In this study, we investigated the effect of the extracts from Vaccinium oldhamii on cell proliferation and the regulatory mechanisms of cyclin D1 protein level in human cancer cells. The branch extracts from Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB) showed higher inhibitor effect against the cell growth than leave extracts (VOL) and fruit extracts (VOF) in human colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, non-small lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer cells. In addition, VOB decreased cyclin D1 level at both protein and mRNA level. MG132 treatment attenuated VOB-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation. A point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by VOB. In addition, the inhibition of nuclear export by leptomycin B (LMB) attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by VOB. But, the treatment of PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), LiCl (GSK3β inhibitor), LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) or BAY 11-7082 (IκK inhibitor) did not affect VOB-induced cyclin D1 degradation. In conclusion, VOB induced cyclin D1 degradation through redistribution of cyclin D1 from the nucleus to cytoplasm via T286 phosphorylation of cyclin D1, which resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation.

In this study, we elucidated anti-cancer activity and potential molecular mechanism of 70% ethanol extracts from Taxilli Ramulus (Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser) (TR-E70) against human colorectal cancer cells. Anti-cell proliferative effect of TR-E70 was evaluated by MTT assay. The effect of TR-E70 on the expression of cyclin D1 in the protein and mRNA level was evaluated by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. TR-E70 suppressed the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. Although TR-E70 decreased cyclin D1 expression in protein and mRNA level, decreased level of cyclin D1 protein by TR-E70 more dramatically occurred than that of cyclin D1 mRNA. Cyclin D1 downregulation by TR-E70 was attenuated in presence of MG132. In addition, TR-E70 phosphorylated threonine-286 (T286) of cyclin D1. TR-E70-mediated cyclin D1 degradation was blocked in presence of LiCl as an inhibitor GSK3β but not PD98059 as an ERK1/2 inhibitor and SB203580 as a p38 inhibitor. Our results suggest that TR-E70 may downregulate cyclin D1 as one of the potential anti-cancer targets through GSK3β-dependent cyclin D1 degradation. From these findings, TR-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemoprevention or therapeutic agents for human colorectal cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different light-emitting diode (LED) on the stress response of workers before and after a flower arrangement (FA) activity. Participants were 16 office workers who performed FA under 7 out of 8 LED lighting conditions: darkness, white (at correlated color temperature of 4,500 K), red, blue, green, magenta, cyan, and yellow; no FA is performed in the darkness condition. To identify significant differences among the different lighting conditions, the heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), heart rate variability (HRV) consisting of standard deviation of the normal-normal intervals (SDNN), total power (TP), ratio of the low and high frequency (LF/HF), and blood pressure were measured before and after FA. The salivary cortisol level was analyzed immediately after FA. The correlations among HR, HRV, and cortisol showed that the blue and green lights positively affected stress-responses and caused considerable reduction of stress. However, there was only a minor significant difference among other lighting colors, although individual lights may impact one or more parameters. These findings reflect that the methodologies and results of this study can be effectively used to achieve a highly active horticultural therapy with the constructive assistance of LED lighting colors.

Sexual dimorphism is the most conspicuous difference between the sexes. This study examines possible sexual dimorphism and the relative growth patterns of morphometric characteristics in the marine medaka, Oryzias dancena for their potential to help differentiate between males and females of this species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated by a non-linear regression method were L∞=30.2 mm, K=3.22/year, and τ0=-0.05. All 18 characteristics measured showed a difference between males and females from 70 days after hatching. Each of these characteristics were significantly different between sexes (ANCOVA, P<0.05), and the ratio of standard length between sexes showed that males were larger than females for all five morphometric measurements. Fin length measurements were taken for 21 distances of anal fin and 7 distances of dorsal fin between landmarks. There were all differences for all dorsal fin rays between the males and the females and there is significant difference in 70 days after their hatch when the sexual dimorphism is presented. The significant difference (P<0.05) in fin ray for male and female was more greatly seen as they grow. Male marine medaka showed more rapid growth than females, with longer length, dorsal fins and anal fins. Differences in these characteristics will be useful during experiments when it is necessary to differentiate between sexes of marine medaka.

We observed the osteological development of larval and juvenile red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) in order to generate data for the assessment of skeletal deformities and to inform phylogenetic systematics research. Larvae and juveniles were obtained from a aquafarm in Muan-gun, Jeolla-namdo Province, Korea. The average water temperature at the time of breeding was 23.0°C and average water salinity was 33.0 psu. Freshly hatched fish larvae had not undergone any ossification, but ossification of the parasphenoid bone, which forms the base of the cranium, occurred as the juveniles reached an average body length (BL) of 2.49 mm. At the same time, ossification of the preopercle and opercle occurred in the operculum, and ossification of the maxilla, which forms the upper jaw, and the dentary bones, which form the lower jaw, began. In addition, ossification of the vertebra occurred by formation of 7 vertebral centra and the neural spine in the abdominal vertebra. When the juveniles reached an average (BL) of 5.22 mm, ossification of the nasal, lateral ethmoid, and alisphenoid bones occurred in the cranium; ossification of the endopterygoid and metapterygoid bones began in the palatine region; and ossification of the hypohyal and interhyal bones occurred in the hyoid arch. At an average (BL) of 20.9 mm, ossification of the basisphenoid bone in the cranium and the suborbital bone in the orbital region occurred. Ossification of the vertebra then occurred by the formation of long pairs of ribs from the third to the ninth abdominal vertebrae, completing osteological development.

Background : Curcuma longa L., in the family Zingiberaceae, is distributed in tropical and/or sub-tropical regions mainly in India and China. This species is commonly called turmeric, powder is used as medicinal herbs and/or flavor enhancer. It has been cultivated in southern region mainly Jindo. However, it might be possible to extend cultivation regions due to rise in average temperature. In order to select superior lines based on agronomic characteristics, we analyzed multivariate and estimated selection effects from C. longa germplasm. Methods and Results : The C. longa germplasm were cultivated in an experimental field located in Eumseong, NIHHS, RDA. The harvested roots were investigated in agronomic characteristics included in yield and then considered its relationship among the 9 germplasm by multivariate analysis method. Results from principal component analysis (PCoA) showed that it represented 70.00% and 80.44% accumulated explanation from four and five principal compounds (PC). PCoA was conducted from 9 agronomic characteristics and then correlation coefficient has been showed by analysis between each main component value and agronomic characteristics. Value of the first PC was 2.25, 24.96% explanation of total dispersion, plant height, number of rootlet and weight of rootlet were correlated with a somewhat higher level as 0.41, 0.43 and 0.52. Value of the fifth PC was 0.94, 10.43% explanation of total dispersion, the number of shoots was correlated with a higher level as 0.87. Selection effects with outstanding candidate lines including higher lines were estimated at 126.13% in yield. Conclusion : These data on multivariate based on agronomic characteristics will be give us invaluable breeding information by selection of superior lines.

This study was conducted to develop a fast and efficient screening method to determine the quantity of fatty acid in peanut oil for high oleate breeding program. A total of 329 peanut samples were used in this study, 227 of which were considered in the calibration equation development and 102 were utilized for validation, using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). The NIRS equations for all the seven fatty acids had low standard error of calibration (SEC) values, while high R2 values of 0.983 and 0.991 were obtained for oleic and linoleic acids, respectively in the calibration equation. Furthermore, the predicted means of the two main fatty acids in the calibration equation were very similar to the means based on gas chromatography (GC) analysis, ranging from 36.7 to 77.1% for oleic acid and 7.1 to 42.7% for linoleic acid. Based on the standard error of prediction (SEP), bias values, and R 2 statistics, the NIRS fatty acid equations were accurately predicted the concentrations of oleic and linoleic acids of the validation sample set. These results suggest that NIRS equations of oleic and linoleic acid can be used as a rapid mass screening method for fatty acid content analysis in peanut breeding program.

Seed color is an important factor affecting physiological and developmental process in wheat. One of the plant pigments, anthocyanins are a group of flavonoid compounds well known as pigments responsible for blue, purple, red, or yellow coloration of plant tissues. In this study, we investigated the pigmentation of purple and yellow color seed according to wheat grain developmental stages. The contents of anthocyanin and chlorophyll in the purple and yellow seeds were measured. Chlorophyll contents were changed similarly in both purple and yellow color seed, and no significant difference was observed between them. In purple color seed, the content of anthocyanin was significantly induced compared with yellow color seed. The individual anthocyanin components were investigated by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Cyanidine-3-glucoside (C3G) and peonidine-3-glucoside (P3G) were detected as predominant anthocyanin in purple color wheat. To investigate whether structural genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis were involved in the trait differences between purple and yellow color seed, we examined the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes (CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR, ANS, UFGT) and MYB transcription factor in developing wheat grains by using qRT-PCR. This study indicates that the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes and MYB transcription factors correlate with anthocyanin levels of grain.

코르티코트로핀분비인자(Corticotropin-releasing factor)는 스트레스 반응에 관여하는 호르몬으로, 최근 스트레스가 탈모와 같은 피부질환에 영향을 미친다는 보고들이 많아지고 있다. 보고에 따르면, 사람 모낭 배양에서 코르티코트로핀분비인자는 길이생장을 억제하며, 모낭의 조기퇴행을 유도하고 모기질각질형성세포(hair matrix keratinocyte)의 세포사멸을 촉진시킨다. 본 연구에서는 코르티코트로핀분비인자가 모발성장과 모주기조절에 핵심적으로 역할하는 모유두세포에 미치는 영향에 대해 알아보고자 했다. 시상하부-뇌하수체-부신축의 주요 스트레스호르몬들인 코르티코트로핀분비인자, 부신피질자극호르몬, 그리고 코르티솔을 사람 모유두세포에 처리하였다. 흥미롭게도, 코르티코트로핀분비인자가 모발성장과 관련된 사이토카인(KGF, Wnt5a, TGFβ-2, Nexin)의 발현을 변화시키는 것을 관찰하였으며, 세포 내 cAMP의 수준을 증가시켰고, 수용체의 발현을 억제시켰다. 이러한 변화는 수용체의 길항제인 antalarmin과 astressin2B, 또는 PKA 억제제의 전처리로 인해 막을 수 있었다. 코르티코트로핀분비인자는 cAMP/PKA경로를 통해 POMC의 발현을 유도하는데, 사람 모유두세포에서도 이 호르몬의 처리가 POMC mRNA의 발현을 증가시키는 것을 확인할 수 있었으나 부신피질자극호르몬의 변화는 western blot으로는 확인할 수 없었다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로, 코르티코트로핀분비인자가 그 수용체를 통해 사람 모유두세포 내 모발성장 관련 사이토카인의 발현을 조절함을 확인하였으며, 이는 코르티코트로핀분비인자의 수용체 길항제가 스트레스성 탈모환자를 위한 치료제 혹은 화장품 소재로써 활용될 수 있음을 보여준다.

Gamma irradiation has been used as a tool for plant mutation breeding to select new cultivar with improved characteristics. Generally, the irradiation of seeds with high doses of gamma rays disturbs the synthesis of protein, hormone balance, and enzyme activity. And also, high dose of gamma rays to reduce plant height, number of tiller, and root length, although the effect of gamma-irradiated plants may depend on the species and cultivar or stress conditions. Biological effects of radiations can be divided into two types according to dose range and periods of exposure. Acute irradiation represents exposure to high-dose of irradiation over short period time, whereas the chronic irradiation is comprised of exposure to low doses of radiation over extended period of time. To compare the effects of acute and chronic exposure to ionizing radiation on two wheat cultivars (K4191 and Geumgangmil), we measured their germination rate, seedling height, and root length. In order to understand the influence of antioxidant-related genes and DNA repair-related genes, we used qRT-PCR methods to identify their expression levels. To study the behavior of a radiation-induced free radical, gamma-irradiated seeds were used for ESR spectroscopy. Plant growth pattern was showed positive correlation with ESR results. This study indicates that low level chronic radiation exposure is even more serious effects than short doses of high level radiation according to different wheat cultivar.

Platycodon grandiflorum, which is the only species in the genus Platycodon of the family Campanulaceae, is an herbaceous flowering perennial. P. grandiflorum is generally known as bellflower or balloon flower indicating its ornamental uses. It has also been traditionally used as a medicinal crop in East Asia, which is widely employed as an antiphlogistic, antitussive, and expectorant. However, marker-assisted selection and molecular breeding in P. grandiflorum has lagged behind other plants such as pepper and tomato because of the lack of genetic information and effective molecular markers. Transcriptome sequencing provides an effective way to obtain large amount of sequence data when there is no available genome sequence. In this study, we performed a transcriptome analysis in platycodons, which has not been attempted previously. We analyzed simple sequence repeats (SSRs) using RNA-seq data. Di-nucleotide motifs were the most abundant repeats (39% ~ 40%) followed by mono- (26% ~ 32%), tri- (25% ~ 31%), tetra- (1.5% ~ 1.9 %), penta- (0.3% ~ 1%) in three platycodon accessions. Based on the SNP information obtained from RNA-seq analysis, we developed 12 PCR-based markers in Platycodon. The number of alleles ranged from two to seven with the average PIC value of 0.373. These 12 markers were applied to 21 platycodon accessions and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The markers developed in this study could be introduced in molecular breeding program of platycodons. The SSR information obtained from RNA-seq analysis could be further utilized for developing genic-SSR markers in platycodons. Since platycodon is considered as an orphan crop, which has not been actively deployed for genetic study, the sequence information obtained from this study will contribute to further genetic improvements, genomic information and gene discovery in platycodon

Acanthopanax species is known commonly as Siberian ginseng, touch-me-not, devil’s shrub, prickly eleutherococc, eleutherococc and wild pepper. A diverse group of chemical compounds isolated from Acanthopanax species was named ‘eleutherosides’. Among eleutherosides, eleutherosides B and E were widely known in Acanthopanax species. Acanthopanax species are cultivated and grow wild in a various area of Korea and have a variety of pharmacological effects. But, there are a lot of difficulties on producing excellent Acanthopanax species, according to the cultivated method is different pharmacological ingredients. This study, therefore, analyzed eleutherosides B and E in A. divaricatus and A. koreanum by different fertilizer ratio using HPLC. We will be investigated a high content of eleutherosides B and E by different fertilizer ratio and suggest an efficient fertilizer ratio of A. divaticatus and A. koreanum. All samples of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum were collected at Yeongcheon Agricultural Technology & Extension Center, Yeongcheon, Korea. The sample was prepared by upper and lower parts. The fertilizer ratio are N-P-K(10.5-8.5-8.5: 50 kg/10a), 2N-P-K (21-8.5-8.5: 50 kg/10a), N-2P-K (10.5-17-8.5: 50 kg/10a), N-P-2K (10.5-8.5-17: 50 kg/10a), and 2N-2P-2K (21-17-17: 50 kg/10a), respectively. To analyze eleutherosides B and E, 5 g of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum was extracted with 50% MeOH (3 × 100 ml) by reflux and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 1 ml of MeOH. The resulting solution was used for HPLC analysis. HPLC separation of eleutherosides B and E for qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed using a reverse phase system. A Discovery®C18 (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm) column was used with a mobile phase that consisted of water and acetonitrile. A gradient solvent system of water and acetonitrile (90:10 to 70:30 for 20 min) was used for the elution program. UV detection was conducted at 350 nm. The injection volume was 10 μl and the flow rate was 1 ml/min. All injections were performed in triplicate. The different fertilizer ratio yielded total eleutherosides B and E contents of 4.417-6.905 and 3.652-7.227 mg/g in the upper and lower parts of A. divaricatus, respectively. In A. koreanum, the total eleutherosides B and E contents were 4.591-10.108 and 3.834-9.079 mg/g in the upper and lower parts, respectively. The best conditions to increase eleutherosides B and E content in A. divaricatus was determined to be with N-2P-K fertilizer ratio, on the other hand, in A. koreanum was 2N-2P-2K fertilizer ratio.

The change of quality characteristics with storage temperature (room (25°C), low (15°C) and cold (4°C) temperature) and period of unhulled foxtail millet (Setaria italica Beauv. cv. Samdame and Gyeongkwan 1), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L. cv. Hwanggeum-gijang and Manhongchal) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv. Hwanggeumchal and Donganme) were evaluated. The 1,000 grain weight, lightness, redness, yellowness and moisture content with storage temperature and period of unhulled foxtail millet, proso millet and sorghum were not showed difference. Germination percent and milling recovery of foxtail millet, proso millet and sorghum decreased with increasing storage temperature and period. Fat acidity of stored foxtail millet, proso millet and sorghum was increased with increasing storage period, and the higher temperature increased more. The results of this study show that the storage of foxtail millet, proso millet and sorghum at the low and cold temperature is better than the room temperature. Especially, in mind of the economics, the storage method is good low temperature than cold temperature.