• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.22-30
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• 1991

In order to secrete the Bacillus subtilis cytidine deaminase (CDase, cytidine/2'-deoxycytidine deaminase) encoded by the B. subtilis cdd gene in E. coli by the aid of signal sequences, the cdd gene was fused in-frame to either amyE or penP signal sequences and the gene expression and CDase localization were examined. For the penP signal sequence::cdd fusion, the cdd gene with 9 amino acids truncated from the 5'-terminus was fused in-frame to the signal sequence, then the $cdd^{+}$ colonies were not occurred from the minimal plate by cdd complementation. The result suggests that 9 amino acids on the $NH_2-terminal$ of CDase have an essential function in the enzyme activity. The hybrid protein obtained by fused gene amyE signal sequence::cdd structural gene gave $cdd^{+}$ phenotype and about half of the total CDase activity was found to be secreted in the periplasm of E. coli transformant JF611/pSO202. The periplasmic CDase activity of JF611 harboring pSO52 containing the intact cdd gene was considerablely lower than that of the cells harboring pSO202 carrying the hybrid cdd gene. This suggests that the CDase was secreted to the periplasm through the cytoplasmic membrane by the aid of the amyE signal sequence in the E. coli transformant.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.355-365
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• 2016

The cryopreservation of sperm has become the subject of research for successful artificial insemination technologies. Antifreeze proteins (AFPs), one of the factors necessary for effective cryopreservation, are derived from certain Antarctic organisms. These proteins decrease the freezing point of water within these organisms to below the temperature of the surrounding seawater to protect the organism from cold shock. Accordingly, a recent study found that AFPs can increase the motility and viability of spermatozoa during cryopreservation. To evaluate this relationship, we performed cryopreservation of boar sperm with AFPs produced in the Arctic yeast Leucosporidium sp. AFP expression system at four concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, and $1{\mu}g/ml$) and evaluated motility using computer assisted sperm analysis. DNA damage to boar spermatozoa was measured by the comet assay, and sperm membrane integrity and acrosome integrity were evaluated by flow cytometry. The results showed that motility was positively affected by the addition of AFP at each concentration except $1{\mu}g/ml$ (p<0.001). Although cryopreservation with AFP decreased the viability of the boar sperm using, the tail DNA analyses showed that there was no significant difference between the control and the addition of 0.1 or $0.01{\mu}g/ml$ AFP. In addition, the percentage of live sperm with intact acrosomes showed the least significant difference between the control and $0.1{\mu}g/ml$ AFP (p<0.05), but increased with $1{\mu}g/ml$ AFP (p<0.001). Our results indicate that the addition of AFP during boar sperm cryopreservation can improve viability and acrosome integrity after thawing.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.803-811
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• 2014

Concerns over drug-resistant bacteria have stimulated interest in developing alternative methods to control bacterial infections. Endolysin, a phage-encoded enzyme that breaks down bacterial peptidoglycan at the terminal stage of the phage reproduction cycle, is reported to be effective for the control of bacterial pathogenic bacteria. Bioinformatic analysis of the SPN9CC bacteriophage genome revealed a gene that encodes an endolysin with a domain structure similar to those of the endolysins produced by the P1 and P22 coliphages. The SPN9CC endolysin was purified with a C-terminal oligo-histidine tag. The endolysin was relatively stable and active over a broad temperature range (from $24^{\circ}C$ to $65^{\circ}C$). It showed maximal activity at $50^{\circ}C$, and its optimum pH range was from pH 7.5 to 8.5. The SPN9CC endolysin showed antimicrobial activity against only gram-negative bacteria and functioned by cutting the glycosidic bond of peptidoglycan. Interestingly, the SPN9CC endolysin could lyse intact gram-negative bacteria in the absence of EDTA as an outer membrane permeabilizer. The exogenous lytic activity of the SPN9CC endolysin makes it a potential therapeutic agent against gram-negative bacteria.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.127-132
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• 2010

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which include hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), the superoxide anion (${O_2}^-{\cdot}$), and the hydroxyl radical ($OH{\cdot}$), are generated as by-products of oxidative metabolism in cells. The cerebral cortex has been found to be particularly vulnerable to production of ROS associated with conditions such as ischemia-reperfusion, Parkinson's disease, and aging. To investigate the effect of ROS on inhibitory GABAergic synaptic transmission, we examined the electrophysiological mechanisms of the modulatory effect of $H_2O_2$ on GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSCs) in mechanically isolated rat cerebral cortical neurons retaining intact synaptic boutons. The membrane potential was voltage-clamped at -60 mV and mIPSCs were recorded and analyzed. Superfusion of 1-mM $H_2O_2$ gradually potentiated mIPSCs. This potentiating effect of $H_2O_2$ was blocked by the pretreatment with either 10,000-unit/mL catalase or $300-{\mu}M$ N-acetyl-cysteine. The potentiating effect of $H_2O_2$ was occluded by an adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, and was blocked by a protein kinase A inhibitor, N -(2-[p-bromocinnamylamino] ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide hydrochloride. This study indicates that oxidative stress may potentiate presynaptic GABA release through the mechanism of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent pathways, which may result in the inhibition of the cerebral cortex neuronal activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.697-703
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• 2018

Myoblast fusion depends on mitochondrial integrity and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling regulated by various ion channels. In this study, we investigated the ionic currents associated with $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ regulation in normal and mitochondrial DNA-depleted(${\rho}0$) L6 myoblasts. The ${\rho}0$ myoblasts showed impaired myotube formation. The inwardly rectifying $K^+$ current ($I_{Kir}$) was largely decreased with reduced expression of KIR2.1, whereas the voltage-operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel and $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel currents were intact. Sustained inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by antimycin A treatment (24 h) also decreased the $I_{Kir}$. The ${\rho}0$ myoblasts showed depolarized resting membrane potential and higher basal $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Our results demonstrated the specific downregulation of $I_{Kir}$ by dysfunctional mitochondria. The resultant depolarization and altered $Ca^{2+}$ signaling might be associated with impaired myoblast fusion in ${\rho}0$ myoblasts.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2013

발세포병증은 발세포의 손상을 특징으로 하는 사구체질환이다. 발세포의 손상은 여러 사구체질환에서 관찰될 수 있으나, 미소변화질환과 FSGS에서 주요 병인으로 작용한다. 이 글에서는 FSGS에서 발세포 손상의 형태 변화와 분절경화의 유형을 설명하고자 한다. 발세포가 손상되면 형태 변화로 발돌기의 소실, 발세포 세포질 내 공포, 발세포하 낭 등이 관찰되며, 심하면 발세포의 탈락 및 자멸사가 관찰된다. 그러나 분절경화가 초래되기까지에는 일정 수준 이상의 발세포의 소실이 있어야 하며, 손상된 발세포는 동일한 사구체 소엽 내 주변 발세포로 손상을 전파하여 병변이 커지게 된다. FSGS는 광학현미경 소견을 기초로 NOS형, perihilar형, cellular형, tip형, collapsing형의 다섯 가지 유형으로 나뉜다. 각 아형에 따라 임상 경과나 스테로이드 치료에 대한 반응이 다르고 흔히 동반되는 임상 조건들도 다르다고 보고되었으나 이에 대하여는 아직도 논란이 있는 실정이다. 앞으로 FSGS 발생에 관여하는 유전 정보와 혈액 내 투과인자의 성분 등 관련된 인자들에 대한 체계적인 연구가 이루어지면 FSGS에서 관찰되는 조직 변화나 병태생리를 더 잘 설명할 수 있을 것으로 기대해 본다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.167-175
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• 2000

This paper describes the magnetic orientation of bull sperm separated into the head and the flagellum treated by DTT or heparin in a 5,400G static field. Semen samples collected from four bulls (Japanese Black) were mixed to the same sperm density. One percentage triton X-100 was used to extract the plasma membrane. The intact and demembranated sperm suspensions were treated with 20, 200, 2,000 mM DTT, 100, 1,000 or 10,000 units heparin solutions at $4^{\circ}C$ for 6 days. The decondensation of the sperm nuclei treated by DTT or heparin was examined by measuring the head area at 1, 3 and 6 days. After measuring the area, each sample was exposed to a 5,400G static magnetic field generated by Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets for 24 hours at room temperature. Results showed that the sperms were separated into the head and the flagellum through the DTT treatment. Almost of the separated heads showed that their long axis oriented perpendicularly to the magnetic lines of force, and most of the long axis perpendicularly oriented heads showed that their flat plane oriented perpendicularly in a 5,400G magnetic field. Also, the demembranation of the head tended to increase those perpendicular orientations, while those perpendicular orientations of the head declined with the decondensation of the sperm nuclei. These findings suggest that strong magnetic anisotropy for the perpendicular orientation of the long axis and the flat plane of the head occurs in the sperm nuclei in a 5,400G magnetic field. The separated flagellum showed lower parallel orientation, and the separated and demembranated flagellum showed parallel orientation to the magnetic lines of force in this magnetic field. These findings suggest that weak magnetic anisotropy of the parallel orientation of the flagellum occurs in the inside components in a 5,400G field.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.143-153
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• 1992

한국산 왕벚나무(Prunus yedoensis Matsumura) 화외밀선의 미세구조 및 당액 분비기작을 규명하기 위하여 광학현미경, 주사형 및 투과형 전자현미경을 이용하여 관찰하였다. 밀선은 secretory layer와 subsecretory layer로 구성되어 있었으며 엽병의 유관속은 subsecretory layer에 있는 유관속과 연결되어 있었다. Secretory cell에서는 cristae가 잘 발달되지 않은 다수의 mitochonidria가 관찰되었으나 소포체는 소수 나타났고 골지체가 전혀 관찰되지 않았다. 색소체는 thylakoid가 거의 발달되지 않았으며, 소수가 관찰되었고 $0.2-0.3\;\mu\textrm{m}$ 크기의 소포를 특징적으로 갖고 있었다. subsecretory cell에서는 원형질 연락사가 잘 발달해 있었고 다수의 Calcium oxalate 결정이 관찰되었는데 이는 당투과에 간접적으로 관여하는 것 같다. 당액 전구물질은 사부에서 subsecretory layer를 거쳐 secretory layer까지 이동하는 것을 원형질 연락사를 통한 symplastic transport에 의하여 일어나는 것으로 생각되며 secretory layer에서 당액으로 재합성되어 외부로 배출되는 것 같다. Secertory cell의 맨 바깥쪽 세포벽은 cuticle 에 의하여 덮여 있었으며 secretory cell에서 당액은 원형질막, 세포벽, cuticle을 차례로 통과하는 누출상 분비(eccrine secretion)에 의하여 분비되는 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1995년도 제3회 추계심포지움
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• pp.107-113
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• 1995

Basement membrane laminin is a multidomain glycoprotein that interacts with itself, heparin and cells. The distal long arm plays major cell and heparin interactive roles. The long arm consists of three subunits (A, B1, B2) joined in a coiled-coil rod attached to a terminal A chain globule (G). The globule is in turn subdivided into five subdomains (Gl-5). In order to analyze the functions of this region, recombinant G domains (rG, rAiG, rG5, rGΔ2980-3028) were expressed in Sf9 insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector. A hybrid molecule (B-rAiG), consisting of recombinant A chain(rAiG) and the authentic B chains (E8-B)was assembled in vitro. The intercalation of rAiG into E8-B chains suppressed a heparin binding activity identified in subdomain Gl-2. By the peptide napping and ligand blotting, the relative affinity of each subeomain to heparin was assigned as Gl> G2= G4> G5> G3, such that G1 bound strongly and G3 not at all. The active heparin binding site of G domain in intact laminin appears to be located in G4 and proximal G5. Cell binding was examined using fibrosarcoma Cells. Cells adhered to E8, B-rAiG, rAiG and rG, did not bind on denatured substrates, poorly bound to the mixture of E8-B and rG. Anti-${\alpha}$6 and anti-${\beta}$1 integrin subunit separately blocked cell adhesion on E8 and B-rAiG, but not on rAiG. Heparin inhibited cell adhesion on rAiG, partially on B-rAiG, and not on E8. In conclusion, 1) There are active and cryptic cell and heparin binding activities in G domain. 2) Triple-helix assembly inactivates cell and heparin binding activities and restores u6131 dependent cell binding activities.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.181-188
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• 2018

A sidestream contains the filtrate or concentrate from the belt filter press, filter backwash and supernatant from sludge digesters. The sidestream flow, which heads back into the sewage treatment train, is about 1-3% less than the influent flow. However, the sidestream can increase the nutrient load since it contains high concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. In this study, the removal of PO4-P with organic matter characteristics and bacteriological changes during the sidestream treatment via ladle furnace (LF) slag was investigated. The sidestream used in this study consisted of 11-14% PO4-P and 3.2-3.6% soluble chemical oxygen demand in influent loading rates. LF slag, which had a relatively high $Ca^{2+}$ release compared to other slags, was used to remove $PO_4-P$ from the sidestream. The phosphate removal rates increased as the slag particle size decreased 19.1% (2.0-4.0 mm, 25.2% (1.0-2.0 mm) and 79.9% (0.5-1.0 mm). The removal rates of dissolved organic carbon, soluble chemical oxygen demand, color and aromatic organic matter ($UV_{254}$) were 17.6, 41.7, 90.2 and 77.3%, respectively. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices and liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection demonstrated that the sidestream treatment via LF slag was effective in the removal of biopolymers. However, the removal of dissolved organic matter was not significant during the treatment. The intact bacterial biomass decreased from $1.64{\times}10^8cells/mL$ to $1.05{\times}10^8cells/mL$. The use of LF slag was effective for the removal of phosphate and the removal efficiency of phosphate was greater than 80% for up to 100 bed volumes.