• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.77-83
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• 2015

The seed of Vigna angularis has long been cultivated as a food or a folk medicine in East Asia. Genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone), a dietary phytoestrogen present in this plant, has been known to possess various biological properties. In this study, we investigated the possible lifespan-extending effects of genistein using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. We found that the lifespan of nematode was significantly prolonged in the presence of genistein under normal culture condition. In addition, genistein elevated the survival rate of nematode against stressful environment including heat and oxidative conditions. Further studies demonstrated that genistein-mediated increased stress tolerance of nematode could be attributed to enhanced expressions of stress resistance proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) and heat shock protein (HSP-16.2). Moreover, we failed to find genistein-induced significant change in aging-related factors including reproduction, food intake, and growth, indicating genistein exerts longevity activity independent of affecting these factors. Genistein treatment also led to an up-regulation of locomotory ability of aged nematode, suggesting genistein affects healthspan as well as lifespan of nematode. Our results represent that genistein has beneficial effects on the lifespan of C. elegans under both of normal and stress condition via elevating expressions of stress resistance proteins.

• 생약학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.234-242
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• 2015

Allium hookeri (Liliaceae), native to India is widely cultivated in Korea lately as a medicinal plant. This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant and lifespan extending effects of the root of A. hookeri. Methanol extract from the root of A. hookeri was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and H₂O soluble fractions. Antioxidant effects of the fractions were measured by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and superoxide quenching activities. Lifespan extending effects of the fractions were investigated using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. In addition, stress resistant, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also studied. Furthermore, we had investigated aging-related factors such as reproduction, food intake, growth and movement of C. elegans to find any sample-induced significant change. Our results revealed that ethyl acetate soluble fraction from the root of A. hookeri showed the most potent antioxidant and lifespan extending effects, and this fraction elevated the most potent SOD and catalase activities of worms, and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation.

• 생약학회지
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 2017

This study was performed to evaluate the lifespan extending effects of the dried ginger (Zingiber officnale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae). Ethanol extract of the dried ginger was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and $H_2O$ soluble fractions, and lifespan-extending effects of the fractions were investigated using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Ethyl acetate-soluble fraction showed the most potent longevity property. Furthermore, ethyl acetate-soluble fraction elevated thermal stress tolerance, and increased expression of stress resistance protein. Further studies were performed to investigate several aging-related factors such as reproduction, food intake, growth and movement of C. elegans. The results revealed that there were no significant changes in aging-related factors including reproduction, food intake and growth, however, ethyl acetate-soluble fraction treatment led to an up-regulation of locomotory ability of aged worms, suggesting ethyl acetate-soluble fraction affected healthspan as well as lifespan of nematode.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권10호
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• pp.521-526
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• 2020

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are retrotransposons present in various metazoan genomes and have been implicated in metazoan evolution as well as in nematodes and humans. The long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons contain several regulatory sequences including promoters and enhancers that regulate endogenous gene expression and thereby control organismal development and response to environmental change. ERVs including the LTR retrotransposons constitute 8% of the human genome and less than 0.6% of the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) genome, a nematode genetic model system. To investigate the evolutionarily conserved mechanism behind the transcriptional activity of retrotransposons, we generated a transgenic worm model driving green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression using Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV)-K LTR as a promoter. The promoter activity of HERV-K LTR was robust and fluorescence was observed in various tissues throughout the developmental process. Interestingly, persistent GFP expression was specifically detected in the adult vulva muscle. Using deletion constructs, we found that the region from positions 675 to 868 containing the TATA box was necessary for promoter activity driving gene expression in the vulva. Interestingly, we found that the promoter activity of the LTR was dependent on che-1 transcription factor, a sensory neuron driver, and lin-15b, a negative regulator of RNAi and germline gene expression. These results suggest evolutionary conservation of the LTR retrotransposon activity in transcriptional regulation as well as the possibility of che-1 function in non-neuronal tissues.

• 대한기계학회논문집B
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2012

예쁜 꼬마선충은 모델 생물로서 지금까지 행동과 이를 제어하는 신경세포들 사이의 관계를 밝히기 위한 많은 연구들이 수행되었다. 본 연구에서는 표면의 강성이 다른 고체 환경에서 꼬마선충의 운동관련 적응 행동을 연구하였다. 꼬마선충은 고체 위에서 움직일 때 기는 파형을 조절함으로써 기계적으로 다른 환경에 적응을 한다. 즉, 외부환경이 더 단단해질수록 꼬마선충의 기는 파형의 진폭과 파장이 감소하게 된다. 흥미로운 사실은 기계적인 감각에 결함이 있는 돌연변이의 경우 정상 꼬마선충과는 다른 적응행동을 보인다는 것이다. 이것은 기계적으로 다른 환경에 효과적으로 적응하기 위해서 기계적인 자극을 감지하고 반응하고 적응하는 기작이 있음을 의미한다. 이에 본 연구에서는 꼬마선충이 기계적으로 다른 환경에 적응하는 과정을 설명할 수 있는 신경회로 모델을 제안하였다.

• 생약학회지
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.179-185
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• 2016

Ginger (Zingiber officnale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae), which is a well-known food seasoning, has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorder, vomiting and cough in Korea, China and Japan. Ethanol extract from the dried ginger (DG) was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and $H_2O$ soluble fractions. Among those fractions the ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EDG) showed the most potent DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide quenching activities. To know the effect of antioxidant activities of EDG, we tested the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase together with oxidative stress tolerance and intracellular ROS level in Caenorhabditis elegans. To investigate whether EDG-mediated increased stress tolerance was due to regulation of stress-response gene, we quantified SOD-3 expression using transgenic strain including CF1553. Consequently, EDG elevated SOD and catalase activities of C. elegans, reduced intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, EDG-treated CF1553 worms exhibited significantly higher SOD-3::GFP intensity.

• 생약학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.40-46
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• 2018

Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne fruit (Rosaceae) has been used as a traditional medicine in Korea, Japan and China to treat sore throat, diarrhea and inflammation. The ethanol extract of C. sinensis fruit was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and $H_2O$ soluble fractions. Among those fractions, the n-butanol fraction showed the most potent DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide quenching activities. To verify antioxidant activities, the n-butanol fraction was checked the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, and intracellular ROS levels and oxidative stress tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, to see if increased stress tolerance of worms by treating of the n-butanol fraction was due to regulation of stress-response gene, we quantified SOD-3 expression using transgenic strain. Consequently, the n-butanol fraction elevated SOD and catalase activities of C. elegans, and reduced intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the n-butanol fraction-treated CF1553 worms exhibited significantly higher SOD-3::GFP intensity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권11호
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• pp.1626-1639
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• 2020

In Caenorhabditis elegans, SHN-1 is the homologue of SHANK, a scaffolding protein. In this study, we determined the molecular basis for SHN-1/SHANK in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. Mutation of shn-1 increased the susceptibility to Candida albicans infection and suppressed the innate immune response. After C. albicans infection for 6, 12, or 24 h, both transcriptional expression of shn-1 and SHN-1::GFP expression were increased, implying that the activated SHN-1 may mediate a protection mechanism for C. elegans against the adverse effects from fungal infection. SHN-1 acted in both the neurons and the intestine to regulate the innate immune response to fungal infection. In the neurons, GLR-1, an AMPA ionotropic glutamate receptor, was identified as the downstream target in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. GLR-1 further positively affected the function of SER-7-mediated serotonin signaling and antagonized the function of DAT-1-mediated dopamine signaling in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. Our study suggests the novel function of SHN-1/SHANK in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. Moreover, our results also denote the crucial role of neurotransmitter signals in mediating the function of SHN-1/SHANK in regulating innate immune response to fungal infection.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.218-224
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• 2014

Objectives : Zizyphus jujuba fruits(ZJF), a traditional Korean medicine has various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuro-protective effects. However, it is still unclear whether ZJF has any biological effect on anti-aging. In this study, we examined the effect of ZJF on lifespan and thermal stress in C. elegans. Methods and Results : ZJF water extracts were fermented for 7 days(F7-ZJF) and 14 days(F14-ZJF) by Laetiporus sulphureus to increase secondary metabolites such as aglycone of flavonoids and terpenoids. In the lifespan assay, ZJF water extracts and fermented ZJF were treated on the agar medium plate with age synchronized egg stage of C. elegans. Treatment of F7-ZJF-$200{\mu}g/mL$ with OP-50 E. coli and F14-ZJF-$200{\mu}g/mL$ with OP-50 E. coli significantly increased life span of C. elegans(N2) at thermal stress condition of $25^{\circ}C$. Moreover mRNA levels of lifespan associated HSP 16.1, HSP 70, and HSF-1 were increased at thermal stress condition of $25^{\circ}C$. However, in the equilibration temperature of $20^{\circ}C$ after stress condition of $35^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr, F-14-ZJF-$200{\mu}g/mL$ treatment decreased the levels of heat shock protein in hsp16.2/GFP C. elegans. Conclusions : Our study indicates that prolong role of fermented-ZJF in C. elegans is mediated by control HSPs production.

• BMB Reports
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.81-92
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• 2016

Insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 signaling (IIS) pathway regulates aging in many organisms, ranging from simple invertebrates to mammals, including humans. Many seminal discoveries regarding the roles of IIS in aging and longevity have been made by using the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which various IIS components regulate aging in C. elegans and D. melanogaster. We also cover systemic and tissue-specific effects of the IIS components on the regulation of lifespan. We further discuss IIS-mediated physiological processes other than aging and their effects on human disease models focusing on C. elegans studies. As both C. elegans and D. melanogaster have been essential for key findings regarding the effects of IIS on organismal aging in general, these invertebrate models will continue to serve as workhorses to help our understanding of mammalian aging.