• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.193-206
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• 2023

Orchidaceae species account for one-tenth of all angiosperms including more than 30,000 species having significant ecological, evolutionary, and economic importance. Despite Orchidaceae being one of the largest families among flowering plants, crucial cytogenetic information for studying species diversification, inferring phylogenetic relationships, and designing efficient breeding strategies is lacking, except for 10% or less of orchid species cases involving mostly chromosome number or karyotype analysis. Also, only approximately 1.5% of the identified orchid species from less than a hundred genera have genome size data that provide crucial information for breeders and molecular geneticists. Various molecular cytogenetic techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), have been developed for determining ploidy levels, analyzing karyotypes, and evaluating hybridity, in several ornamental crops including orchids. The estimation of genome size and the determination of nuclear DNA content using flow cytometry have also been employed in some Orchidaceae subfamilies. These different techniques have played an important role in supplementing beneficial knowledge for effective plant breeding programs and other related plant research. This review focused on orchid breeding summarizes the status of current cytogenetic tools in terms of background, advancements, different techniques, significant findings, and research challenges. Principal roles and applications of cytogenetics in orchid breeding as well as different ploidy level determination methods crucial for breeding are also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2007

In this work, caffeine and some catechin compounds such as +C, EGC and EGCG were extracted from green tea using quercetin molecular imprinted polymers in solid-phase extraction. For synthesis of MIP, quercetin as the templates, MAA as the monomer, EGDMA as the crosslinker and AIBN as the initiator were used. For extraction of caffeine and catechin compounds from green tea, the solid-phase extractions of a load followed by wash and elution procedures were done with water, methanol and methanol:acetic acid=90:10 (vol.%) as the solvents, respectively. HPLC analysis (C18 column, 5 μm, 250×4.6 mm) with the mobile phase of methanol:water=40:60 (vol.%) at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min was adopted for the quantitative determination. By solid-phase extraction, the resolutions of caffeine and some catechin compounds from green tea were increased. The quercetin-MIP had higher selectivity to +C compounds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.470-475
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• 2002

In the course of screening for a novel cell cycle inhibitor, a potent Cdk 1 inhibitor, HY558, was found from the culture broth of Penicillium minioluteum F558 isolated from a soil sample. The molecular ion of HY558 was identified at m/z 329 (MH+) with a molecular formula of $C_20H_44ON_2$. HY558 exhibited selective antiproliferative effects on various human cancer cell lines. Its $IC_50$ values were estimated to be 0.29 mM on HepG2, 0.30 mM on HeLa, 0.30 mM on HL6O, 0.33 mM on HT-29, and 0.25 mM on AGS cells. Interestingly, Hy558 demonstrated no antiproliferative effect with normal lymphocytes used as the control, and a low level of inhibition on the proliferation of A549 cancer cells. A flow cytometric analysis of HepG2 cells revealed an appreciable arrest of cells at the G1 and G2/M phases of the cell cycle following treatment with Hy558. furthermore, DNA fragmentation due to apoptosis was observed in HeLa cells treated with 0.46 mM of HY558.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7197-7201
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• 2013

Aim: To investigate the effects of diallyl trisulfide (DT) on apoptosis of cisplatin (DDP)-resistant human epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells (SKOV-3/DDP), and the role of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA). Methods: SKOV-3/DDP cells were randomly divided into control, DT, DPP and DPP+DT groups, which were treated with DT or combined DT and DDP. All cells were incubated for 48 h. and apoptosis rates were assessed by flow cytometry. mRNA and protein expression of PUMA, Bax and Bcl-2 was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot assays, respectively. Results: Compared with control group, the apoptosis rates of SKOV-3/DDP cells in DT groups were obviously increased, with dose-dependence (P < 0.05), the mRNA and protein expressions of PUMA, Bax also being up-regulated (P < 0.05), while those of Bcl-2 were down-regulated (P < 0.05). Compared with DT groups, the apoptosis rate in the DDP+DT group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). After knockdown of PUMA with specific siRNA, the apoptosis rate of SKOV-3/DDP cells was obviously decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: DT can promote the apoptosis of SKOV-3/DDP cells with PUMA playing a critical role.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2003

The product of a tree (Tabebuia avellanedae) from South America, $\beta$-lapachone, is known to exhibit various pharmacological properties, the mechanisms of which are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to further elucidate the possible mechanisms by which $\beta$-lapachone exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human prostate cancer cells. We observed that the proliferation-inhibitory effect of $\beta$-lapachone was due to the induction of apoptosis, which was confirmed by observing the morphological changes and cleavage of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. A DNA flow cytometric analysis also revealed that $\beta$-lapachone arrested the cell cycle progression at the G1 phase. The effects were associated with the down-regulation of the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) as well as the enhanced binding of pRB and the transcription factor E2F-1. Also, $\beta$-lapachone suppressed the cyclindependent kinases (Cdks) and cyclin E-associated kinase activity without changing their expressions. Furthermore, this compound induced the levels of the Cdk inhibitor $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ expression in a p53-independent manner, and the p21 proteins that were induced by $\beta$-lapachone were associated with Cdk2. $\beta$-lapachone also activated the reporter construct of a p21 promoter. Overall, our results demonstrate a combined mechanism that involves the inhibition of pRB phosphorylation and induction of p21 as targets for $\beta$-lapachone. This may explain some of its anticancer effects.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2008

The genus Cynodon comprises ten species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of Korean bermudagrasses at the morphological, cytological and molecular levels. Morphological parameters, the nuclear DNA content and ploidy levels were observed in 43 bermudagrass ecotypes. AFLP markers were evaluated to define the genetic diversity, and chromosome counts were made to confirm the inferred cytotypes. Nuclear DNA contents were in the ranges 1.42-1.56, 1.94-2.19, 2.54, and 2.77-2.85 pg/2C for the triploid, tetraploid, pentaploid, and hexaploid accessions, respectively. The inferred cytotypes were triploid (2n = 3x = 27), tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36), pentaploid (2n = 5x = 45), and hexaploid (2n = 6x = 54), but the majority of the collections were tetraploid (81%). Mitotic chromosome counts verified the corresponding ploidy levels. The fast growing fine-textured ecotypes had lower ploidy levels, while the pentaploids and hexaploids were coarse types. The genetic similarity ranged from 0.42 to 0.94 with an average of 0.64. UPGMA cluster analysis and principle coordinate analysis separated the ecotypes into 6 distinct groups. The genetic similarity suggests natural hybridization between the different cytotypes, which could be useful resources for future breeding and genetic studies.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.402-406
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• 2013

In this study, a pitch for melt-electrospinning was prepared from naphtha cracking bottom (NCB) oil by the modification with heat treatment. The softening point and property of the modified pitch was influenced by modification conditions such as nitrogen flow rate, heat treatment temperature, and reaction time. Among these, the heat treatment temperature had a very strong influence on the distribution of molecular weight and softening point of the pitch. The C/H mole ratio and average molecular weight increased with increasing the heat treatment temperature due the decomposition and cyclization reaction of surface-functional groups. In addition, the values of benzene insoluble and quinoline insoluble also tends to decrease, and the width of molecular weight distribution seems to get more narrow. The carbon fiber with a diameter of $4.8{\mu}m$ was prepared from a modified pitch at the softening point of $155^{\circ}C$ by melt-electrospinning. It is believed that the melt-electro spinning method is much more convenient to get the thinner fiber than the conventional melt spinning method.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1715-1717
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• 2014

The overall incidence and mortality of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common kidney cancer, are steadily increasing for reasons that are not fully explained. Our aim was to explore the expression of membrane MHC class I chain-related gene A (mMICA) in human RCC cell lines and tissue specimens, and to determine expression of soluble MICA (sMICA) in serum of patients with renal cell carcinoma, we used flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry as well as an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that percentage of mMICA expression was significantly increased in human kidney cancer tissues and RCC cell lines (786-O and Ketr-3) than that in healthy adults and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cell line individuality (P<0.05). sMICA content in healthy adults was negative, but in renal cancer patients was significantly elevated (P<0.05). Our research showed that high expression of MICA in human kidney cancer, this results show that MICA might serve as potential tumor-associated antigen (TAA) in RCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10819-10824
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• 2015

Aims: To explore the effect and probable mechanism of a synthetic retinoid 4-amino-2-tri-fluoromethylphenyl ester (ATPR) on apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: MTT assays were performed to measure the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with different concentrations of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and ATPR. Morphologic changes were observed by microscopy. The apoptosis rates and cell cycling of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ATRA or ATPR were assessed using flow cytometry analysis. Expression of retinoic acid receptor and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38 proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: Treatment of the cells with the addition of $15{\mu}mol/L$ ATPR for 48 h clearly demonstrated reduced cell numbers and deformed cells, whereas no changes in the number and morphology were observed after treatment with ATRA. The apoptosis rate was 33.2% after breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were treated by ATPR ($15{\mu}mol/L$) whereas ATRA ($15{\mu}mol/L$) had no apoptotic effect. ATPR inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 while ATRA had no significant effect. ATPR inhibited the expression of BiP and increased the expression of Chop at the protein level compared with control groups, ATRA and ATPR both decreased the protein expression of $RXR{\alpha}$, ATPR reduced the protein expression of $RAR{\beta}$ and $RXR{\beta}$ while ATRA did not decrease $RAR{\beta}$ or $RXR{\beta}$. Conclusions: ATPR could induce apoptosis of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, possible mechanisms being binding to $RAR{\beta}/RXR{\beta}$ heterodimers, then activation of ER stress involving the MAPK pathway.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1999

Effects of different molecular size fractions (100,000 nMW-0.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$m, 10,000 nMW-100,000 nMW and 1,000 nMW-'L0,000 nMW) of dissolved organic matter on the bacterial numbers and $\beta$-glucosidase activities in Lake Soyang were investigated. Even though the concentrations and characteristics of each fractions were different, bacterial growth curves of each fractioii were Lypical and similar. Each growth curve had highest peak of $1.1{\times}10^{7}$ cells $ml^{-1}$. But, the $\beta$-lucosidase activitics of each fraction were quite different. In high molecular weight fraction (HMW: 100,000 nMW-0.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$m), Vmax of Pglucosidase activity ranged from 550 to 1,160 nmol $1^{-1}$.$hi^{-1}$, but in low molecular weight f~action (1,000 nMW-10,000 nMW), that ranged from 1 to 14 om01 1$^[-1}$${-1}$