• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.385-393
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• 1998

Human neutrophil elastase (HNElastase, EC 3.4.21.37), a causative factor of inflammatory diseases, was purified by Ultrogel AcA54 gel filtration and CM-Sephadex ion exchange chromatography. HNElastase was inhibited by phenylbutazone in a concentration dependent manner up to 0.4 mM, but as the concentration increased, the inhibitory effect gradually diminished. Binding of phenylbutazone to the human neutrophil elastase caused strong Raman shifts at 200, 440, and 1194 $cm^{-1}$. The peak at 1194 $cm^{-1}$ might be evidence of the presence $of\;-N=N-{\Phi}$ radical. The core area of the elastase, according to the visual molecular model of human neutrophil elastase, was structurally stable. A deeply situated active center was at the core area surrounded by hydrophobic amino acids. Directly neighboring the active site was one positively charged atom and two atoms carrying a negative charge, which enabled the enzyme and the drug to form a strong interaction. Phenylbutazone may form a binding, similar to a key & lock system to the atoms carrying opposite charges near the active site of the enzyme molecule. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of the surrounding amino acid near the active site seemed to enhance the binding strength of phenylbutazone. Binding of phenylbutazone near the active site may cause masking of the active site, preventing the substrate from approaching the active site and inhibiting elastase activity.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2008

The tetrachloroethylene (PCE) dehalogenase of Clostridium bifermentans DPH-1 (a halorespiring organism) was purified, cloned, and sequenced. This enzyme is a homodimer with a molecular mass of ca. 70 kDa and exhibits dehalogenation of dichloroethylene isomers along with PCE and trichloroethylene (TCE). Broad range of substrate specificity for chlorinated aliphatic compounds (PCE, TCE, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloropropene, and 1,1,2-trichloroethane) for this enzyme was also observed. A mixture of propyl iodide and titanium citrate caused a light-reversible inhibition of enzymatic activity suggesting the involvement of a corrinoid cofactor. A partial sequence (81 bp) of the encoding gene for PCE dehalogenase was amplified and sequenced with degenerateprimers designed from the N-terminal sequence (27 amino acid residues). Southern analysis of C. bifermentans genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction product as a probe revealed restriction fragment bands. A 5.0 kb ClaI fragment, harboring the relevant gene (designated pceC) was cloned (pDEHAL5) and the complete nucleotide sequence of pceC was determined. The gene showed homology mainly with microbial membrane proteins and no homology with any known dehalogenase, suggesting a distinct PCE dehalogenase. So, C. bifermentans could play some important role in the initial breakdown of PCE and other chlorinated aliphatic compounds in sites contaminated with mixtures of halogenated substances.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2001

We have employed chemical modification to identify amino acids essential for the catalytic activity of alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4) from garlic (Allium sativum). Alliinase degrades S-alkyl-L cysteine sulfoxides, causing the characteristic odor of garlic. The activity of alliinase was rapidly and completely inactivated by N-bromosuccinimide(NBS) and slightly decreased by succinic anhydride and N-acetylimidazole. These results indicate that tryptophanyl, lysyl, and tyrosyl residues play an important role in enzyme catalysis. The reaction of alliinase with NBA yielded a characteristic decrease in both the absorbance at 280 nm and the intrinsic fluorescence at 332 nm with increasing reagent concentration of NBS, consistent with the oxidation of tryptophan residues. Kinetic analysis, fluorometric titration of tryptophans and correlation to residual alliinase activity showed that modification of only one residue present on alliinase led to complete inhibition of alliinase activity. To identify this essential tryptophan residue, we employed chemical modification by NBS in the presence and absence of the protecting substrate analogue, S-ethyl-L-cysteine (SEC) and N-terminal sequence analysis of peptide fragment isolated by reverse phase-HPLC. A fragment containing residues 179-188 was isolated. We conclude that Trp182 is essential for alliinase activity.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.725-741
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• 2019

In the current study, we first investigated a method for directly transforming lactose into galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) for manufacturing low-lactose and GOS-enriched skim milk (GSM) and then evaluated its prebiotic potential by inoculating five strains of Bifidobacterium spp. In addition, fermented GSM (FGSM) was prepared using a potentially probiotic Lactobacillus strain and its fermentation characteristics and antioxidant capacities were determined. We found that GOS in GSM were metabolized by all five Bifidobacterium strains after incubation and promoted their growth. The levels of antioxidant activities including radical scavenging activities and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibition rate in GSM were significantly increased by fermentation with the probiotic Lactobacillus strain. Moreover, thirty-nine featured peptides in FGSM was detected. In particular, six peptides derived from ${\beta}$-casein, two peptides originated from ${\alpha}s_1$-casein and ${\kappa}$-casein were newly identified, respectively. Our findings indicate that GSM can potentially be used as a prebiotic substrate and FGSM can potentially prevent oxidative stress during the production of synbiotic fermented milk in the food industry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1576-1582
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• 2021

Bacterial β-glucuronidase in the intestine is involved in the conversion of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptochecin glucuronide (derived from irinotecan) to 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin, which causes intestinal bleeding and diarrhea (side effects of anti-cancer drugs). Twelve compounds (1-12) from Polygala tenuifolia were evaluated in terms of β-glucuronidase inhibition in vitro. 4-O-Benzoyl-3'-O-(O-methylsinapoyl) sucrose (C3) was highly inhibitory at low concentrations. C3 (an uncompetitive inhibitor) exhibited a k_i value of 13.4 μM; inhibitory activity increased as the substrate concentration rose. Molecular simulation revealed that C3 bound principally to the Gln158-Tyr160 enzyme loop. Thus, C3 will serve as a lead compound for development of new β-glucuronidase inhibitors.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1093-1100
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• 2021

The present study investigated the effect of ammonia load on microbial communities in mesophilic anaerobic digestion of propionic acid. A laboratory-scale continuous anaerobic digester treating propionic acid as a sole organic substrate was operated under non-inhibitory condition and inhibitory conditions with ammonia (1.5 g and 3.5 g ammonia-N/L, respectively), and bacterial and archaeal communities in the steady states of each ammonia condition were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Thirteen bacterial families were detected as abundant bacterial groups in mesophilic anaerobic digestion of propionic acid. Increase in ammonia concentration resulted in significant shifts in microbial community structures. Syntorophobacter, Pelotomaculum, and Thermovigra were determined as the dominant groups of (potential) propionate oxidizing bacteria in the non-inhibitory condition, whereas Cryptanaerobacter and Aminobacterium were the dominant groups of (potential) propionate oxidizing bacteria in the ammonia-inhibitory condition. Methanoculleus and Methanosaeta were the dominant methanogens. Acetate-oxidation coupled with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis might be enhanced with increases in the relative abundances of Methanoculleus and Tepidanaerobacter acetatoxydans under the ammonia-inhibitory condition. The results of the present study could be a valuable reference for microbial management of anaerobic digestion systems that are exposed to ammonia inhibition and propionic acid accumulation.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

This protocol clarifies a simple and precise method for measuring the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme inhibitor. XO enzyme, which accelerates oxidative stress-related disorders through its capacity to generate hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion radicals (O₂^•-), has been found to be inhibited by several plant extracts. Enzyme samples were incubated with a suitable buffer containing adequate amounts of xanthine as a substrate to determine XO activity. The method depends on direct measurements of uric acid and hydrogen peroxide production to test XO with and without interference. The CUPRAC reagent (Cu(Nc)₂²⁺) was used to inhibit enzyme reaction after incubation was complete. The generated urate and peroxide reduced the Cu(II)-neocuproine complex (Cu(Nc)₂²⁺) to a brightly colored Cu(I)-neocuproine complex (Cu(Nc)₂⁺), which was assessed with a spectrophotometer at 450 nm. XO activity was found to be directly related to the increased absorbance of the colored Cu(I)-neocuproine complex (Cu(Nc)₂⁺). To eliminate catalase enzyme interference, the proposed method used sodium azide and was validated against XO activity using the UV method in matched samples with t-test analysis. The proposed assay can determine XO activity with high precision, as indicated by the correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9935) from comparison with the reference protocol.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2024

Skeletal muscle (SM) is the largest organ of the body and is largely responsible for the metabolism required to maintain body functions. Furthermore, the maintenance of SM is dependent on the activation of muscle satellite (stem) cells (MSCs) and the subsequent proliferation and fusion of differentiating myoblasts into mature myofibers (myogenesis). Natural compounds are being used as therapeutic options to promote SM regeneration during aging, muscle atrophy, sarcopenia, cachexia, or obesity. In particular, ginseng-derived compounds have been utilized in these contexts, though ginsenoside Rg1 is mostly used for SM mass management. These compounds primarily function by activating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, upregulating myogenin and MyoD to induce muscle hypertrophy, downregulating atrophic factors (atrogin1, muscle ring-finger protein-1, myostatin, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production), and suppressing the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cachexia. Ginsenoside compounds are also used for obesity management, and their anti-obesity effects are attributed to peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) inhibition, AMPK activation, glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) translocation, and increased phosphorylations of insulin resistance (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and Akt. This review was undertaken to provide an overview of the use of ginseng-related compounds for the management of SM-related disorders.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 2010

Production of crude glycerol from biodiesel industry is expected to exceed the commercial demand for purified glycerol in the near future. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of co-digestion of crude glycerol with swine manure. Crude glycerol up to 13.8 g/L was regarded as a good co-substrate for swine manure digester. It improved methane production and productivity by 90% and 120%, respectively. Methane yield of crude glycerol at the condition was estimated to be 232 mL/g. However, it inhibited methanogenic activity at above 27.5 g/L. Optimum concentration of crude glycerol for co-digestion with swine manure would be near to 13.8 g/L.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 1991

The optimal pH of the extraction buffer was 7.5 considiering AChE stability and its buffer capacity when AChE was isolated and extracted from the housefly(Musca domesitca L.)and three other insect species with 0.01 M sodium phosphate buffer. Also, the optimal pH of the reaction buffer was 7.5 considering enzyme activity and its buffer capacity when AChE activity was measured with the substrate in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer. The Potter Elvehjem type homogenizer with Teflon pestle was used to homgenize the tissues. When preparing a AChE suspension by centrifuging the homogenate, 700 g supernatant of adult head for the housefly, 700 g supernatnat of 5th instar nymphal whole body for the brown planthopper, lipid-eliminated 10,000 g supernatant of 5th instar larval whole body for the diamondback moth, and 700 g supernatant of 4th instar larval head for the tobacco cutworm were considered satisfactory as enzyme sources in view of mass preparation, extraction efficiency and stability of enzyme activity during evaluation. When AChE suspensions of 4 insect species were stored at $-18^{\circ}C$, more than 90% of activity was maintained up to 3 weeks. Km values of AChEs of the housefly, the brown planthopper, and the diamondback moth were 0.042, 0.037 and 0.043 mM, respectively and AChE-specific substrate inhibition was observed at high concentration. Km value of the tobacco cutworm ChE was 1.15 mM and BuChE characteristics was observed, though further study is needed. The optimal substrate concentration for the AChE inhibition tests was 0.5 mM for the housfly, the brown planthopper, and the diamondback moth and 12 mM for the tobacco cutworm.