대장균 효소 β-gal를 이용하여 합성된 BzO-gal의 분자구조를 NMR (1H-와 13C-)과 고성능 mass spectrometry를 이용하여 분석하였다. BzO-gal은 1H NMR에서 14개의 proton으로부터 12개의 피크를 나타내었다. 방향족 고리에서 오는 5개의 proton 피크와 벤질기의 CH2에서 오는 2개의 proton 피크는 벤질알코올이 존재함을 나타낸다. 지방족 사슬 영역인 dH 4.32 ~ 3.46 ppm에서 나타나는 7개의 proton 피크로부터 단당류가 도입되었음을 확인할 수 있었다. 13C NMR 스팩트럼에서 나타난 11개의 carbon 피크도 또한 벤질알코올에 단당이 도입되었음을 나타낸다. BzO-gal의 분자량을 확인하기 위하여 mass spectrometry 로 분석한 결과 m/z가 293.0994인 BzO-gal의 sodium adduct ion ([M+Na]+)을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 세포독성이 감소된 첨가물 개발을 기대하고 있으며, 추가적인 후속연구를 진행할 예정이다.

Many β-lactam antimicrobials, including cephalosporins, have been used in both veterinary and human medicine in the treatment of zoonotic and infectious diseases. Especially, third-generation cephalosporins such as ceftiofur have been approved for systemic use in food-producing animals, which has resulted in the emergence of β-lactamase genes. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of β-lactamase-producing E. coli isolated from commercial layers and characterized their antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. Among the 85 cefotaxime (CTX)-resistant E. coli, all isolates showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial, and the rates of resistance to nalidixic acid, cephalothin, ampicillin, and cefazolin were more than 50.0%. In particular, 28 isolates were identified as containing b-lactamase genes. The extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and plasmid-mediated AmpC genes blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15, and blaCMY-2 were detected in 1, 6, 5, and 4 isolates, respectively. The non-ESBL/pAmpC gene blaTEM-1 was detected in 12 isolates. The distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes in 28 β-lactamase-producing E. coli was as follows: aac(3)-II (64.3%), sul2 (32.1%), tetA (28.6%), sul1 (25.0%), cmlA gene (25.0%), and tetB (14.3%). In total, 6 virulence genes (astA, eaeA, escV, fimH, iucC, and papC) were also identified and the rates in virulence gene were as below: fimH (92.9%), iucC (25.0%), astA (21.4%), papC (10.7%), eaeA (7.1%) and escV (7.1%). Our findings suggest that antimicrobials used in commercial layer must be regulated in Korea, and comprehensive surveillance is necessary to prevent the dissemination of resistant isolates.

Toll and IMD pathways play an important role in producing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) through NF-κB in insects. The functions of IκB kinase (IKK) complex regulating the NF-κB signaling cascade have not yet been investigated in Tenebrio model. Here, we identified TmIKK-β (or TmIrd5) which contains 2,112 bp encoding 703 amino acid residues. Domain analysis shows that TmIKK-β contains one Serine/Threonine protein kinases catalytic domain. Developmental expression patterns indicate that TmIKK- β gene was highly expressed in early pupal (P1) and adult (A5) stages. Tissue specific profiles show that TmIKK-β was highly expressed in the integuments in last instar larvae, and fat body and hemocytes in 5 day-old adults. TmIKK-β1 transcripts were strongly induced at 3 and 12 h-post injection of E. coli, and 3 h-post injection of S. aureus or C. albicans in hemocytes. In gut, TmIKK-β transcripts were slightly induced by E. coli (at 6, 9 and 24 h) and C. albicans (at 24 h), while it was not induced by S. aureus challenge. Moreover, it was highly induced at 6 h-post injection of E. coli and then it was gradually decreased in the fat body. To understand the immunological role of TmIKK-β, gene specific RNAi and mortality assay was performed. Depletion of TmIKK-β mRNA leads to increase microbial susceptibility of larvae against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans. In addition, induction patterns of fourteen AMP genes in response to microbial challenge was tissue specifically investigated in TmIKK-β–silenced T. molitor larvae. The results suggest that expression of ten AMP genes out of fourteen genes were drastically decreased by TmIKK-β RNAi in fat body, suggesting that TmIKK-β plays an important role in antimicrobial innate immune responses.

O-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-Mannopyranose (MGM) was prepared via the enzymatic hydrolysis of konjac glucomannan and the subsequent elimination of monosaccharides from the resultant hydrolysate using yeast. The enzyme system hydrolyzed konjac glucomannan and produced monosaccharides and MGM without other oligomers at the 48 h reaction. Konjac 20 g was hydrolyzed at 60 o C and a pH 6.0 for 48 h with 200 mL crude enzyme solution from Xylogone sphaerospora. By eliminating monosaccharides from the hydrolysis products with yeast (Candida guilliermondii), 3.8 g of crystalline MGM was obtained, without the use of chromatographic techniques. After 48 h of yeast cultivation, the total sugar content fell from 5.2% to 3.7%, while the average degree of polymerization (D.P.) rose from 2.6 to 3.3.

This study was to investigate the optimal condition of mixture ratio for development of functional food ingredient from Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran. First, oBrix was measured along with extraction time. Five kinds of mixtures of Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran (10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 0:10) were extracted in 95oC water over a one-hour period and the extraction yield was evaluated. We further evaluated β-glucan content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content and total flavonoids content. As a result, both Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran showed a constant oBrix after 45 minutes of extraction time. The content of β-glucan was highest in the Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran mixture with a ratio of 3:7. As the ratio of rice bran increased in all mixtures, the antioxidant capacity also increased. In conclusion, to create a functional food ingredient the optimal mixing ratio of Sarcodon aspratus to rice bran is 3:7.

As a transcription factor, the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) induces the expression of specific genes by interacting with their promoters. C/EBP can trigger to express other genes, because it can open chromatin structure after binding to DNA, then lead to another transcription factors. In this study, we investigated the features and post-exercise expression patterns of two genes in the C/EBP family, C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ. The basic region leucine zipper motif (bZIP) is a crucial region of C/EBP, and analysis of synonymous and non-synonymous substitution ratios revealed that bZIP regions were well conserved in mammalian species. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR data showed that C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ expression increased significantly in the muscle after exercise, but did not do so in the blood. We therefore propose that exercise-induced increased expression of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ may stimulate gene expression in physiological pathways in muscle cells.

Actinidia arguta (Actinidiaceae), which is commonly referred to as hardy kiwifruit, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidative properties. The protective effect of the leaves and stems of A. arguta against amyloid β protein (Aβ) (25-35)-induced cultured neuronal cell death and memory impairment was investigated in the current study. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 10 μM Aβ (25-35) for 24 h induced significant neuronal death as assessed by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. However, A. arguta (10 and 50 μg/ ml) prevented Aβ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal death in cultured cortical neurons. A. arguta also inhibited the 100 μM H2O2-induced decrease of the MTT reduction rate in cultured neurons. Memory impairment was produced by intracerebroventricular microinjection of 15 nmol Aβ (25- 35) and examined using the passive avoidance test in ICR mice. Chronic treatments with A. arguta (50 and 100 mg/ kg, 14 days, p.o.) significantly prevented memory impairment induced by Aβ (25-35), and A. arguta inhibited the Aβ (25-35)-induced increase of cholinesterase activity in the brains of memory impaired mice. These results suggest that A. arguta might be able to inhibit Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal death and memory impairment via antioxidative and anti-cholinesterase effects and that A. arguta could have a therapeutic role for preventing the progression of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

β-Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was added to Al2O3 to make a biomaterial with good mechanical properties. Using a TCP powder synthesized by a polymer complexation method, Al2O3 composites containing 30 wt% TCP were fabricated and characterized for densification, phase, microstructure, strength, and fracture toughness. With optimizing the powder preparation conditions, a high densification of 97 % was obtained by sintering at 1350 ℃ for 2 h. No reaction between the two components occurred and there was no transition to α-TCP. TCP grains with a size of 2-4 μm were well surrounded by Al2O3 grains with a size of 1 μm or less. Strength 61(Brazilian) or 187(3-p MOR) MPa, and fracture toughness 1.7 (notched beam) or 2.5 (indentation) MPa·m1/2 were obtained, which are large improvements over the strength of TCP/Al2O3 composites and toughness of TCP and hydroxyapatite in previous studies.

In this study, we analyzed signal transduction by equine follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (eFSHR) on stimulation with recombinant eelFSHβ/α (rec-eelFSHβ/α), natural porcine FSH (pFSH), and natural human FSH (hFSH). cAMP stimulation in CHO-K1 cells expressing eFSHR was determined upon exposure to different doses (0-1450 ng/mL) of these hormones. The EC50 value of rec-eelFSHβ/α was 53.35 ng/mL. The Rmax values of rec-eelFSHβ/α and pFSH were 28.12 and 2.88 ng/mL, respectively. The activity of rec-eelFSHβ/α was much higher than that of natural pFSH. However, signal transduction in CHO PathHunter Parental cells expressing eFSHR was not enhanced by stimulation with natural hFSH. Thus, rec-eelFSHβ/α was completely active in cells expressing eFSHR. However, natural hFSH did not invoke a signal response in cells expressing eFSHR. Particularly, natural pFSH was weakly active in the same cells. These results showed that eelFSHβ/α has potent activity in cells expressing eFSHR. Thus, rec-eelFSHβ/α may efficiently bind to eFSHR, where as natural hFSH does not bind to eFSHR.

We investigate the escape of Lyβ from emission nebulae with a significant population of excited hydrogen atoms in the level n = 2, rendering them optically thick in Hα. The transfer of Lyβ line photons in these optically thick regions is complicated by the presence of another scattering channel leading to re-emission of Hα, alternating their identities between Lyβ and Hα. In this work, we develop a Monte Carlo code to simulate the transfer of Lyβ line photons incorporating the scattering channel into Hα. Both Hα and Lyβ lines are formed through diffusion in frequency space, where a line photon enters the wing regime after a fairly large number of resonance scatterings with hydrogen atoms. Various line profiles of Hα and Lyβ emergent from our model nebulae are presented. It is argued that the electron temperature is a critical parameter which controls the flux ratio of emergent Lyβ and Hα. Specifically for T = 3 × 104 K and Hα line center optical depth α = 10, the number flux ratio of emergent Lyβ and Hα is ∼ 49 percent, which is quite significant. We propose that the leaking Lyβ can be an interesting source for the formation of Hα wings observed in many symbiotic stars and active galactic nuclei. Similar broad Hα wings are also expected in Lyα emitting halos found in the early universe, which can be potentially probed by the James Webb Telescope in the future.

To determine the bioactive compound of domestic cherry tomato, the levels of lycopene, β-carotene, and phenolic compounds were analyzed in three domestic cherry tomato cultivars (Summerking, Qutiquti, and Minchal) using HPLC and LC-MS/MS. The levels of lycopene were 69.40 mg/100 g (Qutiquti), 69.07 mg/100 g (Minichal), and 38.52 mg/100 g (Summerking). The contents of β-carotene were 3.35 mg/100 g (Qutiquti), 2.30 mg/100 g (Summerking), and 2.25 mg/100 g (Minichal). Five phenolic compounds were identified exactly as 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-apiosylrutinoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside, and naringenin chalcone from three domestic cherry tomatoes. Five phenolic compounds were identified partially as two isomers of caffeic acid-hexose, caffeoylquinic acid isomer, di-caffeoylquinic acid, and tri-caffeoylquinic acid from three domestic cherry tomatoes. Naringenin chalcone was the most abundant phenolic compound, ranging from 78.2 mg/100 g for Qutiquti to 222.9 mg/100 g for Summerking. High levels of quercetin-3-rutinoside and 5-caffeoylquinic acid were found, ranging 24.3-50.8 mg/100 g and 31.8-47.6 mg/100 g, respectively. These results suggested that domestic cherry tomatoes can be used as bioactive food materials.

Amyloid-β protein (Aβ) is known to increase free radical production in neuronal cells, leading to cell death by oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of PineXol® on Aβ25-35 induced neuronal cell death. Rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells were pre-treated with 100 μg/mL of PineXol® for 2 h. The cells were exposed to single dose of 30 μM Aβ25-35 for 24 h. Cell death was assessed by a cell count kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, lactate and dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. An Apoptotic process was analyzed by a protein expression of the Bcl-2 family using western blotting. Cell viability increased in PC-12 cells treated with both Aβ25-35 and PineXol®, compared to the control group. PineXol® induced a decrease of the Bcl-2 protein expression (p<0.05), while Bax and Sod1 increased (p<0.05), indicating attenuation of Aβ25-35 induced apoptosis. These results suggest that PineXol® may be a good candidate for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease(AD).

In the current study, we investigated the inhibitory activity of water soluble β-glucan from oat (Avena sativa) against various digestive enzymes such as α-glucosidase, sucrase, maltase and glucoamylase. Inhibition of these enzymes involved in the absorption of disaccharide can significantly decrease the post-prandial increase of blood glucose level after a mixed carbohydrate diet. The β-glucan had the highest documented rate of small intestinal sucrase inhibitory activity (2.83 mg/mL, IC50) relevant for potentially managing post-prandial hyperglycemia. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of β-glucan on the level of post-prandial blood glucose in animal model. The post-prandial blood glucose levels were tested two hours after sucrose/starch administration, with and without β- glucan (100, and 500 mg/kg-body weight). The maximum blood glucose levels (Cmax) of β-glucan administration group were decreased by about 23% (from 219.06±27.82 to 190.44±13.18, p<0.05) and 10% (from 182.44±13.77 to 165.64±10.59, p<0.01) in starch and sucrose loading test, respectively, when compared to control in pharmacodynamics study. The β -Glucan administration significantly lowered the mean, maximum, and minimum level of post-prandial blood glucose at 30 min after meal. In view of the foregoing, it is felt that our findings suggest that β-glucan from oat serves to reduce post-prandial blood glucose rise secondary to slower absorption of glucose in the small intestine, via carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes inhibition.

Vitamin A is essential for growth and differentiation of a number of cells and tissues, as result the precursor, a carotenoid β-carotene remains their essential source of vitamin A. However, the major problem this carotenoid face, is its susceptible to photodegradation and chemical oxidation, those properties make it difficult to use as an ingredient as functional food product and reduce its bioavailability. This study presents a novel approach to prepare a one-step inclusion complex using amylose microparticles as host molecule using amylosucrase from Deinococcus geothermalis (DGAS) and β-carotene nanoparticles, which were added into the DGAS enzyme reaction solution to entrap them during the synthesis of amylose chains. HRFE-SEM showing a spherical shape and average diameter of 4-8 μm; XRD and DSC showed an amorphous structure as well as less energy required to start the gelatinization process, due to the complexation of amylose chains with the β-carotene nano dispersion. Last but not least Raman spectroscopy was performed in order to confirmed the complex formation between β-carotene and amylose microparticles, showing the characteristic peaks of both compound. The stability test in this study showed the high stability of the complexed microparticles against environmental stresses such as, photodegradation and chemical oxidation. We expect this study contributes to the development of functional food materials to enhance the stability and bioavailability of active compounds.