• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.3
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• pp.290-295
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of establishing a reproductive system for the seed of Pedicularis hallaisanensis, which is in the endangered wild species II class in Korea. The seed of P. hallaisanensis is egg-shaped, and the seed coat is dark brown. The embryo was identified as a dwarf type by the seed section. The seed length was $0.47{\pm}0.07mm$, width $0.16{\pm}0.006mm$, and thickness $0.12{\pm}0.01mm$. The weight of one seed was $0.0003{\pm}0.0001mg$, and 1000 seeds weighed $4.59{\pm}0.02mg$. The degree of seed viability was 75.33% by the tetrazolium (TZ) assay. The highest germination rate of P. hallaisanensis seed was 71% after 4 weeks of storage at $4^{\circ}C$. However, the germination rate tended to decrease gradually over a longer storage period. The germination rates after 6 or 8 weeks of storage at $4^{\circ}C$ were 64% and 60%, respectively. We used two host plants, Artemisia princeps and Dendranthema zawadskii, to determine the effect of host plants on P. hallaisanensis seed germination. The germination of P. hallaisanensis mixed with A. princeps or D. zawadskii started at 53.5 and 62.5 days after sowing, respectively. We did not find any germination 164 days postsowing with both host plants. When A. princeps and D. zawadskii were used as host plants for P. hallaisanensis seed germination, P. hallaisanensis seed germination rates were 45.5% and 19.5%, respectively. The average time to germination was 70.2 days for A. princeps, and 46.8 days for D. zawadskii.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.376-386
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• 2016

Apoptosis induction has been proposed as an efficient mechanism by which malignant tumor cells can be removed following chemotherapy. The intrinsic mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway is frequently implicated in chemotherapy-induced tumor cell apoptosis. Since DNA-damaging agent (DDA)-induced apoptosis is mainly regulated by the tumor suppressor protein p53, and since more than half of clinical cancers possess inactive p53 mutants, microtubule-damaging agents (MDAs), of which apoptotic effect is mainly exerted via p53-independent routes, can be promising choice for cancer chemotherapy. Recently, we found that the apoptotic signaling pathway induced by MDAs (nocodazole, 17α-estradiol, or 2-methoxyestradiol) commonly proceeded through mitotic spindle defect-mediated prometaphase arrest, prolonged Cdk1 activation, and subsequent phosphorylation of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bim in human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells. These microtubule damage-mediated alterations could render the cellular context susceptible to the onset of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by triggering Bak activation, Δψm loss, and resultant caspase cascade activation. In contrast, when the MDA-induced Bak activation was inhibited by overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL), the cells in prometaphase arrest failed to induce apoptosis, and instead underwent mitotic slippage and endoreduplication cycle, leading to formation of populations with 8N and 16N DNA content. These data indicate that cellular apoptogenic mechanism is critical for preventing polyploid formation following MDA treatment. Since the formation of polyploid cells, which are genetically unstable, may cause acquisition of therapy resistance and disease relapse, there is a growing interest in developing new combination chemotherapies to prevent polyploidization in tumors after MDA treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2004

Objective: To investigate the association between endometriosis and polymorphisms of N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2), glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 genes in Korean infertile patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 303 infertile patients who had undertaken diagnostic laparoscopy during January, 2001 through December, 2003 at Samsung Cheil Hospital enrolled in this study. The patients were grouped according to laparoscopic findings: minimal to mild endometriosis (group I: n=147), moderate to severe endometriosis (group II: n=57), normal pelvic cavity (n=99). Peripheral blood was obtained and genomic DNA was extracted. The genotypes of each genes were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). For NAT2, RFLP was used to detect the wild type (wt) and mutant (mt) alleles, enabling classification into slow (mt/mt) or fast (wt/wt or wt/mt) acetylation genotypes. For GSTM1, PCR was used to distinguish active (+/- or +/+) from null (-/-) genotypes. For CYP1A1, MspI digestion was used to detect the wild type (A1A1), heterozygote (A1A2) or mutant (A2A2) genotypes. Result: The genotype frequencies of NAT2 slow acetylator was 12.8%, 10.9%, 12.8% in group I, group II and control, respectively. The genotype frequencies of GSTM1 null mutation was 55.3%, 41.8%, 53.2% in group I, group II and control, respectively. The genotype frequencies of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism was 16.3%, 9.1%, 18.1% in group I, group II and control, respectively. No significant difference was observed between endometriosis and normal controls in the genotype frequencies of the NAT2, GSTM1, CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism. Conclusion: The NAT2, GSTM1, CYP1A1 gene polymorphism may not be associated with the susceptibility of endometriosis in Korean women.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.217-224
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• 2013

Transgenic plants have been tested as an alternative host for the production and delivery of experimental oral vaccines. Here, we developed transgenic potatoes that express the major antigenic sites A and D of the glycoprotein S from transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV-$S_{0.7}$) under three expression vector systems. The DNA integration and mRNA expression level of the TGEV-$S_{0.7}$ gene were confirmed in transgenic plants by PCR and northern blot analysis. Antigen protein expression in transgenic potato was determined by western blot analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results revealed that based on a dilution series of Escherichia coli-derived antigen, the transgenic line P-2 had TGEV-$S_{0.7}$ protein at levels that were 0.015% of total soluble proteins. We then examined the immunogenicity of potato-derived TGEV-$S_{0.7}$ antigen in mice. Compared with the wild-type potato treated group and synthetic antigen treated group, mice treated with the potato-derived antigen showed significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA responses.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.498-508
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• 2019

Bacillus species were isolated from iru, a traditional fermented condiment in Nigeria. Polyphasic approach was used to evaluate the phylogenetic relationship and strain sub-type of the isolated species. Additionally, the phylogenetic profiles of the species isolated from iru were compared with those of bacilli isolated from different continents. The phylogenetic diversity analysis was performed using the combination of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, ITS-PCR, ITS-PCR-RFLP, and M13 RAPD-PCR. The analysis revealed that Bacillus subtilis U170B and B. subtilis U146A isolated from iru were the closest relatives of strains belonging to the phylogeny of B. subtilis sensu stricto and were related to other bacilli isolated from different continents that had functional benefits. The two isolated species exhibited resistance to acidic pH (pH 2.0). The survival rates of B. subtilis U170B, B. subtilis U146A, and B. clausii UBBC-07 (commercial probiotic strain) cultured at pH 2.0 for 3 h were 33.45, 12.44, and 9.53%, respectively. The strains were highly tolerant to bile salts [0.3% (w/v)]. B. subtilis U170B exhibited the highest cell viability (43.45%) when cultured for 3 h in the presence of bile salts, followed by B. subtilis U146A (25%) and B. clausii UBBC-07 (18.94%). B. subtilis U170B and B. subtilis U146A did not exhibit haemolytic activity and were susceptible to different antibiotics. Additionally, these two strains exhibited weak antagonistic activity against B. cereus. The diverse wild strains of B. subtilis can be used as a safe multifunctional starter culture for the industrial production of condiments with health benefits.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2003

The liver progenitor cells could form a potential target cell population fore both tumor-initiating and -promoting chemicals. Induction of drug-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes, including AhR-dependent CYP1A1, NQO-1 and AKR1C9, was detected in the rat liver epithelial WB-F344 "stem-like" cells. Additionally, WB-F344 cells express a functional, wild-type form of p53 protein, a biomarker of genotoxic events, and connexin 43, a basic structural unit of gap junctions forming an important type of intercellular communication. In this cellular model, two complementary assays have been established for detection of the modes of action associated with tumor promotion: inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and proliferative activity in confluent cells. We found that the PAHs and PCBs, which are AhR agonists, released WB-F344 cells from contact inhibition, increasing both DNA synthesis and cell numbers. Genotoxic effects of some PAHs that lead to apoptosis and cell cycle delay might interfere with the proliferative activity of PAHs. Contrary to that, the nongenotoxic low-molecular-weight PAHs and non-dioxin-like PCB congeners, abundant in the environment, did not significantly affect cell cycle and cell proliferation; however both groups of compounds inhibited GJIC in WB-F344 cells. The release from contact inhibiton by a mechanism that possibly involves the AhR activation, inhibition of GJIC and genotoxic events induced by environmental contaminants are three important modes of action that could play an important role in carcinogenic effects of toxic compounds. The relative potencies to inhibit GJIC, to induce AhR-mediated activity, and to release cells from contact inhibition were determined for a large series of PAHs and PCBs and their metabolites. In vitro bioassays based on detection of events on cellular level (deregulation of GJIC and/or proliferation) or determination of receptor-mediated activities in both ?$stem-like^{\circ}{\times}$ and hepatocyte-like liver cellular models are valuable tools for detection of modes of action of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. They may serve, together with concentration data, as a first step in their risk assessment.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2010

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was conducted in order to generate DNA insertional mutants of Flammulina velutipes. Agrobacterium tumefaciens AGL-1 harboring pBGgHg was transformed into gill tissues of Flammulina velutipes strain KACC42777. The transformants resistant on hygromycine ($30\;{\mu}g/ml$) were confirmed by PCR. The targeted insertional sites were amplified by inverse PCR and sequenced. To find the phenotype variation of all generated transformants, bottle cultivation which followed by the standard cultivation protocol were conducted. Color variation was observed on the cultivated fruiting bodies. Furthermore, the transformant pool will be used as a good genetic resources for studying gene function.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.297-303
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• 2017

Leucine-responsive regulatory protein (LRP) is a regulatory protein of molecular weight 18.8 kDa and is widely known to regulate many metabolic and functional activities of operons in Escherichia coli. The gene for Lrp from Escherichia coli in pQE system of 6 ${\times}$ His-tagging was expressed and $^3H$-labeled protein, as well as the wild type Lrp, was purified. The crosslink experiments were performed to analyze the quaternary structure of Lrp at high of $5{\mu}M$ and at low concentrations below $0.3{\mu}M$ with cross linkers, such as glutaraldehyde, 1, 2, 3, 4-diepoxy-butane (DEB), and ethylene glycol bis (succinimidyl succinate) (EGS). In the experiments, we found that the Lrp protein can be formed higher conformation states of tetramer, hexamer, octamer, as well as dimeric state when incubated with the above cross linkers.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 1999

This study has been performed to deveope a yeast strain having high ${\alpha}$-amylase production ability using nuclear transfer method. Hybrids formed between the strains of Saccharomyces fiburigera KCTC 7393 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC 7049 (tyr-, ura-)were obtained by nuclear transfer technique. Nuclei isolated from the wild type S. fiburigera strain were transfered into auxotrophic mutants S. cerevisiae and selected the hybrids showing an increased starch degrading capability were selected (MN-16). This transformant grew best and produced maximal ${\alpha}$-amylase activity on the medium containing 2% (V/V) soluble starch. ${\alpha}$-Amylase from MN-16 was purified electrophoretically homogenety and its properties were investigated. The enzyme was purified about 10.6 fold with an overall yield 9.7% from the culture medium by ammonium sulfate fractionation. DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography, and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the ${\alpha}$-amylase was estimated to be 53,000 daltons by SDS-PAGE and by gel permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme showed the maximum activity at pH 5.5 and 40${\circ}C$. The km value for soluble starch was 2.5㎎/㎖. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of $Ca^{2+}, Co^{2+}, EDTA, Mg^{2+}, Mn^{2+}, Zn^{2+}$, but inhibited by $Cu^{2+}, Fe^{2+}$, and $Ni^{2+}$

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2004

Spatholobus suberectus belonging the family Leguminosae has been used for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, tonifying the blood, relaxing tendons, stopping internal bleeding and eliminating dampness in oriental traditional medicine. This study investigates whether the water extracts of S. suberectus induce apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Jurkat cells were increased inhibitions of cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner by S. suberectus, as measured by cell morphology. The capability of S. suberectus to induce apoptosis was associated with proteolytic cleavage of specific target protein such as poly (ADP­ribose)polymerase protein suggesting the possible involvement of caspases. The purpose of the present study is also to investigate the effect of S. suberectus on cell cycle progression. G1 checkpoin related gene products tested (cyclin D1, cyclin dependent kinase 4, retinoblastoma, E2Fl) were decreased in their protein levels in a dose-dependent manners after treatment of the extract. These results indicate that the increase of apoptotic cell death by S. suberectus may be due to the inhibition of cell cycle progression in wild type p53-lacking Jurkat cells.