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The toxic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus sp. has recently been observed in temperate areas in the Southern Sea of the Republic of Korea. The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicity of Gambierdiscus sp. toward the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus. T. japonicus adult females and nauplii were exposed to various concentrations of algae or culture medium to assess toxicity and analyze gene expression patterns in the copepod. Based on the toxicity tests, Gambierdiscus sp. increased the mortality of nauplii and the immobility of adult females. The survival and mobility of T. japonicus were not affected by culture medium lacking Gambierdiscus sp. cells in the toxicity test. However, based on the analysis of gene expression in the copepod, exposure of the copepod to culture medium affected the expression of stress or detoxification-related genes. Further studies to identify toxins in Gambierdiscus sp. are required to increase our understanding of dinoflagellate toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the effects of fluctuations in dam discharge due to river environments and phytoplankton communities, we monitored such environments and phytoplankton communities biweekly, from February 2001 to February 2002 and from February 2004 to February 2005, in the lower Han River (LHR), South Korea. The phytoplankton abundance during the dry season was approximately two times higher than that during the rainy season. In particular, fluctuations in diatom assemblages, which constituted over 70% of the total phytoplankton abundance, were affected severely by the changes in the discharge. When a large quantity of water in a dam was discharged into the LHR, the conductivity and the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) decreased rapidly, whereas the concentrations of suspended solids (SS), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and dissolved silica (DSi) increased immediately. Time-delayed relationship also revealed that the dam discharge had an immediately significant negative relationship with phytoplankton abundance. On the whole, fluctuations in phytoplankton communities in the LHR were influenced much more by hydrodynamics such as dam discharge than by the availability of nutrients. Thus, the variability in these concentrations usually parallels the strength of river flow that is associated with summer rainfall, with higher values during periods of high river discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Combined chemoradiotherapy is standard management for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), but standard treatment for elderly patients with LA-NSCLC has not been confirmed yet. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for elderly patients with LA-NSCLC. Materials and Methods: Among patients older than 65 years with LA-NSCLC, 36 patients, who underwent CCRT were retrospectively analyzed. Chemotherapy was administered 3-5 times with 4 weeks interval during radiotherapy. Thoracic radiotherapy was delivered to the primary mass and regional lymph nodes. Total dose of 54-59.4 Gy (median, 59.4 Gy) in daily 1.8 Gy fractions and 5 fractions per week. Results: Regarding the response to treatment, complete response, partial response, and no response were shown in 16.7%, 66.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates were 58.2% and 31.2%, respectively, and the median survival was 15 months. The 1- and 2-year progression-free survivals (PFS) were 41.2% and 19.5%, respectively, and the median PFS was 10 months. Regarding to the toxicity developed after CCRT, pneumonitis and esophagitis with grade 3 or higher were observed in 13.9% (5 patients) and 11.1% (4 patients), respectively. Treatment-related death was not observed. Conclusion: The treatment-related toxicity as esophagitis and pneumonitis were noticeably lower when was compared with the previously reported results, and the survival rate was higher than radiotherapy alone. The results indicate that CCRT is an effective in terms of survival and treatment related toxicity for elderly patients over 65 years old with LA-NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) stimulate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide overproduction leading to β-cell damage. Meanwhile, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its potent analog exendin-4 (EX-4) were well known for β-cell proliferation. However, the protective mechanisms of GLP-1 in β-cells exposed to cytokines were not fully elucidated. Therefore, the effects of EX-4 on the IL-1β-induced iNOS gene expression were investigated employing RINm5F β-cells. EX-4 inhibited IL-1β-induced iNOS protein expression and nitrite production. However, northern blot and promoter analyses showed that EX-4 failed to inhibit IL-1β-induced iNOS mRNA expression and iNOS promoter activity. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), EX-4 did not alter the binding activity of NF-κB to the iNOS promoter. Consistent with the EMSA result, EX-4 did not inhibit nuclear translocation of p65. We also tested the effect of EX-4 on iNOS mRNA stability. Actinomycin D chase experiments showed that EX-4 did not affect the decay rate of iNOS mRNA and the promoter assay using the construct containing 3'-untranslated region of iNOS showed that EX-4 did not alter the stability of iNOS mRNA. Meanwhile, forskolin significantly inhibited IL-1β-induced iNOS protein, which was reversed by H-89, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. Moreover, EX-4 pretreatment restored IL-1β-induced decrease in cAMP toward control level. Additionally, the cycloheximide chase study demonstrated that EX-4 significantly accelerated iNOS protein degradation. We therefore concluded that EX-4 inhibited IL-1β-induced iNOS protein and nitrite production via cAMP/PKA system irrespective of both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms of iNOS gene, and this inhibitory effect of EX-4 appears to be regulated at posttranslational level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 7,000 accessions of Korean soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merrill) landraces, largely composed of three collections, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute’s soybean (KAS), the Korean Crop Experiment Station’s soybean (KLS) and the Korean Agricultural Development and Technology Center’s soybean (KADTC) collections, have been conserved at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) genebank in Korea. The accessions within collections were classified based on their traditional uses such as sauce soybean (SA), sprouted soybean (SP), soybean for cooking with rice (SCR), and OTHERS. A total of 2,758 accessions of Korean soybean landraces were used to profile and to evaluate genetic structure using six SSR loci. A total of 110 alleles were revealed by at the six SSR loci. The number of alleles per SSR locus ranged from 9 to 39 in Satt187 and Satt_074, respectively. The number of alleles ranged from 87 in the KADTC collection to 96 in the KLS collection, and from 63 in the SCR group to 95 in the SP group. Nei’s average genetic diversity ranged from 0.68 to 0.70 across three collections, and 0.64 to 0.69 across the usage groups. The average between-group differentiation ( G st) was 0.9 among collections, and 4.1 among the usage groups. The similar average diversity among three collections implies that the genetic background of the three collections was quite similar or that there were a large number of duplicate accessions in three collections. The selection from the four groups classified based upon usage may be a useful way to select accessions for developing a Korean soybean landrace core collection at the RDA genebank. DNA profile information of accessions will provide indications of redundancies or omissions and aid in managing the soybean collection held at the RDA genebank. The information on diversity analysis could help to enlarge the genetic diversity of materials in breeding programs and could be used to develop a core collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that spinal instability should be evaluated in the standing lateral position. Standing dynamic flexion and extension radiographs are usually used to assess spinal instability. Here, we report a patient who experienced distraction instability while in the supine position rather than the standard standing position. To our knowledge, this is the first report of lying-down instability undetected on standing dynamic flexion and extension radiographs. We discuss the pathophysiological mechanism of this uncommon but possible entity and provide a review of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucagon-like peptide-1 and its potent agonist exendin-4 induce several immediate early response genes (lEGs) that code for transcription factors implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. We recently observed that early growth response factor-1 (EGR-1), an lEG product, was required for transcriptional activation of Ccnd1 (cyclin D1) gene by exendin-4. Herein, the regulatory mechanism whereby exendin-4 activates the transcription of EGR-1 gene was investigated in the pancreatic β-cell line INS-1. Deletion analysis of rat EGR-1 promoter identified a critical region between -73 and -46 for the activation of EGR-1 in response to exendin-4. Mutation of the proximal putative cAMP response element (CRE, 5′-GTACGTCA-3-′) located at -69 resulted in a significant decrease in the EGR-1 transcription, whereas the mutation of the distal putative CRE at -139 was without such an effect. In immune supershift assays using exendin-4-treated cells, binding of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylated on Ser133 to the proximal CRE was increased. Employment of a CREB mutant containing Ala substitution at Ser133 or a dominant negative CREB mutant that inhibits the binding of endogenous CREB to DNA significantly decreased the exendin-4-induced EGR-1 transcription. In experiments using specific protein kinase inhibitors, the effect of H-89 was more prominent than PD-98059, indicating the predominance of the PKA signaling over the MEK/ERK in induction of EGR-1. Therefore, it appears that the proximal CRE site is critical and the binding with CREB phosphorylated on Ser133 is necessary for induction of the EGR-1 transcription by exendin-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the development of various human diseases. Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) is one of the major means by which cells counteract the deleterious effects of ROS. SOD activity is dependent upon bound copper ions supplied by its partner metallochaperone protein, copper chaperone for SOD (CCS). In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of PEP-1-CCS against neuronal cell death and ischemic insults. When PEP-1-CCS was added to the culture medium of neuronal cells, it rapidly entered the cells and protected them against paraquat-induced cell death. Moreover, transduced PEP-1-CCS markedly increased endogenous SOD activity in the cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that it prevented neuronal cell death in the hippocampus in response to transient forebrain ischemia. These results suggest that CCS is essential to activate SOD, and that transduction of PEP-1-CCS provides a potential strategy for therapeutic delivery in various human diseases including stroke related to SOD or ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic value and safety of third-line treatment with mitomycin-C (MMC) and capecitabine (Xeloda) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer pretreated with combination regimens including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), folinic acid (FA) and irinotecan (CPT-11) or 5-FU, FA and oxaliplatin (L-OHP). Patients and methods: A total of 21 patients (M/F 16/5, median age 60.0 years) with advanced colorectal cancer, all of whom had developed progressive disease while receiving or within 6 months of discontinuing two sequential chemotherapy lines with 5-FU, FA and CPT-11 or 5-FU, FA and L-OHP, were accrued to this study. At the time of their relapse or progression, cytotoxic chemotherapy, consisting of intravenous MMC 7 mg/m² on therapeutic day 1 plus oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily on days 1-14, was initiated. After rest for 7 days, capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily was administered on days 22-35 followed by 7 days rest. Treatment courses were repeated every 6 weeks unless there was evidence of progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or patient refusal of treatment. Results: All the patients were assessable for toxicity and 19 for response. The median number cycles of chemotherapy was two (range one to four). Only 1 patient (4.8%) had a partial response, 4 patients (19.0%) had stable disease, and 14 patients (66.7%) progressed. The median follow-up period was 7.3 months and median time to progression was 2.6 months. The median overall survival was 6.8 months. No toxic deaths occurred. Toxicities of third-line treatment were mild and manageable. As NCI/NIH common toxicity criteria, grade 3/4 anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in two, one and one patients, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the combination of MMC and capecitabine in patients with advanced colorectal cancer pretreated with combination regimens including 5-FU, FA and CPT-11 or 5-FU, FA and L-OHP is safe. However, this regimen had a poor response rate and no definitive contribution to increasing patients' overall survival time. Further evaluation of other salvage regimens seems to be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylglyoxal (MG) has been identified as an intermediate in non-enzymatic glycation, and increased levels have been reported in patients with diabetes. In this study, the effect of MG on the structure and function of human Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was investigated. MG modifies Cu,Zn-SOD, as indicated by the formation of fluorescent products. When Cu, Zn-SOD was incubated with MG, covalent crosslinking of the protein increased progressively. MG-mediated modification of Cu,Zn-SOD led to loss of enzymatic activity and release of copper ions from the protein. Radical scavengers inhibited the crosslinking of Cu,Zn-SOD. When Cu,Zn-SOD that had been exposed to MG was analyzed, glycine, histidine, lysine, and valine residues were found to be particularly sensitive. It is suggested that oxidative damage to Cu,Zn-SOD by MG may perturb cellular antioxidant defense systems and damage cells. This effect may account, in part, for organ deterioration in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which investigated whether there are differences in the copper, zinc-superoxide dismutase and hydrogen peroxide system mediated-protein modification between the wild-type and mutant α-sinucleins. Expression and purification of α-synuclein; Immunoblot analysis.

Presents a study which investigated whether copper ion recovery of the fusion protein could enhance the transduction potential of Tat-Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase in cultured HeLa cells. Review of related literature; Materials and methods used; Results and discussion.

Presents a study which described the transduction of full-length superoxide dismutase fusion proteins into human fibroblast cells. Review of related literature; Materials and methods used; Results and discussion.

Deals with a study which revealed that the released copper ions can enhance the Fenton-like reaction to produce hydroxyl radicals and play a role in the oxidative damage of macromolecules. Materials and methods used in the study; Results and discussion.

To study the catalytic activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the generation of hydroxyl radical (·OH) from and H2O2' we investigated the mechanism of DNA cleavage mediated by human Cu,Zn-SOD and H2O2' When plasmid DNA was incubated with 5 μM Cu, Zn-SOD and 1.0 mM H2O2, DNA cleavage occurred within 15 min. A spectrophotometric study using a 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) showed that free ·OH formation was proportional to concentrations of CU,Zn-SOD and H2O2. ·OH formation and DNA cleavage were inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers such as cyanide, azide, and formate. These results indicated that . OH generated early in the peroxidative reaction of Cu,Zn-SOD with H,O, was implicated in DNA cleavage. Incubation with H2O2 resulted in a time-dependent release of copper ions from the Cu,Zn-SOD molecule. The released copper ions then likely participated in a Fenton-like reaction to produce ·OH that may have caused DNA cleavage. Evidence that DTPA protected the DNA cleavage induced by the Cu,Zn-SOD/H,O, system supports this mechanism. We suggest that DNA cleavage is mediated in the Cu,Zn-SOD/H2O2 system via the generation of . OH by a combination of the peroxidative reaction of Cu,Zn-SOD and the Fenton-like reaction of free copper ions released from oxidatively damaged SOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the usual superoxide dismutation activity, Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) has a peroxidative function that utilizes its own dismutation product, H202 as a substrate. The peroxidative activity of human Cu,Zn-SOD was studied by using a chromogen, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethyIbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) which reacts with OH radicals to form ABTS+. The optimal pH for the peroxidative activity of human Cu,Zn-SOD was 7.6-9.5. The peroxidative activity retained about 50% of the maximum activity when exposed at 40 °C for 5 min. The peroxidative activity showed a typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics for ABTS and H202 whose Km values were 16 pM and 9.3 mM, respectively. The peroxidative activity of human Cu,Zn-SOD was inhibited about 60% by the copper chelator, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) at 10 pM while the dismutation activity was not inhibited under a similar condition. We found that there are differences in the effects of temperature and DDC on the dismutation and peroxidative activities of human Cu,Zn-SOD. These results suggest that the amino acid residues which affect the activities of this enzyme may be different between dismutation and peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) is known to be a locus of mutation in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). We cloned the FALS mutant, D90A, and wild-type of human Cu,Zn-SOD, overexpressed them in E. coli, purified the proteins, and studied their properties. We investigated their enzymic activities for catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide anions and the generation of free radicals with H20 2 as a substrate. Our results showed that both wild-type and mutant enzymes have identical dismutation activities. However, the hydroxyl radical-generating function of the D90A mutant, as measured using a 2,2'-azinobis-(3- ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate), was enhanced relative to that of the wild-type enzyme. Catalysis of this reaction by D90A was more sensitive to inhibition by the copper chela tors, penicillamine and diethyldithiocarbamate, than was catalysis by wild-type Cu,Zn-SOD. Our study suggests that this gain-of-function of FALS mutant may, in part, be responsible for the development of FALS symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tapia syndrome is a rare entity characterized by unilateral paralysis of the tongue and vocal cord caused by Xth and XIIth cranial nerve lesions. However, there has been no report of Tapia syndrome immediately following spine surgery. A 47-year-old man underwent posterior decompressive laminectomy for cervical stenosis. The surgery took about 117 minutes and it was uneventful. Postoperatively he developed hoarseness of voice during speech, with deviation of tongue protrusion. On laryngoscopic examination, paralysis of the left side of the tongue and the soft palate was found and complete palsy of the left vocal cord was noted. After excluding surgical cause and craniocervical lesion, a clinical diagnosis of Tapia syndrome was made. Here we report a rare case of Tapia syndrome developed after posterior approach for cervical spine surgery and discuss the possible mechanisms of this uncommon syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hodgson's bats are critically endangered in South Korea. This study analyzed the concentrations of elements in liver, kidney, and intestine tissues from a Hodgson's bat found dead in the wild. The concentrations of essential elements followed the order Fe > Zn > Cu >Mn > Se in the three tissues. Hg was detected at the highest concentrations among the non-essential elements analyzed in the liver and kidney tissues, while As was the most highly concentrated non-essential element in the intestine. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of tissue element concentrations in Hodgson's bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide with high incidence and mortality. Among the five species that can infect humans, Plasmodium ovale morphologically resembles Plasmodium vivax, resulting in misidentification and confusion in diagnosis, and is responsible for malarial disease relapse due to the formation of hypnozoites. P. ovale receives relatively less attention compared to other major parasites, such as P. falciparum and P. vivax, primarily due to its lower pathogenicity, mortality rates, and prevalence rates. To efficiently produce lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a major target for diagnosing malaria, this study used three Escherichia coli strains, BL21(DE3), BL21(DE3)pLysS, and Rosetta(DE3), commonly used for recombinant protein production. These strains were characterized to select the optimal strain for P. ovale LDH (PoLDH) production. Gene cloning for recombinant PoLDH production and transformation of the three strains for protein expression were performed. The optimal PoLDH overexpression and washing buffer conditions in nickel-based affinity chromatography were established to ensure high-purity PoLDH. The yields of PoLDH expressed by the three strains were as follows: BL21(DE3), 7.6 mg/L; BL21(DE3)pLysS, 7.4 mg/L; and Rosetta(DE3), 9.5 mg/L. These findings are expected to be highly useful for PoLDH-specific diagnosis and development of antimalarial therapeutics.

We examine the effects of seawater pCO2 concentration of 25, 41, and 76 kPa (250, 400, and 750 matm) on the growth rate of a natural assemblage of mixed phytoplankton obtained from a carefully controlled, 14-d mesocosm experiment. Throughout the experiment period, in all enclosures, two phytoplankton taxa (microflagellates and cryptomonads) and two diatom species (Skeletonema costatum and Nitzschia spp.) account for approximately 90% of the phytoplankton community. During the nutrient-replete period from day 9 to day 14 populations of Skeletonema costatum and Nitzschia spp. increased substantially; however, only Skeletonema costatum showed an increase in growth rate with increasing seawater pCO2. Not all diatom species in Korean coastal waters are sensitive to seawater pCO2 under nutrient-replete conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dokdo, a volcanic island located in offshore waters, is significantly influenced by various currents and the island effect resulting from upwelling events. Despite these factors, there is a limited understanding of the seasonal changes in phytoplankton populations and their relationship with the environmental factors in the waters around Dokdo, even during dramatic shifts in phytoplankton dynamics. We focused on seasonal oceanographic features over three years (2018, 2019, and 2020) to understand the phytoplankton community structure and seasonal species succession. Winter, characterized by thorough mixing, results in high nutrient levels, leading to increased phytoplankton biomass. The dominance of the large-sized diatom Chaetoceros spp. contributes to relatively low diversity (H’: 1.14 ± 0.31). In contrast to the typical coastal waters, spring exhibits dominance by the small nano-flagellates and Cryptomonas spp. associated with a lack of surface nutrients due to increased water temperature. Summer, characterized by strong stratification, shows low phytoplankton biomass but high Chl. a concentrations, possibly influenced by picoplankton and the emergence of dinoflagellates, such as Gyrodinium sp. and Katodinium sp., which increases diversity (H’: 2.18 ± 0.28). In autumn, there is typically a phytoplankton bloom, but in 2019, an unusually low biomass occurred. This was likely due to the intrusion of deep, cold water from the bottom and low-salinity Changjiang diluted water (CDW) from the surface, increasing the water’s stability. This, in turn, led to nutrient depletion, contributing to a rise in diversity (H’: 1.14 ± 0.31). These environmentally complex waters around Dokdo result in a distinct pattern of biodiversity indices, with the highest in summer and the lowest in winter, differing from typical temperate waters. In conclusion, this research highlights the substantial influence of distinctive oceanographic features and nutrient dynamics on the phytoplankton biomass and biodiversity in the Ulleung Basin and Dokdo region. Understanding these patterns is vital for the effective management of marine ecosystems and fisheries resources, emphasizing the necessity for continued long-term monitoring in the vicinity of the Dokdo area.

Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread cause of malaria, especially in subtropical and temperate regions such as Asia-Pacific and America. P. vivax lactate dehydrogenase (PvLDH), an essential enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, is required for the development and reproduction of the parasite. Thus, LDH from these parasites has garnered attention as a diagnostic biomarker for malaria and as a potential molecular target for developing antimalarial drugs. In this study, we prepared a transformed Escherichia coli strain for the overexpression of PvLDH without codon optimization. We introduced this recombinant plasmid DNA prepared by insertion of the PvLDH gene in the pET-21a(+) expression vector, into the Rosetta(DE3), an E. coli strain suitable for eukaryotic protein expression. The time, temperature, and inducer concentration for PvLDH expression from this E. coli Rosetta(DE3), containing the original PvLDH gene, were optimized. We obtained PvLDH with a 31.0 mg/L yield and high purity (>95%) from this Rosetta(DE3) strain. The purified protein was characterized structurally and functionally. The PvLDH expressed and purified from transformed bacteria without codon optimization was successfully demonstrated to exhibit its potential tetramer structure and enzyme activity. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights for research on infectious diseases, metabolism, diagnostics, and therapeutics for malaria caused by P. vivax.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is an endogenous metabolite which ispresent in increased concentrations in diabetics and reacts withamino acids to form advanced glycation end products. In thisstudy, we investigated whether ferritin enhances DNA cleavageby the reaction of MG with lysine. When plasmid DNA wasincubated with MG and lysine in the presence of ferritin, DNAstrand breakage was increased in a dose-dependent manner.The ferritin/MG/lysine system-mediated DNA cleavage wassignificantly inhibited by reactive oxygen species (ROS)scavengers. These results indicated that ROS might participatein the ferritin/MG/lysine system-mediated DNA cleavage.Incubation of ferritin with MG and lysine resulted in atime-dependent release of iron ions from the protein molecules.Our data suggest that DNA cleavage caused by theferritin/MG/lysine system via the generation of ROS by theFenton-like reaction of free iron ions released from oxidativelydamaged ferritin. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(4): 225-229]

Methylglyoxal (MG) was identified as an intermediate innon-enzymatic glycation and increased levels were reported inpatients with diabetes. In this study, we evaluated the effects ofMG on the modification of ferritin. When ferritin wasincubated with MG, covalent crosslinking of the proteinincreased in a time- and MG dose-dependent manner.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, N-acetyl-L-cysteineand thiourea suppressed the MG-mediated ferritinmodification. The formation of dityrosine was observed inMG-mediated ferritin aggregates and ROS scavengers inhibitedthe formation of dityrosine. During the reaction betweenferritin and MG, the generation of ROS was increased as afunction of incubation time. These results suggest that ROSmay play a role in the modification of ferritin by MG. Thereaction between ferritin and MG led to the release of ironions from the protein. Ferritin exposure to MG resulted in aloss of arginine, histidine and lysine residues. It was assumedthat oxidative damage to ferritin caused by MG may induce anincrease in the iron content in cells, which is deleterious tocells. This mechanism, in part, may provide an explanation orthe deterioration of organs under diabetic conditions. [BMBreports 2012; 45(3): 147-152]

Gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/DDX25), a testis-specific member of the DEAD-box family, is an essential post-transcriptional regulator of spermatogenesis. Failure of expression of Transition protein 2 (TP2) and Protamine 2 (Prm2) proteins (chromatin remodelers, essential for spermatid elongation and completion of spermatogenesis) with preservation of their mRNA expression was observed in GRTH-null mice (azoospermic due to failure of spermatids to elongate). These were identified as target genes for the testis-specific miR-469, which is increased in the GRTH-null mice. Further analysis demonstrated that miR-469 repressed TP2 and Prm2 protein expression at the translation level with minor effect on mRNA degradation, through binding to the coding regions of TP2 and Prm2 mRNAs. The corresponding primary-microRNAs and the expression levels of Drosha and DGCR8 (both mRNA and protein) were increased significantly in the GRTH-null mice. miR-469 silencing of TP2 and Prm2 mRNA in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids is essential for their timely translation at later times of spermiogenesis, which is critical to attain mature sperm. Collectively, these studies indicate that GRTH, a multifunctional RNA helicase, acts as a negative regulator of miRNA-469 biogenesis and consequently their function during spermatogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity and relationships within and among Korean, Japanese and Chinese Jilin provincial wild soybeans based on SSR makers were evaluated to enlarge genetic variation in soybeans breeding in the future. A total of 184 wild soybeans including 67 Korean, 71 Japanese and 46 Chinese Jilin provincial wild soybeans were analyzed to evaluate genetic diversity and relationships based on 23 SSR markers. Korean and Japanese wild soybeans were obtained from National Agrobiodiversity Center, Korea, and Biological Resource Center in Lotus and Gycine, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, Japan, respectively. Chinese wild soybeans were collected from Jilin province, China. Twenty three SSR markers generated a total of 964 alleles with an average of 41.9 alleles per marker. Number of alleles ranged from 23 (Satt635) to 56 (satt157). Genetic diversity (PIC value) of 184 wild soybeans ranged from 0.880 to 0.968 with an average of 22.2, beans was similar with an average of 13.6 per marker, respectively. PIC value for Korean, Japanese and Chinese Jilin provincial wild soybeans was similar with an average of 0.905, 0.897, and 0.850, respectively. Cluster analysis based on genetic distances estimated by SSR markers classified wild soybeans into 3 clusters. Cluster I was now sub classified, but cluster II and III were sub classified into various groups. Genetic distance evaluated by SSR markers between Korean and Japanese wild soybeans was closer than that of between Korean and Chinese Jilin provincial, and between Japanese and Chinese Jilin provincial wild soybeans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]