• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.648-655
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• 2010

This study is the first comprehensive report on the molecular cloning, structural characterization, sequence comparison between wild and mutant types, copy number in the genome, expression features and activities of a gene encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) in Korean lawn grass ($Zoysia$ $japonica$). The full length cDNA of the EPSPS from Korean lawn grass ($zj$EPSPS) obtained from a 3' and 5' RACE method was 1540 bp, containing a 1176 bp ORF, a 144 bp leader sequence (5' UTR) and a 220 bp 3' UTR, which was eventually decoded 391 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 41.74 kDa. The Southern blot detection of the $zj$EPSPS showed that the gene exists as a single copy in the Korean lawn grass genome. Sequence comparison of the $zj$EPSPS gene demonstrated that the glyphosate-tolerant mutant (GT) having a Pro-53 to Ser substitution in the gene seems to have a preferred binding activity of the enzyme to phosphoenol pyruvate(PEP) over glyphosate, which allows the continuous synthesis of aromatic amino acids in the shikimate pathway. From the Northern blotting analysis, the $zj$EPSPS was found to be highly expressed, with continuous increase until 36 hours after 0.5% glyphosate treatment in both wild and mutant samples, but 1.5-fold higher EPSP synthase activity was observed in the tolerant mutant when exposed to the glyphosate treatment. The molecular information of the $zj$EPSPS gene obtained from this study needs to be further dissected to be more effectively applied to the development of gene-specific DNA markers and zoysiagrass cultivars; nevertheless, the glyphosate-tolerant mutant having the featured $zj$EPSPS gene can be provided to turfgrass managers for weed problems with timely adoptable management options.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary quercetin on feed utilization, blood parameters, and meat quality of Korean native goats. Totally sixteen Korean native goats, 15 kg of average BW aged at 7 months, were employed in the experiment with eight replicates per treatment. One group was fed quercetin at 200 mg/kg level and the other group was fed none as control for 15 days. Dietary inclusion of quercetin did not affect feed intake, water intake, and the amount of urine and feces. Digestibilities of crude fat, NDF, and ADF for 5 days were not affected, but digestibility of crude protein was increased by the dietary inclusion of qurecetin (P<0.05). Quercetin increased rumen total VFA, propionate, and butyrate significantly (P<0.05). Acetate/propionate ratio (A/P) in the quercetin treated group was significantly higher than control. 2,2-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) ($ABTS^+$) reducing activity of the loin from goat fed quercetin was higher than that of control. Sensory analysis conducted at 24 hr post mortem revealed that color, texture, and overall acceptability of the loin from goat fed quercetin were significantly preferred to that of control. Feeding quercetin did not influence pH, water holding capacity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, TBARS value, and fatty acid composition of the loin significantly. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of quercetin increased the digestibility of crude protein, rumen total VFA, propionate, butyrate, and A/P ratio. In addition the higher color and texture preference and ABTS+reducing activity of loin indicating some beneficial effect on enhancement of meat qualityin goats.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.567-574
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• 2011

In this work, the major flavonoid content of citrus peel ethanol extract and the changes in the serum lipid and body fat of high-fat-diet-fed rats were examined. The subjects were divided into four groups: the normal, control, O1 (0.1% citrus peel ethanol extract), and O5 (0.5% citrus peel ethanol extract) groups. The experimental groups (O1 and O5) were fed a high-fat diet mixed with 0.1 and 0.5% citrus peel ethanol extract, respectively, for 10 weeks. The results of the analysis showed that the main ingredients of the flavonoid in the citrus peel ethanol extract (60 brix) were $38.21{\pm}1.37$ mg/g hesperidin and $15.02{\pm}0.48$ mg/g narirutin. With regard to the changes in the serum total-cholesterol level, compared with the control group's $79.1{\pm}4.6$ mg/dL, the serum total-cholesterol levels of the O1 and O5 groups were significantly lowered to $64.6{\pm}5.4$ and $59.5{\pm}4.7$ mg/dL, respectively. As for the changes in the LDL-cholesterol level, compared with the control group's $18.4{\pm}3.7$ mg/dL, the LDL-cholesterol levels of the O1 and O5 groups were significantly lowered to $13.0{\pm}3.6$ and $13.0{\pm}1.9$ mg/dL, respectively. For the changes in the serum triglyceride level, compared with the control group's $74.5{\pm}13.2$ mg/dL, the serum triglyceride level of the O5 group was significantly lowered to $48.6{\pm}11.2$ mg/dL. Finally, with regard to the changes in body fat, compared with the control group, the 05 group showed a significant decrease. In conclusion, it was observed that citrus peel ethanol extract was effective in lowering the total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of high-fat-diet-fed rats.