• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.114-114
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• 2003

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces well-documented mitogenic and differentiating effects on murine and bovine preimplantation embryos. However, the effects of EGF on apoptosis and implantation-related gene expression in bovine embryos developing in vitro have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exogenous EGF in the presence and absence of BSA on the preimplantation development of bovine embryos. In addition, we measured cell number, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis and implantation-related genes of the blastocysts that developed in these culture conditions. In vitro produced bovine embryos were randomly cultured in the same medium containing 0 or 10 ng/ml EGF in the presence and absence of 0.8% BSA. More 2-cell embryos developed into blastocysts at day 7 when BSA was present than when BSA was absent. The addition of 10 ng/$m\ell$ EGF into the medium did not significantly increase the developmental rate and the cell numbers per blastocyst. However, addition of EGF in the presence of 0.8% BSA significantly reduced the degree of apoptosis in the blastocysts (P<0.01). To investigate whether EGF modulates mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, mRNA was prepared from single blastocysts and each preparation was subjected to RT-PCR for Bcl-2 and Bax transcripts. EGF did not alter the relative abundance of Bax gene expression in the presence of BSA, but increase Bcl-2 (P<0.01) The relative abundance of Interferon tau expression was increased by EGF treatment in the presence of BSA. These results suggest that EGF and BSA synergistically enhance Bcl-2 and interferone tau gene expression, which may result in a net increase in viability in bovine embryos.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.99-99
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• 2003

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces well-documented mitegenic and differentiating effects on murine and bovine preimplantation embryos. However, the effects of EGF on apoptosis and implantation-related gene expression in bovine embryos developing in vitro have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of exogenous EGF in the presence and absence of BSA on the preimplantation development of bovine embryos. In addition, we measured cell number, apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis and implantation-related genes of the blastocysts that developed in these culture conditions. In vitro produced bovine embryos were randomly cultured in the same medium containing 0 or 10 ng/$m\ell$ EGF in the presence and absence of 0.8% BSA. More 2-cell embryos developed into blastocysts at day 7 when BSA was present than when BSA was absent. The addition of 10 ng/$m\ell$ EGF into the medium did not significantly increase the developmental rate and the cell numbers per blastocyst. However, addition of EGF in the presence of 0.8% BSA significantly reduced the degree of apoptosis in the blastocysts (P< 0.01). To investigate whether EGF modulates mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes, mRNA was prepared from single blastocysts and each preparation was subjected to RT-PCR for Bcl-2 and Bax transcripts. EGF did not alter the relative abundance of Bax gene expression in the presence of BSA, but increase Bcl-2 (P < 0.01). The relative abundance of Interferon tau expression was increased by EGF treatment in the presence of BSA. These results suggest that EGF and BSA synergistically enhance Bcl-2 and interferone tau gene expression, which may result in a net increase in viability in bovine embryos.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.79.2-80
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• 2003

To better understand plant defense responses against pathogen attack, we identified the transcription factor-encoding genes in the hot pepper Capsicum annuum that show altered expression patterns during the hypersensitive response raised by challenge with bacterial pathogens. One of these genes, Ca1244, was characterized further. This gene encodes a plant-specific Type IIIA - zinc finger protein that contains two Cys$_2$His$_2$zinc fingers. Ca1244 expression is rapidly and specifically induced when pepper plants are challenged with bacterial pathogens to which they are resistant. In contrast, challenge with a pathogen to which the plants are susceptible only generates weak Ca1244 expression. Ca1244 expression is also strongly induced in pepper leaves by the exogenous application of ethephon, an ethylene releasing compound. Whereas, salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate had moderate effects. Pepper protoplasts expressing a Ca1244-smGFP fusion protein showed Ca1244 localizes in the nucleus. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing Ca1244 driven by the CaMV 355 promoter show increased resistance to challenge with a tobacco-specific bacterial pathogen. These plants also showed constitutive upregulation of the expression of multiple defense-related genes. These observations provide the first evidence that an Type IIIA - zinc finger protein, Ca1244, plays a crucial role in the activation of the pathogen defense response in plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.332-340
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• 2016

Seed size traits are controlled by multiple genes in crops and determine grain yield, quality and appearance. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the size of plant seeds remain unclear. We performed functional analysis of BrPATL4 encoding Sec14-like protein to determine the genetic architecture of seed size, shape and their association analyses. We used 60 $T_3$ transgenic rice lines to evaluate seed length, seed width and seed height as seed size traits, and the ratios of these values as seed shape traits. Pleiotropic effects on general architecture included small seed size, erect panicles, decreased grain weight, reduced plant height and increased sterility, which are common to other mutants deficient in gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis. To test whether BrPATL4 overexpression is deleterious for GA signal transduction, we compared the relative expression of GA related gene and the growth rate of second leaf sheath supplied with exogenous $GA_3$. Overexpression of BrPATL4 did not affect GA biosynthesis or signaling pathway, with the same response shown under GA treatment compared to the wild type. However, the causal genes for the small seed phenotype (D1, SRS1, and SRS5) and the erection of panicles showed significantly decreased levels in mRNA accumulation compared to the wild type. These results suggest that the overexpression of BrPATL4 can control seed size through the suppression of those genes related to seed size regulation. Although the molecular function of BrPATL4 is not clear for small seed and erect panicles of BrPALT4 overexpression line, this study provides some clues about the genetic engineering of rice seed architecture.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 2012

The chitinase producing Lysobacter enzymogenes C-3 has previously been shown to suppress plant pathogens in vitro and in the field, but little is known of the regulation of chitinase production, or its role in antimicrobial activity and biocontrol. In this study, we isolated and characterized chitinase-defective mutants by screening the transposon mutants of L. enzymogenes C-3. These mutations disrupted genes involved in diverse functions: glucose-galactose transpoter (gluP), disulfide bond formation protein B (dsbB), Clp protease (clp), and polyamine synthase (speD). The chitinase production of the SpeD mutant was restored by the addition of exogenous spermidine or spermine to the bacterial cultures. The speD and clp mutants lost in vitro antifungal activities against plant fungal pathogens. However, the gluP and dsbB mutants showed similar antifungal activities to that of the wild-type. The growth of the mutants in nutrient rich conditions containing chitin was similar with that of the wild-type. However, growth of the speD and gluP mutants was defective in chitin minimal medium, but was observed no growth retardation in the clp and dsbB mutant on chitin minimal medium. In this study, we identified the four genes might be involved and play different role in the production of extracellular chitinase and antifungal activity in L. enzymogenes C-3.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.284-284
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• 2022

The overall effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) with NaCl on different rice genotypes are inadequately understood. The present study determines the effect of different GA3 concentrations on the morphophysiological, molecular and biochemical effects of 120 mM NaCl salt stress in rice seedlings. Salt stress reduced germination percentages and seedling growth and decreased bioactive GA content. It also downregulated the relative expression of a-amylase-related genes - OsAmy1A, OsAmy1C, and OsAmy3C in the salt-sensitive IR28 cultivar. Salt stress differentially regulated the expression of GA biosynthetic genes. Salt stress increased antioxidant activity in all rice genotypes tested, except in IR28. GA3 (50 and 100 µM) mitigates the effect of salt stress, rescuing seed germination and growth attributes. GA3 significantly increased bioactive GA content in Nagdong and pokkali (50 µM) and Cheongcheong and IR28 (100 µM) cultivars. The a-amylase genes were also significantly upregulated by GA3. Similarly, GA3 upregulated OsGA2oxl and OsGA2ox9 expression in the Cheongcheong and salt-sensitive IR28 cultivars. The present study demonstrated that salt stress inactivates bioactive GA - inhibiting germination and seedlings growth - and decreases bioactive GA content and GSH activity in IR28 and Pokkali cultivars. Further, GA3 significantly reversed the effects of 120 mM NaCl salt stress in different rice genotypes. The current study also suggests if we know the coastal area water NaCl concentration we can apply the exogenous GA3 accordingly. Thus, we would be able to grow rice cultivars near the coastal area and reduce the rice damage by salinity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.705-712
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• 2009

Our understanding of the relationships between genes, brains, and behaviors has changed a lot since the first behavioral mutants were isolated in the fly bottles of the Benzer lab at Caltech (1), but Drosophila is still an excellent model system for studying the neurobiology of behavior. Recent advances provide an unprecedented level of control over fly neural circuits. Efforts are underway to add to existing GAL4-driver lines that permit exogenous expression of genetic tools in small populations of neurons. Combining these driver lines with a variety of inducible UAS lines permits the visualization of neuronal morphology, connectivity, and activity. These driver lines also make it possible to specifically ablate, inhibit, or activate subsets of neurons and assess their roles in the generation of behavioral responses. Here, I will briefly review the extensive arsenal now available to drosophilists for investigating the neuronal control of behavior.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2005

Drosophila protects itself from infection by microbial organisms by means of its pivotal defense, the so-called innate immunity system. This is its sole defense as it lacks an adaptive immunity system such as is found in mammals. The strong conservation of innate immunity systems in organisms from Drosophila to mammals, and the ease with which Drosophila can be manipulated genetically, makes this fly a good model system for investigating the mechanisms of virulence of a number of medically important pathogens. Potentially damaging endogenous and/or exogenous challenges sensed by specific receptors initiate signals via the Toll and/or Imd signaling pathways. These in turn activate the transcription factors Dorsal, Dorsal-related immune factor (Dif) and Relish, culminating in transcription of genes involved in the production of antimicrobial peptides, melanization, phagocytosis, and the cytoskeletal rearrangement required for appropriate responses. Clarifying the regulatory interactions between the various pathways involved is very important for understanding the specificity and termination mechanism of the immune response.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2014

Because autoimmune diseases (AIDs) result from a complex combination of genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as an altered immune response to endogenous or exogenous antigens, systems biology approaches have been widely applied. The use of multi-omics approaches, including blood transcriptomics, genomics, epigenetics, proteomics, and metabolomics, not only allow for the discovery of a number of biomarkers but also will provide new directions for further translational AIDs applications. Systems biology approaches rely on high-throughput techniques with data analysis platforms that leverage the assessment of genes, proteins, metabolites, and network analysis of complex biologic or pathways implicated in specific AID conditions. To facilitate the discovery of validated and qualified biomarkers, better-coordinated multi-omics approaches and standardized translational research, in combination with the skills of biologists, clinicians, engineers, and bioinformaticians, are required.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.597-603
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• 2015

Biosynthesis of the phytohormone ethylene is under tight regulation to satisfy the need for appropriate levels of ethylene in plants in response to exogenous and endogenous stimuli. The enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of ethylene biosynthesis, plays a central role to regulate ethylene production through changes in ACS gene expression levels and the activity of the enzyme. Together with molecular genetic studies suggesting the roles of post-translational modification of the ACS, newly emerging evidence strongly suggests that the regulation of ACS protein stability is an alternative mechanism that controls ethylene production, in addition to the transcriptional regulation of ACS genes. In this review, recent new insight into the regulation of ACS protein turnover is highlighted, with a special focus on the roles of phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and novel components that regulate the turnover of ACS proteins. The prospect of cross-talk between ethylene biosynthesis and other signaling pathways to control turnover of the ACS protein is also considered.