• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.719-724
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• 2009

Recent studies have revealed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) disturbance is involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders, contributing to the activation of the ER stress-mediated apoptotic pathway. Therefore, we investigated here the molecular mechanisms underlying the ER-mitochondria axis, focusing on calcium as a potential mediator of cell death signals. Using NT2 cells treated with brefeldin A or tunicamycin, we observed that ER stress induces changes in the mitochondrial function, impairing mitochondrial membrane potential and distressing mitochondrial respiratory chain complex Moreover, stress stimuli at ER level evoked calcium fluxes between ER and mitochondria. Under these conditions, ER stress activated the unfolded protein response by an overexpression of GRP78, and also caspase-4 and-2, both involved upstream of caspase-9. Our findings show that ER and mitochondria interconnection plays a prominent role in the induction of neuronal cell death under particular stress circumstances.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 1990

It was investigated the morphological changes of differentiating epidermal cells in chick embryos. Ectodermal cells at 3 days after incubation were cuboidal, their nuclei were large, and rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were distributed in the cytoplasm. At 5 days after incubation, there were periderm and one basal layer in epidermis. The cells of basal layer were columnar, their nuclei were round, and rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes were developed. Also, peridermal cells were flat, chromatins were partially condensed and glycogen particles were abundant. No periderm showed and cells of basal layer formed intermediate layer at 9 days after incubation. Basal cells of intermediate layer were cuboidal, neighboring cells were anchored by desmosomes and tonofibrils and free ribosomes were evenly scattered. At 15 days after incubation, stratum corneum and stratum germinativum were distinguished. In cells of stratum germinativum, tonofibrils, free ribosomes and desmosomes were well developed. And then, the shedding of stratum corneum were showed at 17 days after incubation and stratum corneum were well developed after hatching.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 1978

A comparative investigation of fine structure of callus cells derived from tissue culture of Panax ginseng was made by electron microscope. Callus was consisted of large superficial cells and small inner zone cells derived from shoot apex tissue cultured for 16 weeks. Large superficial cells were contained the clusters of starch grains surrounded by a double plastid membrane. Especially, electron dense particles were deposited just inside and outside of plastid membrane and also deposited on mitochondria-like and endoplasmic reticulum-like structures. Crystalline body was also found in superficial cells. Small inner zone cells were characterized by presence of proplastids sheathed by short endoplasmic reticulum profiles. presence of spiral configuration of ribosomes and absence of crystalline body. Organ primordia was consisted of a dense cytoplasm and notable nucleate cells derived from nodal tissue cultured for 67 weeks. Proplastids containing starch grains and crystalline bodies were frequently observed; starch grains are of small quantity and does not form the clusters as in inner zone cells; hexagonal crystalline body itself does not have always limiting membrane. Remarkably. in a few cells of primordia, particles resembling the presumptive virus were observed mainly in condensed nuclear chromatin and also in cytoplasm, in mitochondrion-like organelle.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.197-206
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• 1996

cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (cis-Platin) inhibits the proliferation and growth of the tumor cells by way of inhibiting DNA and protein synthesis of the cancer cells. Although cis-Platin is very effective antitumor drug, it also produces many other side effects. Thus the author has studied the effects of cis-Platin on the proximal epiphyseal plate in the tibia of the rat. The results were as follows: In the chondrocyte of the proliferative zone, sacculated, and fragmented cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, some mitochondria with disorganized mitochondrial cristae and distorted procollagens were observed, and in the matrix some large matrix granules and dispersed collagen fibrils were revealed on the 1st, 3rd day and 1st week group of cis-Platin treated rats. In the chondrocyte of the proliferative zone of cis-Platin treated rats on the 2nd and 3rd week group, parallely arranged rough endoplasmic reticulum and many procollagens were shown, and in the matrix a number of large matrix granules and many small matrical granules as well as collagen fibrils were revealed. Consequently it is suggested that though cis-Platin induces the degenerative changes of the chondrocyte resulting in components of the cartilagenous matrix, these toxic effects are regressed with time.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.8-33
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• 1996

The present experiment was designed to understand the effect of Boganhwan on the cardiovascular system in experimental animals. And thus the Blood pressure, isometric movement of atrium,Mg++-Ca++-ATPasc activity of sarcoplasmin reticulum. liver function, prothrombin time, and changes of blood composition were measured in the presence of Boganhwan. The results obtained here were as following: 1. The blood pressure decreased in the presence of SAMOOLTANG, and the decreasing effect was more stimulated by adding Bangpoong and Ganghwa(Boganhwan) 2. The oral administration of the drug for 7days also demonstrated the decreasing of blood pressure and the effect was stimulated by adding Bangpoong and Kanghwal. 3. The autonomic nerve blocking agents such as atropine and regitine did not demonstrate the effect on the drug action. 4. Boganhwan inhibited the cardiac isometric movement and rate by stimulating the Mg++-Ca++-ATPase activity of the heart sarcoplasmins reticulum. 5. Boganhwan increased the number of red blood cell, hematocrit percentage, hemoglobin concentration, and prothrombin time. 6. The drug stimulated the liver metabolism by stimulating the total ATPase activity. According to the results. Boganhwan demonstrated the decreased blood pressure and it also increased the hemoglobin concentration and the hematocrit percent. These effects stanches the hypertension. anemia, and cerebrovascular accident.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1984

The nematode-trapping process by Arthrobotrys conoides was investigated with the aid of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. 1. A. conoides captures nematode by means of three-dimensional network. 2. The wall of trap cell was thicker than that of vegetative hypha and the trap cell was more rich in cell organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and electrondense granule. 3. The electron-dense granule, which could be found only in trap organs, gradually disappeared during its penetration into nematode cuticle. 4. The osmiophilic area was found at adhering site between the trap organ and nematode cuticle. 5. In some cases, any appressorium was not found at the site of penetration. 6. When the fungal-nematode culture was conserved for 2~3 weeks, numerous young nematodes were found to be adhered to spores, resulting in death.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.417-425
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• 2000

The underlying mechanism commonly applicable for both the positive and negative force-frequency relationships (FFR) was pursued in left atria (LA) of rat and rabbit. The species differences in the roles of $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which are major intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ regulatory mechanisms in the heart, were examined in the amplitude accommodation to the frequency that changed from 3 Hz to the variable test frequencies for 5 minutes in the electrically field stimulated left atria (LA) of rat and rabbit. Norepinephrine strongly increased the frequency-related amplitude accommodation in both of rat and rabbit LA, while monensin, oubain or the reduced $Na^+$ and 0 mM $Ca^{2+}$ containing Tyrode solution increased the frequency-related amplitude accommodation only in the rabbit LA. Monenisn was also able to increase the frequency-related amplitude accommodation only in 1-day old rat LA but not in 4-week old rat LA that had 75% less $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger with 97% higher SR than 1-day old rat LA. Taken together, it is concluded that the differences in the prevalence between myocardial $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ exchanger and SR in the amplitude accommodation to the frequency-change determine the difference in the FFR between rat and rabbit heart.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 1987

Since it has been known that ryanodine has a potent negative inotropic effect on the cardiac muscle contractility (Jenden and Fairhurst, 1968), ryanodine has been a subject of intensive research (Frank and Sleator, 1975; Jones et al, 1978; Sutko et al, 1985). However, the underlying mechanism for the ryanodine dependent negative inotropic effect is still uncertain. In this study, the effects of ryanodine on the generation and relaxation of contracture due to Na-withdrawal and on the force-frequency relationship of heart muscles isolated from rats and guinea pigs were measured in an effort to understand the underlying mechanism of the ryanodine-induced negative inotropy. Results are summerized as follows: 1 ) Ryanodine significantly reduced the contractility of heart muscles produced at low frequency of stimulation, but showed a little effect on the contractility at high frequency stimulation. 2) Ryanodine, at the concentrations ranging from $10^{-6}\;M$ to $10^{-8}\;M$, had no significant effect on the Na-dependent relaxation of Na-withdrawl contracture. 3) Ryandoine significantly reduced the amplitude of the Na-withdrawl contracture, and this inhibitory effect was reinforced by procaine, antiagonized by caffeine and high potassium. From these results, it may be concluded that the negative inotropic effect of ryanodine is mainly due to an inhibition of calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.445-453
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• 2015

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) is an organelle where most secretory and membrane proteins are synthesized, folded, and undergo further maturation. As numerous conditions can perturb such ER function, eukaryotic cells are equipped with responsive signaling pathways, widely referred to as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). Chronic conditions of ER stress that cannot be fully resolved by UPR, or conditions that impair UPR signaling itself, are associated with many metabolic and degenerative diseases. In recent years, Drosophila has been actively employed to study such connections between UPR and disease. Notably, the UPR pathways are largely conserved between Drosophila and humans, and the mediating genes are essential for development in both organisms, indicating their requirement to resolve inherent stress. By now, many Drosophila mutations are known to impose stress in the ER, and a number of these appear similar to those that underlie human diseases. In addition, studies have employed the strategy of overexpressing human mutations in Drosophila tissues to perform genetic modifier screens. The fact that the basic UPR pathways are conserved, together with the availability of many human disease models in this organism, makes Drosophila a powerful tool for studying human disease mechanisms. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 445-453]

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.563-568
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• 2014

Human genome projects have enabled whole genome mapping and improved our understanding of the genes in humans. However, many unknown genes remain to be functionally characterized. In this study, we characterized human chromosome 4 open reading frame 34 gene (hC4orf34). hC4orf34 was highly conserved from invertebrate to mammalian cells and ubiquitously expressed in the organs of mice, including the heart and brain. Interestingly, hC4orf34 is a novel ER-resident, type I transmembrane protein. Mutant analysis showed that the transmembrane domain (TMD) of hC4orf34 was involved in ER retention. Overall, our results indicate that hC4orf34 is an ER-resident type I transmembrane protein, and might play a role in ER functions including $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis and ER stress.