• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.249-268
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• 2005

Drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play central roles in the metabolism, elimination and detoxification of xenobiotics and drugs introduced into the human body. Most of the tissues and organs in our body are well equipped with diverse and various DMEs including phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes and phase III transporters, which are present in abundance either at the basal unstimulated level, and/or are inducible at elevated level after exposure to xenobiotics. Recently, many important advances have been made in the mechanisms that regulate the expression of these drug metabolism genes. Various nuclear receptors including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), orphan nuclear receptors, and nuclear factor-erythoroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) have been shown to be the key mediators of drug-induced changes in phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes as well as phase III transporters involved in efflux mechanisms. For instance, the expression of CYP1 genes can be induced by AhR, which dimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) , in response to many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Similarly, the steroid family of orphan nuclear receptors, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), both heterodimerize with the ret-inoid X receptor (RXR), are shown to transcriptionally activate the promoters of CYP2B and CYP3A gene expression by xenobiotics such as phenobarbital-like compounds (CAR) and dexamethasone and rifampin-type of agents (PXR). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), which is one of the first characterized members of the nuclear hormone receptor, also dimerizes with RXR and has been shown to be activated by lipid lowering agent fib rate-type of compounds leading to transcriptional activation of the promoters on CYP4A gene. CYP7A was recognized as the first target gene of the liver X receptor (LXR), in which the elimination of cholesterol depends on CYP7A. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was identified as a bile acid receptor, and its activation results in the inhibition of hepatic acid biosynthesis and increased transport of bile acids from intestinal lumen to the liver, and CYP7A is one of its target genes. The transcriptional activation by these receptors upon binding to the promoters located at the 5-flanking region of these GYP genes generally leads to the induction of their mRNA gene expression. The physiological and the pharmacological implications of common partner of RXR for CAR, PXR, PPAR, LXR and FXR receptors largely remain unknown and are under intense investigations. For the phase II DMEs, phase II gene inducers such as the phenolic compounds butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), green tea polyphenol (GTP), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and the isothiocyanates (PEITC, sul­foraphane) generally appear to be electrophiles. They generally possess electrophilic-medi­ated stress response, resulting in the activation of bZIP transcription factors Nrf2 which dimerizes with Mafs and binds to the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE) promoter, which is located in many phase II DMEs as well as many cellular defensive enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with the subsequent induction of the expression of these genes. Phase III transporters, for example, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) are expressed in many tissues such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain, and play crucial roles in drug absorption, distribution, and excretion. The orphan nuclear receptors PXR and GAR have been shown to be involved in the regulation of these transporters. Along with phase I and phase II enzyme induction, pretreatment with several kinds of inducers has been shown to alter the expression of phase III transporters, and alter the excretion of xenobiotics, which implies that phase III transporters may also be similarly regulated in a coordinated fashion, and provides an important mean to protect the body from xenobiotics insults. It appears that in general, exposure to phase I, phase II and phase III gene inducers may trigger cellular 'stress' response leading to the increase in their gene expression, which ultimately enhance the elimination and clearance of these xenobiotics and/or other 'cellular stresses' including harmful reactive intermediates such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), so that the body will remove the 'stress' expeditiously. Consequently, this homeostatic response of the body plays a central role in the protection of the body against 'environmental' insults such as those elicited by exposure to xenobiotics.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2009

Every spring, Korea is always plagued by sandy dust from the western region of China and Mongolia. Yellow sand is causing an environmental problem to Japan and far into the American continent, let alone Korea. At present, the western region of China is going under desertification at a great speed due to climatic change and humans' damaging activities. To cope with this, each country including China is considering ecological restoration of deserts through planting. Accordingly, this research conducted a vegetation survey on Baicheng district which is a representative dry land of western China to obtain a basic data for ecological restoration of a desert. The survey revealed that Setaria viridis which invaded an arid land made a succession into Setaria viridis-Cannabis sativa var. fruderalis community together with Artemisia mongolica-Setaria viridis community due to the increase in salt concentration and alkalization subsequent to dryness. It was also found out that there finally formed Artemisia mongolica community on a flat intense in harsh wind and dryness with the continuous worsening of environmental conditions. There appeared a different type of vegetation on hilly districts where sporadic shade could come into being because the air humidity could be available relatively there. Frequently, typically appearing at the whole survey area, the Tributlus terrestris community was found to make succession into Tribulus terrestris-Cleisrogenes squarrosa community due to the aggravation of soil environment. In addition, with the worsening of the environment at hilly districts, there formed Clesirogenes squarrosa community resistant to dryness, salinity in soil and strong alkalinity. Further, there appeared higher plant life totalling to 62 taxa comprising 58 species and 4 varieties with 27 families and 49 genuses at the whole survey area. Among these, Compositae plants excellent in resistance to environment was surveyed the most, accounting for 27%.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.61-74
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• 1996

Human and monogastric animals can not synthesize 10 out of the 20 amino asids and therefor need to obtain these from their diet. The plant seed is a major source of dietary protein. It is particular important in their study to increase nutritional quality of the seed storage proteins. The low contents of lysine, asparagine and threonenein various cereal seeds and of cystein and methionine. In legume seeds is due to the low proportions of these amino acids in the major storage proteins, we have tried to apply the three strategies; (1) mutagenesis and selection of specific amino acid analogue resistance, (2) cloning and expression study of lysine biosynthesis related gene, (3) transfomation of lysine rich soybean glycinin gene. The 5-methyltryptophan (5MT) resistant cell lines, SAR1, SAR2 and SAR3 were selected from anther derived callus of rice (Oryza sativa L. "Sasanishiki"). Among these selected cell lines, two (SAR1 and SAR3) were able to grow stably at 200 mg/L of 5MT. Analysis of the freed amino acids in callus shows that 5MT resistant cells (SAR3) accumulated free tryptophan at least up to 50 times higher than those that of the higher than of SAS. These results indicated that the 5MT resistant cell lines are useful in studies of amino acid biosynthesis. Tr75, a rice (Oryza sativa L., var. Sasanishiki) mutant resistant to 5MT was segregated from the progenies of its initial mutant line, TR1. The 5MT resistant of TR75 was inherited in the M8 generations as a single dominant nuclear gene. The content of free amino acids in the TR75 homozygous seeds increased approximately 1.5 to 2.0 fold compared to wild-type seeds. Especially, the contents of tryptophan, phenylalanine and aspartic acid were 5.0, 5.3 and 2.7 times higher than those of wild-type seeds, respectively. The content of lysine is significantly low in rice. The lysine is synthesized by a complex pathway that is predominantly regulated by feedback inhibition of several enzymes including asparginase, aspatate kinase, dihydrodipicolinat synthase, etc. For understanding the regulation mechanism of lysine synthesis in rice, we try to clone the lysine biosynthetic metabolism related gene, DHPS and asparaginase, from rice. We have isolated a rice DHPS genomic clone which contains an ORF of 1044 nucleotides (347 amino acids, Mr. 38, 381 daltons), an intron of 587 nucleotides and 5'and 3'-flanking regions by screening of rice genomic DNA library. Deduced amino acid sequence of mature peptide domain of GDHPS clone is highly conserved in monocot and dicot plants whereas that of transit peptide domain is extremely different depending on plant specie. Southern blot analysis indicated that GDHPS is located two copy gene in rice genome. The transcripts of a rice GDHPS were expressed in leaves and roots but not detected in callus tissues. The transcription level of GDHPS is much higher in leaves indicating enormous chloroplast development than roots. Genomic DNA clones for asparaginase genes were screened from the rice genomic library by using plaque hybridization technique. Twelve different genomic clones were isolated from first and second screening, and 8 of 12 clones were analyzed by restriction patterns and identified by Southern Blotting, Restriction enzyme digestion patterns and Southern blot analysis of 8 clones show the different pattern for asparaginase gene. Genomic Southern blot analysis from rice were done. It is estimated that rice has at least 2-3 copy of asparaginase gene. One of 8 positive clones was subcloned into the pBluescript SK(+) vector, and was constructed the physical map. For transformation of lysine rich storage protein into tobacco, soybean glycinin genes are transformed into tobacco. To examine whether glycinin could be stably accumulated in endosperm tissue, the glycinin cDNA was transcriptionally fused to an endosperm-specific promotor of the rice storage protein glutelin gene and then introduced into tobacco genomic via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Consequently the glycinin gene was expressed in a seed-and developmentally-specific manner in transgenic tobacco seeds. Glycinin were targeted to vacuole-derived protein bodies in the endosperm tissue and highly accumulated in the matrix region of many transgenic plant (1-4% of total seed proteins). Synthesized glycinin was processed into mature form, and assembled into a hexamer in a similar manner as the glycinin in soybean seed. Modified glycinin, in which 4 contiguous methionine residues were inserted at the variable regions corresponding to the C - teminal regions of the acidic and basic polypeptides, were also found to be accumulated similarly as in the normal glycinin. There was no apparent difference in the expression level, processing and targeting to protein bodies, or accumulation level between normal and modified glycinin. glycinin.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.17
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• pp.161-182
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• 1996

In natural atmosphere, copper and copper alloy have been used to make buddha statues and ornaments of historic buildings since the abovementioned metals have corrosion resistance in some extent, and the patinaformed on the surface of the metals has provided the people aesthetic satisfaction with its beauty. But in atmosphere polluted by $SO_x$and $NO_x$, the patina layer does not work as a protective film, and it allows damages of the metal. Since 1992, Tokyo National Research Institute of Cultural Properties(TNRICP)has conducted studies on the influence of atmospheric pollution on metal cultural property held under open air. The Great Buddha Image which is located in Kamakura about 50km west from Tokyo, has been selected as one of the objects to study because it is made by copper alloy and it has stood exposed in the air for about a few hundreds years. Furthermore it is also the reason to study on it that there are many cultural properties in the surroundings of it. We have analysed the components and the structure of the corrosion products formed on the surface of the Buddha, have carried out exposure tests using the alloy samples which have simulated the components of the Great Image, and have observed climated and polluted air in order to discuss the relation between corrosion of metals in open air and conditions of the atmosphere. In this paper, the authors have described the components and the structure of the corrosion product formed on the surface of the Great Image by means of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The conclusions are as follows. (1) Sulfate patina composed mainly with brochantite were detected on the all sides of the Image and the amount of the patina is found more on the back of the Image facing to north. (2) Antlerite were detected on the back and a park of the left side facing to west, and formation of it was considered to have close relation with malignant atmosphere. (3) A big amount of chloride patina which mainly composed of atacamite were observed on the front facing to south. (4) Carbonate patina mainly composed of malachite were detected on the area where brochantite was often detected as well. It suggested that malachite had been transformed into brochantite by deteriorated atmosphere. (5) On the all sides of the Image, patina were observed together with copper oxides mainly composed of cuprous oxide. It showed that the surface layer of the Image consists of two layers : inner layer of oxide and outer layer of patina. (6) Corrosion products of lead which was a component of copperalloy were detected on the all sides : the main lead product found on the front was chlorophosphate whereas the one on the back was sulfate.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.361-367
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• 2012

Diabetes-related complications in human and veterinary medicine have been shown to be associated with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation. It has been recently suggested that the onset of insulin resistance may be caused by over-production of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ from immune cells. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) regulates inflammatory response through modulation of TNF-${\alpha}$ expression. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of CLA on nuclear factor kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65 binding activity, inhibitory kappaB ($I{\kappa}B$)-${\alpha}$ expression, and TNF-${\alpha}$ production from high glucose-treated RAW 264.7 cells. CLA was added to RAW cells that had been previously cultured with low or high concentration of glucose. The levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ protein in the culture supernatant of RAW cells exposed to high concentrations of glucose were higher than those of cells exposed to low concentrations of glucose. The treatment with the high concentration of glucose in RAW cells increased levels of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 binding activity and the decreased $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ expression when compared with those of low glucose. The treatments in combination with CLA and glucose (low and high) glucose in RAW cells increased TNF-${\alpha}$ production when compared with that glucose alone. These treatments with CLA increased TNF-${\alpha}$ production in high glucose-treated RAW cells than those with low glucose. These treatments of CLA also showed higher NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 binding activity and lower $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ expression in high glucose than those in low glucose condition. This suggests that CLA can increase NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 binding activity and TNF-${\alpha}$ production from high glucose-treated RAW 264.7 cells and is likely to promote hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2006

In the present study toxicity and immunostimulating activity of the lectin(KML-C), which was extracted from Korean mistletoe(Viscum album coloratum) were investigated in swine. To determine the toxicity, lectin was injected into thigh or cervical muscles of 4-week-old piglets(Landrace) and observed clinically and pathologically. For determination of the immnunostimulating activity, lectin($0.7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight)-adjuvanted vaccine of Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV)(NYJ1-87) which was inactivated by 0.2% formalin was injected into the cervical muscle of antibody-negative piglets in the same age group. Subpopulation of the immune cells and serum neutralizing(SN) antibodies in the piglets were examined after vaccination, and resistance of the piglets against challenge by virulent NYJ1-87 was further examined. The results were also compared with those from piglets injected with aluminum hydroxide [$Al(OH)_3$]-adjuvanted vaccine of inactivated NYJ1-87 and NYJ1-87 vaccine without adjuvant, and the results are as follows. By injection of lectin with $30{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the thigh muscle, all of 12 piglets died after signs such as dyspnea, fever, systemic erythema and subcutaneous hemorrhages, and lesions pertaining to poisonous hepatitis and dysfunction of kidney were observed. By injection of lectin with $7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the thigh muscle, all of 12 piglets showed signs such as edema and cutaneous hemorrhage in the injected area, lameness and depression, and lesions pertaining to poisonous hepatitis and dysfunction of kidney were observed. By injection of lectin with 1, 3 and $5{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the thigh muscle of each one piglet, signs such as congestion, induration and grayish coloration in the injected area, depression and inappetence were observed in all piglets. Toxic changes were also observed in the liver and kidney of piglets by lectin of 3 and $5{\mu}g$. By injection of lectin with 0.5 and $0.7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight to the cervical muscle of each 9 piglets, all piglets were clinically normal and there were no significant changes in blood counts and chemistry values. Whereas, epithelial swelling and vacuolation of convoluted tubules were observed from one piglet injected with lectin of $0.7{\mu}g$, and necrosis and fibrosis of muscular fiber were observed in the muscle of one piglet injected with lectin of $0.5{\mu}g$. Only population of sIgM+ B lymphocytes increased among immune cells in all of 15 piglets immunized with lectin($0.7{\mu}g/kg$ of body weight)-adjuvanted vaccine, while compared to those in $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine and vaccine without adjuvant. No additional stimulation to the immune cells was recognized when lectin was added to $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine. In piglets immunized with lectin-adjuvanted vaccine, SN titers in reciprocal values for loge were 1.3-4.0 at 1-4 weeks after vaccination, which was similar to those with 1.0-3.3 by vaccine without adjuvant but lower than those with 2.0-5.7 by $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine. Also, no additional increase in the SN titers was recognized when lectin was added to $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine. Piglets immunized with lectin-adjuvanted vaccine were resistant to challenge by the virulent NYJ1-87 at 4 weeks after vaccination, and the SN titers reached to 5.0 one week after challenge, which was higher than those with 4.0 by vaccine without adjuvant but somewhat lower than those with 7.7 by $Al(OH)_3$-adjuvanted vaccine.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2015

Dollar spot, caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, is the major disease in cool-season turfgrasses. Understanding the distribution of this pathogen in soil and thatch is important to developing disease control strategies. In this study, toothpicks were used to detect S. homoeocarpa in the turfgrass canopy, thatch, and soil at different distances from dollar spot infection centers. The effect of penetrant and contact fungicide applications with different water volumes on distribution of S. homoeocarpa was also investigated. S. homoeocarpa was detected in 100% of samples taken from the leaf canopy, 83.3% in thatch area, and 0% in the soil from within the infection center. S. homoeocarpa was isolated in 100% of samples taken from the edge of the infection center, but was only detected in 13% of the samples taken at 1.5 cm away from the infection center edge. S. homoeocarpa was isolated at a higher frequency in the propiconazole treated plots than those treated with chlorothalonil and was not detected in leaf canopy samples when either fungicides was applied with 6.78 L of water. In conclusion, the toothpick-aided detection technique has improved our understanding of S. homoeocarpa epidemiology and could be used as a diagnostic tool to detect for fungicide resistance on golf courses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1658-1665
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• 2009

This study was carried out on thirty men to define the association of inflammatory markers with physiological factors on one-time aerobic exercise (for 15 min. Post-exercise interleukin-6 (IL-6), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and pulsatility and resistance index of middle cerebral artery (PI and RI, respectively) levels were elevated compared to those measured pre-exercise. Total leukocyte and platelet counts, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), free radical (FR), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels tended to decrease after exercise. Pre-exercise IL-6 levels were positively correlated with pre-exercise SBP levels, while post-exercise IL-6 level was positively correlated with post-exercise PI and RI levels. Post-exercise, hs-CRP levels were negatively related to SBP and HR. Pre-exercise, FR levels were positively associated to SBP, DBP, and HR. Post-exercise FR levels were negatively related to the post-exercise blood flow velocity in middle cerebral artery. Pre-exercise erythrocyte indices (RBC, MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels) were in inverse proportion to pre-exercise IL-6 levels. Post-exercise FR levels were inversely related to post-exercise total leukocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte, and MCH levels. Pre-exercise $Mg^{++}$ levels were in inverse proportion to pre-exercise IL-6, hs-CRP, or FR levels. These findings suggest that one-time aerobic exercise offers a significant relationship between inflammatory markers and some biochemical markers or electrolytes. Further studies need to be carried out for investigation of differences between genders or age groups following one-time or regular aerobic exercise.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine the possible additive effects of endurance exercise training (EXER) and selenium (SELE) on the improvements of glucose and lactate transport capacities in diabetic Goto-kakizaki rats. Animals either remained sedentary control (SED) or performed EXER or received SELE [$5{\mu}mol$ kg body wt (-1) day (-1)], or underwent both EXER and SELE (COMBI), which lasted for 6 wk. Compared with sedentary control, EXER alone or the SELE alone group, or the combined treatment group had significant reduction in glucose response measured at 90 min and 120 min during an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and body weight after 6week treatment. EXER alone, or combined group individually had significantly higher glycogen contents in liver compared with SED or SELE groups. EXER alone increased glycogen content in soleus and plantaris compared with SED, and this parameter was increased to greatest extent in the combined treatment groups compared with SED or SELE groups. EXER alone, SELE alone or COMBI, caused significant decreases in the plasma lactates, serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol and HOMA-IR along with a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with SED. In addition, EXER or COMBI individually had significantly lower serum triacylglycerol compared with SED or SELE. With respect to protein expression related to glucose and lactate transport capacities, EXER alone, SELE alone, or COMBI increased in MCT1 and MCT4 protein level in soleus and plantaris. Furthermore, EXER alone, SELE alone or COMBI caused significant increases in mt MCT1 protein level in soleus and plantaris. The findings of the current study suggest that endurance exercise training and selenium treatment may provide therapeutic values to type II diabetic patients with peripheral insulin resistance and hyperlactatecemia by improving glucose and lactate transport capacities, leading to improvements in plasma lactate, serum glucose, insulin and lipid profiles (TC, TG, HDL).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1121-1129
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• 2016

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) are extremely important determinants of the functional properties of wheat dough. Transgenic rice plants containing a wheat TaGlu-Ax1 gene encoding a HMG-GS were produced from the Korean wheat cultivar ‘Jokyeong’ and used to enhance the bread-making quality of rice dough using the Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation method. Two expression cassettes with separate DNA fragments containing only TaGlu-Ax1 and hygromycin phosphotransferase II (HPTII) resistance genes were introduced separately into the Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 strain for co-infection. Rice calli were infected with each EHA105 strain harboring TaGlu-Ax1 or HPTII at a 3:1 ratio of TaGlu-Ax1 and HPTII. Among 210 hygromycin-resistant T₀ plants, 20 transgenic lines harboring both the TaGlu-Ax1 and HPTII genes in the rice genome were obtained. The integration of the TaGlu-Ax1 gene into the rice genome was reconfirmed by Southern blot analysis. The transcripts and proteins of the wheat TaGlu-Ax1 were stably expressed in rice T₁ seeds. Finally, the marker-free plants harboring only the TaGlu-Ax1 gene were successfully screened in the T₁ generation. There were no morphological differences between the wild-type and marker-free transgenic plants. The quality of only one HMW-GS (TaGlu-Ax1) was unsuitable for bread making using transgenic rice dough. Greater numbers and combinations of HMW and LMW-GSs and gliadins of wheat are required to further improve the processing qualities of rice dough. TaGlu-Ax1 marker-free transgenic plants could provide good materials to make transgenic rice with improved bread-making qualities.