• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.375-395
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• 2006

Purpose: Lingual nerve (LN) damage may be caused by either tumor resection or injury such as wisdom tooth extraction, Although autologous nerve graft is sometimes used to repair the damaged nerve, it has the disadvantage of necessity of another operation for nerve harvesting. Moreover, the results of nerve grafting is not satisfactory. The nerve growth factor (NGF) is well-known to play a critical role in peripheral nerve regeneration and its local delivery to the injured nerve has been continuously tried to enhance nerve regeneration. However, its application has limitations like repeated administration due to short half life of 30 minutes and an in vivo delivery model must allow for direct and local delivery. The aim of this study was to construct a well-functioning $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus for the ultimate development of improved method to promote peripheral nerve regeneration with enhanced and extended secretion of hNGF from the injured nerve by injecting $rhNGF-{\beta}$ gene directly into crush-injured LN in rat model. Materials and Methods: $hNGF-{\beta}$ gene was prepared from fetal brain cDNA library and cloned into E1/E3 deleted adenoviral vector which contains green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene as a reporter. After large scale production and purification of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, transfection efficiency and its expression at various cells (primary cultured Schwann cells, HEK293 cells, Schwann cell lines, NIH3T3 and CRH cells) were evaluated by fluorescent microscopy, RT-PCR, ELISA, immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, the function of rhNGF-beta, which was secreted from various cells infected with $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, was evaluated using neuritogenesis of PC-12 cells. For in vivo evaluation of efficacy of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus, the LNs of 8-week old rats were exposed and crush-injured with a small hemostat for 10 seconds. After the injury, $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus($2{\mu}l,\;1.5{\times}10^{11}pfu$) or saline was administered into the crushed site in the experimental (n=24) and the control group (n=24), respectively. Sham operation of another group of rats (n=9) was performed without administration of either saline or adenovirus. The taste recovery and the change of fungiform papilla were studied at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Each of the 6 animals was tested with different solutions (0.1M NaCl, 0.1M sucrose, 0.01M QHCl, or 0.01M HCl) by two-bottle test paradigm and the number of papilla was counted using SEM picture of tongue dorsum. LN was explored at the same interval as taste study and evaluated electro-physiologically (peak voltage and nerve conduction velocity) and histomorphometrically (axon count, myelin thickness). Results: The recombinant adenovirus vector carrying $rhNGF-{\beta}$ was constructed and confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequence analysis. GFP expression was observed in 90% of $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected cells compared with uninfected cells. Total mRNA isolated from $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected cells showed strong RT-PCR band, however uninfected or LacZ recombinant adenovirus infected cells did not. NGF quantification by ELISA showed a maximal release of $18865.4{\pm}310.9pg/ml$ NGF at the 4th day and stably continued till 14 days by $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected Schwann cells. PC-12 cells exposed to media with $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus infected Schwann cell revealed at the same level of neurite-extension as the commercial NGF did. $rhNGF-{\beta}$ adenovirus injected experimental groups in comparison to the control group exhibited different taste preference ratio. Salty, sweet and sour taste preference ratio were significantly different after 2 weeks from the beginning of the experiment, which were similar to the sham group, but not to the control group.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.332-338
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• 2009

꿀벌(Apis mellifera)의 장으로부터 xylan분해능이 우수한 세균 HY-20을 분리하였고, Bacillus 속으로 동정하였다. 분리균주 HY-20의 세포 외 GH11 xylanase (XylP) 유전자 (687-bp)는 25,522 Da의 분자량과 9.33의 pI 값을 갖는 228개의 아미노산으로 구성된 단백질을 인코딩하는 것으로 확인되었으며, 지금까지 특성규명이 이루어지지 않은 B. pumilus xylanase (GenBank accession no.: AY526092)의 아미노산 서열과 97%의 상동성을 보였다. pET-28a(+)/xylP를 포함하고 있는 Escherichia coli BL21 균주에서 과발현 된 His-tagged XylP (rXylP)는 cation exchange 및 gel permeation chromatography를 통해 순수하게 분리 정제 되었으며, $50^{\circ}C$의 온도와 pH 6.5 조건에서 반응할 때 birchwood xylan에 대해 가장 높은 가수분해 활성을 나타내었다. rXylP는 15분간 $55^{\circ}C$에 노출될 때 본래 활성의 약 50%를 잃어버리는 전형적인 중온성 효소의 특성을 보였으며, $Hg^{2+}$ (1mM)와 N-bromosuccinimide (5mM)에 노출될 때 완전히 불활성화 되었고, $Mn^{2+}$ (1 mM), $Fe^{2+}$ (1mM) 및 sodium azide (5 mM)에 의해서는 활성이 약 10% 증가될 수 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 한편, rXylP는 xylose유래 다당류는 효율적으로 분해하였지만 PNP-sugar 유도체 및 glucose 유래 다당류는 분해하지 못하였다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권7호
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• pp.922-929
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• 2019

Objective: Mutations in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which encodes a critical protein for cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism in mammals, are involved in cardiometabolic diseases, such as familial hypercholesterolemia in pigs. Whereas microRNAs (miRNAs) can control LDLR regulation, their involvement in circulating cholesterol and lipid levels with respect to cardiometabolic diseases in pigs is unclear. We aimed to identify and analyze LDLR as a potential target gene of SSC-miR-20a. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis predicted that porcine LDLR is a target of SSC-miR-20a. Wild-type and mutant LDLR 3'-untranslated region (UTR) fragments were generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the pGL3-Control vector to construct pGL3 Control LDLR wild-3'-UTR and pGL3 Control LDLR mutant-3'-UTR recombinant plasmids, respectively. An miR-20a expression plasmid was constructed by inserting the porcine premiR-20a-coding sequence between the HindIII and BamHI sites in pMR-mCherry, and constructs were confirmed by sequencing. HEK293T cells were co-transfected with the miR-20a expression or pMR-mCherry control plasmids and constructs harboring the corresponding 3'-UTR, and relative luciferase activity was determined. The relative expression levels of miR-20a and LDLR mRNA and their correlation in terms of expression levels in porcine liver tissue were analyzed using reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Results: Gel electrophoresis and sequencing showed that target gene fragments were successfully cloned, and the three recombinant vectors were successfully constructed. Compared to pMR-mCherry, the miR-20a expression vector significantly inhibited wild-type LDLR3'-UTR-driven (p<0.01), but not mutant LDLR-3'-UTR-driven (p>0.05), luciferase reporter activity. Further, miR-20a and LDLR were expressed at relatively high levels in porcine liver tissues. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that porcine liver miR-20a and LDLR levels were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.656, p<0.05). Conclusion: LDLR is a potential target of miR-20a, which might directly bind the LDLR 3'-UTR to post-transcriptionally inhibit expression. These results have implications in understanding the pathogenesis and progression of porcine cardiovascular diseases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제18권11호
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• pp.1600-1608
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• 2005

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of exogenous bovine somatotropin on water metabolism in relation to mammary function in early lactation of crossbred Holstein cattle. Ten, 87.5% crossbred Holstein cattle were divided into two groups of 5 animals each. At day 60 of lactation, the control group was given placebo while animals in the experimental group were given recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) by subcutaneous injection with 500 mg of rbST (14-days prolonged-release rbST). In rbSTtreated animals, milk yield increased 19.8%, which coincided with a significant increase in water intake (p<0.01), while DM daily intake was not different when compared to the control animals. Water turnover rate as absolute values significantly increased (p<0.05), while the biological half-life of water did not change in rbST-treated animals. Total body water (TBW) and total body water space (TOH) as absolute values significantly increased (p<0.01) in rbST-treated animals, while it was decreased in the control animals. Absolute values of empty body water (EBW) markedly increased (p<0.05), which was associated with an increase in the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume. Absolute values of plasma volume and blood volume were also significantly increased (p<0.05) in rbST-treated animals. The increase in mammary blood flow in rbST-treated animals was proportionally higher than an increase in milk production. The plasma IGF-1 concentration was significantly increased (p<0.01) in rbST-treated animals when compared with those of control animals during the treatment period. Milk fat concentration increased during rbST treatment, while the concentrations of both protein and lactose in milk were not affected. The present results indicate that rbST exerts its effect on an increase in both TBW and EBW. An increased ECF compartment in rbST-treated animals might partly result from the decrease in fat mass during early lactation. The action of rbST on mammary blood flow might not be mediated solely by the action of IGF-1 for increase in blood flow to mammary gland. An elevation of body fluid during rbST treatment in early lactation may be partly a result of an increase in mammary blood flow in distribution of milk precursors to the gland.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.21-29
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• 2016

The sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1), which functions in maintaining the ratio of $Na^+$ and $H^+$ ions, is widely distributed in cell plasma membranes. It plays a prominent role in pH balancing, cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and migration. However, its exact subcellular location and biological functions in Toxoplasma gondii are largely unclear. In this study, we cloned the C-terminal sequence of T. gondii NHE1 (TgNHE1) incorporating the C-terminal peptide of NHE1 (C-NHE1) into the pGEX4T-1 expression plasmid. The peptide sequence was predicted to have good antigenicity based on the information obtained from an immune epitope database. After induction of heterologous gene expression with isopropyl-b-D-thiogalactoside, the recombinant C-NHE1 protein successfully expressed in a soluble form was purified by glutathione sepharose beads as an immunogen for production of a rabbit polyclonal antiserum. The specificity of this antiserum was confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. The antiserum could reduce T. gondii invasion into host cells, indicated by the decreased TgNHE1 expression in T. gondii parasites that were pre-incubated with antiserum in the process of cell entry. Furthermore, the antiserum reduced the virulence of T. gondii parasites to host cells in vitro, possibly by blocking the release of $Ca^{2+}$. In this regard, this antiserum has potential to be a valuable tool for further studies of TgNHE1.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.102-108
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• 2002

Background: This study was aimed to differentiate two forms of CTLA-4 (CD152) in activated peripheral blood lymphocyte and clarify the mechanism how cytoplasmic form of this molecule is targeted to cell surface. Methods: For this purpose we generated 2 different anti-human CD152 peptide antibodies and 5 different N'-terminal deletion mutant CTLA4Ig fusion proteins and carried out a series of Western blot and ELISA analyses. Antipeptide antibodies made in this study were anti-CTLA4pB and anti-CTLA4pN. The former recognized a region on extracellular single V-like domain and the latter recognized N'-terminal sequence of leader domain of human CD152. Results: In Western blot, the former antibody recognized recombinant human CTLA4Ig fusion protein as an antigen. And this recognition was completely blocked by preincubating antipeptide antibody with the peptide used for the antibody generation at the peptide concentration of 200 ug/ml. These antibodies were recognized human CD152 as a cytoplasmic sequestered- and a membrane bound- forms in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL). These two forms of CD152 were further differentiated by using anti-CTLA4pN and anti-CTLA4pB antibodies such that former recognized cytosolic form only while latter recognized both cytoplasmic- and membraneforms of this molecule. Furthermore, in a transfection expression study of 5 different N'-terminal deletion mutant CTLA4Ig, mutated proteins were secreted out from transfected cell surface only when more than 6 amino acids from N'-terminal were deleted. Conclusion: Our results implies that cytosolic form of CTLA-4 has leader sequence while membrane form of this molecule does not. And also suggested is that at least N'-terminal 6 amino acid residues of human CTLA-4 are required for regulation of targeting this molecule from cytosolic- to membrane- area of activated human peripheral blood T lymphocyte.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.461-474
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• 2020

Background: Ginseng effectively reduces fatigue in both animal models and clinical trials. However, the mechanism of action is not completely understood, and its molecular targets remain largely unknown. Methods: By screening for proteins that interact with the primary components of ginseng (ginsenosides) in an affinity chromatography assay, we have identified muscle-type creatine kinase (CK-MM) as a potential target in skeletal muscle tissues. Results: Biolayer interferometry analysis showed that ginsenoside metabolites, instead of parent ginsenosides, had direct interaction with recombinant human CK-MM. Subsequently, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), which is a ginsenoside metabolite and displayed the strongest interaction with CK-MM in the study, was selected as a representative to confirm direct binding and its biological importance. Biolayer interferometry kinetics analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry assay demonstrated that PPD specifically bound to human CK-MM. Moreover, the mutation of key amino acids predicted by molecular docking decreased the affinity between PPD and CK-MM. The direct binding activated CK-MM activity in vitro and in vivo, which increased the levels of tissue phosphocreatine and strengthened the function of the creatine kinase/phosphocreatine system in skeletal muscle, thus buffering cellular ATP, delaying exercise-induced lactate accumulation, and improving exercise performance in mice. Conclusion: Our results suggest a cellular target and an initiating molecular event by which ginseng reduces fatigue. All these findings indicate PPD as a small molecular activator of CK-MM, which can help in further developing better CK-MM activators based on the dammarane-type triterpenoid structure.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2005년도 생물공학의 동향(XVI)
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• pp.327-333
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• 2005

Dihydroxy-acid dehydratase (DHAD, 2,3-dihydroxy-acid hydrolyase, EC 4.2.1.9) is one of the key enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of the branched chain amino acid isoleucine and valine. Although the enzyme have been purified and characterized in various mesophiles including bacteria and eukarya, the biochemical properties of DHAD has bee not yet reported from hyperthermophilic archaea. In this study, we cloned, expressed, and purified a DHAD homologue from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus P2, which grows optimally at $80\;^{\circ}C$ and pH 3, in E. coli. Characterization of the recombinant S. solfataricus DHAD (rSso_DHAD) revealed that it is the dimeric protein with a subunit molecular weight of 64,000 Da in native structure. rDHAD showed the highest activity toward 2,3-dihydroxyisovaleric acid among 17 aldonic acid substrates Interestingly, this enzyme also displayed 50 % activities toward some pentonic acids and hexonic acids when compared with the activity of this enzyme to the natural substrate. Moreover, rSso_DHAD indicated relatively higher activity toward D-gluconate than any other hexonic acids tested in substrates. $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values of rSso_DHAD were calculated as $0.54\;{\pm}\;0.04\;mM$ toward 2,3dihydroxyisovalerate and $2.42\;{\pm}\;0.19\;mM$ toward D-gluconate, and as $21.6\;{\pm}\;0.4\;U/mg$ toward 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate and $13.8\;{\pm}\;0.4\;U/mg$ toward D-gluconate, respectively. In the study for biochemical properties, the enzyme shows maximal activity between $70^{\circ}C$ and $80^{\circ}C$, and the pH range of pH 7.5 to 8.5. The half life time at $80^{\circ}C$ was 30 min. A divalent metal ion, $Mn^{2+}$, was only powerful activators, whereas other metal ions made the enzyme activity reduced. $Hg^{2+}$, organic mercury, and EDTA also strongly inhibited enzyme activities. Particularly, the rSso_DHAD activity was very stable under aerobic condition although the counterparts reported from mesophiles had been deactivated by oxygen.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.435-440
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• 2004

초호열성 고세균 Thermococcus litoralis 유래의 4-$\alpha$-glucanotransferase는 클로닝 되어 염기배열이 밝혀졌으며, 대장균에서 발현되었다 발현된 이 효소는 기능적인 면에서는 D-enzyme과 유사하지만 아미노산 배열에서는 큰 차이점을 나타내었다. 이 효소는 cycloamylose를 생산하는 새로운 기능적인 특성을 가지고 있어 당대사 관련 효소 단백질에 관한 연구의 중요성 때문에 산업적으로 많은 각광을 받고 있다. 본 연구는 초호열성 고세균 T. litoris 유래 4-$\alpha$-glucanotransferase 유전자를 부위 특이적 변이 방법으로 재조합하여 lac와 T7프로모터를 이용해서 대장균 발현 벡터 시스템에서 대량발현 시켰다. 대장균에서 대량 발현된 재조합 효소 단백질은 열처리, 501빌Butyl-Toyopearl, Mono Q 크로마티그래피 방법에 의하여 간단히 정제되었다. 정제된 재조합 효소 단백질은 본래의 효소 단백질과 같은 기능을 가지고 있는 것으로 확인되었다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권9호
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• pp.1407-1416
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• 2007

Ten, first lactation, 87.5%HF dairy cattle were used to investigate effects of long-term administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on nutrient uptake by the mammary gland at different stages of lactation. Measurements of arterial plasma concentrations and arterial-venous differences of metabolites across the mammary gland were performed in combination with measurment of mammary blood flow to estimate the mammary uptake. Animals in experimental groups were injected subcutaneously every 14 days from day 60 of lactation with a prolonged-release formulation of 500 mg of rbST (POSILAC, Monsanto, USA) or with sterile sesame oil without rbST in the control group. During early lactation, the milk yield of rbST-treated animals was higher than that of the control animals (p<0.05). The peak milk yield in both groups of animals declined from the early period of lactation with progression to mid- and late-lactation. No significant changes were observed in the concentration of milk lactose, while the concentrations of milk protein significantly increased as lactation advanced to mid- and late-lactation in both groups. Milk fat concentrations were significantly higher in rbST-treated animals than in control animals, particularly in early lactation (p<0.05). Mammary blood flow (MBF) markedly increased during rbST administration and was maintained at a high level throughout lactation. The mean arterial plasma concentrations for glucose and acetate of rbST-treated animals were unchanged. The net mammary glucose uptake of rbST-treated animals increased approximately 20% during early lactation, while it significantly decreased (p<0.05), including the arteriovenous differences (A-V differences) and extraction ratio across the mammary gland, as lactation advanced to mid- and late-lactation. A-V differences, mammary extraction and mammary uptake for acetate increased during rbST administration and were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the control animals in early and mid-lactation. Mean arterial plasma concentrations for ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate and free glycerol were unchanged throughout the experimental periods in both groups. A-V differences and extraction ratio of ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate across the mammary gland did not alter during rbST administration. Mean arterial plasma concentrations for free fatty acids ($C_{16}$ to $C_{18}$), but not for triacylglycerol, increased in rbST-treated animals and were significantly higher than in control animals during early lactation (p<0.01). These findings suggest that an increase in MBF during rbST administration would not be a major determinant in the mediation of nutrient delivery and uptake by the mammary gland for increased milk production. Local changes in biosynthetic capacity within the mammary gland would be a factor in the utilization of substrates resulting in the rate of decline in milk yield with advancing lactation.