• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2021

Caffeine, a methylxanthine analog of purine bases, is a compound that is largely consumed in beverages and medications for psychoactive and diuretic effects and plays many beneficial roles in neuronal stimulation and enhancement of anti-tumor immune responses by blocking adenosine receptors in higher organisms. In single-cell eukaryotes, however, caffeine somehow impairs cellular fitness by compromising cell wall integrity, inhibiting target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and growth, and overriding cell cycle arrest caused by DNA damage. Among its multiple inhibitory targets, caffeine specifically interacts with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-related kinases causing radiosensitization and cytotoxicity via specialized intermediate molecules. Caffeine potentiates the lethality of cells in conjunction with several other stressors such as oxidants, irradiation, and various toxic compounds through largely unknown mechanisms. In this review, recent findings on caffeine effects and cellular detoxification schemes are highlighted and discussed with an emphasis on the inhibitory interactions between caffeine and its multiple targets in eukaryotic microorganisms such as budding and fission yeasts.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2023

Foraminifera are unicellular eukaryotes widely distributed in marine and transitional marine environments. They play important roles in marine food webs and geochemical cycles and have physiological properties like the formation of calcareous tests and nitrogen respiration. Research on species diversity, distribution and endemism are essential in biogeography and biodiversity conservation. Here, we report three unrecorded species of foraminifera (Hemirotalia foraminulosa, Planispirillina denticulogranulata and Oolina brevisolenia) collected from Jeju Island and the South Sea (Korea). Planispirillina denticulogranulata is the second Planispirillina species recorded in Korea, which can be distinguished from congeners by its tubercles on the ventral side and grooves on the spiral suture. Hemirotalia foraminulosa is differentiated from the only congener H. calvifacta by multiple-scattered pits on the umbilicus, and it is the first report of Hemirotalia from Korean water. Oolina brevisolenia has specific bifurcating costae that characterize it from other congeners. This study contributes to documentation of the foraminiferal biodiversity in Korea, moreover, provides an essential basis for the expanded studies on modern foraminifera.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.95-108
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• 2023

Ciliates are unicellular eukaryotes and one of the most abundant and speciose protistan groups. However, their diversity is underestimated, and many new species are waiting for our discovery. During several field surveys conducted from 2018 to 2021 to document indigenous Korean ciliates, 10 unrecorded ciliate species were collected and investigated from freshwater, marine, and semiterrestrial habitats. The morphology of these species was studied based on observation of living and protargol-stained specimens. These species belong to five classes as follows: 1) class Heterotrichea - Peritromus faurei; 2) class Spirotrichea - Heterotachysoma dragescoi, Pseudokeronopsis parasongi, and Certesia quadrinucleata; 3) class Nassophorea - Chilodontopsis depressa; 4) class Prostomatea - Plagiocampa rouxi and Urotricha furcata; and 5) class Oligohymenophorea - Metanophrys similis, Uronema gallicum, and Protocyclidium citrullus. Also, we provide a brief diagnosis, photomicrographs, and information of the locality for each species. Further, we compare each species with the most recent description and with similar congeners.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.575-581
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• 2013

Lipid droplet (LD) is a cellular organelle that stores neutral lipids as a source of energy and carbon. However, recent research has emerged that the organelle is involved in lipid synthesis, transportation, and metabolism, as well as mediating cellular protein storage and degradation. With the exception of multi-cellular organisms, some unicellular microorganisms have been observed to contain LDs. The organelle has been isolated and characterized from numerous organisms. Triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in LDs can be in excess of 50% of the dry weight in some microorganisms, and a maximum of 87% in some instances. These microorganisms include eukaryotes such as yeast and green algae as well as prokaryotes such as bacteria. Some organisms obtain carbon from $CO_2$ via photosynthesis, while the majority utilizes carbon from various types of biomass. Therefore, high TAG content generated by utilizing waste or cheap biomass, coupled with an efficient conversion rate, present these organisms as bio-tech 'factories' to produce biodiesel. This review summarizes LD research in these organisms and provides useful information for further LD biological research and microorganism biodiesel development.