• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.10-16
• /
• 2021

The consumption of fresh-cut agricultural materials is increasing due to increased public interest in health and the increase of single-person households. Most fresh-cut agricultural materials can be eaten without heating, thus easily exposing the consumer to food-borne pathogens. As a result, food-borne diseases are increasing worldwide. In the analysis of food-borne pathogens, it is important to detect the strains, but this is time consuming and laborious. Alternative detection methods that have been introduced, include polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), which is performed without prior culturing. Samples of fresh-cut agricultural materials, such as vegetables, were analyzed by the culture-based method. In 129 samples, non-pathogenic Escherichia coli (3.9%), Bacillus cereus (31.8%), Clostridium perfringens (5.4%), Yersinia enterocolitica (0.8%), and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (0.8%) were detected. Eight samples contaminated with bacteria were randomly selected, further analyzed by PCR-DGGE, and compared with the culture-based method. Two cases detected non-pathogenic E. coli by PCR-DGGE only, despite a lack of detection by the culture method. It was supposed there was possibility of sample loss during its 10-fold dilution for appropriate cultivation. In the detection of high-risk food-borne pathogens, it was found that the detection limit was lower in PCR-DGGE than in the culture-based method (10 CFU/g). This suggests that PCR-DGGE can be alternatively used to detect strains. On the other hand, low-risk food-borne pathogens seem to have higher detection limits in PCR-DGGE. Consequentially, this study contributes to the improvement of food-borne pathogen detection and the prevention of its related-diseases in fresh-cut agricultural materials.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2022

Thymosin β-4 (TB4) is a small peptide composed of 43 amino acids. To obtain sufficient biologically active mouse TB4 economically, we cloned and overexpressed this gene in an Escherichia coli system. With the isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside induction of the E. coli transformant, TB4 fusion protein with intein- and chitin-binding domain was successfully expressed in the soluble fraction within the E. coli cell. The TB4-intein - chitin-binding domain fusion protein was purified from the soluble fraction of E. coli cell lysate. The affinity chromatography with chitin beads and dithiothreitol-mediated intein self-cleavage reaction releases the TB4 peptide into the stripping solution. Sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analyses were used to confirm that the recombinant TB4 peptide was produced with the expected size of 5 kDa. We found that the recombinant TB4 stimulated cell migration in the transwell plate chamber assay. After 18 hr of the treatment of the recombinant TB4 with 1 ng/ml concentration, the migration of the HT1080 cell was increased by 20% compared with that of the chemically synthesized TB4. The recombinant TB4 was also observed to promote the healing of a wound area in C57BL/6 mice by as high as 35% compared with that of the chemically synthesized TB4. These results suggest that the recombinant TB4 has better biological activity for cell migration and wound healing than that of the chemically synthesized TB4 peptide.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.211-219
• /
• 1989

Tobacco and ginseng plants differed in responses to varied light intensities. Tobacco showed high in CO$_2$ uptake and RuBPCase activity at 1900 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/, being high by 3.7 times and 2.7 times than ginseng respectively. Close positive relationships existed between CO$_2$ uptake and RuBPCase activity in tobacco. However, ginseng showed negative correlation. The activity of glycolate oxidase and malate dehydrogenase in tobacco was high at 1900 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/, but those of ginseng was high at 1000 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/. Nitrate reductase activity of tobacco at 1900 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/ was 2 times higher than that at 500 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/, while that of ginseng was no detected in all plots. The content of protein and chlorophyll in tobacco was 2.2 times and 1.5 times higher than in ginseng at the most efficient light intensity. The ratio of chlorophyll a/b in tobacco was low at 500 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/, while that of ginseng was low at 1000 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/. The relationships between protein and chlorophyll was high positive correlation. However, on 5 days after treatment, ginseng showed negative correlation at 500 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/. Tobacco and ginseng showed different leaf soluble protein patterns on SDS-gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of two major band were 50 KD and 15 KD in both plants. The major bands in tobacco were thinned at 500 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/, while those in ginseng thinned at 1000 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/ from 15days after treatment. Disappeared band was 45 KD at 500 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/ in tobacco, but that of ginseng was 47 KD at 1000 ${\mu}$ E m/sup-2/ sec$\^$-1/.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.56-63
• /
• 2023

In this study, two cases of food poisoning caused by Salmonella that occurred in Gyeongsangnam-do in September 2021 are reported. One of the outbreaks occurred in a school and the other in a company. The molecular epidemiological characteristics of the isolated strains in the two outbreaks were analyzed. In the case of the school outbreak, 29 (4.9%) of 588 individuals experienced diarrhea and abdominal pain. As a result of a test of 36 individuals (patients, n=29; cook workers, n=7), Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis was detected in 17 (47.2%) patients, suggesting this serotype was the principal cause. Meanwhile, Salmonella spp. were not detected in 35 food and environmental samples. In the company outbreak, 87 (3.0%) of 2,900 individuals who had intaked from the same source experienced diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. In a test of 50 individuals (patients, n=40; cook workers, n=10), S. Enteritidis was detected in 28 patients (56.0%). Also, Vibrio cholerae (NAG) was detected in four patients with S. Enteritidis, and V. cholerae (NAG) only was detected in one patient. Salmonella spp. were not detected in 118 preserved foods, but S. Enteritidis was detected in one eaten food (toast) delivered in group by the company. Through PFGE genetic homology analysis of the isolated strains, all S. Enteritidis detected in patients and consumed foods were the same type. It seems that these S. Enteritidis isolates were the same type as detected in a previous school outbreak and in patients of group food poisoning in other regions, leading to an enhanced problem of food poisoning and epidemiology. Our analytic results can provide data for epidemiological management and food poisoning prevention based on molecular characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.36-44
• /
• 2023

Environmental DNA (eDNA) can exist in both intracellular and extracellular forms in natural ecosystems. When targeting harmful cyanobacteria, extracellular eDNA indicates the presence of traces of cyanobacteria, while intracellular eDNA indicates the potential for cyanobacteria to occur. However, identifying the "actual" potential for harmful cyanobacteria to occur is difficult using the existing sediment eDNA analysis method, which uses silica beads and cannot distinguish between these two forms of eDNA. This study analyzes the applicability of a density gradient centrifugation method (Ludox method) that can selectively analyze intracellular eDNA in sediment to overcome the limitations of conventional sediment eDNA analysis. PCR was used to amplify the extracted eDNA based on the two different methods, and the relative amount of gene amplification was compared using electrophoresis and Image J application. While the conventional bead beating method uses sediment as it is to extract eDNA, it is unknown whether the mic gene amplified from eDNA exists in the cyanobacterial cell or only outside of the cell. However, since the Ludox method concentrates the intracellular eDNA of the sediment through filtration and density gradient, only the mic gene present in the cyanobacteria cells could be amplified. Furthermore, the bead beating method can analyze up to 1 g of sediment at a time, whereas the Ludox method can analyze 5 g to 30 g at a time. This gram of sediments makes it possible to search for even a small amount of mic gene that cannot be searched by conventional bead beating method. In this study, the Ludox method secured sufficient intracellular gene concentration and clearly distinguished intracellular and extracellular eDNA, enabling more accurate and detailed potential analysis. By using the Ludox method for environmental RNA expression and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of harmful cyanobacteria in the sediment, it will be possible to analyze the potential more realistically.

• Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.537-545
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to obtain basic information on physiological and proteomic responses of barley seedlings to salt stress. Shoot dry weight decreased significantly as the level of soil salinity increased. Salt stress-induced decrease of relative shoot dry weight was lower in cv. "Sanglok" than in cv. "Sunwoo". Under the salt stress, SPAD value decreased, and the value was higher in cv. "Sanglok" than in cv. "Sunwoo". Sodium ion content in the leaves increased as NaCl concentration increased, and the content was higher in cv. "Sunwoo" than in cv. "Sanglok". The K⁺/Na⁺ ratio was higher in cv. "Sanglok" than in cv. "Sunwoo". Salt stress-induced alterations in protein expression of the leaves were detected by two dimensional electrophoresis, and 47 protein spots showing altered expression were selected. Among the selected protein spots, 17 protein spots were up-regulated and 28 spots down-regulated in cv. "Sanglok". In cv. "Sunwoo", 14 protein spots were up-regulated and 27 spots down-regulated. Out of 47 deferentially expressed protein spots, 18 protein spots were identified using mass spectrometry and NCBI protein database. Among the identified proteins, ten proteins are known to be involved in various stress responses, but the others are not directly involved in stress responses.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.50
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2023

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) is an economically important root crop and a valuable source of nutrients, processed foods, animal feeds, and pigment materials. However, during post-harvest storage, storage roots of sweet potatoes are susceptible to decay caused by various microorganisms and diseases. Post-harvest curing is the most effective means of healing wounds and preventing spoilage by microorganisms during storage. In this study, we aimed to identify proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms related to curing and study proteomic changes during the post-curing storage period. For this purpose, changes in protein spots were analyzed through 2D-electrophoresis after treatment at 33℃ (curing) and 15℃ (control) for three days, followed by a storage period of eight weeks. As a result, we observed 31 differentially expressed protein spots between curing and control groups, among which 15 were identified. Among the identified proteins, the expression level of 'alpha-amylase (spot 1)' increased only after the curing treatment, whereas the expression levels of 'probable aldo-keto reductase 2-like (spot 3)' and 'hypothetical protein CHGG_01724 (spot 4)' increased in both the curing and control groups. However, the expression level of 'sporamin A (spot 10)' decreased in both the curing and control treatments. In the control treatment, the expression level of 'enolase (spot 14)' increased, but the expression levels of 'chain A of actinidin-E-64 complex+ (spot 19)', 'ascorbate peroxidase (spot 22)', and several 'sporamin proteins (spot 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, and 31)' decreased. These results are expected to help identify proteins related to the curing process in sweet potato storage roots, understand the mechanisms related to disease resistance during post-harvest storage, and derive candidate genes to develop new varieties with improved low-temperature storage capabilities in the future.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.280-290
• /
• 1984

An extensive study has been made on the relationship between the freshness and the compositions of the muscle protein of prawn, Pandalus japonica during the storage under partially frozen condition. The variations of the subunit distribution for sarcoplasmic protein and myofibrillar protein extracted from the samples by changes of freshness were discussed by sodium dodecylsulfate-poly-acrylamide gel (SDS-PAG) electrophoresis. On the other hand, the denaturation constant ($K_D$) of the myofibrillar protein extracted from the prawn stored at $-3^{\circ}C\;and\;-20^{\circ}C$ were successively compared. The prawn muscle contained about $18\%$ of protein with the composition of $32\%$ in sarcoplasmic protein, $56\%$ in myofibrillar protein, $10\%$ in residual intracellular protein and $2\%$ in stroma. The indices for estimating freshness of the muscle were approached to the early stage of putrefaction on the 26th day of the storage with $25.29mg\%$ of total volatile basic nitrogen, $31.36\%$ of K-value and 8.83 of pH. The content of the myofibrillar protein was remarkably decreased with the time during the storage while that of residual intracellular protein was increased. The $K_D$ values of the myofibrillar protein were $9.03{\times}10^{-6}sec^{-1}\;at\;-3^{\circ}C\;and\;4.42{\times}10^{-6}sec^{-1}\;at\;-20^{\circ}C$. The results of the analysis of SDS-PAG electrophoretograms indicated that the sarcoplasmic protein and the myofibrillar protein were composed of 12 subunits and 17 subunits in the muscle of instantaneously killed prawn ana were changed into 8 subunits and 22 subunits in the muscle stored for 26 days, respectively. It is noticeable that 30,000, 41,000, 107,000, 136,000, 170,000 173,000, 185,000, and 198,000 daltons of the newly appeared 8 subunits were found in the myofibrillar protein from the prawn muscle stored for 26 days. The amino acid composition of the muscle protein showed that the most of amino acids were slightly decreased with the days of the storage. With respect to the free amino acid composition of the muscle of instantaneously killed prawn, glycine, proline, arginine, alanine and taurine comprised $93\%$ of the total free amino acids. Taurine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, serine, lysine, methionine, isoleucine and histidine were increased during the storage period but exceptionally proline was decreased.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.63 no.1
• /
• pp.25-34
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the germination and proteome profile characteristics of wheat seeds treated under various concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA). After-ripening, the seeds of three wheat cultivars (Baegjoong, Keumkang, and Uri) showing different levels of dormancy were used. Germination index and germination rate of the cultivars was higher than 0.95% and 98%, respectively, and these were not significantly different under 0, 10, 30, and $50{\mu}M$ ABA at 7 d after germination. However, the growth of the shoot and radicle was significantly inhibited at 10, 30, and $50{\mu}M$ ABA compared to that at $0{\mu}M$ ABA. Mean ABA content of the embryos of seeds germinated at 0 and $50{\mu}M$ ABA for 7 d was 0.8 and $269.0ngmg^{-1}DW$, respectively. Proteins extracted from embryos germinated for 4 d were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and proteins showing a difference of 1.5-fold or greater in their spot volume relative to that of $0{\mu}M$ ABA were identified. The expression of four protein spots increased at $50{\mu}M$ ABA and two protein spots were detected only at $50{\mu}M$ ABA; these six proteins were all identified as globulin types. Conversely, the expression of three protein spots decreased at $50{\mu}M$ ABA and were identified as cytosolic glutamine sysnthetase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and S-adenosylmethionine synthetase 2. In conclusion, ABA did not inhibit the germination rate regardless of pre-harvest sprouting characteristics of the cultivars. However, the growth of the shoot and radicle was significantly inhibited by ABA, most likely through the down regulation of glutamine, methyl group donor, and polyamines biosynthesis, among others, while accompanied by globulin accumulation in the embryos.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.260-268
• /
• 2010

The lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) isozymes in tissues from Channa argus were purified and characterized by biochemical, immunochemical and kinetic methods. The activity of LDH in skeletal muscle was the highest at 380.4 units and those in heart, eye and brain tissues were 13.4, 3,5 and 5.4 units, respectively. Citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7, CS) activity in heart tissue was the highest at 20.7 units. LDH/CS in skeletal muscle, heart, eye and brain tissues were 172.9, 0.6, 0.32 and 0.47. Protein concentration in skeletal muscle tissue was 14.7 mg/g and specific activities of LDH in skeletal muscle, heart, eye and brain tissues were 25.88, 0.79, 0.31 and 1.38 units/mg, respectively. Therefore, skeletal muscle tissue was anaerobic and heart tissue was aerobic. The LDH isozymes in tissues were identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation and Western blot with antiserum against $A_4$, $B_4$, and eye-specific $C_4$. LDH $A_4$, $A_3B$, $A_2B_2$. $AB_3$ and $B_4$ isozymes were detected in every tissue, $C_4$, $AC_3$, $A_2C_2$ and $A_3C$ were detected in eye tissue, and $A_3C$ was found in brain tissue. LDH $A_4$, $A_3B$, $A_2B_2$, $AB_3$, $B_4$, eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes were purified by affinity chromatography and Preparative PAGE Cells. The LDH $A_4$ isozyme was purified in the fraction from elution with $NAD^+$ containing buffer of affinity chromatography. Eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme was eluted right after $A_4$, after which $B_4$ isozyme was eluted with plain buffer. As a result, one part of molecular structures in $A_4$, $B_4$ and eye-specific $C_4$ were similar, but were different from each other in $B_4$ and $C_4$. Therefore the subunit A may be conservative in evolution, and the evolution of subunit B seems to be faster than that of subunit A. The activity of LDH $A_4$, $A_2B_2$, $B_4$, and eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes remained at 39.98, 21.28, 19.67 and 16.87% as a result of the inhibition by 10 mM of pyruvate, so the degree of inhibition was very high. The $Km^{PYR}$ values were 0.17, 0.27 and 0.133 mM in $A_4$, $B_4$ and eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes, respectively. The optimum pH of LDH $A_4$, $B_4$, eye-specific $C_4$, $A_2B_2$, $A_3B$, and $AB_3$ were pH 6.5, pH 8.5, pH 5.5, pH 6.0-6.5, pH 5.0 and pH 7.5. The $A_4$ and heterotetramer isozymes stabilized a broad range of pH. Especially, LDH activities in skeletal muscle tissue were high, resulting in a high degree of muscle activity.LDH metabolism in eye tissue seems to be converted faster from pyruvate to lactate by eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme as eye-specific $C_4$ have the highest affinity for pyruvate, and right after the conversion, oxidation of lactate was induced by $A_4$ isozyme. It was found that expression of Ldh-C, affinity to substrate and reaction time of $C_4$ isozyme were different according to the ecological environmental and feeding capturing patterns.