• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 1995

To effectively modify tree function with genetic engineering, transgenes must be expressed at the proper level in the appropriate tissues at suitable developmental stages. Toward understanding the spatial and temporal expression of transgenes in woody plants, transgene expression was evaluated in three greenhouse-grown, transgenic lines of Populus alba ${\times}$ P. grandidentata hybrid clone 'Hansen'. All transgenic poplar lines possess constructs containing the bacterial nopaline synthase(nos) promoter linked to a neomycin phosphotransferase II(NPT II) selectable marker gene. In addition, each transgenic poplar line contains one of the following gene constructs : 1) a wound-inducible potato proteinase inhibitor II (pin2) promoter linked to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) reporter gene. 2) a nos promoter linked to a PIN2 structural gene : or 3) a Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35s promoter linked to a PIN2 structural gene. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was used to verify the presence of foreign genes in the poplar genome. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISAs) were used to evaluate organ specific expression of the nos-NPT II construct. NPT II expression was detected in leaves, petioles, stems, and roots of transgenic poplar, thereby indicating that the nos promoter is potentially effective for general constitutive expression of transgenes. NPT expression varied among transgenic poplar lines and among organs for one transgenic line, Tr15. With Tr15, NPT II levels were highest in older leaves and petioles. These results indicate that screening of several transgenic lines may be required to identify lines with optimal transgene expression.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.4 s.87
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• pp.466-477
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• 1998

Twenty-two Phellinus strains were characterized using colony morphologies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to divide into Phellinus linteus. There were some differences in mycelial growth and colony shapes among the strains when they were grown on various media such as PDA, MCM, MEA and YM. Phellinus linteus was slowly growing, formed golden-yellow colony, and produced blue pigment on PDA media. When the regions of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) were amplified from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) coding genes of P. igniarius and P. linteus strains by means of PCR, two types of band (700 bp and 800 bp) were appeared, respectively. For the amplified intergenic region I (IGRI), P. igniarius strains showed a different band among 500, 600, 700 and 800 bp according to the strains, whereas P. linteus strains did one specific band of 700 bp. By polymorphism analysis after digesting the amplified products with 6 different restriction enzymes, a band specific to P. linteus was generated when the products for ITS region were digested with HaeIII, suggesting that the enzyme digestion could provide effective method to distinguish between P. igniarius and P. linteus. And also, the analysis of genetic relationship showed that the genetic similarities were 89% and 95% in P. igniarius and P. linteus strains, respectively. Random amplification polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using multiple primer sets and arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) with ITS3 primer could also result in a reproducible way to identify P. linteus strains.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyse of association between growth traits and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) polymorphism of phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK 2) gene in pigs. The birth weight of piglet influences on weaning weight and survival rate that are import economic traits in pig industry. Also, these growth traits are representative factor to decrease a period getting to marketing weight as well as growth rate in pig. The PGK 2 is an isozyme that catalyzes the first ATP-generating step in the glycolytic pathwayand important enzyme related with energy metabolism. Twenty of SNPs were discoveredby genome structure analysis that compares the sequence on promoter and transcription region of PGK 2 gene in porcine chromosome 7. An association between PGK 2 SNPs and growth traits was analyzed in $F_2$ reciprocal-crossbred population between korean native pig (KNP) and Landrace. Association analysis indicated that polymorphism of the PGK 2 gene promoter region has significant effects on weight at birth (p<0.01) and weight at 3 weeks of age (p<0.0001). These results suggest that PGK 2 gene polymorphism was associated with energy metabolism and physiological function of growth in pig.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 2006

Apoptotic death of articular chondrocytes has been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) has been used for several years as a marker enzyme of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. This study investigated the activity of TRAP in media of apoptotic cell death-induced canine chondrocyte. We exposed canine chondrocyte to capsaicin and the results showed that capsaicin induced cell death in a dose dependent manner. And we measured TRAP activity in media of chondrocyte death induced by capsaicin treatment and the results capsaicin significantly increased the activity of TRAP in media for dose dependent. We also investigated whether the combination treatment with capsaicin and TRAIL enhance apoptotic cell death in canine chondrocyte. We exposed canine chondrocyte to capsaicin for 24 hrs at the indicated dose, and then treated with recombinant TRAIL protein for 24 hrs. TRAIL alone did not induce cell death after 24 hours, but the combined treatment of both induced more cell death compared with capsaicin alone in a dose dependent manner. Also, the combination treatment with capsaicin and TRAIL increased the activity of TRAP in culture media. These results suggest that TRAP can flow out into extracellular after chondrocyte damage, and TRAP may be a successful biomarker for detection of joint disease such as osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.893-900
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• 2011

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is one of the widely used biomarkers in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It was initially identified in 1935 and is the most abundant phosphatase in the human prostate. PAP is a prostate-specific enzyme that is synthesized in prostate epithelial cells. It belongs to the acid phosphatase group that shows enzymatic activity in acidic conditions. PAP is abundant in prostatic fluid and is thought to have a role in fertilization and oligospermia. It also has a potential role in reducing chronic pain. But one of the most apparent functions of PAP is the dephosphorylation of macromolecules such as HER-2 and PI3P that are involved in the ERK1/2 and MAPK pathways, which in turn leads to inhibition of cell growth and tumorigenesis. Currently, clinical trials using PAP DNA vaccine are underway and FDA-approved immunotherapy using PAP is commercially available. Despite these clinically important aspects, molecular mechanisms underlying PAP regulation are not fully understood. The promoter region of PAP was reported to be regulated by NF-${\kappa}B$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1, androgen and androgen receptors. Here, the features of PAP gene and protein structures together with the function, regulation and roles of PAP in prostate cancer are discussed.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.101-110
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• 2015

Purpose: Sclerostin, an inhibitor of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling, exerts negative effects on bone formation and contributes to periodontitis-induced alveolar bone loss. Recent studies have demonstrated that serum sclerostin levels are increased in diabetic patients and that sclerostin expression in alveolar bone is enhanced in a diabetic periodontitis model. However, the molecular mechanism of how sclerostin expression is enhanced in diabetic patients remains elusive. Therefore, in this study, the effect of hyperglycemia on the expression of sclerostin in osteoblast lineage cells was examined. Methods: C2C12 and MLO-Y4 cells were used in this study. In order to examine the effect of hyperglycemia, the glucose concentration in the culture medium was adjusted to a range of levels between 40 and 100 mM. Gene expression levels were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays. Top-Flash reporter was used to examine the transcriptional activity of the ${\beta}$-catenin/lymphoid enhanced factor/T-cell factor complex. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF{\alpha}$) protein levels were examined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of reactive oxygen species on sclerostin expression was examined by treating cells with 1 mM $H_2O_2$ or 20 mM N-acetylcysteine. Results: The high glucose treatment increased the mRNA and protein levels of sclerostin. High glucose suppressed Wnt3a-induced Top-Flash reporter activity and the expression levels of osteoblast marker genes. High glucose increased reactive oxygen species production and $TNF{\alpha}$ expression levels. Treatment of cells with $H_2O_2$ also enhanced the expression levels of $TNF{\alpha}$ and sclerostin. In addition, N-acetylcysteine treatment or knockdown of $TNF{\alpha}$ attenuated high glucose-induced sclerostin expression. Conclusions: These results suggest that hyperglycemia increases sclerostin expression via the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and $TNF{\alpha}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 1986

Effects of anions on p-Aminohippurate (PAH) transport across the basolateral membrane (BLM) were studied. Basolateral membrane vesicles were isolated from rabbit renal cortex by using a self-orienting Percoll-gradient centrifugation and $Mg^{2+}-precipitation$. The characteristics of the membrane vesicles was examined by marker enzyme activity, membrane orientation and transport studies. The Na-K-ATPase activity in the fraction containing BLM vesicles was enriched 9·fold, and the alkaline phosphatase activity in the fraction containing BBM vesicles was increased 9-fold, compared with those of the homogenate. The transport properties of the two membrane preparations were studied by a rapid filtration technique. The uptake of PAH by BLM was sensitive to changes in medium osmolarity and inhibited by probenecid. When the uptake of $50{\mu}M$ PAH in voltage-clamped BLM vesicles was determined in the presence of various anions in the incubation medium, cis inhibitions by $SO_4\;and\;SSO_3$ were observed in the presence of sodium gradient (out>in). Sodium-dependent PAH uptake was inhibited competitively by external $SO_4$ PAH uptake in BLM vesicles loaded with 20 mM acetate and $SO_4\;or\;200\;{\mu}M$ PAH was significantly stimulated as compared with unloaded vesicles. The extent of trans-stmulation of PAH uptake by $SO_4$. was increased with the inside concentration of $SO_4$. This trans-stimulatory effect by $SO_4$, was observed to be additive in the presence of Na gradient and completely inhibited by 2 mM probenecid and 1 mM SITS. These results demonstrate that PAH/anion exchange is present in BLM of renal cortex and in this exchange mechanism inorganic as well as organic anions are involved as substrates.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.138-144
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• 2005

This study was to examine antioxidative effects of ginseng extracts on liver of high fat diet-treated mice. ICR male mice were given high fat diet with red ginseng or white ginseng extracts (500, 1500, 3000 mg/kg/day, orally) for 4 weeks. We also Investigated the relationship between lipid peroxidation and ginseng extracts on the oxidative stress. We measured the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation), hydrogen peroxide, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue. The activities of SOD was generally low in all ginseng extract groups. But the activity of GPx was high in all ginseng extract groups. The hydrogen peroxide contents were similar in almost all groups. The level of GSH was higher in all ginseng extract group in high fat diet (FD) group. The levels of MDA (the end product of lipid peroxidation) were lower in all ginseng extract groups than in FD group. These results that the antioxidant effects of red ginseng and white ginseng extracts prevent oxidative damage by antioxidant effects involving SOD, GPx and increasing the ability of the body to synthesize endogenous antioxidants. It was concluded that ginseng can protect against oxidative stress by high fat diet through its antioxidant properties.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.263-275
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• 2008

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is one of significant risk factors of developing diabetes. The persons with IFG are, thus, an important target group for primary prevention of diabetes. It is well known that plasma homocysteine concentration may be increased in poor folate nutritional status. Elevated level of plasma homocysteine is considered as a marker of enhanced oxidative stress. In addition, the protective effect against oxidative stress may be diminished in poor antioxidative nutrient status as vitamin C. It is, therefore, important to maintain adequate nutritional status of folate and vitamin C in the patients with type 2 diabetes or IFG. This study was performed to determine the effects of supplementation of folic acid or vitamin C on plasma concentrations of homocysteine, oxidized LDL, and lipids and on the activity of plasma anti-oxidative enzyme in patients with IFG. A total of 97 patients with IFG were participated voluntarily with written consents. They were divided into one of the four experimental groups; Control (C), Folatesupplemented (F), Ascorbate-supplemented (A), and Folate plus ascorbate-supplemented (FA). The subjects in C were taken placebo, those in F were supplemented 1 mg of folate, those in A were received 1,000 mg of vitamin C, and those in FA were given 1 mg of folate plus 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily for 4 weeks. No change in plasma concentrations of vitamin C, lipids, and oxidized LDL and the activity of GSH-Px were observed in vitamin C-supplemented group (A + FA) and folate-supplemented group (F + FA) compared to the placebo group (C + A). Only the folate-supplemented group (F + FA) had significantly increased average serum folate concentration and lowered plasma homocysteine concentration compared to the placebo group (C + A). Thus, it should be recommended the patients with IFG to increase folate intake through diets and, if it is not sufficient, to take folic acid supplements to prevent the development of complications induced by hyperhomocysteinemia as well as oxidative stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.1308-1316
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• 2008

Propionibacterium acnes is known to playa pivotal role in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. CBT-SL5 is one of the antimicrobial peptides from Enterococcus faecalis SL5, and it has shown antimicrobial activity against P. acnes. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of CBT-SL5 on the inflammation induced by P. acnes in cultured human keratinocyes. Cultured human keratinocytes derived from neonatal foreskin were treated with heat-killed P. acnes to induce inflammation, and then various concentrations of CBT-SL5 were added to the P. acnes-treated keratinocytes. The mRNA expression and protein secretion of interleukin (IL)-8, an inflammation marker, was analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also analyzed the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-$\kappaB$) p65 translocation by performing immunofluorescent staining. P. acnes treatment up regulated the IL-8 mRNA expression in the keratinocytes, and this was brought about through both toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4. At the concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 ng/ml, CBT-SL5 significantly down regulated the P. acnes-induced IL-8 mRNA expression and protein production (p<0.05). At 6 hand 12 h of the treatment, CBT-SL5 significantly suppressed the P. acnes-induced IL-8 mRNA expression. Secretion of IL-8 protein was significantly reduced at 24 h. The functional inhibitory activity of CBT-SL5 was shown by CBT-SL5 suppressing the P. acnes-induced NF-$\kappaB$ translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. These results demonstrated that CBT-SL5 suppressed the P. acnes-induced IL-8 expression in keratinocytes. Therefore, CBT-SL5 may be a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for acne.