• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2008

Introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into some cells or organisms results in degradation of its homologous mRNA, a process called RNA interference (RNAi). The dsRNAs are processed into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that subsequently bind to the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), causing degradation of target mRNAs. Because of this sequence-specific ability to silence target genes, RNAi has been extensively used to study gene functions and has the potential to control disease pathogens or vectors. With this promise of RNAi to control pathogens and vectors, this paper reviews the current status of RNAi in protozoans, animal parasitic helminths and disease-transmitting vectors, such as insects. Many pathogens and vectors cause severe parasitic diseases in tropical regions and it is difficult to control once the host has been invaded. Intracellularly, RNAi can be highly effective in impeding parasitic development and proliferation within the host. To fully realize its potential as a means to control tropical diseases, appropriate delivery methods for RNAi should be developed, and possible off-target effects should be minimized for specific gene suppression. RNAi can also be utilized to reduce vector competence to interfere with disease transmission, as genes critical for pathogenesis of tropical diseases are knockdowned via RNAi.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.367-368
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• 2015

It has long been thought that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functions as a DNA-binding transcription factor in response to its ligand (a glucocorticoid) and thus regulates various cellular and physiological processes. It is also known that GR can bind not only to DNA but also to mRNA; this observation points to the possible role of GR in mRNA metabolism. Recent data revealed a molecular mechanism by which binding of GR to target mRNA elicits rapid mRNA degradation. GR binds to specific RNA sequences regardless of the presence of a ligand. In the presence of a ligand, however, the mRNA-associated GR can recruit PNRC2 and UPF1, both of which are specific factors involved in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). PNRC2 then recruits the decapping complex, consequently promoting mRNA degradation. This mode of mRNA decay is termed "GR-mediated mRNA decay" (GMD). Further research demonstrated that GMD plays a critical role in chemotaxis of immune cells by targeting CCL2 mRNA. All these observations provide molecular insights into a previously unappreciated function of GR in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 367-368]

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.47-55
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• 2014

Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus A6 possesses several monooxygenases (CphC-I, CphC-II, and CphB) that can catalyze the transformation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) to hydroxylated intermediates in the initial steps of substrate metabolism. The corresponding genes of the monooxygenases were cloned, and the competent cells were transformed with these recombinant plasmids. Although CphC-II and CphB were expressed as insoluble forms, CphC-I was successfully expressed as a soluble form and isolated by purification. The specific activity of the purified CphC-I was analyzed by using 4-CP, 4-chlorocatechol (4-CC), and catechol (CAT) as substrates. The specific activities for 4-CP, 4-CC, and CAT were determined to be 0.312 U/mg, 0.462 U/mg, 0.246 U/mg, respectively. The results of this study indicated that CphC-I is able to catalyze the degradation of 4-CC and CAT in addition to 4-CP, which is a primary substrate. This research is expected to provide the fundamental information for the development of an eco-friendly biochemical degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the characterization of aerogel made by holocellulose, the thermal properties of the aerogel, and its shapes and porous structures. The aerogel was made by holocellulose through the gelation in alkali hydroxide-urea solution and freeze drying processes. Holocellulose aerogel had porous structure such as net or sponge. The density of holocellulose aerogel was 0.04 g/$cm^3$, and the specific surface area 145.3 $m^2$/g. Although thermal degradation occurred in the range of $210{\sim}350^{\circ}C$, significant thermal degradation occurred at low temperature with low heating rate, Micropore volume was sharply increased with low heating rate. Holocellulose aerogel char obtained by carbonization with $900^{\circ}C$ and $0.5^{\circ}C$/min. heating rate had the highest surface area, 656.7 $m^2$/g. The deformed and irregular structures of holocellulose aerogel chars due to the thermal degradation were observed in SEM.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 2017

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) acts as a hydroxylase for estrogen and activates potential carcinogens. Moreover, its expression in tumor tissues is much higher than that in normal tissues. Despite this association between CYP1B1 and cancer, the detailed molecular mechanism of CYP1B1 on cancer progression in HeLa cells remains unknown. Previous reports indicated that the mRNA expression level of Herc5, an E3 ligase for ISGylation, is promoted by CYP1B1 suppression using specific small interfering RNA, and that ISGylation may be involved in ubiquitination related to ${\beta}-catenin$ degradation. With this background, we investigated the relationships among CYP1B1, Herc5, and ${\beta}-catenin$. RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that CYP1B1 overexpression induced and CYP1B1 inhibition reduced, respectively, the expression of $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling target genes including ${\beta}-catenin$ and cyclin D1. Moreover, HeLa cells were treated with the CYP1B1 inducer $7,12-dimethylbenz[{\alpha}]anthracene$ (DMBA) or the CYP1B1 specific inhibitor, tetramethoxystilbene (TMS) and consequently DMBA increased and TMS decreased ${\beta}-catenin$ and cyclin D1 expression, respectively. To determine the correlation between CYP1B1 expression and ISGylation, the expression of ISG15, a ubiquitin-like protein, was detected following CYP1B1 regulation, which revealed that CYP1B1 may inhibit ISGylation through suppression of ISG15 expression. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Herc5 were strongly suppressed by CYP1B1. Finally, an immunoprecipitation assay revealed a direct physical interaction between Herc5 and ${\beta}-catenin$ in HeLa cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that CYP1B1 may activate $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling through stabilization of ${\beta}-catenin$ protein from Herc5-mediated ISGylation for proteosomal degradation.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.38 no.5 s.118
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

This study was performed to evaluate extensive electrochemical characteristics of 23 commercially available mediators for laccase. Electrochemical properties, interactions with laccases, and ability to degrade lignin were compared for selected mediators. Among them, NNDS has very similar electrochemical properties in terms of reversibility and redox potential (about 470 mV vs. Ag/AgCl at pH=7) compared to ABTS which is a well-known mediator. Specific activity of purified laccase from Cerrena unicolor was determined by both 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 1-nitroso-2-naphthol -3,6-disulfonic acid (NNDS). The specific activity of the laccase was 23.2 units/mg with ABTS and 21.2 units/mg with NNDS. The electron exchange rate for NNDS with laccase was very similar to that for ABTS, which meant that NNDS had similar mediating capability to ABTS. Determining methanol concentration after reacting with laccase compared to lignin degradation capabilities of both ARTS and NNDS. ARTS or NNDS alone cannot degrade lignin, but in the presence of laccase enhanced the rate of lignin degradation. ABTS showed better activity in the beginning, and the reaction rate of NNDS with lignin was about a half of that of ABTS at 10 minute, but the final concentration of methanol produced in 1 hour was very similar each other. The reason for similar methanol concentration for both ABTS and NNDS can be interpreted as the initial activity of ABTS was better than that of NNDS, but ABTS would be inhibited laccase activity more during the incubation.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.596-600
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• 2011

Thermal degradation behavior of a $WO_3-TiO_2$ monolithic catalyst was investigated in terms of structural, morphological, and physico-chemical analyses. The catalyst with 4 wt.% $WO_3$ contents were prepared by a wet-impregnation method, and a durability test of the catalysts were performed in a temperature range between $400^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$ for 3 h. An increase of thermal stress decreased the specific surface area, which was caused by grain growth and agglomeration of the catalyst particles. The phase transition from anatase to rutile occurred at around $800^{\circ}C$ and a decrease in the Brønsted acid sites was confirmed by structural analysis and physico-chemical analysis. A change in Brønsted acidity can affect to the catalytic efficiency; therefore, the thermal degradation behavior of the $WO_3-TiO_2$ catalyst could be explained by the transition to a stable rutile phase of $TiO_2$ and the decrease of specific surface area in the SCR catalyst.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.839-846
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• 2016

Since oil leakage is one of the most common nonpoint pollution sources that contaminate soil in Korea, the capacity of soil microbial community for degrading petroleum hydrocarbons should be considered to assess the functional value of soil resource. However, conventional methods (e.g., microcosm experiments) to assess the remediation capacity of soil microbial community are costly and time-consuming to cover large area. The present study suggests a new approach to assess the toluene remediation capacity of soil microbial community using a microbial diversity index, which is a simpler detection method than measuring degradation rate. The results showed that Shannon index of microbial community were correlated with specific degradation rate ($V_{max}$), a degradation factor. Subsequently, a correlation equation was generated and applied to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. These results will be useful to conveniently assess the remediation capacity of soil microbial community and can be widely applied to diverse engineering fields including environment-friendly construction engineering fields.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.25-34
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• 1999

The effects of copper on the anaerobic degradation of propionate were studied using anaerobic batch reactors. The apparent inhibitory effects of copper on the anaerobic degradation of propionate could be observed from behaviors of intermediates, ultimate methane yield(UMY) and specific methanogenic activity(SMA) There was little inhibition at the concentration of $2.5mg\;Cu^{2+}/L$. Beyond this concentration, the inhibitory effects increased with increasing dose of coppers. The 50% inhibition of UMY and SMA occurred at copper dosage of 33.8 and $24.1mg\;Cu^{2+}/gVSS$, respectively. The inhibitory effect based on the UMY was gradually reduced with the operation time dueprobably to the acclimation of microorganisms and/or binding of the added copper by ligands(and possibly ion exchange sites)contained on the cell membrane and extracellular polymer matrix whereas it based on the SMA might exclude the this phenomena. Therefore, the methodology for interpretation of inhibition data based on the SMA was more accurated than the UMY. There was no inhibitory effect in batch reactors supplemented with sulfate due to an antagonistic action of the sulfate reducing bacteria. Propionate degradation was initially retarded for copper inhibited samples but it gradually degraded afterward. Based on the mass removal considering take into account the propionate to acetate conversion, propionate degradation may appeal more affected than acetate. This result revealed that the hydrogenotrophic methanogens were the most affected by copper.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.349-355
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• 2003

Material degradation due to corrosion fatigue was evaluated nondestructively using backward radiated Rayleigh surface wave. h corrosion fatigue test was carried out for the specimens made of thermo-mechanically controlled process steel in 3.5wt.% NaCl solution at $25^{\circ}C$. The backward radiation profile, which is the amplitude variation of backward radiated ultrasound according to the incident angle, of the specimens were measured in water at room temperature after the corrosion fatigue test. The velocity of Rayleigh surface wave, determined from the incident angle at which the profile of the backward radiated ultrasound became maximum, decreased for the specimen that had the large number of cycles to failure in the corrosion fatigue test. This fact implies that the corrosion degradation occurred at specimen surface in this specific test is dominantly dependant on the me exposed to corrosion environment. The result observed in the present work demonstrates the high potential of backward radiated Rayleigh surface wave as a tool for nondestructive evaluation of corrosion degradation of aged materials.