• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.904-910
• /
• 2016

Complex traits are determined by the combined effects of many loci and are affected by gene networks or biological pathways. Systems biology approaches have an important role in the identification of candidate genes related to complex diseases or traits at the system level. The gene network analysis has been performed by diverse types of methods such as gene co-expression, gene regulatory relationships, protein-protein interaction (PPI) and genetic networks. Moreover, the network-based methods were described for predicting gene functions such as graph theoretic method, neighborhood counting based methods and weighted function. However, there are a limited number of researches in livestock. The present study systemically analyzed genes associated with 102 types of economic traits based on the Animal Trait Ontology (ATO) and identified their relationships based on the gene co-expression network and PPI network in cattle. Then, we constructed the two types of gene network databases and network visualization system (http://www.nabc.go.kr/cg). We used a gene co-expression network analysis from the bovine expression value of bovine genes to generate gene co-expression network. PPI network was constructed from Human protein reference database based on the orthologous relationship between human and cattle. Finally, candidate genes and their network relationships were identified in each trait. They were typologically centered with large degree and betweenness centrality (BC) value in the gene network. The ontle program was applied to generate the database and to visualize the gene network results. This information would serve as valuable resources for exploiting genomic functions that influence economically and agriculturally important traits in cattle.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2011

There is a growing recognition of the significance of $H_2S$ as a biological signaling molecule involved in vascular and nervous system functions. In mammals, two enzymes in the transsulfuration pathway, cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CGL), are believed to be chiefly responsible for $H_2S$ biogenesis. Genetic inborn error of CGL leads to human genetic disease, cystathioninuria, by accumulating cystathionine in the body. This disease is secondarily associated with a wide range of diseases including diabetes insipidus and Down's syndrome. Although the human CGL (hCGL) overexpression is essential for the investigation of its function, structure, reaction specificity, substrate specificity, and protein-protein interactions, there is no clear report concerning optimum overexpression conditions. In this study, we report a detailed analysis of the overexpression conditions of the hCGL using a bacterial system. Maximum overexpression was obtained in conditions of low culture temperature after inducer addition, performing low aeration during overexpression, and using a low concentration inducer (0.1 mM, IPTG) for induction. Expressed hCGL was purified by His-tag affinity column chromatography and confirmed by Western blot using hCGL antibody and enzyme activity analysis. We also report that the His tag with TEV site attached protein exhibits 76% activity for ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ elimination reaction with L-cystathionine and 88% for ${\alpha}-{\beta}$ elimination reaction with L-cysteine compared to those of wild type hCGL, respectively. His tag with TEV site attached protein also exhibits a 420 nm absorption maximum, which is attributed to the binding cofactor, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.1470-1475
• /
• 1998

Two kinds of Korean rice-wine (Yakju) with different process and ingredients, and Japanese rice-wine (Sake) were chosen for this study, and throughly dried and solubilized in water or cell culture medium. In vitro cytotoxicity assays of the solubilized wine solids exhibited that maximum dilution factors for inhibition of B 16BL6 mouse melanoma cell growth were 16X for herbal medicine-added rice-wine (Korean rice-wine I) and typical Korean rice-wine (Korean rice-wine II), and 8X for Japanese rice-wine. Their cytotoxic effects on HRT18 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were even lower than those on B16BL6 cells. The morphology of the tumor cells were changed by addition of the solubilized wine solids. Inhibitory effect of the rice-wine on in vivo tumor growth and metastasis were monitored after implantation of B16BL6 cells into C57BL/6 mice with daily feeding the solubilized wine solids. Compared to non-fed control groups, B16BL6 tumor growth and metastasis to lung were clearly inhibited by feeding the wine solids, in order of Korean rice-wine I > Korean rice-wine II > Japanese rice-wine. The data of in vitro cytotoxicity and the cell shape changes indicate that the inhibitory effect of tumor progression may be attributed to tumor cell differentiation or immune stimulation induced by certain components in the rice-wine, rather than direct cytotoxicity of the components.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.567-573
• /
• 2001

Lactobacilli have been generally recognized as an important lactic acid bacteria present in the normal human intestinal flora. Fifty two Lactobacillus isolates were recovered from the feces of healthy Koreans whose age ranged from thirteen days after birth to 37 years. Among the isolates above, 17 isolates were tentatively identified as strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and 3 isolates as strains of Lactobacillus casei. For their characterization, these twenty isolates were subjected to the experiments for the resistance to the artificial gastric juice, pH2.5 and bile salt. Interestingly, 3 strains survived pH 2.5 after 3 hour incubation in the artificial gastric juice with more than 75% of survival rate. L. acidophilus a-4 had the highest survival rate of 100%. Four strains including L. acidophilus a-3 grew gradually in MRS broth in the presence of the artificial bile salt. Cholesterol assimilation was also tested for the 20 isolates. The result showed that cholesterol concentration of the medium was reduced by 10 Lactobacillus isolates with more than 60%, as compared to the control. L. acidophilus a-2 had the highest reduction rate of 77%. Judging from these data obtained in vitro, some isolates ware likely to reach the lower small intestine after consumption without a significant loss of viability, suggesting that they had the potential to be developed as a probiotic culture which might lower the cholesterol level in human.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.66 no.3
• /
• pp.240-247
• /
• 2021

Anthocyanins are known to be involved in various functions such as antioxidant and antibacterial activities in plants. Although studies on anthocyanins in corn have been conducted recently, basic research related to anthocyanin biosynthesis is insufficient. In this study, we examined the molecular biological and physicochemical properties related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in the tassel and silks of Gwangpyeongok and Dacheongok cultivars. Anthocyanins were not synthesized in either the tassel or silks in Gwangpyeongok, whereas were synthesized in both in Dacheongok. The total anthocyanin content was approximately 30 times higher in the tassel and silks of Dacheongok than in those of Gwangpyeongok. In addition, C-3-G was measured only in the tassel of Dacheongok, and C-3-G, Pg-3-G, and M-3-G were 45.2 times, 27.3 times, and 37.6 times higher, respectively, in the silks of Dacheongok than of Gwangpyeongok. Expression of F3'H, DFR, and GST genes decreased in the tassel, and that of F3'H and DFR genes decreased in the silks of Gwangpyeongok. It was further confirmed that transcription factor P1 and R1 regulate the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in the tassel and silks, respectively, in Gwangpyeongok. Linoleic acid (C18:2) decreased by 6.6% and 10.9%, and linolenic acid (C18:3) increased by 8.5% and 8.5%, in the tassel and silks, respectively, of Gwangpyeongok compared to those of Dacheongok. Palmitic acid (C16:0) increased by 4.1% and oleic acid (C18:1) decreased by 2.1% in the silks of Gwangpyeongok compared to that in Dacheongok. In addition, the total fatty acid content in the tassel and silks increased by 10.3% and 30.4%, respectively, in Gwangpyeongok compared to that in Dacheongok. However, no significant results were observed in the analysis of phytosterol components. These results may be utilized as useful resources for the development of functional corn containing a large amount of anthocyanins.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to improve the useful components and biological activity of Lentinula edodes fermented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Three LAB strains (Lactobacillus brevis KCCM 11904, L. plantarum KCCM 354469, and L. fermentum KCCM 12116) were inoculated and used for L. edodes hot water extract (10%, 20%, 30%) fermentation. LAB fermentation of L. edodes hot water extracts decreased pH and thus were more acidic than non-fermented L. edodes hot water extract. β-glucan and ergothioneine contents were increased by L. edodes in a concentration-dependent manner. The ergothioneine and β-glucan contents were highest in fermented with 30% L. edodes hot water extract fermented by L. plantarum and L. brevis (40.48 mg/100 g and 13.94%, respectively). The hepato-protective effect of fermented L. edodes hot water extracts by the three LAB were tested using Sprague-Dawley rat primary hepatocytes. In primary hepatocytes obtained following liver injury induced by acetaminophen, fermented L. edodes hot water extracts by the three LAB showed protective effects, as evident by reduction of the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase liver markers. The collective results indicate that the fermented L. edodes hot water extracts obtained using LAB are potentially valuable in preventing or treating liver disease.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2008

This experiment was carried out to improve the anther culture efficiency of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Callus induction rates from anther cultures of the five domestic naked barley and four unhulled varieties ranged from 0 to 5.6%, and plant regeneration rate to callus was 30.4% in the donor plants grown in a greenhouse during winter, among which the green plant regeneration rates ranged from 0 to 4.4%. Plant regeneration rate was 30.4% in the donor plants grown in a greenhouse during winter, whereas 21.3% in the normal field condition in spring. In addition, callus induction rates were 19.2% in plants grown in a normal field and 7.2% in drought-stressed condition, respectively. Being Considered the anther culture efficiency affected by the sampling time, the optimum sampling stage of anthers was 3~4 days before heading when the length between the 1st and 2nd auricles reaches 5 to 10 cm and at the uninucleate of pollen which the tip of the 2nd auricle aligns with the middle of panicle in the leaf sheath. Best callus induction rates came from the anthers stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 3 weeks in a 10 to 15 cm diameter polyethylene bag with 5 to 10 panicles and Duwonchapssalbori and Saessalbori showed the higher induction rate of 4.8% and 1.7%, respectively.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.400-408
• /
• 2018

Biodiversity has continued to degrade in the $21^{st}$ century due to global warming occasioned by destruction of the environment around the world.. The Nagoya protocol places Korea in a unique position to effectively develop and protect its domestic genetic resources. Microalgae under study in this research contains large amount of antioxidant substances such as beta carotene and astaxanthin, that can be used as biological resource owing to the large amounts of biomass that can be secured through photosynthesis. However, it is difficult to preserve it since cryopreservation method used for long-term preservation is yet to be developed. A basic study for long term cryopreservation was carried out on Nizschia frustulum and Nitzschia amabilis which belong to marine diatoms. As cryoprotectants (CPAs), glycerol, DMSO, and methanol which penetrate into cells were prepared at 5%, 10%, and 15% concentrations each, in case of methanol, it was tested at concentrations of 5%, 10% and 12% by its nature. Two kinds of microalgae, N. frustulum and N. amabilis, were diluted with $10^2$, $10^3$ and $10^4cells\;ml^{-1}$, respectively. The highest survival rate was shown at12% concentration of methanol, and the figures were $6.94{\pm}0.31%$ in N. frustulum and $8.85{\pm}0.16%$ in N. amabilis. As a result of 3 weeks cultivation of thawed microalgae after freezing, the result is shows that N. frustulum increased about 10 times faster and N. amabilis increased about 12 times the original concentration.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.483-494
• /
• 2019

From the cosmopolitan superiority of the as the first world map completed in 1402 with surprisingly detailed images and contents on the Africa Continent it is reasonable to think that the Koreans in early fifteen century were already with highly up-to-date perspectives on the universe and world history and cultures. However, some 490 year later the first phytohydrographic plankton investigation in the neritic seas of Korea was performed by a Japanese company with sampling points covering from Tokyo Bay through Jeju neritic waters to Shanghai estuary, which was in turn preceded by the first oceanographic investigation other than the simple mapping Koreans seas by using two French sailboats. The first phytohydrographic plankton investigation in Korean seas were behind the world first oceanic plankton exploration, the German Plankton Expedition, by 25 years. Starting from the oceanographic investigation including phytohydrographic samplings in the whole Yellow Sea in 1915 the full-scale phytohydrographic plankton studies were tried in Korean seas which is well represented by the 1921 oceanographic investigation on the whole East Sea with 80 sampling stations. In 1932 two separate oceanographic investigations followed, one in the East Sea where 78 stations from Busan to southern Sakhalin Island were simultaneously visited by 50 research vessels for the physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic studies, and the other one in southern coast and western East Sea of Korea where ocean current observation as well as plankton sampling were made in 120 stations to understand the relationship between the ocean current and plankton distribution in the region. In 1933-1934 more intensified investigations on phytohydrography were carried out particularly in the East Sea as an integral part of the basic marine ecosystem studies for the Myeong-Tae (Alaska Pollock) resources estimation. Scientists' attitude for the marine investigation and research activities seemed to be almost unchanging even to the year 1943, which could be reflected by the fact that publication of the results from the investigations performed in 1945 were finally done in 1967 at Tokyo. Some 70 years later from the mid-twenty century we might be standing on the turning-point of "need to be prepared" for the new era of changing paradigm by reviewing, archiving, and analyzing the prior information big data from the previous ocean observation and biohydrographic investigations. At the same time each professional societies for the above mentioned sciences might trigger a continuous project to reorganize and update the records on related bibliography and its history every 30 years.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.195-203
• /
• 2021

Aureobasidium pullulans, a black yeast, produces pullulan, a linear α-glucan composed of maltotriose repeating units linked by α(1→6)-glycosidic linkages. Pullulan can be widely used in food, cosmetic, and biotechnology industries. In this study, we isolated eight strains of A. pullulans from Forsythia koreana, Magnolia kobus DC., Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora, Cornus officinalis, Cerasus, and Hippophae rhamnoides. Among them, A. pullulans MR was selected as the best pullulan producer. The effects of a carbon source, a nitrogen source, and pH on pullulan production were examined. The optimal cultivation conditions for pullulan production by A. pullulans MR were determined by response surface methodology as 15% sucrose, 0.4% soy peptone, and an initial pH of 7 at 26℃. Under these conditions, the predicted pullulan production was 47.6 g/L, which was very close to the experimental data (48.9 g/L).