The present study investigated an ethanol extract (HS0608) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Curcumalongae radix, Phellinus linteus, and Scutellariae radix for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced by amyloid βprotein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to10µM Aβ (25-35) for 36h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 1-50㎍/㎖, HS0608 inhibited neuronal death, elevation of intra-cellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Aβ (25-35) in primary cul-tures of rat cortical neurons. Memory loss induced by intracerebroventricular injection of ICR mice with 15 nmol Aβ (25-35) wasinhibited by chronic treatment with HS0608 (25, 50 and 100㎎/㎏, p.o. for 7 days) as measured by a passive avoidance test. Fromthese results, we suggest that the antidementia effect of HS0608 is due to its neuroprotective effect against Aβ (25-35)-inducedneurotoxicity and that HS0608 may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Rapid extension of genomic database leads to the remarkable advance of functional genomics. This study proposes a novel methodology of functional analysis using 5-methyltrytophan (5 MT) mutant together with their 2-DE analysis and public microarray database. A total of 24 proteins was changed in 5 MT mutant and four remarkably different expressed proteins were identified. Among them, three spots were converted to Affymetrix probe. A total of 155 microarray samples from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) in NCBI was retrieved and followed by constructing gene co-expression networks over a broad range of biological issues through Self-Organising Tree Algorithm. Three co-expressing gene clusters were retrieved and each functional categorization with differential expression pattern was exhibited from 5 MT resistance mutant rice. It was indicated new co-expression networks in the mutant. This study suggests that on investigating possibility which correspond 2-DE to microarray database with their full potential.

The C3HC4 zinc RING finger proteins seem to be a family of protein-protein interactions. Little is information regarding the role of the C3HC4 zinc RING finger proteins in rice plant. We have attempted to assess their genome localization, phylogenetic relationship and expression patterns of members via in silico analysis as well as semi-quantitative RT-PCR. A total of 132 genes encoding C3HC4 zinc RING finger proteins appear to be distributed over 12 rice chromosomes, reflecting evolutionary dynamics of the rice genome, e.g. whole genome duplication and tandem duplications. A genome-wide dataset including 155 gene expression omnibus sample (GSM) plates evidenced a high degree of functional specialization of the rice C3HC4 zinc RING finger proteins, especially during developmental stages and against abiotic stresses. We have retrieved co-expression genes with each of the rice C3HC4 zinc RING finger proteins, probably providing some clues on specialized functions of individual genes. Expression patterns of 13 co-expression genes with one gene encoding C3HC4 zinc RING finger protein (Os04g51400) against salt and dehydration stresses were evaluated in crown tissues and leaf tissues, evidencing highly similar patterns among members. These findings might provide clues to shed further light on comprehensive functions of C3HC4 zinc RING finger proteins.

Previously, the wheat non-specific lipid transfer proteins (TaLTP), members of a small multigene family, appear to show a complex pattern of expression regulation. For further assessment of expression diversity of the TaLTP genes, we have attempted to evaluate their expression profiles of responses to abiotic stresses via the semi-quantitative RT-PCR method. The expression profiles revealed that the TaLTP genes in group A evidenced highly similar (but not identical) responses against abiotic stresses, whereas much differential expression pattern among genes in each group. The four promoters of TaLTP1, TaLTP7, and TaLTP10 of group A and TaLTP3 of group B were fused to a GUS reporter gene and the recombinant genes were introduced into Arabidopsis. The promoters of TaLTP1, TaLTP7 and TaLTP10 of group A, drove strong but various GUS expression in cotyledons, hypocotyls, epidemic and sub-epidemic cells of young shoots and leaves, floral organs as well as siliques. By contrast, the promoter of TaLTP3 just directed trace expression in cotyledons, young emerged leaves and epidemic cells of flower ovaries. The promoter of TaLTP1 directed the expression in root system whereas the promoters of TaLTP1 and TaLTP10 showed some degree of expression during seed development. The expression diversity of TaLTP genes suggests their multiple physiological functions, evidencing subfunctionalization over evolutionary time.

Most gene functions of biochemical pathways were still unexplored, especially interactions of constituent genes. We attempted to uncover interaction network of biochemical pathways via a survey of co-expression clusters, which we have constructed from the NCBI GEO database, and then to define key genes of networks with expression correlations between members. Top 20 pathways with high numbers of individual genes were retrieved from 178 pathways. One pathway, ‘removal of superoxide radicals’ was excluded for further study, evidencing somewhat low degree (16%, 13 out of 79 genes) of mapped probes. We employed expression correlations of random pairs of 1,000 randomly selected genes for determining a cut off r-value for gene networks. Numbers of interactions with a significant expression correlation values between members might evidence that “hub genes” play key roles among a given pathway genes. For example most interactive pathway, ‘tRNA charging pathway’, that is composed of 60 probes corresponding to genes showed 264 positive significant interactions between members of 47 genes while 5 negative interactions between members of 7 genes., evidencing ‘Os10g26050’ (methionyl-tRNA synthetase) gene with highest interactions is suggestive of a hub gene. These findings might provide some clues on evolutionary fate of co-expression genes including each of biochemical pathways, e.g. convergent evolution

When performing steering by an autopilot (automatic steering gear), a sensitivity adjustment is mainly determined by P value and D value. These values differ in the optimal combination by model of ship and external forces. This research was carried out simulation case studies and examined movement of Pure Car Carrier, which easily received ship by wind pressure influence in low speed We investigated the relation of horizontal migration(transfer) of ship's body and P-D value. Based on it, four parameters of P-D at approaching berth could be suggested Hence there were suggestions of parameters; Distance to maximum lee point, Time to maximum lee point, Time to return to original course and Time to 300th second. The correlation of these parameters and P-D value were also considered. As a result, we think that this index, like formulated P-D, leads to an easy and safe navigation by utilizing these indices.