• Title/Summary/Keyword: development mechanism

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Study on Marteilioides chungmuensis Comps et al., 1986 Parasite of the Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea gigas Thunberg (참굴의 난(卵)에 기생(寄生)하는 Marteilioids chungmuensis Comps et al., 1986에 관하여)

  • Park, Mi-Seon;Chun, Seh-Kyu
    • Journal of fish pathology
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.53-70
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    • 1989
  • An ovarian parasite, Marteilioides chungmuensis of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas has been observed on several occasions in the Pacific sector of production of this oyster species(Matsuzato et al., 1977 ; Chun, 1979). This study was carried out on the specimens collected at Hwado, Och'$\check{o}$n, and Sinchang respectively located the southern, western, and eastern coasts of Korean Peninsula from 1986 through 1988 to investigate M. chungmuensis to the Pacific oyster. Uitrastructural studies were also carried out on infected oysters, to allow detailed examination of the structure and consepuently the systematic position of this parasite. Infection rates of M. chungmuensis at Hwado and Och'$\check{o}$n oyster farms were 5.3% and 4.2% each in 1986, 6.7% and 2.8% each in 1987, but they were not found at Sinchang oyster habitat. M,. chungmuensis-infected oysters were found from June to November at Hwado and from June to October at Och'$\check{o}$n. Twenty five of three hundred oysters transplanted from Sinchang to Hwado were found infected with M. chungmuensis. Some abnormal eggs infected with M. chungmuensis are liberated through the gill together with normal mature eggs on the spawning and the rest remain necrotized after spawning season. The earliest known stages consist of a stem cell or primary cell, including a secondary cell in which ovoid haplosporosomes are found. During sporulation, 2 or 3 secondary are produced by exogenous budding from the first secondary cell and, each secondary cell evolves into a sporont upon the tertiary cell differentiation (enodogenous budding) ; then, haplosporosomes are formed in the young sporont. Internal cleavages involve the differentiation of one tricellular spore per sporont. The outermost spore cell contains membrane-bounded osmiophilic bodies : the middle and the inner, most spore cells contain high density cytoplasmic ribosomes. The mechanism of spore formation from the stem cell of M. chungmuensis is the simplest of the class Paramyxea known up to now.

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Effects of vitamin C as antioxidant on recovery of left ventricular function after ischemia and reperfusion in isolated rat heart (항산화제로서 비타민 C가 적출된 쥐심장에서 허혈 및 재관류후 좌심실 기능회복에 미치는 영향)

  • 류한영;이철주
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.29 no.6
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    • pp.593-598
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    • 1996
  • The large number of past investigation on extended myocardial protection clearly indicates that cold potassium cardioplegia and topical cooling have limited capabilities. Accordingly, more recent experimen- tal approaches have focused on the modalities of reperfusion and their implication on postischemic myo- cardial recovery. Oxygen may play a crucial role in the development of ischemic and reperfusion injury. Reactive oxygen radicals may be produced during ischemia or reperfusion after incomplete reduction of molecular oxygen or from other pathway and then induce fatal injury of the heart. The important obser- vation of oxygen-induced myocardial damage during reperfusion has led to the concept of applying oxy- gen free radical scavengers. So, this study is on dietary vitamin C supplementation as antioxidant in rats to determine whether or not they have a higher tolerance against cardiac ischemia-reperf'usion injury under Langendorff system. Male or female Sprague-Dawley rats (190-33Og) were randomly separated into two groups. Group A was not treated(n=10). Group B received vitamin C supplement (n=10). Experiment was performed 24 hours after vitamin C 200mg fed orally as injectable ascorbic acid. There were significant differences in contractile parameters between control and vitamin C-treated group. The RLVP (r te of post/preischemic left ventricular pressure) and Rdp/dt (rate of post/preischemic dp/dt) were significant statistically between two groups (p<0.05). But, RHR (rate of post/preischemic heart rate), time to first beat and sta'utilization were not significant. In conclusion, pretreatment with the antioxidant, ascorbic acid, was found to preserve left ventricular contractile function. But the precise mechanism of action of ascorbic acid has not as yet been determined, so further study will be required.

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Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Codonopsis pilosula Extract Powder on the Productivity and Immunity in Sows and Piglets (임신돈 사료 내 만삼추출분말의 첨가 급여가 모돈과 자돈의 생산성 및 면역력에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Ki-Hyun;Kim, Kwang-Sik;Kim, Jo-Eun;Jung, Hyun-Jung;Lee, Sung-Dae;Sa, Soo-Jin;Hong, Joon-Ki;Hur, Tai-Young;Park, Jun-Cheol;Kim, Young-Hwa
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.423-435
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    • 2013
  • The Codonopsis pilosula is traditional oriental herb associated with immune-modulatory functions and has anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidative activity. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Codonopsis pilosula extract powder (CEP) on the immunity and productivity in sows and piglets. A total of 20 pregnant sows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments, which was given a corn-soybean meal diet with 0% and 0.5% CEP from 40 days prepartum to weaning (25 days postpartum). The immune system of piglets was expected to build up, because the feeding of CEP might increase the colostrum contents in sows. We also predicted that the growth performance of piglets also could be increased by some compensation effects due to the increased immunity of piglets. In results, immunities of sows and piglets as well as growth performance of piglets were not affected by the supplementation of CEP. The correlation between the colostrum and the serum on the IgG contents tended to have a positive correlation, although there was no significant (coefficient, 0.435; P=0.102). This result suggests that the supplementation of CEP may increase IgG contents in sows and piglets and contribute to improve immunity of piglets. In conclusion, it is thought that the physiologically active substances of CEP did not influence to the immune synergic effects in vivo of sows. Thus, the metabolic and action mechanism of the physiologically active substances of CEP should be explored to evaluate the availability of CEP as a feed additive for the immunomodulator.

Role of Citrate Synthase in Acetate Utilization and Protection from Stress-Induced Apoptosis

  • Lee, Yong-Joo;Kang, Hong-Yong;Maeng, Pil Jae
    • Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2008.05a
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    • pp.39-41
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    • 2008
  • The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been shown to contain three isoforms of citrate synthase (CS). The mitochondrial CS, Cit1, catalyzes the first reaction of the TCA cycle, i.e., condensation of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate to form citrate [1]. The peroxisomal CS, Cit2, participates in the glyoxylate cycle [2]. The third CS is a minor mitochondrial isofunctional enzyme, Cit3, and related to glycerol metabolism. However, the level of its intracellular activity is low and insufficient for metabolic needs of cells [3]. It has been reported that ${\Delta}cit1$ strain is not able to grow with acetate as a sole carbon source on either rich or minimal medium and that it shows a lag in attaining parental growth rates on nonfermentable carbon sources [2, 4, 5]. Cells of ${\Delta}cit2$, on the other hand, have similar growth phenotype as wild-type on various carbon sources. Thus, the biochemical basis of carbon metabolism in the yeast cells with deletion of CIT1 or CIT2 gene has not been clearly addressed yet. In the present study, we focused our efforts on understanding the function of Cit2 in utilizing $C_2$ carbon sources and then found that ${\Delta}cit1$ cells can grow on minimal medium containing $C_2$ carbon sources, such as acetate. We also analyzed that the characteristics of mutant strains defective in each of the genes encoding the enzymes involved in TCA and glyoxylate cycles and membrane carriers for metabolite transport. Our results suggest that citrate produced by peroxisomal CS can be utilized via glyoxylate cycle, and moreover that the glyoxylate cycle by itself functions as a fully competent metabolic pathway for acetate utilization in S. cerevisiae. We also studied the relationship between Cit1 and apoptosis in S. cerevisiae [6]. In multicellular organisms, apoptosis is a highly regulated process of cell death that allows a cell to self-degrade in order for the body to eliminate potentially threatening or undesired cells, and thus is a crucial event for common defense mechanisms and in development [7]. The process of cellular suicide is also present in unicellular organisms such as yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae [8]. When unicellular organisms are exposed to harsh conditions, apoptosis may serve as a defense mechanism for the preservation of cell populations through the sacrifice of some members of a population to promote the survival of others [9]. Apoptosis in S. cerevisiae shows some typical features of mammalian apoptosis such as flipping of phosphatidylserine, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and margination, and DNA cleavage [10]. Yeast cells with ${\Delta}cit1$ deletion showed a temperature-sensitive growth phenotype, and displayed a rapid loss in viability associated with typical apoptotic hallmarks, i.e., ROS accumulation, nuclear fragmentation, DNA breakage, and phosphatidylserine translocation, when exposed to heat stress. Upon long-term cultivation, ${\Delta}cit1$ cells showed increased potentials for both aging-induced apoptosis and adaptive regrowth. Activation of the metacaspase Yca1 was detected during heat- or aging-induced apoptosis in ${\Delta}cit1$ cells, and accordingly, deletion of YCA1 suppressed the apoptotic phenotype caused by ${\Delta}cit1$ mutation. Cells with ${\Delta}cit1$ deletion showed higher tendency toward glutathione (GSH) depletion and subsequent ROS accumulation than the wild-type, which was rescued by exogenous GSH, glutamate, or glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Beside Cit1, other enzymes of TCA cycle and glutamate dehydrogenases (GDHs) were found to be involved in stress-induced apoptosis. Deletion of the genes encoding the TCA cycle enzymes and one of the three GDHs, Gdh3, caused increased sensitivity to heat stress. These results lead us to conclude that GSH deficiency in ${\Delta}cit1$ cells is caused by an insufficient supply of glutamate necessary for biosynthesis of GSH rather than the depletion of reducing power required for reduction of GSSG to GSH.

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Improving effect of psoriasis dermatitis by yakuchinone A in the TNF-α stimulated HaCaT cells (TNF-α 자극에 활성화된 HaCaT 세포주에서 Yakuchinone-A에 의한 건선 피부염 개선 효과)

  • Kim, Min Young;Hwang, Hyung Seo
    • Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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    • v.63 no.1
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    • pp.95-101
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    • 2020
  • Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that is accompanied by hyper proliferation of the epidermis, erythema of various sizes, and ulceration. However, the mechanism of the development of psoriasis dermatitis is unclear. Recently, it is known that the inflammatory cytokines and Th17 cells as well as chemokine (CC motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) are involved in the process of keratinocytes hyper-differentiation, which is common in psoriasis dermatitis. Therefore, we studied the effects of yakuchinone-A, an active ingredient of Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel known for its anti-inflammatory activity, to improve psoriasis dermatitis. First, cytotoxicity of yakuchinone-A was observed in cell counting kit-8 assay and not observed in 10 ㎍/mL concentration on the human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Yakuchinone-A in the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on HaCaT cells inhibited mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α by up to 61.4±7.5, 23.6±1.5, 46.0±4.8%. CCL20, a chemokine that attracts immune cells such Th17 cells to the inflammation location, was also significantly suppressed by yakuchinone-A. In addition, IκB and STAT3 phosphorylation involved in the CCL20 expression was inhibited by yakuchinone-A in a concentration-dependent manner up to the level of 79.1±5.0, 80.8±2.3%. Furthermore, yakuchinone-A downregulated CCL20 mRNA expression level on IL-17A-activated HaCaT cells as a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, yakuchinone-A is expected to be developed as a new material for improving psoriasis dermatitis in the future.

Effect of Ethane 1,2-Dimethane Sulfonate(EDS) on the Expression of Steroid Hormone Receptors, $5{\alpha}$-reductase and Aromatase in the Rat Epididymis (흰쥐 부정소 내의 스테로이드 호르몬 수용체, $5{\alpha}$-reductase 그리고 Aromatase 발현에 미치는 EDS의 영향)

  • Son, Hyeok-Joon;Lee, Sung-Ho
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.187-193
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    • 2007
  • Ethane 1,2-dimethane sulfonate(EDS), a Leydig cell specific toxicant, has been widely used to create the reversible testosterone withdrawal rat model. Though the maintenance of epididymal structure and function is highly dependent on the testosterone secreted from testis, its derivatives, dihydroxytestosterone(DHT) and estrogen, might have crucial roles. The aim of present study was to monitor the expression patterns of sex steroid receptors, cytochrome P450 aromatase(P450arom) and $5{\alpha}$-reductase in the rat epididymis up to 7 weeks after EDS injection. Adult male rats($350{\sim}400g$) were injected with a single does of EDS(75 mg/kg i.p.) and sacrificed on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The transcriptional activities of the target genes were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCRs. The transcript level of estrogen receptor alpha($ER{\alpha}$) in EDS group was significantly higher than control level on week 1(P<0.01). After week 2, there was no significant difference in $ER{\alpha}$ levels between EDS group and control. The transcript level of estrogen receptor beta($ER{\beta}$) in EDS group was significantly higher than control level on week 1(P<0.05), lowered on weeks 2 and 3(P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively), fluctuated during weeks 4 and 6, and elevated on week 7(P<0.05). The androgen receptor (AR) message levels increased significantly week 2(P<0.01), then returned to control level on week 3. In contrast, expression of cytochrome P450 aromatase(P450arom) decreased sharply during weeks $1{\sim}3$(P<0.01 on weeks 1 and 2; P<0.05 on week 3), then went back to control level on week 4. The mRNA level of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type 2($5{\alpha}$-RT2) increased significantly on week 4(P<0.01), then returned to control level. The present study indicated that EDS administration could induce reversible alterations in the transcriptional activities of sex steroid hormone receptors and androgenconverting enzymes in rat epididymis. EDS injection model will be useful to clarify the regulation mechanism of mammalian epididymal physiology.

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Morphological and Morphophysiological Dormancy in Seeds of Two Genera (Heloniopsis and Thalictrum) Native to Korea (자생 관상용 Heloniopsis와 Thalictrum속 종자의 형태적 및 형태생리적 휴면)

  • Lee, Seung Youn;Rhie, Yong Ha;Jung, Hyun Hwan;Kim, Ki Sun
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.310-317
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    • 2014
  • This study was conducted to find basic information for the research of morphological dormancy in seeds of two genera (Heloniopsis and Thalictrum) native to Korea. Seeds of Heloniopsis koreana, Heloniopsis tubiflora, Thalictrum rochenbrunianum, Thalictrum uchiyamai, and Thalictrum coreanum were collected, and embryo morphology and seed germination were investigated. All seeds of five species had underdeveloped embryos which occupied about 10-20% of the full seed length at maturity. The seeds of H. koreana and H. tubiflora had rudimentary embryos. The seeds of T. rochenbrunianum, T. uchiyamai, and T. coreanum had intermediate type between rudimentary and linear embryo. The small embryos of all seeds of five species grew to a critical length before radicles emerge from the seeds. At 30 days after sowing, the seeds of H. koreana and H. tubiflora germinated to 22.7% and 40.7%, respectively. On the other hand, the seeds of T. rochenbrunianum, T. uchiyamai, and T. coreanum germinated to 12.5%, 3.3%, and 0%, respectively. If embryo growth and germination in seeds are completed in approximately 30 days, the seed are said to have morphological dormancy (MD). However, if the seeds require > 30 days for germination, they are considered to have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Thus, the seeds of H. koreana and H. tubiflora had about 78% and 60% MPD, respectively. On the other hand, the seeds of T. rochenbrunianum, T. uchiyamai, amd T. coreanum had about 87%, 96%, and 100% MPD, respectively. There was a different level of dormancy (MD and MPD) within the same seed population examined. Therefore, germination of the seeds was delayed due to the underdeveloped embryos. This result could contribute to determine morphological seed dormancy and germination mechanism in seeds of the Korean Peninsula.

Effects of the Applications of Clay Minerals on the Early Growth of Red Pepper in Growing Medium (점토광물 처리에 따른 상토에서 고추의 초기생장 효과)

  • Lee, Dong-Gi;Lee, Seok-Eon;Kim, Deok-Hyun;Hong, Hyeon-Ki;Nam, Ju-Hyun;Choi, Jong-Soon;Lee, Moon-Soon;Woo, Sun-Hee;Chung, Keun-Yook
    • Horticultural Science & Technology
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.463-470
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    • 2012
  • As the advanced seeding technology through use of plug tray for good cultivation of seeds was propagated along with the expansion and development of horticultural industry, the use of bed soils as growing medium has recently been increased. In this study, the effects of the four clay minerals such as illite, phyllite, zeolite, and bentonite on the early growth of red pepper in the bed soil were investigated. Furthermore, proteome analysis for the leaf and stem samples of red pepper treated with only illite was performed. Of the seedling cultured, the healthy and regular size seeds were selected and cultivated in the pots, after they were treated with four clay minerals. The experiment was performed during the whole six weeks in the glasshouse of the Chungbuk National University. The growth lengths, fresh and dry weights of red pepper were significantly higher in the treatments of illite, phyllite, zeolite, and bentonite than in the control. In addition, the uptake of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ were higher in the treatment of illite, phyllite, zeolite, and bentonite than in the control. The 2-DE patterns for the red pepper by the applications of illite, phyllite, zeolite, and bentonite were similar to each other. Therefore, compared to the samples of control, the proteome analysis for the samples of red pepper treated by only illite were performed. Proteome analysis for red pepper showed that plastid fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase class 1, aldolase, and glyceraldehydes 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, all of which were involved in the energy metabolism, were highly expressed in leaf tissue by illite treatment. In stem tissue, NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase involved in energy metabolism, potassium transport protein, and GIA/RGA-like gibberellins response modulator were highly expressed. Based on the results obtained from the proteome analysis, it appears that the proteins specifically and differentially expressed on the illite treatment may be involved in the enhanced growth of red pepper. The identification of some proteins involved in the response of vegetable crops to the treatment of clay mineral can provide new insights that can lead to a better elucidation and understanding of mechanism on their molecular basis.

HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE ELONGATED BONE AFFECTED BY OSTEODISTRACTION OF THE MANDIBLE IN THE DOG (성견 하악골 절단 후 기계적 골 견인에 의해 형성된 골 신장부에 대한 시기별 조직학적 변화)

  • Baek, Sun-Ho;Ahn, Byoung-Keun;Park, Young-Ju;Park, Hee-Geon;Park, Jun-Woo;Rhee, Gun-Joo;Lee, Yong-Chan;Cho, Byoung-Ouck
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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    • v.27 no.5
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    • pp.404-416
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    • 2001
  • Purpose : Traditionally, the treatement of choice has been a bone grafting procedure to increase the length of bone in case of actual length discrepancy. But, bone grafting procedure has many disadvantages, for example, graft resorption, donor site morbidity, and so on. So, many trials have been performed to avert the use of autogenous bone graft via introducing new materials or methods. And, one of those trials has been realized by the development of a technique inducing bone lengthening by osteotomy (or corticotomy) and slow gradual distraction of the osteotomized segments. This new technique of bone lengthening dates back to the early 20th century. But, the majority of information concerning the biology of new bone formation during bone lengthening and technical details of the procedure were produced by extensive clinical and experimental studies performed by Ilizarov, a Russian surgeon. According to Ilizarov, with adequate blood supply, preservation of periosteum, rigid fixation of the osteotomized segments, and proper rate and rhythm of distraction, intramembranous bone rapidly develops within the distraction gap in the limb lengthening procedure. In the limb lengthening, many orthopedic surgeons try to observe the biologic and clinical principles recommended by Ilizarov. In the oral and maxillofacial region, however, not a few studies must be performed to apply this surgical technique in the clinical cases. Besides, the mechanism of bone formation in the distraction gap is not clear, yet. The purpose of this experiment was to scrutinize serially the histological changes in the elongated bone affected by osteodistraction of the mandibular body in an adult canine model. In addition, it was performed to confirm the presence of specific region(s) which was important in the bone formation in the gap through the observation of the expression pattern of osteocalcin and osteonectin with the immunohistochemical examination. Materials and Methods : The experimental and control specimens were obtained from seven adult male mongrel dogs weighing over 20kg. The distractors were custom-made linear extraoral devices and bicortical fixation screws were 2.3mm in diameter, 50mm in total length, 15mm in screw length. The distractors were devised to produce a linear gap of 0.75mm between two bony segments every $360^{\circ}$ turn of the rotation rod of the device. The mandibular body of the right side of each animal was corticotomized perpendicular to the occlusal plane and then two bony segments were separated completely by careful manipulation of the segments with bone forceps. The left side of each animal was left intact. This side was served as control. At sixth day after osteotomy and fixation of the segments were performed, distraction of the segments was commenced with a rate of 1.1mm/day and a rhythm of two/day for ensuing 7 days. The animals were euthanized at the 16th. 29th, and 44th day after the osteotomy. The bony specimens were decalcified, embedded in paraffin, sectioned $5{\mu}m$ thick and stained with H&E. The prepared specimens were examined under the light microscope. And, immunohistochemical examinations using anti-osteocalcin antibody (OC1, Biodesign, USA) and anti-osteonectin antibody (Haematologic Technologies Inc., Essex, VT) to locate the expressions of osteocalcin and osteonectin, respectively, were performed. Results : 1. New bone was observed already at the 16th. day after osteotomy. This suggests that new bone formation in osteodistraction was commenced at an early stage of the regenerative process. But, radiologically and microscopically, bony union was not completed in the distraction gap at the 44th. day after osteotomy. Therefore, rigid fixation must be maintained between the bony fragments till the complete bony union is confirmed clinically rather than one month or so after the completion of distraction.

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Amino Acid Biosynthesis and Gene Regulation in Seed (종자내 아미노산 합성 조절 유전자에 관한 연구)

  • ;;;;;Fumio Takaiwa
    • Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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    • 1996.07a
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    • pp.61-74
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    • 1996
  • Human and monogastric animals can not synthesize 10 out of the 20 amino asids and therefor need to obtain these from their diet. The plant seed is a major source of dietary protein. It is particular important in their study to increase nutritional quality of the seed storage proteins. The low contents of lysine, asparagine and threonenein various cereal seeds and of cystein and methionine. In legume seeds is due to the low proportions of these amino acids in the major storage proteins, we have tried to apply the three strategies; (1) mutagenesis and selection of specific amino acid analogue resistance, (2) cloning and expression study of lysine biosynthesis related gene, (3) transfomation of lysine rich soybean glycinin gene. The 5-methyltryptophan (5MT) resistant cell lines, SAR1, SAR2 and SAR3 were selected from anther derived callus of rice (Oryza sativa L. "Sasanishiki"). Among these selected cell lines, two (SAR1 and SAR3) were able to grow stably at 200 mg/L of 5MT. Analysis of the freed amino acids in callus shows that 5MT resistant cells (SAR3) accumulated free tryptophan at least up to 50 times higher than those that of the higher than of SAS. These results indicated that the 5MT resistant cell lines are useful in studies of amino acid biosynthesis. Tr75, a rice (Oryza sativa L., var. Sasanishiki) mutant resistant to 5MT was segregated from the progenies of its initial mutant line, TR1. The 5MT resistant of TR75 was inherited in the M8 generations as a single dominant nuclear gene. The content of free amino acids in the TR75 homozygous seeds increased approximately 1.5 to 2.0 fold compared to wild-type seeds. Especially, the contents of tryptophan, phenylalanine and aspartic acid were 5.0, 5.3 and 2.7 times higher than those of wild-type seeds, respectively. The content of lysine is significantly low in rice. The lysine is synthesized by a complex pathway that is predominantly regulated by feedback inhibition of several enzymes including asparginase, aspatate kinase, dihydrodipicolinat synthase, etc. For understanding the regulation mechanism of lysine synthesis in rice, we try to clone the lysine biosynthetic metabolism related gene, DHPS and asparaginase, from rice. We have isolated a rice DHPS genomic clone which contains an ORF of 1044 nucleotides (347 amino acids, Mr. 38, 381 daltons), an intron of 587 nucleotides and 5'and 3'-flanking regions by screening of rice genomic DNA library. Deduced amino acid sequence of mature peptide domain of GDHPS clone is highly conserved in monocot and dicot plants whereas that of transit peptide domain is extremely different depending on plant specie. Southern blot analysis indicated that GDHPS is located two copy gene in rice genome. The transcripts of a rice GDHPS were expressed in leaves and roots but not detected in callus tissues. The transcription level of GDHPS is much higher in leaves indicating enormous chloroplast development than roots. Genomic DNA clones for asparaginase genes were screened from the rice genomic library by using plaque hybridization technique. Twelve different genomic clones were isolated from first and second screening, and 8 of 12 clones were analyzed by restriction patterns and identified by Southern Blotting, Restriction enzyme digestion patterns and Southern blot analysis of 8 clones show the different pattern for asparaginase gene. Genomic Southern blot analysis from rice were done. It is estimated that rice has at least 2-3 copy of asparaginase gene. One of 8 positive clones was subcloned into the pBluescript SK(+) vector, and was constructed the physical map. For transformation of lysine rich storage protein into tobacco, soybean glycinin genes are transformed into tobacco. To examine whether glycinin could be stably accumulated in endosperm tissue, the glycinin cDNA was transcriptionally fused to an endosperm-specific promotor of the rice storage protein glutelin gene and then introduced into tobacco genomic via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Consequently the glycinin gene was expressed in a seed-and developmentally-specific manner in transgenic tobacco seeds. Glycinin were targeted to vacuole-derived protein bodies in the endosperm tissue and highly accumulated in the matrix region of many transgenic plant (1-4% of total seed proteins). Synthesized glycinin was processed into mature form, and assembled into a hexamer in a similar manner as the glycinin in soybean seed. Modified glycinin, in which 4 contiguous methionine residues were inserted at the variable regions corresponding to the C - teminal regions of the acidic and basic polypeptides, were also found to be accumulated similarly as in the normal glycinin. There was no apparent difference in the expression level, processing and targeting to protein bodies, or accumulation level between normal and modified glycinin. glycinin.

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