• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권9호
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• pp.680-686
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• 2016

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that function to dissipate proton motive force and mitochondrial membrane potential. One UCP has been identified in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), namely UCP-4. In this study, we examined its expression and localization using a GFP marker in C. elegans. ucp-4 was expressed throughout the body from early embryo to aged adult and UCP-4 was localized in the mitochondria. It is known that increased mitochondrial membrane protential leads to a reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase, which is associated with age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases in humans. A ucp-4 mutant showed increased mitochondrial membrane protential in association with increased neuronal defects during aging, and the neurons of ucp-4 overexpressing animals showed decreased neuronal defects during aging. These results suggest that UCP-4 may be involved in neuroprotection during aging via relieving mitochondrial membrane protential. We also investigated the relationship between UCP-4 and innate immunity because increased ROS can affect innate immunity. ucp-4 mutant displayed increased resistance to the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus compared to wild type. The enhanced immunity in the ucp-4 mutant could be related to increased mitochondrial membrane protential, presumably followed by increased ROS. In summary, UCP-4 might have an important role in neuronal aging and innate immune responses through mediating mitochondrial membrane protential.

• 생약학회지
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.96-101
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• 2022

Caenorhabditis elegans model system was used to investigate the antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Melampyrum roseum (Scrophulariaceae). The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the M. roseum methanol extract showed the best DPPH radical scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate fraction was measured for the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and oxidative stress tolerance by using C. elegans along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. In addition, to confirm that the regulation of the stress response gene is responsible for the increased stress tolerance of C. elegans treated by the ethyl acetate fraction, SOD-3 expression was measured using a transgenic strain. As a result, the ethyl acetate fraction increased SOD and catalase activity, and decreased ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction-treated CF1553 worm showed higher SOD-3::GFP intensity than the control worm.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.236-242
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• 2015

Intake of caffeine during pregnancy can cause retardation of fetal development. Although the significant influence of caffeine on animal development is widely recognized, much remains unknown about its mode of action because of its pleiotropic effects on living organisms. In the present study, by using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, the effects of caffeine on development were examined. Brood size, embryonic lethality, and percent larval development were investigated, and caffeine was found to inhibit the development of C. elegans at most of the stages in a dosage-dependent fashion. Upon treatment with 30 mM caffeine, the majority ($86.1{\pm}3.4%$) of the L1 larvae were irreversibly arrested without further development. In contrast, many of the late-stage larvae survived and grew to adults when exposed to the same 30 mM caffeine. These results suggest that early-stage larvae are more susceptible to caffeine than later-stage larvae. To understand the metabolic responses to caffeine treatment, the levels of expression of cytochrome P450 (cyp) genes were examined with or without caffeine treatment using comparative microarray, and it was found that the expression of 24 cyp genes was increased by more than 2-fold (p < 0.05). Among them, induction of the cyp-35A gene family was the most prominent. Interestingly, depletion of the cyp-35A family genes one-by-one or in combination through RNA interference resulted in partial rescue from early larval developmental arrest caused by caffeine treatment, suggesting that the high-level induction of cyp-35A family genes can be fatal to the development of early-stage larvae.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.141-146
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• 2007

The roots of Aristolochia elegans Mast.(Aristolochiaceae) are widely used in Mexican traditional medicine as a remedy for scorpion venom. Current experimental evidence supports its purported antidote properties. However, collection from the wilderness has lead to local extinction of natural populations. In order to contribute to species preservation, cultivation, and standardization of morphological and pharmacological properties, a micropropagation method was developed. This includes in-vitro germination of seeds to produce aseptic plantlets, induction of multiple budding, and acclimatization. The treatment with benzylamino purine(10 ${\mu}M$) induced the highest number of buds(3.1 on average) in both types of explants. On the other hand, indolebutyric acid(1.5 ${\mu}M$) caused the highest root index(11.8) per explant. One hundred percent of the micropropagated plantlets developed vigorously after the acclimatization process.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.171-174
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• 2008

Flavone (2-phenyl chromone) is a well-known plant flavonoid, but its bioactivity has been little explored. Treatment of Caenorhabditis elegans or C. brissage with flavones induced embryonic and larval lethality that was pronounced in early larval stages. This anti-nematodal effect was also observed in the pinewood nematode, B. xylophilus. $LD_{50}$ values were approximately $100{\mu}M$ for both B. xylophilus and C. elegans. Our results indicate that flavone is an active nematicidal compound that should be further investigated with the aim of developing a potent drug against B. xylophilus.

• Mycobiology
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.344-352
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• 2017

During a survey of fungal diversity of the order Mucorales, three zygomycete isolates, CNUFC-YR113-1, CNUFC-KNU16-7, and CNUFC-BS1-1 were isolated from freshwater and soil samples in Korea. The strains were analyzed both morphologically and phylogenetically based on internal transcribed spacer and 28S rDNA gene sequences. Based on their morphology and phylogeny, the CNUFC-YR113-1 and CNUFC-KNU16-7 isolates were identified as Actinomucor elegans, and CNUFC-BS1-1 was identified as Mucor minutus. To the best of our knowledge, the species A. elegans and M. minutus, belonging to an undiscovered taxon, have not been previously described in Korea.

• 한국생물정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물정보시스템생물학회 2004년도 The 3rd Annual Conference for The Korean Society for Bioinformatics Association of Asian Societies for Bioinformatics 2004 Symposium
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• pp.150-157
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• 2004

microRNA (miRNA)는 21-25 nucleotide (nt)의 single-stranded RNA 분자로서 mRNA의 3' untranslated region (3' UTR)에 상보적으로 결합하여 유전자 발현을 제어하는 새로운 조절물질이다. 지금까지 실험을 통해 수백 개의 miRNA가 알려져 있으나, miRNA에 의해 조절되는 target 유전자는 실험상의 어려움으로 아직까지 거의 알려지지 않았다. miRNA는 서열의 길이가 짧고 target과 느슨한 상보적 결합을 하기 때문에 기존의 서열 비교 방법으로 miRNA의 target을 찾는 것은 쉬운 일이 아니다. 본 논문은 신경망을 이용하여 Caenorhabditis elegans mRNA의 3' UTR에서 miRNA가 결합하는 영역을 예측하였다. 신경망은 복잡한 비선형 데이터를 잘 분리해내고 불완전하고 잡음이 많은 입력에 강하기 때문에 miRNA target 예측에 적합하다. miRNA와 mRNA의 결합 영역을 다양하게 분석하였고 민감도 0.59, 특수도 0.99의 성능을 갖는 신경망을 구현하였다. 신경망 입력 값을 달리하여 각각의 특성이 결과에 미치는 영향을 분석하였고 기존 예측 방법에 의한 결과와 비교하여 성능을 평가하였다.

• 식물병연구
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.337-340
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• 2004

2003년 4월 경남농업기술원 유리온실과 농가 육묘장에서 Botrytis cinerea에 의한 백일홍 잿빛곰팡이병이 발생하였다. 병징은 잎과 줄기에 발생하여 병든 부분이 수침상으로 물러지고 썩으면서 병반부위에 회색의 곰팡이가 많이 생기고, 심할 경우 감염된 부위는 결국 말라 죽는다. 분생포자는 무색, 단포자이며 난형 또는 타원형으로 크기는 5${\sim}$16${\times}$4${\sim}$8 ${\mu}m$였고, 분생자경 위에 분생포자가 아주 많이 형성되었다. 분생포자경은 갈색으로 격막이 있고, 폭은 12${\sim}$28 ${\mu}m$였다. 균핵의 모양은 납작하거나 부정형이고 색깔은 검은색이었다. 균사생육과 균핵형성 적온은 $20^{\circ}C$였다. 병반에서 분리한 병원균은 Botrytis cinerea Persoon: Fries에 의한 백일홍 잿빛곰팡이병으로 동정되었다.

• 한국동물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물학회 1999년도 공동 춘계학술대회
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• pp.78.1-78
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• 1999

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.504-509
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• 2008

Three G-protein-linked acetylcholine receptors (GARs) exist in the nematode C. elegans. GAR-3 is pharmacologically most similar to mammalian muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). We observed that carbachol stimulated ERK1/2 activation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing GAR-3b, the predominant alternatively spliced isoform of GAR-3. This effect was substantially reduced by the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122 and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X, implying that PLC and PKC are involved in this process. On the other hand, GAR-3b-mediated ERK1/2 activation was inhibited by treatment with forskolin, an adenylate cyclase (AC) activator. This inhibitory effect was blocked by H89, an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). These results suggest that GAR-3b-mediated ERK1/2 activation is negatively regulated by cAMP through PKA. Together our data show that GAR-3b mediates ERK1/2 activation in CHO cells and that GAR-3b can couple to both stimulatory and inhibitory pathways to modulate ERK1/2.