• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2019

Endothelial dysfunction-induced lipid retention is an early feature of atherosclerotic lesion formation. Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is one of the major modulating factors of atherogenesis, which accelerates atherosclerosis progression by causing plaque destabilization and rupture. However, the mechanism underlying VSMC apoptosis mediated by endothelial dysfunction in relation to atherosclerosis remains elusive. In this study, we reveal differential expression of several genes related to lipid retention and apoptosis, in conjunction with atherosclerosis, by utilizing a genetic mouse model of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) deficiency manifesting endothelial dysfunction. Moreover, eNOS deficiency led to the enhanced susceptibility against pro-apoptotic insult in VSMCs. In particular, the expression of aggrecan, a major proteoglycan, was elevated in aortic tissue of eNOS deficient mice compared to wild type mice, and administration of aggrecan induced apoptosis in VSMCs. This suggests that eNOS deficiency may elevate aggrecan expression, which promotes apoptosis in VSMC, thereby contributing to atherosclerosis progression. These results may facilitate the development of novel approaches for improving the diagnosis or treatment of atherosclerosis.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2019

Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), and Apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) are economically important viruses that infect pear tree species worldwide. To evaluate the prevalence of these viruses in Korea, we investigated infection degree of three viruses and one viroid for the commercial nursery trees of the pear cultivars, Niitaka, Chuwhang, Wonwhang, and Whasan in 2017 and 2018. The results showed that the infection ratio of ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV, and ASSVd for the scion of pear cultivar Niitaka was 10%, 45%, 77%, and 50%, respectively. From the scion of pear cultivar Chuwhang, infection ratios of ASPV, ASGV, and ASSVd were found to be 70%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. From the scion of pear cultivar Whasan, infection ratios of ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV and ASSVd were found to be 40%, 60%, 93%, and 20%, respectively. From the root stock of pear cultivar Wonwhang, infection ratios of ACLSV, ASPV, ASGV, and ASSVd showed 28%, 57%, 100%, and 14%, respectively. ASGV had the highest recorded infection rate, and ACLSV was characterized by the lowest infection rate. The mixed infection ratio of Niitaka, Chuwhang, Whasan, and Wonwhang was 45%, 60%, 70%, and 85%, respectively.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.197-214
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• 2019

The taxonomic hierarchy of the phylum Proteobacteria was assessed, after which the isolation and classification state of Proteobacteria species with valid names for Korean indigenous isolates were studied. The hierarchical taxonomic system of the phylum Proteobacteria began in 1809 when the genus Polyangium was first reported and has been generally adopted from 2001 based on the road map of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Until February 2018, the phylum Proteobacteria consisted of eight classes, 44 orders, 120 families, and more than 1,000 genera. Proteobacteria species isolated from various environments in Korea have been reported since 1999, and 644 species have been approved as of February 2018. In this study, all novel Proteobacteria species from Korean environments were affiliated with four classes, 25 orders, 65 families, and 261 genera. A total of 304 species belonged to the class Alphaproteobacteria, 257 species to the class Gammaproteobacteria, 82 species to the class Betaproteobacteria, and one species to the class Epsilonproteobacteria. The predominant orders were Rhodobacterales, Sphingomonadales, Burkholderiales, Lysobacterales and Alteromonadales. The most diverse and greatest number of novel Proteobacteria species were isolated from marine environments. Proteobacteria species were isolated from the whole territory of Korea, with especially large numbers from the regions of Chungnam/Daejeon, Gyeonggi/Seoul/Incheon, and Jeonnam/Gwangju. Most Halomonadaceae species isolated from Korean fermented foods and solar salterns were halophilic or halotolerant. Air-borne members of the genera Microvirga, Methylobacterium, and Massilia had common characteristics in terms of G+C content, major respiratory quinones, and major polar lipids.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.254-261
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• 2007

20-O-($\beta$-D-Glucopyranosyl)-20 (S)-protopanaxadiol (IH-901) is one of the major metabolites of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng, and is suggested that IH-901 has been associated with various pharmacological and physiological activities. In this study, we demonstrate that IH-901 induced anti-inflammation in HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. Our results showed that IH-901 inhibited cell proliferation of HT-29 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We also found that IH-901 was significantly decreased expression of iNOS compared with non-treated. We observed effect of IH-901 related with inflammatory genes using by cDNA microarray. We were known that the 34 inflammatory genes such as E2F, CDK6, TNF-$\alpha$, and PKC were down-regulated. Thus, these results suggest that IH-901 may have a potential preventive factor to improving cancer induced by chronic inflammation.

• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2016

The most economically important species used in a wide range of fermentation industries throughout Asia belong to Aspergillus section Flavi, which are morphologically and phylogenetically indistinguishable, with a few being toxigenic and therefore a major concern. They are frequently isolated from Korean fermentation starters, such as nuruk and meju. The growing popularity of traditional Korean alcoholic beverages has led to a demand for their quality enhancement, therefore requiring selection of efficient non-toxigenic strains to assist effective fermentation. This study was performed to classify the most efficient strains of Aspergillus section Flavi isolated from various types of traditional wheat nuruk, based on a polyphasic approach involving molecular and biochemical evaluation. A total of 69 strains were isolated based on colony morphology and identified as Aspergillus oryzae/flavus based on internal transcribed spacer and calmodulin gene sequencing. Interestingly, none were toxigenic based on PCR amplification of intergenic regions of the aflatoxin cluster genes norB-cypA and the absence of aflatoxin in the culture supernatants by thin-layer chromatography analysis. Saccharification capability of the isolates, assessed through ${\alpha}-amylase$ and glucoamylase activities, revealed that two isolates, TNA24 and TNA15, showed the highest levels of activity. Although the degrees of variation in ${\alpha}-amylase$ and glucoamylase activities among the isolates were higher, there were only slight differences in acid protease activity among the isolates with two, TNA28 and TNA36, showing the highest activities. Furthermore, statistical analyses showed that ${\alpha}-amylase$ activity was positively correlated with glucoamylase activity (p < 0.001), and therefore screening for either was sufficient to predict the saccharifying capacity of the Aspergillus strain.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2010

The mu opioid receptor (MOR) has been regarded as the main site of interaction with analgesics in major clinical use, particularly morphine. The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) functions as a transcriptional repressor of neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. However, it is expressed in certain mature neurons, suggesting that it may have complex and novel roles. In addition, the interactions between MOR and REST and their functions remain unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of morphine on the expression of REST mRNA and protein in human neuroblastoma NMB cells to investigate the roles of REST induced by MOR activation in neuronal cells. To determine the effects of morphine on REST expression, we performed RT-PCR, real-time quantitative RT-PCR, western blot analysis and radioligand binding assays in NMB cells. By RTPCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the expression of REST was found to be unchanged by either the MOR agonist morphine or the MOR specific antagonist CTOP. By western blot, morphine was shown to significantly inhibit the expression of REST, but this suppression was completely blocked by treatment with CTOP. In the radioligand binding assay, the overexpression of REST led to an increased opioid ligand binding activity of endogenous MOR in the NMB cells. These results together suggest that morphine inhibits the expression of REST in human neuroblastoma cells through a post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism mediated through MOR.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2008

The tumor suppressor and transcription factor p53 is a key modulator of cellular stress responses, and can trigger apoptosis in many cell types including neurons. In this study, we have shown that Microtubule-associated protein 1B(MAP1B) light chain interacts with tumor suppressor p53. MAP1B is one of the major cytoskeletal proteins in the developing nervous system and essential in forming axons during elongation. We also demonstrate that both p53 and MAP1B-LC1 interact in the nucleus in HEK 293 cells. Indeed, we show that the MAP1B-LC1 negatively regulates p53-dependent transcriptional activity of a reporter containing the p21 promoter. Consequently, MAP1B light chain binds with p53 and their interaction leads to the inhibition of doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in HEK 293 cells. Furthermore, these examinations might be taken into consideration when knock-down of MAP1B-LC1 is used as a cancer therapeutic strategy to enhance p53's apoptotic activity in chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2013

To know how much damages occurred by nematodes in plastic vinyl house field, soil samples were collected from strawberry cultivation areas at Buyeo and Nonsan in Chungnam and Jinju in Kyeongnam, melon cultivation area at Gocksung in Junnam and cucumber field at Gongju in Chungnam. And then, nematode samples were separated from each soil sample, and identified the kind of plant-parasitic nematodes. Plant-parasitic nematodes were separated from 52 soil samples. Among samples, Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp. and Helicotylenchus spp. were isolated from 45 (86.5%%) and 33 (63.5%) and 47 collected soil samples (90.4%), respectively. As a result of identification of plant-parasitic nematodes from regional collected soil samples, distribution of Helicotylenchus spp. was higher than any other plant-parasitic nematode. And the population of Meloidogyne spp. and Pratylenchu spp. were also higher, and a occurrence ratio of Meloidogyne spp. is higher than Pratylenchu spp. except the cucumber growing area at Gongju.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.69-72
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• 2018

A new silkworm variety 'Chilseongjam' was bred for special purpose as educational learning and festivals. Their breeding history and major characteristics are as follows. The Chilseongjam variety was selected and succeeded from the F1 of Galwon ${\times}$ C721 in 2009 autumn. They are showing 94% (spring & autumn) of high practical hatching ratio. The larval period of Chilseongjam (spring: 23 d, autumn: 24 d 3 h) was shorter than that of Daebakjam (spring: 24 d, autumn: 25 d 23 h). In the pupation percentage, Chilseongjam (spring: 96.6%, autumn: 86.1%) is similar to Daebakjam Daebakjam (spring: 96.3%) in spring, but autumn is lower than Daebakjam (autumn: 94.9%). Single cocoon weight (spring: 1.57 g, autumn: 1.29 g) and Cocoon yield (spring: 14.2 kg, autumn: 11.1 kg) were lower than those of Daebakjam (spring: 2.76 g, 25.4 kg, autumn: 2.19g, 20.2 kg), respectively. The new silkworm variety, Chilseongjam showed higher pupation rate than control variety. This variety can be used as a educational learning and festivals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.17-23
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• 2003

Restoration ecology is undergoing rapid growth as academic field over the last 15 years. The specification of goals for restoration projects is frequently described as the most important component of a project. The endeavor for universal development of goals for ecological restoration continues to generate many discussion and controversy. I discuss the importance of restoration goals and diverse roots of restoration ecology, and show how the complex lineages within restoration ecology. I review the three major theme that currently are used to develop the restoration goals : restoration of species, restoration of whole ecosystem or landscapes, and the restoration of ecosystem services. Restoration ecology, landscape ecology and conservation biology share goals to conserve biodiversity, but differ in focus of approach. I review the differences among three fields. Conservation biology has been more zoological, more descriptive, and theoretical, and more emphasized the population and genetic research. However, restoration ecology has been more plant ecological, more experimental, and emphasized the community and plant succession. Landscape ecology has emphasized the interaction of ecosystem and dispersal among populations. I suggest the integration of restoration ecology, landscape ecology and conservation biology. For example, conservation biology will contribute to the preservation of original habitats by population study, restoration ecology will contribute to regenerate damaged ecosystem and ex situ preservation, and landscape ecology will contribute to restoration of population and landscape.