• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.111-126
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• 2009

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, small RNA molecules consisting of 21-24 nucleotides (nts) that regulate target genes at the posttranscriptional level in plants and animals. In plants, miRNAs negatively regulate target mRNAs containing a highly complementary sequence by either mRNA cleavage or translational repression. MiRNAs are processed from single-stranded precursors containing stem-loop structures by a Dicer-like enzyme and are loaded into silencing complexes, where they act on target mRNAs. Although plant miRNAs were first reported in Arabidopsis 10 years later than animal miRNAs, numerous miRNAs have since been identified from various land plants ranging from mosses to flowering plants, and their roles in diverse aspects of plant developmental processes have been characterized. Furthermore, most of the annotated plant miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved in various plants. In particular, recent functional studies using Arabidopsis mutants have contributed a great deal of information towards establishing a framework for understanding miRNA biogenesis and functional roles. Extensive appraisal of miRNA-directed regulation during a wide array of plant development and plant responses to environmental conditions has confirmed the versatile roles of miRNAs as a key component of plant molecular biology.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.508-515
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• 2002

The effects of the crosslinking caused by irradiation dose, molecular weights of the foaming materials, and various foaming processes on the foam structure of the polypropylene (PP) were investigated. The maximum gel content of the PP was 48% when the sheet was irradiated with 3.2 Mrad. This high gel content improved the cell structures by providing high thermal stability. The increase of both the gel content and structural development were stopped at the irradiation dose exceeding 3.2 Mrad. The increase of the molecular weights served to help produce a foam with particularly fine and even cell structures, along with improved thermal stability as well.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2015

Malformations of cortical development (MCD) cover a broad spectrum of developmental disorders which cause the various clinical manifestations including epilepsy, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. MCD have been clinically classified based on the disruption of developmental processes such as proliferation, migration, and organization. Molecular genetic studies of MCD have improved our understanding of these disorders at a molecular level beyond the clinical classification. These recent advances are resulted from the development of massive parallel sequencing technology, also known as next-generation sequencing (NGS), which has allowed researchers to uncover novel molecular genetic pathways associated with inherited or de novo mutations. Although an increasing number of disease-related genes or genetic variations have been identified, genotype-phenotype correlation is hampered when the biological or pathological functions of identified genetic variations are not fully understood. To elucidate the causality of genetic variations, in vivo disease models that reflect these variations are required. In the current review, we review the use of NGS technology to identify genes involved in MCD, and discuss how the functions of these identified genes can be validated through in vivo disease modeling.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.227-232
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• 2004

We investigated a nonvolatile nanomemory element based on boron nitride nanopeapods using molecular dynamics simulations. The studied system was composed of two boron-nitride nanotubes filled Cu electrodes and fully ionized endo-fullerenes. The two boron-nitride nanotubes were placed face to face and the endo-fullerenes came and went between the two boron-nitride nanotubes under alternatively applied force fields. Since the endo-fullerenes encapsulated in the boron-nitride nanotubes hardly escape from the boron-nitride nanotubes, the studied system can be considered to be a nonvolatile memory device. The minimum potential energies of the memory element were found near the fullerenes attached copper electrodes and the activation energy barrier was $3{\cdot}579 eV$. Several switching processes were investigated for external force fields using molecular dynamics simulations. The bit flips were achieved from the external force field of above $3.579 eV/{\AA}$.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.113-114
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• 2015

Recent high-resolution, high-sensitivity observations of protostellar jets have shown many to possess an underlying 'wiggle' structure. HH 211 is one such example where recent sub-mm observations revealed a clear reflection-symmetric wiggle. An explanation for this is that the HH211 jet source is moving as part of a protobinary system. Here we test this assumption by simulating HH211 through 3D hydrodynamic simulations using the pluto code with a molecular chemistry and cooling module, and initial conditions based on an analytical model derived from SMA observations. Molecular chemistry allows us to accurately plot synthetic molecular emission maps and position-velocity diagrams for direct comparison to observations, enabling us to test the observational assumptions and put constraints on the physical parameters of HH211. Our preliminary results show that the reflection-symmetric wiggle can be recreated through the assumption of a jet source being part of a binary system.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.583-595
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• 2015

DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases catalyze the folding and remodeling of RNA molecules in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as in many viruses. They are characterized by the presence of the helicase domain with conserved motifs that are essential for ATP binding and hydrolysis, RNA interaction, and unwinding activities. Large families of DEAD/DExH-box proteins have been described in different organisms, and their role in all molecular processes involving RNA, from transcriptional regulation to mRNA decay, have been described. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about DEAD/DExH-box proteins in selected protozoan and nematode parasites of medical importance worldwide, such as Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Brugia malayi. We discuss the functional characterization of several proteins in an attempt to understand better the molecular mechanisms involving RNA in these pathogens. The current data also highlight that DEAD/DExH-box RNA helicases might represent feasible drug targets due to their vital role in parasite growth and development.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.414-424
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• 2010

This report describes recent advances in tissue culture, genetic transformation of commercial rose (Rosa hybrida) and in development of new rose cultivars by molecular breeding. Rose is one of major cut-flowers in global horticulture industry. Successful progresses were made in development of new cultivars for pathogen resistant, environmental stress resistant and petal color modification by molecular breeding. New cultivars, however, has not reported yet in korea, although lots of progresses were achieved in each field of conventional breeding, tissue culture and genetic transformation. Cooperation in these research fields will promote screening of useful genes to have specific traits on rose and exploiting of processes to improve in the efficiency of tissue culture and genetic transformation of rose, therefore, we hopefully expect that new rose cultivars by molecular breeding will be released in the near future.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.6-19
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• 2016

Redox signalling comprises the biology of molecular signal transduction mediated by reactive oxygen (or nitrogen) species. By specific and reversible oxidation of redoxsensitive cysteines, many biological processes sense and respond to signals from the intracellular redox environment. Redox signals are therefore important regulators of cellular homeostasis. Recently, it has become apparent that the cellular redox state oscillates in vivo and in vitro, with a period of about one day (circadian). Circadian timekeeping allows cells and organisms to adapt their biology to resonate with the 24-hour cycle of day/night. The importance of this innate biological timekeeping is illustrated by the association of clock disruption with the early onset of several diseases (e.g. type II diabetes, stroke and several forms of cancer). Circadian regulation of cellular redox balance suggests potentially two distinct roles for redox signalling in relation to the cellular clock: one where it is regulated by the clock, and one where it regulates the clock. Here, we introduce the concepts of redox signalling and cellular timekeeping, and then critically appraise the evidence for the reciprocal regulation between cellular redox state and the circadian clock. We conclude there is a substantial body of evidence supporting circadian regulation of cellular redox state, but that it would be premature to conclude that the converse is also true. We therefore propose some approaches that might yield more insight into redox control of cellular timekeeping.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.485-492
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• 2002

The molecular fate of thyroglobulin (Tg) is controlled by oligomerization, a means of storing Tg at high concentrations, and deoligomerization. The oligomerization of bovine Tg are intermolecular reactions that occur through oxidative processes, such as disulfide and dityrosine formation, as well as isopeptide formation; disulfide formation is primarily responsible for Tg oligomerization. Here, the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and/or peroxidase-induced oligomerization of unfolded thyroglobulins, which were prepared by treating bovine Tg with heat, urea or thiol/urea, was investigated using SDS-PAGE analyses. In addition, the enzymatic oligomerization was compared with non-enzymatic oligomerization. The thermally-induced oilgomerization of Tg, dependent on glutathione redox state, was affected by the ionic strength or the presence of a surfactant. Meanwhile, PDI-catalyzed oligomerization, time and pH-dependent, was the most remarkable with unfolded/reduced Tg, which was prepared from a treatment with urea/DTT, while the thermally-unfolded Tg was less sensitive. Similarly, the oligomerization of unfolded/reduced Tg was also mediated by peroxidase. However, PDI showed no remarkable effect on the peroxidase-mediated oligomerization of either the unfolded or unfolded/reduced Tg. Additionally, the reductive deoligomerization of oligomeric Tg was exerted by PDI in an excessively reducing state. Based on these results, it is proposed that PDI catalyzes the oligomerization of Tg through the disulfide linkage and its deoligomerization in the molecular fate, and this process may require a specific molecular form of Tg, optimally unfolded/reduced, in a proper redox state.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.399-413
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• 2023

cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is one of the most intensively studied phosphorylation-dependent transcription factors that provide evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of differential gene expression in vertebrates and invertebrates. Many cellular protein kinases that function downstream of distinct cell surface receptors are responsible for the activation of CREB. Upon functional dimerization of the activated CREB to cis-acting cAMP responsive elements within the promoters of target genes, it facilitates signal-dependent gene expression. From the discovery of CREB, which is ubiquitously expressed, it has been proven to be involved in a variety of cellular processes that include cell proliferation, adaptation, survival, differentiation, and physiology, through the control of target gene expression. In this review, we highlight the essential roles of CREB proteins in the nervous system, the immune system, cancer development, hepatic physiology, and cardiovascular function and further discuss a wide range of CREB-associated diseases and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these diseases.