• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2007

In this study, physicochemical properties and the antioxidative activity of whey protein isolate(WPI) for com germ oil were measured. The pH of WPI was 6.26, and the titrable acidity was 0.18%. The WPI’s moisture content was 5.2% and each of the other element content such as lactose, crude protein, crude ash and crude fat was found to be 0.8%, 90.7%, 2.7% and 0.6%, respectively. The amounts of active SH group in WPI 9 ${\mu}$ M-g and total colony counts of bacteria was 5.9 ${\times}$ 10$^3$ CFU-g. ${\alpha}$-Lactalbumin, ${\beta}$-lactoglobulin and bovine serum albumin(BSA) were shown in WPI as major protein by electrophoresis. The antioxidative effect of WPI and other antioxidants on com germ oil used as substrate was determined by peroxide value(POV) and conjuqated dienoic acid value(CDV). By these results, the order of antioxidative effects could be defined as BHT 0.02%>ascorbic acid 0.1%>WPI 0.1%>WPI 0.02%>ascorbic acid 0.02%>control>tocopherol 0.02%>tocopherol 0.1%, respectively. Also the induction period of com germ oil added with WPI was longer by 1.6 times than that of control(none added any antioxidant). Therefore the fact suggested that WPI could be utilized as a good antioxidative agents.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.230-237
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• 2017

Changes in the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzymes and isoforms in human serum have a major diagnostic value, therefore the regulation of ALP activities is a valuable target for therapeutic interventions. To assess the pharmacological activity of retinoids, i.e., all-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid, their tissue-specific inhibitory effect on human serum ALP activity was elucidated by chemical inhibition methods, heat-sensitive inactivation, and wheat-germ lectin precipitation test. Retinoids showed significant inhibition of the total ALP activity in human serum at a concentration of 5 mM. All-trans retinoic acid (5 mM) and 13-cis retinoic acid (5 mM) inhibited ALP activities by up to 12% and 15%, respectively, compared to that by guanidine hydrochloride (200 mM). L-phenylalanine (100 mM) and urea (30 mM) had no further inhibitory effect on ALP activities in human serum pretreated with retinoids (5 mM). Retinoids significantly inhibited ALP activities by up to 20% compared with that of tetramisole (30 mM). The ALP activities in retinoid-pretreated serum remained unchanged after the heat inactivation process. These results suggest that retinoids are inhibitors of the intestinal ALP isoenzyme. Remarkably, retinoids revealed potent inhibitory activities against ALP in wheat-germ lectin precipitant serum, indicating that they also function as inhibitors of the bone ALP isoform. The results show that retinoids inhibit the specific tissue-derived human serum ALP activities, moreover, the inhibitory effect of retinoids against bone ALP activity suggests their clinical utility as monitoring and prevention of metastasis of bone cancer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

The Syrian (golden) hamsters are seasonal breeders whose reproductive functions are active in summer and inactive in winter. In experimental facility mimicking winter climate, short photoperiod (SP) induces gonadal regression. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) of the sexually involuted animals have been reported to be permeable, allowing developing germ cells to be engulfed or sloughed off the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules. The expressions of genes related to the tight junction composing of BTB were investigated in the reproductive active and inactive testes. Claudin-11, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) were definitely expressed in the active testes but not discernably detected in the inactive testes. And spermatozoa (sperm) were observed in the whole lengths of epididymides in the active testes. They were witnessed in only cauda region of the epididymides but not in caput and corpus regions in animals with the inactive testes. The results imply that the disorganization of BTB is associated with the testicular regression. The developing germ cells are swallowed into the Sertoli cells or travel into the lumen, as supported by the presence of the sperm delayed in the last region of the epididymis. These outcomes suggest that both apoptosis and desquamation are the processes that eliminate the germ cells during the regressing stage in the Syrian hamsters.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 2012

Lhx8 (LIM homeobox 8) gene encodes a LIM homeodomain transcriptional regulator that is preferentially expressed in germ cells and critical for mammalian folliculogenesis. However, Lhx8 DNA binding sequences are not characterized yet. We aimed to identify and characterize a cis-acting sequence of germ-cell specific transcriptional factor, Lhx8. To identify Lhx8 DNA binding element, Cyclic Amplification of Sequence Target (CAST) Analysis was performed. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) was processed for the binding specificity of Lhx8. Luciferase assay was for the transcriptional activity of Lhx8 through identified DNA binding site. We identified a putative cis-acting sequence, TGATTG as Lhx8 DNA binding element (LBE). In addition, Lhx8 binds to the LBE with high affinity and augments transcriptional activity of luciferase reporter driven by artificial promoter containing the Lhx8 binding element. These findings indicate that Lhx8 directly regulates the transcription of genes containing Lhx8 binding element in oocytes during early folliculogenesis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.43-47
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• 2015

Sirtuin proteins are evolutionary conserved Sir2-related $NAD^+$-dependent deacetylases and regulate many of cellular processes such as metabolism, inflammation, transcription, and aging. Sirtuin contains activity of either ADP-ribosyltransferase or deacetyltranfease and their activity is dependent on the localization in cells. However, the expression pattern of Sirtuins has not been well studied. To examine the expression levels of Sirtuins, RT-PCR was performed using total RNAs from various tissues including liver, small intestine, heart, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, stomach, uterus, ovary, and testis. Sirtuins were highly expressed in most of tissues including the testis. Immunostaining assay showed that Sirt1 and Sirt6 were mainly located in the nucleus of germ cells, spermatocytes, and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules, whereas Sirt2 and Sirt5 were exclusively present in the cytoplasm of germ cells and spermatocytes. Our results indicate that Sirtuins may function as regulators of spermatogenesis and their activities might be dependent on their location in the seminiferous tubules.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2017

This study investigated the quality characteristics and biological activities of rice germ fermented by Bacillus spp. During the milling process, the contents of rice germ in the rice bran (Control) were adjusted to 30% (RG30) and 70% (RG70). The approximate composition, pH, total acidity, total soluble solid, total sugar, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were measured. DPPH radical scavenging activity, xanthine oxidase (XO) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities were also determined. We observed that the moisture content decreased after fermentation, while the crude protein was significantly increased. Fermentation remarkably lowered the pH from 5.83~6.26 to 4.77~4.93, thereby elevating the total acidity. Fermentation also increased the total solid contents, from $0.40{\sim}0.87^{\circ}Bx$ to $1.63{\sim}2.20^{\circ}Bx$. The total sugar decreased to 136.81~151.53 mg/mL from 377.56~450.64 mg/mL. Polyphenol contents were the highest in control (0.59 and 0.73 mg/mL before and after fermentation, respectively). Fermentation significantly affected the increase of the polyphenols in both rice germ 30% and 70% samples, from 0.26 and 0.28 mg GAE/g before fermentation, to 0.52 and 0.70 mg GAE/g after fermentation, respectively. There was a slight increase in the flavonoid contents after fermentation. The $IC_{50}$ value of the electron donating ability, as evaluated by the DPPH method, was the lowest in control (3.77 and 3.36 mg/mL before and after fermentation, respectively). Fermentation increased the XO inhibition activity up to 63.69% in control, 49.81% in rice germ 30%, and 59.32% in rice germ 70%. The ACE inhibition activities were also increased in the fermented control, rice germ 30% and 70%, to 40.51%, 22.69% and 33.91%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.521-529
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• 1996

In an effort to obtain basic data of carbohydrate metabolism during spermiogenesis of the sexually-matured Jindo dog, the glycogen distribution in the testis was investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy. Periodic acid thiocarbohydrazide silver proteinate physical development(PA-TCH-SP-PD) staining method provided better results in the detection of glycogen granules from Sertoli cells and germ cells than the periodic acid schiff(PAS) staining method did. Pre-treatment of the tissue sections with ${\alpha}$-amylase elicited a significant decrease in PA-TCH-SP-PD stained granules, which suggested that the stained granules were of glycogen origin. High concentration of the glycogen granules were observed in the Sertoli cells, especially in its column, sheet-like processes, club-like processes, and tubular processes. The glycogen granules were unevenly distributed in some Sertoli cell columns. These results strongly indicated that the Sertoli cells of Jindo dogs showed vigorous activity of carbohydrate metabolism.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2008

Interests in natural products have been gradually increasing as well-being era has arrived. Panax ginseng was chosen since it represents Korean traditional medicine as its effect on many age-related symptoms. Panax ginseng absolute essential oil was prepared and analyzed for its main components. Ginseng absolute oil was extracted from Panax ginseng using organic solvent of hexane and ethanol with the yield of 0.146%. The oil was analyzed by GC-MS and main components are sesquiterpenes such as neoclovene, panasinsene, and calarene and more than 110 components were identified from it. The oil was tested for antibacterial activity against general bacteria(E. Coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa), yeast, acne germ(Propionibacterium acne) and dandruff germ(Pityrosporum ovale). Panox ginseng absolute essential oil showed the prominent antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes ACCC 6919.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.1031-1040
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• 2015

Ultrstructural studies of germ cell differentiation and vitellogenesis in the oocytes of the female Rapana venosa in the brackish water area of Seomjin River were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. In the early vitellogenic oocytes, the Golgi complex and mitochondria were involved in the formation of glycogen particle, lipid droplets, and yolk granules. In the late vitellogenic oocytes, the rough endoplasmic reticulum and multivesicular bodies were involved in the formation of proteid yolk granules in the cytoplasm. However, heterosynthetic vitellogenesis in this species were not observed in vitellogenic oocytes during oogenesis. A mature yolk granule was composed of three components: crystalline core, electron lucent cortex and the limiting membrane. As shown in some large gastropods, vitellogenesis in R. venosa occurred by way of endogenous autosynthesis without heterosythetic vitellogenesis (exogeneous endocytosis), which are found in the oocytes in bivalves. The mating period and spawning activity were related with the increases of seawater temperatures and salinities.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.775-779
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• 2002

Barley brans, divided into fractions I $(pearlers\;1{\sim}4)$, II $(pearlers\;5{\sim}20)$, and III $(pearlers \;21{\sim}24)$, germ, and broken kernels were collected as pearling by-products produced by an industrial process consisting of 24 consecutive barley pearlers. The pearling by-products were extracted with 75% ethanol, and polyphenol extracts were separated using Sepabeads SP-850 resin. Total polyphenol content was the highest (43.68%) in the polyphenol extract separated from fraction I. Polyphenol compounds analyzed by HPLC were tentatively identified as proanthocyanins and prodelphinidin polymers, which were known to have antioxidative and antimutagenic activities. Antioxidative abilities were estimated to be in the following order: fraction I>germ>fraction II>fraction III. At 0.01% polyphenol extract, angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity was the highest in the germ fraction (40.04%). Nitrite-scavenging activity was over 70% in all fractions. Superoxide dismutase-like activity was in the range of $64{\sim}78%$ in fractions I and II.