• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.532-537
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• 2012

P18, a member of the INK4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, is a tumor suppressor protein and plays a key cell survival role in a variety of human cancers. Under pathophysiological conditions, the INK4 group proteins participate in novel biological functions associated with neuronal diseases and oxidative stress. Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons, and oxidative stress is important in its pathogenesis. Therefore, we examined the effects of PEP-1-p18 on oxidative stress-induced SH-SY5Y cells and in a PD mouse model. The transduced PEP-1-p18 markedly inhibited 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium-induced SH-SY5Y cell death by inhibiting Bax expression levels and DNA fragmentation. Additionally, PEP-1-p18 prevented dopaminergic neuronal cell death in the substantia nigra of a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6,-tetrahydropyridine-induced PD mouse model. These results indicate that PEP-1-p18 may be a useful therapeutic agent against various diseases and is a potential tool for treating PD.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2000

A large number of man-made chemicals that have been released into the environment have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system of animals and humans. There is a critical developmental period during which sexual brain differentiation proceeds irreversibly under the influence of gonadal hormone. Recently we identified KAP3 gene expressed during the critical period of rat brain sexual differentiation. KAP3 functions as a microtubule-based motor that transports membranous organelles anterogradely in cells, including neurons. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of endocrine disrupter, Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), on the KAP3 gene expression during critical period of rat brain development. Maternal exposure to DDT increased the level of KAP3 mRNA in male and female fetus brains when examined on the gestational day 17 (GDl7). In postnatal day 6, DDT suppressed the expression of KAP3 gene in male and female rat brain. Also, the body weight and fertilization rate were decreased in the DDT exposured rats. These results showed that endocrine disrupter, DDT, can affect the transcriptional level of brain sexual differentiation related gene, KAP3, in the prenatal and the neonatal rat brain and that maternal exposure to endocrine disruptors may lead to a toxic response in embryonic differentiation of brain. And so KAP3 gene may be used a gene maker to analyse the molecular mechanism for toxic response in animal nerve tissues exposed to endocrine disruptors.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.331-341
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• 2016

We analyzed the functional fragrant components of three species of Cymbidium oriental orchids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). For the comparative analysis, C. goeringii 'Minchunran', 'Jugeumhwa', C. forrestii 'Chwigae', 'Songmae', 'Yongja', and C. faberi 'Choemae', 'Namyangmae', 'Hwaja' were investigated. Major fragrant components detected by GC/MS were selected on the basis of more than 3% value according to the analysis of peak area (%). We found that ${\alpha}$-bergamotene, which has a cytotoxic effect on breast cancer, cervical cancer, and glioblastoma, and nerolidol, which induces apoptosis of human hepatoma cells (HepG2), inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans and babesiosis, and has antibacterial properties, are common substances produced by C. goeringii L. Nerolidol and ${\beta}$-bisabolene, which is cytotoxic and suppresses the growth of malignant melanoma cells (B16-F10), HepG2, and leukemia cells (HL-60, K562), are major substances in C. forrestii R. Furthermore, ${\alpha}$-pinene, which inhibits the growth of gliobastoma cells (SF-767) and inhibits the anti-inflammatory action of hepatoma cells (BEL-7402); 1,8-cineole, which is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of gastric ulcers; and 1,3,7-octatriene, which functions as a pheromone, are the most common substances in C. faveri R. Thus, substances identified as major fragrant components in oriental orchid species have multiple beneficial applications in human health. This research forms the basis for further studies of the roles of major fragrant components in oriental orchids.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2000

The aim of this study was to assess whether the functional regeneration of a lyophilized autografted cartilage could be improved by implanting a vascularized muscle flap into the medullary canal of autografted proximal humerus. A hemijoint reconstruction using a lyophilized osteochondral autograft in proximal humerus was done in 4 rabbits for control, and combined with an vascularized intramedullary muscle flap in another 4 rabbits for the experimental group. Graft healing and the repair process of osteochondral graft were followed by serial radiographs and histologic changes for 9 weeks after experiments. Each two rabbits in control and in experimental group on 5th and 9th week after implantation of hemijoint were sacrified. The results were as follows: 1. All of control and experimental froups on 5th week united solidly on osteotomized site radiologically, but their articular cartilages were destroyed more seriously in the control than that in experimental group with muscle flap on 5th and 9th week after experiment... 2. Histochemically, the cartilage surface are completely destroyed and revealed with severe osteoarthritic changes on all cartilage layers in control, but cartilaginous erosions are mild to moderate and their arthritic changes are also mild with somewhat regeneration of chondrocytes on deep layers more prominetly on 9th week of the experimental group. 3. The amount of collagen and protenized matrix which was determined by Masson-Trichrome stain was markedly decreased that means the weakness of bony strength and low osteogenic potential in lyophilized cartilage. These results suggest that an intramedullary vascularized muscle flap can improve the functional results of lyophilized osteochondral autograft by providing both increased vascularity and populations of mesenchymal cells to initiate new bone formation on osteotomized site as well as the regeneration of deep layers in articular cartilage. In clinical relevances, this lyophilized hemijoint autograft combined with an intramedullary vascularized muscle pedicle graft might be used very effectively for the treatment of malignant long bone tumors to preserve the joint functions, all or partly, and so to replace it with the artificial joint after tumor excision and hemijoint autograft.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2014

In a variety of eukaryotic cells, autophagy sequesters a portion of the cytoplasm and targets it to a lytic compartment for degradation in bulk. Autophagy is a dynamic process for degrading cytoplasmic cargoes with various degrees of selectivity, and its activity is tightly regulated in a nutrient- and development-dependent manner. Autophagy research has drawn much attention since autophagy not only is an interesting cell biological phenomenon but also has great potential for medical and agricultural applications. For example, autophagy is associated with cancers and neurodegenerative diseases in human and mammalian cells and is also suggested in remobilization of nutrients during the senescence of plant leaves. In this general review, we describe genetic components of the core autophagic machinery conserved among yeast, animals, and plants and briefly explain how these components are responsible for major steps in plant autophagy. We discuss four common features of autophagic processes: (i) autophagy as a degradation pathway, (ii) the concept of flux in autophagy research, (iii) dependency on developmental and nutritional cues, and (iv) diversity of autophagy, focusing on selective types of autophagy. We also summarize cell biological and physiological functions of plant autophagy. Our intention is to provide a quick guide to autophagy for those who are new to autophagy research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.364-375
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• 2016

Post-translational modification is an efficient process to rapidly transduce external stimulus into cellular response. Ubiquitination is a typical post-translational modification which is a highly conserved process in eukaryotes. UPS (Ubiquitin/Proteasome System) mediated by the ubiquitination is to target diverse cellular proteins for degradation. Among E3 ubiquitin ligases that function as the key determinant for substrate recognition, CRL (cullin–RING E3 ubiquitin ligase) is the largest family and forms the complex composed of cullin, RBX1, adaptor and substrate receptor. Although CRL1, also known as SCF complex, has been widely researched for its biological role, the functional studies of CRL4 have been relatively elusive. In Arabidopsis, there are 119 substrate receptors named DCAF (DDB1 CUL4 Associated Factor) proteins for CRL4 and a fraction of DCAF proteins have been identified for their potential functions so far. In this paper, current understanding on structure and biological roles of plant CRL4 complexes in a diverse of cellular events is reviewed, especially focusing on CRL4 substrate receptors. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of CRL4’s activity is also introduced. These studies will be helpful to further understand the signal transduction pathways in which such CRL4 complexes are involved and give a clue to establish the action network of entire CRL4 complexes in plants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1390-1394
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• 2008

Previously, we found that the transgenic rice plants over-expressing the Arabidopsis $H^+/Ca^{2+}$ antiporter CAX 1 (accession no. U57411) gene accumulated 2.7 to 7.5-fold more calcium in the T3 rice grains as compared to those of control. To examine physiological safety of the $T_3$ rice grains, the effect of the $T_3$ brown rice on change in levels of body weight and white blood cells was compared with that of the control Ilpum brown rice by feeding trial in mice. During the feeding trial for one month, there was no significant difference between two mice groups, which were fed by the $T_3$ brown rice or Ilpum brown rice. There were no detectable differences in their effects on immune functions including plaque-forming unit, peritoneal macrophage number, and NK-cell activity. In addition, biochemical analysis of the blood failed to exhibit any difference between two mice groups. Together, these results suggested that the $T_3$ brown rice, which was produced from a genetically modified organism (GMO), might be safe and possess a potential to be applicable as calcium-fortified feed or food. Long-term safety of the $T_3$ brown rice, however, remains to be elucidated.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1872-1881
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• 2010

Extracts of soybeans fermented by Bacillus subtilis have a wide variety of functions, such as enhancing the body's immune function, fibrinolysis activity, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, estrogen function and anti-infection effects. Recently, it was reported that the extracts of fermented beans exhibit strong anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes and induction of apoptosis, respectively. However, the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity in human gastric cancer cells are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethyl alcohol extracts from fermented soybean (FS) and yellow agabean (FYA) on cell growth and apoptosis in AGS human gastric cancer cells. A treatment of FS and FYA inhibited the growth of AGS cells in a concentration-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. FS- and FYA-induced apoptosis were associated with down-regulation of XIAP and cIAP-2, and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. Moreover, a treatment of FS and FYA not only triggered an increase in the levels of death receptor (DR)4, DR5, Fas and FasL, but also induced the activation of casepase-3, -8 and -9. These findings illustrate that FS and FYA may have a therapeutic potential in human gastric AGS cells and as a functional food.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.181-192
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• 2003

We developed a mathematical simulation model to portray the vertical distribution of soil water from the measured weather data and the known soil hydraulic properties, and then compared simulation results with the periodically measured soil water profiles obtained on Jungdong sandy loam to verify the model, In this model, we solved potential-based Richards' equation by the implicit finite difference method superimposed on the predictor-corrector scheme. We presumed that: soil hydraulic properties are homogeneous; soil water flows isothermally; hysteresis is not considered; no vapor flows; no heat transfers into the soil profiles; and water added to soil surface is distributed along the soil profile following partial displacement principle. The input data were broadly classified into two groups: (1) daily weather data such as rainfall, maximum and minimum air temperatures, relative humidity and solar radiation and (2) soil hydraulic data to approximate unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and water retention. Each hydraulic polynomial function approximated using the Chebyshev polynomial and least square difference technique in tandem showed a fairly good fit of the given set of data. Vertical distribution of soil water as approximations to the Richards' equation subject to changing surface and phreatic boundaries was solved numerically during 53 days with a comparatively large time increment, and this pattern agreed well with field neutron scattering data, except for the surface 0.1 m slab.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.215-223
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• 2008

Due partly to lack of actual lane-changing data and partly to few studies on simulation functions to consider the lane-changing behavior, it may result in significant difference between simulation-based and real conditions. The objectives of this study are to estimate the set of mandatory lane-changing models and to analyze their features, depending on the merge control strategies under the lane-closed work zone operations. To achieve them, first, the elaborated calibration is required to simulate the mandatory lane-changing behaviors with the actual field data. Second, one can estimate their models with the logistic regression models, to obtain traffic variables as well as the lane-changing frequencies under the various levels of work zone traffic conditions. As a result, one can state that the well-calibrated simulation has the potential to properly reflect the target mandatory lane-changing behaviors. In addition, it should be mentioned that the set of proposed models is not practicable but preliminary result needed to identify the relations between the actual traffic conditions and lane-changing maneuvers and to develop their practical models for the actual applications.