• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 1992

$ LiNbO_3$ single crystals were grown using the Czochralski Method at various pulling speeds. Macroscopic defects such as cracks, bubbles and cellular structures were observed in some crystals. Cracks and bubbles observed in the crystals depended on the pulling speed and cooling rate. $ LiNbO_3$ crystals of about 15mm diameter could be grown properly at 6-7mm/h pulling speed and $ 20^{circ}C/h$ cooling rate. In order to investigate dielectric properties and optical properties for device application, these properties were measured for the sample cut along a axis and c axis at different temperatures.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.106-115
• /
• 2002

The serine/threonine kinase Akt has been intensely studied for its role in growth factor-mediated cell survival for the past 5 years. On the other hand, the ongoing research effort has recently uncovered novel regulatory mechanisms and downstream effectors of Akt that demonstrate the involvement of Akt in other cellular functions such as cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, and cancer cell invasion/metastasis. Furthermore, recent studies using whole model organisms suggest additional roles for Akt in important diseases such as aging and diabetes. The following review addresses these recent advances in the understanding of Akt function.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 2013

Two varieties of Aucuba japonica differ in ways that can be considered adaptive to differing geo-climatic conditions in their respective distribution ranges. Irrespective of growth stage, the mean leaf size of A. japonica var. japonica was significantly larger than A. japonica var. borealis. Smaller leaf size and ultimately smaller stature of A. japonica var. borealis are an advantage under the higher snow load and lower temperatures in the forests along the East Sea where the variety grows. Snow load also acted as an important driving force for structural modifications of A. japonica var. borealis from cellular level in leaves to the organization of branch extension growth. Global warming by changing snowfall patterns in Japan may lead to range shifts in the two varieties of A. japonica.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.10
• /
• pp.756-761
• /
• 2016

We have identified 88 interactor candidates for human growth hormone (GH) by the yeast two-hybrid assay. Among those, we focused our efforts on carboxypeptidase E (CPE), which has been thought to play a key role in sorting prohormones, such as pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), to regulated secretory vesicles. We found that CPE colocalizes with and interacts with GH in AtT20 pituitary cells. Downregulation of CPE led to decreased levels of GH secretion, consistent with involvement of CPE in GH sorting/secretion. Our binding assay in vitro with bacterially expressed proteins suggested that GH directly interacts with CPE but in a manner different from POMC.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.524-530
• /
• 2013

In this study, we describe the most expected behavior of cells on the modified surface and the correlation between the modified substrates and the response of cells. The physicochemical characteristics of substrates played an essential role in the adhesion and proliferation of cells. Glass and polymer substrates were modified using air plasma oxidation, and the surfaces were coated with self-assembled monolayer molecules of silanes. The PDMS substrates embedded with parallel micropatterns were used for evaluation of the effect of topologically modified substrate on cellular behaviour. BALB/3T3 fibroblast cells were cultured on different surfaces with distinct wettability and topology, and the growth rates and morphological change of cells were analyzed. Finally, we found the optimum conditions for the adhesion and proliferation of cells on the modified surface. This study will provide insight into the cell-surface interaction and contribute to tissue engineering applications.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.64-71
• /
• 2009

Amino acids are fundamental nutrients for protein synthesis and cell growth (increase in cell size). Recently, many compelling evidences have shown that the level of amino acids is sensed by extra- or intra-cellular amino acids sensor(s) and regulates protein synthesis/degradation. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is placed in a central position in cell growth regulation and dysregulation of mTOR signaling pathway has been implicated in many serious human diseases including cancer, diabetes, and tissue hypertrophy. Although amino acids are the most potent activator of mTORC1, how amino acids activate mTOR signaling pathway is still largely unknown. This is partly because of the diversity of amino acids themselves including structure and metabolism. In this review, current proposed amino acid sensing mechanisms to regulate mTORC1 and the evidences pro/against the proposed models are discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.313-319
• /
• 2009

To improve the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells(hMSCs) under general cell culture conditions(20% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$), we examined the effect of s-allylcysteine(SAC), which is known as an antioxidant and the main component of aged-garlic extract, on hydrogen peroxide-induced cellular stress in hMSCs. We found that SAC blocked hydrogen peroxideinduced cell death and cellular apoptosis, but that SAC did not improve the growth of hMSCs during short-term culture. To evaluate the protective effect of SAC, we examined the endogenous expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione peroxidase(Gpx) in hMSCs. Hydrogen peroxide was found to downregulate the expression of CAT, SOD, and Gpx at the protein level. However, in the pre-treatment group of SAC, SAC inhibited the hydrogen peroxide-induced down-regulation of CAT, SOD, and Gpx. Unfortunately, treatment with SAC alone did not induce the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes and the cell proliferation of hMSCs. Surprisingly, SAC improved cell growth in a single cell level culture of hMSCs. These results indicate that SAC may be involved in the preservation of the self-renewal capacity of hMSCs. Taken together, SAC improves the proliferation of hMSCs via inhibition of oxidative-stress-induced cell apoptosis through regulation of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, SAC may be an indispensable component in an in vitro culture system of human MSCs for maintaining self-renewal and multipotent characterization of human MSCs.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.259-269
• /
• 2012

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a family of serine/threonine protein phosphatases, plays an important role in balancing the phosphorylation status of cellular proteins for regulating diverse biological functions in eukaryotic organisms. Despite intensive studies in mammals, limited information on its role is available in filamentous fungi. Here, we investigated the functional roles of genes for a putative B' delta regulatory subunit (FgPP2AR) and a catalytic subunit (FgPP2AC) of PP2A in a filamentous ascomycete, Fusarium graminearum. Molecular characterization of an insertional mutant of this plant pathogenic fungus allowed us to identify the roles of FgPP2AR. Targeted gene replacement and complementation analyses demonstrated that the deletion of FgPP2AR, which was constitutively expressed in all growth stages, caused drastic changes in hyphal growth, conidia morphology/germination, gene expression for mycotoxin production, sexual development and pathogenicity. In particular, overproduction of aberrant cylindrical-shaped conidia is suggestive of arthroconidial induction in the ${\Delta}FgPP2AR$ strain, which has never been described in F. graminearum. In contrast, the ${\Delta}FgPP2AC$ strain was not significantly different from its wild-type progenitor in conidiation, trichothecene gene expression, and pathogenicity; however, it showed reduced hyphal growth and no perithecial formation. The double-deletion ${\Delta}FgPP2AR;{\Delta}FgPP2AC$ strain had more severe defects than single-deletion strains in all examined phenotypes. Taken together, our results indicate that both the putative regulatory and catalytic subunits of PP2A are involved in various cellular processes for fungal development in F. graminearum.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.891-896
• /
• 2007

We screened the Arabidopsis cDNA library to identify functional suppressors of AtBI-1, a gene that suppresses cell death induced by Bax gene expression in yeast. Cdf 3 encodes a 118-amino-acid protein with a molecular mass of 25 kDa. This protein has two uncharacterized domains at amino acids residues 5-64 and 74-117. In the present study, CDF3 was found to induce growth defects in yeast and arrested yeast growth, although the cell-growth defect was somewhat less than that of Bax. Its localization in the inner mitochondria was essential for suppression of yeast-cell proliferation. The morphological abnormality of the intracellular network, which is a hallmark of AtBI-1, was attenuated by Cdf3 expression.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.339-345
• /
• 1997

Under the light intensity of 25-72$\mu$E/ m$^{2}$/s Botryococcus braunii UTEX 572 grew faster than Botryococcus sp. GE 24 isolated from a freshwater lake. The specific growth rate ($\mu$) of B. braunii UTEX 572 was highest at 0.260 (1/day) on a dry weight basis in Chu 13 medium from 1 to 9 days of incubation and then continuously decreased. Carbohydrate concentration and cellular nitrogen and phosphorus contents of B. braunii UTEX 572 gradually decreased with light intensity over a range of 25-72$\mu$E/m$^{2}$2/s, whereas the concentrations of protein and cellular N:P ratio increased with light intensity. Chlorophyll-a concentration showed a decreasing tendency with light intensity. The dry weight of B. braunii UTEX 572 increased in the highest rate of 83 mg/l/day at pH 8.0. When the N: P ratio of Chu 13 medium was adjusted to 50: 1 by addition of nitrogen source, dry weight increasing rate was 115 mg/l/day between 20 and 28 days of incubation which was the highest value during the cultivation. Cell growth in an open culture of B. braunii UTEX 572 was highest with Chu 13 medium, whereas that with Chu 13 medium adjusted to pH 7.0, containing 250 mg/l penicillin, or containing 1% glucose was reduced on a large scale. However, this result shows the possibility of the mass cultivation of B. braunii UTEX 572 in an open system competing with other microorganisms.