• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2002

Sox4, a transcription factor, consists of three functional domains: an HMG-box domain as a DNA binding domain, serine rich region as a transactivation domain and glycine rich region (GRR), an unknown functional domain. Although Sox4 is known to be functionally involved in heart, B-cell and reproductive system development, its physiological function remains to be elucidated. We used pGEX expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying Sox4 protein in suitable forms for biochemical studies of their functions. Unexpectedly, we observed that full-length Sox4 appears to be protease-sensitive during expression and purification in E. coli. To map the protease-sensitive site in Sox4, we generated various constructs with each of functional domains of Sox4 and purified as the GST-Sox4 fusion proteins using glutathione beads. We found that the specific cleavage site for the proteolytic enzyme, which exists in E. coli, is localized within the novel GRR of Sox4. Our study suggest that the GRR of Sox4 may a target for the cellular protease action and this cleavage in the GRR may be involved in regulating physiological function of Sox4. Additionally, our study may provide a useful method for investigating the proteolytic cleavage of the target molecule in E. coli.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.134-152
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• 1997

Plant viruses of tobacco including tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and potato virus Y (PVY) cause severe economic losses in leaf-tobacco production. Cultural practices do not provide sufficient control against the viruses. Use of valuable resistant cultivars is most recommendable for the control of the viruses. However, conventional breeding programs are not always proper for the development of virus-resistant plants mostly owing to the frequent lack of genetic sources and introduction of their unwanted properties. Therefore, we tried to develop virus-resistant tobacco plants by transforming commercial tobacco cultivars, NC 82 and Burley 21, with coat protein (CP) or replicase (Nlb) genes of TMV and PVY necrosis strain (PVY-VN) with or without untranslated region (UTR) and with or without mutation. Each cDNA was cloned and inserted in plant expression vectors with 1 or 2 CaMV 35S promotors, and introduced into tobacco leaf tissues by Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA 4404. Plants were regenerated in kanamycin-containing MS media. Regenerated plants were tested for resistance to TMV and PVY In these studies, we could obtain a TMV-resistant transgenic line transformed with TMV CP and 6 genetic lines with PVY-VN cDNAs out of 8 CP and replicase genes. In this presentation, resistance rates, verification of gene introduction in resistant plants, stability of resistance through generations, characteristics of viral multiplication and translocation in resistant plants, and resistance responses relative to inoculum potential and to various PVY strains will be shown. Yield and quality of leaf tobacco of a promising resistant tobacco line will be presented.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.328-337
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• 1990

The incividual and combined effects of the chloroacetanilide herbicide pretilachlor and of the safener fenclorim on the growth and selected physiological processes of rice (Oryza sativa L., var 'Lemont')were evaluated under greenhouse and laboratory conditions. Fenclorim applied at rates ranging from 50 to 300 g a.i./ha antagonized the injurious effects caused by 150 to 900 g a.i./ha of pretilachlor on 15-day old wet-sown rice grown under greenhouse conditions. When used rates of 150 g/ha or higher, fenclorim reversed completely the effects of all doses of pretilachlor on rice. When the two compounds were given simultaneously, fenclorim enhanced the uptake of $^{14}C$pretilachlor into rice leaf mesophyll protoplasts measured for 1 hr, indicating that competition for uptake at the protoplast level is not involved in the protective action of this safener. The safener-induced stimulation of pretilachlor uptake was particularly evident when fenclorim was used at concentrations of 10, 20 and $40{\mu}M$. Following 4 hr of incubation, individual treatments with pretilachlor inhibited the in vitro incorporation of radiolabeled precursors into proteins, DNA, and lipids of rice leaf protoplasts only when used at the high concentration of $100{\mu}M$M. Individual treatments with high concentrations (10 or $100{\mu}M$) of the safener fenclorim inhibited the incorporation of radiolabeled precursors into proteins and lipids of rice protoplasts, but had no DNA synthesis. The combined effects of pretilachlor and fenclorim on the incorporation of radiolabeled precursors into these macromolecules of isolated rice mesophyll protoplasts appeared to be additive or slightly synergistic rather than antagonistic. Fenclorim at $1{\mu}M$ antagonized the effects of pretilachlor on total lipids of rice leaf protoplasts. In addition, individual and combined treat-menu with pretilachlor and fenclorim influenced the incoroporation of$^{14}C$acetate into polar lipids, triglycerides and steryl esters of rice leaf protoplas causing a redistribution of carbon in these lipid fractions. However, these effects were not large enough to explain the herbicidal activity of pretilachlor or to account for the protective action of the safener fenclorim. Overall, the uesults of the present study idnicate that the safener fenclorim does not seem to protect rice against pretilachlor injury by antagonizing its effects on protein, DNA, or lipid syntheses.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 2016

An antimicrobial bacterium to pathogenic microorganisms, strain $W5-1^T$ was isolated from Korean fermented-food Kimchi. The isolate was Gram-staining-variable, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, and motile with peritrichous flagella. It grew at $15-40^{\circ}C$, at pH 6.0-10.0, and in the presence of 0-4% NaCl. Strain $W5-1^T$ could hydrolyze esculin and xylan, and assimilate $\small{D}$-mannose, but not $\small{D}$-mannitol. Strain $W5-1^T$ showed antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi. The G+C content of the DNA of strains $W5-1^T$ was 52.6 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and the major cellular fatty acids were $C_{16:0}$, antieiso-$C_{15:0}$, $C_{18:0}$, and $C_{12:0}$. The strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in cell-wall peptidoglycan. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis, the strain W5-1 was shown to belong to the family Paenibacillaceae and was most closely related to Paenibacillus pinihumi $S23^T$ (98.4% similarity) and Paenibacillus tarimensis $SA-7-6^T$ (96.4%). The DNA-DNA relatedness between the isolate and Paenibacillus pinihumi $S23^T$ was 8.5%, indicating that strain $W5-1^T$ represented a species in the genus Paenibacillus. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, it is proposed that strain $W5-1^T$ is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus kimchicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is $W5-1^T$ (=KACC $15046^T$ = $LMG 25970^T$).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2016

Purpose: Water is magnetically charged upon contact with a magnet. Although magnetic water products have been promoted since the 1930's, they have not received wide acceptance since their effectiveness is still in question; however, some have reported their therapeutic effects on the body, especially the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Methods: In this study, the effect of magnetized water on glycemic control of 14 diabetic mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/db) in comparison with 10 control mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/+(db/+)) was investigated. Seven diabetic control (DMC) mice and seven diabetic mice + magnetized water (DM+MW) were kept for 16 weeks, followed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). Weekly blood glucose was measured from tail veins. Blood obtained from heart puncture was used for HbA1c analysis. Results: Blood glucose level showed a significant difference starting from the $10^{th}$ week of study ($496.1{\pm}10.2mg/dl$ in DMC vs. $437.9{\pm}76.9mg/dl$ in DM+MW). Blood glucose followed by IPGTT showed no significant difference between groups at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, although glucose level at 180 min was significantly reduced in DM+MW mice. Plasma insulin level in DM+MW groups was only 39.5% of that of DMC groups ($5.97{\pm}1.69ng/ml$ in DMC vs. $2.36{\pm}0.94ng/ml$ in DM+MW). Levels of HbA1c were 12.4% and 9.7% in DMC and DM+MW groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results show the promising therapeutic effect of magnetized water in regulating blood glucose homeostasis; however, long-term supplementation or mechanistic study is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2020

Over 500 genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been developed since 1996, of which nearly 44% have glufosinate herbicide-tolerant traits. Identification of specific markers that can be used to identify herbicide-tolerant traits is challenging as the DNA sequences of the gene(s) of a trait are highly variable depending on the origin of the gene(s), plant species, and developers. To develop specific PCR marker(s) for the detection of the glufosinate-tolerance trait, DNA sequences of several pat or bar genes were compared and a diverse combination of PCR primer sets were examined using certified reference materials or transgenic plants. Based on both the qualitative and quantitative PCR tests, a primer set specific for pat and non-specific for bar was developed. Additionally, a set of markers that can detect both pat and bar was developed, and the quantitative PCR data indicated that the primer pairs were sensitive enough to detect 0.1% of the mixed seed content rate.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2002

Cotinine, one of nicotine metabolites, has been blown to reduce 4-(methylnitro samino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone(NNK)- induced $O^{6}$MeG DNA adducts significantly in A/J mice when administered together with NNK. In order to examine the effects of phyto-extract mixture on the conversion of cotinine from nicotine, cellular and clinical experiments were carried out. When the phyto-extract mixture was added to culture media, human liver cells (FLCFR5) produced cotinine from nicotine 2~3 times compared to the control. The phyto-extract mixture which was microinjected into Xenopus oocyte along with nicotine showed the almost similar production of cotinine compared with the results of hepatic cell culture. In clinical test employing 17 to 20 healthy men, concentrations of urinary cotinine derived from smoking after taking photo-extract mixture increased up to 2 times compared to the control group. These results indicatethat the phyto-extract mixture can increase the metabolic efficiency of nicotine to cotinine, leading to the reduced formation of $O^{6}$MeG DNA adducts.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2008

Two hundred and sixty-eight bacterial strains were isolated from pine mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake) basal soil. In the course of screening for antifungal activity against seven plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria panax, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosprioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytopthora capsici, Pythium ultimum, Rizoctonia solani) of isolates, strain KM1-15 showed strong antibiotic activity against Alternaria panax and Colletotrichum gloeosprioides. In determining its relationship on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence, KM1-15 strain was most closely related to Bacillus $koguryoae^T$ (AY904033) (99.62%). When assayed with the API 50CHE Kit, unlike Bacillus koguryoae, it is positive for utilization of L-arabinose, cellobiose, inulin, and D-turanose. Results of cellular fatty acid analysis showed that major cellular fatty acids were 15:0 anteiso (35.78%) and 17:0 anteiso (17.97%). In particular, hydroxyl fatty acids such as 13:0 iso 3-OH, 14:0 iso 3-OH, 15:0 iso 3-OH, and 17:0 iso 3-OH were only restricted to strain KM1-15. DNA G+C content was 43.7 mol% and quinone system was MK-7 (100%) in strain KM1-15.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2006

Induced androgenesis, a form of artificial parthenogenesis is an important tool for the generation and use of genetically isogenic or clonal fish strain. An optimized protocol for the genetic inactivation of mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) oocytes (i.e. production of androgenetic haploid) was developed using UV-irradiation. Various dose levels of UV significantly affected the fertilizing capacity of the eggs, hatchability of embryos and incidence of haploidy. Based on the extensive examinations of treatment conditions on embryo viability and haploid incidence, the optimum dose level of UV irradiation was turned out to be $10,800ergs/mm^2$ with 56.9% of hatching success and 94.6% of haploidy. The overall yield of putative androgen under optimized treatment condition was more than 50% out of total eggs inseminated. The success of androgenetic reproduction of haploid genome was verified by flow cytometry and PCR amplification of transgene that is exclusive to either one of parental sexes. However, a small portion $(8\sim11%)$ of presumed androgenetic haploid larvae was proven to contain residual DNA fragment(s) from maternal parent.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 1999

To improve biopolymer productivity and properties of Bacillus strains, protoplast fusion was performed between biopolymer producing Bacillus subtilis K-1 and lactose utilizing Bacillus coagulans. The results were as follows; Protoplasts mixed in fusion fluid containing 33% PEG 6000, 1% PVP and 10 mM $CaCl_2$ were reacted for 5 min at $37^{\circ}C$ and then centrifused protoplasts were directly overlaid on the selective media containing $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ antibiotics and incubated for 3 days. At this conditions, the frequency of protoplast fusion was generally in the range of $4.6{\times}10^{-5}\;to\;1.8{\times}10^{-7}$ in ratio. Segregation ratio was observed between 1 to 6% indicating genetic stability of all the fusants. Fusants growth were also observed on the media contained amino acid and antibiotics as required marked materials. DNA contents of the selected fusants were 1.6 to 2.7 times more than that of parent strains. With observation by TEM microscopy, spherical protoplasts were first released from the swollen parental cells and then contracted to fuse in the process of fusion. And fused cells were observed representative vesicle. Originally, the parental cells were observed as in the morphology of thick-walled and double membrane-surrounded rod shape with TEM microscopy.