• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.459-464
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• 2016

An outbreak of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, in the environment-friendly reclaimed plantations of forage crops in Sanyimyeon, Haenam-gun, Jellanam-do, Korea in August 2014 caused severe damages to various crops. Owing to its first occurrence in the Korean history, the causes underlying the outbreak and phase-transition of the migratory locust were not known. It is critical to establish the genetic relationship of the migratory locust in Sanyimyeon, Haenam-gun with the other previously reported strains in the world in order to understand the mechanisms responsible for its outbreak. The gene sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and displacement-loop (D-loop) of the mitochondria of various regional species of the migratory locust were used to perform the phylogenetic analysis. Our results suggested that the migratory locusts in Sanyimyeon, Haenam-gun are closely related with the Eurasian strains of the northern lineage. In future, these two mitochondrial genes can be used for elucidating the genetic population structures in migratory locusts in various regions. In addition, the sequence information of these genes can be used to enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of the outbreak of migratory locusts.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

Objectives : Rosa laevigata Michx. has been used for the treatment of renal disease in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, we investigated cytoprotective effect of R. laevigata water extract (RLE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA) + iron.Methods : To evaluate the protective effects of RLE against AA + iron-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cell, cell viability and changes on apoptosis-related proteins were assessed by MTT and immunoblot analyses. The effects of RLE on reduced glutathione level, production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential were also monitored. Furthermore, to verify underlying molecular mechanism, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was examined by immunoblot analysis. Additionally, Nrf2 transactivation and its downstream target genes expression were also determined by reporter gene and realtime RT-PCR analyses.Results : RLE pretreatment (30-300 μg/ml) prevented cells from AA + iron-mediated cell death in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, 100 μg/ml RLE inhibited AA + iron-induced glutathione depletion, reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction. RLE accumulated nuclear Nrf2 and also transactivated Nrf2, which was evidenced by antioxidant response element- and glutathione S-transferase A2-driven luciferase activities and mRNA level of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 and sestrin 2. Moreover, protective effect of RLE against AA + iron was abolished in Nrf2 knockout cells.Conclusions : These results indicate that RLE has the ability to protect hepatocyte against oxidative stress through Nrf2 activation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2020

Background: Panax species are important herbal medicinal plants in the Araliaceae family. Recently, we reported the complete chloroplast genomes and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from seven Panax species, two (P. quinquefolius and P. trifolius) from North America and five (P. ginseng, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus, P. vietnamensis, and P. stipuleanatus) from Asia. Methods: We conducted phylogenetic analysis of these chloroplast sequences with 12 other Araliaceae species and comprehensive comparative analysis among the seven Panax whole chloroplast genomes. Results: We identified 1,128 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in coding gene sequences, distributed among 72 of the 79 protein-coding genes in the chloroplast genomes of the seven Panax species. The other seven genes (including psaJ, psbN, rpl23, psbF, psbL, rps18, and rps7) were identical among the Panax species. We also discovered that 12 large chloroplast genome fragments were transferred into the mitochondrial genome based on sharing of more than 90% sequence similarity. The total size of transferred fragments was 60,331 bp, corresponding to approximately 38.6% of chloroplast genome. We developed 18 SNP markers from the chloroplast genic coding sequence regions that were not similar to regions in the mitochondrial genome. These markers included two or three species-specific markers for each species and can be used to authenticate all the seven Panax species from the others. Conclusion: The comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven Panax species elucidated their genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships, and 18 species-specific markers were able to discriminate among these species, thereby furthering efforts to protect the ginseng industry from economically motivated adulteration.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2021

Two stone loaches (Nemacheilidae, Cypriniformes), Barbatula toni (Dybowski, 1869) and B. nuda (Bleeker, 1864), have been recognized in the Korean waters to date. Recently, due to indiscriminate artificial introduction as well as the change of their habitats induced by natural disasters, it seems to be concerned about the damage of species-specific geographic boundaries. We examined the genetic difference of two Korean Barbatula species by the haplotype network based on the Cytochrome b sequences of mitochondrial DNA and the phylogenetic relationships among them including Barbatula fishes occurring around the Korean peninsula. As a result, three and 29 haplotypes were obtained from B. toni and B. nuda, respectively, and totally three clades comprising "toni group", "nuda hangang group", and "nuda donghae group" were identified. The sequence variable sites among them was 10~24%, showing a difference of interspecific level. Phylogenetic relationships of the latter group, especially, forms an independent cluster discriminating with other two groups as well as the Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and European Barbatula species, suggesting the possibility of the specific level divergence.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2021

The Chironomidae is a benthic macroinvertebrate commonly found in freshwater ecosystems, along with Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, which can be used for environmental health assessments. There are approximately 15,000 species of Chironomidae worldwide, but there are limited studies on species identification of domestic Chironomidae larvae. In the present study, we carried out species classification of the Chironomidae larvae that found in Jeju's tap water purification plants using morphological characteristics and genetic identification based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of the mitochondrial DNA. Body shape, mentum, antenna, mandible in the head capsule, and claws were observed in the larvae for morphological classification. Analysis of 17 larvae collected from faucets and fire hydrants of domestic tap water purification plants revealed the presence of two species, including 14 Orthocladius tamarutilus and 3 Paratrichocladius tammaater. These results will aid the use of the criteria information about species classification of the Chironomidae for water quality management in water purification plants and diversity monitoring of freshwater environments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.851-858
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• 2023

Unique cartilage matrix-associated protein (UCMA) is an extrahepatic vitamin K-dependent protein rich in γ-carboxylated (Gla) residues. UCMA has been recognized for its ability to promote osteoblast differentiation and enhance bone formation; however, its impact on osteoblasts under hyperglycemic stress remains unknown. In this paper, we investigated the effect of UCMA on MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells under hyperglycemic conditions. After exposure to high glucose, the MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with recombinant UCMA proteins. CellROX and MitoSOX staining showed that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which initially increased under high-glucose conditions in MC3T3-E1 cells, decreased after UCMA treatment. Additionally, quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed increased expression of antioxidant genes, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and superoxide dismutase 1, in the MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to both high glucose and UCMA. UCMA treatment downregulated the expression of heme oxygenase-1, which reduced its translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, the expression of dynamin-related protein 1, a mitochondrial fission marker, was upregulated, and AKT signaling was inhibited after UCMA treatment. Overall, UCMA appears to mitigate ROS production, increase antioxidant gene expression, impact mitochondrial dynamics, and modulate AKT signaling in osteoblasts exposed to high-glucose conditions. This study advances our understanding of the cellular mechanism of UCMA and suggests its potential use as a novel therapeutic agent for bone complications related to metabolic disorders.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.522-534
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• 1995

Background: In the pathogenesis of acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS), oxygen radiclls are known to be involved in one part. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) protects oxygen radical-induced tissue damage by dismutating superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. In eukaryotic cells, two forms of SOD exist intracellularly as a cytosolic, dimeric copper/zinc-containing SOD(CuZnSOD) and a mitochondrial, tetrameric manganese-containing SOD(MnSOD). But there has been little information about SOD gene expression and its regulation in pulmonary alveolar macrophages(PAMs). The objective of this study is to evaluate the SOD gene expression induced by LPS and its regulation in PAMs of rat. Method: In Sprague-Dawley rats, PAMs obtained by broncholaveolar lavage were purified by adherence to plastic plate. To study the effect of LPS on the SOD gene expression of PAMs, they were stimulated with different doses of LPS($0.01{\mu}g/ml{\sim}10{\mu}g/ml$) and for different intervals(0, 2, 4, 8, 24hrs). Also for evaluating the level of SOD gene regulation actinomycin D(AD) or cycloheximide(CHX) were added respectively. To assess whether LPS altered SOD mRNA stability, the rate of mRNA decay was determined in control group and LPS-treated group. Total cellular RNA extraction by guanidinium thiocyanate/phenolfchlorofonn method and Northern blot analysis by using a $^{32}P$-labelled rat MnSOD and CuZnSOD cDNAs were performed. Results: The expression of mRNA in MnSOD increased dose-dependently, but not in CuZnSOD. MnSOD mRNA expression peaked at 8 hours after LPS treatment. Upregulation of MnSOD mRNA expression induced by LPS was suppressed by adding AD or CHX respectively. MnSOD mRNA stability was not altered by LPS. Conclusion: These findings show that PAMs of rat could be an important source of SOD in response to LPS, and suggest that their MnSOD mRNA expression may be regulated transcriptionally and require de novo protein synthesis without affecting mRNA stability.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.592-597
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• 2001

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate with the formation of $CO_2$, acetyl-CoA, NADH, and H+. This complex contains multiple copies of three catalytic components including pyruvate dehydrogenase(E1), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase(E2), and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3). Two regulatory components (E1-kinase and phospho-E1 phosphatase) and functionally less-understood protein (protein X, E3BP) are also involved in the formation of the complex. In this study, cloning and characterization of a gene for human E3BP have been carried out. A cDNA encoding the human E3BP was isolated by database search and cDNA library screening. The primary structure of E3BP has some similar characteristics with that of E2 in the lipoyl domain and the carboxyl-terminal domain, based on the nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence. However, the conserved amino acid moiety including the histidine residue for acetyltransferase activity in E2 is not conserved in the case of human E3BP. The human E3BP was expressed and purified in E. coli. The molecular weight of the protein, excluding the mitochondrial target sequence, was about 50 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. Cloning of human E3BP and expression of the recombinant E3BP will facilitate the understanding of the role(s) of E3BP in mammalian PDC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 2008

The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim acts as a sensor for apoptotic stimuli and initiates apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. To identify novel regulators of Bim, we employed the yeast two-hybrid system and isolated the human gene encoding macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a ubiquitously expressed proinflammatory mediator that has also been implicated in cell proliferation, the cell cycle and carcinogenesis. The interaction between MIF and Bim was confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo protein interaction assays. Intriguingly, protein complexes between MIF and the three major Bim isoforms (BimEL/BimL/BimS) could be detected in HEK293 and K562 cells, especially in cells undergoing apoptosis. Moreover, exogenous expression of MIF partially inhibited Bim-induced apoptosis in HEK293 cells. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of MIF increased apoptosis in K562 cells exposed to the chemical oxidant diamide. Endogenous MIF may regulate the pro-apoptotic activity of Bim and inhibit the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2015

Histone acetylation plays a critical role in the regulation of transcription by altering the structure of chromatin, and it may influence the resistance of some tumor cells to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) by regulating the gene expression of components of the TRAIL signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in sensitizing TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Caki human renal carcinoma cells. Our results indicate that nontoxic concentrations of TSA substantially enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis compared with treatment with either agent alone. Cotreatment with TSA and TRAIL effectively induced cleavage of Bid and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), which was associated with the activation of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), contributing toward the sensitization to TRAIL. Combined treatment with TSA and TRAIL significantly reduced the levels of the cellular Fas-associated death domain (FADD)-like interleukin-$1{\beta}$-converting enzyme (FLICE) inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), whereas those of death receptor (DR) 4, DR5, and FADD remained unchanged. The synergistic effect of TAS and TRAIL was perfectly attenuated in c-$FLIP_L$-overexpressing Caki cells. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that down-regulation of c-FLIP contributes to TSA-facilitated TRAIL-induced apoptosis, amplifying the death receptor, as well as mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling pathways.