• Title/Summary/Keyword: self defense mechanism

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Secondary metabolites of myxobacteria (점액세균의 이차대사산물)

  • Hyun, Hyesook;Cho, Kyungyun
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.54 no.3
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    • pp.175-187
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    • 2018
  • Myxobacteria produce diverse secondary metabolites for predation, self-defense, intercellular signaling, and other unknown functions. Many secondary metabolites isolated from myxobacteria show pharmaceutically useful bioactivity such as anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal activities with a unique mechanism of action. Therefore, a large number of myxobacterial strains have been isolated globally and many bioactive compounds have been purified from them. However, 16S rRNA database analysis indicates that there are far more types of myxobacterial species in the wild than have ever been isolated, and genome sequence analysis suggests that each myxobacterium is capable of producing much more metabolites than already known. In this article, the current status of studies on the secondary metabolites from myxobacteria, their biosynthetic genes, biological functions, and transcriptional regulatory factors governing gene expression were reviewed.

Analysis of the Correlation between Expressions of HSP90α, HSP90β, and GRP94, and the Clinicopathologic Characteristics in Tissues of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients (비소세포 폐암 환자 조직에서 Hsp90α, Hsp90β, GRP94의 발현과 임상병리학적 특성과의 상관관계 분석)

  • Kim, Mi Kyeong
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.460-469
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    • 2017
  • Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are induced as a self-defense mechanism of cells when exposed to various external stresses, such as high fever, infection, free radicals, and heavy metals. They affect the prognosis in the process of tumor formation. HSP is classified into four families: HSP27, HSP60, HSP90, and HSP100, depending on molecular weight. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a molecular chaperone, plays an important role in the cellular protection against various stressful stimuli and in the regulation of cell cycle progression and apoptosis. In the present study, we assessed the differential expression of HSP90 family proteins in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the correlation of their expression levels with clinicopathologic factors and patient survival rates. The result of this study can be summarized as follows; $HSP90{\alpha}$ showed higher expression in patients with no lymphovascular invasion (p=0.014). $HSP90{\beta}$ showed a higher expression of squamous cell carcinoma (p=0.003), and an over expression of glucose-related protein (GRP94) was significantly associated with poor differentiation (p=0.048). However, none of the HSP90 proteins showed a significant association with the survival status in patients with NSCLC. This study also indicates that $HSP90{\alpha}$ might contribute more to the carcinogenesis of NSCLC than $HSP90{\beta}$, and GRP94 and isoform selectivity should be considered when HSP90 inhibitors are studied or utilized in the treatment of NSCLC.

Behaviors of Arsenic in Paddy Soils and Effects of Absorbed Arsenic on Physiological and Ecological Characteristics of the Rice Plant;V.Effect of arsenic added to soil on ecological characteristics of the rice plant (토양중(土壤中) 비소(砒素)의 행동(行動)과 수도(水稻)의 비소흡수(砒素吸收)에 의(衣)한 피해생리생태(被害生理生態)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究);V. 토양중(土壤中)의 비소함량(砒素含量)이 수도근(水稻根)의 생태(生態)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Lee, Min-Hyo;Lim, Soo-Kil;Park, Young-Dae;Lee, Suk-Hee
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.21-25
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    • 1988
  • A pot experiment was conducted to find out the effect of arsenic(As) added to soil on the number of roots, root diameter, root length and root tissue of the rice plant. The results obtained were as follows: Higher As levels in soil remarkably reduced not only the number of roots, root length and root diameter, but also the diameter of the central cylinder, the route of the water and inor ganic nutrients of the roots. When arsenic was treated in soil, abnormal cells in the cortex of rice root were developed and considerably increased with higher As levels in the soil. These were only observed in the middle and upper parts of root segments except root tips and they looked like rice roots without epidermis in shape. Therefore, the occurrence of the abnormal cells in the root was attributed to high arsenic accumulation in the root. Its mechanism is not clear. However, it is assumed that the abnormal cells had occurred to compensate for lower amount of water and inorganic nutrient absorption by the injured rice root or self-defense against the penetration of arsenic within the rice root.

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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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A Critical Discourse Analysis Through Comparisons Between Editorials of The Global Times, Huánqiú Shíbào on the 2018 United States-China Trade War (미·중 무역 분쟁 관련 환구시보(環球時報) 사설 비교를 통한 비판적 담화분석 - 「용타항미원조적의지타대미무역전(用打抗美援朝的意志打對美貿易戰)」 중심으로 -)

  • Choi, Tae-hoon
    • Cross-Cultural Studies
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    • v.52
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    • pp.165-194
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    • 2018
  • Employing Fairclough's critical discourse analysis (CDA), the purpose of this study was to analyze linguistically significant features, intertextuality, and sociocultural practice focusing on selected editorials of The Global Times, $Hu{\acute{a}}nqi{\acute{u}}$ Shíbào on the 2018 United States-China Trade War. The editorial titled "With the strong will of 'the War to Resist America and Aid Chosun,' let us go through the trade war against America" focused on the use of 'war' related vocabulary in the frame of 'war.' First, "Trade War" and "War to Resist America and Aid Chosun" are examples that reveal metaphors and a war frame. Second, "Strategy" is used positively for China but negatively towards America. Third, various war related words are used. Fourth, cases of allusion illustrate war. Intertextuality in terms of discourse practice pertains to two findings. First, The Global Times, $Hu{\acute{a}}nqi{\acute{u}}$ Shíbào repeatedly uses the phrase 'equivalent revenge.' That is because the expression enables China to justify their counterattack and such war that China may wage can be interpreted as just counterattack much like a self-defense mechanism. Second, the expression, 'the counterattack is not intended but it is not fearful' is repeated in several editorials of the newspaper. The reasons are the following: 1) it is used to appeal to the public, 2) by invoking the feeling of fear, the public should be understand why they should unite, and 3) the expression, "it is not fearful" is used to preserve China's global image and "the counterattack is not intended" is used to signal China's will to America. The whole expression is a good example of intertextuality that repetitively illustrates the intended meaning of China in nine editorials in the newspaper within three months, March 23-June 17, 2018. Finally, sociocultural practice is manipulated through the editorial for disseminating the Chinese government's hegemonic ideology. First, it is clear that the core national project, "China Manufacturing 2025" cannot be abandoned. Second, by calling for "War to Resist America and Aid Chosun" the editorial is manipulated to condemn and intimidate America, avoid dissent of the people, appeal to the people, and empower the government. Third, China somehow wants to open up the possibility of negotiation with the United Sates.