• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2016

Oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa) is one of six subspecies of melon and is cultivated widely in East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea. Although oriental melon is economically valuable in Asia and is genetically distinct from other subspecies, few reports of genome-scale research on oriental melon have been published. We generated 30.5 and 36.8 Gb of raw RNA sequence data from the female and male flowers, leaves, roots, and fruit of two oriental melon varieties, Korean landrace (KM) and Breeding line of NongWoo Bio Co. (NW), respectively. From the raw reads, 64,998 transcripts from KM and 100,234 transcripts from NW were de novo assembled. The assembled transcripts were used to identify molecular markers (e.g., single-nucleotide polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats), detect tissue-specific expressed genes, and construct a genetic linkage map. In total, 234 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 25 simple sequence repeats were screened from 7,871 and 8,052 candidates, respectively, between the KM and NW varieties and used for construction of a genetic map with 94 F2 population specimens. The genetic linkage map consisted of 12 linkage groups, and 248 markers were assigned. These transcriptome and molecular marker data provide information useful for molecular breeding of oriental melon and further comparative studies of the Cucurbitaceae family.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.13.1-13.8
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• 2010

The National BioResource Project of Japan is a governmental project to promote domestic/international research activities using biological resources. The project has 27 biological resources including three cereal resources. The core center and sub-center which historically collected the cereal resources were selected for each cereal program. These resources are categorized into several different types in the project; germplasm, genetic stocks, genome resources and database information. Contents of rice resources are wild species, local varieties in East and Southwest Asia & wild relatives, MNU-induced chemical mutant lines, marker tester lines, chromosome substitution lines and other experimental lines. Contents of wheat resources are wild strains, cultivated strains, experimental lines, rye wild and cultivated strains; EST clones and full-length cDNA clones. Contents of barley resources are cultivar and experimental lines, core collection, EST/cDNA clones, BAC clones, their filters and superpool DNA. Each resource is accessible from the online database to see the contents and information about the resources. Links to the genome information and genomic tools are also important function of each database. The major contents and some examples are presented here.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2014

Purposes: This study was to validate the Robotic Smart Work System that can provides better working conditions and high productivity in unstructured environments like bio-industry, based on a tele-operation system for fruit harvesting with low cost 3-D positioning system on the laboratory level. Methods: For the Robotic Smart Work System for fruit harvesting and cultivation management in agriculture, a vision based tele-operating system and 3-D position information are key elements. This study proposed Robotic Smart Farming, an agricultural version of Robotic Smart Work System, and validated a 3-D position information system with a low cost omni camera and a laser marker system in the lab environment in order to get a vision based tele-operating system and 3-D position information. Results: The tasks like harvesting of the fixed target and cultivation management were accomplished even if there was a short time delay (30 ms ~ 100 ms). Although automatic conveyor works requiring accurate timing and positioning yield high productivity, the tele-operation with user's intuition will be more efficient in unstructured environments which require target selection and judgment. Conclusions: This system increased work efficiency and stability by considering ancillary intelligence as well as user's experience and knowhow. In addition, senior and female workers will operate the system easily because it can reduce labor and minimized user fatigue.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.369-378
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• 2023

Smilax sieboldii is one of the Smilax species. A number of Smilax plants have multiple physiologically-active components and anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant effects. Antiobesity effects induced by Smilax sieboldii have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of anti-obesity activity of 70% ethanol Smilax sieboldii extract (SSE). The anti-obesity effect of SSE was determined using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We confirmed that SSE was not cytotoxic to murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, we evaluated SSE dose-dependently decreased the accumulation of lipids via an Oil Red O assay and triglyceride assay. These anti-obesity activities of SSE were mediated by the inhibition of adipogenesis-related marker genes (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α, and SREBP1c) and lipogenesis-related marker genes (fatty acid synthase and aP2). These results suggest that SSE has the potential to exert anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemia effects by regulating adipogenic transcription factors and inhibiting the expression of adipogenic markers.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2011

The faulty regulation of imprinting gene lead to the abnormal development of reconstructed embryo after nuclear transfer. However, the correlation between the imprinting status of donor cell and preimplantation stage of embryo development is not yet clear. In this study, to determine this correlation, we used the porcine spermatogonial stem cell (pSSC) and fetal fibroblast (pFF) as donor cells. As the results, the isolated cells with laminin matrix selection strongly expressed the GFR ${\alpha}$-1 and PLZF genes of SSCs specific markers. The pSSCs were maintained to 12 passages and positive for the pluripotent marker including OCT4, SSEA1 and NANOG. The methylation analysis of H19 DMR of pSSCs revealed that the zinc finger protein binding sites CTCF3 of H19 DMRs displayed an androgenic imprinting pattern (92.7%). Also, to investigate the reprogramming potential of pSSCs as donor cell, we compared the development rate and methylation status of H19 gene between the reconstructed embryos from pFF and pSSC. This result showed no significant differences of the development rate between the pFFs ($11.2{\pm}0.8%$) and SSCs ($13.3{\pm}1.1%$). However, interestingly, while the CTCF3 methylation status of pFF-NT blastocyst was decreased (36.3%), and the CTCF3 methylation status of pSSC-NT blastocyst was maintained. Therefore, this result suggested that the genomic imprinting status of pSSCs is more effective than that of normal somatic cells for the normal development because the maintenance of imprinting pattern is very important in early embryo stage.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was measured to the bone mineral density(BMD) and biochemical bone markers in young women in order to identify the relationship between bone mineral density and biochemical bone markers. Methods: Forty two healthy young women were enrolled. BMD were checked Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry and biochemical bone markers were checked ELSA-OSTEO(CIS bio international, France)analyzed kit, Pyrilinks-D(Metra Biosystems Inc., U.S.A)analyzed kit. Data were analyzed with frequencies, percentages, means, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: 1) Young women forearm(radius & ulnar) BMD was $0.55g/cm^2$, lumbar($1{\sim}4$) BMD was $0.92g/cm^2$, neck of femur BMD was $0.75g/cm^2$, trochanter of femur BMD was $0.61g/cm^2$, ward's triangle of femur BMD was $0.68g/cm^2$. In biochemical bone marker, Osteocalcin was 21.94ng/ml, Deoxypyridinoline was 11.94nmol/nmolCr. 2) There was no significant correlation between BMD and biochemical bone markers. Conclusion: Results not indicated association between bone mineral density and biochemical markers. As seen in the small sample, future research on BMD and biochemical markers need to studies to the large sample.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.4.1-4.4
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• 2012

Background: Serum concentration of cystatin C, a marker of glomerular filtration has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate cystatin C as a marker of obese patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 36 subjects with metabolic syndrome and 32 subjects free of metabolic syndrome (the control group). HDL-C, LDL-C, blood urea, triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, serum cystatin C and serum creatinine were measured in both groups. GFR was calculated in both groups using Cockroft-Gault equation. Results: Obese patients showed higher cystatin C levels than normal samples ($1.28{\pm}0.29$, P < 0.05). In the binary logistic regression, obese patients were significantly associated with elevated cystatin C levels. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cystatin C may be a marker for obese patients and may identify a certain degree of renal dysfunction even when serum creatinine does not exceed the normal level. In this study, we demonstrated that serum creatinineand GFR did not differ significantly between the diabetic and the control groups. Serum concentration of cystatin C was significantly higher in the diabetic group compared with the control group. The strengths of this study are the evaluation of reliability and sensivity in comparison with a 'routine test of GFR'. The methodology used allows an appropriate statistical comparison of reliability in contrast to most other previous evaluations of GFR.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2008

Despite increasing awareness of the importance of WRKY genes in plant defense signaling, the locations of these genes in the Capsicum genome have not been established. To develop WRKY-based markers, primer sequences were deduced from the conserved sequences of the DNA binding motif within the WRKY domains of tomato and pepper genes. These primers were derived from upstream and downstream parts of the conserved sequences of the three WRKY groups. Six primer combinations of each WRKY group were tested for polymorphisms between the mapping parents, C. annuum 'CM334' and C. annuum 'Chilsung-cho'. DNA fragments amplified by primer pairs deduced from WRKY Group II genes revealed high levels of polymorphism. Using 32 primer pairs to amplify upstream and downstream parts of the WRKY domain of WRKY group II genes, 60 polymorphic bands were detected. Polymorphisms were not detected with primer pairs from downstream parts of WRKY group II genes. Half of these primers were subjected to $F_2$ genotyping to construct a linkage map. Thirty of 41 markers were located evenly spaced on 20 of the 28 linkage groups, without clustering. This linkage map also consisted of 199 AFLP and 26 SSR markers. This WRKY-based marker system is a rapid and simple method for generating sequence-specific markers for plant gene families.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1225-1229
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• 2008

A total of 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers on bovine chromosome 5 were used for allelic association tests with phenotypic characteristics in Hanwoo. The data analyzed in this study were collected from 326 steers. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the frequencies of individual alleles between the high and the low breeding value groups. The following breeding values were analyzed for QTL effects. The frequency of allele 239 of DIK2828 showed a significant difference between the high and the low breeding value groups in the breeding value of marbling score (MSBV). The allele 279 of BMC1009 was found to show significant differences in allelic distribution for the breeding value of cold carcass weight (CWBV) and the breeding value of backfat thickness (BFBV) and allele 285 showed significant differences in allelic distribution for CWBV, BFBV, and MSBV. The allele 200 of DIK4329 showed significant differences in allelic distributions for the breeding values of longissimus muscle area (LMABV) and BFBV. In this study, we identified the QTL for carcass traits at around 20 (DIK2828), 41 (BMC1009) and 95 (DIK4329) cM in chromosome 5. The results provided a useful reference for further positional candidate gene research and marker-assisted selection for fat metabolism and carcass traits.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2011

In order to establish a reliable and highly efficient method for genetic transformation of pepper, a monitoring system featuring GFP (green fluorescent protein) as a report marker was applied to Agrobacteriummediated transformation. A callus-induced transformation (CIT) system was used to transform the GFP gene. GFP expression was observed in all tissues of $T_0$, $T_1$ and $T_2$ peppers, constituting the first instance in which the whole pepper plant has exhibited GFP fluorescence. A total of 38 T0 peppers were obtained from 4,200 explants. The transformation rate ranged from 0.47 to 1.83% depending on the genotype, which was higher than that obtained by CIT without the GFP monitoring system. This technique could enhance selection power by monitoring GFP expression at the early stage of callus in vitro. The detection of GFP expression in the callus led to successful identification of the shoot that contained the transgene. Thus, this technique saved lots of time and money for conducting the genetic transformation process of pepper. In addition, a co-transformation technique was applied to the target transgene, CaCS (encoding capsaicinoid synthetase of Capsicum) along with GFP. Paprika varieties were transformed by the CaCS::GFP construct, and GFP expression in callus tissues of paprika was monitored to select the right transformant.