• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.148-162
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• 2017

As a step towards discovering novel pathogenesis-related proteins, we performed a genome scale computational identification and characterization of secreted and transmembrane (TM) proteins, which are mainly responsible for bacteria-host interactions and interactions with other bacteria, in the genomes of six representative Burkholderia species. The species comprised plant pathogens (B. glumae BGR1, B. gladioli BSR3), human pathogens (B. pseudomallei K96243, B. cepacia LO6), and plant-growth promoting endophytes (Burkholderia sp. KJ006, B. phytofirmans PsJN). The proportions of putative classically secreted proteins (CSPs) and TM proteins among the species were relatively high, up to approximately 20%. Lower proportions of putative type 3 non-classically secreted proteins (T3NCSPs) (~10%) and unclassified non-classically secreted proteins (NCSPs) (~5%) were observed. The numbers of TM proteins among the three clusters (plant pathogens, human pathogens, and endophytes) were different, while the distribution of these proteins according to the number of TM domains was conserved in which TM proteins possessing 1, 2, 4, or 12 TM domains were the dominant groups in all species. In addition, we observed conservation in the protein size distribution of the secreted protein groups among the species. There were species-specific differences in the functional characteristics of these proteins in the various groups of CSPs, T3NCSPs, and unclassified NCSPs. Furthermore, we assigned the complete sets of the conserved and unique NCSP candidates of the collected Burkholderia species using sequence similarity searching. This study could provide new insights into the relationship among plant-pathogenic, humanpathogenic, and endophytic bacteria.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.508-513
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• 2017

The complete genome sequence of a Slovak SL-1 isolate of Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) was determined from the next generation sequencing (NGS) data, further confirming a limited sequence divergence in this tobamovirus species. Tomato genotypes Monalbo, Mobaci and Moperou, respectively carrying the susceptible tm-2 allele or the Tm-1 and Tm-2 resistant alleles, were tested for their susceptibility to ToMV SL-1. Although the three tomato genotypes accumulated ToMV SL-1 to similar amounts as judged by semiquantitative DAS-ELISA, they showed variations in the rate of infection and symptomatology. Possible differences in the intra-isolate variability and polymorphism between viral populations propagating in these tomato genotypes were evaluated by analysis of the capsid protein (CP) encoding region. Irrespective of genotype infected, the intra-isolate haplotype structure showed the presence of the same highly dominant CP sequence and the low level of population diversity (0.08-0.19%). Our results suggest that ToMV CP encoding sequence is relatively stable in the viral population during its replication in vivo and provides further demonstration that RNA viruses may show high sequence stability, probably as a result of purifying selection.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 1997

Simple sequence repeats (SSR) are widely dispersed throughout eukaryotic genomes, highly polymorphic, and easily typed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The objective of this study was to determine the polymorphism of different Chlamydomonas reinhartdtii strains and to determine the mode of inheritance of the SSR locus in Chlamydomonas. A genomic DNA library of C. reinhardtii was constructed and screened with a radiolabeled $(AC)_{11}$ probe for the selection of (CA/GT)n repeat clone. Selected clone was seqeuenced, and PCR primer set flanking (CA/GT)n sequence was constructed. PCR was used to specifically amplify the SSR locus from multiple isolates of C. reinhardtii. The locus was polymorphic in some of the C. reinhardtii isolates. However, the locus was amplified only 4 of 6 isolates of C. reinhardtii, not in other 2 isolates of C. reinhardtii, suggesting that this locus is not extensively conserved. A simple Mendelian inheritance pattern was found, which showed 2:2 segregation in the tetrads resulting from a cross between C. reinhardtii and C. smithii. Our results suggest that this simple sequence repeat DNA polymorphism will be useful for identity testing, population studies, linkage analysis, and genome mapping in Chlamydomonas.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.267-271
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• 2004

Transformed sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv. Yulmi) plants were developed from embryogenic calli following Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A. tumefaciens strain EHA105/pCAMBIA2301 harboring genes for intron $\beta$-glucuronidase (GUS) and kanamycin resistance. Transient expression of GUS gene was found to be higher when embryogenic calli were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium for 2 days. The co-cultured embryogenic calli transferred to selective MS medium containing 1mg/L 2,4-D, 100mg/L kanamycin, and 400mg/L claforan. These embryogenic calli were subcultured to the same selection medium at 4 weeks interval. Kanamycin-resistant calli transferred to hormone-free MS medium with kanamycin gave rise to somatic embryos and then converted into plantlets in the same medium. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the GUS gene was inserted into the genome of the sweetpotato plants. A histochemical assay revealed that the GUS gene was preferentially expressed in the leaf, petiole, and vascular tissue and tip of root.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.409-413
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• 2015

To enhance phytoremediation, which removes heavy metal from soil, transgenic plants were applied to contaminated soil. We constructed a transformation vector expressing both $TgMTP_1$ (T. goesingense metal tolerance protein):HA and TgMTP:GFP genes. Transgenic plants were generated using an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system that expressed the two vectors. Screening and analysis confirmed the incorporation of foreign genes into the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. Callus was induced in the 116 T3 line. These transgenic plants and calli were used for further analyses on the accumulation of Ni. The 116 T3-line plants and calli from selected lines were resistant to heavy metals and accumulated Ni in their leaves. The expression level of TgMTP RNA was equal in all leaves, but protein stability increased in the leaves with Ni treatment. According to these results, we suggest that $TgMTP_1$-overexpressing plants may be useful for phytoremediation of soil.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2007

The full-length cDNA of LeAPR1 encoded a protein of 461 amino acid residues, which contained homology with phosphoadenosine phosphosulphate reductase (PAPS reductase) in N-terminal and an adenylylsulfate reductase in N-term and C-terminal. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of LeAPR1 revealed that it shares high sequence identity with potato StAPR (96% identity)(Gene bank accession no. CDC44841). We found that multiple copies of LeAPR1 gene are present in the tomato genome through southern blot using genomic DNA was digested with 3 different restriction enzymes. The expression of LeAPR1 was also examined in various organs and its expression was also detected at high levels in roots and stems. Only high amounts of LeAPR1 transcripts were detected at high transcripts in the leaves at time 0, and then reduced as the plant stressed by the NaCl and abscisic acid (ABA). After 24h treatment of NaCl and ABA were showed increasing patterns of LeAPR1 gene. Time course of LeAPR1 gene expression was examined under oxidative stresses from metyl viologen (MV) and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$). In the presence of 10 mM $H_2O_2$ and $50\;{\mu}M$ MV, the levels of LeAPR1 transcript in leaves decreased after 1 h, and then increased strongly, peaked at 24 h. Our results indicated that LeAPR1 may play a role function of circadian regulation involved in abiotic stresses signaling pathways.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2008

In total, 1,142 serum samples were collected from 223 goat flocks rising in five different regions of Korea. These samples were screened for the presence of border disease virus (BDV) antibodies using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Of the 1,142 samples, we found 47 bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) positive cases (4.1%). These positive serum samples were also examined further by using the virus neutralization test against BDV. In addition, samples were tested for both BVDV and classical swine fever virus (CSFV). All of the samples that were seropositive for BDV also demonstrated positive antibody titers against BVDV and CSFV. Due to their common antigenicity, we also determined further the prevalence and carried out virus neutralization test against three pestiviruses: 314 of the goat samples were screened using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with primer pairs specific to common pestivirus genome regions. Overall, 1.6% (5/314) of the samples tested was positive for pestivirus. Based on the nucleotide sequence data and the phylogenetic analysis, three isolates were characterized as BVDV type 1 and two isolates as BVDV type 2. However, none of the isolates could be classified as BDV. These results indicate that BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 are the pestivirus strains circulating among Korean goat populations.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.188-193
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• 2011

As a specific and effective therapeutic genetic material against hepatitis C virus (HCV) multiplication, HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-targeting hammerhead ribozyme which activity is allosterically regulated by HCV regulatory protein, NS5B RNA replicase, was constructed. The allosteric ribozyme was composed of sequence of RNA aptamer to HCV NS5B, communication module sequence which can transfer structural transition for inducing ribozyme activity upon binding NS5B to the aptamer, and sequence of ribozyme targeting +382 nucleotide of HCV IRES. With real-time PCR analysis, the ribozyme was found to efficiently inhibit HCV replicon replication in cells. Of note, the allosteric ribozyme was shown to inhibit HCV replicon replication more efficiently than either HCV genome-targeting ribozyme or NS5B aptamer only. This allosteric ribozyme can be used as a lead genetic agent for the specific and effective suppression of HCV replication.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.855-862
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• 2010

Among the known interferon-induced antiviral mechanisms, the Mx pathway is one of the most powerful pathways. The Mx protein has direct antiviral activity and inhibits a wide range of viruses by blocking an early stage of the viral replication cycle. Cloning, characterization, and expression of Mx in vivo and in vitro have been conducted. The chicken Mx gene spans 21 kb and is made up of 14 exons and 13 introns, of which the promoter region was analyzed. The real-time PCR results showed that Mx expression was increased in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) after 12- and 24-h induction with polyI: C. Induction of Mx expression by poly I: C in vivo revealed tissue-specific patterns among the chicken tissues tested. A trace expression of Mx was detected in healthy chicken liver tissues from adult chickens without inducement; the expression levels in the liver, heart, and gizzard were higher than in the muscle and kidney. This is the first report to demonstrate the expression of a glutathione-S-transferase-tagged-Mx fusion protein of 75 KDa, as well as the biological activity tested by SDS-PAGE and western blotting.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2005

In this study we developed the transposon-mediated shuttle vector 'Hanpvid', which composed of HaNPV (Heliothis armigera nuclear polyhedrosis virus) genomic DNA and a transposon cassette from Bacmid of Bac-to-Bac system. Hanpvid replicates in E. coli in the same way as Bacmid and retains infective function in cotton bollworm cells (Hz-AM1). Using Hanpvid we constructed a recombinant virus, which could infect Hz-AM1 cells and generate recombinant HaNPV (rHa-Bar) containing the barnase gene, a ribonuclease gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Since the expression vector carrying barnase gene cannot replicate in the absence of barstar, a specific inhibitor of barnase, we constructed a new cotton bollworm cell line (AM1-NB) using the marker rescue method. In AM1-NB barstar was integrated into the cellular chromosome to sustain the replication of rHa-Bar. To screen out recombinant HaNPV for potential use as biopesticide, Hz-AM1 and AM1-NB cell lines were infected with rHa-Bar, respectively. The results obtained indicate that Viral progenies in AM1-NB were 23 and 160 times greater than those in Hz-AM1 48 h and 72 h after infection, respectively. With additional insertion of the polyhedron gene from AcNPV (Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus) into the Hanpvid genome, rHa-Bar regained the polyhedron phenotype and its pest-killing rate greatly improved. Toxic analysis showed that the lethal dosages ($LD_{50}$) and the lethal time(s) ($LT_{50}$) of rHa-Bar were reduced by 20% and 30%, respectively, compared to wt-HaNPV in the third instar larvae of cotton bollworm. This study shows that in AM1-NB barnase can be effectively produced and used as pest-killing agent for the biological control of cotton pests.