한국 땅나리와 섬말나리의 수요는 최근까지도 늘어났지만 종자 상태에서 개화에 이르기까지 확률은 낮은 편으로 자생지에서의 개체수는 해마다 감소하였다. 본 연구는 땅나리(Lilium callosum Siebold & Zucc.)와 섬말나리(L. hansonii Leichtlin ex D.D.T. Moore)의 대량증식을 도모하기 위하여 종자 발아에 유리한 주·야간 온도 조건과 적합한 GA3 농도를 알아보는 것을 목적으로 수행되었다. 땅나리 종자는 2017년 10월 24일 강원도 춘천히 둔산면 원창리(37°47’10.00”N, 127°44’31.00”E), 섬말나리 종자는 2017년 10월 2일 울릉도 울릉군 북면 나리 (37°31’27.06”N, 130°52’25.08”E)에서 채종하였다. 땅나리와 섬 말나리 종자들을 주·야간 15/5, 20/10, 25/15, 20/20°C의 환경 조절상에서 처리구 당 30립씩 3반복으로 치상하여 온도 처리 실험을 진행한 후, 발아율 결과가 가장 우세했던 온도 조건의 환경조절상에서 섬말나리 GA3 처리 실험을 추가로 진행하였다. 온도 처리 실험결과 땅나리는 20/20°C의 온도 조건에서 발아율이 95.0%로 가장 높았으며 평균발아소요일수 또한 10.1일로 가장 낮았다. 섬말나리는 20/20°C의 온도 조건에서 발아율이 78.8%로 가장 높았으며 평균발아소요일수 또한 40.1일로 가장 낮았다. 이를 토대로 20/20°C에서 실시한 섬말나리 GA3 처리 실험은 증류수를 대조구로하여 200, 400, 800mg･L-1의 농도로 상온에서 24시간 침지한 후 처리구 당 20립씩 3반복으로 치상하였다. 그 결과 대조구에서 81.6%로 가장 높은 발아율을 나타냈으며 평균발아소요일수는 200mg･L-1처리구에서 37.1일로 가장 낮았다. 이러한 실험 결과를 바탕으로 땅나리와 섬말나리의 주·야간 발아 최적 온도는 20/20°C이며 GA3 24 시간 처리는 섬말나리 종자 발아에 효과가 없는 것으로 판단 되었다.

Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that regulate calcium (Ca2+) signaling by modulating the activity of multiple Ca2+ signaling proteins. In our previous report, Homer2 and Homer3 regulated NFATc1 function through its interaction with calcineurin, which then acted to regulate receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone metabolism. However, to date, the role of Homers in osteoclastogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the roles of Homer2 and Homer3 in aging-dependent bone remodeling. Deletion of Homer2 /Homer3 (Homer2/3 DKO) markedly decreased the bone density of the femur. The decrease in bone density was not seen in mice with Homer2 (Homer2−/−) and Homer3 (Homer3−/−) deletion. Moreover, RANKL treatment of bone marrow-derived monocytes/macrophages in Homer2/3 DKO mice significantly increased the formation of multinucleated cells and resorption areas. Finally, Homer2/3 DKO mice decreased bone density in an aging-dependent manner. These findings suggest a novel potent mode of bone homeostasis regulation through osteoclasts differentiation during aging by Homer proteins, specifically Homer2 and Homer3.

In this study, the factors affecting the efficiency of 48 projects of private R&D institutes were analyzed using the Tobit model. Influencing factors were selected as open R&D network size, IT industry, interaction between R&D network size and IT industry, and type of R&D network cooperation. As a result of Tobit analysis, the R&D network size, the IT industry, and the type of R&D network cooperation were found to be significant. The larger the open R&D network size, the lower the efficiency, and the IT industry showed lower R&D efficiency than other industries. In addition, cooperation with universities and research institutes showed lower R&D efficiency than cooperation with companies. As a result of these studies, companies will be able to select and focus on cooperation with the outside in relations and investment allocation.

Fly ash consists of various metal oxides which can remove SO2 gas by the catalyst effect. When fly ash is added in the preparation process of pitch-based activated carbon, the pitch particles aggregate and fly ash is embedded in the activated carbon. To increase SO2 gas removal performance, activated carbon was prepared by surface-treated fly ash and petroleum-based pitch. Carboxyl groups were introduced into the fly ash by malic acid treatment. The introduced carboxyl groups acted as an activation agent to create micropore around the fly ash, and created micropores were exposed to the fly ash outside of the activated carbon. The exposed fly ash increased removal amount of SO2 gas by a catalytic effect of the metal oxides. The SO2 gas removal performance improved by 34% because of the catalyst effect of the exposed fly ash and improvement in the micropore structure in the activated carbon.

Equine follicle stimulating hormone receptor (eFSHR) has a large extracellular domain and an intracellular domain containing approximately 10 phosphorylation sites within the G protein-coupled receptor. This study was conducted to analyze the function of phosphorylation sties at the eFSHR C-terminal region. We constructed a mutant of eFSHR, in which the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail was truncated at residue 641 (eFSHR-t641). This removed 10 potential phosphorylation sites from the C-terminal region of the intracellular loop. The eFSHR-wild type (eFSHR-wt) and eFSHR-t641 cDNAs were subcloned into the pCMV-ARMS1-PK2 expression vector. These plasmids were transfected into PathHunter CHO-K1 Parental cells expressing β-arrestin 2 enzyme acceptor fusion protein and analyzed for agonist-induced cAMP response. The cAMP response in cells expressing eFSHR-t641 was lower than the response in cells expressing eFSHR-wt. EC50 values of eFSHR-wt and eFSHR-t641 were 1079 ng/mL and 1834 ng/mL, respectively. eFSHR-t641 was approximately 0.58-fold compared with that of eFSHR-wt. The maximal response in eFSHR-wt and eFSHR-t641 was 24.7 nM and 16.7 nM, respectively. The Rmax value of phosphorylation sites in eFSHR-t641 was also decreased to approximately 68.4% of that in eFSHR-wt. The collective data implicate that the phosphorylation sites in the eFSHR C-terminal region have a pivotal role in signal transduction in PathHunter CHO-K1 cells, and indicate that β-arrestin is involved in coupling the activated receptors to the internalization system.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play essential roles in normal and pathophysiological function in liver. In steady state, HSCs contribute to retinoid storage, immune tolerance, and extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. Upon liver injury, they become activated and lead to morphological and functional changes. Studies have demonstrated that activation of HSCs by various stimuli such as toxins, microbial infection, or metabolic overload can promote the fibrotic changes in liver by production of ECM. Herein, we provide current knowledge about the basic characteristics of HSCs and the mechanism by which they are activated.

The salivary glands secrete saliva, which plays a role in the maintenance of a healthy oral environment. Under physiological conditions, saliva secretion within the acinar cells of the gland is regulated by stimulation of specific calcium (Ca2+) signaling mechanisms such as increases in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) via storeoperated Ca2+ entry, which involves components such as Orai1, transient receptor potential (TRP) canonical 1, stromal interaction molecules, and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptors (IP3Rs). Homer proteins are scaffold proteins that bind to G protein-coupled receptors, IP3Rs, ryanodine receptors, and TRP channels. However, their exact role in Ca2+ signaling in the salivary glands remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of Homer2 in Ca2+ signaling and saliva secretion in parotid gland acinar cells under physiological conditions. Deletion of Homer2 (Homer2−/−) markedly decreased the amplitude of [Ca2+]i oscillations via the stimulation of carbachol, which is physiologically concentrated in parotid acinar cells, whereas the frequency of [Ca2+]i oscillations showed no difference between wild-type and Homer2−/− mice. Homer2−/− mice also showed a significant decrease in amylase release by carbachol in the parotid gland in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Homer2 plays a critical role in maintaining [Ca2+]i concentration and secretion of saliva in mouse parotid gland acinar cells.