• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 1997

Increased activities of phase 2 enzymes including quinone reductase(QR) have been reported to be associated with protection of animals from neoplastic, mutagenic, and other toxic effects of many carcinogens. In previous study, we found that methanol extract of roasted and defatted perilla meal induced the activity of quinone reductase, an anticarcinogenic marker enzyme, in murine hepalc1c7 cells. Current study showed that unroasted perilla had a limited QR-inducing activity, suggesting that roasting cause the generation of active component(s). Thus we hypothesized that QR inducer in perilla might be covalently linked to sugar moiety and released during roasting process. Methanol extract of defatted raw perilla was subject to acid treatment in order to hydrolyze the potential sugar moiety. Prolonged hydrolysis of methanol extract of defatted raw perilla at $98{\sim}100^{\circ}C$ increased the ability to induce cytosolic QR activity of hepalclc7 cells. Furthermore roasting at 180 and $200^{\circ}C$ resulted in significant induction of QR activity. The result strongly support the idea that QR inducer(s) is present in bound form in raw perilla and released during roasting. Cellular QR activity was induced proportionately with the increase of concentration of methanol extract of roasted perilla. The induction of QR by defatted perilla was also examined in the cytosols of liver, small intestine, stomach, lung and kidney of male ICR mice. Induction patterns showed specificity with respect to target tissue and roasting of perilla. Unroasted perilla meal (defatted) significantly induced QR in liver and lung, while roasted perilla meal induced QR in liver and stomach. The observation that raw perilla showed similar QR induction patterns to roasted perilla is consistent with our proposal that QR inducer(s) is present in bound form and released by physical and chemical treatments as digestive or microbial enzymes could release the inducers from inactive glycoside forms in gastrointestinal tract of mice. In conclusion, perilla could exert protective effect against chemically induced carcinogenesis by inducing phase 2 enzymes in biological systems regardless of chemical and physical process such as roasting.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1407-1414
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• 2011

This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris (CM${\alpha}$) strain on orotic acid (OA)-induced fatty liver in rats. OA treatment induced the retardation of body weight gain and enlargement of the liver. The activities of liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Alk. phosphatase and Cholinesterase were increased when treated with OA, but these parameters were significantly decreased in the CM${\alpha}$ group. The current study observed significant elevations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels. However, among the OA groups, the CM${\alpha}$ group showed significantly low TBARS levels of hepatic homogenate. The OA group resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, but these reductions were significantly increased in the CM${\alpha}$ group. These effects were more pronounced in the CM${\alpha}$ group than in the PJ or CM groups in Orotic acid treated rats. Accordingly, Cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris (CM${\alpha}$) may be an ideal candidate for hepatoprotective effects in animal models.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.618-624
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are widely believed to be beneficial to human health, in relation to their antioxidant potentials. Exercise can cause an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. This study was conducted in order to investigate the ability of isoflavones in amelioration of oxidative stress induced by exercise. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of four groups: isoflavone-free with no exercise (CON-sd), isoflavone-free with exercise (CON-ex), isoflavone-supplemented with no exercise (ISF-sd), and isoflavone-supplemented with exercise (ISF-ex). Animals exercised on the treadmill for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. TBARS as a marker of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity, including SOD, GSH-px, and catalase were determined in liver tissue. Serum lipid profile was also examined. RESULTS: A significant effect of isoflavone alone was observed on abdominal fat pad mass. ISF-ex had significantly less abdominal fat pad than CON-ex. Both exercise and isoflavone treatment had significant effects on lowering plasma triglyceride (TG), thus, the ISF-ex group had a significantly lower TG level than the CON-sd group, by 30.9%. However, no differences were observed in plasma cholesterol, HDL-C, and cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. Exercise, isoflavone, and exercise-isoflavone interaction effects were significant on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (P = 0.001, 0.002, and 0.005, respectively). The CON-ex group showed a higher TBARS level than the other three groups. By contrast, in the ISF-ex group, TBARS was restored to the level of the ISF-sd or CON-sd group. Isoflavone had a significant effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P = 0.022) and catalase activities (P = 0.049). Significantly higher SOD and catalase activities were observed in ISF-ex than CON-ex. SOD and catalase activities showed an inverse pattern of TBARS. Taken together, isoflavones increased the activities of SOD and catalase with concomitant decreases in TBARS, indicative of decreased oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Isoflavone supplementation enhances antioxidant action with attenuation of exercise-induced oxidative stress, as measured by decreases in TBARS, and inhibits body fat accumulation and plasma TG increase. Antioxidative effects ascribed to isoflavones may be partially exerted via enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2012

The genetic variation in populations of Eranthis byunsanensis, an endemic and rare species of Korea, was studied using starch gel electrophoresis. All five known populations were sampled for allozyme electrophoresis of nine enzymes coded by 10 loci. The overall genetic variation of E. byunsanensis population was shown to be considerably high within the populations (A = 2.4, P = 90.0, $H_E$ = 0.311). A positive $F_{IS}$ value of E. byunsanensis indicated an overall deficiency of heterozygotes, and a low $F_{ST}$ value (0.131) showed little differentiation among populations. The high genetic variation, less genetic differentiation among populations, and a significant amount of heterozygote deficiency propose the hypothesis that they have an experience of recent isolation and fragmentation of their habitat. Thus, the rate of gene flow has been drastically reduced, and the rate of inbreeding in E. byunsanensis populations has increased. Current habitats in Mai-san and Naro-do are vulnerable due to their small population size and the levels of anthropogenic activity in the region constantly threatening survival of this species. Because of the high genetic variation and low levels of differentiation among populations in E. byunsanensis, it is not issue which populations have a priority for protection, but we may concern the plan to maintain population continuously and diminish the rate of inbreeding.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.2 s.85
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• pp.173-181
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• 1998

To identify genetic difference of 13 strains in three Pleurotus species, analyses of rDNA, AP-PCR and RFLP were carried out. IGRI and $ITSI{\sim}II$ regions of rDNA amplified by PCR were about 0.9 and 0.7 kb, respectively. These PCR products were digested with six restriction enzymes to analyse polymorphism. Especially, treatment of HaeIII enzyme on $ITSI{\sim}II$ regions showed specific bands in three Pleurotus sajor-caju strains. Genetic differences among three species were classified by similarity analyses based on rDNA polymorphism. Various band patterns of $2,500{\sim}150\;bp$ were showed by AP-PCR. Identification of species and varieties in 13 Pleurotus strains was possible according to primers used in AP-PCR. In order to develop genetic markers, RFLPs using IGRI and $ITSI{\sim}II$ probes derived from ASI 2180 and 2070 were carried out on eight Pleurotus varieties. RFLP patterns using IGRI probe were more various than that of $ITSI{\sim}II$ probe.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.483-490
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• 2020

The ubiquitin system uses ligases and deubiquitinases (DUBs) to regulate ubiquitin position on protein substrates and is involved in many biological processes which determine stability, activity, and interaction of the target substrate. DUBs are classified in six groups according to catalytic domain, namely ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs); ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases (UCHs); ovarian tumor proteases (OTUs); Machado Joseph Disease proteases (MJDs); motif interacting with Ub (MIU)-containing novel DUB family (MINDY); and Jab1/MPN/MOV34 metalloenzymes (JAMMs). Otubain 1 (OTUB1) is a DUB in the OTU family which possesses both canonical and non-canonical activity and can regulate multiple cellular signaling pathways. In this review, we describe the function of OTUB1 through regulation of its canonical and non-canonical activities in multiple specifically cancer-associated pathways. The canonical activity of OTUB1 inhibits protein ubiquitination by cleaving Lys48 linkages while its non-canonical activity prevents ubiquitin transfer onto target proteins through binding to E2-conjugating enzymes, resulting in the induction of protein deubiquitination. OTUB1 can therefore canonically and non-canonically promote tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and drug resistance through regulating FOXM1, ERα, KRAS, p53, and mTORC1. Moreover, clinical research has demonstrated that OTUB1 overexpresses with high metastasis in many tumor types including breast, ovarian, esophageal squamous, and glioma. Therefore, OTUB1 has been suggested as a diagnosis marker and potential therapeutic target for oncotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2013

Genetic variation in Asaum misandrum, a woodland herb in Korea, was investigated based on allozyme analysis with starch gel electrophoresis. All of previously reported populations in Korea were sampled and seven loci from six enzymes were analyzed. Overall genetic variation of A. misandrum population showed considerably high levels of genetic variation within the species (A = 2.05, P = 71.4, $H_E$ = 0.294). A positive $F_{IS}$ value of A. misandrum indicated overall deficiency of heterozygotes, and a low $F_{ST}$ value (0.112) meant very little differentiation among populations. Factors contributing to the high levels of genetic diversity found within populations of A. misandrum include population maintenance via wide distribution range from Korea to Japan and primarily outcrossing breeding system. Although it showed moderate genetic diversity level, most habitats of the species were scattered and discontinuous. Besides, low numbers of individuals were found in the most habitats and individuals are collected frequently from the wild due to the unique shape of the flowers as well as the rarity of the species. Thus, there is a need to set up a reasonable conservation strategies including the maintenance mechanism of genetic diversity of A. misandrum.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.4 s.87
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• pp.466-477
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• 1998

Twenty-two Phellinus strains were characterized using colony morphologies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to divide into Phellinus linteus. There were some differences in mycelial growth and colony shapes among the strains when they were grown on various media such as PDA, MCM, MEA and YM. Phellinus linteus was slowly growing, formed golden-yellow colony, and produced blue pigment on PDA media. When the regions of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) were amplified from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) coding genes of P. igniarius and P. linteus strains by means of PCR, two types of band (700 bp and 800 bp) were appeared, respectively. For the amplified intergenic region I (IGRI), P. igniarius strains showed a different band among 500, 600, 700 and 800 bp according to the strains, whereas P. linteus strains did one specific band of 700 bp. By polymorphism analysis after digesting the amplified products with 6 different restriction enzymes, a band specific to P. linteus was generated when the products for ITS region were digested with HaeIII, suggesting that the enzyme digestion could provide effective method to distinguish between P. igniarius and P. linteus. And also, the analysis of genetic relationship showed that the genetic similarities were 89% and 95% in P. igniarius and P. linteus strains, respectively. Random amplification polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using multiple primer sets and arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) with ITS3 primer could also result in a reproducible way to identify P. linteus strains.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.159-172
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• 1991

It has been investigated what could be the selective marker distinguishing the immature from mature spermatozoa and whether fi -glucuronidase and fi -glucosidase are dependent on androgen in the luminal fluid of the epididymis or not. The contents of hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid in the epithelial cells, luminal fluid and spermatozoa of the epididymis were examined and the patterns of protein bands were compared in each group of the luminal fluid by SDS-PAGE. Lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase, Na+ -K+ -ATPase and MgNa-ATPase showed higher activities in the cauda than the caput epididymal spermatozoa but only $Mg^2$+-ATPase activity appeared to be changed significantly. When the contents of hexose, hexosamine and sialic acid were analyzed and compared quantitatively, those of hexose were significantly different in the luminal fluid of caput and cauda epididymis, those of hexosamine in the epithelial cells and those of sialic acid in the epithelial cells and luminal fluid. When SDS-PAGE has been performed in each group, the band of MW 33-37 KD which was absent in the luminal fluid of caput epididymis appeared obviously in the luminal fluid of cauda epididymis and ako apeared in the cauda sperm crude membrane fraction. In addition, $\beta$ -glucuronidase and $\beta$ -glucosidase activities and their dependence on androgen were measured and the SDS-PAGE patiems of proteins and/or glycoproteins in the luminal fluid were examined. The activities of these two enzymes in the luminal fluid of the epididymis decreased significantly from the 5th day after castration. When testosterone was injected, the activity of $\beta$ -glucuronidase began to increase significantly from the 5th day following injection and that of $\beta$ -glucosidase from the loth day. On the other hand, the band of about MW 21 KD was newly observed in the lumen of caput epididymis when testosterone was administered.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.904-912
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• 2013

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of cordycepin-increased Cordyceps militaris strain on carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6) based on six dietary categories: normal (N), $CCl_4$ control (C), $CCl_4$ plus Paecilomyces japonica (CPJ) (3%, w/w), $CCl_4$ plus C. militaris (CCM) (3%, w/w), and $CCl_4$ plus cordycepin-increased C. militaris ($CCM{\alpha}$) (3%, w/w). The activities of the liver marker enzymes ALT, AST, and LDH and the levels of lipid peroxidation were increased in the $CCl_4$-treated groups, but these parameters were significantly decreased in the $CCM{\alpha}$ group. The TBARS content in the liver homogenate, microsome, and mitochondrial fractions of the C group was significantly elevated compared with the N group. However, in the $CCl_4$-treated groups, $CCM{\alpha}$ group was significantly lowered in the TBARS levels of hepatic homogenate and microsomal fractions. The C group showed a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, whereas they were significantly increased in the $CCM{\alpha}$ group. Accordingly, cordycepin-increased C. militaris may be an ideal animal model for studying hepatoprotective effects.