• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.666-673
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• 2003

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of the lung cancer. However, mechanism of action underlying the carcinogenesis in the lung still remains to be elucidated. The present study attempted to look into the carcinogenic potential of tobacco-specific nitrosamine, NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone) and the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in an immortalized human epithelial cell model. Material and Method: Immortalized human epithelial cells were exposed with NNK and examined for its carcinogenic potential as measured by saturation density, soft-agar colony formation, and cell aggregation assay. The specific isoform of PKCs involved in the cellular transformation was analysed through western blot with monoclonal antibody and measured separately in cytosolic fraction and membrane fraction. Result: Human epithelial cells exposed with NNK showed prominent carcinogenic potential in saturation density, soft agar colony formation, and cell aggregation assay. PKC isoform analysis results are as follows: PKC- $\alpha$ showed significant translocation of protein levels from cytosolic fraction to membrane fraction, as analyzed by immunoblot. PKC- $\varepsilon$ showed a dose-dependent increase of translocation. PKC- λ was not affected by NNK treatment. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that there was a certain specificity in the patterns of isoform induction following chemical carcinogen exposure. Thus, it is suggested that identification of specific isoform be a clue to find target molecules in the carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

The study was carried out to understand the inhabiting status and biological features of nutria (Myocastor coypus) in the Jeju Island from May, 2013 to August, 2016. Five individuals were captured by traps and two individuals were collected in dead. Of the 7 individuals, those whose bio-information could not be known were excluded to perform autopsy of the rest of them. The results from morphological, cranial and anatomical analyses, it was found that the females achieved sexual maturation but had no breeding experience. An adult male showed similar sizes to those found in the Korean Peninsula. After collecting the 7 individuals in 2013, 1 nutria individual was filmed by the scouting camera in May, 2014 but not captured. The long-term investigation of the research area found no inhibiting individual. It is deemed the nutria was either died of natural death or migrated. In order to establish a proper nutria control, the environmental characteristics of Jeju Island should be considered where indigenous and introduced species coexist in a limited space. Our findings will provide helpful information for understanding biological features of nutria and planning protection program of natural ecosystems of Jeju Island.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2006

To optimize tissue culture responses for genetic transformation of Kentucky bluegrass, the effects of culture medium supplements on tissue culture responses were investigated with mature seeds of a cultivar 'Newport' as explant tissues. The optimal concentration of 2,4-D (2.4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid) for the induction of embryogenic callus from mature seed was 3 mg/L. Plant regeneration frequency was 54% when embryogenic callus was cultured on the regeneration medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 3 mg/L of BA (6-benzyladenine). Addition of 1 g/L of casein hydrolysate and 500 mg/L of L-proline improved frequencies of embryogenic callus induction and plant regeneration up to 60.8% and 58.3%, respectively. Regenerated plants were grown normally when shoots transplanted to the soil. A rapid and efficient plant regeneration system established in this study. We suggest that the results may be useful for molecular breeding of Kentucky bluegrass through genetic transformation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 1999

Chinese foxglove (Rehmannia glutinosa) is receiving much attention as one of the principal medicinal crops and the demand for crude drug expands rapidly. This study was conducted to obtain the basic agronomic characteristics and cultivation information of Chinese foxglove. Morphological traits of several Chinese foxglove and their plant growth and yield were investigated under different environmental conditions. The tested lines exhibited clear morphological differences in leaves and roots representing their origins. Rapid root growth and weight increasement occurred in the middle of July. Optimum daylength and temperature conditions were investigated for the adequate plant growth of Chinese foxglove. Root growth was enhanced at $23/18^{\circ}C$ (day/night) with 13 hours daylength condition. Appropriate soil moisture and soil texture were $60{\sim}70%$ and loam soil, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.2
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• pp.291-296
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• 2012

Triploids are a useful tool for biomass production and molecular breeding of trees with a long life span. Triploids of the poplar 'Hyunsasi' (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) have been developed by crossing between female diploids and a male tetraploid. The tetraploid was developed around the 1970s at Korea Forest Research Institute by colchicine-induced chromosome doubling. Seedlings of the $F_1$ generation were analyzed using flow cytometry to verify their ploidy status. The mean relative fluorescence index of 3 F1 poplars, labeled as Line- 1, Line-17, Line-18, were approximately 1.5 times higher than those of diploid poplars, and the results clearly indicated that they were triploids. The phenotype of the F1 poplars included larger leaves and thicker stem than diploids, and abnormal leaf morphology, especially in the triploid 'Line-18'. Three triploid lines developed roots more slowly and had less roots than diploid. However, 3 poplar cytotypes (2x, Line-1, Line-17) rooted within 10 days on MS medium. In contrast, compared with the 3 cytotypes, the Line-18 showed about 80% and 70% in the rooting rate and the number of roots. The triploid poplars could be directly utilized for biomass production and with their sterility, they could serve as basic material for genetic transformation. In addition, flow cytometric analysis proved to be an effective and reliable method for screening forest trees for their ploidy level.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2009

This work was conducted to establish an efficient plant regeneration system for genetic transformation and the in vitro conservation of Sedum sarmentosum genetic resources. Effects of glutamine and $AgNO_3$ on plant regeneration between two genotypes were investigated using MS media supplemented with 0.2 mg/L NM and 3.0 mg/L BA. Calluses were formed on leaf explants placed on MS solid media supplemented with 3 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L BA. Calluses of Keumsan local strain produced shoots at a frequency of up to 100% after 50 days of culture on medium supplemented with glutamine. The highest number of shoots per callus was 17.6 at 350 mg/L glutamine. However, calluses of Wanju local strain gave rise to no shoots under the same culture conditions. Likewise, calluses of Keumsan local strain produced shoots at a frequency of up to 100% after 50 days of culture on medium supplemented with $AgNO_3$ whereas Wanju local strain sporadically produced shoots. The highest number of shoots per callus of Keumsan local stain was 16.1 at $15{\mu}M$ $AgNO_3$. Regenerated shoots were subcultured on hormone-free MS medium for rooting and shoot growth, and then 3-5 cm high plantlets were transplanted to the artificial soils comprising vermiculite and perlite, where they survived at a frequency of 88-100%. After being transplanted into upland soil:sand (1:1, v/v) in a greenhouse, regenerated plants showed a morphologically normal growth.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2008

This study describes conditions for plant regeneration from protoplasts-derived from embryogenic callus of satsuma mandarin. Plants were generated via somatic embryogenesis. Protoplasts isolated directly from nucellar callus induced from immature ovule of satsuma mandarin cv. Okitsu (Citrus unshiu Marc.) were cultured in 0.6M $BH_3$ medium. Cell division and plating efficiency were affected by protoplast culture method. The liquid over solid method was the most effective for formation of microcalli. Most of microcalli grew rapidly and transferred onto embryoid formation medium. Optimum embryoid formation medium was MT medium containing 1.5 g/L malt extract, 0.146 M sucrose and the medium for plantlet regeneration was MS medium containing 0.09M sucrose, 1.0 mg/L $GA_3$. No differences were noticed in growth habits and leaf characters such as shape, thickness, and colour between protoplast-derived plants and nucellar seedlings. This plant regeneration system from protoplasts-derived from embryogenic callus provides an alternative way for producing new scion and rootstock cultivar from citrus species which can not be crossed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2010

Ras genes are responsible for up to 30% of human tumor mutations and are composed of three isoforms: H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras. The post-translational modification of the CAAX motif of the Ras protein is essential in Ras actions. In the present study, we studied the effects of novel farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs), YH3938 and YH3945, on the actions of oncogenic mutants of H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras. YH3938 and YH3945 completely reverted the proliferation and morphology of oncogenic H-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells, but not of oncogenic K-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells. Oncogenic N-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells were slightly affected. Activation of SRE promoters by oncogenic H-Ras and N-Ras, but not by K-Ras, were inhibited by treatment with YH3938 and YH3945. Using bandshift analysis, YH3938 suppressed the processing of oncogenic H-Ras and N-Ras, but not that of oncogenic K-Ras protein. YH3945 only inhibited the processing of H-Ras. From these results, we conclude that YH3938 and YH3945 specifically inhibit actions of oncogenic H-Ras through inhibition of its farnesylation, that YH3938 also inhibits N-Ras activity in a dose-dependent manner, and that these drugs have no effect on oncogenic K-Ras activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.227-231
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• 2006

This study was conducted to determine proper varieties of cucumber at four different cultural seasons. Eight varieties of cucumber from four varietal groups were grown in two types of plastic house, 1-2W type and postless type, at four different cultural seasons, retarding culture, forcing culture, semi-forcing culture and summer culture. Number of female flowers, male flowers, aborted female flowers, leaves and fruits per plant and fresh weight of fruits per plant were observed. The results were listed as follows. Varietal group of Nakhap or Hukjinjoo and ibchubakdadakioi showed better growth and higher yield at retarding culture. Kyeusalichungjangoi, ibchubdadakioi and Gaulnakhapoi could be recommended as proper varieties at forcing culture. Varietal group of Chungjang or Nakhap showed relatively higher yield at semi-forcing culture. Naboochungjangoi and Gaulnakhapoi were recommended as proper varieties at summer culture.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.118-127
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• 2013

A comparative study of leaf epidermal microstructure in tribes Forsythieae (Abeliophyllum: 1 species, Forsythia: 12 taxa - 10 species, 2 varieties), Fontanesieae (Fontanesia: 2 species) including one related genus Myxopyrum belonging to Myxopyreae (Myxopyrum: 5 taxa - 4 species, 1 subspecies) was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to evaluate their significance in the taxonomy. The leaves of investigated taxa are either hypostomatic or amphistomatic, but former is more frequent. The size range of the guard cells is 17.14-47.58 ${\times}$ 11.59- 44.25 ${\mu}m$: the smallest one was found in Forsythia giraldiana (17.48-22.96 ${\times}$ 11.64-12.88 ${\mu}m$), while the largest one was measured to Myxopyrum pierrei (31.50-41.75 ${\times}$ 32.53-44.25 ${\mu}m$). Anomocytic stomatal complex are most frequent type (rarely paracytic), usually both anomocytic and anisocytic occur in one leaf. In surface view both adaxial and abaxial anticlinal walls of the subsidiary cells are variable (e.g., straight/curved, undulate, sinuate, undulate/sinuate). Three types (simple unicellular and multicellular non-glandular, subsessile glandular) of trichomes are found in leaves. Finally, the systematic significance of the leaf epidermal micromorphological characters in idenfitication and elucidation of these tribe, between or within the genera including among the species is also briefly discussed.