• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.8
• /
• pp.502-507
• /
• 2019

Translation is a costly, but inevitable, cell maintenance process. To reduce unnecessary ATP consumption in cells, a fine-tuning mechanism is needed for both ribosome biogenesis and translation. Previous studies have suggested that the ribosome functions as a hub for many cellular signals such as ribotoxic stress response, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) signaling. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between ribosomes and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation under ribotoxic stress conditions and found that the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) was suppressed by ribosomal protein knockdown but that of p38 was not. In addition, we found that JNK activation is driven by the association of inactive JNK in the 80S monosomes rather than the polysomes. Overall, these data suggest that the activation of JNKs by ribotoxic stress is attributable to 80S monosomes. These 80S monosomes are active ribosomes that are ready to initiate protein translation, rather than polysomes that are already acting ribosomes involved in translation elongation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.423-433
• /
• 2019

Midgut microbiota is known to play a fundamental role in the biology and physiology of the agricultural pest, Spodoptera litura. This study reports the difference in the larval midgut microbiota of field-caught and laboratory-reared populations of S. litura by performing 16S rDNA amplicon pyrosequencing. Field populations for the study were collected from castor crops, whereas laboratory-reared larvae were fed on a regular chickpea based diet. In total, 23 bacterial phylotypes were observed from both laboratory-reared and field-caught caterpillars. Fisher's exact test with Storey's FDR multiple test correction demonstrated that bacterial genus, Clostridium was significantly abundant (p < 0.05) in field-caught larvae of S. litura as compared to that in the laboratory-reared larvae. Similarly, bacterial genera, such as Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia, and Fibrisoma were identified (p < 0.05) predominantly in the laboratory-reared population. The Bray-Curtis dissimilarity matrix depicted a value of 0.986, which exhibited the maximum deviation between the midgut microbiota of the laboratory-reared and field-caught populations. No significant yeast diversity was seen in the laboratory-reared caterpillars. However, two yeast strains, namely Candida rugosa and Cyberlindnera fabianii were identified by PCR amplification and molecular cloning of the internal transcribed space region in the field-caught caterpillars. These results emphasize the differential colonization of gut residents based on environmental factors and diet.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.117-120
• /
• 2003

Asbestos is being replaced throughout the world among friction materials because of its carcinogenic nature. This has raised an important issue of heat dissipation in the non-asbestos brake pad materials being developed for automobiles etc. It has been found that two of the components i.e. carbon fibres as reinforcement and graphite powder as friction modifier, in the brake pad material, can playa vital role in this direction. The study reports the influence of these modifications on the thermal properties like coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and thermal conductivity along with the mechanical properties of nonasbestos brake pad composite samples developed in the laboratory.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2004

The goal of interaction proteomics that studies the protein-protein interactions of all expressed proteins is to understand biological processes that are strictly regulated by these interactions. The availability of entire genome sequences of many organisms and high-throughput analysis tools has led scientists to study the entire proteome (Pandey and Mann, 2000). There are various high-throughput methods for detecting protein interactions such as yeast two-hybrid approach and mass spectrometry to produce vast amounts of data that can be utilized to decipher protein functions in complicated biological networks. In this review, we discuss recent developments in analytical methods for large-scale protein interactions and the future direction of interaction proteomics.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2015

p73 is a structural and functional homologue of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. Like p53, p73 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and transactivates p53-responsive genes, conferring its tumor suppressive activity. In addition, p73 has unique roles in neuronal development and differentiation. The importance of p73-induced apoptosis lies in its capability to substitute the pro-apoptotic activity of p53 in various human cancer cells in which p53 is mutated or inactive. Despite the great importance of p73-induced apoptosis in cancer therapy, little is known about the molecular basis of p73-induced apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the p73 structures reported to date, detailed structural comparisons between p73 and p53, and current understanding of the transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms of p73-induced apoptosis.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.164-174
• /
• 2017

Mitochondria are cytosolic organelles essential for generating energy and maintaining cell homeostasis. Despite their critical function, the handful of proteins expressed by the mitochondrial genome is insufficient to maintain mitochondrial structure or activity. Accordingly, mitochondrial metabolism is fully dependent on factors encoded by the nuclear DNA, including many proteins synthesized in the cytosol and imported into mitochondria via established mechanisms. However, there is growing evidence that mammalian mitochondria can also import cytosolic noncoding RNA via poorly understood processes. Here, we summarize our knowledge of mitochondrial RNA, discuss recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms and functional impact of RNA import into mitochondria, and identify rising challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.99-105
• /
• 2018

In this paper, we present fortified instructional methods that contributed in improving students' interest toward the expository organic chemistry laboratory course. Reformed TA (Teaching assistant) training and allocation method, a thorough course orientation session, text-light/graphics-heavy results PPT reports, and journal article templated-term papers have improved students' satisfaction in the organic chemistry laboratory course. These methods could be implemented while maintaining the traditional organic chemistry laboratory instruction styles and hence could be broadly applicable.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2013.08a
• /
• pp.149.1-149.1
• /
• 2013

Noble metal silicides are widely used in silicon based microelectronic and optoelectronic devices. Among them, as compared to other silicides, structural and electronic properties of platinum silicide (PtSi) are found to be less sensitive to change in its dimensions. PtSi is known to overcome the junction spiking problems of Al-Si contacts. Present study is regarding the spatial evolution of platinum silicide in Pt/SiOx/Si. Scanning photoelectron emission microscopy (SPEM) was used for this purpose. SPEM images were obtained for pristine samples and after an annealing at $500^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. Core-level spectra were recorded at different points in SPEM images contrasted by the intensity of Pt 4f7/2. Both Pt 4f and Si 2p spectra reveal the formation of PtSi after annealing. However, in contrast to earlier reports, PtSi formation is found to be non-uniform confirmed by the SPEM images and from the core level spectra taken at different intensity points.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.130-130
• /
• 2003

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known neurotoxicant that causes severe damage to the central nervous system in humans. Many reports have shown that MeHg is poisonous to human body through contaminated foods and has released into the environment. Despite many studies on the pathogenesis of MeHg-induced central neuropathy, no useful mechanism of toxicity has been established so far.(omitted)

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2009

Early and accurate detection of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis can improve both the treatment outcome and public health control of tuberculosis. A number of molecular-based techniques have been developed including ones using probe molecules that target drug resistance-related mutations. Although these techniques are highly specific and sensitive, mixed signals can be obtained when the drug resistant isolates are mixed with drug susceptible isolates. In order to overcome this problem, we developed a new drug susceptibility test (DST) for one of the most effective anti-tuberculosis drug, isoniazid. This technique employed a microplate hybridization assay that quantified signals from each probe molecule, and was evaluated using clinical isolates. The evaluation analysis clearly showed that the microplate hybridization assay was an accurate and rapid method that overcame the limitations of DST based on conventional molecular techniques.