• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.340-345
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• 2001

High rates of nitrogen fertilization dangerously increase the nitrate content of vegetable crops, and the accumulation of nitrate in edible crops is undesirable because of potential risks to human health. Micronutrient solution containing Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn was tested for the suppression of nitrate accumulation in lettuce grown in pots treated with Mg fertilizer under a greenhouse condition. The micronutrient solution was sprayed on leaves at 3 and 4 weeks after transplanting of 20-day old seedlings. Plants were harvested after 5-week growth, and yield, contents of chlorophyll, sugar, micronutrient and nitrate, and also nitrate reductase activity were measured. Fresh weight of lettuce was significantly increased by the application of Mg and micronutrients, and the effect was the most significant in the Mg+micronutrient treatment. Also contents of chlorophyll and micronutrients were higher in the plants of micronutrient treatments. Contents of nitrate were reduced by about 14-18% in lettuce with Mg and/or micronutrient applications. Compared to the plants of control treatment, nitrate reductase activity was also higher in those plants treated with micronutrients, and in the treatment of Mg+micronutrients the enzyme activity was six times as high as that of control treatment. Although the effect of mineral nutrients on the suppression of nitrate accumulation in lettuce was relatively small in this study, an appropriate supply of mineral nutrients could be one of the solutions for the nitrate accumulation in vegetables.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2012

Ground seawater in the east area of the volcanic Jeju Island contains abundant minerals. We investigated the metabolic activity of electrodialyzed, desalted ground seawater (EDSW) from Jeju in both cultured cells and animals. The addition of EDSW to the culture medium (up to 20%, v/v) reduced the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and increased MTT activity in CHO-IR cells. EDSW (10%) promoted insulin-induced glucose consumption in L6 muscle cells as well as the activities of the liver ethanol-metabolizing enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase. Moreover, EDSW suppressed palmitate-induced intracellular fat accumulation in human hepatoma $HepG_2$ cells. Activities of AMP-stimulated protein kinase and acetyl CoA carboxylase, enzymes that modulate fat metabolism, were altered by EDSW in $HepG_2$ cells toward the suppression of intracellular lipid accumulation. EDSW also suppressed hepatic fat accumulation induced by a high-fat diet in mice. Taken together, EDSW showed beneficial metabolic effects, including the enhancement of ethanol metabolism and insulin-induced glucose consumption, and the suppression of intrahepatic fat accumulation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.351-360
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• 2008

These experiments were conducted to determine the effects of Gamdutang on the accumulation of cadmium in the body of groups of rats that received an 8-week administration of 1.7, 3.4 and $6.8{\mu}g$/g/day of cadmium, respectively, while the other groups of rats received an 8-week administration of a mixture of cadmium by concentration and Gamdutang. A comparative analysis of these groups was conducted in respect of weight, accumulated cadmium in blood and diverse organs and pathological findings from the kidneys. As for the cadmium accumulation in blood, livers, kidneys, and testis, with the lengthening of the experiment period, the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups tended to have reduced accumulation levels compared with the groups exclusively administered cadmium. Histopathological observation of the kidneys, observed in the cadmium exclusively administered groups showed hemorrhagic necrosis in glomeruli, swelling of tubules, epithelial shedding and necrosis of tubules; however, only mild tissue lesions were observed in the cadmium and Gamdutang mixture-administered groups. Given the above results, Gamdutang is deemed to have the effects of reducing the accumulation of cadmium in blood, liver, and testis when low-concentration cadmium is administered to rats.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2002

To determine the representative pollution degree of outdoor insulators during the drought season, we should make an investigation on the long-term accumulation characteristics of contaminants. As the contamination mechanism of outdoor insulator is extremely depend on the climatic condition, there is a large difference between the research result of Japanese utilities. So based on the difference of precipitation of the Korea and Japan, we could say that the accumulation characteristics of the countries have a significant difference. But, based on the result of Japan, the accumulation property of contaminants was ignored in KEPCO\`s specification. So, to determine the accumulation characteristics of Korea, we measured the 2 and 3 month ESDD with brush wiping method and make a statistical analysis on measured data. And, from the results, we understood the accumulation characteristics of Korea and the influence of topographical condition on the distribution characteristics of salt contaminants. coast.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2013

Extracellular accumulation of amyloid beta protein ($A{\beta}$) plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Some metals, such as copper, lead, and aluminum can affect the $A{\beta}$ accumulation in the brain. However, the effect of mercury on $A{\beta}$ accumulation in the brain is not clear. Thus, this study was proposed to estimate whether mercury concentration affects $A{\beta}$ accumulation in PC12 cells. We treated 10, 100, and 1000 nM $HgCl_2$ (Hg) or $CH_3HgCl_2$ (MeHg) for 48 hr in PC12 cells. After treatment, $A{\beta}_{40}$ in culture medium increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hg and MeHg increased amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is related to $A{\beta}$ production. Neprilysin (NEP) levels in PC12 cells were decreased by Hg and MeHg treatment. These results suggested that Hg induced $A{\beta}$ accumulation through APP overproduction and reduction of NEP.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1406-1415
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• 2022

The formation of macrophage foam cells stimulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is deemed an important cause of atherosclerosis. Transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1), which is a universally expressed multifunctional protein, is closely related to cell metabolism disorders such as lipid metabolism, sugar metabolism, and bile acid metabolism. However, whether YY1 is involved in macrophage inflammation and lipid accumulation still remains unknown. After mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cells were induced by ox-LDL, YY1 and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) expressions were found to be increased while low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression was lowly expressed. Subsequently, through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot analysis, Oil Red O staining and cholesterol quantification, it turned out that silencing of YY1 attenuated the inflammatory response and lipid accumulation in RAW264.7 cells caused by ox-LDL. Moreover, results from the JASPAR database, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, luciferase reporter assay and Western blot analysis suggested that YY1 activated PCSK9 by binding to PCSK9 promoter and modulated the expression of LDLR in the downstream of PCSK9. In addition, the results of functional experiments demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of YY1 interference on ox-LDL-mediated macrophage inflammation and lipid accumulation were reversed by PCSK9 overexpression. To sum up, YY1 depletion inhibited its activation of PCSK9, thereby reducing cellular inflammatory response, cholesterol homeostasis imbalance, and lipid accumulation caused by ox-LDL.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.486-495
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• 2023

Lipofuscins are oxidized lipid and protein complexes that accumulate during cellular senescence and tissue aging, regarded as markers for cellular oxidative damage, tissue aging, and certain aging-associated diseases. Therefore, understanding their cellular biological properties is crucial for effective treatment development. Through traditional microscopy, lipofuscins are readily observed as fluorescent granules thought to accumulate in lysosomes. However, lipofuscin granule formation and accumulation in senescent cells are poorly understood. Thus, this study examined lipofuscin accumulation in human fibroblasts exposed to various stressors. Our results substantiate that in glucose-starved or replicative senescence cells, where elevated oxidative stress levels activate autophagy, lipofuscins predominately appear as granules that co-localize with autolysosomes due to lysosomal acidity or impairment. Meanwhile, autophagosome formation is attenuated in cells experiencing oxidative stress induced by a doxorubicin pulse and chase, and lipofuscin fluorescence granules seldom manifest in the cytoplasm. As Torin-1 treatment activates autophagy, granular lipofuscins intensify and dominate, indicating that autophagy activation triggers their accumulation. Our results suggest that high oxidative stress activates autophagy but fails in lipofuscin removal, leaving an abundance of lipofuscin-filled impaired autolysosomes, referred to as residual bodies. Therefore, future endeavors in treating lipofuscin pathology-associated diseases and dysfunctions through autophagy activation demand meticulous consideration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 1994

Some ammonium oxalate soluble pectic fragments prepared from cultured cell wall of Ephycla distrahya elicited the accumulation of p-coumarocylamino acids (p-CAA) in E. distachya cultures while water soluble and alkali soluble fractions had no activity. Partial purification of the pectic fragments fraction using DEAE-cellulose chromatography afforded two active fractions (PS-I and PS-II) which were composed of mainly uronic acids (98-99 w/w %). They elicited the accumulation of p-CAA in an amount of 52-60 nmol per gram fresh weight of cultures. The acidic sugar compositions of PS-I and PS-II were found to be galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid by TLC analysis. They were supposed to act as endogenous elicitors of p-CAA accumulation. In order to investigate the effect of ethylene on p-CAA accumulation, Ethrel, which is known as ethylene generator, and ACC(1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid), a direct precusor of ethylene biosynthesis, were added to the culture. However, they did not glycopeptide elicitor [(Con A-II)], either. Consequently, no relationships between ethylene and p-CAA accumulation were recognized. Several tentative elicitors were teted for their activity. Commercial yeast glucan, $CuCl_2$, laminarin and laminariheptaose had slight activity whereas ${\alpha}$-methylmannopyranoside and commercial yeast mannan had no elicitor activity. ${\alpha}$-methylmannopyranoside which has been known as a tentative inhibitor of glucan elicitor in Glycine max did not affect on the elicitor activity of Con A-II.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.821-831
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• 2006

Unicellular green algae of the genus Haematococcus have been studied extensively as model organisms for secondary carotenoid accumulation. Upon environmental stress, such as strong irradiance or nitrogen deficiency, unicellular green algae of the genus Haematococcus accumulate secondary carotenoids in vesicles in the cytosol. Because secondary carotenoid accumulation occurs only upon specific environmental stimuli, there is speculation about the regulation of the biosynthetic pathway specific for secondary carotenogenesis. Because the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is located both in the chloroplast and the cytosol, communication between both cellular compartments must be considered. Recently, the induction and regulation of astaxanthin biosynthesis in microalgae received considerable attention because of the increasing use of this secondary carotenoid as a source of pigmentation for fish aquaculture, as a component in cancer prevention, and as a free-radical quencher. This review summarizes the biosynthesis and regulation of the pathway, as well as the biotechnology of astaxanthin production in Haematococcus.