Molecular Characterization of Ca_(∨)2.3 in Rat Trigemical Ganglion Neurons

Zhi Fang,Kim, Joong-Soo,Oh, Seog-Bae The Korean Academy of Oral Biology 2006 International Journal of Oral Biology Vol.31 No.2

R-type(Ca_(∨)2.3) calcium channel contributes to pain sensation in peripheral sensory neurons. Six isoforms of Ca_(∨)2.3 that result from combinations of presence or delection of three inserts(inserts Ⅰ and insert in the Ⅱ-Ⅲ loop, and insert Ⅲ in N-terminal regions) have been demonstrated to be present in different mammalian tissues. However, the molecular basis of Ca_(∨)2.3 in trigeminal ganglion(TG) neurons is not known. In the present study, we determined which isoforms of Ca_(∨)2.3 are expressed in rat TG neurons using the RT-PCR analysis. Whole tissue RT-PCR analyses revealed that only two isoforms, Ca_(∨)2.3a and Ca_(∨)2.3e, were present in TG neurons. From single-cell RT-PCR, we found that Ca_(∨)2.3e rather than Ca_(∨)2.3a was the major isoform expressed in TG neurons, and Ca_(∨)2.3e was preferentially detected in small-sized neurons that express nociceptive marker, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1(TRPV1). Our results suggest that Ca_(∨)2.3e in trigeminal neurons may be a potential target for the pain treatment.

Diversity of Endophytic Fungi from Different Verticillium-Wilt-Resistant Gossypium hirsutum and Evaluation of Antifungal Activity Against Verticillium dahliae In Vitro

( Zhi Fang Li ),( Ling Fei Wang ),( Zi Li Feng ),( Li Hong Zhao ),( Yong Qiang Shi ),( He Qin Zhu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2014 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.24 No.9

Cotton plants were sampled and ranked according to their resistance to Verticillium wilt. In total, 642 endophytic fungi isolates representing 27 genera were recovered from Gossypium hirsutum root, stem, and leaf tissues, but were not uniformly distributed. More endophytic fungi appeared in the leaf (391) compared with the root (140) and stem (111) sections. However, no significant difference in the abundance of isolated endophytes was found among resistant cotton varieties. Alternaria exhibited the highest colonization frequency (7.9%), followed by Acremonium (6.6%) and Penicillium (4.8%). Unlike tolerant varieties, resistant and susceptible ones had similar endophytic fungal population compositions. In three Verticillium-wilt-resistant cotton varieties, fungal endophytes from the genus Alternaria were most frequently isolated, followed by Gibberella and Penicillium. The maximum concentration of dominant endophytic fungi was observed in leaf tissues (0.1797). The evenness of stem tissue endophytic communities (0.702) was comparatively more uniform than the other two tissues. Eighty endophytic fungi selected from 27 genera were evaluated for their inhibition activity against highly virulent Verticillium dahliae isolate Vd080 in vitro. Thirty-nine isolates exhibited fungistasis against the pathogen at varying degrees. Seven species, having high growth inhibition rates (≥75%), exhibited strong antifungal activity against V. dahliae. The antifungal activity of both volatile and nonvolatile metabolites was also investigated. The nonvolatile substances produced by CEF-818 (Penicillium simplicissimum), CEF-325 (Fusarium solani), CEF-714 (Leptosphaeria sp.), and CEF-642 (Talaromyces flavus) completely inhibited V. dahliae growth. These findings deepen our understanding of cotton-endophyte interactions and provide a platform for screening G. hirsutum endophytes with biocontrol potential.

R-type Calcium Channel Isoform in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Fang, Zhi,Hwang, Jae-Hong,Kim, Joong-Soo,Jung, Sung-Jun,Oh, Seog-Bae The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2010 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.14 No.1

R-type $Ca_v2.3$ high voltage-activated $Ca^{2+}$ channels in peripheral sensory neurons contribute to pain transmission. Recently we have demonstrated that, among the six $Ca_v2.3$ isoforms ($Ca_v2.3a{\sim}Ca_v2.3e$), the $Ca_v2.3e$ isoform is primarily expressed in trigeminal ganglion (TG) nociceptive neurons. In the present study, we further investigated expression patterns of $Ca_v2.3$ isoforms in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. As in TG neurons, whole tissue RT-PCR analyses revealed the presence of two isoforms, $Ca_v2.3a$ and $Ca_v2.3e$, in DRG neurons. Single-cell RT-PCR detected the expression of $Ca_v2.3e$ mRNA in 20% (n=14/70) of DRG neurons, relative to $Ca_v2.3a$ expression in 2.8% (n=2/70) of DRG neurons. $Ca_v2.3e$ mRNA was mainly detected in small-sized neurons (n=12/14), but in only a few medium-sized neurons (n=2/14) and not in large-sized neurons, indicating the prominence of $Ca_v2.3e$ in nociceptive DRG neurons. Moreover, $Ca_v2.3e$ was preferentially expressed in tyrosine-kinase A (trkA)-positive, isolectin B4 (IB4)-negative and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-positive neurons. These results suggest that $Ca_v2.3e$ may be the main R-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel isoform in nociceptive DRG neurons and thereby a potential target for pain treatment, not only in the trigeminal system but also in the spinal system.

GUI Reliability Assessment based on Bayesian Network and Structural Profile

Zhi-Fang Yang,Zhong-Xing Yu,Bei-Bei Yin,Cheng-Gang Bai 보안공학연구지원센터(IJSIP) 2015 International Journal of Signal Processing, Image Vol.8 No.1

Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) is becoming increasingly important in the software field as it builds a friendly way between users and software through continuous interactions. A well-developed GUI is therefore an important factor of software quality. In particular, the reliability of GUIs is still on the way of development. Existing software reliability assessment techniques attempt to statistically describe the software testing process and predict the reliability of the system. However, those techniques are not suitable for GUI as quality of GUI is challenged by immense number of event interactions and complex structural profile etc. Furthermore, GUI has a wealth of information about GUI architecture, components, windows and their interactions with each other, which can be adopted to guide the testing process and establish confidence assessment of GUI. In this paper, a Bayesian network model of GUI reliability is introduced to discuss the reliability model topology and its issues encountered in the modeling process. A case is also presented to verify the validity of the model during the GUI reliability assessment process.

Molecular Basis of Ca_v2.3 Calcium Channels in Rat Nociceptive Neurons

Fang, Zhi,Park, Chul-Kyu,Li, Hai Ying,Kim, Hyun Yeong,Park, Seong-Hae,Jung, Sung Jun,Kim, Joong Soo,Monteil, Arnaud,Oh, Seog Bae,Miller, Richard J. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bi 2007 The Journal of biological chemistry Vol.282 No.7

<P>Cav2.3 calcium channels play an important role in pain transmission in peripheral sensory neurons. Six Cav2.3 isoforms resulting from different combinations of three inserts (inserts I and II in the II-III loop and insert III in the carboxyl-terminal region) have been identified in different mammalian tissues. To date, however, Cav2.3 isoforms unique to primary sensory neurons have not been identified. In this study, we determined Cav2.3 isoforms expressed in the rat trigeminal ganglion neurons. Whole tissue reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analyses revealed that only two isoforms, Cav2.3a and Cav2.3e, are present in TG neurons. Using single cell RT-PCR, we found that Cav2.3e is the major isoform, whereas Cav2.3e expression is highly restricted to small (<16 μm) isolectin B4-negative and tyrosine kinase A-positive neurons. Cav2.3e was also preferentially detected in neurons expressing the nociceptive marker, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1. Single cell RT-PCR following calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp recordings provided evidence of an association between an R-type calcium channel component and Cav2.3e expression. Our results suggest that Cav2.3e in sensory neurons may be a potential target for the treatment of pain.</P>

Overexpression of ICE1, a Regulator of Cold-Induced Transcriptome, Confers Cold Tolerance to Transgenic Zoysia japonica

Zhi-Fang Zuo,강홍규,박미영,정하나,선현진,양대화,이용억,송필순,이효연 한국식물학회 2019 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.62 No.2

Numerous genes are known to regulate the coldresponse in plants. The ICE1 gene is a regulator of coldinducedtranscriptome playing an important role in coldtolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, the Arabidopsis ICE1gene was cloned and transformed into A. thaliana and Koreanlawn grass (Zoysia japonica) respectively, under the control of amaize ubiquitin promoter. The transgenic Arabidopsis plantsshowed higher survival rate, less MDA content, and higherlevels of proline, SOD, and POD after freezing treatment. In thecase of Z. japonica, 43 transgenic plants were produced byAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. Southern blot analysisshowed that 9 transgenic lines selected by phosphinothricin(PPT) were transformed with ICE1 independently. Coldtreatment significantly induced the transcripts abundant inthe up-regulated ZjCBF and ZjDREB1 in transgenic linesOE-18 and OE-19. Meanwhile, transgenic plants showedincreased proline level but decreased MDA content and withhigher activities of SOD and POD compared with wild typeunder cold stress. These results suggest that overexpressionof the ICE1 gene could improve the antioxidative capacity inconferring cold tolerance to the transgenic zoysiagrassplants.

In Situ Localisation of Superoxide Generated in Leaves of Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Shott under Various Stresses

Zhi-Fang Lin,Nan Liu,Gui-Zhu Lin,Chang-Lian Peng 한국식물학회 2009 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.52 No.4

Leaf discs of Alocasia macrorrhiza were treated with various stress factors, including two photo-oxidants, methyl viologen (MV) or riboflavin (RB); three pollutants, sodium bisulphite (NaHSO3), or the heavy metals lead or cadmium; or an osmotic medium, polyethylene glycol 6000. The in situ localisation sites for O2 − generation were identified using specific dye nitro blue tetrazolium as a probe. The level of superoxide production was determined by scanning the blue-stained formazan area and was defined as the percentage of pixels from the stained portion versus the total number of pixels in the entire leaf disc area. All stress factors induced the generation of O2 − in a time- or concentration-dependent pattern. Although superoxide production also was enhanced by longer time periods in untreated discs (control), the degree to which this occurred was less than that measured in leaves treated with either MV or RB. Generation sites were primarily found in the chloroplasts of stomatal guard cells and in the plasma membrane of the epidermis and mesophyll cells, indicating that they were most responsive to stress conditions. Nevertheless, the site of O2 − generation varied among these stress factors.

Angelica sinensis Supercritical Fluid CO2 Extract Attenuates D-Galactose-Induced Liver and Kidney Impairment in Mice by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Zhi-Zhun Mo,Zhi-Xiu Lin,ZiRen Su,Lin Zheng,Hui-Lin Li,JianHui Xie,Yan-Fang Xian,Tie-Gang Yi,Shui-Qing Huang,Jian-Ping Chen 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.9

Angelica sinensis (AS, Danggui in Chinese) is an important herbal component of various traditional formulae for the management of asthenia and its tonic effects. Although AS has been shown to ameliorate cognitive damage and nerve toxicity in D-galactose (D-gal)-elicited senescent mice brain, its effects on liver and kidney injury have not yet been explored. In this work, mice were subjected to hypodermic injection with D-gal (200 mg/kg) and orally gavaged with AS (20, 40, or 80 mg/kg) once a day for 8 successive weeks. Results revealed that AS significantly improved liver and kidney function as assessed by organ index and functional parameters. In addition, AS pretreatment effectively ameliorated the histological deterioration. AS attenuated the MDA level and markedly enhanced the activities and gene expressions of antioxidative enzymes, namely Cu, Zn-SOD, CAT, and GPx. Furthermore, AS markedly inhibited the D-gal-mediated increment of expressions of inflammatory cytokines iNOS, COX-2, IκBα, p-IκBα, and p65 and promoted the IκBα expression level in both hepatic and renal tissues. In sum, AS pretreatment could effectively guard the liver and kidney of mice from D-gal-induced injury, and the underlying mechanism was deemed to be intimately related to attenuating oxidative response and inflammatory stress.

The Relationship Between Culture And Design

Zhi-fang Qin,Ya-jun Lee 한국디자인지식학회 2006 디자인지식저널 Vol.2 No.-

R-type Calcium Channel Isoform in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Zhi Fang,황재홍,김종수,정성준,오석배 대한약리학회 2010 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.14 No.1

R-type Cav2.3 high voltage-activated Ca2+ channels in peripheral sensory neurons contribute to pain transmission. Recently we have demonstrated that, among the six Cav2.3 isoforms (Cav2.3a∼Cav2.3e), the Cav2.3e isoform is primarily expressed in trigeminal ganglion (TG) nociceptive neurons. In the present study, we further investigated expression patterns of Cav2.3 isoforms in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. As in TG neurons, whole tissue RT-PCR analyses revealed the presence of two isoforms, Cav2.3a and Cav2.3e, in DRG neurons. Single-cell RT-PCR detected the expression of Cav2.3e mRNA in 20% (n=14/70) of DRG neurons, relative to Cav2.3a expression in 2.8% (n=2/70) of DRG neurons. Cav2.3e mRNA was mainly detected in small-sized neurons (n=12/14), but in only a few medium-sized neurons (n=2/14) and not in large-sized neurons, indicating the prominence of Cav2.3e in nociceptive DRG neurons. Moreover, Cav2.3e was preferentially expressed in tyrosine-kinase A (trkA)-positive, isolectin B4 (IB4)-negative and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-positive neurons. These results suggest that Cav2.3e may be the main R-type Ca2+ channel isoform in nociceptive DRG neurons and thereby a potential target for pain treatment, not only in the trigeminal system but also in the spinal system.