• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.437-442
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• 2016

We aimed to study the role of protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) in neuronal differentiation using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced neuronal differentiation, characterized by cell-body shrinkage, long neurite outgrowth, and expression of neuronal differentiation markers light and medium neurofilaments (NF). The bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells was induced through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules [MAPK kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p90RSK], and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling molecules PI3Kp110β, PI3Kp110γ, Akt, and mTOR. Inhibitors (adenosine dialdehyde and S-adenosylhomocysteine) of protein methylation suppressed bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. PIMT-eficiency caused by PIMT-specific siRNA inhibited neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells by suppressing phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 in the MAPK signaling pathway and Akt and mTOR in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, these results suggested that PIMT was critical for bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and regulated the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.829-839
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to clone the mRNA sequence of the Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase long chain (ACADL) gene of goats and explore the effect of ACADL on the differentiation of subcutaneous fat cells on this basis. Methods: We obtained the ACADL gene of goats by cloning and used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect the ACADL expression patterns of different goat tissues and subcutaneous fat cells at different lipid induction stages. In addition, we transfect intramuscular and subcutaneous adipocytes separately by constructing overexpressed ACADL vectors and synthesizing Si-ACADL; finally, we observed the changes in oil red stained cell levels under the microscope, and qPCR detected changes in mRNA levels. Results: The results showed goat ACADL gene expressed in sebum fat. During adipocyte differentiation, ACADL gradually increased from 0 to 24 h of culture, and decreased. Overexpression of ACADL promoted differentiation of subcutaneous adipocytes in goat and inhibited their differentiation after interference. Conclusion: So, we infer ACADL may have an important role in positive regulating the differentiation process in goat subcutaneous adipocytes. This study will provide basic data for further study of the role of ACADL in goat subcutaneous adipocyte differentiation and lays the foundation for final elucidating of its molecular mechanisms in regulating subcutaneous fat deposition in goats.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2008

Germplasm characterization and evolutionary process in viable populations are important links between the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. Here, an investigation is made, based on molecular and biochemical techniques for assessing and exploiting the genetic variability in germplasm characterization of taro, which would be useful in plant breeding and ex situ conservation of taro plant genetic resources. Geographical differentiation and phylogenetic relationships of Indian taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, were analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and isozyme of seven enzyme systems with specific reference to the Muktakeshi accession, which has been to be proved resistant to taro leaf blight caused by P. colocasiae. The significant differentiations in Indian taro cultivars were clearly demonstrated by RAPD and isozyme analysis. RAPD markers showed higher values for genetic differentiation among taro cultivars and lower coefficient of variation than those obtained from isozymes. Genetic differentiation was evident in the taro accessions collected from different regions of India. It appears that when taro cultivation was introduced to a new area, only a small fraction of genetic variability in heterogeneous taro populations was transferred, possibly causing random differentiation among locally adapted taro populations. The selected primers will be useful for future genetic analysis and provide taro breeders with a genetic basis for selection of parents for crop improvement. Polymorphic markers identified in the DNA fingerprinting study will be useful for screening a segregating population, which is being generated in our laboratory aimed at developing a taro genetic linkage map.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2004

Bupleurum latissimum is a narrowly endemic and endangered plant, restricted to only two small populations on steep cliffs of a small island, Ulleung Island, in Korea. The genetic diversity and population differentiation in the two remnant populations of the species were investigated using RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) analysis. The Neis gene diversities were 0.146 in the smaller population of 45 individuals, and 0.151 in the larger population of 61 individuals. The genetic variation was not significantly different between these two populations. Genetic diversity within populations was not low considering the very small size of populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed higher variation within populations (65.9%) than genetic differentiation between them (34.1%). B. latissimum revealed higher population differentiation than other outbreeding species. The differentiation of the populations corresponded to low gene flow (Nem = 0.482). The cluster and principal coordination analyses provide strong support for high population differentiation, showing that all individuals of the two populations have built up population-specific clusters. Although gene flow between the two populations of B. latissimum was limited, they have preserved relatively high levels of genetic variation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.660-670
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• 2014

The Korean plum yew (Cephalotaxus koreana Nakai) is a shade-tolerant, coniferous shrub. The seeds have been used as a folk medicine in Korea, and an alkaloid extract (HTT) is known to have anticancer properties. We estimated the genetic diversity of 429 trees in 16 populations in South Korea using 194 polymorphic amplicons from seven combinations of AFLP primer-restriction enzymes. The average number of effective alleles and the percentage of polymorphic loci were 1.37 and 79.4%, respectively. Shannon's diversity index and the expected heterozygosity were 0.344 and 0.244, respectively. We divided 16 populations into four groups on the UPGMA dendrogram and the PCA biplot. The first two principal components explained 84% of the total genetic variation. Genetic differentiation between populations explained 14% of total genetic variation, and the remaining 86% came from difference between individuals within populations, as determined by an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). However, the genetic differentiation did not correlate with the geographic distance between populations from the Mantel test. The Bayesian statistics, which are comparable to Wright's $F_{ST}$ and Nei's $G_{ST}$, were ${\theta}^I=0.406$ and ${\theta}^{II}=0.172$, respectively. The population genetic diversity was slightly lower, and the strength of genetic differentiation was much weaker, than the average of those plants having similar life histories, as assessed using arbitrary marker systems. We discuss strategies for the genetic conservation of the plum yew in Korea.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2017

Genetic differentiation and antioxidant activities in ethanolic extracts from leaves of Bouea macrophylla Griffith were determined. The result revealed genetic differentiation among sour ma-praang, ma-yong and sweet ma-praang of B. macrophylla Griffith (${\phi}_{PT}=0.772$, p-value=0.000). In addition, high genetic diversities were found in sour ma-praang and sweet ma-praang populations (P: 51.4 and 57.1 %; He: 0.1900.035 and 0.2240.036, respectively), but low genetic diversity was found in ma-yong population (P: 8.6 %; He: 0.0350.021). Total phenolic contents of sour ma-praang, ma-yong and sweet ma-praang were estimated as $680.51{\pm}89.81$, $701.03{\pm}59.89$ and $530.85{\pm}41.23mg$ gallic acid/g extract, respectively. Free radical scavenging activities of sour mapraang, ma-yong and sweet ma-praang were found (1/EC50=4.17, 1.43 and 1.37, respectively) corresponding with metalchelating activities (1/EC50=0.83, 0.65 and 0.17, respectively). Therefore, the obtained data may be applied to cultivation and utilization of their leaves as source of natural phenolics and antioxidants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.04a
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• pp.110-110
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• 2022

Rice is the world's most important food crop and a major source of nutrition for about two thirds of populations. Northern Vietnam is one of the most important centers of genetic diversity for cultivated rice. In this study, we determined the genetic diversity and population structure of 79 rice landraces collected from northern Vietnam and 19 rice accessions collected from different countries. In total, 98 rice accessions could be differentiated into japonica and indica with moderate genetic diversity and a polymorphism information content of 0.382. We also detected subspecies-specific markers to classify rice (Oryza sativa L.) into indica and japonica. Additionally, we detected five marker-trait associations and rare alleles that can be applied in future breeding programs. Most interestingly, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) found genetic differentiation was related to geographical regions with an overall PhiPT (analog of fixation index FST) value of 0.130. More emphasis was given to provide signatures and infer explanations about the role of geographical isolation and environmental heterogeneity in genetic differentiation among regions in landraces from northern Vietnam. Our results suggest that rice landraces in northern Vietnam have a dynamic genetic system that can create different levels of genetic differentiation among regions, but also maintain a balanced genetic diversity between regions.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2013

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have enormous potential in the biomedical sciences because they can grow continuously and differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. However, for future application in regenerative medicine, it is still a challenge to control the differentiation of PSCs without using genetic materials. To control the differentiation of PSCs, small molecules might be the best substitute for genetic materials considering the following advantages: small size, which enables penetration of plasma membrane; easy-to-modify structure; and low chance of genetic recombination in treated cells. Herein, we introduce small molecules that induce the neuroectodermal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The small molecules were identified via ESC-based consecutive screenings of small-molecule libraries composed of 324 natural compounds or 93 selected drugs. The natural compounds discovered in the first screening were used to select 93 structurally similar drugs out of 1,200 approved drugs. In the second screening, among the 93 compounds, we found 4 drugs that induced the neuroectodermal differentiation of ESCs. These drugs were progesteroneor corticoid-derivatives. Our results suggest that small molecules targeting the progesterone receptor or glucocorticoid receptor could be used as chemical tools to induce the differentiation of PSCs into a specific germ lineage.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.395-401
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• 2008

Genetic diversity and differentiation within or among nine populations of introduced fish, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides were assessed by AFLP. The AFLP analysis using three primer combinations generated 299.2. AFLP bands and percentage of polymorphic bands were similar in those nine populations, ranging 14.1 to 21%. Heterozygosity and genetic diversity within or among populations were quite low for all of these populations with average values ranging from 0.054 to 0.067 and from 0.069 to 0.085, respectively. Analyses of pairwise distance and genetic similarity among nine populations of Micropterus salmoides also revealed the similar results with low genetic differentiation one another. Although pairwise Fst values were low, they were indicated a clear distinct genetic differentiation among the nine populations. These results indicate that very small population of the largemouth bass was first introduced to Paldang reservoir and they are widely spread at most of aquatic habitats in Korea.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2008

Level and distribution of genetic diversity in seven populations of Albizia lucida Benth. in eastern region of the Indian sub-continent were estimated using ISSR markers. Relatively higher level of genetic diversity within populations was observed in seven populations of A. lucida (mean of 0.38). From the result of AMOVA, majority of genetic diversity was allocated within populations (96.2%) resulting in a moderate degree of population differentiation. The observed distribution pattern of I-SSR variant among the populations was coincided with the typical pattern of long-lived woody tree species. Genetic relationships among the populations, reconstructed by UPGMA method, revealed two genetic groups. The population of Anugul and Bargarh turned out to be the most closely related despite a distance location between them. These formations will be of great value in the development of conservation plans for species exhibiting high levels of genetic differentiation due to fragmentation, such as indication of conservation unit size, which populations should be chosen as priority in conservation plans and which samples should be introduced in areas with a low number of individuals of A. lucida.