• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.275-282
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• 2000

Objective: This study was to determine the effect of different concentration of calcium III medium on the preimplantational development of zygotes and early 2 cell embryos. Methods: Female mice of ICR strain ($5{\sim}8$ weeks old) were superovulated and mated with fertile males. Zygotes or early 2-cell embryos were collected by flushing the oviducts $31{\sim}32$ hours after hCG injection. The embryos were cultured in various concentrations of $Ca^{2+}$ in medium or with EDTA, EGTA and $Ni^{2+}$. Result and Conclusion: Treatment of high concentraion of $Ca^{2+}$ (3.42 mM $(2X){\sim}17.l$ mM (10X)) in medium didn't develop well compared to the control. Low concentrations of $Ca^{2+}$ (0.214mM $(1/8X){\sim}0.855$ mM (1/2X) were deterimental to development beyond 2-cell stage. EDTA, $Ca^{2+}$ chelating agent was treated with ranged concentrations of EDTA (0.014 $mM{\sim}0.107$ mM) to medium contaning 1.71 mM $Ca^{2+}$ showed beneficial effect to development to blastocyst compared to the control. EGTA, extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, was treated with ranged concentrations of EGTA ($0.014{\sim}0.107$ mM) to the medium contaning 1.71 mM $Ca^{2+}$. There is no significant difference with the control. $Ni^{2+}$ (50 ${\mu}M$), T-type $Ca^{2+}$-channel blocker was treated to medium contaning low concentration of $Ca^{2+}$. It overcame 2-cell block significantly. Rate of degenerated embryos decreased and developmental rate to morula and blastocyst increased more than low $Ca^{2+}$ concentration alone. Further studies are needed for the overcoming effect of 2-cell block by $Ni^{2+}$.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2000

We tried to prepare encapsulated whole cell cyclodextrin glucanotransferase(CGTase) in order to produce glycosyl-xylitol using xylitol as glucosyl acceptor. The organic nitrogen source was more effective for the production of CGTase from Bacillus macerans IFO 3490 than the inorganic one. Most of the CGTase which had been produced during cultivation was excreted to the growth medium. B. macerans cells inocculated in the capsule failed to grow to the high cell density. Adsorbents such as activated charcoal, Sephadex and Amberite resins could not adsorb efficiently the CGTase from the broth solution. We obtained successfully the encapsulated whole cell CGTase by immobilizing the concentrated broth solution in the calcium alginate capsules. The encapsulated whole cell CGTase carried out the transglycosylation reaction which converts xylitol into glucosyl-xylitol using dextrin as glucosyl donor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.275-275
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• 2013

Osteoblast is one of cells related with osseointegration and many research have conducted the adhesion of osteoblast onto the surface of implant. In the osseointegration, biocompatibility of the implant and cell adhesion to the surface are important factors. The researches related to cell adhesion have a direction from micro-scaled surface roughness to nano-scaled surface roughness with advancing nanotechnology. A cell reacts and sense to stimuli from extracellular matrix (ECM) and topography of the ECM [1]. Thus, for better osseointegration, we should provide an environment similar to ECM. In this study, we synthesize TiO2 nanowires using hydrothermal reaction because TiO2 provides inertness to titanium on its surface and enables it used as an implant material for the orthopedic treatment such as fixation of the bone fracture [2]. Ti substrate is immersed into NaOH aqueous solution. The solution are heated at $140{\sim}200^{\circ}C$ for various time (10~720 minutes). After heat treatment, we take out the sample and immerse it into HCl aqueous solution for 1 hour. The acid treated sample is heated again at $500^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours [3]. Then, we culture osteoblast on the TiO2 nanowires. For investigating cell adhesion onto nanostructured surface, we conduct several tests such as MTT assay, ALP (Alkaline phosphatase) activity assay, measuring calcium expression, and so on. These preliminary results of the cell culture on the nanowires are foundation for investigating cell-material interaction especially with nanostructure interaction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.261-261
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• 2022

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is one of the most important grain legumes that enhance soil fertility and is well-adapted to various abiotic stress. Also, it is cultivated worldwide as a tropical annual crop, and the semi-arid regions are known as the main cowpea-produced regions. However, accumulation of soil salinity induced by low rainfall in these regions is reducing crop yields and quality. In general, plants exposed to soil salinity cause an accumulation of high ion chloride, which leads to the degradation of root and leaf proteins. In this study, we identified candidate genes associated with salinity tolerance through an analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in four cowpea germplasms with contrasting salinity tolerance. A total of 553,776,035 short reads were obtained using the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform for RNA-Seq, which were subsequently aligned to the reference genome of cowpea Vunguiculata v1.2. A total of9,806 DEGs were identified between NaCl treatment and control of four cowpea germplasms. Among these DEGs, functions related to salt stress such as calcium transporter and cytochrome-450 family were associated with salt stress. In GO analysis and KEGG analysis, these DEGs were enriched in terms such as the "phosphorylation", ''extracellular region", and "ion binding". These RNA-seq results will improve the understanding of the salt tolerance of cowpea and can be used as useful basic data for molecular breeding technology in the future.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.295-305
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• 2001

Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to play a pivotal role in neoplastic transformation cells and its high expression is often found in a variety of types of tumors including oral cancer. While PKC is associated with the altered signal transduction pathway of the tumor cells, it is still unclear which isoform is involved in the carcinogenesis process. Since the cellular distributions and the roles of PKC are isoform-specific, it is very important to identify the specific target molecules to improve our understanding of the carcinogenesis processes. Thus, the present study attempted to perform chemical carcinogen-induced neoplastic transformation of human epithelial cells and analyze the specific isoform of PKCs involved in the cellular transformation. The study analyzed overall PKC responses upon MNNG(N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso guanidine) exposure with [$^3H$] PDBu binding assay. PKC translocation was observed at high doses of MNNG treatment in the presence of extracellular calcium. Such effects were not observed in the absence of extracellular calcium. Translocational effects with exposure of MNNG was further enhanced in the presence of hydrocortisone. The result suggests that the type of PKC involved may be $Ca^{2+}$-dependent classical isoform and steroid hormone enhances PKC activation. Among cPKC isoforms examined, only $PKC-{\alpha}$ and r showed significant translocation of protein levels from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction, as analyzed by immunoblot. $PKC-{\varepsilon}$ in nPKC class showed an inch·eased translocation, but other forms in this class did not show the effect. None of isoforms in aPKC class was affected by MNNG treatment. The study demonstrated that there was a certain specificity in the patterns of isoform induction follwong chemical carcinogen exposure and helped identify all the types of PKC isoforms expressed in human epithelial cells. It was revealed that PKC isoforms were activated in an early resonse to chemical carcinogen, suggesting that PKC be associated with carcinogenesis process from an early stage in this particular cell system. The study will contribute to improving our understanding of chemical-induced carcinogenesis in human cells and may provide a scientific basis to introduce the specific PKC inhibitors as an anticancer drug of epithelial cell-origin cancers including oral cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.254-261
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• 2000

The present study has attempted to look into the mechanism of ras-induced carcinogenesis in a human epithelial cell system. Human epithelial cells immortalized with Ad12-SV40 hybrid virus were used to assess carcinogenic potential of the ras-oncogene. Cells transfected with pSV2-ras showed characteristics of cellular transformation. The transformation parameters such as cell density, soft-agar colony formation, and cell aggregation were significantly increased in the cells expressing ras oncoprotein. In addition, the duration required for the appearance of foci was shortened in the ras-transfected cells. Consistent with other reports, our results demonstrated an evidence that the ras-oncogene induced the cellular transformation of human epithelial cell system. When a high concentration of glucocorticoid was added into the media, transformation process was accelerated. It is speculated that glucocorticoid may provide an advantageous environment for the proliferation of the transformed cells. The induction of the intracellular free calcium concentrations following agonist treatment was significantly lower in the transformed cells than in the control cells. These effects were more manifested in the presence of extracellular cacium, indicating that the transformation process may alter the influx pathway of extracellular calcium. The induction of $IP_3$ following agonist treatment was also lower in the transformed cells than in the control cells. Thus, it is suggested that phospholipase C-coupled pathway was down-regulated in the process of the ras-induced transformation. While the levels of $TGF-{\beta}_1$ and PAI-2 mRNAs were decreased, the level of fibronectin mRNA was increased. The results indicate that mechanism of the ras-induced transformation may be associated with the altered expressions of growth regulatory factors. The present study demonstrates an evidence that the ras-induced cellular transformation may be associated with alteration of signal transduction and growth regulatory factors. The study will contribute to improve the understanding of molecular mechanism of epithelium-derived cancers including oral cancer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.323-328
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• 2006

A bacterium producing the extracellular protease was isolated from insect-eating plant and has been identified as a member of the genus Bacillus based on partial 165 rRNA sequences. In order to develop the medium composition, effects of ingredients including nitrogen sources, carbon source, metal ions and phosphate were examined for protease production of the isolate, SH-8. Soluble starch increased the protease productivity, while glucose repressed it. Yeast extract was effective nitrogen source for enzyme production, but the pretense production of Bacillus sp. SH-8 was reduced by large amount of yeast extract. The calcium was found to induce pretense activity as well as protease productivity. However, cell growth and enzyme production was completely inhibited by divalent ions such as $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$. The maximum protease productivity was reached 435 unit/ml in the optimized medium consisting of soluble starch (2%), yeast extract (0.3%), $CaCl_2$ (0.3%), $K_2HPO_4$ (0.01%) and $KH_2PO_4$ (0.01%). The pretense activity of culture filtrate was dramatically decreased after incubation for 26 h.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.576-586
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity, plant-growth-promoting activity, and mineral solubilization ability of 10 species of phytopathogenic fungi to select a Bacillus sp. from rhizosphere soils and roots that can be used as a microbial agent. The antifungal activity for phytopathogenic fungi varied based on the Bacillus sp. Among the selected strains, DDP4, DDP16, DDP148, SN56, and SN95 exhibited antifungal activity for nine or more species of phytopathogenic fungi. Regarding nitrogen-fixation ability, all Bacillus sp. showed similar levels of activity, and siderophore production ability was relatively high in ANG42 and DDP427. The indole-3-acetic acid production abilities were in the range of 1.83-67.91 ㎍/ml, with variations in activity based on the Bacillus sp. One strain with a high activity was selected from each species, and their mineral solubilization abilities were examined. Most Bacillus sp. could solubilize phosphoric acid and calcium carbonate, and DDP148 and SN56 could solubilize silicon and zinc, respectively. These results suggested that Bacillus sp. can be considered potential multi-purpose microbial agents for plant growth promotion and disease prevention.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.452-464
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• 1990

It is well known that extracellular Calcium plays a very important role in several steps of smooth muscle excitability and contractility, and there have been many concerns about factors influencing the distribution of extracellular Ca++ and the Ca++ flux through the cell membrane of the smooth muscle. Based on the assumption that Mg++ may also play an important role in the excitation and contraction processes of the smooth muscle by taking part in affecting Ca++ distribution and flux, many researches are being performed about the exact role of Mg++, especially in the vascular smooth muscle. But yet the effect of Mg++ in the smooth muscle activity is not clarified, and moreover the mechanism of Mg++ action is almost completely unknown. Present study attempted to clarify the effect of Mg++ on the excitability and contractility in the multiunit and unitary smooth muscle, and the mechanism concerned in it. The preparations used were the guinea-pig aortic strip as the experimental material of the multiunit smooth muscle and the rat uterine strip as the one of the unitary smooth muscle. The tissues were isolated from the sacrificed animal and were prepared for recording the isometric contraction. The effects of Mg++ and Ca++ were examined on the electrically driven or spontaneous contraction of the preparations. And the effects of these ions were also studied on the K+ or norepinephrine contracture. All experiments were performed in tris-buffered Tyrode solution which was aerated with 100% 02 and kept at 35oC. The results obtained were as follows: 1] Mg++ suppressed the phasic contraction induced by electrical field stimulation dose-dependently in the guinea-pig aortic strip, while the high concentration of Ca++ never recovered the decreased tension. These phenomena were not changed by the a - or b - adrenergic blocker. 2]Mg++ played the suppressing effect on the low concentration [20 and 40 mM] of K+-contracture in the aortic muscle, but the effect was not shown in the case of 100mM K+-contracture. 3] Mg++ also suppressed the contracture induced by norepinephrine in the aortic preparation. And the effect of Mg++ was most prominent in the contracture by the lowest [10 mM] concentration of norepinephrine. 4] In both the spontaneous and electrically driven contractions of the uterine strip, Mg++ decreased the amplitude of peak tension, and by the high concentration of Ca++ the amplitude of tension was recovered unlike the aortic muscle. 5] The frequency of the uterine spontaneous contraction increased as the [Ca++] / [Mg++] ratio increased up to 2, but the frequency decreased above this level. 6] Mg++ decreased the tension of the low[20 and 40mM] K+-contracture in the uterine smooth muscle, but the effect did not appear in the 100mM K+-contracture. From the above results, the following conclusion could be made. 1] Mg++ seems to suppress the contractility directly by acting on the smooth muscle itself, besides through the indirect action on the nerve terminal, in both the aortic and uterine smooth muscles. 2] The fact that the depressant effect of Mg++ on the K+-contracture is in inverse proportion to an increase of K+ concentration appears resulted from the extent of the opening state of the Ca++ channel. 3] Mg++ may play a depressant role on both the potential dependent and the receptor-operated Ca++ channels. 4] The relationship between the actions of Mg++ and Ca++ seems to be competitive in uterine muscle and non-competitive in aortic strip.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2002

It has been suggested that $Ca^{2+}$ sensitization mechanisms might contribute to myogenic tone, however, specific mechanisms have not yet been fully identified. Therefore, we investigated the role of protein kinase C (PKC)- or RhoA-induced $Ca^{2+}$ sensitization in myogenic tone of the rabbit basilar vessel. Myogenic tone was developed by stretch of rabbit basilar artery. Fura-2 $Ca^{2+}$ signals, contractile responses, PKC immunoblots, translocation of PKC and RhoA, and phosphorylation of myosin light chains were measured. Stretch of the resting vessel evoked a myogenic contraction and an increase in the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ only in the presence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. Stretch evoked greater contraction than high $K^+$ at a given $[Ca^{2+}]_i.$ The stretch-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and contractile force were inhibited by treatment of the tissue with nifedipine, a blocker of voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, but not with gadolinium, a blocker of stretch-activated cation channels. The PKC inhibitors, H-7 and calphostin C, and a RhoA-activated protein kinase (ROK) inhibitor, Y-27632, inhibited the stretch-induced myogenic tone without changing $[Ca^{2+}]_i.$ Immunoblotting using isoform-specific antibodies showed the presence of $PKC_{\alpha}$ and $PKC_{\varepsilon}$ in the rabbit basilar artery. $PKC_{\alpha},$ but not $PKC_{\varepsilon},$ and RhoA were translocated from the cytosol to the cell membrane by stretch. Phosphorylation of the myosin light chains was increased by stretch and the increased phosphorylation was blocked by treatment of the tissue with H-7 and Y-27632, respectively. Our results are consistent with important roles for PKC and RhoA in the generation of myogenic tone. Furthermore, enhanced phosphorylation of the myosin light chains by activation of $PKC_{\alpha}$ and/or RhoA may be key mechanisms for the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitization associated with myogenic tone in basilar vessels.