• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.143-149
• /
• 1986

Anatomical changes in the forming and germinating processes of tobacco seeds were investigated to obtain basic information on the ecological characteristics of tobacco seeds. Seed development studied through the longitudinal section of the fertilized ovule clarified that the cell division of the zygote was initiated after 7 days of flowering. After 12 days of flowering, perfect seed constituents such as cotyledon, epicotyle and radicle were formed and those were expressed to recognizable level of germinability. After 15 days of flowering germination rate reached higher than 30% and 17 and 21 days after flowering a perfect seed which have 70% or higher germinability were produced. Seed size was ranged between 0.3-0.6 mm and varietal differences were noted in the given seed size range. Under the light treatment, the morphological changes were observed by elongation of radicle after 2 days of imbibition and apparent germination after 3 days of imbibition. But no responses of the seeds imbibed 6 days under the dark condition were observed.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to determine the mitotic intervals (${\tau}_0$) of two consecutive cell divisions and synchronous embryonic cleavage in grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles at different water temperatures (18, 20, 22, and $24^{\circ}C$). The color of the fertilized egg was light yellowish. The egg type was demersal and unadhesive. Egg weight was $0.09{\pm}0.002mg$. The sizes of unfertilized eggs were smaller than fertilized eggs in major axis and minor axis at $20^{\circ}C$ (p<0.05). The size of the fertilized egg of $18^{\circ}C$ water temperature group at the blastodisc stage was the smallest (p<0.05), but no significant differences were observed in the other water temperatures group except $18^{\circ}C$ water temperature group (p>0.05). The first cleavage stages at 18, 20, 22, and $24^{\circ}C$ were at 75, 90, 105, and 120 mins, respectively. As water temperature was increased, embryonic development and formation time of the first cleavage furrow were accelerated. There were negative correlation between ${\tau}_0$ and water temperature for grass puffer (Y=-1.225X+70.05, $R^2=0.988$, n=10, where Y was ${\tau}_0$ and X was temperature). This study confirmed that successful hatching of grass puffer was related to water temperature. Chromosome manipulation will be helpful for this species using cleavage frequency and ${\tau}_0$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.10
• /
• pp.1491-1498
• /
• 2006

The feasibility of pullulan acetate nanoparticles (PAN) with ionic strength (IS) sensitivity as a radioisotope carrier to inhibit tumor growth is demonstrated. PAN was radiolabeled with rhenium 188 (Re-188) without any chelating agents. The labeling efficiency of Re-188 into PAN (Re-188PAN) was $49.3{\pm}4.0%$ as determined by TLC. The tumor volumes of mice treated with 0.45 mCi of Re-188-PAN were measured and compared with that of free Re-188 after 5 days of intratumoral injection. For the histological evaluation of apoptotic nuclei of tumor cells, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were performed. The mean tumor volume of the Re-188-PAN-treated group was decreased by 36% after 5 days, whereas that the free Re-188-treated group was decreased by only 15% (P<0.05). The mean number of TUNEL-positive cells in Re-188-PAN-treated tumors at $144.3{\pm}79.9$ cells/section was significantly greater than the control ($26.7{\pm}7.9$ cells/section, P=0.03). The numbers of leukocyte and lymphocyte were decreased in both free Re-188- and Re-188-PAN-treated mice. These results indicated that the intratumoral injection of Re-188-PAN effectively inhibits the tumor growth by prolonging Re-188 retention time in tumor site induced by the IS sensitivity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.1367-1374
• /
• 2016

The present study evaluated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of three cultivars of Actinidia arguta Planch. kiwi berries; cv. Mansoo (Mansoo), cv. Chiak (Chiak), and cv. Haeyeon (Haeyeon). In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of the three cultivars of kiwi berries were investigated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Mansoo had the highest total phenolic content and TAC among the three cultivars, whereas Chiak had the highest total flavonoid content. The total antioxidant capacities of the kiwi berry extracts were more strongly correlated with total phenolic content than with total flavonoid content. The kiwi berry extracts suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, from LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The release of nitrite, an indirect indicator of nitric oxide, was also ameliorated by pre-treatment with the kiwi berry extracts in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular-based measurements of antioxidant capacity exhibited that the kiwi berry extracts had cellular antioxidant capacities. Such cellular antioxidant effects are possibly attributed to their direct antioxidant capacity or to the inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation via anti-inflammatory effects. Our findings suggest that kiwi berries are potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.1307-1314
• /
• 2015

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a member of the IL-6 cytokine family, having pleiotropic actions such as maintaining stem cell pluripotency and enabling blastocyst implantation. Because the action of LIF is mediated by a ligand-receptor interaction with the LIF receptor (LIF-R), an antagonist for LIF-R has been developed to inhibit LIF-induced signaling. In this study, we present a novel method for the production and purification of an antagonist to human LIF-R (hLA). His-tagged hLA was expressed in E. coli, and simple purification methods without any endopeptidase cleavage were designed. In addition, we determined the optimal temperature conditions for enhancing the production of soluble hLA. Finally, the bioactivity of His-tagged hLA was examined using STAT3 phosphorylation and receptivity of human endometrial ECC-1 cells. Our strategy provides a rapid and efficient method to produce biologically active recombinant hLA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.190-198
• /
• 2012

RNA interference (RNAi) is rapidly becoming a valuable tool in biological studies, as it allows the selective and transient knockdown of protein expression. The short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) transiently silence gene expression. By contrast, the expressed short-hairpin RNAs induce long-term, stable knockdown of their target gene. Trichoplusia ni (T. ni) cells are widely used for mammalian cell-derived glycoprotein expression using the baculovirus system. However, a suitable shRNA expression system has not been developed yet. We investigated the potency of shRNA-mediated gene expression inhibition using human and Drosophila U6 promoters in T. ni cells. Luciferase, EGFP, and ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase (GlcNAcase) were employed as targets to investigate knockdown of specific genes in T. ni cells. Introduction of the shRNA expression vector under the control of human U6 or Drosophila U6 promoter into T. ni cells exhibited the reduced level of luciferase, EGFP, and ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase compared with that of untransfected cells. The shRNA was expressed and processed to siRNA in our vector-transfected T. ni cells. GlcNAcase mRNA levels were down-regulated in T. ni cells transfected with shRNA vectors-targeted GlcNAcase as compared with the control vector-treated cells. It implied that our shRNA expression vectors using human and Drosophila U6 promoters were applied in T. ni cells for the specific gene knockdown.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.215-222
• /
• 2010

The market size of engineered nanoparticles is rapidly increasing due to the fast application of nanotechnologies into different industries and consumer products. The development of new technology and materials has improved human's quality of life, but it also entails the possibility of exposure to new materials. In this study, we compared the distribution in the body by the inflow of silver nanoparticles having another diameter and shape at 1 h or 24 h after injection via the tail vein. And, we compared the cell composition and cytokine concentration in BAL fluid, and histopathological changes. As results, discharge of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape was more rapid than that of big diameter or plate shape. It is estimated that the toxicity in liver and lung was proportional to accumulation level. The persistence of inflammation was also longer in mice treated with plate shape. Consequently, we suggest that the first choice of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape in applying is desirable.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2004

Gene delivery is one of the keen interests in animal industry as well as research on gene functions. Some of the in vivo gene delivery techniques have been successively used in various tissues for the gene therapy and transgenesis. Despite intensive efforts, it still remains to overcome problems of limited local and regional administration and low transgene expression. To improve the efficiency of gene delivery, a new procedure was tested. We injected exogenous DNA containing LacZ into the female or male gonads and then pulsed electric field. Electroporated gonads showed positive X-gal staining in many seminiferous tubules of the porcine fetal gonads. Exogenously introduced LacZ genes were also expressed in female porcine gonad. In addition, we demonstrated efficient gene delivery in gonad of adult mouse. Furthermore, we succeed to generate genetically modified germline cells showing GFP and positive X-gal signals. The results suggest that the newly developed gene delivery is an effective way of in vivo transfection in mammals. The developed gene delivery procedure should be useful in producing transgenic animals when combined with primary cell culture and nuclear transplantation.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.174-178
• /
• 2000

To search CDK4/Cyclin D1 enzyme inhibition materials, methanol extracts of native eighty seven plant species in thirty seven families were screened in vitro for their inhibiting activities against CDK4/Cyclin D1 enzyme which are control to the normal cell division cycle in human body. Extracts of Paeonia suffruticosa, Saurus chinensis, Sanguisorba officinalis and Celastrus orbiculatus among them significantly inhibited above fifty percent $(in\;5\;{\mu}g/ml)$ against CDK4/ Cyclin D1 enzyme. Especially, the extracts of P. suffruticosa and S. officinalis showed moderately strong inhibition. Also, cryptotanshinone was identified as active compound from a extracts of Salvia mitiorrhiza by spectroscopic analyses including 2D NMR experiments.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.160-166
• /
• 2015

Yijung-tang (YJT) is a traditional herbal formula comprising 4 medicinal herbs. In the present study, we performed the simultaneous analysis for three compounds of YJT and examined anti-allergic effects in vitro. The column for separation of three compounds was used Gemini C18 column and maintained at 40$^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase for gradient elution consisted of two solvent systems. To evaluate Th2 chemokines, YJT was treated into tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$-stimulated HaCaT cells, and performed ELISA for thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). To measure Th2 cytokines, YJT was added into primary mouse splenocytes, and performed ELISA for interleukin (IL)-4, 5, 13. Calibration curves were acquired with r² >0.9999. The contents of liquiritin, glycyrrhizin, and 6-gingerol in YJT were 4.50 mg/g, 11.10 mg/g, and 1.33 mg/g, respectively. YJT inhibited production of TARC and RANTES in TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$-treated HaCaT cells. YJT also reduced production of IL-4, 5, and 13 in primary mouse splenocytes. In conclusion, our data will be a valuable information to improve quality control and anti-allergic effects of YJT.