• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.296-302
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• 2011

Insect-resistant transgenic rice was developed by inserting the mCry1Ac1 a modified gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). For biosafety assessment, we studied the effects on survival of cantor Daphnia magna, a commonly used as a model organism in ecotoxicological studies. D. magna fed on Bt rice and its near non-genetically modified (GM) counterparts (Nakdong) grown in the same environment (100% ground rice suspension). The Bt rice was comfirmed to have the insertion of T-DNA and protein expression by the polymerase chain reaction and ELISA analysis. Feeding study showed similar cumulative immobility and abnormal response of D. magna between Bt rice and non-GM counterparts. 48 h-$EC_{50}$ values of Bt rice and non-GM rice showed 4,429 and 2,889 mg/L respectively. The rice no observed effect concentration (NOEC) values for D. magna was suggested 1,000 mg/L. We conclude that the tested Bt-rice and Nakdong similar cumulative immobility for D. magna the widely used model organism. We found out that there is strong possibility that the growth of Bt rice didn't affect to non-target insects.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2018

Background: BIOGF1K, a compound-K-rich fraction, has been shown to display anti-inflammatory activity. Although Panax ginseng is widely used for the prevention of photoaging events induced by UVB irradiation, the effect of BIOGF1K on photoaging has not yet been examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of BIOGF1K on UVB-induced photoaging events. Methods: We analyzed the ability of BIOGF1K to prevent UVB-induced apoptosis, enhance matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, upregulate anti-inflammatory activity, reduce sirtuin 1 expression, and melanin production using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, melanin content assay, tyrosinase assay, and flow cytometry. We also evaluated the effects of BIOGF1K on the activator protein-1 signaling pathway, which plays an important role in photoaging, by immunoblot analysis and luciferase reporter gene assays. Results: Treatment of UVB-irradiated NIH3T3 fibroblasts with BIOGF1K prevented UVB-induced cell death, inhibited apoptosis, suppressed morphological changes, reduced melanin secretion, restored the levels of type I procollagen and sirtuin 1, and prevented mRNA upregulation of MMP-1, MMP-2, and cyclo-oxygenase-2; these effects all occurred in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, BIOGF1K markedly reduced activator-protein-1-mediated luciferase activity and decreased the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (extracellular response kinase, p38, and C-Jun N-terminal kinase). Conclusion: Our results strongly suggest that BIOGF1K has anti-photoaging activity and that BIOGF1K could be used in anti-aging cosmeceutical preparations.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 2020

Silver croaker (Pennahia argentata) is a turbulent species that is widely distributed worldwide and is mainly found in the bottom of the ocean. In the study, we characterized the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) on P. argentata inhabiting Gwangyang Bay and analyzed the phylogenetic location of marine fish species. As a result of multiple arrangement of 605 bp COI sequences, high homology of mtDNA nucleotide sequences was confirmed in the silver croakers from Gwangyang Bay (98~100%). However, the nucleotide variation was different according to the catching points of the inland and the open seas of Gwangyang Bay. The nucleotide sequence variation in COI was high in P. argentata from the open seas of Gwangyang Bay (43.2~70.3%). Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of 13 fish showed that P. argentata from Gwangyang Bay were grouped into one clade with P. argentata reported in Taiwan, and the evolutionary distance was 0.036. In addition, it was identified that the evolutionary distance was close to that of fish belonging to the Mi-iuy croaker (Miichthys miiuy) and the Big-head pennah croaker (Pennahia Macrocephalus) (0.041~0.048). The result of these studies will be used as the key genetic information for fisheries resources monitoring and species diversity management according to the coastal environment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.770-776
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropin hormone (rJeGTH) produced in silkworms, with and without a carboxyl-terminal peptide from equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), on the induction of sexual maturation in female eels Anguilla japonica. Experiments were conducted both in vivo and in vitro. In in vitro trials, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) induction did not significantly differ between rJeFSH and $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments and the control group. However, previous studies did find that rJeLH and $rJeLH{\cdot}eCG$ treatments induced GVBD in female eels. Our in vitro exploration of $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels in immature ovarian tissues revealed significantly higher $E_2$ levels in the group treated with $rJeFSH{\cdot}eCG$ $1{\mu}g/mL$ than in the control group. In contrast, the in vivo experiments showed no effect of recombinant hormones on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. Previous studies and our own in vitro results have clearly shown that rJeGTH and $rJeGTH{\cdot}eCG$ have a positive effect on the sexual maturation of feminized eels. To develop the activity of rJeGTH in vivo, further studies should confirm circulation time and activity of these hormones in eels' bloodstream, modify the structure of the recombinant gene, and implement additional glycosylation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2010

Canine coronavirus (CCV) is a cause of sporadic outbreaks of enteritis in dogs. This study was performed to carry out epidemiological investigation on the recent outbreaks of CCV enteritis of dogs and determined the potential prognostic factors affecting the survival of dogs. The 131 (34.4%) out of 381 fecal samples collected from dogs with enteritis were positive for CCV by RT-PCR. The fecal samples contained genotype I (30.5%), genotype II (29.0%), and both genotypes (40.5%) of CCV. The majority of dogs with CCV infection ranged 6-18 weeks of age. Age over 18 weeks was significantly associated with higher survival rate (P < 0.05). Of the clinical signs examined, dogs without anorexia were significantly higher survival rate (P < 0.01). The 90.1% of dogs with CCV infection were co-infected by CCV and CPV-2. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that CCV infection is widespread in the Korean dog population and CCV may be attributed to be one of the important agents causing enteritis in pups.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2016

MiR399f plays a crucial role in maintaining phosphate homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Under phosphate starvation conditions, AtMYB2, which plays a role in plant salt and drought stress responses, directly regulates the expression of miR399f. In this study, we found that miR399f also participates in plant responses to abscisic acid (ABA), and to abiotic stresses including salt and drought. Salt and ABA treatment induced the expression of miR399f, as confirmed by histochemical analysis of promoter-GUS fusions. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing miR399f (miR399f-OE) exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt stress and exogenous ABA, but hypersensitivity to drought. Our in silico analysis identified ABF3 and CSP41b as putative target genes of miR399f, and expression analysis revealed that mRNA levels of ABF3 and CSP41b decreased remarkably in miR399f-OE plants under salt stress and in response to treatment with ABA. Moreover, we showed that activation of stress-responsive gene expression in response to salt stress and ABA treatment was impaired in miR399f-OE plants. Thus, these results suggested that in addition to phosphate starvation signaling, miR399f might also modulates plant responses to salt, ABA, and drought, by regulating the expression of newly discovered target genes such as ABF3 and CSP41b.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.912-923
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• 2016

Watermelon production is often limited by powdery mildew in areas with a large daily temperature range. Development of resistant watermelon cultivars can protect against powdery mildew; however, little is known about the characteristics of its causal agents. Here, we identified the genus and race of a causal pathogen of powdery mildew in Ansung province of South Korea, and developed molecular markers for the generation of resistant watermelon cultivars. The causal pathogen was determined to be Podosphaera xanthii based on multiple sequence alignments of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of rDNA. The physiological race was identified as 1W, and the Ansung isolate was named P. xanthii 1W-AN. Following inoculation with the identified P. xanthii 1W-AN, we found inheritance of the resistant gene fitting a single dominant Mendelian model in a segregated population ('SBA' ${\times}$ PI 254744). To develop molecular markers linked to fungus-resistant loci, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was accomplished between DNA pooled from eight near-isogenic lines (NILs; $BC_4F_6$), originated from PI 254744 and susceptible 'SBB' watermelon. After sequencing bands from RAPD were identified in all eight NILs and PI254744, 42 sequence-characterized amplifiedregion (SCAR) markers were developed. Overall, 107 $F_2$ plants derived from $BC_4F_6$ NIL-1 ${\times}$ 'SBB' were tested, and one SCAR marker was selected. Sequence comparison between the SCAR marker and the reference watermelon genome identified three Nco I restriction enzyme sites harboring a single nucleotide polymorphism, and codominant cleavage-amplified polymorphic site markers were subsequently developed. A CAPS marker was converted to a high-resolution melt (HRM) marker, which can discriminate C/T SNP (254PMR-HRM3). The 254PMR-HRM3 marker was evaluated in 138 $F_{2:3}$ plants of a segregating population ('SBA' ${\times}$ PI254744) and was presumed to be 4.3 cM from the resistance locus. These results could ensure P. xanthii 1W-AN resistance in watermelon germplasm and aid watermelon cultivar development in marker-assist breeding programs.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.275-287
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• 2010

Deep caries may induce pulpitis and the pulpal tissue interacts with microbial invasion. The immune response to protect the pulpal tissue can be mediated by cellular signal molecules produced by the pulpal cells. The understanding of these processes is important to find future therapeutic method for the diseased pulp. The pulp tissue from sound teeth was set as control group (n=30) and the pulp tissue from decayed teeth was set as test group (n=30). Total RNA was extracted from the pulp of each group and it was used for cDNA microarray and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ was studied by immunohistochemistry. The results were as follows: 1. cDNA microarray analysis identified 520 genes with 6-fold or greater difference in expression level with 143 genes more abundant in health and 377 genes more abundant in disease. 2. The RT-PCR analysis was done for randomly selected 14 genes and the results supported the result of cDNA microarray assay. 3. TGF-${\beta}1$ was highly expressed in the carious pulp and it was found in odontoblast by immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, many cytokines were found to be significantly changed their expression in the diseased pulp(/M/>1.6).

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2017

The human skin is an ecosystem that provides habitat to various microorganisms. These comprise the skin microbiome and provide numerous benefits in addition to maintaining a symbiotic relation with the host. Various metabolites generated by the skin microbiome exert beneficial effects such as strengthening the skin barrier, and anti-aging and anti-inflammatory functions. In this study, we isolated a novel bacterium, designated Sporichthyacae strain K-07, from the human skin. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the newly found bacterium shares 93.4% homology with the genus Sporichthya, thus corroborating the discovery of a novel genus. We further analyzed the effect of the novel strain in vitro, by treating HaCaT cells with bacterial metabolite products. Treatment resulted in changes in the mRNA expression levels of filaggrin, claudin1, claudin4, SMase, CERS3, HAS3, aquaporin3, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, TSLP, and TARC. Specifically, the levels of filaggrin, claudin1, claudin4, SMase, CERS3, HAS3, and aquaporin3 were higher in strain K-07 metabolite product-treated cells than in control cells. These results showed that metabolite products of the novel strain K-07 enhanced the skin barrier and exert anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, these metabolite products could be potentially used for treatment of skin conditions.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2006

Flavanone 3$\beta$-hydroxylase (FHT) is an enzyme acting in the central part of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. FHT catalyses the hydroxylation of flavanone to dihydroflavonols in the anthocyanin pathway. In this paper we describe the cloning and expression of the genes encoding the flavonoid-biosynthetic enzyme FHT in Gypsophila paniculata L. A heterologous cDHA probe from Dianthus cavophyllus was used to isolate FHT-encoding cDHA clones from Gypsophila paniculata L.. Inspection of the 1471 bp long sequence revealed an open reading frame 1047 bp, including a 190 bp 5' leader region and 288 bp 3' untranslated region. Comparison of the coding region of this FHT cDHA sequence including the sequences of Arabidopsis thaliana, Citrus sinensis, Dianthus caryophyllus, Ipomoea batatas, Matthiola incana, Nierembergia sp, Petunia hybrida, Solanum tuberosum, Vitis vinifera reveals a identity higher than 69% at the nucleotide level. The function of this nucleotide sequences were verified by comparison with amino acid sequences of the amino-terminus and tryptic peptides from purified plant enzyme, by northern blotting with mRHA from wild type and mutant plants, by in vitro expression yielding and enzymatically active hydroxylase, as indicated by the small dihydrokaempferol peak. Genomic southern blot analysis showed the presence of only one gene for FHT in Gypsophila paniculata.