• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.660-672
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• 2022

The target of rapamycin complex (TORC) plays a key role in plant cell growth and survival by regulating the gene expression and metabolism according to environmental information. TORC activates transcription, mRNA translation, and anabolic processes under favorable conditions, thereby promoting plant growth and development. Tomato fruit ripening is a complex developmental process promoted by ethylene and specific transcription factors. TORC is known to modulate leaf senescence in tomato. In this study, we investigated the function of TORC in tomato fruit ripening using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of the TORC genes, TOR, lethal with SEC13 protein 8 (LST8), and regulatory-associated protein of TOR (RAPTOR). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of tomato TORC genes were the highest in the orange stage during fruit development in Micro-Tom tomato. VIGS of these TORC genes using stage 2 tomato accelerated fruit ripening with premature orange/red coloring and decreased fruit growth, when control tobacco rattle virus 2 (TRV2)-myc fruits reached the mature green stage. TORC-deficient fruits showed early accumulation of carotenoid lycopene and reduced cellulose deposition in pericarp cell walls. The early ripening fruits had higher levels of transcripts related to fruit ripening transcription factors, ethylene biosynthesis, carotenoid synthesis, and cell wall modification. Finally, the early ripening phenotype in Micro-Tom tomato was reproduced in the commercial cultivar Moneymaker tomato by VIGS of the TORC genes. Collectively, these results demonstrate that TORC plays an important role in tomato fruit ripening by modulating the transcription of various ripening-related genes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.102-113
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• 2006

Objectives & Methods : To obtain the 50% lethal dose(LD50), approximated lethal dose(ALD) and approximated target organs of 'Mahwangyounpae-tang' for further study into such things as repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity, single dose toxicity was tested in male SD rats according to KFDA Guideline 1999-61[KFDA, 1999] at dosage levels of 2,000, 1,000, 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg/$10m{\ell}$. In this study, mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes and body weight gains, gross findings and weight of principal organs were detected during and/or after 14 days of single dosing. Results & Conclusions : After 2 or 3 days of dosing, 1 or 2 animals in 2,000 mg/kg-dosing groups died. Excitation and leaping response were observed as test article-treatment related clinical signs. These abnormal signs were restricted to 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups and survivors recovered to normal within 3 or 4 days after dosing. Significant decrease in body weight were observed in some periods of observation in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing group, from 1 days after dosing compared to those of vehicle control group. Significantly diminished body weight gains were observed in observation periods in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing group compared to those of vehicle control group. Hypertrophy and hemorrhage of heart and decoloration of kidney were observed as test article-treatment related gross findings. These abnormal findings were restricted to 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups. A significant increase of absolute and relative heart and kidney weight were demonstrated in 2,000 mg/kg-dosing groups. The value for LD50 found in this study was 2,218.57 mg/kg. ALD in this study was 2,000 mg/kg, and the target organs are considered to be the heart and the kidney.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.442-448
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• 2006

To obtain the 50% lethal dose (LD50), approximated lethal dose (ALD) and approximated target organs of 'Mahwangyounpae-tang' for further study like repeat dose toxicity, genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity, single dose toxicity was tested in male ICR mouse according to KFDA Guideline 1999-61 [KFDA, 1999] at a dosage level of 2,000, 1,000, 500, 250 and $125\;mg/kg/10m{\ell}$. In this study, mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes and body weight gains, gross findings and weight of principal organs were detected during and/or after 14 days of single dosing. After 2 or 3 days of dosing, 1 or 2 animals in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups were died. Excitation and leaping response were observed as test article-treatment related clinical signs. These abnormal signs were restricted to 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups and they were recovered to normal within 4 days after dosing in case of survivors. A significant decrease of body weight were observed in some periods of observation in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing group from 1 days after dosing compared to those of vehicle control group. A significant decrease of body weight gains were observed in observation periods in 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing group compared to those of vehicle control group. Hypertrophy of heart and decoloration of kidney were observed as test article-treatment related gross findings. These abnormal findings were restricted to 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg-dosing groups. A significant increase of absolute and relative heart and kidney weight were demonstrated in 2,000 mg/kg-dosing groups. LD50 in this study was detected as 2,242.42 mg/kg. ALD in this study was detected as 1,000 mg/kg and the target organ was considered as the heart and kidney.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.213-224
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• 2016

Objectives: Ginseng Rh2+ is enzyme-treated ginseng extract containing high amounts of converted ginsenosides, such as compound k, Rh2, Rg3, which have potent anticancer activity. We conducted general and genetic toxicity tests to evaluate the safety of ginseng Rh2+. Methods: An acute oral toxicity test was performed at a high-level dose of 4,000 mg/kg/day in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. A 14-day range-finding study was also conducted to set dose levels for the 90-day study. A subchronic 90-day toxicity study was performed at dose levels of 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day to investigate the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of ginseng Rh2+ and target organs. To identify the mutagenic potential of ginseng Rh2+, we conducted a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) using amino-acid-requiring strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli (E. coli), a chromosome aberration test with Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, and an in vivo micronucleus test using ICR mice bone marrow as recommended by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Results: According to the results of the acute oral toxicity study, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of ginseng Rh2+ was estimated to be higher than 4,000 mg/kg. For the 90-day study, no toxicological effect of ginseng Rh2+ was observed in body-weight changes, food consumption, clinical signs, organ weights, histopathology, ophthalmology, and clinical pathology. The NOAEL of ginseng Rh2+ was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day, and no target organ was found in this test. In addition, no evidence of mutagenicity was found either on the in vitro genotoxicity tests, including the Ames test and the chromosome aberration test, or on the in vivo in mice bone marrow micronucleus test. Conclusion: On the basis of our findings, ginseng Rh2+ is a non-toxic material with no genotoxicity. We expect that ginseng Rh2+ may be used as a novel adjuvant anticancer agent that is safe for long-term administration.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1784-1790
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• 2006

Bacillus anthracis is a causative agent of anthrax. Anthrax toxins are composed of a protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF), in which the PA is a central mediator for the delivery of the two enzymatic moieties LF and EF. Therefore, the PA has been an attractive target in the prevention and vaccinization for anthrax toxin. Recently, it has been reported that the molecule consisting of multiple copies of PA-binding peptide, covalently linked to a flexible polymer backbone, blocked intoxification of anthrax toxin in an animal model. In the present study, we have screened novel diverse peptides that bind to PA with a high affinity (picomolar range) from an M13 peptide display library and characterized the binding regions of the peptides. Our works provide a basis to develop novel potent inhibitors or diagnostic probes with a diverse polyvalence.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal world-wide gynecological disease among women due to the lack of molecular biomarkers to diagnose the disease at an early stage. In addition, there are few well established relevant animal models for research on human ovarian cancer. For instance, rodent models have been established through highly specialized genetic manipulations, but they are not an excellent model for human ovarian cancer because histological features are not comparable to those of women, mice have a low incidence of tumorigenesis, and they experience a protracted period of tumor development. However, the laying hen is a unique and highly relevant animal model for research on human ovarian cancer because they spontaneously develop epithelial cell-derived ovarian cancer (EOC) as occurs in women. Our research group has identified common histological and physiological aspects of ovarian tumors from women and laying hens, and we have provided evidence for several potential biomarkers to detect, monitor and target for treatment of human ovarian cancers based on the use of both genetic and epigenetic factors. Therefore, this review focuses on ovarian cancer of laying hens and relevant regulatory mechanisms, based on genetic and epigenetic aspects of the disease in order to provide new information and to highlight the advantages of the laying hen model for research in ovarian carcinogenesis.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2020

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) have become an environmental havoc in last few decades with reported cases of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), lethal effects over aquatic organisms, interference in natural decomposition of organic matter, reduced diversity of microbial communities in different environmental compartments, inhibition of growth of microbes resulting in reduced rate of nutrient cycling, hormonal imbalance in exposed organisms etc. Owing to their potential towards bioaccumulation and persistent nature, these compounds have longer residence time and activity in environment. The conventional technologies of wastewater treatment have got poor efficiency towards removal/degradation of PhACs and therefore, modern techniques with efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly operation need to be explored. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) like Photocatalysis, Fenton oxidation, Ozonation etc. are some of the promising, viable and sustainable options for degradation of PhACs. Although energy/chemical or both are essentially required for AOPs, these methods target complete degradation/mineralization of persistent pollutants resulting in no residual toxicity. Considering the high efficiency towards degradation, non-toxic nature, universal viability and acceptability, AOPs have become a promising option for effective treatment of chemicals with persistent nature.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6129-6133
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• 2015

miR-129-2 is frequently downregulated in multiple cancers. However, how it is silenced in cancers remains unclear. Here we investigated the expression profile and potential biological function of miR-129-2 in glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and lethal form of brain tumors in adults. We showed that miR-129-2 is lost in GBM patient specimens and cultured cell lines. miR-129-2 expression could be restored upon treatment with a histone deadetylase inhibitor (trichostatin A) but not a DNA methylation inhibitor (5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine), and more profound effect was observed with the treatment of these two drugs in combination. Furthermore, forced expression of miR-129-2 repressed the expression of major oncogenic genes such as PDGFRa and Foxp1 in GBMs. Consistently, expression of miR-129-2 significantly inhibits GBM cell proliferation in vitro. These results reveal that miR-129-2 is epigenetically regulated and functions as a tumor suppressor gene in GBMs, suggesting it may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.439-441
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• 2014

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis with symptoms of congenital neurological and ocular diseases and acquired lymphadenitis, retinochoroiditis, and meningoencephalitis. Small molecules which block the activity of protein kinases were tested in in vitro culture of T. gondii to find new therapeutic drugs of safer and more effective than the combined administration of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine that sometimes provoke lethal Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Among them, Gefitinib and Crizotinib inhibited intracellular growth of T. gondii in HeLa cells by counting the number of T. gondii per parasitophorous vacuolar membrane whereas Sunitinib did not. Gefitinib inhibited the growth of T. gondii in a dose-dependent manner over $5{\mu}M$ up to the tolerable concentration of HeLa cells and halted the division of the parasite immediately from the time point of treatment. Gefitinib inhibition suggests that tyrosine kinases of EGFR family or other homologous kinases of the parasite itself may be the target to cause the block of T. gondii growth.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.455-460
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• 1993

In the present study, the effects of 4 agricultural chemicals commonly used in this conuntry were experimentally assessed on Lymnaea viridis the intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, which in non-target organism of these chemicals. The major habitat of the snail is rice paddies in Korea and many agricultural chemicals are used for weed, fungi or insect control in rice paddies and there is a general concern that certain levels of these chemicals could reach the aquatic ecosystem and possible alter the snail life. Agricultural chemicals used in this study included two herbicides, an insecticide and a fungicide. The tenth generation of laboratory reared snails were selected and exposed to the varying concentrations(0-100 ppm) of these chemicals. As concentrations and time of exposure increase, the per cent mortality increases(p<0.01). $LC_{50}$(lethal concentration for 50% mortality) values of these chemicals on snail after 96-hour exposure were variable; iprobenfos showed the highest acute toxicity(12.6 ppm), while carbofuran showed the lowest acute toxicity(74.5ppm). Sublethal concentrations of chemicals after 96-hour exposure were also variable ; bentazone showed the highest chronic toxicity(0.81ppm), while carbofuran showed the lowest chronic toxicity(5.04 ppm).