• Title/Summary/Keyword: Molecular Characteristics

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New Record of Scolecenchelys fuscogularis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) Leptocephali from Korea, as Revealed by Morphological and Molecular Analyses

  • Ji, Hwan-Sung;Kim, Jin-Koo;Lee, Soo Jeong;Kimura, Seishi;Hibino, Yusuke
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.109-113
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    • 2015
  • Three leptocephali (22.2, 22.7, 56.0 mm in total length) collected from the East/Japan Sea were identified by morphological and genetic analyses as belonging to the genus Scolecenchelys (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae). Morphologically, the specimens were characterized by 148-158 myomeres, 10 gut swellings, dorsal fin origin above middle of the body, and 6 postanal melanophores between the anus and the caudal margin. An analysis of an 849-base pair 12S rRNA sequence of mitochondrial DNA showed that sequences are concordant with those of adult Scolecenchelys fuscogularis (genetic distance = 0.001). Furthermore total number of myomeres is consistent with the total number of vertebrae in adult S. fuscogularis. This study provides the first description of the morphological characteristics of S. fuscogularis leptocephali and their variations with size. The Korean name of S. fuscogularis is "Ga-neun-mul-baem", established by Ji et al. (2012).

Cloning of Rod Opsin Genes Isolated from Olive Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica, and Common Carp Cyprinus carpio

  • Kim, Sung-Wan;Kim, Jong-Myoung
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.12 no.4
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    • pp.265-275
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    • 2009
  • G Protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediating wide ranges of physiological responses is one of the most attractive targets for drug development. Rhodopsin, a dim-light photoreceptor, has been extensively used as a model system for structural and functional study of GPCRs. Fish have rhodopsin finely-tuned to their habitats where the intensity and the wavelength of lights are changed depending on its water-depth. To study the detailed molecular characteristics of GPCR architecture and to understand the fishery light-sensing system, genes encoding rod opsins were isolated from fishes living under different photic environments. Full-length rod opsin genes were obtained by combination of PCR amplification and DNA walking strategy of genomic DNA isolated from olive flounder, P. olivaceus, Japanese eel, A. japonica, and Common carp C. carpio. Deduced amino acid sequences showed a typical feature of rod opsins including the sites for Schiffs base formation (Lys296) and its counter ion (Glu113), disulfide formation (Cys110 and Cys187), and palmitoylation (Cys322 and Cys323) although Cys322 is replaced by Phe in Japanese eel. Comparison of opsins by amino acid sequence alignment indicated the closest similarity between P. olivaceus and H. hippoglossus (94%), A. japonica and A. anguilla (98%), and C. carpio and C. auratus (95%), respectively.

Gene repressive mechanisms in the mouse brain involved in memory formation

  • Yu, Nam-Kyung;Kaang, Bong-Kiun
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.199-200
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    • 2016
  • Gene regulation in the brain is essential for long-term plasticity and memory formation. Despite this established notion, the quantitative translational map in the brain during memory formation has not been reported. To systematically probe the changes in protein synthesis during memory formation, our recent study exploited ribosome profiling using the mouse hippocampal tissues at multiple time points after a learning event. Analysis of the resulting database revealed novel types of gene regulation after learning. First, the translation of a group of genes was rapidly suppressed without change in mRNA levels. At later time points, the expression of another group of genes was downregulated through reduction in mRNA levels. This reduction was predicted to be downstream of inhibition of ESR1 (Estrogen Receptor 1) signaling. Overexpressing Nrsn1, one of the genes whose translation was suppressed, or activating ESR1 by injecting an agonist interfered with memory formation, suggesting the functional importance of these findings. Moreover, the translation of genes encoding the translational machineries was found to be suppressed, among other genes in the mouse hippocampus. Together, this unbiased approach has revealed previously unidentified characteristics of gene regulation in the brain and highlighted the importance of repressive controls.

Molecular cloning of a rhoptry protein (ROP6) secreted from Toxoplasma gondii

  • Ahn Hye-Jin;Kim Seh-Ra;Nam Ho-Woo
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.44 no.3
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    • pp.251-254
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    • 2006
  • Monoclonal antibody (mAb) Tg786 against Toxoplasma gondii has been found to detect a 42-kDa rhoptry protein (ROP6) which showed protease activity and host cell binding characteristics after secretion. Using the mAb, a colony containing a 3'-UTR was probed in a T. gondii cDNA expression library. A full length cDNA sequence of the rhoptry protein was completed after 5'-RACE, which consisted of 1,908 bp with a 1,443 bp ORF. The deduced amino acid sequence of ROP6 consisted of a polypeptide of 480 amino acids without significant homology to any other known proteins. This sequence contains an amino terminal stop transfer sequence downstream of a short neutral sequence, hydrophilic middle sequence, and hydrophobic carboxy terminus. It is suggested that the ROP6 is inserted into the rhoptry membrane with both N- and C-termini.

Comparison of Pepper Anthracnose Pathogens from Korea and China

  • Shin, Hyun-Joo;Chen, Zhu-Jun;Hwang, Jae-Moon;Lee, Soon-Gu
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.15 no.6
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    • pp.323-329
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    • 1999
  • Anthracnose of pepper casued by Colletotrichum spphas been a great problems for pepper production in Korea and China. Especially Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was found predominantly over cultivation areas during infection periods and caused severe rots on bath unripe and ripe fruits that resulted in major yield losses. In this study, comparison of Colletrichum spp.isolated from Korea and China in morphology and pathgenicity, and RAPD-PCR analysis were conducted. Based on morphological characteristics, the pathogen isolates, K1 and C1, K2 and C2, and K3 and C3 were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (G) type, C. gloeosporioides (R) type and C. coccodes, respectively. in pathogenicity test, K1 and C1, and K2 and C2 were found to attack mainly fruits and to be the most virulent among isolates. K3 and C3 were strongly virulent to leaves and seedling. Pathogenicity between Korean and Chinese isolates. K3 and C3 were strongly virulent to leaves and seedling. Pathogenicity between Korean and Chinese isolates did not show any difference. Results of the RAPD-PCR analyses indicate the varying levels of molecular diversity within and between Colletotrichum spp.of Korea and China. The similarities between K1 and C1, K2 and C2, and K3 and C3 were 85.71%, 71.43% and 50.0% respectively.

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Radiopharmaceuticals Used in Cardiac Imaging (심장영상에 이용되는 방사성의약품)

  • Hwang, Kyung-Hoon;Chung, Yong-An;Lee, Byeong-Il;Lee, Yu-Kyung;Lee, Min-Kyung;Choe, Won-Sick
    • Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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    • v.43 no.3
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    • pp.174-178
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    • 2009
  • Many radiopharmaceuticals have been developed and wildy used in the imaging cardiac function. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a well established noninvasive method of assessing coronary blood flow and has been widely used in patients diagnosed or suspected with coronary artery diseases. The innovation of radiopharmaceuticals used in the cardiac imaging is one of the most important contributors to the development of nuclear cardiology. Thallium-201 and various technetium-99m agents have been globally used for myocardial perfusion SPEG, and N-13 ammonia (13NH3), rubidium-82 (82Rb), 0-15 water (H2150) for myocardial perfusion PET. As well as the cardiac perfusion studies, new radiopharmaceuticals that visualize fat metabolism or receptors of the sympathetic nervous system have successfully been applied to clinical practice. Useful information can be obtained for diagnosing coronary artery disease, evaluating patients' condition, or assessing therapeutic effects. In this review, we describe the characteristics and clinical usefulness of radiopharmaceuticals used for cardiac SPEG and PET.

Biological Differences between Hanwoo longissimus dorsi and semimembranosus Muscles in Collagen Synthesis of Fibroblasts

  • Subramaniyan, Sivakumar Allur;Hwang, Inho
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.392-401
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    • 2017
  • Variations in physical toughness between muscles and animals are a function of growth rate and extend of collagen type I and III. The current study was designed to investigate the ability of growth rate, collagen concentration, collagen synthesizing and degrading genes on two different fibroblast cells derived from Hanwoo m. longissimus dorsi (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles. Fibroblast cell survival time was determined for understanding about the characteristics of proliferation rate between the two fibroblasts. We examined the collagen concentration and protein expression of collagen type I and III between the two fibroblasts. The mRNA expression of collagen synthesis and collagen degrading genes to elucidate the molecular mechanisms on toughness and tenderness through collagen production between the two fibroblast cells. From our results the growth rate, collagen content and protein expression of collagen type I and III were significantly higher in SM than LD muscle fibroblast. The mRNA expressions of collagen synthesized genes were increased whereas the collagen degrading genes were decreased in SM than LD muscle. Results from confocal microscopical investigation showed increased fluorescence of collagen type I and III appearing stronger in SM than LD muscle fibroblast. These results implied that the locomotion muscle had higher fibroblast growth rate, leads to produce more collagen, and cause tougher than positional muscle. This in vitro study mirrored that background toughness of various muscles in live animal is likely associated with fibroblast growth pattern, collagen synthesis and its gene expression.

A nonlocal strain gradient theory for scale-dependent wave dispersion analysis of rotating nanobeams considering physical field effects

  • Ebrahimi, Farzad;Haghi, Parisa
    • Coupled systems mechanics
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    • v.7 no.4
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    • pp.373-393
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    • 2018
  • This paper is concerned with the wave propagation behavior of rotating functionally graded temperature-dependent nanoscale beams subjected to thermal loading based on nonlocal strain gradient stress field. Uniform, linear and nonlinear temperature distributions across the thickness are investigated. Thermo-elastic properties of FG beam change gradually according to the Mori-Tanaka distribution model in the spatial coordinate. The nanobeam is modeled via a higher-order shear deformable refined beam theory which has a trigonometric shear stress function. The governing equations are derived by Hamilton's principle as a function of axial force due to centrifugal stiffening and displacement. By applying an analytical solution and solving an eigenvalue problem, the dispersion relations of rotating FG nanobeam are obtained. Numerical results illustrate that various parameters including temperature change, angular velocity, nonlocality parameter, wave number and gradient index have significant effect on the wave dispersion characteristics of the understudy nanobeam. The outcome of this study can provide beneficial information for the next generation researches and exact design of nano-machines including nanoscale molecular bearings and nanogears, etc.

Status of Helicobacter pylori Infection among Migrant Workers in Shijiazhuang, China

  • Xia, Pu;Ma, Ming-Feng;Wang, Wei
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.1167-1170
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    • 2012
  • Background: Helicobacter pylori infection leads to many upper gastrointestinal diseases. Migrant workers are the main part of floating population in China. However, up to now, their health status has not been a focus of attention. Methods: In order to assess the status of H. pylori infection among migrant workers in Shijiazhuang, over five years we interviewed 324 individuals between 2007 and 2011. Each underwent a rapid urease test to identify H. pylori infection and socio-demographic indicators were collected using a survey questionnaire. Results: Our results showed that family income (P = 0.003), dietetic hygiene (P = 0.005), education (P = 0.004) and marital status (P = 0.007) were associated with H. pylori infection. Conclusion: We found that migrant workers had little basic knowledge of H. pylori and their prevalence of infection remains high. Therefore, we need to promote education and awareness of H. pylori and to ensure access to diagnosis and treatment for infected workers.

MicroRNAs in Colorectal Cancer: from Diagnosis to Targeted Therapy

  • Orang, Ayla Valinezhad;Barzegari, Abolfazl
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.17
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    • pp.6989-6999
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    • 2014
  • Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major healthcare problems worldwide and its processes of genesis include a sequence of molecular pathways from adenoma to carcinoma. The discovery of microRNAs, a subset of regulatory non-coding RNAs, has added new insights into CRC diagnosis and management. Together with several causes of colorectal neoplasia, aberrant expression of oncomiRs (oncogenic and tumor suppressor miRNAs) in cancer cells was found to be indirectly result in up- or down-regulation of targeted mRNAs specific to tumor promoter or inhibitor genes. The study of miRNAs as CRC biomarkers utilizes expression profiling methods from traditional tissue samples along with newly introduced non-invasive samples of faeces and body fluids. In addition, miRNAs could be employed to predict chemo- and radio-therapy responses and be manipulated in order to alleviate CRC characteristics. The scope of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of scientific literature describing aberrantly expressed miRNAs, and consequently dysregulation of targeted mRNAs along with the potential role of miRNAs in CRC diagnosis and prognosis, as well as to summarize the recent findings on miRNA-based manipulation methods with the aim of advancing in anti-CRC therapies.