• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.111-126
• /
• 2009

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, small RNA molecules consisting of 21-24 nucleotides (nts) that regulate target genes at the posttranscriptional level in plants and animals. In plants, miRNAs negatively regulate target mRNAs containing a highly complementary sequence by either mRNA cleavage or translational repression. MiRNAs are processed from single-stranded precursors containing stem-loop structures by a Dicer-like enzyme and are loaded into silencing complexes, where they act on target mRNAs. Although plant miRNAs were first reported in Arabidopsis 10 years later than animal miRNAs, numerous miRNAs have since been identified from various land plants ranging from mosses to flowering plants, and their roles in diverse aspects of plant developmental processes have been characterized. Furthermore, most of the annotated plant miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved in various plants. In particular, recent functional studies using Arabidopsis mutants have contributed a great deal of information towards establishing a framework for understanding miRNA biogenesis and functional roles. Extensive appraisal of miRNA-directed regulation during a wide array of plant development and plant responses to environmental conditions has confirmed the versatile roles of miRNAs as a key component of plant molecular biology.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2018.05a
• /
• pp.19-19
• /
• 2018

Fungal pathogens have huge impact on health and economic wellbeing of human by causing life-threatening mycoses in immune-compromised patients or by destroying crop plants. A key determinant of fungal pathogenesis is their ability to undergo developmental change in response to host or environmental factors. Genetic pathways that regulate such morphological transitions and adaptation are therefore extensively studied during the last few decades. Given that epigenetic as well as genetic components play pivotal roles in development of plants and mammals, contribution of microbial epigenetic counterparts to this morphogenetic process is intriguing yet nearly unappreciated question to date. To bridge this gap in our knowledge, we set out to investigate histone modifications among epigenetic mechanisms that possibly regulate fungal adaptation and processes involved in pathogenesis of a model plant pathogenic fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. For functional and comparative analysis of histone modifications, a web-based database (dbHiMo) was constructed first to archive and analyze histone modifying enzymes from eukaryotic species whose genome sequences are available. Based on the database entries, we carried out functional analysis of genes encoding histone modifying enzymes. Here I provide examples of such analyses that show how histone acetylation and methylation is implicated in regulating important aspects of fungal pathogenesis. Current analysis of histone modifying enzymes is followed by ChIP-seq and RNA-seq experiments to pinpoint the genes that are controlled by particular histone modifications. We anticipate that our work will provide not only the significant advances in our understanding of epigenetic mechanisms operating in microbial eukaryotes but also basis to expand our perspective on regulation of development in fungal pathogens.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2013

Auxin is a key plant hormone which regulates overall plant growth development. A number of researches to investigate auxin signaling identified three major classes of early auxin response genes: AUX/IAA, GH3 and SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR). Among these genes, in planta functions of SAUR gene family are largely ambiguous, while both AUX/IAA and GH3 genes are analyzed to mediate negative feedback on auxin response. SAUR genes encode small plant-specific proteins. SAUR gene products are highly unstable and transiently expressed in the tissue- and developmental-specific manners in response to auxin and various environmental stimuli. In the decades, molecular and genetic approaches to elucidate in planta functions of SAURs have been hampered by several factors such as the unstable molecular features and functional redundancy among them. However, a series of recent studies focusing on several subgroups of SAUR gene family made significant progress in our understanding of its biochemical and physiological functions. These works suggest that many SAUR proteins mainly regulate auxin-related cell expansion and auxin transport. In this review, the recent progress in SAUR research and prospects for crop improvement through its genetic manipulation are discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.633-644
• /
• 2019

An advanced anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed (AnaEG) and an internal circulation (IC) reactor, which were adopted to treat starch processing wastewater (SPW) and ethanol processing wastewater (EPW), were comprehensively analyzed to determine the key factors that affected the granules and microbial communities in the bioreactors. The granule size of $900{\mu}m$ in the AnaEG reactor was smaller than that in the IC reactor, and the internal and external morphological structures of the granular sludge were also significantly different between the two types of reactors. The biodiversity, which was higher in the AnaEG reactor, was mainly affected by reactor type. However, the specific microbial community structure was determined by the type of wastewater. Furthermore, the dominant methanogens of EPW were mainly Methanosaeta and Methanobacterium, but only Methanosaeta was a major constituent in SPW. Compared with the IC reactor, characteristics common to the AnaEG reactor were smaller granules, higher biodiversity and larger proportion of unknown species. The comparison of characteristics between these two reactors not only aids in understanding the novel AnaEG reactor type, but also elucidates the effects of reactor type and wastewater type on the microbial community and sludge structure. This information would be helpful in the application of the novel AnaEG reactor.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.80-89
• /
• 2021

Professional identity formation (PIF) is an essential concept in professional education. Many scholars have explored conceptual frameworks of PIF and conducted empirical studies to advance an understanding of the construct in medical education. Despite its importance, it is unclear what educational approaches and assessment practices are actually implemented in medical education settings. Therefore, we conducted a literature review of empirical studies reporting educational practices for medical learners' PIF. We searched the Web of Science database using keywords and chose 37 papers for analysis based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis was conducted. Most empirical papers (92%) were from North America and Western Europe and used qualitative research methods, including mixed methods (99%). The papers reported the use of reflection activities and elective courses for specific purposes, such as art as an educational activity. Patient and healthcare experiences were also found to be a central theme in medical learners' PIF. Through an iterative analysis of the key themes that emerged from the PIF studies, we derived the following key concepts and implications: (1) the importance of creating informal and incidental learning environments, (2) ordinary yet authentic patient experiences, (3) a climate of psychosocial safety in a learning environment embracing individual learners' background and emotional development, and (4) the reconceptualization of PIF education and assessment. In conclusion, research on PIF should be diversified to include various cultural and social contexts. Theoretical frameworks should also be diversified and developed beyond Kegan's developmental framework to accommodate the nonlinear and dynamic nature of PIF.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2018

Large quantity of eggs fail to be fertilized and many of fertilized eggs are unable to hatch in the eel, Anguilla japonica. Larvae of eel absorb egg yolk up to 8 days after hatching but the majority of hatched larvae die before they reach the stage of first feeding in this species. Genes of key enzymes for yolk processing (cathepsin B, D, L and lipoprotein lipase - abbreviated as ctsb, ctsd, ctsl and lpl, respectively) could be associated with egg quality. In this study, we investigated differences in the expression of these genes between floating eggs and sinking eggs, and also the relationship between the gene expressions of the enzymes and fertilization rates in the fertilized eggs obtained from artificially matured female eels. Expressions of yolk processing enzyme genes did not show significant difference between floating and sinking egg groups. Expression of ctsb decreased when fertilization rate was high. Expression of ctsd, ctsl and lpl, however, did not show any significant differences. These results suggest that ctsb expression could be an indicator of egg quality, and that some proteins prone to be digested by ctsb could be very important in the process of fertilization and normal cleavage in this species. Further study should identify these critical proteins to improve our understanding on the quality of fish eggs.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.148-153
• /
• 2006

While the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated, recent studies suggest that polar auxin transport is a key controlling factor in triggering differential growth responses to gravity. Identification of regulatory components in auxin-mediated differential cell expansion would improve our understanding of the gravitropic response. In this study, we identify a mutant designated aux1-like(later changed to aux1), an allele of the aux1 mutant that exhibits a severely disrupted root gravitropic response, but no defects in developmental processes. In Arabidopsis, AUX1 encodes an auxin influx carrier. Since in-depth characterization of the gravitropic response caused by mutations in this gene has been performed previously, we focused on identifying the downstream genes that were differentially expressed compared to wild-type plants. Consistent with the mutant phenotype, the transcription of the auxin-responsive genes IAA17 and GH3 were altered in aux1 plants treated with IAA, 2, 4-D and NAA. In addition, we identified two expansin genes EXP10 and EXPL3 that exhibited different expression in wild-type and mutant plants.

• Proceedings of the Korea Database Society Conference
• /
• 2010.06a
• /
• pp.5-12
• /
• 2010

With a sample of 147 Korean small and medium size companies, this study examined the relationships among degree of information orientation, corporate culture, degree of information management implementation and selected business performances in the process of implementing IMS improvement programs, such as IMS(Information Management System). Information orientation is defined as company-wide understanding and implementation of the underlying philosophy, principles, approached, and tools of information improvement programs. It is assumed that successful implementation of information improvement programs requires a information-oriented mind-set of the employees. The key elements of information orientation include continious improvement structured processes, organixation-wide participation and customer-focused spirit. Culture id defined as the value and beliefs of em organization that shape its behavior. It is also assumed that successful implementation of information improvement programs require strong support from s corporate culture that emphasizes cintinious improvement. Adopting the competing values model of Quinn and McGrath(1985), corporate culture is classified into 'flexible' versus 'controlled culture' and 'outer-directed' versus 'inner-directed culture'. Fitness was defined through the relationship between levels of information oriented and types of corporate culture. The results were as follows. First, it was found that when a company with high information orientation promoted information innovation programs, such as IMS, it reported higher degree of information management implementation and improvement in business performances. Second, the results showed the importance of 'flexible culture' and 'outer-directed culture' in performing information, innovation. Regarding the types of corporate culture, the analysis found that developmental culture, rational culture and group culture were effective. Third, companies with high information oriented and flexible culture or companies with high information orientation and outer-directed culture reported the highest implementation in Information management activities. Fourth, the results showed that the level of information management implementation had a mediating effect on the relationship between information orientation and business performance. It was also found that enhanced non-financial performance led to the improvement of financial performance. This study attempted to exaime the factor that lead information management program to success. In order to reach success, first, it is suggested that companies have positive mind set toward continious information improvement. Secondly, it is recommended that a flexible and outer-directed culture appropriate for continious information improvement is cultivated.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.209-215
• /
• 2015

Red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara is a popular aquaculture species in many Asian countries. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite that first differentiates into female and changes to male later. Due to this reproductive characteristic, stable supply of male and female gametes is a key to the success of seed production in this species. Thus, understanding early gonadal differentiation is required to develop effective sex control techniques. Red spotted grouper were reared in indoor tanks and sampled every 5 days from 40 days post-hatch (DPH) to 130 DPH. Changes of gonadal tissues were examined and analyzed by means of histology. A pair of gonadal primordium has already existed underneath the kidney in the posterior part of the body cavity at 38 DPH when this study began. Gonadal primordia of 38, 40 DPH consisted of germ cells surrounded by a few somatic cells. The blood vessel was observed in the gonadal primordium at 45 DPH. The number of somatic cells and size of gonadal primordium increased age-dependently up to 60 DPH. Formation of ovarian cavity was obvious by two protuberant aggregations of somatic cells at 65 DPH. Completed ovarian cavity and oogonia were first observed in the gonad of one fish sample at 105 DPH. Based on these histological observations, it can be suggested that induction of primary male differentiation could be more successfully applied at around 60 DPH in this species.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.179-184
• /
• 2010

Water temperature influences on various key biological events in fish, but the internal pathway of the temperature effects are not well understood. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), known to respond in the level of cells to many environmental factors including temperature, could improve our understanding on the pathway. Some biological processes such as gonadal development and sex differentiation in the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus is particularly sensitive to water temperature. In this study, we have investigated the expressions of HSP70 and HSP90 genes in young tilapia at an ordinary temperature ($28^{\circ}C$) and elevated water temperature ($36^{\circ}C$). The distribution of the expressions of HSP70 and HSP90 mRNA in this species were found to be almost ubiquitous, being detected in all tissues studied here (brain, gonad, liver and muscle), suggesting the house keeping functions of these genes. Heat shock by elevating temperature from $28^{\circ}C$ to $36^{\circ}C$ significantly increased the expression of HSP70 mRNA in the gonad, liver and muscle for several hours (P<0.05) (brain tissue was not examined for this). The increased level of HSP70 gene expression recovered to the level at control temperature ($28^{\circ}C$) when fish were kept continuously at high temperature ($36^{\circ}C$) for 24 hours. Contrary to this, expression of HSP90 mRNA did not show significant increase in the gonad and muscle by the same heat shock (P>0.05), except in the liver where the expression of HSP90 mRNA increased continuously for 24 hours at $36^{\circ}C$. The results obtained in this study suggest that response to temperature change in different tissue or organ may utilize different heat shock proteins, and that HSP70 may have some importance in temperature-sensitive gonadal event in the Nile tilapia.