• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.323-331
• /
• 2015

Zirconium alloys are widely used in nuclear reactors as structural materials. During the operation, they are exposed to fast neutrons. Ion irradiation is used to simulate the damage introduced by neutron irradiation. In this article, we briefly review the neutron irradiation damage of zirconium alloys, then summarize the effect of ion irradiation on microstructural evolution, mechanical and corrosion properties, and their relationships. The microstructure components consist of dislocation loops, second phase precipitates, and gas bubbles. The microstructure parameters are also included such as domain size and microstrain determined by X-ray diffraction and the S-parameter determined by positron annihilation. Understanding the relationships of microstructure and properties is necessary for developing new advanced materials with higher irradiation tolerance.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
• /
• 제13권4호
• /
• pp.208-217
• /
• 2013

본 연구는 청소년의 스마트폰 중독이 사회성 발달에 미치는 영향력을 실증적으로 규명함으로써 청소년들의 건전한 스마트폰 사용 방안을 제시하기 위해 실시하였다. 조사는 서울시 10개 고등학교에서 스마트폰을 사용하고 있는 339명의 고등학생을 대상으로 실시하였다. 분석결과를 살펴보면, 스마트폰 중독이 높을수록 사회성 발달은 낮아지는 것으로 나타났다. 구체적으로 스마트폰 중독의 하위영역 중 일상생활장애, 가성세계지향성, 내성이 사회성 발달에 부적으로 영향을 미쳤다. 특징적인 것은 스마트폰사용시간은 사회성 발달에 정적으로 영향을 미쳤다는 점이다. 이러한 점은 청소년의 사회성 증진을 위해서 무조건적인 스마트폰 사용의 양적 제지 보다는 중독적인 사용을 하지 않고 건전한 사용을 유도하는 질적차원의 교육이 바람직하다는 점을 통해 스마트폰중독 예방의 정책적, 실천적 논의를 제시해주고 있다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제40권4호
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2017

The transcriptional activator AphB has been implicated in acid resistance and pathogenesis in the food borne pathogens Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio cholerae. To date, the full-length AphB crystal structure of V. cholerae has been determined and characterized by a tetrameric assembly of AphB consisting of a DNA binding domain and a regulatory domain (RD). Although acidic pH and low oxygen tension might be involved in the activation of AphB, it remains unknown which ligand or stimulus activates AphB at the molecular level. In this study, we determine the crystal structure of the AphB RD from V. vulnificus under aerobic conditions without modification at the conserved cysteine residue of the RD, even in the presence of the oxidizing agent cumene hydroperoxide. A cysteine to serine amino acid residue mutant RD protein further confirmed that the cysteine residue is not involved in sensing oxidative stress in vitro. Interestingly, an unidentified small molecule was observed in the inter-subdomain cavity in the RD when the crystal was incubated with cumene hydroperoxide molecules, suggesting a new ligand-binding site. In addition, we confirmed the role of AphB in acid tolerance by observing an aphB-dependent increase in cadC transcript level when V. vulnificus was exposed to acidic pH. Our study contributes to the understanding of the AphB molecular mechanism in the process of recognizing the host environment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2008

Four series (S, M, R, and W) of Alternaria longipes isolates were obtained based on consecutive selection with Dimethachlon (Dim) and ultraviolet irradiation. These isolates were then characterized according to their tolerance to Dim, sensitivity to osmotic stress, and phenotypic properties. All the selected Dim-resistant isolates showed a higher osmosensitivity than the parental strains, and the last generation was more resistant than the first generation in the M, R, and W series. In addition, the changes in the Dim resistance and osmotic sensitivity were not found to be directly correlated, and no distinct morphologic characteristics were found among the resistant and sensitive isolates, with the exception of the resistant isolate K-11. Thus, to investigate the molecular basis of the fungicide resistance, a group III two-component histidine kinase (HK) gene, AlHK1, was cloned from nineteen A. longipes isolates. AlHK1p was found to be comprised of a six 92-amino-acid repeat domain (AARD), HK domain, and response regulator domain, similar to the Os-1p from Neurospora crassa. A comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the AlHK1 gene from the Dim-sensitive and -resistant isolates revealed that all the resistant isolates contained a single-point mutation in the AARD of AlHK1p, with the exception of isolate K-11, where the AlHK1p contained a deletion of 107 amino acids. Moreover, the AlHK1p mutations in the isolates of each respective series involved the same amino acid substitution at the same site, although the resistance levels differed significantly in each series. Therefore, these findings suggested that a mutation in the AARD of AlHK1p was not the sole factor responsible for A. longipes resistance to dicarboximide fungicides.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제44권1호
• /
• pp.61-68
• /
• 2017

GASA는 GA에 의해 조절되는 식물 유전자로서, 여러 식물에 보존되어 있고 다양한 조직에서 식물의 생장과 발달 및 스트레스 반응에 관여하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 GASA 유전자를 현사시나무(Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa)에서 분리하여 이를 PagGASA라 명명하고, 유전자의 구조와 발현특성을 조사하였다. PagGASA 유전자는 95개의 아미노산으로 구성된 단백질을 암호화하며, 아미노 말단에 시그널 펩티드 영역과 카르복시 말단에 12개 시스테인 잔기가 보존되어 있다. PagGASA는 현사시나무의 염색체에 1 ~ 2 copy 존재하며, 꽃과 뿌리에서 높게 발현하였다. 또한 PagGASA는 GA 뿐 아니라 ABA와 JA, SA와 같은 스트레스 관련 식물 호르몬의 처리에 의해서 발현이 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 현사시나무에 형질전환하여 PagGASA를 과발현시킨 결과 건조 내성에 효과가 있음을 확인하였다. 따라서 PagGASA는 스트레스 관련 식물 호르몬 신호전달과 연결되어 건조 스트레스 방어기작에서 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 생각된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제33권7호
• /
• pp.1167-1179
• /
• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to fathom the underlying mechanisms of nutrition intervention and redox sensitive transcription factors regulated by Antrodia cinnamomea fermented product (FAC) dietary supplementation in broiler chickens. Methods: Four hundreds d-old broilers (41±0.5 g/bird) assigned to 5 groups were examined after consuming control diet, or control diet replaced with 5% wheat bran (WB), 10% WB, 5% FAC, and 10% FAC. Liver mRNA expression of antioxidant, inflammatory and lipid metabolism pathways were analyzed. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) concentration in each group were tested in the chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) of 35-d old broilers to represent the stress level of the chickens. Furthermore, these cells were stimulated with 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to evaluate the cell stress tolerance by measuring cell viability and oxidative species. Results: Heme oxygenase-1, glutathione S-transferase, glutamate-cysteine ligase, catalytic subunit, and superoxide dismutase, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) that regulates the above antioxidant genes were all up-regulated significantly in FAC groups. Reactive oxygen species modulator protein 1 and NADPH oxygenase 1 were both rather down-regulated in 10% FAC group as comparison with two WB groups. Despite expressing higher level than control group, birds receiving diet containing FAC had significantly lower expression level in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and other genes (inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-richcontaining family, pyrin domain-containing-3, and cyclooxygenase 2) involving in inflammatory pathways. Additionally, except for 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase that showed relatively higher in both groups, the WB, lipoprotein lipase, Acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid binding protein, fatty acid desaturase 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha genes were expressed at higher levels in 10% FAC group. In support of above results, promoted Nrf2 and inhibited NF-κB nuclear translocation in chicken liver were found in FAC containing groups. H₂O₂ and NO levels induced by LPS and AAPH in cPBMCs were compromised in FAC containing diet. In 35-d-old birds, PGE₂ production in cPBMCs was also suppressed by the FAC diet. Conclusion: FAC may promote Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and positively regulate lipid metabolism, both are potential inhibitor of NF-κB inflammatory pathway.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제25권12호
• /
• pp.2125-2134
• /
• 2015

IrrE is a highly conserved global regulator in the Deinococcus genus and contributes to survival from high doses of UV radiation, ionizing radiation, and desiccation. Drad-IrrE and Dgob-IrrE from Deinococcus radiodurans and Deinococcus gobiensis I-0 each share 66% sequence identity. However, Dgob-IrrE showed a stronger protection phenotype against UV radiation than Drad-IrrE in the D. radiodurans irrE-deletion mutant (ΔirrE), which may be due to amino acid residues differences around the DNA-binding HTH domain. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate a Drad-IrrE A184S single mutant, which has been characterized and compared with the ΔirrE mutant complemented strain with Drad-irrE, designated ΔirrE-E. The effects of the A184S mutation following UV radiation and mitomycin C (MMC) shock were determined. The A184S mutant displayed significantly increased resistance to UV radiation and MMC shock. The corresponding A184 site in Dgob-IrrE was inversely mutated, generating the S131A mutant, which exhibited a loss of resistance against UV radiation, MMC shock, and desiccation. qPCR analysis revealed that critical genes in the DNA repair system, such as recA, pprA, uvrA, and ddrB, were remarkably induced after UV radiation and MMC shock in the ΔirrE-IE and A184S mutants. These data suggested that A184S improves the ability against UV radiation and MMC shock, providing new insights into the modification of IrrE. We speculated that the serine residue may determine the efficiency of DNA binding, leading to the increased expression of IrrE-dependent genes important for protection against DNA damage.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
• /
• 제46권2호
• /
• pp.267-272
• /
• 2017

본 연구에서는 팔미틴산을 처리한 지방간질환 간세포 모델과 비만/당뇨 동물 모델인 KK/HlJ 마우스를 이용하여 피세아테놀과 레스베라트롤 투여가 염증조절에 주는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 4주간의 피세아테놀과 레스베라트롤 섭취는 공복혈당과 경구당부하 검사 2시간 후 AUC를 감소시켜 혈당 조절 개선 효과를 보였다. 또한, 팔미틴산을 처리한 지방간질환 간세포 모델에 피세아테놀과 레스베라트롤을 처리한 결과 염증조절 경로인자인 TLR4와 $NF-{\kappa}B$의 발현을 유의적으로 감소시켰다. 이를 in vivo 비만/당뇨 동물 모델인 KK/HlJ 마우스의 간 조직에서 확인한 결과 피세아테놀 섭취는 NLRP3와 $NF-{\kappa}B$의 간 조직에서의 발현을 유의적으로 감소시켰고, IL-1 발현을 감소시키는 경향을 보였다. 하지만 동량의 레스베라트롤 섭취는 이와 같은 항염증 효과를 보이지 않았다. 결론적으로 혈당 조절 개선 효과와 항염증 효과에 있어 피세아테놀이 레스베라트롤보다 우수한 효과를 가지고, 피세아테놀의 항염증 효과는 혈당 조절 개선 효과에 부분적으로 기여할 것으로 제안한다.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제43권2호
• /
• pp.231-239
• /
• 2016

담배에서 후성유전관련 유전자의 발현연구를 위해 담배유래 시토신 DNA 탈메틸화 관련 NtROS2a 유전자를 과발현 및 RNAi 식물체를 육성하였다. 이들 형질전환체들은 고염 및 산화 스트레스하에서 내성이 증진되었으며, 다양한 표현형변이를 보였다(Lee et al. 2015). 본연구에서는 선발된 과발현 (OX1), RNAi 식물체(RNAi 13) 및 대조식물체(WT)를 이용하여 Agilent Tobacco 4 X 44K Oligo chip으로 microarray분석을 수행하였다. OX1과 RNAi13 계통을 이용하여 WT과 함께 비교 분석한 결과, 대부분 세포 내 이온 수송, 영양 공급 등과 같은 물질대사와 생물적 비생물적 스트레스 및 methylation과 관련되어 영향을 주는 유전자들에서 up-regulation 되었고, 물질대사관련 유전자와 세포 내 기능유전자의 역할을 담당하는 조효소, 그리고 다양한 스트레스 및 메틸레이션 관련 유전자군에서 또한 down-regulation되었다. 각각의 up-, down-regulation된 유전자들을 WT과 비교하여 qRT-PCR을 수행한 결과, KH domain-containing protein, MADS-box protein 및 Zinc phosphodiesterase ELAC protein 유전자들에서 발현이 높게 나타났으며, 반면에 pentatricopeptide (PPR) repeat-containing protein, histone deacetylase HDAC3 protein 및 protein kinase는 0.4 ~ 1.0-fold 발현양이 감소되었다. 따라서 DNA glycosylase를 암호화하는 NtROS2a 유전자는 demethylation과 관련되어 담배 식물체에서 다양한 전사레벨을 조절하는 것으로 판단된다.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제37권5호
• /
• pp.538-545
• /
• 2004

A new CRT binding factor (CBF) gene designated Cbcbf25 was cloned from Capsella bursa-pastoris, a wild grass, by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of Cbcbf25 was 898 bp with a 669 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative DRE/CRT (LTRE)-binding protein of 223 amino acids. The predicted CbCBF25 protein contained a potential nuclear localization signal (NLS) in its N-terminal region followed by an AP2 DNA-binding motif and a possible acidic activation domain in the C-terminal region. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that Cbcbf25 has a high level of similarity with other CBF genes like cbf1, cbf2, and cbf3 from Arabidopsis thaliana, and Bncbf5, Bncbf7, Bncbf16, and Bncbf17 from Brassica napus. A cold acclimation assay showed that Cbcbf25 was expressed immediately after cold triggering, but this expression was transient, suggesting that it concerns cold acclimation. Our study implies that Cbcbf25 is an analogue of other CBF genes and may participate in cold-response, by for example, controlling the expression of cold-regulated genes or increasing the freezing tolerance of plants.