• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1169-1178
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• 1998

This study was performed to purify fig pectinesterase(F-PE) and characterize its in situ activity. Three kinds of F-PE were partially separated by using ammonium sulfate fractionation, Q-Sepharose column, CM-cation exchanger column chromatography, and HPLC. One of those was anionic protein and the others were cationic proteins. All of them had approximate molecular weight of 27,000 and lost rapidly their activity during storage. Therefore alternative crude enzyme was prepared by suspending the freeze dried and milled fig powder in 0.1 M NaCl at pH 7.5. F-PE had the optimum pH of 8.5, the optimum temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ with activation energy of 7,671 cal $mol^{-1}K^{-1}$ and stability up to $55^{\circ}C$ with 10 minutes heating. Optimum activity was obtained in $0.2{\sim}0.4$ M NaCl with optimum solubility at above 0.8 M NaCl.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2009

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are pacemaking cells required for gastrointestinal motility. The possibility of whether DA-9701, a novel prokinetic agent formulated with Pharbitis Semen and Corydalis Tuber, modulates pacemaker activities in the ICC was tested using the whole cell patch clamp technique. DA-9701 produced membrane depolarization and increased tonic inward pacemaker currents in the voltage-clamp mode. The application of flufenamic acid, a non-selective cation channel blocker, but not niflumic acid, abolished the generation of pacemaker currents induced by DA-9701. Pretreatment with a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution and thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, abolished the generation of pacemaker currents. In addition, the tonic inward currents were inhibited by U-73122, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, but not by $GDP-{\beta}-S$, which permanently binds G-binding proteins. Furthermore, the protein kinase C inhibitors, chelerythrine and calphostin C, did not block the DA-9701-induced pacemaker currents. These results suggest that DA-9701 might affect gastrointestinal motility by the modulation of pacemaker activity in the ICC, and the activation is associated with the non-selective cationic channels via external $Ca^{2+}$ influx, phospholipase C activation, and $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal storage in a G protein-independent and protein kinase C-independent manner.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 1995

In order to formulate an aqueous topical preparation of epidermal growth factor(EGF) for the treatment of open wound and bum, the stability of EGF in aqueous vehicles containing various stabilizers was evaluated and the pharmacological activity of gel preparations formulated with poloxamer 407 was determined with wound model. Various additives, which are known as potent stabilizers for proteins and polypeptides so far, were used to increase the stability of EGF in aqueous vehicles. The contents of EGF in the vehicles containing stabilizers were determined with an HPLC method after the storage at $37^{\circ}C$. EGF was more stable in ultrapure water than RO water or saline. All the additives studied resulted in deleterious effects on EGF stability. Therefore, it was speculated that any additives or impurities in the vehicle made EGF unstable. However, nitrogen purge of solution increased the stability of EGF in aqueous vehicles. The aqueous topical preparations of EGF were formulated with poloxamer 407 as a gel base in saline. Gelatin or amastatin was employed as a protease inhibitor. The pharmacological effect of EGF gel was studied with open wound model in mice. EGF preparations, made of oleaginous base or poloxamer gel base, showed significant healing effect compared to the control group(p<0.05). The addition of protease inhibitor in poloxamer 407 gel resulted in significant healing effect compared to the gel without it(p<0.05). Body weights of mice treated with EGF preparation were increased at the first day after the formation of open wound, while those of the control group were decreased. The EGF gel made of poloxamer 407 containing a pretense inhibitor would be a promising aqueous topical preparation for EGF.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.314-321
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• 1995

Experiments were conducted to obtain information on separation of nonviable seeds from seed lots of rape, Chinese cabbage and radish, by nondestrutive ways. Seeds were artificially aged at 90% relative humidity(RH) and 45$^{\circ}C$ to get different seed qualities. Large amounts of amino acids, proteins and sinapine were leaked from the dead seeds into water in the course of 4~8 hours soaking, while high quality seeds did not leak in all crops. Percentage of normal seedlings from nonfluorescent cellulose coated seeds of rape, Chinese cabbage and radish under ultraviolet light was 96, 96 and 74%, while that of fluorescent seeds was 8, 9 and 1%, respectively. Cellulose coating and storage of Chinese cabbage and rape seeds at 60 and 75% RH for 3 months and 90% RH for 2 months did not deteriorate seed quality. But percentage of normal seedlings from nonfluorescent radish seeds stored at 60, 75 and 90% RHs for 3 months was 63, 64 and 2%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.750-757
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• 2016

This study investigated the quality, sensory characteristics and commercial potential of a rice snack prepared with dried oyster. Mild and spicy versions of the snack were produced using an oil coating and a mixed seasoning powder coating, respectively. The approximate compositions of the mild snack and spicy snack were 5.13% and 4.78% moisture, 8.92% and 8.94% crude proteins, 17.58% and 20.35% crude lipids, 1.88% and 1.87% ash, and 2% and 1.8% salt, with water activity values of 0.20 and 0.18 and a pH of 6.11 and 6.10, respectively. The color of the mild snack was lighter with more yellow and less red compared with the spicy snack. Thiobarbituric acid levels increased slightly, and hardness decreased slightly during storage at $27{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. The sensory score of the spicy snack was slightly higher than that of the mild snack. These results suggest that the spicy snack might have more commercial potential than that of the mild snack according to its higher sensory test score.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2015

Facile immobilization of growth factors in hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels using dual enzymes is reported in the paper. The hydrogels were formed by using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and transforming growth factor-${\beta}3$ (TGF-${\beta}3$) was covalently conjugated on the hydrogels in situ using tyrosinase (Ty) without any modifications. For the preparation of hydrogels, HA was grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which was modified with a tyrosine. The gelation times of the HA hydrogels were ranging from 415 to 17 s and the storage moduli was dependent on the concentration of $H_2O_2$ and Ty (470-1600 Pa). A native TGF-${\beta}3$ (200 ng/mL) was readily encapsulated in the HA hydrogels and 17% of the TGF-${\beta}3$ was released over 1 month at the Ty concentration of 0.5 KU/mL, while the release was faster when 0.3 KU/mL of Ty was used for the encapsulation (27%). It can be suggested that the growth factors resident in the hydrogels for a long period of time may lead cells proliferating and differentiating, whereas the growth factors that are initially released from the hydrogels can induce the ingrowth of cells into the matrices. Therefore, the dual enzymatic methods as facile gel forming and loading of various native growth factors or therapeutic proteins could be highly promising for tissue regenerative medicines.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1973

Azotobacter vinelandii cell extracts and its variety of purified fractions with regard to their ability to form the redox state of the Shethna Flavoprotein (free radical form FPH.) were studied. A fluorescent flavoprotein (protein I) and a brown protein (protein II) were the most active proteins which were isolated in purified form. The free radical formation activity was substantially decreased during the purification and was completely lost upon storage in a week under nitrogen in a frozenstate. The presence of free flavin (FMN) with NADH enhanced the rate of free radical formation. The reaction of FMN and NADH was found to be catalysed by various cell fractions. A possible role of FMN as a substrate for free radical shethna flavoprotein was investigated. Slower reaction rate of $FMNH_2+Flavoprotein\;(FP){\to}FPH+FMN$ than $FMN+NADH{\to}FMNH_2$, accumulation of $FMNH_2$ ocurred which subsquently caused FPH.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.539-547
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• 2019

Anoctamin 5 (ANO5)/TMEM16E belongs to a member of the ANO/TMEM16 family member of anion channels. However, it is a matter of debate whether ANO5 functions as a genuine plasma membrane chloride channel. It has been recognized that mutations in the ANO5 gene cause many skeletal muscle diseases such as limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2L (LGMD2L) and Miyoshi muscular dystrophy type 3 (MMD3) in human. However, the molecular mechanisms of the skeletal myopathies caused by ANO5 defects are poorly understood. To understand the role of ANO5 in skeletal muscle development and function, we silenced the ANO5 gene in C2C12 myoblasts and evaluated whether it impairs myogenesis and myotube function. ANO5 knockdown (ANO5-KD) by shRNA resulted in clustered or aggregated nuclei at the body of myotubes without affecting differentiation or myotube formation. Nuclear positioning defect of ANO5-KD myotubes was accompanied with reduced expression of Kif5b protein, a kinesin-related motor protein that controls nuclear transport during myogenesis. ANO5-KD impaired depolarization-induced $[Ca2^{+}]_i$ transient and reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) $Ca^{2+}$ storage. ANO5-KD resulted in reduced protein expression of the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and SR $Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ subtype 1. In addition, ANO5-KD compromised co-localization between DHPR and ryanodine receptor subtype 1. It is concluded that ANO5-KD causes nuclear positioning defect by reduction of Kif5b expression, and compromises $Ca^{2+}$ signaling by downregulating the expression of DHPR and SERCA proteins.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.192-200
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• 2021

Kunun-zaki, produced by submerged fermentation of a combination of millet and sorghum, is a popular beverage in Northern Nigeria. Owing to the nature of the process involved in its production, kunun-zaki is highly susceptible to contamination by food spoilage microorganisms, leading to inconsistent quality and short shelf-life. In this study, we investigated various food spices, including cinnamon, garlic, and nutmeg, as potential preservatives that could be used to extend kunun-zaki shelf-life. Kunun-zaki varieties were fermented with each of these spices mentioned above and subjected to bacterial, nutritional, sensory, and quality maintenance assessments (using a twelve-member sensory panel to evaluate the organoleptic properties of kunun-zaki). Bacterial counts in the final products ranged between 10^5-7 CFU/ml. We identified two bacterial genera, Weissella and Enterococcus, based on partial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Three amino acids, namely leucine, aspartate, and glutamate, were abundant in all kunun-zaki varieties, while the total essential amino acid content was above 39%, suggesting that kunun-zaki could potentially be considered as a protein-rich food source both for infants and adults. The kunun-zaki products were also rich in carbohydrates, crude proteins, ash, crude fiber, and fat, with contents estimated as 81-84, 8-11, 0.8-4.0, 2.9-3.58, and 5.1-6.3%, respectively. However, this nutritional content depreciated rapidly after 24 h of storage, except for kunun-zaki fermented with garlic, which its crude protein and fat content was maintained for up to 48 h. Our results revealed that organic spices increased the nutritional content of the kunun-zaki varieties and could be potentially be used as natural preservatives for enhancing the kunun-zaki shelf-life. However, garlic might be considered a better alternative based on our preliminary investigation. The presence of the isolated microorganisms in the analyzed kunun-zaki samples should be highlighted to raise awareness on the possible health hazards that could arise from poor handling and processing techniques.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.160-169
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• 2022

In the present study we evaluated the efficacy of a bioformulation of Streptomyces cameroonensis for control of black pod disease in cocoa and enhancement of seedling growth. The formulation developed using talc powder and cassava starch as carriers showed high shelf-life of 1.07 × 10⁶ CFU/g after six months storage at 4℃. The formulation was tested for inhibition of spore germination in Phytophthora megakarya and showed 100% inhibition at 10% (w/v) of formulation. To determine the efficacy of the formulation, we performed an in planta assay in the greenhouse on two hybrids of cocoa seedlings, the tolerant SNK413 × (♂) T79/467 and the susceptible UPA 134× (♂) SCA 12. Detached leaf assay showed a significant reduction in the disease severity index of about 67% for the tolerant hybrid and 55% for the susceptible hybrid compared to non-treated plants. A significant enhancement in stem length, leaf surface area and root weight was observed. Analysis of biochemical markers of defense showed a significant increase in total polyphenol, flavonoid, and total protein contents. There was also significant upregulation of PR-proteins such as chitinases, peroxidases and β-1, 3-glucanases following treatment of both tolerant and susceptible hybrids, though with a higher level of synthesis in the tolerant hybrids. A significant increase was also observed in polyphenol oxidase activities in plants treated with the formulation. This work demonstrated the stability and effectiveness of the S. cameroonensis powder formulation in suppressing black pod disease in cocoa and subsequently enhancing the growth of seedlings.