Byung-Woo Kim

Induction of Apoptosis by Ethanol Extracts of Ganoderma lucidum in Human Gastric Carcinoma Cells

Ganoderma lucidum, a well-known medicinal mushroom, is highly valued and commonly used in Oriental medicine. Although recent experimental data has revealed the proapoptotic potency of G. lucidum extracts, the underlying mechanisms of this apoptotic activity have not yet been studied in detail. In the present study, the effects of ethanol extracts of G. lucidum (EGL) on the growth of an AGS human gastric carcinoma cell line were investigated. We found that EGL treatment resulted in a dose and time-dependent significant decrease in the viability of AGS cells. This decreased viability was caused by apoptotic cell death, with observed chromatin condensation and an accumulation of apoptotic fraction. EGL treatment induced the expression of death receptor-related proteins such as death receptor 5 and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, which further triggered the activation of caspase-8 and the cleavage of Bid. In addition, the increase in apoptosis that was induced by EGL was correlated with activation of caspase-9 and -3, downregulation of IAP family proteins such as XIAP and survivin, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Moreover the activity of Akt was downregulated in EGL-treated cells, and the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/ Akt inhibitor LY294002 sensitized the cells to EGL-induced apoptosis. The results indicated that EGL induces the apoptosis of AGS cells through a signaling cascade of death receptor-mediated extrinsic, as well as mitochondria-mediated intrinsic, caspase pathways which are associated with inactivation of the Akt signal pathway.

Description of the Male of Alloclubionoides ovatus(Arachnida: Araneae: Amaurobiidae) from Korea

The first known males of the spider Alloclubionoides ovatus (Paik, 1976) from Korea are described with detailed illustrations, spination of each leg and trichobothrium patterns. Males have a large conductor expanded curvedly `p`-shaped with thin membrane of distal end surrounded the linear embolus and slender embolus penetrating tegulum.

Two poorly known species of the spider genus Ambanus (Arachnida: Araneae: Amaurobiidae) in Korea

Two poorly known spider species of the genus Ambanus from Korea are revised with detailed illustrations, leg spination, trichobothrium patterns, and SEM photographs. Ambanus lunatus (Paik, 1976), previously misidentified in Korea as Ambanus spp., is redescribed with the first description of the male. The type species of the monotypic genus Alloclubionoides Paik, 1992 (Clubionidae), Alloclubionoides coreana, described only from the male holotype, is transferred to Ambanus with the first description. Furthermore, the female paratype of Coelotes paikwunensis and female specimens described as A. lunatus in Korea are in fact the females of A. coreana.

SPIDERS OF THE GENUS DRACONARIUS (ARANEAE, AMAUROBIIDAE) FROM KOREA

Abstract Three species of the genus Draconarius are recognized from Korea and all are described and illustrated. Coelotes kayasanensis Paik 1972 is transferred to Draconarius (D. kayasanensis new combination) based on the presence of a patellar apophysis, the hooked dorsal apophysis of the conductor in the male palp, the position of the spermathecal head, and the shape of the broadly rectangular genital opening of the female situated posteriorly near the epigastric furrow. The male of D. coreanus (Paik & Yaginuma 1969) and the female of D. kayasanensis are described for the first time. A neotype of D. coreanus is designated in the present study because of the loss of the holotype, limited range of the species, and the small population size. Draconarius hallaensis new species is described and is distinguished by its small size (less than 8 mm in total body length), large rounded retrolateral tibial apophysis, and median apophysis that has a distally divided thumb-shaped inner part.

A New Species of the Genus Galloisiana (Grylloblattodea, Grylloblattidae) from Korea

Abstract A new ice bug species, Galloisiana odaesanensis sp. nov., is described from Mt. Odae, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea. This species resembles the G. yuasai group in having a short body (less than 20 mm), distinct compound eyes, fewer than 35 antennomeres, and seven or eight cercomeres. The species is, however, clearly distinguished from the G. yuasai group by the following characters: slightly curved supra-anal plate with dull apical margin; rectangular pronotum that is straight on the posterior; 3rd antennomere 1.7 times as long as the 2nd. The distribution of the genus Galloisiana is discussed and a key for Galloisiana species is presented.

Separation of magnesium isotopes by chemical exchange with a polymer-bound azacrown compound

The chromatographic separation of magnesium isotopes was investigated by chemical exchange with the recently synthesized 1-oxa-4,7,10,13-tetraazacyclopentadecane-4,7,10,13-tetramerrifield peptide resin [N4O·4M]. The capacity of the novel N4O-4 Merrifield ion exchanger was 1.0 meq/g dry resin. The heavier isotope26Mg concentrated in the resin phase, while the lighter isotopes24Mg, and25Mg are enriched in the fluid phase. The maximum separation factors α, for25Mg−26Mg and24Mg−26Mg were found to be 1.048 and 1.022, respectively, at 20.0±0.02 °C with 2.0 M ammonium chloride solution as an eluent.

Two new species of the genus Alloclubionoides (Araneae: Amaurobiidae) in Korea

Two new species of the genus Alloclubionoides from two National Parks of Korea are described with detailed illustrations, leg spination, trichobothrium patterns and scanning electron micrographs. Alloclubionoides wolchulsanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Alloclubionoides spiders by a heart-shaped conductor with rounded base in the male palp and a large genital opening situated in the middle of the atrium, and a broadly cylinder-like copulatory duct in female. Alloclubionoides jirisanensis sp. nov. resembles Alloclubionoides napolovi (Ovtchinnikov, 1999) but can be distinguished from it by the ‘Y’-shaped conductor dorsal apophysis and wound distal part of conductor.

Notes on four corinnid species from Korea, with the description of Trachelas joopili new species (Arachnida: Araneae: Corinnidae)

Four species and two genera of corinnid spiders are recognized from Korea and are described and illustrated. Castianeira shaxianensis Gong, 1983 has previously been synonymized with C. paikdoensis Kim, 1997 and is misidentified with C. flavimaculata Hu, Song and Zheng, 1985 in Korea. Trachelas acuminus (Zhu and An, 1988) is synonymized with Trachelas coreanus Paik, 1991 based on the copualtory duct, the position of the spermatheca and the shape of the circular genital opening of the female situated posteriorly near the epigastric furrow. Trachelas joopili, a new species, is described and is distinguished by the largely triangular apophysis and slender coiled modified cymbium at the basal and distal part, a large horn‐shaped tibial apophysis, and slender linear embolus, twice coiled along with slender distal cymbium. A map showing the distribution of these species and a key to the species of two genera (Castianeira and Trachelas) from Korea are provided.

Note on Drassyllus shaanxiensis of Ground Gnaphosid Spiders(Arachnida: Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in Korea

A ground gnaphosid spider, Drassyllus shaanxiensis Platnick and Song, 1986 is reported for the first time in Korea. This species is described with detailed illustrations, leg spination, trichobothrium patterns, and SEM photographs of male palpal organ and female epigynum.

A review of the spider genus Asiacoelotes (Arachnida: Araneae: Amaurobiidae) in Korea

Abstract Two spider species of the genus Asiacoelotes collected from various areas of South Korea are reviewed with spination on each leg, detailed illustrations including trichobothrium patterns and SEM photographs of male palpal organs and female epigynum. These two species, A. songminjae (Paik & Yaginuma, 1969) and A. insidiosus (L. Koch, 1878), have been confused in Korea and Japan because they were previously incompletely described. A. songminjae is redescribed from the neotype and is here synonymized with A. tropidosatus (Wang & Zhu, 1991). A. insidiosus is recorded for the first time in Korea.