• Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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• v.513 no.4
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• pp.5606-5610
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• 2022

Mass-loss of massive helium stars is not well understood even though it plays an essential role in determining their remnant neutron-star or black hole masses as well as ejecta mass of Type Ibc supernovae (SNe Ibc). Radio emission from SNe Ibc is strongly affected by circumstellar matter properties formed by mass-loss of their massive helium star progenitors. In this study, we estimate the rise time and peak luminosity distributions of SNe Ibc in radio based on a few massive helium star mass-loss prescriptions and compare them with the observed distribution to constrain the uncertain massive helium star mass-loss rates. We find that massive helium stars in the luminosity range expected for ordinary SNe Ibc progenitors (4.6≲log L/L_⊙≲5.2) should generally have large mass-loss rates (≳10^-6M_⊙yr^-1) in order to account for the observed rise time and peak luminosity distribution. Therefore, mass-loss prescriptions that predict significantly low mass-loss rates for helium stars in this luminosity range is inconsistent with the SN radio observations. It is also possible that massive helium stars shortly before their explosion generally undergo mass-loss enhancement in a different way from the standard radiation-driven wind mechanism.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 2015

The Drosophila lymph gland is the hematopoietic organ in which stem-like progenitors proliferate and give rise to myeloid-type blood cells. Mechanisms involved in Drosophila hematopoiesis are well established and known to be conserved in the vertebrate system. Recent studies in Drosophila lymph gland have provided novel insights into how external and internal stresses integrate into blood progenitor maintenance mechanisms and the control of blood cell fate decision. In this review, I will introduce a developmental overview of the Drosophila hematopoietic system, and recent understandings of how the system uses developmental signals not only for hematopoiesis but also as sensors for stress and environmental changes to elicit necessary blood responses. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(4): 223-228]

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.142-146
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• 2012

Doublecortin (DCX) is a microtuble-associated protein that is required for the migration of immature neuroblasts within the chick and mammalian brain. Although it is generally thought that DCX is expressed only in the neuroblasts, some mature neurons maintain DCX expression; for example, horizontal cells in adult rat retina. In this study, we demonstrate that retinal neural progenitors in the early embryonic stage of the chick also expressed DCX, as do developing ganglion cells and horizontal cells in later stages of development. These findings raise the possibility of a role for DCX in retinal neural progenitors, before they become specialized into neuroblasts in the chick.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.87.1-87.1
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• 2017

We present preliminary results of elemental abundances of six ultra-metal poor (UMP; [Fe/H] < -4.0) stars derived from high-resolution spectra obtained by Gemini/GRACES. The UMP candidates were selected for the high-resolution follow-up from the low-resolution spectra of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We investigate possible progenitors of the UMP objects by comparing the measured abundance patterns with yields that various supernova models predict. Our results can provide stringent constraints on the mass range of the first generation of stars, which are the progenitors of the UMP objects.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.64-64
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• 2012

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are beautiful and diverse. Individual SNRs have their own distinctive features. The morphology and physical characteristics of young SNRs result from the interaction of supernova (SN) ejecta with circumstellar medium, while those of old SNRs result from the interaction of SN blast wave with the interstellar medium. The diversity of SNRs reflects different types of SN and the broad physical conditions in their environments, which are ultimately related to the formation and evolutionary history of progenitor stars. The importance of SNe and SNRs as the sources of heavy elements, cosmic rays, dusts, hot coronal gases, and interstellar turbulences depends on their types and environments. In this talk, I discuss the connections among SNRs, SNe, and their progenitors, and the consequences on the characteristics and astrophysical roles of SNRs.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.68.3-68.3
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• 2019

Even though the initial mass function (IMF) of the first generation of stars played important roles in reionization of the universe, subsequent star formation, and chemical enrichment of the universe, it is still very uncertain. In this study, among the several indirect ways of estimating the IMF of the population III (Pop III) stars, we make use of extremely metal-poor (EMP; [Fe/H] < -3.0) stars in the Milky Way, in order to infer the characteristic mass range of Pop III stars. As the progenitors of many of the EMP stars are known to be Pop III stars, we attempt to construct the characteristic mass range of the progenitors (e.g., Pop III stars) of the EMP stares by comparing their observed abundance pattern of various chemical elements with chemical yields from supernova models.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.40.1-40.1
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• 2018

Among Type I supernovae, which show no evidence for hydrogen lines in spectra, Type Ib/c supernovae lack of strong Si absorption lines and are involved with massive progenitors. While strong helium absorption lines are present in Type Ib supernovae, narrow helium emission lines also can appear in some Type Ib that are often called Type Ibn supernovae (SNe Ibn). We consider helium giant stars as a promising progenitor candidate for SN Ibn and suggest the evolutionary scenario through binary systems using MESA code. In our models the range of primary mass is 11 - 20 solar mass, mass ratio is 0.5 - 0.9, and initial period is 1.5 / 1.7 / 2.0 / 2.5 / 3.0 day. In particular, we find that the evolution of the secondary star can overtake the primary through mass transfer from the secondary to the primary, which is so-called 'reverse case B' mass transfer. In such systems the secondary star may undergo a supernova explosion earlier than the primary star. In this case, the primary star evolves towards a single helium giant to become a SN Ibn progenitor. These cases are more frequent in relatively low initial primary mass.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.588-602
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• 2022

Various RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key components in RNA metabolism and contribute to several neurodevelopmental disorders. To date, only a few of such RBPs have been characterized for their roles in neocortex development. Here, we show that the RBP, Rbms1, is required for radial migration, polarization and differentiation of neuronal progenitors to neurons in the neocortex development. Rbms1 expression is highest in the early development in the developing cortex, with its expression gradually diminishing from embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) to postnatal day 0 (P0). From in utero electroporation (IUE) experiments when Rbms1 levels are knocked down in neuronal progenitors, their transition from multipolar to bipolar state is delayed and this is accompanied by a delay in radial migration of these cells. Reduced Rbms1 levels in vivo also reduces differentiation as evidenced by a decrease in levels of several differentiation markers, meanwhile having no significant effects on proliferation and cell cycle rates of these cells. As an RNA binding protein, we profiled the RNA binders of Rbms1 by a cross-linked-RIP sequencing assay, followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction verification and showed that Rbms1 binds and stabilizes the mRNA for Efr3a, a signaling adapter protein. We also demonstrate that ectopic Efr3a can recover the cells from the migration defects due to loss of Rbms1, both in vivo and in vitro migration assays with cultured cells. These imply that one of the functions of Rbms1 involves the stabilization of Efr3a RNA message, required for migration and maturation of neuronal progenitors in radial migration in the developing neocortex.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Liver organoids have emerged as a powerful tool for studying liver biology and disease and for developing new therapies and regenerative medicine approaches. For organoid culture, Matrigel, a type of extracellular matrix, is the most commonly used material. However, Matrigel cannot be used for clinical applications due to the presence of unknown proteins that can cause immune rejection, batch-to-batch variability, and angiogenesis. Methods: To obtain human primary hepatocytes (hPHs), we performed 2 steps collagenase liver perfusion protocol. We treated three small molecules cocktails (A83-01, CHIR99021, and HGF) for reprogramming the hPHs into human chemically derived hepatic progenitors (hCdHs) and used hCdHs to generate liver organoids. Results: In this study, we report the generation of liver organoids in a collagen scaffold using hCdHs. In comparison with adult liver (or primary hepatocyte)-derived organoids with collagen scaffold (hALO_C), hCdH-derived organoids in a collagen scaffold (hCdHO_C) showed a 10-fold increase in organoid generation efficiency with higher expression of liver- or liver progenitor-specific markers. Moreover, we demonstrated that hCdHO_C could differentiate into hepatic organoids (hCdHO_C_DM), indicating the potential of these organoids as a platform for drug screening. Conclusions: Overall, our study highlights the potential of hCdHO_C as a tool for liver research and presents a new approach for generating liver organoids using hCdHs with a collagen scaffold.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.394-405
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• 2023

The differentiation of pluripotent stem cells has been used to study disease mechanisms and development. We previously described a method for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into salivary gland epithelial progenitors (SGEPs). Here, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) knockout hPSCs were differentiated into SGEPs derived from CFTR knockout hESCs (CF-SGEPs) using the same protocol to investigate whether the hPSC-derived SGEPs can model the characteristics of CF. CF-a disease that affects salivary gland (SG) function-is caused by mutations of the CFTR gene. Firstly, we successfully generated CFTR knockout hPSCs with reduced CFTR protein expression using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. After 16 days of differentiation, the protein expression of CFTR decreased in SGEPs derived from CFTR knockout hESCs (CF-SGEPs). RNA-Seq revealed that multiple genes modulating SG development and function were down-regulated, and positive regulators of inflammation were up-regulated in CF-SGEPs, correlating with the salivary phenotype of CF patients. These results demonstrated that CFTR suppression disrupted the differentiation of hPSC-derived SGEPs, which modeled the SG development of CF patients. In summary, this study not only proved that the hPSC-derived SGEPs could serve as manipulable and readily accessible cell models for the study of SG developmental diseases but also opened up new avenues for the study of the CF mechanism.