• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2011

Elsholtzia hallasanensis, E. springia, and E. splendens var. fasciflora (Lamiaceae) were reported recently as new species or new varieties of E. splendens according to their morphological characteristics. To reappraise the taxonomic status of these additional taxa and to determine the relationships between all Korean Elsholtzia taxa except E. saxatilis, which is distributed in North Korea, molecular studies based on the nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA (rpl16, and trnH-psbA) sequences of seven taxa of Elsholtzia and one outgroup were carried out. The molecular data support that E. angustifolia and E. minima are distinct species from E. splendens and E. ciliata, respectively, because they have several private marker genes and show monophyly. The molecular data also support that E. splendens has a very close taxonomic relationship with both E. hallasanensis and E. springia. We found that E. splendens var. fasciflora, with multiple inflorescence, was based on several private marker genes and on the monophyly of its trees, suggesting that it can be considered as a variety. Elsholtzia springia, with the same sequences and the same morphological characteristics with E. hallasanensis after transplanting, should be treated as a synonym of E. hallasanensis. Moreover, we consider the taxonomic status of E. hallasanensis as E. splendens var. hallasanensis (Y. Lee) N.S. Lee & C.S. Lee, stat. nov.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8679-8684
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• 2014

CD133 was recently reported to be a cancer stem cell and prognostic marker. Quercetin is considered as a potential chemopreventive agent due to its involvement in suppression of oxidative stress, proliferation and metastasis. In this study, the expression of CD133/CD44 in esophageal carcinomas and Eca109/9706 cells was explored. In immunoflurorescence the locations of $CD133^+$ and multidrug resistance 1 $(MDR1)^+$ in the same E-cancer cells were coincident, mainly in cytomembranes. In esophageal squamous cell carcinomas detected by double/single immunocytochemistry, small $CD133^+$ cells were located in the basal layer of stratified squamous epithelium, determined as CSLC (cancer stem like cells); $CD44^+$ surrounding the cells appeared in diffuse pattern, and the larger $CD44^+$ (hi) cells were mainly located in the prickle cell layer of the epithelium, as progenitor cells. In E-cancer cells exposed to nanoliposomal quercetin (nLQ with cytomembrane permeability), down-regulation of NF-${\kappa}Bp65$, histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and cyclin D1 and up-regulation of caspase-3 were shown by immunoblotting, and attenuated HDAC1 with nuclear translocation and promoted E-cadherin expression were demonstrated by immunocytochemistry. In particular, enhanced E-cadherin expression reflected the reversed epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) capacity of nLQ, acting as cancer attenuator/preventive agent. nLQ acting as an HDAC inhibitor induced apoptotic cells detected by TUNEL assay mediated via HDAC-NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling. Apoptotic effects of liposomal quercetin (LQ, with cytomembrane-philia) combined with CD133 antiserum were also detected by CD133 immunocytochemistry combined with TUNEL assay. The combination could induce greater apoptotic effects than nLQ induced alone, suggesting a novel anti-CSC treatment strategy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.326-329
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• 2017

Background: Cultivated ginseng is often introduced as a substitute and adulterant of Russian wild ginseng due to its lower cost or misidentification caused by similarity in appearance with wild ginseng. The aim of this study is to develop a simple and reliable method to differentiate Russian wild ginseng from cultivated ginseng. Methods: The mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7 (nad7) intron 3 regions of Russian wild ginseng and Chinese cultivated ginseng were analyzed. Based on the multiple sequence alignment result, a specific primer for Russian wild ginseng was designed by introducing additional mismatch and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for identification of wild ginseng. Real-time allele-specific PCR with endpoint analysis was used for validation of the developed Russian wild ginseng single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker. Results: An SNP site specific to Russian wild ginseng was exploited by multiple alignments of mitochondrial nad7 intron 3 regions of different ginseng samples. With the SNP-based specific primer, Russian wild ginseng was successfully discriminated from Chinese and Korean cultivated ginseng samples by allele-specific PCR. The reliability and specificity of the SNP marker was validated by checking 20 individuals of Russian wild ginseng samples with real-time allele-specific PCR assay. Conclusion: An effective DNA method for molecular discrimination of Russian wild ginseng from Chinese and Korean cultivated ginseng was developed. The established real-time allele-specific PCR was simple and reliable, and the present method should be a crucial complement of chemical analysis for authentication of Russian wild ginseng.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.431-439
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• 2009

Rice Oryza sativa accelerated cell death and resistance 1 (OsACDR1) encodes a putative Raf-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK). We had previously reported upregulation of the OsACDR1 transcript by a range of environmental stimuli involved in eliciting defense-related pathways. Here we apply biochemical, gain and loss-of-function approaches to characterize OsACDR1 function in rice. The OsACDR1 protein showed autophosphorylation and possessed kinase activity. Rice plants overexpressing OsACDR1 exhibited spontaneous hypersensitive response (HR)-like lesions on leaves, upregulation of defense-related marker genes and accumulation of phenolic compounds and secondary metabolites (phytoalexins). These transgenic plants also acquired enhanced resistance to a fungal pathogen (Magnaporthe grisea) and showed inhibition of appressorial penetration on the leaf surface. In contrast, loss-of-function and RNA silenced OsACDR1 rice mutant plants showed downregulation of defense-related marker genes expressions and susceptibility to M. grisea. Furthermore, transient expression of an OsACDR1:GFP fusion protein in rice protoplast and onion epidermal cells revealed its localization to the nucleus. These results indicate that OsACDR1 plays an important role in the positive regulation of disease resistance in rice.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2020

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) is a representative marker for inflammation. Silk sericin is known as mild TNFα inducer. The purpose of this study was to compare the level of TNFα among different fractions of silk sericin. Silk sericin was extracted from cocoon and separated it by molecular weight. Each fraction was applied to RAW264.7 cells. The level of TNFα was evaluated by western blot and ELISA assay. In results, the level of TNFα was increased as time-dependent manner. Higher molecular weight fraction of sericin induced higher amount of TNFα than lower molecular weight fraction. In conclusion, different molecular weight fraction of sericin induced TNFα differently.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.575-584
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• 2014

Potassium is a macronutrient that is crucial for healthy plant growth. Potassium availability, however, is often limited in agricultural fields and thus crop yields and quality are reduced. Therefore, improving the efficiency of potassium uptake and transport, as well as its utilization, in plants is important for agricultural sustainability. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in potassium uptake and transport in plants, and the molecular response of plants to different levels of potassium availability. Based on this information, four strategies for improving potassium use efficiency in plants are proposed; 1) increased root volume, 2) increasing efficiency of potassium uptake from the soil and translocation in planta, 3) increasing mobility of potassium in soil, and 4) molecular breeding new varieties with greater potassium efficiency through marker assisted selection which will require identification and utilization of potassium associated quantitative trait loci.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.225-233
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• 2007

To verify which loop regions of 18S rRNA gene are suitable as species-specific genetic markers in ciliates, we analyzed the genetic variation of 18S rRNA gene among 9 Euplotes species (Hypotrichia : Ciliophora). In our result, no inter-specific variation was detected from V1, V3 and V5 regions, and the length of V7 and V8 are 44 bp and 79 bp, respectively, which are too short to make genetic marker. In contrast, V2 and V4 may be good candidate segments of species-specific diagnostic molecular markers because these two regions are most variable ($1.75{\sim}20.61%$) and showed good inter-specific phylogeny. Furthermore, the sequences of V2 and V4 are 123 bp and 306 bp, respectively in length which are enough to make species-specific marker.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.355-360
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• 2004

In Korean beef market, one of the major problems is mislabeling or fraudulent distribution of Holstein dairy meat or imported beef as domestic Hanwoo meat. Therefore, there has been a great need for a development of technology to identify beef breeds in meat and meat products. This study was carried out to develop the accurate and reliable method for the identification of beef breed using PCR-RFLP marker of MC1R, MGF and TYRPl genes affecting coat colors in cattle. A single base substitution (G\longrightarrowT transition) at the codon for amino acid position 104 of MC1R gene was identified between Hanwoo and Holstein and Angus breeds. The change at this position creates Msp I restriction site in Holstein and Angus, but not in Hanwoo. When the DNA amplified products (537 bp) was digested with Msp I, Hanwoo meat showed a single band of 537bp, while two fragments of 329bp and 208 bp were observed in Holstein meat and Angus breed, respectively. Thus, breed-specific RFLP marker in the MC1R gene can be used to distinguish between Hanwoo meat and Holstein and Angus meats. In the RFLP genotype of MGF gene, the frequency of r/r type was 75％ in Manwoo, whereas the frequency of R/R was 80％ in Hereford breed. Holstein and Angus breeds showed 100％ for R/r type. Therefore, Hanwoo meat showed significant difference in the MGF genotype frequencies compared with those of Holstein meat and imported beef cattle breeds. However, TYRP1 gene showed the same genotype in all breeds examined. Thus, this TYRP1 gene can not be used as a molecular marker for breed identification. As a consequence, we suggest that RFLP markers of the MC1R and MGF coat color genes could be used as DNA marker for identification of Hanwoo meat from Holstein and imported meats.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.661-666
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• 2009

Porcine pancreas development is not well studied at the molecular level despite being a therapeutic resource for diabetic patients. In this study, we investigated expression of lineage markers and performed proteomic analysis. Expression of the early lineage markers Pdx1 and Ptf1a was developmentally conserved between mice and pigs, whereas expression of the islet differentiation marker Pax4 was delayed in porcine compared with murine pancreas development. Proteomic analysis found that expression levels of chymotrypsinogen were down-regulated during porcine pancreas development while those of digestive enzymes like lipases, elastase and serine protease were up-regulated. In addition, specific isoforms of protein folding assistants such as protein disulfide isomerase and prefoldin were expressed at specific stages during the maturation of digestive enzymes. Taken together, these results show that development of the porcine pancreas is regulated by a concerted interplay of pancreas lineage marker proteins and other specified proteins, resulting in a functional endocrine and exocrine organ.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2017

Red rot disease has caused a major decline in Pyropia (Nori) crop production in Korea, Japan, and China. To date, only Pythium porphyrae (Pythiales, Oomycetes) has been reported as the pathogen causing red rot disease in Pyropia yezoensis (Rhodophyta, Bangiales). Recently, Pythium chondricola was isolated from the infected blades of Py. yezoensis during molecular analyses using the mitochondrial cox1 region. In this study, we evaluated the pathogenicity of P. chondricola as an algal pathogen of Py. yezoensis. Moreover, a new cox2 marker was developed with high specificity for Pythium species. Subsequent to re-inoculation, P. chondricola successfully infected Py. yezoensis blades, with the infected regions containing symptoms of red rot disease. A novel cox2 marker successfully isolated the cox2 region of Pythium species from the infected blades of Py. yezoensis collected from Pyropia aquaculture farms. cox2 sequences showed 100% identity with that of P. chondricola (KJ595354) and 98% similarity with that of P. porphyrae (KJ595377). The results of the pathogenicity test and molecular analysis confirm that P. chondricola is a new algal pathogen causing red rot disease in Pyropia species. Moreover, it could also suggest the presence of cryptic biodiversity among Korean Pythium species.