• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.322-330
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• 2003

The unicellular green alga Haematococcus pluvialis has recently attracted great inter-est due to its large amounts of ketocarotenoid astaxanthin, 3,3'-dihydroxy-${\beta}$,${\beta}$-carotene-4,4'-dione, widely used commercially as a source of pigment for aquaculture. In the life cycle of H. pluvialis, astaxanthin biosynthesis is associated with a remarkable morphological change from green motile vegetative cells into red immotile cyst cells as the resting stage. In recent years we have studied this morphological process from two aspects: defining conditions governing astaxanthin biosynthesis and questioning the possible function of astaxanthin in protecting algal cells against environmental stress. Astaxanthin accumulation in cysts was induced by a variety of environmental conditions of oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species, intense light, drought, high salinity, and high temperature. In the adaptation to stress, abscisic acid induced by reactive oxygen species, would function as a hormone in algal morphogenesis from veget ative to cyst cells. Furthermore, measurements of both in vitro and in vivo antioxidative activities of astaxanthin clearly demonstrated that tolerance to excessive reactive oxygen species is greater in astaxanthin-rich cysts than in astaxanthin-poor cysts or astaxanthin-less vegetative cells. Therefore, reactive oxygen species are involved in the regulation of both algal morph O-genesis and carotenogenesis, and the accumulated astaxanthin in cysts can function as a protective agent against oxidative stress damage. In this study, the physiological roles of astaxanthin in stress response and cell protection are reviewed.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.7-22
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• 1998

The development of the superior cervical ganglion was studied by electron microscopic method in human fetuses ranging from 40 mm to 260 mm of crown-rump length(10 to 30 weeks of gestational age). At 40 mm fetus, the superior cervical ganglion was composed of clusters of undifferentiated cell, primitive neuroblast, primitive supporting cell, and unmyelinated fibers. At 70 mm fetus, the neuroblasts and their processes were ensheated by the bodies or processes of satellite cells. The cytoplasm of the neuroblast contained rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi complex, Nissl bodies and dense-cored vesicles. As the neuroblasts grew and differentiated dense-cored vesicles moved away from perikaryal cytoplasm into developing processes. Synaptic contacts between the cholinergic axon and dendrites of postganglionic neuron and a few axosomatic synapses were first observed at 70 mm fetus. At 90 mm fetus the superior cervical ganglion consisted of neuroblasts, satellite cells, granule-containing cells, and unmyelinated nerve fibers. The ganglion cells increased somewhat in numbers and size by 150 mm fetus. Further differentiation resulted in the formation of young ganglion cells, whose cytoplasm was densely filled with cell organelles. During next prenatal stage up to 260 mm fetus, the cytoplasm of the ganglion cells contained except for large pigment granules, all intracytoplasmic structures which were also found in mature superior cervical ganglion. A great number of synaptic contact zones between the cholinergic preganglionic axon and the dendrites of the postganglionic neuron were observed and a few axosomatic synapses were also observed. Two morphological types of the granule-containing cells in the superior cervical ganglion were first identified at 90 mm fetus. Type I granule-containing cell occurred in solitary, whereas type II tended to appeared in clusters near the blood capillaries. Synaptic contacts were first found on the solitary granule-containing cell at 150 mm fetus. Synaptic contacts between the soma of type I granule-containing cells and preganglionic axon termials were observed. In addition, synaptic junctions between the processes of the granule-containing cells and dendrites of postganglionic neuron were also observed from 150 mm fetus onward. In conclusion, superior cervical ganglion cells and granule-containing cells arise from a common undifferentiated cell precursor of neural crest. The granule-containg cells exhibit a local modulatory feedback system in the superior cervical ganglion and may serve as interneurons between the preganglionic and postganglionic cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.363-377
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• 1998

After the investigation on the eye of Incilaria fruhstorieri with light and electron microscopes, the following results were obtained. The eye of Incilaria fruhstorferi comprises cornea, lens, vitreous body, retina, and optic nerve inward from the outside. Cornea is composed of squamous, cuboid, columnar and irregular cells, which appear to be light due to their low electron density. In their cytoplasms, glycogen granules, multivesicular body, and nucleus were observed. Vitreous body, located behind non-cellular transparent lens, is filled with long and short microvilli protruding from the retinal epithelia. Retinal epithelium, the organ to perceive objects, is divided into four parts; microvillar layer pigment layer, nuclear layer, and neutrophils layer, from the apical portion. Microvillar layer consists of the type-I photoreceptor cells and pigmented granule cells. In the apical portion of their cytoplasms, long microvilli (length, $19{\mu}m$) , short microvilli (length, $8{\mu}m$), and rolled microvilli grow thick in the irregular and mixed forms. Photoreceptor cells are classified into type-I and type-II, according to their structures. The type-I cell has the apical portion rising roundly like a fan and the lower part which looks like the helve of a fan. In the cytoplasm of the apical portion, there are clear vesicles, cored vesicles, ovoid mitochondria, and microfilaments, and in the cytoplasm of the lower part, photic vesicles with their diameters about 60nm aggregate densely. The type-II photoreceptor cell, located at the lower end of the type-I cells, has a very large ovoid nucleus 3nd no microvilli. In the cytoplasm of the type-II cell, the photic vesicles with sizes 60nm aggregate more densely than in the cytoplasm of the type-I cell. Pigmented cells are classified into type-A and type-B, according to their structures. The type-A is identified to be a large cell containing round granules (diameter, $0.5{\mu}m$) of very high electron density, while the type-B is identified as a small cell where the irregular granules (diameter, $0.6{\mu}m$) of a little lower electron density amalgamate. Nuclear layer ranges from the bottom of pigment layer to the top of the capsule, and contains three kinds of nuclei (nuclei of the type-II photoreceptor cell, pigmented granule cell, and accessory neuron). The capsules covering the outmost part of the eyeball are composed of collagenous fiber and three longitudinal muscle layers (the thickness of each longitudinal muscle layer, $0.4{\mu}m$) and thick circular muscle layer (thickness, $0.3{\mu}m$). Around the capsules, there is a neurophile layer consisting of neurons and nerve fibers. Each neuron has a relatively large ovoid nucleus for its cytoplasm, and in the karyosome, large lumps of keterochromatin form a wheel nucleus.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.17-30
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• 2002

살오징어 (Todarodes pacif icus)와 서해낙지 (Octopus minor)의 망막은 외절부, 간상기저부, 내절부 그리고 망상층 등 4개의 층으로 구분되었고, 망막의 두께는 오징어 ($385{\sim}400{\mu}m$)에서보다 낙지 ($400{\sim}420{\mu}m$)에서 $20{\mu}m$ 정도 더 두터웠다. 망막은 시각세포와 지지세포로 구성되어 있는데, 서해낙지의 지지세포 상단에는 미세융모 (길이 $0.6{\sim}0.7{\mu}m$)가 밀생된데 비해 살오징어에서는 확인되지 않았다. 망막을 구성하는 시각세포와 지지세포들은 광선을 차단하는 색소과립들을 소지하고 있었는데, 살오징어인 경우 시각세포의 색소과립(크기, $2.0{\times}0.5{\mu}m$ 정도)이 지지세포의 색소과립 (크기, $1.0{\times}0.3{\mu}m$ 정도)에 비해 컸으나, 서해낙지에서는 두 세포간 색소과립의 크기 ($0.8{\times}0.6{\mu}m$ 정도)가 비슷하였다. 시각세포의 세포질 상단부에서 빗살모양의 미세융모들이 정육각형 구조 (직경, 60 nm)인 rhabdome을 형성하였는데 한 개의 rhabdome은 4개의 rhabdomere로 구성되어 있으며, 전체 rhabdome의 총 단면적은 서해낙지가 살오징어에 비해 두 배정도 컸다. 망상층을 구성하는 연접체는 살오징어인 경우 전자밀도가 높은 핵을 포함하는 소포 (electron dense-core vesicle)와 전자밀도가 낮은 소포 (electron lucent vesicle)들로만 형성된 연접체 등 두 종류를 소지한 반면, 서해낙지에서는 전자밀도가 높은 소포(electron dense vesicle)와 전자밀도가 낮은 소포들이 혼합된 형과 전자밀도가 낮은 소포들로만 이루어진 연접체 등 두 종류를 소지하고 있어 두 종간 차이가 확인되었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권10호
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• pp.1621-1629
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• 2008

Harmful algal blooms (HABs), commonly called red tides, are caused by some toxic phytoplanktons, and have made massive economic losses as well as marine environmental disturbances. As an effective and environment-friendly strategy to control HAB outbreaks, biological methods using marine bacteria capable of killing the harmful algae or algicidal extracellular compounds from them have been given attention. A new member of the $\gamma$-Proteobacteria, Hahella chejuensis KCTC 2396, was originally isolated from the Korean seashore for its ability to secrete industrially useful polysaccharides, and was characterized to produce a red pigment. This pigment later was identified as an alkaloid compound, prodigiosin. During the past several decades, prodigiosin has been extensively studied for its medical potential as immunosuppressants and antitumor agents, owing to its antibiotic and cytotoxic activities. The lytic activity of this marvelous molecule against Cochlodinium polykrikoides cells at very low concentrations ($\sim$l ppb) was serendipitously detected, making H. chejuensis a strong candidate among the biological agents for HAB control. This review provides a brief overview of algicidal marine bacteria and their products, and describes in detail the algicidal characteristics, biosynthetic process, and genetic regulation of prodigiosin as a model among the compounds active against red-tide organisms from the biochemical and genetic viewpoints.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.257-264
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• 2007

Rice is one of the world's staple crops and is a major source of carbohydrate. Rice is exported from several countries, providing a major source of income. There are many documents reporting that rice is a salt-sensitive crop in its developmental stages. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the effective salt-tolerance defense mechanisms in aromatic rice varieties. Pathumthani 1(PT1), Jasmine(KDML105), and Homjan(HJ) aromatic rice varieties were chosen as plant materials. Rice seedlings photoautotrophically grown in-vitro were treated with 0, 85, 171, 256, 342, and 427 mM NaCl in the media. Data, including sodium ion$(Na^+)$ and potassium ion$(K^+)$ accumulation, osmolarity, chlorophyll pigment concentration, and the fresh and dry weights of seedlings were collected after salt-treatment for 5 days. $Na^+$ in salt-stressed seedlings gradually accumulated, while $K^+$ decreased, especially in the 342-427 mM NaCl salt treatments. The $Na^+$ accumulation in both salt-stressed root and leaf tissues was positively related to osmolarity, leading to chlorophyll degradation. In the case of the different rice varieties, the results showed that the HJ variety was identified as being salt-tolerant, maintaining root and shoot osmolarities as well as pigment stabilization when exposed to salt stress or $Na^+$ enrichment in the cells. On the other hand, PT1 and KDML105 varieties were classified as salt-sensitive, determined by chlorophyll degradation using Hierarchical cluster analysis. In conclusion, the HJ-salt tolerant variety should be further utilized as a parental line or genetic resource in breeding programs because of the osmoregulation defensive response to salt-stress.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.289-295
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• 1982

Streptomyces bobili (YS-40) 의 Hg, Ag, penicillin-G, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, streptomycin, kanamycin에 대한 생육최소저해농도는 각각 15, 10, >3,000, >100, >1,000. >100. <5, <5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$였으며 본 균주의 R-plasmid를 제거시키기 위하여 ethidium bromide, acriflavine, sodium dodecyl sulfate 등의 curing agent를 처리시킨 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. Ethidium bromide를 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$의 농도로 처리했을 때 98.0% 정도의 R-plasmid를 제거시킬 수 있었다. pH 7.0에서 curing시킴으로서 R-plasmid가 가장 잘 제거되었으며 분균을 24시간동안 배양해서 curing시킴으로서 R-plasmid의 제거율이 가장 높게 나타났다. Ethidium bromide에 의해서 R-plasmid가 제거된 균과 원균을 여러가지 색소생성배지에서 배양시켜 배양상의 특성을 조사해 본 결과 peptone-beef extract agar 배지에서 aerial mass color가 greyish pink에서 grey로 변했으며 tryptone-yeast extract broth에서 배지에서 soluble pigment가 pale brown에서 무색으로 변했다. 이 결과로는 aerial mycelium, melanin 생성과 R-plasmid 는 무관하다고 추측된다.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.38-44
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• 2021

Background: Dental caries and periodontal disease are bacterial infectious disease, mainly caused by plaque, a bacterial colony deposited on the tooth surface and gum tissue. Dental plaque disclosants easily stain the dental plaque, making them effective for scaling and tooth brushing education. As the erythrosine typically contained in dental plaque disclosants is highly cytotoxic, a low toxicity additive is needed. In this study, we aimed to examine the natural pigments with negligible cytotoxicity but can effectively stain the dental plaques for use in dental plaque disclosants. Methods: The pigmentation of eight types of natural pigments was tested on bovine tongue and teeth, as well as on head and neck tissue sections of experimental ICR mice. The cytotoxicity of gingival epithelial cells was measured via MTT assay. Pigmentation was performed on the bovine tongue and tooth surface. Pigmentation in the oral environment was observed in four mandibular incisors. A 2 Tone was used as a control. Results: Of the eight types of natural pigments, purple and blue pigments were effective in coloring dental plaques on the enamel surface as well as in the head and neck tissue sections. Additionally, purple and blue pigments were visible on the surface of the bovine tongue. Red, pink, orange, green, purple, and yellow pigments showed strong cytotoxicity, whereas brown and blue pigments had relatively low cytotoxicity. Blue pigment was effective in staining the dental plaque of four mandibular incisors. Conclusion: We suggest that the blue pigment derived from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (Rubiaceae), which is effective for coloring dental plaques and has low cytotoxicity, is useful as a naturally derived dental disclosant.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.168-178
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• 2021

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms a monolayer sheet separating the retina and choroid in vertebrate eyes. The polarized nature of RPE is maintained by distributing membrane proteins differentially along apico-basal axis. We found the distributions of these proteins differ in embryonic, post-natal, and mature mouse RPE, suggesting developmental regulation of protein trafficking. Thus, we deleted tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101), a key component of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT), in embryonic and mature RPE to determine whether ESCRT-mediated endocytic protein trafficking correlated with the establishment and maintenance of RPE polarity. Loss of Tsg101 severely disturbed the polarity of RPE, which forms irregular aggregates exhibiting non-polarized distribution of cell adhesion proteins and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. These findings suggest that ESCRT-mediated protein trafficking is essential for the development and maintenance of RPE cell polarity.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.275-278
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• 2006

A 7-month-old brown pig with a discoid and pedunculate mass measuring $14.0{\times}12.5{\times}2.5cm$ on the skin of the right shoulder was noted at the slaughter house in Jeju. The surface of mass approximately $7{\times}4cm$ was interfaced with skin. The color of mass with firm consistency was mainly black and partially white on cut surface. Histopathologically, numerous unencapsulated endocrine-like cellular nodules of epithelioid cell type with abundant intracytoplasmic black pigment, melanin, were occupied in dermis and subcutis. Most of nodules in deep dermis were surrounded by lightly pigmented spindle cells and loose fibrous tissues. Mitotic figures were infrequently observed. The overlying epidermis was hyperplastic due to the down-growth of rete peg. Based on the gross and histopathologic findings, this case was diagnosed as cutaneous melanoma. In our best knowledge, this is the first case of swine cutaneous melanoma in Korea.