Epigenetic modification dependent DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) play an important role in tissue- and stage-specific gene regulation and normal mammalian development. In this study, we show that DNMTs are expressed at different levels during hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation to proerythrocytes. DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B were highly expressed at day 7 after differentiation. We used specific siRNA as a tool to probe the relationship between the expression of DNMTs and erythropoietic differentiation. When introduced siRNA of DMNT1 and DMNT3b in human CD34+ cells, these more differentiated into erythrocytes. This was confirmed by glycophorin A (GPA) positive cell analysis and globin gene expression. GPA+ cells increased up to 20～30%, and γ- and ε-globin genes increased in siRNA transfected cells. Therefore, our data suggest that suppression of DNA methylation can affect positively differentiation of HSC and may contribute to expression of erythrocyte lineage genes including GPA and globins.

The present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of girdling on the quality and harvest date of the 'Shigyoku' grapes. Among girdled vines, the interval from full bloom to harvest date was 77 days; this was as much as seven days shorter in vines receiving a 20% girdling treatment. With regards to fruit characteristics, significant differences were observed in cluster length, berry number, and berry weight in vines that received girdling treatments. There were also significant differences in cluster weight; 468.2 g, 491.6 g and 504.9 g in the control group, 10% girdling group, and 20% girdling group, respectively. Thus, the use of girdling treatments is an effective approach to increasing cluster weight by 5% in the 10% girdling treatment and 8% in the 20% girdling treatment. The 10% girdling treatment showed significant difference in terms of titrable acidity; in fact, the overall titrable acidity was relatively high among all the girdling treatments. The concentration of anthocyanin increased in 20% girdling treatment, but there were no significant differences in anthocyanin concentration among girdling treatments. Berry color developed rapidly in vines that received girdling treatment.