• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.21-24
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• 2012

Influence of gamma rays on the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells was investigated in terms of a bidirectional hydrogenase, which is encoded by hoxEFUYH genes and responsible for biohydrogen production. Irradiated cells revealed a substantial change in stoichiometry of photosystems at one day after gamma irradiation at different doses. However, as evaluated by the maximal rate of photosynthetic oxygen evolution, maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, and chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis or photosynthetic capacity was not significantly different between the control and irradiated cells. Instead, transcription of hoxE, hoxH, or lexA, which encodes a subunit of bidirectional hydrogenase or the only transcriptional activator, LexA, for hox genes, was commonly enhanced in the irradiated cells. This transcriptional enhancement was more conspicuously observed immediately after gamma irradiation. In contrast, hydrogenase activities were found to somewhat lower in the irradiated cells. Therefore, we propose that transcription of hox genes should be enhanced by gamma irradiation in a LexA-mediated and possibly photosynthesis-independent manner and that this enhancement might not induce a subsequent increase in hydrogenase activities, probably due to the presence of post-transcriptional and/or post-translational regulatory mechanisms.

• 한국실내디자인학회논문집
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.35-45
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• 2012

The development of digital media made the change of architectural paradigm from tectonic to the surface and pattern. This means the transition to the new kind of materiality and the resurrection of ornament. This study started as an aim to apply biological pattern to architectural design from the new perception of pattern. Architectural patterns in the early era appeared as ladders, steps, chains, trees, vortices. But since 21st century, we can find patterns in nature like atoms and molecular structures, fluid forms of dynamics and new geometrical pattern like fractal and first of all biological patterns like viruses and micro-organisms, Voronoi cells, DNA structure, rhizomes and various hybrids and permutations of these. Pattern became one of the most important elements and themes of contemporary architecture through the change of materiality and resurrection of ornament with the new perception of surface in architecture. One of the patterns that give new creative availability to the architectural design is biological pattern which is self-organized as an optimum form through interaction with environment. Biological patterns emerge mostly as self-replicating patterns through morphogenesis, certain geometrical patterns(in particular triangles, pentagons, hexagons and spirals). The architectural application methods of biological patterns are direct figural pattern of organism, circle pattern, polygon pattern, energy-material control pattern, differentiation pattern, parametric pattern, growth principle pattern, evolutionary ecologic pattern. These patterns can be utilized as practical architectural patterns through the use of computer programs as morphogenetic programs like L-system, MoSS program and genetic algorithm programs like Grasshoper, Generative Components with the help of computing technology like mapping and scripting.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.1010-1017
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• 2007

Two alternative pathways for methionine biosynthesis are known in Corynebacterium glutamicum: one involving transsulfuration (mediated by metB and metC) and the other involving direct sulfhydrylation (mediated by metY). In this study, MetB (cystathionine ${\gamma}-synthase$) and MetY (O-acetylhomoserine sulfhydrylase) from C. glutamicum were purified to homogeneity and the biochemical parameters were compared to assess the functional and evolutionary importance of each pathway. The molecular masses of the native MetB and MetY proteins were measured to be approximately 170 and 280 kDa, respectively, showing that MetB was a homotetramer of 40-kDa subunits and MetY was a homohexamer of 45-kDa subunits. The $K_m$ values for the O-acetylhomoserine catalysis effected by MetB and MetY were 3.9 and 6.4 mM, and the maximum catalysis rates were $7.4\;(k_{cat}=21\;S^{-1})\;and\;6.0\;(k_{cat}=28\;S^{-1})\;{\mu}mol\;mg^{-1}\;min^{-1}$, respectively. This suggests that both MetB and MetY can be comparably active in vivo. Nevertheless, the $K_m$ value for sulfide ions by MetY was 8.6mM, which was too high, considering the physiological condition. Moreover, MetB was active at a broad range of temperatures $(30\;and\;65^{\circ}C)$ and pH (6.5 and 10.0), as compared with MetY, which was active in a range from 30 to $45^{\circ}C$ and at pH values from 7.0 to 8.5. In addition, MetY was inhibited by methionine, but MetB was not. These biochemical data may provide insight on the role of the parallel pathways of methionine biosynthesis in C. glutamicum with regard to cell physiology and evolution.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권8호
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• pp.1154-1158
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• 2013

Ganciclovir resistance of human cytomegalovirus is associated with mutations in the viral UL97 gene and poses severe problems for immunocompromised patients. In this study, PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing analyses detected the UL97 D605E mutation in all five clinical isolates from patients with ganciclovir-resistant human cytomegalovirus infection during prolonged ganciclovir therapy, whereas the M460V mutation was only present in 1 of 5 isolates. On the other hand, the detection rates of the D605E mutation in the stored available DNA samples from the donor and allogeneic stem cell transplantation recipients were 66.7% and 93.7%, respectively, suggesting that the presence of D605E mutation was not associated with the ganciclovir exposure. Although the D605E mutation may not be related to ganciclovir resistance, we suggest that this mutation could be an important molecular marker of human cytomegalovirus evolution in East Asian countries. Moreover, the restriction fragment length polymorphism method using the restriction enzyme HaeIII, which is generally used to detect the UL97 A591V mutation, could also detect the D605E mutation and may therefore be a useful tool for future research on the investigation of UL97 gene mutations.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.598-609
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• 2017

Pediococcus pentosaceus ID-7 was isolated from kimchi, a Korean fermented food, and it showed high activity for lactose hydrolysis. The ${\beta}$-galactosidase of P. pentosaceus ID-7 belongs to the GH2 group, which is composed of two distinct proteins. The heterodimeric LacLM type of ${\beta}$-galactosidase found in P. pentosaceus ID-7 consists of two genes partially overlapped, lacL and lacM encoding LacL (72.2 kDa) and LacM (35.4 kDa). In this study, Escherichia coli MM294 was used for the production of LacL, LacM, and LacLM. These three types of recombinant proteins were expressed, purified, and characterized. The specific activities of LacLM and LacL were 339 and 31 U/mg, respectively. However, activity was not detected with LacM alone. The optimal pH of LacLM and LacL was pH 7.5 and pH 7.0, and the optimal temperature of LacLM and LacL was $40^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The optimal temperature changes indicate that LacLM is able to achieve higher activity at a relatively lower temperature. LacLM was strongly activated by $Mg^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, and $Zn^{2+}$, which was not true for LacL. Consistent with this, EDTA strongly inactivated LacLM and LacL, but the presence of reducing agents did not dramatically alter the activity. Taken together, multiple alignment of amino acid sequences and phylogenetic analysis results of LacL and LacM of P. pentosaceus ID-7 suggest the evolution of LacL into LacLM and that the use of divalent metal ions results in higher activity.

• Journal of Computing Science and Engineering
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.1-30
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• 2007

In this paper we have provided an extensive survey of the databases and other resources related to the current research in bioinformatics and the issues that confront the database researcher in helping the biologists. Initially we give an overview of the concepts and principles that are fundamental in understanding the basis of the data that has been captured in these databases. We briefly trace the evolution of biological advances and point out the importance of capturing data about genes, the fundamental building blocks that encode the characteristics of life and proteins that are the essential ingredients for sustaining life. The study of genes and proteins is becoming extremely important and is being known as genomics and proteomics, respectively. Whereas there are numerous databases related to various subfields of biology, we have maintained a focus on genomic and proteomic databases which are the crucial stepping stones for other fields and are expected to play an important role in the future applications of biology and medicine. A detailed listing of these databases with information about their sizes, formats and current status is presented. Related databases like molecular pathways and interconnection network databases are mentioned, but their full coverage would be beyond the scope of a single paper. We comment on the peculiar nature of the data in biology that presents special problems in organizing and accessing these databases. We also discuss the capabilities needed for database development and information management in the bioinformatics arena with particular attention to ontology development. Two research case studies based on our own research are summarized dealing with the development of a new genome database called Mitomap and the creation of a framework for discovery of relationships among genes from the biomedical literature. The paper concludes with an overview of the applications that will be driven from these databases in medicine and healthcare. A glossary of important terms is provided at the end of the paper.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2010

The Russian ratsnake, Elaphe schrenckii, is found in Russia, China, and Korea, and is considered to be an endangered species by the Ministry of Environment in South Korea. Due to habitat loss and use in oriental medicine, their population has been severely decimated. In South Korea, two subspecies of E. schrenckii has been defined according to body color: E. s. schrenckii (blackish) and E. s. anomala (yellow-brownish). Molecular genetic studies on Elaphe schrenckii are very scarce and the taxonomy of Elaphe schrenckii subspecies is uncertain. From the present study, we attempted to identify the genetic differences of these two subspecies using species-specific microsatellites developed from the genomic library of E. schrenckii. Nine polymorphic loci were tested on 19 individuals from E. s. schrenckii (n=10) and E. s. anomala (n=9) in South Korea. The mean number of alleles was 3.78 in E. s. schrenckii and 4.11 in E. s. anomala. The average expected heterozygosity was 0.542 and 0.511 in E. s. schrenckii and E. s. anomala, respectively. We found a lack of genetic structure between two subspecies ($F_{ST}=0.016$) and no genetic discrimination between two subspecies was found. Based on the present findings by microsatellites, two subspecies can be considered as one species, E. schrenckii. However, further investigations on taxonomical status using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences need to be performed and morphological & ecological data should be revised. The genetic markers should benefit future studies of the endangered species of other Elaphe species for the study of genetic diversity and potential conservation management.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.272-280
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• 2016

Most scyphomedusae jellyfishes recorded in Korean waters are temperate and subtropical species. In the present study, two cold-water jellyfishes from Korean waters are first described. Scyphomedusae were collected from the coasts of Gangneung and Ulsan of the East Sea, and Boryeong, and the eastern area of the Yellow Sea from June 2006 to May 2015. Scyphomedusae collected in Ulsan and Gangneung were identified morphologically as Aurelia limbata Brandt, 1835. Their umbrella was 250-500 mm in width and 30-50 mm in height; the exumbrella was white and the subumbrella was dark brown in color. The vascular system was complex with anastomosed branches. Individuals of this species lived at about 6.6-9.9℃ and 30-50 m depth in Korean waters. Scyphomedusae collected from the center of the Yellow Sea and from Boryeong were identified as Parumbrosa polylobata Kishinouye, 1910. Their umbrella was disc-shaped, 80-200 mm in width and 20-40 mm in height. Its milky white gonads could be seen through the transparent exumbrella. The stomach cavity was round and flat with four interradial cavities connected by subgenital cavities, and the four oral arms were bifurcated and spear-head shaped. Individuals were found at about 6.4-10.0℃ and 40-90 m depth in Korean waters. The identities of both species were confirmed by molecular analysis using nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences.

• 천문학회보
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.43.3-43.3
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• 2017

NGC 6822 is a dwarf irregular galaxy in the Local Group and it is located in 500 kpc, further than the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud. Therefore, we can study star-forming processes by local condition in NGC 6822 instead of tidal force of the Galactic gravitational field. Hubble V is the brightest of several H II complexes in this galaxy. We observed Hubble V by using IGRINS attached on the 2.7 m telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Texas, US in May 2016. We performed a spectral mapping of $15^{{\prime}{\prime}}{\times} 7^{{\prime}{\prime}}$area on H and K bands, and detected emission lines of bright $Br{\gamma}\;{\lambda}2.1661{\mu}m$ and weak He I ${\lambda}2.0587{\mu}m$. Molecular hydrogen lines of 1-0S(1) ${\lambda}2.1218{\mu}m$, 2-1 S(1) ${\lambda}2.2477{\mu}m$, and 1-0 S(0) ${\lambda}2.2227{\mu}m$ was also detected. These emission lines show the structure of an ionized core and excited surface of clouds by far-ultraviolet photons, photodissociation region (PDR). We present three-dimensional maps of emission line distributions through multi slit scanning data and compare these results with the previous study. This presentation shows the physical structure of the star-forming regions and we discuss a PDR model and an evolution of Hubble V complex.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.262-267
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• 2014

Bcl-2 interacting cell death suppressor (Bis) has been shown to have anti-apoptotic and anti-stress functions. Recently, increased Bis expression was reported to correlate with glioma aggressiveness. Here, we investigated the effect of Bis knockdown on the acquisition of the invasive phenotype of A172 glioma cells, induced by 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-3-acetate (TPA), using a Transwell assay. Bis knockdown resulted in a significant decrease in the migration and invasion of A172 cells. Furthermore, Bis knockdown notably decreased TPA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity and mRNA expression, as measured by zymography and quantitative real time PCR, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay indicated that Bis suppression significantly down-regulated NF-${\kappa}B$-driven transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that the rapid phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ induced by TPA was remarkably delayed by Bis knockdown. These results suggest that Bis regulates the invasive ability of glioma cells elicited by TPA, by modulating NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, and subsequent induction of MMP-9 mRNA.