• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.616-626
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• 2002

Background : The present study was performed to further improve our understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of NFkB, a major transcriptional factor involved in the inflammatory response in the lung, by particulate matter in lung epithelial cells with an aerodynamic diameter of less than $2.5{\mu}m$(PM2.5). Materials and Methods : Immediate production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), with the PM2.5 induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $I{\kappa}B$ degradation and $NF{\kappa}B$-dependent transcriptional activity, in 549 cells, were monitored. Addition, we also examined the effect of the iNOS inhibitor, L-N6-(1-iminoethyl) lysine hydrochloride (L-NIL), on the PM2.5-induced $NF{\kappa}B$ activation in A549 cells. Results : The rapid degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ and the increase of transcriptional activity of the $NF{\kappa}B$-dependent promotor were observed in A549 cells exposed to PM2.5. The immediate production of ROS in response to PM2.5 in A549 cells was not clearly detected, although immediate responses were observed in RAW264.7 cells. A 549 cells, cultured in the presence of PM2.5, produced an increase in NO, which was noticeably significant after 15 min of exposure with the expression of iNOS mRNA. The addition of L-NIL, an iNOS inhibitor, significantly inhibited the PM2.5-induced $I{\kappa}B$ degradation and the increase of the $NF{\kappa}B$-dependent transcriptional activity. Conclusion : These results suggest that PM2.5 stimulates the immediate production of RNS, leading to the activation of $NF{\kappa}B$ in the pulmonary epithelium.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.557-567
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• 2012

This study was conducted to achieve basal information for the development of tomato cultivars with disease resistances through marker-assisted backcross (MAB). Ten inbred lines with TYLCV, late blight, bacterial wilt, or powdery mildew resistance and four adapted inbred lines with superior horticultural traits were collected, which can be useful as the donor parents and recurrent parents in MAB, respectively. Inbred lines collected were evaluated by molecular markers and bioassay for confirming their disease resistances. To develop DNA markers for selecting recurrent parent genome (background selection) in MAB, a total of 108 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer sets (nine per chromosome at average) were selected from the tomato reference genetic maps posted on SOL Genomics Network. Genetic similarity and relationships among the inbred lines were assessed using a total of 303 polymorphic SSR markers. Similarity coefficient ranged from 0.33 to 0.80; the highest similarity coefficient (0.80) was found between bacterial wilt-resistant donor lines '10BA333' and '10BA424', and the lowest (0.33) between a late blight resistant-wild species L3708 (S. pimpinelliforium L.) and '10BA424'. UPGMA analysis grouped the inbred lines into three clusters based on the similarity coefficient 0.58. Most of the donor lines of the same resistance were closely related, indicating the possibility that these lines were developed using a common resistance source. Parent combinations (donor parent ${\times}$ recurrent parent) showing appropriate levels of genetic distance and SSR marker polymorphism for MAB were selected based on the dendrogram. These combinations included 'TYR1' ${\times}$ 'RPL1' for TYLCV, '10BA333' or '10BA424' ${\times}$ 'RPL2' for bacterial wilt, and 'KNU12' ${\times}$ 'AV107-4' or 'RPL2' for powdery mildew. For late blight, the wild species resistant line 'L3708' was distantly related to all recurrent parental lines, and a suitable parent combination for MAB was 'L3708' ${\times}$ 'AV107-4', which showed a similarity coefficient of 0.41 and 45 polymorphic SSR markers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.271-277
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• 2020

Toxicities to many organs caused by humidifier disinfectants have been reported. Recently, humidifier disinfectants have been reported to cause cardiovascular, embryonic, and hepatic toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the toxic mechanism of humidifier disinfectants and compare toxicity in a cellular model and a zebrafish animal model. Because brain toxicity and skin toxicity have been less studied than other organs, we evaluated toxicity in a human dermal cell line and zebrafish under various concentrations of humidifier disinfectants that included polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate (PHMG), oligo-[2-(2-ethoxy)-ethoxyethyl-guanidinium-chloride] (PGH) and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT). A human dermal fibroblast cell line was treated with disinfectants (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 16 mg L^-1) to compare their cytotoxicity. The fewest PHMG-treated cells survived (up to 33%), while 49% and 40% of the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells, respectively, survived. The quantification of oxidized species in the media revealed that the PHMG-treated cells had the highest MDA content of around 28 nM, while the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells had 13 and 21 nM MDA, respectively. As for brain toxicity, treatment of the zebrafish tank water with CMIT/MIT (final 40 mg L^-1) for 30 min resulted in a 17-fold higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than in the control. Treatment with PGH or PHMG (final 40 mg L^-1) resulted in 15- and 11-fold higher production, respectively. The humidifier disinfectants (PHMG, PGH, and CMIT/MIT) showed severe dermal cell toxicity and brain toxicity. These toxicities may be relevant factors in understanding why some children have language disorders, motor delays, and developmental delays from exposure to humidifier disinfectants.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ -subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$-subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t631 or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632~653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agoinst-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17- fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1371-1377
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• 2019

Oxidative stress induced by the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain is the most common cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of flavonoids and their glycosides, namely kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, quercetin, and quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside, against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in the C6 glial cells. The H₂O₂-treated glial cells exhibited decreased cell viability and increased ROS production when compared with normal cells. However, cells treated with each of the four flavonoids/glycosides demonstrated significantly increased viability and suppressed ROS production when compared with the H₂O₂-treated control group. These results indicate that flavonoids/glycosides attenuate oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ in C6 glial cells. To confirm the protective molecular mechanisms, we measured pro-inflammatory factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-1β. H₂O₂ treatment was seen to elevate these factors and decrease IκB-α in the C6 glial cells, while the flavonoids/glycosides induced a down-regulation of the pro-inflammatory factors and increased IκB-α, indicating a neuroprotective effects through attenuation of the inflammation. In particular, quercetin and its glycoside showed a higher neuroprotective effect than the kaempferol treatments. These results suggest that these flavonoids and their glycosides could be promising therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases via the attenuation of oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.174-187
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• 2008

In an effort to identify structure and function of microbial loop in Paldang reservoir, we monitored environmental and biological factors at Kyungan stream (station K), Paldang dam (station P) and the confluence of North and South Han River (station M) from March to December, 2005. DOC concentration was higher in March to May and November than the others. Nutrient concentration in station K detected relatively higher than that of two stations. Both of phosphate and silicate gradually increased at all stations until September, after then decreased. The highest Chl-$\alpha$ concentration was observed at all stations in April, and November. The carbon biomass of bacteria and HNF were relatively higher in March, May and August than the others, whereas that of the ciliate showed no significant difference in monthly fluctuation. Nevertheless, the significant relationships revealed between ciliate (P<0.001) and HNF (P<0.05) and bacterial density. Tintinnopsis cratera, Didinium sp., Vorticella sp., Paramecium sp. and Strombidium sp. were dominant species in ciliate community. The dominant species of phytoplankton were Stephanodiscus hantzschii and Cyclotella meneghiniana at almost stations in Spring, Summer and Autumn. However, Aulacoseira granulata accounted for >95% of phytoplankton biomass at station P and M in Autumn. The carbon biomass of zooplankton was highest at station P and M in June, and relatively higher biomass observed at all stations in August, October and November. Diaphanosoma brachyurum and Bosmina longirostris were dominant in stations P and M of June and in all stations of October and November, respectively. The maximum growth (A. granulata: $0.17\;d^{-1}$, S. hantzschii: $0.14\;d^{-1}$) and grazing rate (A. granulata: 1.93 preys $d^{-1}$, S. hantzschii: 1.63 preys $d^{-1}$) of Bosmina longirostris revealed in algal preys as Aulacoseira granulata and Stephanodiscus hantzschii. In conclusion, these results suggest that bacteria and phytoplankton can play the most crucial source as prey within microbial food chain in Spring and Summer and grazing food chain in Autumn, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.137-147
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• 2017

The identity of toxin producers remains only hypothesis unless there were identified by strain isolation and analytical confirmation of both the cyanotoxin production and the genetic identity of the monoculture. The purposes of this study were to identify a morphologic and phylogenetic classification in Aphanizomenon flos-aquae strains isolated from the Nakdong River and to investigate the potential ability of the strains to produce toxins such as saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin using target genes. The 16S rRNA and sxtA, sxtI, cyrA, cyrJ genes were analyzed on two strains (DGUC001, DGUC003) isolated from the Nakdong River. Morphological features of the strains were observed a shape of aggregated trichomes in parallel fascicles which can reach up to macroscopic size and a hyaline terminal cell without aerotope. In addition, the 16S rRNA phylogenetic analyses showed that the strains were identified as the same species with high genetic similarity of 98.4% and grouped within a monospecific andsupported cluster I of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae selected from GenBank of the NCBI. The cyrA and cyrJ genes encoding for the cylindrospermopsin-biosynthesis were not detected in the present study. The sxtA gene was in detected both the two strains, whereas the sxtI gene which had been suggested as a suitable molecular marker to detect saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria was not found both the strains. Thus, the two strains isolated from Nakdong River were identified as the same species of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet et Flahault 1888, the two strains were confirmed as potential non-producing strains of the saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2016

Black chokeberries (scientific name Aronia melanocarpa) have been reported to have major effects due to anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer capabilities. In this study, we investigated the anti- wrinkle effects of A. melanocarpa, including collagenase inhibition effects and their molecular biological mechanisms, such as oxidative stress-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and activator protein (AP)-1 expression and/or phosphorylation. In collagenase inhibition activity, the ethyl acetate fraction of black chokeberry (AE) was 77.2% at a concentration of 500 μg/ml, which was a significant result compared to that of Epigallocatechin gallate (positive control, 83.9% in 500 μg/ml). In the reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, the AE produced 78% of ROS in 10 μg/ml and 70% of ROS in 75 μg/ml, which was a much lower percentage than the ROS production of H₂O₂-induced CCRF S-180II cells. In the MTT assay, cell viability was increased dose-dependently with AE in H₂O₂-induced cells. In protein expression by western blot assay, the AE suppressed the expression and phosphorylation of MMPs (MMP-1, -3, -9), MAPK (ERK, JNK, and p38), and AP-1 (c-Fos and c-Jun), and expressed the pro-collagen type I in H₂O₂-induced cells. These results suggest that black chokeberries have anti-wrinkle and collagen-production effects, and they may be used in applications for material development in the functional food and cosmetic industries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2014

Violacein has received much attention due to its various important biological activities, including broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity, anti-malarial, anti-tumoral, anti-oxidant, and anti-diarrheal activities. EP15224 strain isolated from forest soils in Korea was found to be a new species belonged to the genus Massilia based on its 16S ribosomal DNA sequences. The 16S ribosomal DNA of strain EP15224 displayed 97% homology with Massilia sp. BS-1, the nearest violacein-producing bacterium. Strain EP15224 produced bluish-purple pigment well in a synthetic MM2 medium containing glucose, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, $Na_2HPO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, $KH_2PO_4$, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and 1 mM $\small{L}$-tryptophan. The chemical analysis of the pigment by LC/MS/MS showed that it is violacein with molecular weight of 343.34. This is the second report on the production of violacein by a Massilia species. In this study, the optimal culture conditions for violacein production were established under which 280 mg/l crude violacein was produced : glucose 2 g/l, $(NH_4)_2SO_4$ 1 g/l, $Na_2HPO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ 2 g/l, $KH_2PO_4$ 1 g/l, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ 0.1 g/l, L-tryptophan 0.24 g/l, 25 ml medium in a 250 ml flask, with an inoculumn size of 10% (v/v), 72 h of cultivation with 250 rpm at $25^{\circ}C$.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.3 s.86
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• pp.373-379
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• 1998

Rhizoctonia solani [Thanatephorus cucumeris (frank) Donk], one of the major soil-borne plant pathogens with world-wide distribution, can cause great damages on various crops. In Korea, sheath blight on rice caused by this pathogen is the major concern, and active studies on this pathogen have been performed. However, most of these studies were concerned with pathogenicity of the isolates instead of molecular analyses of different AGs of R. solani. Therefore, in this study, thirty isolates of Rhizoctonia solani collected from various sources were used for the analyses of genetic relationships among themselves and for the rapid anastomosis grouping with RAPD method. As a result, thirty isolates of known and unknown AGs were grouped into five subgroups and each group included AG-1, AG-2, AG-3, AG-4, and AG-5. RS-1 isolate was found to be closely related to AG-5. Isolates RS-4, RS-14, RS-17, and RS-16 were found to be closely related to AG-2-2(III B). Isolate RS-13 was closely related to AG-4, isolates RS-8 and RS-10 were closely related to AG-1(I B), and isolates RS-7 and RS-21 were closely related to AG-2-2(IV). Isolate RS-19 was closely related to AG-1(I C), and isolates RS-3, RS-5, RS-18, RS-6, and RS-15 were found to be closely related to AG-1.