• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.120-122
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• 2007

All living organisms use numerous signal-transduction pathways to sense and respond to their environments and thereby survive and proliferate in a range of biological niches. Molecular dissection of these signalling networks has increased our understanding of these communication processes and provides a platform for therapeutic intervention when these pathways malfunction in disease states, including infection. Owing to the expanding availability of sequenced genomes, a wealth of genetic and molecular tools and the conservation of signalling networks, members of the fungal kingdom serve as excellent model systems for more complex, multicellular organisms. Here, we employed Cryptococcus neoformans as a model system to understand how fungal-signalling circuits operate at the molecular level to sense and respond to a plethora of environmental stresses, including osmoticshock, UV, high temperature, oxidative stress and toxic drugs/metabolites. The stress-activated p38/Hog1 MAPK pathway is structurally conserved in many organisms as diverse as yeast and mammals, but its regulation is uniquely specialized in a majority of clinical Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A and D strains to control differentiation and virulence factor regulation. C. neoformans Hog1 MAPK is controlled by Pbs2 MAPK kinase (MAPKK). The Pbs2-Hog1 MAPK cascade is controlled by the fungal "two-component" system that is composed of a response regulator, Ssk1, and multiple sensor kinases, including two-component.like (Tco) 1 and Tco2. Tco1 and Tco2 play shared and distinct roles in stress responses and drug sensitivity through the Hog1 MAPK system. Furthermore, each sensor kinase mediates unique cellular functions for virulence and morphological differentiation. We also identified and characterized the Ssk2 MAPKKK upstream of the MAPKK Pbs2 and the MAPK Hog1 in C. neoformans. The SSK2 gene was identified as a potential component responsible for differential Hog1 regulation between the serotype D sibling f1 strains B3501 and B3502 through comparative analysis of their meiotic map with the meiotic segregation of Hog1-dependent sensitivity to the fungicide fludioxonil. Ssk2 is the only polymorphic component in the Hog1 MAPK module, including two coding sequence changes between the SSK2 alleles in B3501 and B3502 strains. To further support this finding, the SSK2 allele exchange completely swapped Hog1-related phenotypes between B3501 and B3502 strains. In the serotype A strain H99, disruption of the SSK2 gene dramatically enhanced capsule biosynthesis and mating efficiency, similar to pbs2 and hog1 mutations. Furthermore, ssk2, pbs2, and hog1 mutants are all hypersensitive to a variety of stresses and completely resistant to fludioxonil. Taken together, these findings indicate that Ssk2 is the critical interface protein connecting the two-component system and the Pbs2-Hog1 pathway in C. neoformans.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 2008

Global gene expression of Deinococcus radiodurans, a highly radiation resistant bacterium, in response to excess copper was analyzed by using oligonucleotide microarray chip. Among 3,187 open reading frames of D. radiodurans, seventy genes showed a statistically significant expression ratio of at least 2-fold changes under growth conditions of excess copper; 64 genes were induced and 6 genes were reduced. Especially, two operons ($DRB0014{\sim}DRB0017$ and $DRB0125{\sim}DRB0121$) presumably involved in the iron transport and utilization were the most highly induced genes by excess copper. A quantitative real-time PCR assay revealed that DRB00l4 and DRB0125 are highly transcribed responding to excess copper and 2,2'-dipyridyl, an iron chelator. In addition, the transcription of both genes was not changed by excess iron and bathocuproine disulphonate, a copper chelator. These results suggested that the copper metabolism may be closely connected with the iron transport and utilization in D. radiodurans. However, the disruption of each gene, DRB00l4 and DRB0125, did not affect the copper and radiation resistance, the most well-known character of this organism.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2011

Endothelial cells are a vital constituent of most mammalian organs and are required to maintain the integrity of these tissues. These cells also play a major role in angiogenesis, inflammatory reactions, and in the regulation of thrombosis. Angiogenesis facilitates pulp formation and produces the vessels which are essential for the maintenance of tooth homeostasis. These vessels can also be used in bone and tissue regeneration, and in surgical procedures to place implants or to remove cancerous tissue. Furthermore, endothelial cell regeneration is the most critical component of the tooth generation process. The aim of the present study was to stimulate endothelial regeneration at a site of acute cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced endothelial injury by treatment with human umbilical cord-derived endothelial/mesenchymal stem cells (hEPCs). We randomly assigned 16 to 20-week-old female NOD/SCID mice into three separate groups, a hEPC ($1{\times}10^5$ cells) transplanted, 300mg/kg CP treated and saline (control) group. The mice were sacrificed on days 5 and 10 and blood was collected via the abdominal aorta for analysis. The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alkaline phosphatase (s-ALP), and albumin (ALB) levels were then evaluated. Tissue sections from the livers and kidneys were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for microscopic analysis and were subjected to immunohistochemistry to evaluate any changes in the endothelial layer. CP treatment caused a weight reduction after one day. The kidney/body weight ratio increased in the hEPC treated animals compared with the CP only group at 10 days. Moreover, hEPC treatment resulted in reduced s-ALP, AST, ALT levels compared with the CP only group at 10 days. The CP only animals further showed endothelial injuries at five days which were recovered by hEPC treatment at 10 days. The number of CD31-positive cells was increased by hEPC treatment at both 5 and 10 days. In conclusion, the CP-induced disruption of endothelial cells is recovered by hEPC treatment, indicating that hEPC transplantation has potential benefits in the treatment of endothelial damage.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2005

Purpose: Abnormalities in the p53 gene are regarded as the most consistent genetic abnormalities detected in head and neck squamous cell carcinogenesis. Two new members of the p53 gene family, p73 and p63 have recently been identified. They share considerable sequence homology with p53 in the transactivation, DNA binding, and oligomerization domains, indicating possible involvement in carcinogenesis. Disruption of the homeostatic balance between proliferation and apoptosis is widely believed to contribute to human oral carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to analyze expression of p63 in squamous cell carcinogenesis and to compare with immunochemical markers representing cell proliferation and apoptosis. Materials and Methods: Using the Syrian hamster oral cancer model, the fraction of apoptotic (apoptotic index-AI), proliferating (mitotic index-MI) and p63 expressing keratinocytes were examined at normal, dysplastic and malignant oral epithelium using the TUNEL assay, PCNA and p63 immunostaining. Results: p63 significantly increased between normal and dysplastic epithelium and between dysplastic and malignant epithelium. PCNA significantly increased between normal and dysplastic epithelium and between normal and malignant epithelium. However, increase between dysplastic and malignant epithelium, though still increasing, was not statistically significant. The percentage of TUNEL positive cells increased from normal to dysplastic epithelium and returned to normal keratinocyte level in the malignant epithelium. However, differences between tissue types were not significant. The ratio of MI:AI increased significantly only in the dysplastic-malignant epithelial transition. The increase of p63 expression closely reflected the change in the MI:AI ratio during oral carcinogenesis. Conclusion: The p63 may be associated with the regulation of epithelial proliferation and apoptosis in DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch squamous cell carcinogenesis. Further study is required to investigate which p63 isoforms are involved in hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.893-905
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• 2019

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fission and fusion processes that closely related to their function. Disruption of mitochondrial dynamics has been demonstrated in acute kidney injury (AKI), which could eventually result in cell injury and death. Previously, we reported that augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) alleviates renal tubular epithelial cell injury. Here, we gained further insights into whether the renoprotective roles of ALR are associated with mitochondrial dynamics. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics were examined in experimental models of renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR). In a model of hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) injury in vitro, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission process protein 1 (MTFP1), two key proteins of mitochondrial fission, were downregulated in the Lv-ALR + HR group. ALR overexpression additionally had an impact on phosphorylation of Drp1 Ser637 during AKI. The inner membrane fusion protein, Optic Atrophy 1 (OPA1), was significantly increased whereas levels of outer membrane fusion proteins Mitofusin-1 and -2 (Mfn1, Mfn2) were not affected in the Lv-ALR + HR group, compared with the control group. Furthermore, the mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway was highly activated in the Lv-ALR + HR group. ALR overexpression led to suppression of HR-induced apoptosis. Our collective findings indicate that ALR gene transfection alleviates mitochondrial injury, possibly through inhibiting fission and promoting fusion of the mitochondrial inner membrane, both of which contribute to reduction of HK-2 cell apoptosis. Additionally, fission processes are potentially mediated by promoting tubular cell survival through activating the mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.77-79
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• 2002

The urea cycle, consisting of a series of six enzymatic reactions, plays key roles to prevent the accumulation of toxic nitrogenous compound and synthesize arginine de novo. Five well characterized diseases have been described, resulting from an enzymatic defect in the biosynthesis of one of the normally expressed enzyme. This presentation will focus on two representative diseases; ornithine transcarbamylase(OTC) deficiency and citrullinemia(argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency). OTC deficiency is one of the most common inborn error of urea cycle, which is inherited in X-linked manner. We identified 17 different mutations in 20 unrelated Korean patients with OTC deficiency; L9X, R26P, R26X, T44I, R92X, G100R, R141Q, G195R, M205T, H214Y, D249G, R277W, F281S, 853 del C, R320X, V323M and 10 bp del at nt. 796-805. These mutations occur at well conserved nucleotide sequences across species or CpG hot spot. The L9X and R26X lead to the disruption of leader sequences, required for directing mitochondrial localization of the OTC precursor. Their phenotypes are severe, and neonatal onset. The G100R, R277W and V323M mutations were uniquely identified in patients with late onset OTC deficiency. The other genotypes are associated with neonatal onset. Out of 20 patients with OTC deficiency, only 6 patients are alive; two were liver transplanted, and normal in growth and development at 2, 4 years after transplantation respectively. Citrullinemia is an autosomal recessive disease, caused by the mutations in the argininosuccinate synthetase(ASS) gene. We identified in 3 major mutations in 11 unrelated Korean patients with citrullinemia; G324S, $IVS6^{-2}$ A to G, and 67 bp ins at nt 1125-1126. Among these, the 67 base pair insertion mutation is novel. The allele frequency of each mutation is; G324S(45%), IVS6-2 A to G(32%), and 67 base pair insertion(14%). All patients are diagnosed at neonatal or infantile age. Interestingly, two patients presented with stroke like episode. Out of 11 patients, 5 patients died. Among 6 patients alive, one patient was successfully liver transplanted.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.470-483
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• 2003

This study analyzed the evolutionary content in 13 textbooks developed from the first to the 6th high school biology curriculum, The content analysis of textbooks, which were delineated nine component, was performed on the 80 evolutionary categories, According to the result, the proportion of the total evolutionary content in textbook increased from the textbooks developed by the Ist curriculum to the textbooks developed by the 6th curriculum, but the proportion of 'main narrative' in total evolutionary content was gradually decreased. It also showed that biology curriculum and points of view of textbook writers influenced on the proportion of evolutionary contents. On the whole, the topics of analysed textbooks exhibit insufficient diversity, Any categories- 'group selection', 'gene selection', 'gaps in fossil record', 'co-evolution', 'punctuated equilibrium', 'mosaic evolution', 'place of labor in human evolution', 'human race differentiation', 'criticism of "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny", and 'human activities affecting evolution' - were not treated and others - 'theory of neutralism', 'theories of major episodes(excepting extinctions) found in the geologic time scale', 'sympatric speciation', 'clinal and area-effect speciation', 'polyploidy and evolution', 'gradualism' and 'evolution and origin of mammals' - were treated very lightly, the most emphasized topic was 'phylogeny in general' and 'formation of precells', 'miscellaneous' in the order of emphasis. 'Theory of natural selection' was lightly treated as just one of evolutionary theory though it should be emphasized as major theme of evolution. Also, the law of recapitulation, of which biologists doubt the validity, was discussed as an evidence of evolution in some textbooks. And the agents of genetic equilibrium disruption like genetic drift and migration were treated as of little importance. On the basis of above result, it was suggested that the textbook writers introduced the more meaningful evolutionary topics focused the theory of natural selection in explanation of evolution and evolution theory.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.421-432
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• 2005

In order to understand the renal reabsorption mechanism of neutral amino acids via amino acid transporters, we have isolated human L-type amino acid transporter 2 (hLAT2) and human T-type amino acid transporter 1 (hTAT1) in human, then, we have examined and compared the gene structures, the functional characterizations and the localization in human kidney. Northern blot analysis showed that hLAT2 mRNA was expressed at high levels in the heart, brain, placenta, kidney, spleen, prostate, testis, ovary, lymph node and the fetal liver. The hTAT1 mRNA was detected at high levels in the heart, placenta, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas, spleen, thymus and prostate. Immunohistochemical analysis on the human kidney revealed that the hLAT2 and hTAT1 proteins coexist in the basolateral membrane of the renal proximal tubules. The hLAT2 transports all neutral amino acids and hTAT1 transports aromatic amino acids. The basolateral location of the hLAT2 and hTAT1 proteins in the renal proximal tubule as well as the amino acid transport activity of hLAT2 and hTAT1 suggests that these transporters contribute to the renal reabsorption of neutral and aromatic amino acids in the basolateral domain of epithelial proximal tubule cells, respectively. Therefore, LAT2 and TAT1 play essential roles in the reabsorption of neutral amino acids from the epithelial cells to the blood stream in the kidney. Because LAT2 and TAT1 are essential to the efficient absorption of neutral amino acids from the kidney, their defects might be involved in the pathogenesis of disorders caused by a disruption in amino acid absorption such as blue diaper syndrome.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.376-381
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• 2019

To construct useful yeast strain for bioethanol production, we improved yeast harboring various phenotypes by using yeast protoplast fusion method. In this study, S. cerevisiae BYK-F11 strain which have ethanol tolerance, thermotolerance and ${\beta}-glucanase$ activity and P. $stipitis{\Delta}ura$ strain which has xylose metabolism pathway were fused by genome shuffling. P. $stipitis{\Delta}ura$ strain was constructed for protoplast fusion by URA3 gene disruption, resulting in uracil auxotroph. By protoplast fusion, several fused cells were selected and BYKPS-F8 strain (fused cell) showing both karyotypes from two parent strains (S. cerevisiae BYK-F11 and P. $stipitis{\Delta}ura$ strain) among 22 fused cells was finally selected. Sequentially, various phenotypes such as ${\beta}-glucanase$ activity, xylose utility, ethanol tolerance, thermotolerance and ethanol productivity were analyzed. The BYKPS-F8 strain obtained ${\beta}-glucanase$ activity from BYK-F11 strain and 1.2 fold increased xylose utility from P. $stipitis{\Delta}ura$ strain. Also, the BYKPS-F8 strain showed thermotolerance at $40^{\circ}C$ and increased ethanol tolerance in medium containing 8% ethanol. In this fused cell, 7.5 g/l ethanol from 20 g/l xylose was produced and the multiple phenotypes were stably remained during long term cultivation (260 hr). It was proved that novel biological system (yeast strains) is easily and efficiently bred by protoplast fusion among yeasts having different genus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2003

DNA methylation is involved in epigenetic processes such as X-chromosome inactivation, imprinting and silencing of transposons. DNA methylation is a highly plastic and critical component of mammalian development The DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) are responsible for the generation of genomic methylation patterns, which lead to transcriptional silencing. The maintenance DNA methyltransferase enzyme, Dnmt 1, and the de novo methyltransferase, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, are indispensable for development because mice homozygous for the targeted disruption of any of these genes are not viable. The occurrence of DNA methylation is not random, and it can result in gene silencing The mechanisms underlying these processes are poorly understood. It is well established that DNA methylation and histone deacetylation operate along a common mechanistic pathway to repress transcription through the action of methyl-binding domain proteins (MBDs), which are components of, or recruit, histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes to methylated DNA. As a basis for future studies on the role of the DNA-methyl-transferase in porcine development, we have isolated and characterized a partial cDNA coding for the porcine Dnmt1. Total RNA of testis, lung and ovary was isolated with TRlzol according to the manufacture's specifications. 5 ug of total RNA was reverse transcribed with Super Script II in the presence of porcine Dnmt 1 specific primers. Standard PCRs were performed in a total volume of 50 ul with cDNA as template. Two DNA fragmenets in different position were produced about 700bp, 1500bp and were cloned into pCR II-TOPO according to the manufacture's specification. Assembly of all sequences resulted in a cDNA from 158bp of 5'to 4861bp of 3'compare with the known human maintenance methyltransferase. Now, we are cloning the unknown Dnmt 1 region by 5'-RACE method and expression of Dnmt 1 in tissues from adult porcine animals.