Nitrogen (N)-doped protein-based carbon as platinum (Pt) catalyst supports from tofu for oxygen reduction reactions are synthesized using a carbonization and reduction method. We successfully prepare 5 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon, 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon, and 20 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon. The morphology and structure of the samples are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron micro scopy, and crystllinities and chemical bonding are identified using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The oxygen reduction reaction are measured using a linear sweep voltammogram and cyclic voltammetry. Among the samples, 10 wt% Pt@N-doped protein-based carbon exhibits exellent electrochemical performance with a high onset potential of 0.62 V, a high E1/2 of 0.55 V, and a low ΔE1/2= 0.32 mV. Specifically, as compared to the commercial Pt/C, the 10 wt% Pt@N-doped proteinbased carbon had a similar oxygen reduction reaction perfomance and improved electrochemical stability.

Muscle atrophy is characterized by a decrease in the mass of the muscle. With an increase in life expectancy and chronic illnesses, the incidence of muscle atrophy is increasing and the quality of life of patients is decreasing. Thus, reducing muscle atrophy is of high clinical and socio-economic importance. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that has been used as a traditional medicine in many countries to treat various human illnesses. It has been reported that Korean mistletoe extract (KME) has diverse biological functions including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity properties, and extension of lifespan. Especially, we have recently reported that KME improves exercise endurance in mice, indicating its beneficial roles in enhancing the capacity of skeletal muscle. In this study, we investigated whether KME could activate the signaling pathway related to protein synthesis in a mouse model of muscle atrophy. Interestingly, KME efficiently activated the Akt/mTOR pathway, and Akt and mTOR are important signaling hub molecules for the acceleration of protein synthesis in muscle cells. In addition, KME also increased the activity of S6 kinase which is involved in the regulation of muscle cell size. Moreover, the ERK activity, required for transcription of ribosomal RNA for protein synthesis, was also enhanced in KME-treated mouse muscle. These data support the idea that KME increases muscle mass via increased protein synthesis. Our findings also suggest that Korean mistletoe might be a promising candidate for the development of functional foods that are beneficial for preventing muscle atrophy.

To investigate the adhesion effect of sodium bisulfite content in making blocked isocyanate, wood adhesive PB-1, PB-2, PB-3 and PB-4 containing sodium bisulfite content of 15%, 22.5%, 30% and 37.5% were synthesized respectively. As a result, when the amount of sodium bisulfite increased in adhesives, the tensile strength was found to be proportionally increased. The final adhesive mixtures were manufactured using a two-components system which are prepared by mixing two separate protein and BI solutions due to the precipitate in the adhesives. As PVA was added to adhesives to increase tenacity, the plywood dehiscence phenomenon after cold pressing process was declined. By addition of PVA, the tensile strength was improved up to 6.5~7kgf/cm2 with BI/protein ratio from 1:6 up to 1:8. Phase separation between milk fat and aqueous layer was disappeared after addition of emulsifier, Tween 20. Additon of Tween 20 showed tensile strength up to 5 ~ 6.5 kgf/cm2 at NCO/protein ratio of 1:12 ~ 1:14 without phase separation.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella parasitized by its endoparasitoid Cotesia plutellae undergoes various physiological alterations which involves immunosuppression and developmental arrest. Its symbiotic virus, C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) is highly essential for their successful parasitization which possesses more than 136 genes encoded. CpBV15βunique in CpBV genome is expressed at low levels in early and at higher levels during late parasitization period. This gene product alters the hemocyte-spreading behavior through inhibition of protein synthesis under in vitro conditions. In the current study, we investigated its specific involvement in physiological functions in the host by transient expression and RNA interference techniques. The open reading frame of CpBV15βwas cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector and this recombinant CpBV15β was transfected into healthy non-parasitized 3rd instar P. xylostella by microinjection. CpBV15βwas expressed as early as 24 h and was consistent up to 72 h. Due to the expression of this gene, the hemolymph storage protein levels were significantly reduced and the ability of the hemocytes to adhere and spread on extracellular matrix was altered or reduced, wherein CpBV15βwas detectable in the cytoplasm of hemocytes based on indirect immunofluorescence assay. To confirm the role of CpBV15β, its double stranded RNA could efficiently recover the functional efficacy of hemocytes towards non-self and synthesis of storage proteins. Thus these results clearly demonstrate the role of CpBV15βin altering the host physiology by involving in cellular immune response and host protein synthesis.

The effects of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and ATP analogs, P/sub 2y/ purinoceptor agonists, on growth of normal mouse mammary epithelial cells (NMuMG) were examined. Cells were plated onto 24 well plates in DMEM supplemented with 10 % fetal calf serum. After serum starvation for 24 hours, ATP, P/sub 2y/ purinoceptor agonists (AdoPP[NH]P, ATP-α-S, ATP-γ-S, β, γ-me-ATP and 2me-S-ATP), P/sub 2u/ purinoceptor agonist (UTP) and P/sub 2y/ purinoceptor antagonists (Reactive Blue 2, more selective to P/sub 2y/ receptor than PPADS; PPADS) were added. DNA synthesis was estimated as incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA (1 hour pulse with 1 μ Ci/ml, 18～19 hours after treatment). ATP, Adopp[NH]P, ATP-α-S or ATP-γ-S, significantly increased DNA synthesis at 1, 10 and 100 μM concentrations with dose-dependency (P<0.05), and the maximum responses of ATP and ATP analogs were shown at 100 μM concentration (P<0.05). The potency order of DNA synthesis was ATP≥ATP- γ -S>Adopp [NH]P>ATP-α-S. β, γ -me-ATP, 2me-S-ATP and UTP did not increase DNA synthesis. In autoradiographic analysis of percentage of S-phase cells, similar results were observed to those of DNA synthesis. Addition of 1, 10 or 100 μM Reactive Blue 2 or PPADS significantly decreased ATP (100 μM)-induced DNA synthesis, however, PPADS was less effective than Reactive Blue 2. In Elvax 40P implant experiment, ATP directly stimulated mammary endbud growth in situ suggesting the physiological regulator of ATP in mammary growth. ATP 100 μM rapidly increased MAPK activity, reaching a maximum at 5 min and then gradually decreasing to the base level in 30 min. ATP analogs, Adopp[NH]P and ATP-γ-S also increased MAPK activity, however, β, γ-me-ATP and 2me-S-ATP did not. The inhibitor of the upstream MAPK kinase (MEK), PD 98059 (25 μM), effectively reduced ATP (100 μM) or EGF(10 ng/ml, as positive control)-induced MAPK activity and DNA synthesis (P<0.05). These results indicate that ATP-induced DNA synthesis was prevented from the direct inhibition of MAPK kinase pathway. Overall results support the hypothesis that the stimulatory effects of normal mouse mammary epithelial growth by addition of ATP or ATP analogs are mediated through mammary tissue specific P/sub 2y/ purinoceptor subtype, and MAPK activation is necessary for the ATP-induced cell growth.

Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki와 aizawai의 내독소단백질을 알카리용액 또는 트립신, 곤충소화액 드응ㄹ 처리하여 전기영동한 후 단백질팬턴을 비교하였다. 두 균주의 주요 결정단백질은 130kd와 64kd의 단백질이었으며, 소화액이나 효소로 처리한 경우 공통적으로 62kd의 활성독소가 생성되었다. 그러나, aizawai는 kurstaki에 비해 현저히 적은 양의 62kd 단백질을 생성하였다. 흰불나방의 유충이 Bacillus thuringiensis 독소를 섭식하였을 때 지방체를 비롯한 몇 가지 조직에서 45kd의 스트레스 단백질이 유발되었는데 이 단백질은 열충격이나 저온 충격시에도 마찬가지로 생성되었다.

멧누에나방(Bombyx mandarina) 난각유전자의 형질발현기구를 규명하기 위한 연구의 일환으로 각형성과정에 있어서 난각단백질의 합성과정을 분석하였다. 난각단백질의 합성과정을 여포세포의 기난관배양에 의한 in vitro합성계에 의하여 분석한 결과, 합성과정은 8단계로 나눌 수 있었으며 SDS-PAGE 분석에 의해 17개 이상의 단백질 band로 분리되었다. 멧누에 난각단백질은 합성시기에 따라 3단계로 구분되며 초기에는 비교적 고분자 성분이, 합성의 중후기에는 비교적 저분자성분이 합성되는 등 난각단백질의 합성은 시기특이적으로 조절되었다.

명아주과(Chenopodiaceae) 식물인 함초(Salicornia herbacea L., SH) 추출물이 단백질 합성과 항독효과에 미치는 영향을 배양 C6 glioma 세포를 재료로 조사하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 본 연구에서 CdCl2는 배양 C6 glioma 세포에 처리한 농도에 비례하여 세포생존율을 유의하게 감소시켰으며, 이 때 중간독성값(midcytotoxicity value, MCV)은 50μM에서 나타나 고독성인 것으로 나타났다. 광학현미경적 관찰에 있어서, CdCl2의 처리군에서는 세포수와 세포돌기가 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 감소된 반면, FSH 추출물 전처리에서는 CdCl2의 처리군에 비하여 현저한 세포수와 세포돌기의 증가를 나타냈다. 한편, acetaldehyde(ACE)는 배양 C6 glioma에 세포독성을 나타냈다. 단백질 합성에 대한 냉동 함초(freezed-SH, FSH) 추출물은 CdCl2로 감소된 단백질 합성을 유의하게 증가시켰으며, 또한 항독효과에 있어서도 ACE의 독성에 의하여 감소된 세포생존율을 유의하게 증가시킴으로서 ACE에 대한 항독효과를 나타냈다. 이에 비하여, 냉풍 함초(cold-SH, CSH) 추출물은 단백질 합성에 있어서 FSH 추출물 처럼 CdCl2의 처리군에 비하여 유의한 증가를 보였으나 항독효과에 대해서는 아무런 영향을 나타내지 않았다. 이상의 결과로부터 함초 추출물은 단백질 합성능과 항독효과를 나타냄으로서 건강증진을 위한 소재로서의 활용가능성이 클 것으로 생각된다.

생쥐 초기 배아의 형태형성에 영향을 주는 세포질내 인자의 기원과 작용기작을 연구하기 위해 단백질 합성과 단백질 활성화 효소 (protein kinase)의 억제제를 처리한 배아의 세포질로 재조합된 배아에서 발생과 RNA합성, 단백질 인산화를 조사하였다. 단백질 합성 억제제인 cycloheximide (CHX)가 함유된 배양액에서 24시간 배양한 1-세포 배아의 제핵된 세포질을 두 개의 전핵을 모두 가진 절반의 1-세포 배아와 재조합한 P+P-CHX군의