The Red-spotted Apollo Butterfly (Parnassius bremeri ) is member of Snow Apollo Butterfly in Genus Parnassius which has been designated as the most endangered insect around the world and recorded in IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals and Appendix II in CITES. The lack of distributional information of Parnassius bremeri is one of the main problems when trying to assess the threats to and planning conservation strategies for this endangered species. The pheromone method made it easier to detect local populations of the species, not to disturb the habitat and can be used by providing a useful tool for conservation research. Sampling by breeding captivity in Holoce Ecosystem Conservation Research Institution (HECRI) was used. Each of 3 individuals male, mated and unmated female, end of the abdomen tissue and abdominal tissue containing the sphragis were cut. The pheromone was extracted as method presented by Hernández-Roldán et al. (2014). Among pheromone fatty alcohol to the (Z, Z, Z) -9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol and Eicosane classified as hydrocarbon of unmated female was detected higher rate than mated female. Two pheromone can be helpful to attract males in potential population.

The pheromone biosynthesis in Plutella xylostella is more active in the scotophase than in the photophase, which suggests that there may be changes of gene expression in the pheromone glands. To identify genes contributing to change in pheromone production, we analyzed transcriptomes from pheromone glands of both decapitated females in the photophase and normal ones in the scotophase. Comparative analysis were performed with transcriptomes of pheromone glands from non-decapitated (PG) females and decapitated ones for identification and expression of putative genes associated with pheromone biosynthesis pathway. Deep sequencing for mRNAs in the pheromone gland yielded approximately 7.5Gb and totally 17265 transcript were constructed under a homology cutoff of 10-6 Evalue. Genes putatively involved in pheromone biosynthesis were identified such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase, acetyl-CoAdehydrogenase, fatty acid synthase (FAS), desaturases (Δ9 and Δ 11) and fatty acid reductases (FAR) including pgFAR, alcohol oxidase, aldehyde oxidase and aldehyde reductase, etc. Expression of 6 signal genes involving in pheromone biosynthesis such as acyl-CoA desaturase, FAR, PBAN receptor, fatty acid transporter, acyl-CoA binding protein did not exhibited ant significant different in both transcriptomes. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that expressions of FAS, Δ11 desaturase and pgFAR were higher in PG than that in ΔPG. Based on results, Δ11 desaturase and pgFAR may have a crucial role in sex pheromone biosynthesis of P. xylostella.

Species-specific sex pheromones play an important role in mediating sexual behavior and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) stimulates the pheromone production. Previously, we identified PBAN and PBAN receptor gene and reported the functionality of these genes via heterologous expression and RNAi (BBA-general subjects, 2005 and IBMB, 2011). To find the differences in the transcriptional level between scotophase and photophase in the pheromone gland of P. xylostella, total RNA was extracted from the adults and transcriptomes of the pheromone glands were analyzed by RNA-seq. The genes related to the pheromone biosynthesis were identified and the putative pathway of pheromone biosynthesis was predicted. Compared to the expression level of pheromonebiosynthesis-related genes between scotophase and photophase, the expression of fatty acid reductase (FAR) exhibited the significant difference in the putative pheromone biosynthesis pathway, suggesting that FAR is the key enzyme regulating the pheromone biosynthesis.

The HMG box containing protein (HBP) has a high mobility group domain and involved in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of tissues. We screened HBP2 in glioblastoma using Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) and isolated human spermatogonial stem cell‐like cells (hSSC‐like cells) derived from patients of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Expression of HBP2 was analyzed by RT‐PCR in undifferentiated stem cells (human Embryonic Stem Cells, hSSC‐like cells 2P) and spontaneous differentiated stem cells (hSSC‐like cells 4P). It was overexpressed in hESC and hSSC‐like cells 2P but not in hSSC‐like cells 4P. Also, the expression level of HBP2 was downregulated in colon tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. Specifically in synchronized WI‐38 cells, HBP2 was highly upregulated until the G1 phase of the cell cycle and gradually decreased during the S phase. Our results suggest that HBP2 was downregulated during the spontaneous differentiation of hSSC‐like cells. HBP2 was differently expressed in colon tissues and was related to G1‐progression in WI‐38 cells. It may play a role in the maintenance of an undifferentiated hSSC‐like cell state and transits from G1 to S in WI‐38 cells. This research was important that it identified a biomarker for an undifferentiated state of hSSC‐like cells and characterized its involvement to arrest during cell cycle in colon cancer.

Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae), a perennial plant, has been used as a low-calorie sweetener and is being developed as a therapeutic agent for diabetes, hypertension, myocardial diseases, and microbial infections. Despite the common use of its leaves and stem, the bioavailability of the components present in S. rebaudiana flowers, when used as ingredients of cosmetics, has not been well investigated. Herein, we investigated the antioxidative and antimelanogenic effects of an aqueous extract of S. rebaudiana flowers (Stevia-F). Total flavonoid and phenolic content in Stevia-F were determined to be 8.64 ± 0.23 ㎎ of quercetin equivalents/100 g and 631.5 ± 2.01 ㎎ of gallic acid equivalents/100 g, respectively. The IC50 values of Stevia-F for reducing power, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate radical, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide scavenging activities were 5541.96, 131.39, 466.34, and 10.44 ㎍/mL, respectively. Stevia-F showed inhibitory effects on the tyrosinase (IC50 = 134.74 ㎍/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 114.81 ㎍/mL) activities. No significant cytotoxicity of Stevia-F was observed in B16F10 cells, treated with up to 100 ㎍/mL of the extract for 24 and 48 h (p > 0.05). Stevia-F (1–100 ㎍/mL) suppressed α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced melanin production in B16F10 cells (p < 0.05) and also inhibited the cellular tyrosinase activity (p < 0.05). Overall, our results show that Stevia-F possesses potential for inhibiting tyrosinase and α-glucosidase activities and has significant antioxidant capacity. The antimelanogenic potential of Stevia-F should extend the usage of S. rebaudiana flowers in the development of skinwhitening products.

Angelica tenuissima, also known as Ligusticum tenuissimum, is classified as a food-related plant and has been used as traditional medicines treating headache and anemia in Asia. However, its anti-melanogenic effect has not been reported in detail. When the extract of Angelica tenuissima (ATE) was prepared by the extraction with 70% EtOH at 80°C (final yield = 22%), the contents of decursin and Z-ligustilide in ATE were determined 0.06% and 8.43%, respectively. Total flavonoid and phenolic content in mg ATE were 5.52±0.07 ㎍ quercetin equivalents and 237.27±13.24 ㎍ gallic acid equivalents, respectively. Antioxidant capacity of ATE determined by DPPH and ABTS assay was increased with a dose dependent manner up to 1000 ㎍/㎖. The amount of melanin synthesis followed by α-melanocyte stimulating hormone on B16F10 cells were significantly reduced in the presence of ATE (250 to 1000 ㎍/㎖, p<0.05). ATE (125 to 1000 ㎍/㎖, p<0.05) suppressed the tyrosinase activity but did not show any significant effect on α-glucosidase activity at the same condition. Taken together, ATE possesses tyrosinase inhibitory potential with significant antioxidant capacities. These effects of ATE might be involved in suppression of melanin synthesis, at least, in B16F10 cells. The anti-melanogenic potential of ATE will provide an insight into developing a new skin whitening product.