This study investigated the physical, thermal, rheological, and binding properties of faba bean protein concentrate (FBC) and FBC-anionic gum mixtures. The anionic gums used in this study were sodium alginate (NaA), low-methoxyl amidated pectin (LMA), l-carrageenan (lCA), and gellan gum (GLG). The study found that FBC successfully incorporated the minced textured vegetable protein (TVP), but the formed TVP block had a fragile and soft texture. The water absorption index decreased in FBC-NaA and FBC-LMA mixtures but increased in FBC-lCA and FBC-GLG mixtures. The water solubility index decreased by adding NaA, LMA, and lCA, excluding GLG, to FBC. Adding anionic gums to FBC decreased solubility, while the swelling power was reversed in FBC-anionic gum mixtures, except for the FBC-LMA mixture. The addition of anionic gums to FBC increased melting onset and peak temperatures compared to FBC. The G′ value of FBC and FBC-anionic gum mixtures increased with temperature, indicating their thermogelling characteristic. The hardness of hamburger patties prepared with minced TVP and FBC or FBC-anionic gum mixtures generally tended to increase upon reheating, refrigeration, and reheating after refrigeration. The study concluded that the FBC-anionic gum mixtures have significant potential for binding different types of TVPs, highlighting its practical application.

Many parrots are considered endangered species due to threats from human activities. Gender determination is of great importance for biological studies and the conservation of endangered parrots. However, like other birds, gender determination in parrots is hindered due to the lack of external dimorphism between males and females. A molecular approach using the chromo-helicase-DNA binding protein 1 (CHD1) gene is commonly used for sexing birds. This study aimed to determine the gender of parrots from Korean zoos based on amplification and visualization of the partial CHD1 gene. The samples of 13 parrot species were collected from three different zoos in Korea and the extracted DNA templates were amplified using CHD1 gene primers. The gender of 27 samples of 13 species was determined by visualizing the PCR products on an agarose gel. While male parrots were indicated by a single band, female parrots were indicated by double bands. The findings provide additional information, which might be helpful for the management and care of parrots in Korean zoos.

The fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene plays an important role in lipid metabolism and homeostasis in adipocytes. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), g.7516G>C, in the FABP4 gene and economic traits of Korean native cattle, Hanwoo. Primers were designed to target a region of the FABP4 gene between nucleotides 7417 and 7868 (AAFC01136716). The SNP, which was detected by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method using restriction enzyme MspA1I, was genotyped in 319 animals of Hanwoo steer population. Statistical analysis showed that the SNP genotype of the FABP4 gene significantly affected carcass weight (CW, p<0.01), longissimus muscle area (LMA, p<0.001), and marbling score (MS, p<0.001). GG allele of the SNP on 246 animals in a Wagyu × Limousin F2 reference population showed a higher MS (p<0.05) and subcutaneous fat depth (p<0.05) in previous report. But CC allele of the SNP showed greater values for MS, LMA, and CW in Hanwoo steers. These results suggest that the g.7516G>C SNP located in the FABP4 gene may affected differently depending on the cattle breed and can be used as a genetic selection marker in Korean native cattle.

The aim of this study was performed to evaluate the effects of ice-binding protein from the arctic yeast Leucosporidium (LeIBP) supplementation on cryopreservation of boar sperm. The collected semen was diluted (1.5×108/ml) in lactose egg yolk (LEY) and cooled at 5°C for 3 h. The cooled semen was then diluted (1×108/ml) in LeIBP containing LEY with 9% glycerol and maintained at 5°C for 30 min. The semen was divided into six experimental groups (control, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml of LeIBP). The straws were kept on above the liquid nitrogen (LN2) vapors for 20 minutes and then plunged into LN2. After thawing, computer-assisted sperm analysis was used for sperm motility and flow cytometry was performed to assess the viability, acrosome integrity (FITC-PSA/PI), ROS (DCF/PI), lipid peroxidation (BODIPY C11/PI) and apoptosis (Annexin V/PI), respectively. No significant responses were observed for sperm motility. However, sperm viability was significantly increased on 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml of LeIBP groups compared to control (P < 0.05). In addition, acrosome integrity was significantly increases LeIBP groups (P < 0.05) and both ROS and lipid peroxidation level were lower in all LeIBP groups than those of control (P < 0.05). On the other hand, a significant higher apoptosis rate was observed in 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml of LeIBP groups compared to control (P < 0.05). It can be assumed that a supplementation of LeIBP in boar sperm freezing extender is an effective method to increase the sperm qualities after cryopreservation.

Toll–interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) superfamily는 intracellular TIR domain에 존 재하며, proinflammatory cytokines을 생산하는 transcription factor NF-κB의 활성 화에 의해 선천성 면역을 개시한다. 본 연구에서는 갈색거저리 유충을 이용하여 Mycoplasma genus와 유사한 acholeplasma lysate를 접종하여 비교 유전체학적 방 법을 통하여 갈색거저리에서 면역반응에 관여하는 t1/st2 receptor binding protein 을 동정하였으며, 그 구조 분석을 위한 기초 데이터를 확보하고자 하였다. IL1RL1 (Interleukin 1 receptor-like 1) gene는 Toll-like receptor superfamily로써 사람에서 발견되며 ST2는 Toll-interleukin 1 receptor family의 member이자 endotoxin tolerance 유지에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려졌다. 갈색거저리 유충에 acholeplasma lysate를 처리하기 전과 후의 각 샘플들로부터 cDNA library를 구축 한 후 random sequencing 을 통해 분석되어진 서열들 중 증감하는 유전자들을 동정 하였고, 그 중 acholeplasma 처리 후 약 4배 정도 발현이 증가한 t1/st2 receptor binding protein 의 서열을 추출한 후 단백질의 2차 구조를 예측한 결과 alpha helix 구조는 서열상에서 8영역으로 예측되었으며 beta sheet 구조는 서열상에서 1영역 에서 존재하고 있어 후속연구를 진행하고 있다.

Immune defense is indispensible for insect survival. However, uncontrolled and excessive immune responses would be highly detrimental and energy-consuming processes. An insect cytokine, plasmatocyte-spreading peptide (PSP), induces hemocyte-spreading behavior as well as activating phenoloxidase (PO) in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. A hemocyte transcriptome of S. exigua contains a partial sequence of a putative PSP-binding protein (SePSP-BP). SePSP-BP was expressed in all developmental stages especially in hemocytes and fat body. A quantitative RT-PCR showed that the bacterial infection significantly up-regulated the expression level of SePSP-BP. A double-stranded RNA specific to SePSP-BP (dsRNASePSP-BP) was injected and suppressed SePSP-BP expression even in response to bacterial challenge. The larvae treated with dsRNASePSP-BPsuffered high mortality to infection of nonpathogenic bacteria and prolonged high PO activity after the immune challenge. These results suggest that SePSP-BP may play a role in suppressing immune responses as a negative controller

Insulin/insulin-like peptide-binding protein (IBP) is abundantly found in venom of the solitary hunting wasp, Eumenes pomiformis (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae). E. pomiformis IBP (EpIBP) is most similar to insect IBP-like proteins that are known to inhibit insect growth and insulin signaling. To investigate the toxicity and target protein, EpIBP was in vivo expressed by Escherichia coli. Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae injected with EpIBP showed a 20% lower pupation rate than the control larvae, although their body weight was not significantly different from the control when the larvae were provided artificial diet after the injection. EpIBP extended the larval stage without inducing paralysis of S. exigua larvae. To investigate the effects of EpIBP on caterpillar under a starvation condition, survivorship and body weight of the EpIBP-injected were evaluated without providing artificial diet until all the larvae died. The survivorship of the EpIBP-injected larvae was 24-36% higher than the control larvae at 4-5 d post-injection. The body weight of the control larvae reduced to 59% that is approximately 10% lower than the body weight of the EpIBP-injected larvae. These results suggest that EpIBP might inhibit the metabolism of the caterpillars, which is likely related with insulin-like peptide signaling pathway, suppress the loss of body weight and eventually extend the larval stage. An EpIBP-binding protein (EpIBPBP) isolated by immunoprecipitation was matched with a coiled-coil domain-containing protein of the fruit fly. The full-length sequence analysis of EpIBPBP is in progress.

alcineurin (CN) is a calcium and calmodulin-depedent serine/threonine phosphatase. CN plays an important role in various biological processes including cell proliferation, cardiovascular, skeletal muscle development and apoptosis. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), CN plays a role synoviocyte activation and arthritis progression. The selective inhibition of CN by the over-expression of CN-binding protein 1 (Cabin1). In the present study, joint restricted transgenic mice expressing the human Cabin1(hCabin1) were generated, driven by type II collagen promoter and efficiency of these mice was investigated by experimental arthritis. These transgenic mice successfully expressed hCabin1 in joint tissue as well as other organs like the liver, the heart, and the brain. The joint specific over-expression of hCabin1 reduced the disease severity during collagen-induced arthritis. In fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from hCabin1 transgenic mice, the productions of these cytokines including, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were decreased and MMPs was also depressed in transgenic mice FLS. In addition, the expression of proapoptotic p53, p21, caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax increased in transgenic mice, indicating that hCabin1 may induce FLS death by regulating the expression of Bcl-2, p53, p21, caspase-3, casepase-9 and Bax. It is expected that these findings will provide a more knowledge about the pathogenic mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis and a potential animal model of the choronic inflammatory conditions, including atherosclerosis and transplantation.

The two dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (2D-QSARs) models concerning the binding affinity constants (p[Od.]50) between 2-cyclohexyltetrahydropyrane and 2-cyclohexyltetrahydrofurane analogues as substrates, and bovine odorant binding protein (bOBP) as receptor were derived by multiple regression analyses method and discussed. The statistical quality of the optimized 2D-QSAR model (5) was good (r=0.907). From the model, the binding affinity constants (p[Od.]50) were dependent upon the optimal value ((TL)opt.=2.737) of total lipole (TL) of substrate molecules. Based on these findings, the high active compounds predicted by optimized 2D-QSAR model (5) were 2-(dimethylcyclohexyl)tetrahydropyrane molecule and their isomer molecules. The binding affinity constants regarding bOBP of the tetrahydrofuryl-2-yl family compounds were dependent upon the hydrophobicity (logP) of whole substrate molecules. In any case of porcine odorant-binding proteins (pOBP), the constants were dependent upon the hydrophobicity (πx=logPx－logPH) of substituents (R) in substrate molecules. Also, from the optimal values of hydrophobic constant, the hydrophobicity for bOBP influenced ca. twice time bigger (bOBP>pOBP) than that for pOBP.

This study was conducted to analyze the expression pattern of inhibitor of DNA binding proteins (Id)1 and Id2 mRNA on folliculogenesis in rat ovary. The ovaries were obtained from 27 days old Sprague-Dawley rat, fixed, dehydrated, and paraffin embedded. For in situ hybridization, anti-sense and sense Idl and Id2 cRNA probes were prepared and applied to the ovarian section. The ovarian sections were coated with NTB-2 emulsion. After that, the slides were developed and counterstained with hematoxylin and eosin staining. In oocytes, the hybridizational signals of Id1 mRNA were strong in primordial and primary follicles, however, there were no signals in that of atretic or preovulatory follicles. The Id2 mRNA signals were also strong in the oocytes of primordial, primary and secondary follicles. Interestingly, the Id2 mRNA was expressed specifically granulosa cells, but nor in oocyte or theca cells in dominant and preovulatory follicles. Based on these results, Id1 and Id2 mRNA was expressed specifically at follicle stages and follicular tissue and might be closely related with follicle development.

본 연구는 정자 내의 phsopholipid hydroxide glutathion peroxidase (PHGPx) mRNA 발현 수준, heparin-binding protein (HBP) mRNA 발현 수준, 수태율 그리고 산자수 사이의 관계를 조사하고자 실시하였다. 수태율과 산자수 사이에 있어서 상관관계는 나타나지 않았다. PHGPx mRNA 발현 수준에 있어 산자수가 10두 이상 군에서 (2,414.7±400.7) 8두 미만 군보다 (1,875.8±311.2) 높게 나타났으나 유의적인 차이는 없었다. HBP mRNA 발현 수준에 있어서도 산자수 10두 이상 군에서 (2,255.9±360.8) 8두 미만 군보다 (2,155.4±378.0) 약간 높은 결과를 보였으나, 유의적인 차이는 인정되지 않았다. PHGPx mRNA 발현 수준과 산자수 사이의 관계는 (r=0.206) 정의 상관관계를 보였으나, 유의한 상관관계는 나타나지 않았다. 본 실험의 결과, PHGPx와 HBP의 발현수준이 수태율, 산자수와 유의한 상관관계를 보이지 않았기 때문에 PHGPx와 HBP가 정자의 수정능력을 예측하기에는 미흡한 면이 있다.

가축의 번식과 수요를 조절할 수 있는 생물학적 자극 통제 수단으로 새로운 돼지 페르몬성 냄새 물질를 탐색하고자, 기질 분자로서 2-cyclohexyloxytetrahydrofurane (A), 2-phenoxytetrahydrofurane (B) 유도체들의 설명인자인 물리화학 파라미터와 돼지 페로몬의 수용체 (pOBP)에 대한 결합 친화력 상수(p[Od.]50) 간의 2D-QSAR 모델을 유도하고 검토하였다. 2D-QSAR 모델은 결합 친화력 상수를 약 96.4% 설명하는 매우 양호한 모델(r2=0.964)로서 분자내 치환기의 소수성(SL) 상수에 관한 적정값이 (SL)opt.=1.418일 때 가장 높은 결합 친화력을 나타냄을 알았다. 그러므로 분자내 치환기의 소수성 인자가 결합 친화력 상수에 가장 큰 영향을 미치는 중요한 요소이었다.

돼지 페르몬성 분자를 탐색하기 위하여 일련의 green odorant로서 기질 분자인 2-(cyclohexyloxy)tetrahydrofurane 유도체들의 정량적인 구조와 수용체인 porcine odorant binding protein (pOBP) 사이의 결합 친화력 상수(p(Od)50)에 대한 비교 분자 유사성 지수 분석(CoMSIA)을 실행하였다. 가장 양호한 CoMSIA 모델(I-AI)은 기질 분자내 입체 중심의 절대 배열이 I: C1'(R),C2(S)인 분자를 atom based fit 정렬하였을 경우의 입체장 조건에서 유도되었으며 PLS 분석 결과, 예측성이 r2cv.(q2)=0.856 그리고 적합성이 r2ncv.=0.964이었다. 모델의 CoMSIA 등고도 상, pOBP와 냄새 분자 사이의 상호작용으로부터 가장 높은 결합 친화력을 나타내는 분자의 구조적 특징들을 이해할 수 있었다.

생물학적 자극통제 수단으로 활용하기 위한 돼지 웅성 페르몬성 분자를 탐색하고자 일련의 냄새 분자로서 2-(cyclo-hexyloxy) tetrahydrofurane 유도체들의 정량적인 구조와 수용체인 porcine odorant binding protein (pOBP)간의 결합 친화력 상수(p(Od)50)에 대한 비교 분자장 분석(CoMFA)을 실행하였다. 가장 양호한 CoMFA 모델 AIV (r2 cv.(q2)=0.886 및 r2 ncv.=0.984)은 기질 분자 내 입체 중심(chiral center)의 절대 배열이 C1(R),C2(S)인 분자를 atom based fit 방법으로 배열하였을 경우의 standard field와 indicator field가 조합된 CoMFA장의 조건에서 유도되었다. 이 CoMFA 모델은 입체장 40.8% 정전기장 14.6%및 소수성장 44.6%가 결합 친화력 상수에 영향을 미치는 요소임을 나타내었다. 등고도의 분석 결과로부터 효과적인 결합 친화력 냄새 분자를 수식하는 데 몇 가지 가치 있는 정보를 얻을 수 있었다.