• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.875-880
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• 2016

The plasma membrane plays a crucial role in relaying signals from the outside environment to the inside of the cells. In eukaryotic cells, the inner leaflets of the plasma membrane are composed mostly of phospholipids, including phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositides (PIs). In this study, we tried to analyze the morphological changes induced by EGFP-fused membrane binding proteins, which are targeted to the plasma membrane via specific phospholipids binding. As a result, we found that overexpression of EGFP-P4M-SidM, a specific PI4P binding protein, or EGFP alone, did not induce any morphological changes. On the other hand, overexpression of EGFP-PLCδ1(PH), which is a specific PI(4,5)P₂ binding protein, EGFP-AKT1(PH) which binds to PI(3,4,5)P₃, or EGFP-OSH2(PH)×2 which binds to PI4P and PI(4,5)P₂, could induce the filopodia and lamilapodia formation as well as cell shrinkage. Overexpression of Lact-C2-EGFP which is a specific PS-binding probe, EGFP fused Aplysia phosphodiesterase 4 (ApPDE4) long-form (L(N20)-EGFP) which is localized to the plasma membrane via hydrophobic interaction, or EGFP fused Aplysia PDE4 short-form (S(N-UCR1-2)-EGFP) which is localized to the plasma membrane via electrostatic interaction, could induce cell shrinkage, but not filopodia or lamilapodia formation. Taken together, our data support that the different phospholipid bindings in the plasma membrane could induce different characteristic morphological changes. Thus, we can analyze, characterize, and classify the cellular morphological changes induced by the various phospholipid binding proteins.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1666-1677
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• 2011

The regulation of gene expression plays an important role in cell cycle controls. In this study, a novel gene, the $mas1^+$($\underline{mi}$tosis $\underline{as}$sociated protein) gene, a homolog of human CIP29/Hcc1, was isolated and characterized from fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe) using a gene-specific polymerase chain reaction. The isolated gene contained a complete open reading frame capable of encoding 245 amino acid residues with a typical promoter, as judged by nucleotide sequence analysis. It was also found that a PCB ($\underline{p}$ombe cell $\underline{c}$ycle $\underline{b}$ox) is located in the promoter region, which controls M-$G_1$ specific transcription in S. pombe. The quantitative analysis of the $mas1^+$ transcript against $adh1^+$ showed that the pattern of expression is similar to that of the septation index. Cytokinesis of mas1 mutant was greatly delayed at $25^{\circ}C$ and $36^{\circ}C$, and a large number of multi-septate cells were produced. The mas1 mutant had 2C, 4C and 6C DNA contents, as determined by FACS analysis. In addition, the number of multi-septate cells significantly increased. When cells were cultured in nitrogen starvation medium to increase proliferation, the abnormal phenotypes of mas1 mutant dramatically increased. These phenotypes could be rescued by an overexpression of the $mas1^+$ gene. The mas1 protein localized in the nuclei of S. pombe and human HeLa cells, as evidenced by Mas1-EGFP signals. The abnormal growth pattern and the morphology of mas1 mutant were complemented by a plasmid carrying human CIP29/Hcc-1cDNA. In addition, CIP29 /Hcc-1 transcript level increased in active cell proliferation stages in the developing mouse embryos. These results indicate that the $mas1^+$ ishomologous to the human CIP29/Hcc1 gene and is involved in cytokinesis and cell shape control.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.975-985
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• 2017

To investigate the beneficial effects of an agar gel mask (AGM) on UV-induced photoaging, SKH-1 hairless mice were treated with a topical application of AGM and an AGM dipped in essence (AGMdE). The mice were divided into an no radiation group, UV + AGM, UV + AGMdE, and UV + vehicle (PBS) treatment groups. Alterations in skin wrinkles, skin phenotype, histological structures, oxidative status, and toxicity were then evaluated during 4 weeks of exposure. The topical application of AGM and AGMdE inhibited wrinkle formation, suppressed the erythema index, prevented transepidermal water loss, and enhanced skin hydration. In addition, epidermal thickness recovered to a similar level as that in the no irradiation group in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups compared with the UV + vehicle (distilled water) group. Furthermore, the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tyrosinase were reduced in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups, although the highest level varied. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly lower in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups as compared with the UV + vehicle group. No significant alterations induced by most toxic compounds were measured in serum biochemical markers and liver and kidney histological features of the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups. These results suggest that AGM may protect against skin aging by regulating skin morphology, histopathological structures, and oxidative conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 2006

We have recently discovered that mycelium of Phellinus linteus, popular medical mushrooms in Korea, possess alcohol dehydrogenase and produce alcohol. In the present study, it was examined that the effect of fermented rice wine made by using mycelium of P. linteus (FLMP) on the expression of in-flammation-related proteins in both $HepG_2$ cells and rats. To examine the effect of FLMP on the morphology and expression of inflammatory proteins in $HepG_2$ cells, the cells were incubated with ethanol, and FLMP for 24 hours, and then analyzed by microscopic observation and Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While ethanol induced the morphological change accompanied with cell debris formation and scattering on $HepG_2$ cells, FLMP had no effect. The results of Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 was induced by ethanol, however, FLMP inhibited the expression of these proteins and its mRNAs. In the animal model, the value of flutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase was significantly increased by administration with ethanol. But the group administrated with FLMP showed lower levels on the changes of these markers compared with ethanol-administrated group. Besides, the results of Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of inflammatory proteins such as iNOS, COX-1 and COX-2 was not affected by FLMP administration in rat liver. About histopathological and immunohistochemical observations, inflammatory loci were markedly decreased in the FLMP-administrated rat compared to ethanol-administrated rats and showed weaker COX-2 and iNOS jmmunoreactions. These results suggested that FLMP showed slight changes on the inflammatory proteins expression compared to ethanol and FLMP may be used as a functional alcoholic beverage.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1470-1475
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• 1998

Two kinds of Korean rice-wine (Yakju) with different process and ingredients, and Japanese rice-wine (Sake) were chosen for this study, and throughly dried and solubilized in water or cell culture medium. In vitro cytotoxicity assays of the solubilized wine solids exhibited that maximum dilution factors for inhibition of B 16BL6 mouse melanoma cell growth were 16X for herbal medicine-added rice-wine (Korean rice-wine I) and typical Korean rice-wine (Korean rice-wine II), and 8X for Japanese rice-wine. Their cytotoxic effects on HRT18 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were even lower than those on B16BL6 cells. The morphology of the tumor cells were changed by addition of the solubilized wine solids. Inhibitory effect of the rice-wine on in vivo tumor growth and metastasis were monitored after implantation of B16BL6 cells into C57BL/6 mice with daily feeding the solubilized wine solids. Compared to non-fed control groups, B16BL6 tumor growth and metastasis to lung were clearly inhibited by feeding the wine solids, in order of Korean rice-wine I > Korean rice-wine II > Japanese rice-wine. The data of in vitro cytotoxicity and the cell shape changes indicate that the inhibitory effect of tumor progression may be attributed to tumor cell differentiation or immune stimulation induced by certain components in the rice-wine, rather than direct cytotoxicity of the components.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.449-460
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• 2006

This study aims to analyze distribution of natural lakes including lagoonal lake(lagoon) and tributary dammed lake(tributary lake) and calculate the size, morphology in order to interpret time-serial change of lakes using methodology of remote sensing images(1990s), GIS and topographic maps(1920s) in east coast of Korean Peninsular. Analysis results show that in 1990s, there are 57 natural lakes, with the total size of $75.62km^2$ over size $0.01km^2$. marine-origin lagoons are 48 with total size of $64.85km^2$, composing 85% of total natural lake, and the largest lagoon is Beonpo in Raseon City. Tributary lakes have been formed by damming of tributary channels by fluvial sand bars from main stream, located nearby at coastal zone, similar to lagoon sites. Large tributary lake, Jangyeonho, is developed in lava plateau dissection valley of Eorang Gun, Hamnam Province. There are more distributed at Duman River mouth$\sim$Cheongjin City, Heungnam City$\sim$Hodo Peninsular and Anbyeon Gun$\sim$Gangreung City. Geomorphometrically, correlation of size to circumference is very high, but correlation of size to shape irregularity is very low. The direction of lagoonal coast, NW-SE and NE-SW are predominated due to direction of tectonic structure and longshore currents. The length of the river into lake are generally short, maximum under 15km, and lake size is smaller, degree of size decreasing is higher. Geomorphic patterns of the lake location are classified as coast-hill range, coastal plain, coastal plain-channel valley, coastal plain-hill range and channel valley-hill range. During from 1920s to 1990s, change with lake size decreasing is highest at coastal plain-channel valley, next is coastal plain. Causes of the size decreasing are fluvial deposition from upper rivers and human impacts such as reclamation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2007

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) was known as one of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced products of macrophage. Macrophages play an important role in the development of inflammatory responses by secreting an array of cytokines and chemokines in a tissue microenvironment. To identify the function and relationship between potent growth factors and SLPI after LPS stimulation, we conducted reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blots for the detection of mRNA and protein expression of SLPI and growth factors such as VEGF, PDGF, bFGF after 100 ng LPS stimulation on the RAW264.7 cells. The result of RT-PCR was showed SLPI mRNA expression was increased from 60 min to 48h in RAW 264.7 cells after incubation with LPS. VEGF and PDGF mRNA was expressed highly at initial stage by LPS stimulation. The mRNA of bFGF and type I collagen was very weakly expressed after LPS stimulation. SLPI protein level was increased likely the mRNA levels in RAW 267.7 cells. Additionally, phase contrast and scanning electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the LPS induce the change of morphology of the RAW264.7 cells. From these results, it suggest that expression of SLPI by LPS treatment may associate with VEGF and PDGF expression in RAW264.7 cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2014

Salsola collina, also known as Russian thistle, is widely distributed in and around waste facilities, roadsides, and drought and semi-drought areas, and is used as a traditional folk remedy in Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of the ethanol extract of S. collina Pall. (EESC), and the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects on human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. EESC exhibited anti-oxidative activity through DPPH radical scavenging capacity and showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. After EESC treatment, HT29 cells altered their morphology, becoming smaller and irregular in shape. EESC also induced cell accumulation in the G2/M phase in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a decrease of cell population in the G1 phase. The G2/M arrest by EESC was associated with the increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 and Wee1 kinase, which phosphorylates, or inactivates, Cdc2. EESC treatment induced the phosphorylation of Cdc2 and Cdc25C, and inhibited cyclin A and Cdc25C protein expression. In addition, S arrest was induced by the highest concentration of EESC treatment, associated with a decrease of cyclin A and Cdk2 expression. These findings suggest that EESC may possess remarkable anti-oxidative activity and exert an anti-cancer effect in HT29 cells by cell cycle regulation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2020

Cyanobacteria are microorganisms which have important roles in the nitrogen cycle due to their ability to fix nitrogen in water and soil ecosystems. They also produce valuable materials that may be used in various industries. However, some species of cyanobacteria may limit the use of water resources by causing harmful algal blooms in water ecosystems. Many culture collection depositories provide cyanobacterial strains for research, but their systematic preservation is not well-developed in Korea. In this study, we developed a method for the cryopreservation of the cyanobacteria Trichormus variabilis (syn. Anabaena variabilis), using alginate microcapsules. Two approaches were used for the experiments and their outputs were compared. One of the methods involved the cryopreservation of cells using only a cryoprotectant and the other used the cryoprotectant within microcapsules. After cryopreservation for 35 days, cells preserved with both methods were successfully regenerated from the initial 1.0 × 10⁵ cells/ml to a final concentration of 6.7 × 10⁶ cells/ml and 1.1 × 10⁷ cells/ml. Irregular T. variabilis shapes were found after 14 days of regeneration. T. variabilis internal structures were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing that lipid droplets were reduced after cryopreservation. The expression of the mreB gene, known to be related to cell morphology, was downregulated (54.7%) after cryopreservation. Cryopreservation using cryoprotectant alone or with microcapsules is expected to be applicable to other filamentous cyanobacteria in the future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2002

In order to elucidate the growth mechanism of sulfide chimney formed as a result of seafloor hydrothermal mineralization, we carried out the mineralogical and fluid inclusion studies on the inactive, sulfide- and silica-rich chimney which has been recovered from a hydrothermal field in the Cleft segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. According to previous studies, many active and inactive vents are present in the Cleft segment. The sulfide- and silica-rich chimney is composed of amorphous silica, pyrite, sphalerite and wurtzite with minor amounts of chalcopyrite and marcasite. The interior part of the chimney is highly porous and represents a flow channel. Open spaces within chimneys are typically coated with colloform layers of amorphous silica. The FeS content of Zn-sulfides varies widely from 13.9 to 34.3 mole% with Fe-rich core and Fe-poor rims. This variation possibly reflects the change of physicochemical characteristics of hydrothermal fluids. Chemical and mineralogical compositions of the each growth zone are also varied, possibly due to a thermal gradient. Based on the microthermometric measurements of liquid-rich, two-phase inclusions in amorphous silica that was precipitated in the late stage of mineralization, minimum trapping temperatures are estimated to be about 1140 to 145$^{\circ}$C with the salinities between 3.2 and 4.8 wt.% NaCI equiv. Although the actual fluid temperatures of the vent are not available, this study suggests that the lowtemperature conditions were predominant during the mineralization in the hydrothermal field at Cleft segment. Comparing with the previously reported chimney types, the morphology, colloform texture, bulk chemistry, and a characteristic mineral assemblage (pyrite + marcasite + wurtzite + amorphous silica) of this chimney indicate that the chimney have been formed from a relatively low-temperature (<250$^{\circ}$C) hydrothermal fluid that was changed by sluggish fluid flow and conductive cooling.