• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2016

Early life neuronal exposure to environmental toxicants has been suggested to be an important etiology of neurodegenerative disease development. Perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), one of the major perfluoroalkyl compounds, is widely distributed environmental contaminants. We have reported that PFHxS induces neuronal apoptosis via ERK-mediated pathway. Imperatorin is a furanocoumarin found in various edible plants and has a wide range of pharmacological effects including neuroprotection. In this study, the effects of imperatorin on PFHxS-induced neuronal apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms are examined using cerebellar granule cells (CGC). CGC were isolated from seven-day old rats and were grown in culture for seven days. Caspase-3 activity and TUNEL staining were used to determine neuronal apoptosis. PFHxS-induced apoptosis of CGC was significantly reduced by imperatorin and PD98059, an ERK pathway inhibitor. PFHxS induced a persistent increase in intracellular calcium, which was significantly blocked by imperatorin, NMDA receptor antagonist, MK801 and the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers, diltiazem and nifedipine. The activation of caspase-3 by PFHxS was also inhibited by MK801, diltiazem and nifedipine. PFHxS-increased ERK activation was inhibited by imperatorin, MK801, diltiazem and nifedipine. Taken together, imperatorin protects CGC against PFHxS-induced apoptosis via inhibition of NMDA receptor/intracellular calcium-mediated ERK pathway.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.387-393
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• 2004

Experiments were carried out to investigate the lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and histopathological change of hepatic tissue for rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli after feeding sub-chronic dietary Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in the concentration of 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mg $kg^{-1}$ dry food of diet for 30 days. In 2.0 mg $kg^{-1}$ dry food group, the significant increase of LPO was observed in all period, and SOD activity was incresed at 30 days significantly in the same concentration. In the histological investigation of liver, there was the swelling of hepatic cells at 10 days over the 1.0 mg $kg^{-1}$ dry food concentration. At 30 days Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive granule was observed in the same group and at 20 days was observed in 2.0 mg $kg^{-1}$ dry food group. And there was necrosis of hepatic cell in some fish of 2.0 mg $kg^{-1}$ dry food group at 30 days.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.683-689
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• 2022

Background: Since ginsenosides exert an anti-thrombotic activity, blood flow-improving effects of DK-MGAR101, an extract of mountain ginseng adventitious roots (MGAR) containing various ginsenosides, were investigated in comparison with an extract of Korean Red Ginseng (ERG). Methods: In Sprague-Dawley rats orally administered with DK-MGAR101 or ERG, oxidative carotid arterial thrombosis was induced with FeCl₃ (35%), and their blood flow and occlusion time were measured. To elucidate underlying mechanisms, the cytoprotective activities on rat aortic endothelial cells (RAOECs) exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were confirmed. In addition, the inhibitory activities of DK-MGAR101 and ERG on agonist-induced platelet aggregation, thromboxane B₂ production, and ATP granule release from stimulated platelets as well as blood coagulation were analyzed. Results: DK-MGAR101 containing high concentrations of Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1 ginsenosides (55.07 mg/g) was more effective than ERG (ginsenosides 8.45 mg/g) in protecting RAOECs against H₂O₂ cytotoxicity. DK-MGAR101 was superior to ERG not only in suppressing platelet aggregation, thromboxane B₂ production, and granule release, but also in delaying blood coagulation, FeCl₃-induced arterial occlusion, and thrombus formation. Conclusions: The results indicate that DK-MGAR101 prevents blood vessel occlusion by suppressing platelet aggregation, thrombosis, and blood coagulation, in addition to endothelial cell injury.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.88.1-88
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• 2003

Antogonistic bacteria against Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium spp., causing serious damage to golf course grasses, were isolated from the top soil of several golf courses in Korea. The isolate of Limk0102 was selected as the biological agent by characterization of antifungal activity, large scale preparation, fungicides tolerance and ecological fitness to the targe environment. The isolate was identified as Bacillus subtilis by biochemical and physiological characterization, and 165 rDNA sequence analysis. The bacterial agent was formulated as a granule type by seeding it on fine sand. The formulated agent showed high recovery rate (more than 10$\^$8/ cells/g sand) even after 6 month-storage at room temperature with similar antifungal activity with that of original cells. In vitro, the biological agent successfully exhibited antagonistic performance on bentgrass inoculated with R. solani or Pythium spp. isolated from the diseased grasses on golf courses. Field evaluation on disease control activity and ecological fitness of the agent is now under going on several golf courses.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 1996

The internal ultrastructural changes of germ cells and external morphology of spermatozoon during the spermatogenesis in the rockfish, Sebastes inermis were studied using transmission and scanning electron microscope. The testis is seminiferous tubule type in internal structure. Seminiferous tubule consist of many cyst which contain numerous germ cells in same developmental stage. Spermatogonium contained a large nucleus with single nucleolus in interphase. Primary spermatocyte identified by the presence of synaptonemal complex in nucleus and the contained a number of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticula and Golgi bodies in cytoplasm. The nucleoplasm of secondary spermatocyte was more concentrated than that of the previous phase. Spermatids were more condensed in nucleus and cytoplasm, and show the long-spherical shape. In the cytoplasm of spermatid mitochondria located to lower portion of the nucleus and Golgi bodies located to upper portion, but proacrosomal granule is not appeared. The spermatozoon consist of the head and tail. No acrosome could be found in the head. The cytoplasmic collar of posterior part in sperm head contained mitochondria which surrounded axial filament. The well developed axonemal lateral fins were identified in sperm flagellum, and the axial filament of the flagellum consist of nine pairs of peripheral microtubules and one pair of central microtubules.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

Autophagy is a highly conserved intracellular degradation and energy-recycling mechanism that contributes to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Extensive researches over the past decades have defined the role of autophagy innate immune cells. In this review, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the role of autophagy in neutrophil biology and a picture of molecular mechanism underlying autophagy in neutrophils. Neutrophils are professional phagocytes that comprise the first line of defense against pathogen. Autophagy machineries are highly conserved in neutrophils. Autophagy is not only involved in generalized function of neutrophils such as differentiation in bone marrow but also plays crucial role effector functions of neutrophils such as granule formation, degranulation, neutrophil extracellular traps release, cytokine production, bactericidal activity and controlling inflammation. This review outlines the current understanding of autophagy in neutrophils and provides insight towards identification of novel therapeutics targeting autophagy in neutrophils.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 1996

The pattern of seed storage protein, vicilin, deposition and site of intracellular localization was examined in cotyledon cells of pea (Pisum sativum) seed using the immunocytochemical methods. The vicilin was confined to the cisternae fo the rough endoplasmic reticulum and dictyosome as well as protein granules newly formed in rough endoplasmic reticulum. Vacuolar protein deposites and protein bodies were also labelled by gold particles. After small protein bodies were formed in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, they were transported to large protein bodies and then fused together. Electron dense protein granule, elaborated in the dictyosome, appears to be transported from dictyosome to protein body. A few unlabelled protein granules seem to be accumulated in other type of proteins than vicilin.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1997

Most lipids in milk are dispetsed as the form of fat globules. Apical portion of plasma membrane is coated with fat globules, which are synthesized from mammary epithelial cells and then secreted into the lumen. The unique phenomenon in separation of the plasma membrane from the cell is observed only in mammary system. It has been suggested that milk fat globule membrane(MFGM) is formed from endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, secretory granule to plasma membrane. For this reason MFGM is important for nuderstanding the structure and function of biological membrane. Because MFGM also plays an important role in inhibition of lipase action, stimulation of nutrient digestion and absorption, emulsion or function as natural liposome, study of the major components in MFGM will provide the opportunity for more broad industrial uses of MFGM in the future.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.20-32
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• 1995

Ultrastructural aspects on the production of the duct cuticle and formation of cuticular precursors within silk glands of the orb web spider, Nephila clavata L. Koch(Araneae: Araneidae), were studied using transmission electron microscope. Four kinds of silk glands(ampullate glands, tubuliform glands, flageliform glands, and aggregate glands), which connected with large spinning tubes(spigots) of the spinnerets, were examined and discussed in terms of cuticle precursor production. Inner cuticular intima which composed of three layers of cuticles-subcuticle, endocuticle and exocuticle- were commonly originated from duct epithelial cells surrounding the cuticle. The morphology and internal textures of each cuticle precursors were very diverse according to the types of silk glands. However several common features were observed. These cuticle precursors were first produced from the rough endoplasmic reticulum and next concentration was accomplished through the Golgi complex. After this step, cuticle precursors were released to the cuticle layer as a form of secretory granule by the mechanism of merocrine secretion commonly.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.818-829
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• 2018

Significant research efforts are ongoing to elucidate the complex molecular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which may in turn pinpoint potential therapeutic targets for treatment. The ALS research field has evolved with recent discoveries of numerous genetic mutations in ALS patients, many of which are in genes encoding RNA binding proteins (RBPs), including TDP-43, FUS, ATXN2, TAF15, EWSR1, hnRNPA1, hnRNPA2/B1, MATR3 and TIA1. Accumulating evidence from studies on these ALS-linked RBPs suggests that dysregulation of RNA metabolism, cytoplasmic mislocalization of RBPs, dysfunction in stress granule dynamics of RBPs and increased propensity of mutant RBPs to aggregate may lead to ALS pathogenesis. Here, we review current knowledge of the biological function of these RBPs and the contributions of ALS-linked mutations to disease pathogenesis.