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PRC Maritime Operational Capability and the Task for the ROK Military (중국군의 해양작전능력과 한국군의 과제)

  • Kim, Min-Seok
    • Strategy21
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    • s.33
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    • pp.65-112
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    • 2014
  • Recent trends show that the PRC has stepped aside its "army-centered approach" and placed greater emphasis on its Navy and Air Force for a wider range of operations, thereby reducing its ground force and harnessing its economic power and military technology into naval development. A quantitative growth of the PLA Navy itself is no surprise as this is not a recent phenomenon. Now is the time to pay closer attention to the level of PRC naval force's performance and the extent of its warfighting capacity in the maritime domain. It is also worth asking what China can do with its widening naval power foundation. In short, it is time to delve into several possible scenarios I which the PRC poses a real threat. With this in mind, in Section Two the paper seeks to observe the construction progress of PRC's naval power and its future prospects up to the year 2020, and categorize time frame according to its major force improvement trends. By analyzing qualitative improvements made over time, such as the scale of investment and the number of ships compared to increase in displacement (tonnage), this paper attempts to identify salient features in the construction of naval power. Chapter Three sets out performance evaluation on each type of PRC naval ships as well as capabilities of the Navy, Air Force, the Second Artillery (i.e., strategic missile forces) and satellites that could support maritime warfare. Finall, the concluding chapter estimates the PRC's maritime warfighting capability as anticipated in respective conflict scenarios, and considers its impact on the Korean Peninsula and proposes the directions ROK should steer in response. First of all, since the 1980s the PRC navy has undergone transitions as the focus of its military strategic outlook shifted from ground warfare to maritime warfare, and within 30 years of its effort to construct naval power while greatly reducing the size of its ground forces, the PRC has succeeded in building its naval power next to the U.S.'s in the world in terms of number, with acquisition of an aircraft carrier, Chinese-version of the Aegis, submarines and so on. The PRC also enjoys great potentials to qualitatively develop its forces such as indigenous aircraft carriers, next-generation strategic submarines, next-generation destroyers and so forth, which is possible because the PRC has accumulated its independent production capabilities in the process of its 30-year-long efforts. Secondly, one could argue that ROK still has its chances of coping with the PRC in naval power since, despite its continuous efforts, many estimate that the PRC naval force is roughly ten or more years behind that of superpowers such as the U.S., on areas including radar detection capability, EW capability, C4I and data-link systems, doctrines on force employment as well as tactics, and such gap cannot be easily overcome. The most probable scenarios involving the PRC in sea areas surrounding the Korean Peninsula are: first, upon the outbreak of war in the peninsula, the PRC may pursue military intervention through sea, thereby undermining efforts of the ROK-U.S. combined operations; second, ROK-PRC or PRC-Japan conflicts over maritime jurisdiction or ownership over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands could inflict damage to ROK territorial sovereignty or economic gains. The PRC would likely attempt to resolve the conflict employing blitzkrieg tactics before U.S. forces arrive on the scene, while at the same time delaying and denying access of the incoming U.S. forces. If this proves unattainable, the PRC could take a course of action adopting "long-term attrition warfare," thus weakening its enemy's sustainability. All in all, thiss paper makes three proposals on how the ROK should respond. First, modern warfare as well as the emergent future warfare demonstrates that the center stage of battle is no longer the domestic territory, but rather further away into the sea and space. In this respect, the ROKN should take advantage of the distinct feature of battle space on the peninsula, which is surrounded by the seas, and obtain capabilities to intercept more than 50 percent of the enemy's ballistic missiles, including those of North Korea. In tandem with this capacity, employment of a large scale of UAV/F Carrier for Kill Chain operations should enhance effectiveness. This is because conditions are more favorable to defend from sea, on matters concerning accuracy rates against enemy targets, minimized threat of friendly damage, and cost effectiveness. Second, to maintain readiness for a North Korean crisis where timely deployment of US forces is not possible, the ROKN ought to obtain capabilities to hold the enemy attack at bay while deterring PRC naval intervention. It is also argued that ROKN should strengthen its power so as to protect national interests in the seas surrounding the peninsula without support from the USN, should ROK-PRC or ROK-Japan conflict arise concerning maritime jurisprudence. Third, the ROK should fortify infrastructures for independent construction of naval power and expand its R&D efforts, and for this purpose, the ROK should make the most of the advantages stemming from the ROK-U.S. alliance inducing active support from the United States. The rationale behind this argument is that while it is strategically effective to rely on alliance or jump on the bandwagon, the ultimate goal is always to acquire an independent response capability as much as possible.

Biological Functions of N- and O-linked Oligosaccharides of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin and Lutropin/Chorionicgonadotropin Receptor

  • Min, K. S.
    • Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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    • 2000.10a
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    • pp.10-12
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    • 2000
  • Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$-subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was. efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to consist of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t63I or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632-653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agonist-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17-fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

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Survival and Cross-contamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Various Agricultural Product-Contact Surfaces (농산물 접촉 표면 재질에 따른 Escherichia coli O157:H7의 생존 및 상추로의 교차오염도 조사)

  • Kim, Se-Ri;Choi, Song-Yi;Seo, Min-Kyoung;Kim, Won-Il;Chung, Duck-Hwa;Ryu, Kyoung Yul;Yun, Jong-Chul;Kim, Byung-Seok
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.272-278
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    • 2013
  • To evaluate the effect of surface contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) on the microbiological safety of lettuce, this study was conducted to investigate the attachment, biofilm producing, survival, and cross-contamination of E. coli O157:H7 on stainless steel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The attachment rate of E. coli O157:H7 on PVC was 10 times higher than that on stainless steel after exposure 1 h in cell suspension. However, there was not a difference between two types of surface after exposure for 6 h and 24h. The biofilm producing of E. coli O157:H7 was TSB > 10% lettuce extracts > 1% lettuce extracts > phosphate buffer. When two kinds of materials were stored at various conditions ($20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$, relative humidity (RH) 43%, 69%, and 100%), the numbers of E. coli O157:H7 at $30^{\circ}C$, RH 43% or RH 69% were reduced by 5.0 log CFU/coupon within 12 h regardless of material type. Conversely, the survival of E. coli O157:H7 at RH 100% was lasted more than 5 days. In addition, the reduction rate of E. coli O157:H7 was decreased in the presence of organic matter. The transfer efficiency of E. coli O157:H7 from the contaminated surface to lettuce was dependent upon the water amount of the surface of lettuce. Especially, the transfer rate of E. coli O157:H7 was increased by 10 times in the presence of water on the lettuce surface. From this study, the retention of E. coli O157:H7 on produce contact surfaces increase the risk cross-contamination of this pathogen to produce. Thus, it is important that the surface in post harvest facility is properly washed and sanitized after working for prevention of cross-contamination from surface.

A Study of the Core Factors Affecting the Performance of Technology Management of Inno-Biz SMEs (기술혁신형(Inno-Biz) 중소기업의 기술경영성과에 미치는 핵심요인에 관한 연구)

  • Yoon, Heon-Deok;Seo, Ri-Bin
    • Journal of Technology Innovation
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.111-144
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    • 2011
  • This study is to confirm the core factors of innovative capabilities and technological entrepreneurship affecting the performance of technology management and business management of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Through the consideration about the complex natures of technological innovation affecting by multidimensional factors, this study designs the research model that innovative capabilities, the performances of technology and business management are arranged in accordance with the innovation process; input-output-outcome. To meet this research purpose, the hypothesis are set up based on the previous research studies and the research samples are selected from members of the Innovative Business (INNO-BIZ) Association, located in Seoul and Geyonggi province. As a result of regression analysis to the responses gathered from 360 firms, the performance of business management is influenced positively by the technology superiority, market growth and business profitability which are the dominant factors of performance of technology management. In addition, three sub-variables of innovative capabilities such as R&D, strategic planning and learning capability, have positive effects on both the managerial performances. Innovativeness and progressiveness of technological entrepreneurship affect both the performances positively. Moreover, the co-relation between technological entrepreneurship of an innovation leader and innovative capabilities of organizational members are identified. Lastly, technological entrepreneurship has the mediating effect on the path of leading innovative capabilities to the managerial performances. In conclusion, the research results imply that technological innovation-type firms should periodically evaluate the performance of technology management which are the output of technological innovations and the reinvestment for ultimate business success. And improving and developing innovative capabilities and technological entrepreneurship is required to continuously and consistently investing and supporting resources on technological innovations at the firm-and government-level. It is considered that these are the crucial methods for securing the technologically competitive advantage of SMEs with less resources and narrow innovation range.

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A Study on Development of Prototype Test Train Design in G7 Project for High Speed Railway Technology (G7 고속전철기술개발사업에서의 시제차량 통합 디자인 개발)

  • 정경렬;이병종;윤세균
    • Archives of design research
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.185-196
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    • 2003
  • The demand for an environment-friendly transportation system, equipped with low energy consumption, and low-or zero-pollution has been on the increase since the beginning of the World Trade Organization era. Simultaneously, the consistent growth of high-speed tram technology, combined with market share, has sparked a fierce competition among technologically-advanced countries like France, Germany, and Japan in an effort to keep the lead in high-speed train technology via extensive Research and development(R&D) expenses. These countries are leaders in the race to implement the next-generation transportation system, build intercontinental rail way networks and export the high-speed train as a major industry commodity. The need to develop our own(Korean) 'high-speed train' technology and its core system technology layouts including original technology serves a few objectives: They boost the national competitive edge; they develop an environmental friendly rail road system that can cope with globalization and minimize the social and economic losses created by the growing traffic-congested delivery costs, environment pollution, and public discomforts. In turn, the 'G7 Project-Development of High Speed Railway Technology' held between 1996 and 2002 for a six-year period was focused on designing a domestic train capable of traveling at a speed of 350km/h combined and led to the actual implementation of engineering and producing the '2000 high-speed train:' This paper summarizes and introduces one of the G7 Projects-specifically, the design segment achievement within the development of train system engineering technology. It is true that the design aspect of the Korean domestic railway system program as a whole was lacking when compared with the advanced railroad countries whose early phase of train design emphasized the design aspect. However, having allowed the active participation of expert designers in the early phase of train design in the current project has led to a new era of domestic train development and the implementation of a way to meet demand flexibly with newly designed trains. The idea of a high-speed train in Korea and its design concept is well-conceived: a faster, more pleasant, and silent based Korean high-speed train that facilitates a new travel culture. A Korean-type of high-speed train is acknowledged by passengers who travel in such trains. The Korean high-speed prototype train has been born, combining aerodynamic air-cushioned design, which is the embodiment of Korean original design of forehead of power car minimized aerodynamic resistance using a curved car body profile, and the improvement of the interior design with ergonomics and the accommodation of the vestibule area through the study of passenger behavior and social culture that is based on the general passenger car.

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Effect of boron-enriched complex fertilizer on the growth of apple tree (붕소첨가(硼素添加) 복비(複肥)의 사과나무 생육(生育)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Oh, Wang Keum;Lee, Chong Hwa;Kim, Yong Koo;Park, Hoon
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.9-16
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    • 1978
  • In order to establish a better combination of nutrients of complex fertilizer for apple tree a boron-enriched complex fertilizer ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O-B_2O_5-MgO$: 10 10-0.2-2.0) was compared with various treatments using urea superphosphate, potash muriate, usual complex fertilizer (22-22-11) and borax in its effect on the various growth status such as total leaf weight per tree and shoot growth of dwarf Fuji (1 year old) and super type Starcreamson (3 year old) grown at comparatively poor soils. For Fuji grown on sandy red soils the boron-enriched complex fertilizer (BC) was best and followed by-usual complex fertilizer NPK only, NPK only+Boron, BC+high boron (17times) and no phosphorus in the order. For Starcreamson grown on heavy clayey soils CB+high boron and phosphorus was best and followed by BC, usual complex fertilizer, NPK only, BC+high boron, NPK+boron and no phosphorus in the order. Without compost in the poor heavy clayey soil the growth was worse with high boron and best with NPK+boron and followed by BC Growth was poor with high boron alone but better with phosphorus and high boron, and it was thought that boron was effective when it was distributed in soil with N.P.K. Fertilizer response of apple tree was well appeared on leaf length, new shoot length and total leaf weight per tree. Suitable formulation of a boron-enriched complex fertilizer for apple tree appeared as 10-20-10-0.6 ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O-B_2O_5$) for poor fields and fields with moderate fertility. Chemical analysis of leaves suggested Mg effect on the increase of leaf weight. Effect of Fe was similar to thatof of Mg.

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Relationship between Light Environment and Crop Growth under Various Nitrogen Application Rates Condition in Rice Plant Canopy (질소(窒素) 시비수준(施肥水準)에 따른 벼 군락내(群落內) 광환경변화(光環境變化)와 생육(生育)과의 관계(關係)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Lee, Jeong-Taek;Kazuo, Kobayashi
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.128-135
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    • 1989
  • To find the effects of solar energy into the rice canopy and its balance on the rice plant growth, a Tongil type rice, Raekyeong and a japonica rice, Koganebare were used with four levels of nitrogen fertilizer application, 6, 10, 14, and 18kg $l0a^{-1}$ in Chigugo, Japan. The micrometerosological data, the solar radiation and absorbed solar radiation by the rice plants, and leaf area index on cardinal growth stage of the rice community were measured. The results are as follows : Raekyeong showed increased LAI by increased nitrogen fertilizer application rates, and larger LAI than Koganebear. 1. There was no difference in total dry weight till 20 days after transplanting regardless of nitrogen levels in the same variety, after that, however, Raekyeong showed higher dry matter productions for the same durations than Koganebare. 2. In early growth stage of transplanting rice, reflection ratio of solar radiation above the crop canogy was about 6%, however, it was increased up to 20% by the increased LAI at heading date. 3. In high levels of nitrogen application plots, LAI were increased so that values were decreased. 4. Relationship between the amount of absorbed radiation by plants and its dry matter production was linearly significant. Higher levels of nitrogen application produced higher dry matter in Raekyeong, however, in lower level, the dry matter production pattern was almost similar between both rice cultivars.

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The Effect of Inositol and Phytic Acid on Skin (이노시톨과 피틴산이 피부에 미치는 영향)

  • Zho Choon Koo;Han Chang Giu;Song Hwan
    • Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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    • v.30 no.4 s.48
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    • pp.515-524
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    • 2004
  • Inositol and phytic acid extracted from rice bran were investigated for applying cosmetics. Skin lotions containing $0{\~}3.0\;wt\%$ inositol and $0{\~}1.50\;wt%$ phytic acid were applied respectively, to the arm skins of 45 Asian women 20'~40's for 7 weeks. Improvement on moisture was evaluated. In addition, improvements on sebum, elasticity, and wrinkle were examined after applying placebo, inositol and phytic acid-containing skin lotions tot face, respectively. For $1.0\;wt\%$ inositol, it resulted in $19\%$ increase of moisture. The wrinkle reduction and elasticity improved $12.4%\;and\;17.0\%$ on average, respec-tively. Applying $0.5\;wt\%$ phytic acid resulted in $71.6\%$ increase the moisture. Improvements on wrinkle and elasticity were $16.9%\;and\;21.9\%$ respectivelv. hpplving inositol or phytic acid regardless of dry or oily skin, resulted in sebum value recovery to that of the normal skin after 2~4 weeks. Although inositol is inferior to phytic acid in improvements of the skin, phytic acid is not suitable to sensitive skin. So, $0~0.50\;wt\%$ of phytic acid were added to $1.0\;wt\%$ inositol and similar experiments were carried out. In case of added $1.0\;wt\%$ phytic acid, moisture increased $63.8\%$ approximately. Improvements on elasticity and reduction on wrinkle were $17.2%\;and\;17.4\%,$ respectively. Both skin types were turned to normal skin type after 2 weeks. It could improve the skin condition when used inositol added phytic acid. The optimized concentration of phytic acid was $0.10\;wt\%\;with\;1.0\;wt\%$ of inositol without side effect.

The Role and Significance of Biomarker for Plasma G-CSF in Patients with Primary Lung Cancer (원발성 폐암에서 혈장 과립구 자극인자의 암표지자로서의 역할과 의의)

  • Song, Jung Sub;Kim, So Young;Jo, Hyang Jeong;Lee, Kang Kyoo;Shin, Jeong Hyun;Shin, Seong Nam;Kim, Dong;Park, Seong Hoon;Lee, Young Jin;Ko, Chang Bo;Lee, Mi Kung;Choi, Soon Ho;Jeong, Jong Hoon;Park, Jung Hyun;Kim, Hui Jung;Kim, Hak Ryul;Jeong, Eun Taik;Yang, Sei Hoon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.66 no.6
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    • pp.444-450
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    • 2009
  • Background: Biomarkers for cancer have several potential clinical uses, including the following: early cancer detection, monitoring for recurrence prognostication, and risk stratification. However, no biomarker has been shown to have adequate sensitivity and specificity. Many investigators have tried to validate biomarkers for the early detection and recurrence of lung cancer. To evaluate plasma G-CSF as such a biomarker, protein levels were measured and were found to correlate with the clinicopathological features of primary lung tumors. Methods: Between December 2006 and May 2008, 100 patients with histologically-validated primary lung cancer were enrolled into this study. To serve as controls, 127 healthy volunteers were enrolled into this study. Plasma G-CSF levels were measured in lung cancer patients using the sandwich ELISA system (R & D inc.) prior to treatment. Results: The mean plasma G-CSF levels were 12.2$\pm$0.3 pg/mL and 46.0$\pm$3.8 pg/mL (mean$\pm$SE) in the normal and in the cancer groups, respectively. In addition, plasma G-CSF levels were higher in patients with early lung cancer than in healthy volunteers (p<.001). Plasma G-CSF levels were higher in patients who were under 65 years old or smokers. Within the cancer group, plasma G-CSF levels were higher in patients with non small cell lung cancer than in patients with small cell lung cancer (p<.05). Overall, plasma G-CSF levels were shown to increase dependent upon the type of lung cancer diagnsosed. In the order from highest to lowest, the levels of plasma G-CSF tended to decrease in the following order: large cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Plasma G-CSF levels tended to be higher in patients with advanced TNM stage than in localized TNM stage (I, II

Biological Functions of N- and O-linked Oligosaccharides of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin and Lutropin/Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptor

  • Min, K.S.
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.357-364
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    • 2000
  • Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ -subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$-subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t631 or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632~653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agoinst-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17- fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

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