inflammatory cytokine. Schisandrae Fructus (SF) derived from the ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Magnoliaceae) has been extensively used in traditional herbal medicines in Asia. It was originally used as a tonic and has been traditionally used for the treatment of many uncomfortable symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, dysentery, insomnia, and amnesia for a long time. Previous reports have shown that SF and its related compounds possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-microbial, antiseptic, anti-aging, hepatoprotective and immunostimulating effects. However, the therapeutic effects of SF on muscle atrophy and OA has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether extracts of SF, the dried fruit of S. chinensis, mitigates the development of muscle atrophy and OA.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2004

Medicinal plants are of great importance in providing healthcare to a large portion of the population in Korea. A number of plants are described in Dong-Ui-Bo-Gam for use in the treatment of allergic disorders, namely psoriasis, eczema, bronchial asthma, etc. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AllerQ, which is multi-complexes of various plants extracts such like Mori folium, Scutellaria baicallensis, Glycyrrhiza uralnsis, Mentha sacharinensis and Poncirus trifoliata on compound 48/80 induced anaphylactic shock, ovalbumin induced asthma in vivo and anti-IgE antibody induced hypersensitivity in vitro. We found antianaphylactic or antiallergic properties of AllerQ when given orally. AllerQ for prophylactic treatment for anaphylactic shocks have produced good results. AllerQ may modulate various aspects of immune function and allergic inflammation. In the present study, we analyse the effects of AllerQ on mast cell degranulation, mortality, cAMP/cGMP, O₂, H₂O₂ level, cyokine production and on the elicitation of IgE-mediated mast cell-dependent allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro. We have established that AllerQ inhibited histamine release, cAMP/cGMP, O₂, H₂O₂ level, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and IL-6 production without having any significant physical change. These effects have been observed in mast cell(in vitro) and serum(in vivo) derived from three different origins that were activated by either immunological or non-immunological stimuli. These results suggest that the antianaphylactic and antiasthma tic action of AllerQ may be associated with an increase in the intracellular inhibition of the cAMP phosphodiesterase. Furthermore, AllerQ identified as potent inhibitors on O₂, H₂O₂ and cytokine activity. these data suggest that AllerQ may have an inhibitory role in mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation, and thus might be considered as an useful functional food.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.296-301
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• 2001

Physiological functionalities in various extracts of Heugjinju rice bran were determined and its optimal extraction condition were also investigated Angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitory activity, fibrinolytic activity and tyrosinase inhibitory activity were higher in water extracts than those of 80% ethanol and methanol, hexane. Electron donating abilities were 97.8% in hexane extract and 83% in water extracts. ACE inhibitor was maximally extracted from Heugjinju rice bran when it was treated with 20 times of distilled water for 12 h at 20 $\^{C}$. Fibrinolytic compound was also maximally extracted by treatment of 10 times of distilled water for 18 h at 20 $\^{C}$. Electron donating compound and tyrosinase inhibitor were maximally extracted by treatment of 20 times of hexane and 10 times of distilled water at 20 $\^{C}$ for 18 h, respectively

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.42-49
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the nutritional value of domestic cherry tomato varieties (Summerking, Qutiquti, and Minichal). The levels of amino acids, amino acid derivatives, and ${\gamma}-aminobutyric-acid$ (GABA) were analyzed using ion chromatography. In domestic cherry tomatoes, eighteen free amino acids were found including L-glutamic acid (L-Glu), L-glutamine (L-Gln), and L-aspartic acid (L-Asp). L-Glu was the most abundant amino acid, ranging from 1,533.17 mg/100 g to 1,920.65 mg/100 g (dry weight). The next abundant amino acids were L-Gln, ranging from 784.68 mg/100 g to 1,164.36 mg/100 g and L-Asp, ranging from 320.73 mg/100 g to 387.22 mg/100 g. Domestic cherry tomatoes contained eight essential amino acids except tryptophan and the total essential amino acid content was 297.30~432.43 mg/100 g (dry weight), which was 8.92~10.61% of total free amino acid. Several amino acid derivatives were found: L-carnitine (L-Car), hydroxylysine (Hyl), o-phosphoethanolamine (o-Pea), phosphoserine (p-Ser), ${\beta}-alanine$ (${\beta}-Ala$), N-methyl-histidine (Me-His), ethanolamine ($EtNH_2$), and L-citrulline (L-Cit). L-Car, transporting long-chain fatty acid into mitocondrial matrix, was the most abundant amino acid derivative in all domestic cherry tomatoes. A high level of GABA (313.18~638.57 mg/100 g), known as a neurotransmitter, was also found in all three domestic cherry tomatoes. These results revealed that domestic cherry tomatoes have a good balance of nutrient and bioactive compounds. Therefore, cherry tomatoes can be used as a functional food material.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2009

The effects of temperature and curing systems on the compression set of natural rubber (NR) at constant load were investigated. NR was compounded with various amounts of sulfur and DCP in order to obtain various crosslink densities and curing systems. Compression sets at constant load were compared with those at constant strain. Compression set at constant load was more affected by changes in crosslink density than compression set at constant strain, due to the differences of exerted strain energy density. Compression set of sulfur cured NR under constant load was increased with increasing load and temperature, but the compression set of DCP cured NR was not changed by increasing load and temperature.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.560-564
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• 2003

The functional properties of Hericium erinaceus were analyzed. The crude protein content was 8.01%. free sugars were mainly composed of glucose(47.09 mg%) and fructose(34.65 mg%), but sucrose and maltose were not detected. The free amino acids were mainly glutamic acid(1,468.12 mg%), alanine(716.07 mg%) and threonine(643.95 mg%) in Hericium erinaceus. It doesn't difference between water and ethanol extract on soluble solid content. Comparing minerals of extracts from Hericium erinaceus, water extract showed higher contents than ethanol extract except for I This tendency is similar to superoxide scavening activity and electron donating activity. But phenolic compounds, ethanol extract was higher than water extract. In comparison of water and ethanol extract of Hericium erinaceus, as a whole water extract was excellent.