• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.389-395
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• 2021

Soil is the major source of plant-associated microbes. Several fungal and bacterial species live within plant tissues. Actinomycetes are well known for producing a variety of antibiotics, and they contribute to improving plant health. In our previous report, Streptomyces globisporus SP6C4 colonized plant tissues and was able to move to other tissues from the initially colonized ones. This strain has excellent antifungal and antibacterial activities and provides a suppressive effect upon various plant diseases. Here, we report the genome-wide analysis of antibiotic producing genes in S. globisporus SP6C4. A total of 15 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters were predicted using antiSMASH. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis system, and each biosynthetic gene was predicted via protein basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) and rapid annotation using subsystems technology (RAST) server. Three gene clusters were shown to exhibit antifungal or antibacterial activity, viz. cluster 16 (lasso peptide), cluster 17 (thiopeptide-lantipeptide), and cluster 20 (lantipeptide). The results of the current study showed that SP6C4 has a variety of antimicrobial activities, and this strain is beneficial in agriculture.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.195-207
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• 2022

Computational drawbacks associated with regular predictive models have motivated engineers to use hybrid techniques in dealing with complex engineering tasks like simulating the compressive strength of concrete (CSC). This study evaluates the efficiency of tree potential metaheuristic schemes, namely shuffled complex evolution (SCE), multi-verse optimizer (MVO), and beetle antennae search (BAS) for optimizing the performance of a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) system. The models are fed by the information of 1030 concrete specimens (where the amount of cement, blast furnace slag (BFS), fly ash (FA1), water, superplasticizer (SP), coarse aggregate (CA), and fine aggregate (FA2) are taken as independent factors). The results of the ensembles are compared to unreinforced MLP to examine improvements resulted from the incorporation of the SCE, MVO, and BAS. It was shown that these algorithms can considerably enhance the training and prediction accuracy of the MLP. Overall, the proposed models are capable of presenting an early, inexpensive, and reliable prediction of the CSC. Due to the higher accuracy of the BAS-based model, a predictive formula is extracted from this algorithm.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify wild yeasts from the soil collected in Gwangju and Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. Among 10 strains, six strains were already reported, but four strains were unrecorded in Republic of Korea. To identify wild yeast strains, pairwise sequence comparisons of the D1/D2 region of the 26S rRNA gene sequence were performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The cell morphologies were observed by phase contrast microscope and assimilation tests were carried out using API 20C AUX kit. The 10 strains were assigned to the phyla Basidiomycota (8 strains) and Ascomycota (2strains). The unrecorded four yeast strains, NH33, NH19, NH20, and YP416, belong to the phylum Basidiomycota and the genera Buckleyzyma, Leucosporidium, Holtermanniales, and Mrakia, respectively. All strains had oval-shaped and polar budding cells. In this research, the morphological and biochemical properties of four unreported yeast species were characterized intensively, which were not officially reported in Korea.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Myosin is considered as the vital motor protein in vertebrates and invertebrates. Our present study was conducted to decipher the occurrence of myosin in dog fish (Squalus mitsukurii). We isolated one clone containing 979 bp cDNA sequence, which consisted of a complete coding sequence of 453 bp and a deduced amino acid sequence of 150 amino acids from the open reading frame with molecular weight, isoelectric point and aliphatic index are 16.72 Kda, 4.49 and 78.00, respectively. It contained 428 bp long 3' UTR with single potential polyadenylation signals (AATAAA). The predicted EF CA²⁺ binding domains were identified in residue 6-41, 83-118 and 133-150. A BLAST search indicates this protein exhibits a strong similarity to whale shark (Rhincodon typus) MLC3 (91% identical) and also house mouse (Mus musculus) MLC isoform 3f (81% identical). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this protein is a MLC 3 isoform like protein. This protein also demonstrates highly conserved region with other myosin proteins. Homology modeling of S. mitsukuri was performed using crystal structure of Gallus gallus skeletal muscle myosin II based on high similarity. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR results exhibits dogfish myosin protein is highly expressed in muscle tissue.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2024

The study assessed the utility of mitochondrial DNA for identifying a deceased rorqual discovered off the western coast of India. Both the COI and Cytb genes exhibited remarkable 99-100% similarity with the GenBank sequence of Balaenoptera musculus through a global BLAST search, confirming their affiliation with this species. Inter-species genetic distances for COI and Cytb genes ranged from 6.75% to 9.80% and 7.37% to 10.96% respectively, compared with other Balaenopteridae species. The Bayesian phylogenies constructed based on both COI and Cytb genes demonstrated clear and separate clustering for all Balaenopteridae species, further reaffirming their distinctiveness, while concurrently revealing a cohesive clustering pattern of the generated sequences within the B. musculus clade. Beyond species confirmation, this study provides valuable insights into the presence of live and deceased B. musculus individuals within Indian marine ecosystems. This information holds significant potential for guiding conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) in India over the long term.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 1999

Purpose : By sequencing the Erpressed Sequence Tags of human 걸ermal papilla CDNA library, we identified a clone named K872 of which the expression decreased during differentiation of HL6O cell line. Materials and Methods : K872 plasmid DNA was isolated according to QIA plasmid extraction kit (Qiagen GmbH, Germany). The nucleotide sequencing was performed by Sanger's method with K872 plasmid DNA. The most updated GenBank EMBL necleic acid banks were searched through the internet by using BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tools) program. Nothern bots were performed using RNA isolated from various human tissues and cancer cell lines. The gene expression of the fusion protein was achieved by His-Patch Thiofusicn expression system and the protein product was identified on SDS-PAGE. Results : K872 clone is 1006 nucleotides long, and has a coding region of 675 nucleotides and a 3' non-coding region of 280 nucleotides. The presumed open reading frame starting at the 5' terminus of K872 encodes 226 amino acids, including the initiation methionine residue. The amino acid sequence deduced from the open reading frame of K872 shares $70\%$, identity with that of rat glutathione 5-transferase kappa 1 (rGSTKl). The transcripts were expressed in a variety of human tissues and cancer cells. The levels of transcript were relatively high in those tissues such as heart, skeletal muscle, and peripheral blood leukocyte. It is noteworthy that K872 was found to be abundantly expressed in coloreetal cancer and melanoma cell lines. Conclusion : Homology search result suggests that K872 clone is the human homolog of the rGSTK1 which is known to be involved in the resistance of cytotoxic therapy. We propose that meticulous functional analysis should be followed to confirm that.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.26-35
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• 2001

In order to search potent antifungal substances from domestic plants, 40 plants cultivated in Korea were collected. After extracting with methanol (MeOH) and concentrating to dryness, the MeOH extracts were screened for in vivo antifungal activity against six plant diseases at a concentration of $2000{\mu}g/mL$. Fourteen extracts showed disease-controlling activity more than 90% against at least one of the 6 plant diseases tested; eight, seven, and three extracts controlled more than 90% the development of rice blast, tomato late blight, and wheat leaf rust, respectively. However, none of the extracts exhibited in vivo antifungal activity more than 90% against rice sheath blight, tomato gray mold, and barley powdery mildew. From the MeOH extracts of Angelica gigas and A. dahurica showing potent controlling activity against rice blast, 1 and 2 antifungal substances, respectively, were isolated by solvent partitioning and column chromatography. The three compounds were identified to be coumarins, namely, decursin, imperatorin, and isoimperatorin, by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. They were examined for in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities together with umbelliferone (7-bydroxycournarin) and scopoletin (6-methoxy-7-hydroxycoumarin) containing a free hydroxyl group at position 7 to investigate the structure-activity relationship. In vitro, most of 50% growth inhibitory concentrations ($IC_{50}$) were over $200{\mu}g/mL$, indicating that they have relatively weak antifungal activity. The antifungal activity of decursin and scopoletin, containing cyclic alkoxy groups instead of free hydroxyl group at position 7, was stronger than umbelliferone and scopoletin. Especially, decursin and imperatorin showed potent antifungal activities against Pythium ultimum and Magnaporthe grisea, respectively, with $IC_{50}$ values less than $25{\mu}g/mL$. In vivo, decursin and imperatorin showed potent antifungal activity against rice blast, whereas other coumarins hardly controlled the development of 6 plant diseases tested. These results suggest that the antifungal activity of 7-hydroxycoumarin derivative is substantially increased when the hydroxyl group at position 7 is protected by a stable cyclic alkoxy grouping.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2016

Granulosa cells surround the oocyte within the ovarian follicle and play an essential role in creating conditions required for oocyte as well as follicular development. The current study was conducted to examine the gene expression profile of mouse ovaries during the primordial to primary follicle transition process. Total RNAs from mouse ovaries on day 5 and day 12 were synthesized cDNA using annealing control primers. The DEGs were cloned and their identities were analyzed by BLAST search. The Plekha5 and Anxa11 were highly expressed in primary follicle stage. By contrast, their expression was increased in granulosa cells at the primary follicle stage. We have successfully discovered a list of genes expressed in day 5 and day 12 ovaries and confirmed that some of them are differentially expressed in PMF and/or PRI. This is a spatial-temporal regulatory mechanism on the ovarian folliculogenesis through membrane fusion. The gene expression profile from the current study would provide insight for future study on the mechanism(s) involved in primordial-primary follicular transition. This will provide information for identification of the mechanism of ovarian dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2004

Dynamic modification of cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) on Ser and Thr residues is ubiquitous in higher eukaryotes. And this modification may serve as a signaling mod-ification analogous to protein phosphorylation. Addition and cleavage of O-GlcNAc are catalyzed by O-linked GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-linked N-acety1glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase), respectively. Two types of human O-GlcNAcase gene were cloned and expressed as three fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. O-GlcNA-case activity showed in the order of thioredoxin fusion> $6{\times}His$ tag> GST fusion. O-GlcNAcase had enzy-matic activity against only ${\rho}$NP-GlcNAc of seven tested substrate analogs. Blast search revealed that O-GlcNAcase has two conserved domains, amino terminal hyaluronidase-like domain and carboxy terminal N-acetyltransferase domain. Extensive deletion studies were done to define catalytically important domains. The deletions of hyaluronidase-like domain and N-acetyltransferase domain abolished enzyme activity. But, N-ter-minal 55 amino acid deletion and C-terminal truncation showed lower activity. Based on deletion analysis, we suggest that hyaluronidase-like domain is essential for enzyme activity and carboxy terminal N-acetyltrans-ferase domain may be modulatory function.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.345-351
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• 2005

To access the natural products of uncultured microorganisms, we constructed and screened the metagenomic DNA libraries by using a cosmid vector and DNA inserts isolated directly from soil. Initial screening of the libraries in Escherichia coli resulted in the isolation of several clones that produce a dark brown color when grown in LB medium. One of the positive clones, designed pYS85C, was transposon mutagenized and the DNA surrounding the transposon insertions in cosmids that no longer conferred the production of brown pigment to E. coli was sequenced. Annotation of the pYS85C sequence obtained from the transposon mutagenesis experiment indicated a single 393 amino acid open reading frame (ORF) with a molecular mass of about 44.5 kDa, predicted to be a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases (HPPDs), was responsible for the observed brown pigment. In a BLAST search against deposited sequence, the translated protein from this ORF showed moderate-level identity (>60%) to the other known HPPDs and was most conserved in the C-terminal region of the protein. These results show that genes involved in natural product synthesis can be cloned directly from soil DNA and expressed in a heterologous host, supporting the idea that this technology has the potential to provide novel natural products from the wealth of environmental microbial diversity and is a potentially important new tool for drug discovery.