β-carotene hydroxylase (BCH) has been implicated as a key enzyme conferring a stress tolerant mechanism in plants by production of carotenoids, which serve as protectants against photoinhibition and precursor of ABA biosynthesis. We previously cloned a gene encoding a novel cytosolic form of BCH (GmBCH1) from soybean (Glycine max) whose expression increased during nodulation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In the present work we extended our study to three GmBCHs as soybean is an allotetraploid, and examined their possible role(s) in nodule development. In situ hybridization revealed the expression of three GmBCHs (GmBCH1, GmBCH2, and GmBCH3) in the infected cells of root nodules, and their enzymatic activities were confirmed by functional assays in E. coli. Localization of GmBCHs by transfecting Arabidopsis protoplasts with GFP fusions and by EM immunogold detection in soybean nodules indicated that GmBCH2 and GmBCH3 were present in plastids while GmBCH1 appeared to be cytosolic. RNAi of the GmBCHs severely impaired nitrogen fixation as well as nodule development. Surprisingly, we failed to detect zeaxanthin, a product of GmBCH, or any other carotenoids, in nodules. We therefore examined the possibility that most of the carotenoids in nodules are converted or cleaved to other compounds. We detected the expression of some carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (GmCCDs) in wild-type nodules, and also a reduced amount of zeaxanthin in GmCCD8-expressing E. coli, suggesting cleavage of the carotenoid. In view of these findings we propose that carotenoids such as zeaxanthin synthesized in root nodules are cleaved by GmCCDs, and we discuss the possible roles of the carotenoid cleavage products in nodulation.

In this study, β -carotene concentrations was determined in soybean cultivar according to seed size, usage, seed coat color and cotyledon color as well as the process of seed germination. The total average concentration of β -carotene was 6.6~mug/g in soybean seed, 33.3~mug/g in soybean sprout. According to seed size, the total β -carotene concentration of soybean was 6.9~mug/g in large soybean seed, 6.7~mug/g in medium soybean seed, and 6.31~mug/g in small soybean seed. In soybean sprout, the total β -carotene concentration was 21.4~mug/g in large soybean sprout, 30.5~mug/g in medium soybean sprout, and 43.5~mug/g in small soybean sprout. According to the utilization of seed, the total β -carotene concentration of soybean seed was 7.2~mug/g in cooked with rice soybean seed, 6.1~mug/g in paste and curd soybean seed, and 6.3~mug/g in sprout soybean seed. In soybean sprout, the total β -carotene concentration was 25.9~mug/g in cooked with rice soybean sprout, 32.4~mug/g in paste and curd soybean sprout, and 41.9~mug/g in sprout soybean sprout. When comparison with seed coat color, the total β -carotene concentration of soybean with brown seed coat (8.8~mug/g ) was slightly higher than those of soybean with yellow (6.1~mug/g ). In soybean sprout, the total β -carotene concentration was 21.8~mug/g in black seed coat sprout, 38.7~mug/g in brown seed coat sprout, 34.1~mug/g in green seed coat sprout, 39.5~mug/g in yellow seed coat sprout, and 30.5~mug/g in mottle seed coat sprout. The results of this study suggested the functional characteristics of soybean through quantitative analysis of β -carotene.

The present study investigated an ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis fruit (CSF) for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid β protein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and also for antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 10μM Aβ (25-35) for 36 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 0.1-10μg/ml, CSF inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Aβ (25-35) in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of mice with 15 nmol Aβ (25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with CSF (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test. CSF (50 mg/kg) inhibited the increase of cholinesterase activity in Aβ (25-35)-injected mice brain. From these results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of CSF is due to its neuroprotective effect against Aβ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that CSF may have a therapeutic role for preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Varietal and annual variations in the contents of β-glucan fractions per weight grain samples were examined in sixteen covered and eighteen naked barley and five oat cultivars developed in Korea. Also, the effect of pearling on β-glucan content was invest

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β)의 선택적 저해제인 Kenpaullone가 B16 멜라노마 및 사람의 멜라노 사이트에 미치는 멜라닌 합성능을 조사하였다. Kepaullone은 B16 멜라노마 및 사람의 멜라노사이트에 대하여 세포증식에는 영향이 없는 범위 내에서 농도 의존적으로 멜라닌 합성을 촉진시켰다. B16 멜라노마 세포에 Kenpaullone을 첨가 48 h 후 tyrosinase 활성이 증가하였으며, 농도별 처리에 대하여 tyrosinase 단백질의 발현 및 tyrosinase mRNA양이 증가함을 관찰하였다. 결론적으로 Kenpaullone는 B16 멜라노마 세포에서 tyrosinase 효소의 발현을 증가시켜 멜라닌 합성을 촉진하는 것으로 판단되어진다. 따라서 GSK3β 저해제가 멜라닌 합성을 촉진시키는 결과는 백반증과 같은 저색소관련 질병의 치료제 개발의 가능성을 갖고 있는 소재로서 응용가능하리라고 판단되어진다.

The immune system may play an important role in aging and the changes in the immune status are associated with treatment of various immunomodulators. This study examined the effects of β-glucans isolated from mushroom fungi, Coriolus versicolor on macrophages functions in young (8-weeks-old) and aged (82-weeks-old) male C57BL/6 mice. When peritoneal macrophages were treated with various concentrations of β-glucan (1-100 μg/ml) for 24 hrs, tumoricidal activity, NO production and phagocytic activity were significantly increased in the young mice, whereas there are no effects in the aged mice. These results suggest that β-glucans has differential effects on the macrophage functions in young and aged mice and age nutrition might need to be considered to select proper immunomodulator. In addition, β-glucan could be used clinically for the treatment of diseases such as cancer therapy in the young.

This experiment was selected a β-glucan producing mushroom strain and developed industrial media, and used to β-glucan as an alternative for antibiotics in weaned pigs. Yields of mycelial biomass and extracellular β-glucan from Youngji (Ganoderma lucidum) mushroom was 8.52g/L and 4.49g/L respectively. Also, we prepared optimum formula for mushroom cultivations. A total of 144 pigs (8.6±0.9 ㎏ average body weight, weaned 20±3 days of age) were allotted to 4 different treatment groups and replicated 4 times with 8 pigs per replicate in randomized complete block design. Treatments were T1) NC (negative control, basal diet), T2) PC (positive control, basal diet+0.255% antibiotics), T3) NC+0.2% β-glucan and T4) PC+0.2% β-glucan. The T2 and T4 treatments were significantly higher in feed efficiency by antibiotics group (p＜0.05), however, there was no significant differences in terms of average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during phase Ⅰ(0~14 days). In phase Ⅱ(15~28 days), Pigs fed with antibiotics and β-glucan (T4) had greater ADG than other treatments (p＜0.05), while no differences were observed in ADFI and feed efficiency. During the whole experiment period, the ADG of T4 treatment was higher than other treatments. Pigs fed with β-glucan (T3 and T4) had greater diarrhea score and moisture content than other treatments (p＜0.05). Pigs fed with β-glucan (T3 and T4) had greater moisture content than other treatments (p＜0.05). However, there was no significant differences in diarrhea score and mortality of weaned pigs. There was marginal reductions in feed cost measured feed cost per weight gain used in antibiotics and β-glucan added diet during phaseⅠ. In the second phase, the treatment supplemented with antibiotics had a significantly lower feed cost per weight gain compared to the other treatments. The results from these experiments suggests that β-glucan is likely able to improve the growth performance, and reduce feed cost although they do not have similar effects like antibiotics in weaning pigs.

The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-allergic reaction with Glycyrrhiza uralensis. We examined cell viability, β-hexosaminidase release, IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA expression from RBL-2H3 cell after pre-treatment with 0, 100, 250, 500, 1000μg/ml of Glycyrrhiza uralensis water extracts. Effects of Glycyrrhiza uralensis on the degranulation and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) expression were evaluated with β-hexosaminidase assay, and RT-PCR analysis. We observed that Glycyrrhiza uralensis concentrations from 100μg/ml to 1000μg/ml had no effect on cell survival. The release of β-hexosaminidase decreased significantly with all concentrations of Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts. The expression of the IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA were decreased by Glycyrrhiza uralensis in dose-dependent manner. These results that Glycyrrhiza uralensis has an anti-histamin effects and controls IL-4, IL-13 secretion on allergic reaction.

β-carotene producing transformants were produced in the background of "Nagdong", a japonica rice cultivar. Introgression of the caroteniod locus into the elite cultivar "Ilpum". Was started to initiate a backcrossing program, we surveyed 220 SSR markers and found that 38% of them were polymorphic between the “Ilpum” as the recurrent parent and "Nagdong" transfomed as a recipient parent. First, backcross progenies have been produced and genotyped by the transgene specific PCR-based marker. Blast search indicated that the transgene PAC4-2 was located between SSR markers, RM5631 and RM5916. We produced 240 BC3F2 plants derived from thirteen BC3F1 plants containing the caroteniod gene. To develop near isogenic line, additional experiments including target and background selection are being performed using SSR markers. Traits of agronomic importance such as heading date, panicle number and culm length will also be evaluated. The results will be discussed.

The present study investigated an ethanol extract (HS0608) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Curcumalongae radix, Phellinus linteus, and Scutellariae radix for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid βprotein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to10µM Aβ (25-35) for 36h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 1-50㎍/㎖, HS0608 inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intra-cellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Aβ (25-35) in primary cul-tures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of ICR mice with 15 nmol Aβ (25-35) wasinhibited by chronic treatment with HS0608 (25, 50 and 100㎎/㎏, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test. Fromthese results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of HS0608 is due to its neuroprotective effect against Aβ (25-35)-inducedneurotoxicity and that HS0608 may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

신품종 "진주찰" 쌀보리는 취반 후 백도가 좋고, 베타글루칸 함량이 높은 소립, 내재해, 양질, 다수성 쌀보리 신품종이다. 1996년에 호남농업연구소에서 도복과 내한성이 강하고 찰성으로 립백도와 정맥율이 높으며 취반특성이 우수한 특성을 지닌 "진미찹쌀보리"와 "수원333호"를 인공교배한 후 계통육종법으로 육성하였다. 2003년부터 2년간 생산력검정시험을 실시한 결과, 수량성이 높고 도복이 강한 우수 계통으로 판명되어 "익산79호"로 계통명을 부여, 20

Moutan cortex, the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (Paeoniaceae), has pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, analgesic and antioxidant activities. We investigated a methanol extract of Moutan cortex for neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid β protein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 10 μM Aβ (25-35) for 24 h induced neuronal apoptotic death. Moutan cortex inhibited 10 μM Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal cell death at 30 and 50 μg/ml, which was measured by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. Moutan cortex inhibited 10 μM Aβ (25-35)-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which were measured by fluorescent dyes. Moutan cortex also inhibited glutamate release into medium induced by 10 μM Aβ (25-35), which was measured by HPLC. These results suggest that Moutan cortex prevents Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal cell damage by interfering with the increase of [Ca2+]i, and then inhibiting glutamate release and ROS generation. Moutan cortex may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid peptide()은 지방산화 및 free radical의 생산에 의해 신경세포의 apoptosis를 유도하거나 산화적 스트레스를 증가시키는 원인이 되는 물질로 알려져 있으며, 알츠하이머와 같은 신경계 질환은 뇌에 아밀로이드베타 단백질들의 축적에 의해서 일어난다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 수분 활성도 0.813인 분말 녹차를 저장기간별로 저장한 후 에서 5분간 추출한 분말 녹차 열수추출물을 이용하여 아밀로이드 베타단백질에 의해 유도된