• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1998

An antagonistic fungus inhibiting growth of various phytopathogenic fungi was isolated from greenhouse soils and identified. Mophological features of fruiting structures on potato dextrose agar and colorless globose to ovate heavy walled hyaline cells from the vegetative mycelium grown on MY20 agar indicate that this antagonist is Aspergillus terreus. The antagonistic activity is due to the production of antifungal compounds. An antifungal compound was purified from its culture filtrate using chloroform extraction, column chromatography, and thin layer chromatography. The purified antibiotic was effective to various phytopathogenic fungi and identified as butyrolactone I. $ED_{50}$ values measured by petri-plate assay through effective dosage(ED)-probit analysis were 9.7, 13.7, 23.3, 42.6 and 102.7 ppm on Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, Phytophthora capsici, and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2015

TGF-${\beta}$ regulates pleiotropic cellular responses including cell growth, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, extracellular matrix production, and many other biological processes. Although non-Smad signaling pathways are being increasingly reported to play many roles in TGF-${\beta}$-mediated biological processes, Smads, especially receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads), still play a central mediatory role in TGF-${\beta}$ signaling for epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Thus, the biological activities of R-Smads are tightly regulated at multiple points. Inhibitory Smad (I-Smad also called Smad7) acts as a critical endogenous negative feedback regulator of Smad-signaling pathways by inhibiting R-Smad phosphorylation and by inducing activated type I TGF-${\beta}$ receptor degradation. Roles played by Smad7 in health and disease are being increasingly reported, but the molecular mechanisms that regulate Smad7 are not well understood. In this study, we show that E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch acts as a positive regulator of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling and of subsequent EMT-related gene expression. Interestingly, the Itch-mediated positive regulation of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling was found to be dependent on Smad7 ubiquitination and its subsequent degradation. Further study revealed Itch acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase for Smad7 polyubiquitination, and thus, that Itch is an important regulator of Smad7 activity and a positive regulator of TGF-${\beta}$ signaling and of TGF-${\beta}$-mediated biological processes. Accordingly, the study uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism whereby Smad7 is controlled by Itch.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.808-816
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• 2018

Bacterial biofilms have been demonstrated to be closely related to clinical infections and contribute to drug resistance. Berberine, which is the main component of Coptis chinensis, has been reported to have efficient antibacterial activity. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of a combination of berberine with ciprofloxacin (CIP) to inhibit Salmonella biofilm formation and its effect on expressions of related genes (rpoE, luxS, and ompR). The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index of the combination of berberine with CIP is 0.75 showing a synergistic antibacterial effect. The biofilm's adhesion rate and growth curve showed that the multi-resistant Salmonella strain had the potential to form a biofilm relative to that of strain CVCC528, and the antibiofilm effects were in a dose-dependent manner. Biofilm microstructures were rarely observed at $1/2{\times}MIC/FIC$ concentrations (MIC, minimal inhibition concentration), and the combination had a stronger antibiofilm effect than each of the antimicrobial agents used alone at $1/4{\times}FIC$ concentration. LuxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions were significantly repressed (p< 0.01) at $1/2{\times}MIC/FIC$ concentrations, and the berberine and CIP combination repressed mRNA expressions more strongly at the $1/4{\times}FIC$ concentration. The results indicate that the combination of berberine and CIP has a synergistic effect and is effective in inhibiting Salmonella biofilm formation via repression of luxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 2021

Rice sheath blight (ShB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn AG1-IA, is one of the destructive rice diseases worldwide. The aims of this study were to develop biocontrol strategies focusing on field sanitation and foliar application with a biocontrol agent for ShB management. Streptomyces padanus PMS-702 showed a great antagonistic activity against R. solani. Fungichromin produced by S. padanus PMS-702, at 3.07 mg/l inhibited 50% mycelial growth, caused leakage of cytoplasm, and inhibited the formation of infection structures of R. solani. Fungichromin could reach to 802 mg/l when S. padanus PMS-702 was cultured in MACC broth for 6 days. Addition of 0.5% S. padanus PMS-702 broth into soil decreased the survival rate of the pathogen compared to the control. Soil amended with 0.5% S. padanus broth and 0.5% tea seed pomace resulted in the death of R. solani mycelia in the infested rice straws, and the germination of sclerotia was inhibited 21 days after treatment. Greenhouse trials revealed that S. padanus cultured in soybean meal-glucose (SMGC-2) medium after mixing with different surfactants could enhance its efficacy for inhibiting the pathogen. Of six surfactants tested, the addition of 2% tea saponin was the most effective in suppressing the pathogen. S. padanus broth after being fermented in SMGC-2, mixed with 2% tea saponin, diluted 100 fold, and sprayed onto rice plants significantly reduced ShB disease severity. Thus, S. padanus PMS-702 is an effective biocontrol agent. The efficacy of S. padanus PMS-702 for disease control could be improved through formulation.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.791-801
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• 2022

Boil-dried concentrates (BDC) and steam-dried concentrates (SDC) were prepared from highly nutritious olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus roes (OFR) as seafood processing by-products and their nutritional characteristics were investigated. Although SDS-PAGE profiles of the BDC and SDC proteins were similar to each other, it was observed that three of the five OFR protein bands in the 50-100 kDa range had disappeared. We also detected significant differences in the Hunter's color of the two concentrates in terms of color difference (𝚫E) and whiteness. The recovery amounts of BDC and SDC prepared from 100 g of OFR were 18.6 and 21.4 g, respectively, with respective protein contents of 67.7% and 68.9%. The main amino acids of OFR and concentrate proteins were valine, leucine, lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and alanine, whereas major minerals were sulfur, potassium, sodium and phosphorus, the amounts of which in concentrates had been significantly reduced. We established that by sterilizing, inactivating endogenous enzymes, and inhibiting microbial growth, the cook-dried process contributes to enhancing the concentration and storage stability of nutrients by reducing water activity, volume, and weight. Accordingly, we suggest that concentrates (BDC and SDC) prepared from OFR have considerable potential as nutritionally fortified materials.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.367-375
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• 2022

Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are a major cause of radioresistance and chemoresistance in gastric cancer (GC). Therefore, targeting GCSCs is regarded as a powerful strategy for the effective treatment of GC. Atorvastatin is a widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug that inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. The anticancer activity of atorvastatin, a repurposed drug, is being investigated; however, its therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of action against GCSCs remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the anticancer effects of atorvastatin on MKN45-derived GCSCs. Atorvastatin significantly inhibited the proliferative and tumorsphere-forming abilities of MKN45 GCSCs in a mevalonate pathway-independent manner. Atorvastatin induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and promoted apoptosis by activating the caspase cascade. Furthermore, atorvastatin exerted an antiproliferative effect against MKN45 GCSCs by inhibiting the expression of cancer stemness markers, such as CD133, CD44, integrin α6, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1, Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog, through the downregulation of β-catenin, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and protein kinase B activities. Additionally, the combined treatment of atorvastatin and sorafenib, a multi-kinase targeted anticancer drug, synergistically suppressed not only the proliferation and tumorsphere formation of MKN45 GCSCs but also the in vivo tumor growth in a chick chorioallantoic membrane model implanted with MKN45 GCSCs. These findings suggest that atorvastatin can therapeutically eliminate GCSCs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.440-447
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• 2023

Background: The human hair follicle undergoes cyclic phases-anagen, catagen, and telogen-throughout its lifetime. This cyclic transition has been studied as a target for treating hair loss. Recently, correlation between the inhibition of autophagy and acceleration of the catagen phase in human hair follicles was investigated. However, the role of autophagy in human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs), which is involved in the development and growth of hair follicles, is not known. We hypothesized that acceleration of hair catagen phase upon inhibition of autophagy is due to the downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hDPCs, and that components of Panax ginseng extract can increase the autophagic flux in hDPCs. Methods: We generated an autophagy-inhibited condition using 3-methyladenine (3-MA), a specific autophagy inhibitor, and investigated the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling using the luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis. In addition, cells were cotreated with ginsenoside Re and 3-MA and their roles in inhibiting autophagosome formation were investigated. Results: We found that the unstimulated anagen phase dermal papilla region expressed the autophagy marker, LC3. Transcription of Wnt-related genes and nuclear translocation of β-catenin were reduced after treatment of hDPCs with 3-MA. In addition, treatment with the combination of ginsenoside Re and 3-MA changed the Wnt activity and hair cycle by restoring autophagy. Conclusions: Our results suggest that autophagy inhibition in hDPCs accelerates the catagen phase by downregulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, ginsenoside Re, which increased autophagy in hDPCs, could be useful for reducing hair loss caused by abnormal inhibition of autophagy.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.194-202
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• 2003

To isolate alga-lytic bacteria, a number of samples were collected from Lake of Sukchon and Pal'tang reservoir where cyanobacteria blooming occurred. HY0210-AK1, which exhibited high alga-lytic activity, was isolated using Anabaena cylindrica lawn. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of the isolate HY0210-AK1 were very similar to that of the genus Rhizobium. Taxonomic identification including 16S rDNA base sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolate Hy0210-AK1 had a 99.1% homology in its 16S rDNA babe sequence with Sphingobium herbicidovorans. A. cylindrica NIES-19 was susceptible to the alga-lytic bacterial attack. The growth-inhibiting offset of the bacterium was not different on A. cylindrica NIES-19 when Sphingobium herbicidovorans HY0210-AK1 was in the lag, exponential, and stationary growth phase, although the alga-Iytic effect of S. herbici-dovorans HY0210-AK1 that in stationary growth phase was somewhat pronounced at the first time of inoculation. When S. herbicidovorans HY0210-AK1 was inoculated was inoculated with $1\times 10^{8}$ CFU $ml^{-1}$ together with A cylindrica NIES-19, the bacterium proliferated and caused algal lysis. A. cylindrica NIES-19 died when S. herbicidovorans HY0210 AKl was added to the algal culture but not when duly the filtrates from the bacterial culture was added. This suggests that extracellular substances are not responsible for inhibition of A. cylindrica NIES-19 and that algal Iysis largely attributed to direct interaction between S. herbicidovorans HY0210-AK1 and A. cylindrica NIES-19. The alga-lytic bacterium HY0210-AK1 caused cell lysis and death of three strain of Micro-cystis aeruginosa, but revealed no alga-Iytic effects on the Stephanodiscus hantzschii.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2016

Angiogenesis is essential for the pathophysiological processes of embryogenesis, tissue growth, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis, wound healing, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and tumor growth. Inhibition of angiogenesis represents an attractive therapeutic approach for the treatment of angiogenic diseases such as cancer. However, uncontrolled angiogenesis is also necessary for tumor development and metastasis. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, a critical factor in the induction of angiogenesis, cause robust and rapid changes in blood vessels of tumors and therefore VEGF constitutes a target for such anti-angiogenic therapy. Recently, since natural compounds pose significantly less risk of deleterious side effects than synthetic compounds, a great many natural resources have been assessed for useful substance for anti-angiogenic treatment. Here we evaluated the anti-angiogenic effects of a hot water extract of Scutellaria baicalensis (SBHWE) using in vitro assays and ex vivo animal experiments. Our results show that SBHWE dose-dependently abrogated vascular endothelial responses by inhibiting VEGF-stimulated migration and invasion as well as tube formation in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model, without cytotoxicity, as determined by a cell viability assay. Further study revealed that SBHWE prevented VEGF-induced neo-vascularization in a rat aortic ring sprouting model. Taken together, our findings reveal an anti-angiogenic activity of Scutellaria baicalensis and suggest that SBHWE is a novel candidate inhibitor of VEGF-induced angiogenesis.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.3 s.52
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• pp.219-236
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• 2005

Glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid derived from fruit and milk sugars, has been commonly used as a cosmetic ingredient since it was known to have photo-protective, anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-oxidant effect in UV-irradiated skin. However, little has been know about the functional role of glycolic acid on UV-induced skin cell proliferation. It was previously found that glycolic acid inhibited UV-induced skin tumor development in hairless mouse. As a possible mechanism of glycolic acid on the UV-induced skin tumor development, the ability of glycolic acid to inhibit the UVB-induced cell growth and possible mechanisms were investigated. Glycolic acid treatment attenuated the UV-induced cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death in the skin. In vitro study, glycolic acid inhibited the UVB-induced cell growth and apoptotic death through inhibiting caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that glycolic acid may exert the Inhibitory effect on the UVB-induced skin tumor development by regulating cell growth and apoptotic cell death.