• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-174
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• 2008

Flavone (2-phenyl chromone) is a well-known plant flavonoid, but its bioactivity has been little explored. Treatment of Caenorhabditis elegans or C. brissage with flavones induced embryonic and larval lethality that was pronounced in early larval stages. This anti-nematodal effect was also observed in the pinewood nematode, B. xylophilus. $LD_{50}$ values were approximately $100{\mu}M$ for both B. xylophilus and C. elegans. Our results indicate that flavone is an active nematicidal compound that should be further investigated with the aim of developing a potent drug against B. xylophilus.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 2004

Since the completion of the genome project of the nematode C. elegans in 1998, functional genomic approaches have been applied to elucidate the gene and protein networks in this model organism. The recent completion of the whole genome of C. briggsae, a close sister species of C. elegans, now makes it possible to employ the comparative genomic approaches for identifying regulatory mechanisms that are conserved in these species and to make more precise annotation of the predicted genes. RNA interference (RNAi) screenings in C. elegans have been performed to screen the whole genome for the genes whose mutations give rise to specific phenotypes of interest. RNAi screens can also be used to identify genes that act genetically together with a gene of interest. Microarray experiments have been very useful in identifying genes that exhibit co-regulated expression profiles in given genetic or environmental conditions. Proteomic approaches also can be applied to the nematode, just as in other species whose genomes are known. With all these functional genomic tools, genetics will still remain an important tool for gene function studies in the post genome era. New breakthroughs in C. elegans biology, such as establishing a feasible gene knockout method, immortalized cell lines, or identifying viruses that can be used as vectors for introducing exogenous gene constructs into the worms, will augment the usage of this small organism for genome-wide biology.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2019

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit II gene(CO II gene) is subunit of cytochrome oxidase, which is complex IV of mitochondria electron transport system. It has been frequently used in molecular phylogenetic studies because the speed of its DNA variation is faster than that of nucleus. It is especially useful in phylogenetic study of molecular biology in insects. In this study, we cloned and sequenced CO II gene of mitochondria DNA from Rhabditidae family nematode. Our results showed that this gene is comprised of 696 base pairs(bp). In the analysis of similarity of this gene with other known genes of 14 species of nematodes in Rhabditida order, we identified that this gene has high similarity with that of Caenorhabditis briggsae(86.0%) and C. elegans(85.6%) in Rhabditidae family. On the meanwhile, it has very low similarity with that of Angiostrongylus cantonensis(31.8%) in Angiostrongylidae family and Metastrongylus salmi(31.6%) in Metastrongylidae family. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that this nematode is closely related with that of Caenorhabditis genus in Rhabditidae family.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.455-460
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• 2008

Calcineurin (Cn) is a serine/threonine phosphatase implicated in a wide variety of biological responses. To identify proteins that mediate Cn signaling pathway effects, we used yeast two-hybrid assays to screen for Cn interacting proteins, discovering a protein encoded by the gene, cnp-2 (Y46G5A.10). Utilizing serially deleted forms of Cn as baits, we demonstrated that the catalytic domain of Cn (TAX-6) binds with CNP-2, and this physical interaction was able to be reconstituted in vitro, supporting our yeast two-hybrid results. cnp-2 is a nematode-specific novel gene found in C. elegans as well as its closest relative, C. briggsae. CNP-2 was strongly expressed in the intestine of C. elegans. To study the function of cnp-2, we performed cnp-2 RNAi knock-down and characterized phenotypes associated with Cn mutants. However, no gross defects were revealed in these RNAi experiments. CNP-2 was proven to be a Cn binding protein; however, its role remains to be elucidated.