• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1055-1061
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• 2019

Sarracenia purpurea as a carnivorous plant in the family Sarraceniaceae is known to require strong light for its growth and to absorb nutrients from the decomposed molecules of insects that are attracted by color, sweet juice, and the like. S. purpurea grew greenish in whole body under weak light conditions, while the whole of the insectivorous sac including leaves, is changed to dark red under strong light conditions. The phenomenon of reddish S. purpurea is thought to be related to the flavonoid pigment anthocyanin. Interestingly, the color change was not observed when S. purpurea was grown in a growth condition with abundant nitrogen fertilizer. The expression levels of anthocyanin contents and biosynthesis-related genes were strongly correlated with light intensity and nitrogen fertilizer. The anthocyanin content in the strong light condition ($240{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) was 6.15 times higher than that in the weak light ($40{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$). In contrast, the anthocyanin contents were not significantly changed when 0.8% urea solution was supplied as nitrogen fertilizer. Consistently, CHALCONE SYNTHASE (CHS) gene was up-regulated by strong light and down-regulated by nitrogen fertilizer. These results suggest that the environmental changes of light and nitrogen in soil regulate the anthocyanin content in S. purpurea.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.421-427
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• 2020

Morus alba, Anti-obesity, C57BL/6 Mice, Expression, Flavonoid, Gene, Mulberry Background: The seed oil of Zanthoxylum schinifolium S. et Z. (sancho) is a traditional cooking oil that has long been sold at a very high price however, depending on the method of extraction and storage, this oil becomes rancid occurs very quickly. Therefore, this study aimed to find a material that prevents rancidity and improves the storage properties of sancho oil. Methods and Results: Sancho oil was extracted using an extraction press, and acid values were compared with commercially available vegetable oils, sancho oil had a higher acid value than other vegetable oils. A very high acid value was observed in sancho oil stored for 6 months, regardless of temperature, requiring an effective storage method. The high acid value and the decrease in turbidity of sancho oil are dependent on the days of sedimentation. Treatment with sodium bicarbonate by concentration resulted in minimal changes in acid value over time. However, minor differences were detected among the treatment concentrations. Ascorbic acid was added to maximize the effect of sodium bicarbonate, and it was observed that ascorbic acid did not improve the antioxidant effect. The sodium bicarbonate and ascorbic acid mixture resulted in minimal change in acid value at temperature up to 25℃. Conclusions: Sancho oil becomes rancid very quicky and requires efficient storage techniques. Sodium bicarbonate and ascorbic acid have been proven to be useful as safe anti-racidity agents without causing harm to humans.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2020

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily represents the largest transmembrane protein that transports a variety of substrates across extra- and intra-cellular membranes. In insects, the ABC transporter proteins play crucial roles in insecticide resistance. To date, no studies have investigated the involvement of ABC transporter gene for cross-resistance to insecticide chemistries. Here, we studied such possible mechanisms against six conventional insecticides using transgenic Drosophila melanogaster strains carrying Mdr49 transcript variant A. For the 91-R and 91-C strains of Drosophila melanogaster, although they have a common origin, 91-R has been intensely selected with DDT for over 60 years, while 91-C has received no insecticide selection. Our transgenic analyses showed that overexpression of 91-R-MDR49 transcript variant A along with three amino acid variations can yield a relatively low degree of cross-resistance to carbofuran (2.0~6.7-fold) and permethrin (2.5~10.5-fold) but did not show cross-resistance to abamectin, imidacloprid, methoxychlor, and prothiofos as compared to the Gal4-driver control strain without transgene expression. These results indicate that the overexpression of Mdr49A in itself leads to a cross-resistance and three amino acid changes have additional effects on positive cross-resistance to carbofuran and permethrin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.452-462
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• 2021

Pretilachlor (PRE) is a common acetanilide herbicide used worldwide. However, its effects on aquatic organisms, particularly marine photosynthetic life, are not sufficiently known. Herein, we evaluated the toxic effects of PRE by physiological and molecular parameters in the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. The cell density, pigment content, and photosynthetic parameters (F_v/F_m and PI_ABS) were considerably decreased with increased PRE exposure time and doses. In addition, photosynthesis-related genes, PmpsbA, PmpsaA, and PmatpB, were significantly upregulated when exposed to 1.0 mg L^-1 of PRE for 24 h (p<0.001). In 72 h treatment, the relative gene expression was significantly increased (0.1 and 0.5 mg L^-1; p<0.01). In contrast, PmrbcL was decreased or little changed compared to the controls. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased after 24 h exposure (p<0.001). However, the transcriptional fold-changes in glutathione S-transferase (GST) were significantly increased (0.5 and 1.0 mg L^-1; p<0.001) at 72 h. These findings suggested that the PmGST might be involved in PRE detoxification in P. minimum. In addition, PRE may affect the photosystem function in phytoplankton similar to other acetanilides, causing severe damage or cell death.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.3.1-3.23
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• 2024

Cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated mouse airway epithelial cells (MAECs)-derived exosomes accelerate the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by upregulating triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1); however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of CSE-treated MAECs-derived exosomes on M1 macrophage polarization and pyroptosis in COPD. In vitro, exosomes were extracted from CSE-treated MAECs, followed by co-culture with macrophages. In vivo, mice exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) to induce COPD, followed by injection or/and intranasal instillation with oe-TREM-1 lentivirus. Lung function and pathological changes were evaluated. CD68⁺ cell number and the levels of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β (M1 macrophage marker), and pyroptosis-related proteins (NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-1 recruitment domain, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D [GSDMD], and GSDMD-N) were examined. The expression of maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), spleen focus forming virus proviral integration oncogene (SPI1), methyltransferase 3 (METTL3), and TREM-1 was detected and the binding relationships among them were verified. MEG3 increased N6-methyladenosine methylation of TREM-1 by recruiting SPI1 to activate METTL3. Overexpression of TREM-1 or METTL3 negated the alleviative effects of MEG3 inhibition on M1 polarization and pyroptosis. In mice exposed to CS, EXO^-CSE further aggravated lung injury, M1 polarization, and pyroptosis, which were reversed by MEG3 inhibition. TREM-1 overexpression negated the palliative effects of MEG3 inhibition on COPD mouse lung injury. Collectively, CSE-treated MAECs-derived exosomal long non-coding RNA MEG3 may expedite M1 macrophage polarization and pyroptosis in COPD via the SPI1/METTL3/TREM-1 axis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.796-803
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• 2008

Mutations in the APP gene lead to enhanced cleavage by ${\beta}-$ and ${\gamma}-secretase$, and increased $A{\beta}$ formation, which are closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like neuropathological changes. Recent studies have shown that exercise training can ameliorate pathogenic phenotypes ($A{\beta}-42$, BDNF, GLUT-1 and HSP70) in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we have used NSE/APPsw transgenic mice to investigate directly whether exercise training ameliorates pathogenic phenotypes within Alzheimer's brains. Sixteen weeks of exercise training resulted in a reduction of $A{\beta}-42$ peptides and also facilitated improvement of cognitive function. Furthermore, GLUT -1 and BDNF proteins produced by exercise training may protect brain neurons by inducing the concomitant expression of genes that encode proteins (HSP-70) which suppress stress induced neuron cell damages from APPsw transgenic mice. Thus, the improved cognitive function by exercise training may be mechanistically linked to a reduction of $A{\beta}-42$ peptides, possibly via activation of BDNF, GLUT-1, and HSP-70 proteins. On the basis of the evidences presented in this study, exercise training may represent a practical therapeutic management strategy for human subjects suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.416-423
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• 2010

In this study, the properties and gene expression of the lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) isozyme were studied in angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) - known for their adaptation to the low oxygen environment of the tropics - which were acclimated to acute temperature change ($27{\pm}0.5{\rightarrow}18{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$) and dissolved oxygen (DO) change ($6{\pm}1{\rightarrow}18\;ppm$) for 2 hours. The properties of the LDH isozymes were confirmed in the native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis and enzyme activity measurement. Liver- and eye-specific Ldh-C gene were expressed in liver, eye and brain tissues. Through Western blot analysis, the LDH $A_4$ isozyme was shown to have a more cathodal mobility relative to the $B_4$ isozyme. In the liver tissue, the LDH $A_4$ isozyme increased with temperature drop while the $B_4$ isozyme decreased. The LDH $A_4$ and $C_4$ isozymes increased with DO increment, while the $B_4$ isozyme decreased. In the eye tissue, the LDH $A_4$ and B4 isozymse increased with temperature drop while the $B_4$ isozyme decreased. The LDH $A_4$ and $B_4$ isozymes increased with DO increment, but the $C_4$ isozyme and isozymes including the subunit C decreased. In the heart tissue, LDH activity increased with DO increment, as well as the LDH $B_4$ isozyme. In the brain tissue, the LDH $A_4$ and $B_4$ isozymes increased with temperature drop. The LDH $B_4$ isozyme increased with DO increment. Accordingly, since the liver- and eye-specific Ldh-C are influenced by changes in DO and the LDH $B_4$ and $C_4$ isozymes are relatively controlled in the liver and eye tissues, the $C_4$ isozyme can be considered to have a lactate oxidase function.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.967-972
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• 2014

In the present study, we prepared eighty-five different kinds of lees extracts and their solvent fractions and investigated their anti-proliferative activities against human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. HCT116 cells were treated with eighty-five solvent fractions of lees extracts and then cell viability was measured using MTS assay. Among the treated solvent fractions, three solvent fractions (KSD-E1-3, KSD-E2-3, and KSD-E4-3) were selected based on cell viability assay. In addition, we performed an oligo DNA microarray analysis to analyze the gene expression changes by treatment of KSD-E1-3 in HCT116 cells. Among the upregulated genes, we selected 4 genes (NAG-1, ATF3, p21, and DDIT3) and performed RT-PCR using gene-specific primers. Among the treated solvent fractions, KSD-E1-3 dramatically induced the expressions of the four selected genes. In addition, we investigated whether the upregulations of those genes were dependent on the transcription factor p53's presence using p53 null HCT116 cells. The results indicate that the upregulations of NAG-1, ATF3, and DDIT3 are not dependent on the p53 presence, whereas p21 is dependent on the p53 presence. These findings may help to understand the molecular mechanisms of the anti-proliferative activity mediated by rice wine lees in human colorectal cancer cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2006

Objective: Human embryonic stem (ES) cells have a great potential in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The human ES cells could be differentiated into specific cell types by treatments of growth factors and alterations of gene expressions. However, the efficacy of guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells are still low. In this study, we characterized isolated cells from differentiated human ES cells by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) system using specific antibodies to cell surface markers. Methods: The undifferentiated hES cells (Miz-hESC4) were sub-cultured by mechanical isolation of colonies and embryoid bodies were spontaneously differentiated with DMEM containing 10% FBS for 2 weeks. The differentiated cells were isolated to positive and negative cells with MACS system using CD34, human epithelial antigen (HEA) and human fibroblast (HFB) antibodies, respectively. Observation of morphological changes and analysis of marker genes expression were performed during further culture of MACS isolated cells for 4 weeks. Results: Morphology of the CD34 positive cells was firstly round, and then it was changed to small polygonal shape after further culture. The HEA positive cells showed large polygonal, and the HFB positive spindle shape. In RT-PCR analysis of marker genes, the CD34 and HFB positive cells expressed endodermal and mesodermal genes, and HEA positive cells expressed ectodermal genes such as NESTIN and NF68KD. The marker genes expression pattern of CD34 positive cells changed during the extension of culture time. Conclusion: Our results showed the possibility of successful isolation of specific cells by MACS system from undirected differentiated human ES cells. Thus, MACS system and marker antibodies for specific cell types might be useful for guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells from human ES cells.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.428-436
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• 2016

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been increased and become a public health concern worldwide. Many bacterial infections can be sequentially treated with different types of antibiotics. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the changes in survival, antibiotic susceptibility, mutant frequency, ${\beta}$-lactamase activity, biofilm formation, and gene expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae after exposure to sequential antibiotic treatments of ciprofloxacin and meropenem. Treatments include control (CON; no addition), 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition (1/2CIP), 2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition (2CIP), initial 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition followed by 1/2 MIC meropenem (8 h-incubation) and 2 MIC ciprofloxacin (16 h-incubation) (1/2CIP-1/2MER-2CIP), initial 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition followed by 1/2 MIC meropenem (8 h-incubation) and 2 MIC meropenem (16 h-incubation) (1/2CIP-1/2MER-2MER), and initial 1/2 MIC ciprofloxacin addition followed by 2 MIC ciprofloxacin(8 h-incubation) and 2 MIC meropenem(16 h-incubation) (1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER). No growth of K. pneumoniae was observed for the 2CIP throughout the incubation period. The numbers of planktonic cells varied with the treatments (7~10 log CFU/ml), while those of biofilm cells were not significantly different among treatments after 24-h incubation, showing approximately 7 log CFU/ml. Among the sequential treatments, the least mutant frequency was observed at the 1/2CIP-1/2MER-2CIP (14%). Compared to the CON, 1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER decreased the sensitivity of K. pneumoniae to piperacillin, cefotaxime, and nalidixic acid. The highest ${\beta}$-lactamase activity was 22 nmol/min/ml for 1/2CIP-1/2MER-2CIP, while the least ${\beta}$-lactamase activity was 6 nmol/min/ml for 1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER. The relative expression levels of multidrug efflux pump-related genes (acrA, acrB, and ramA) were increased more than 2-fold in K. pneumoniae exposed to 1/2CIP-1/2MER-2MER and 1/2CIP-2CIP-2MER. The results suggest that the sequential antibiotic treatments could change the antibiotic resistance profiles in K. pneumoniae.