• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.813-819
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• 2014

The spatial distribution of geographical distances at five natural populations of Camellia japonica in Busan, Korea was studied. The four plots (Mollundae, Gadeok-do, Du-do, and Jwiseum) of C. japonica were uniformly distributed in the forest community and only one plot (Amnam-dong) was aggregately distributed in the forest community. Morisita index is related to the patchiness index showed that the plot $20m{\times}50m$ had an overly steep slope when the area was larger than $20m{\times}20m$, which indicated that the degree of aggregation increased significantly with increasing quadrat sizes, while the patchiness indices did not change from the plot $5m{\times}10m$ to $10m{\times}10m$. The spatial structure was quantified by Moran's I, a coefficient of spatial autocorrelation. Ten of the significant values (76.9%) were positive, indicating similarity among individuals in the first 4 distance classes (80 m), i.e., pairs of individuals with dissimilarity characteristics can separate by more than 100 m.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.100-105
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• 2008

Glycogen synthase kinase $3{\beta}$ (GSK $3{\beta}$) is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates substrates such as ${\beta}$-catenin and is involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, metabolism, tumorigenesis, and cell death. Here, we present evidence that human GSK $3{\beta}$ is associated with Fe65, which has the characteristics of an adaptor protein, possessing a WW domain, and two phosphotyrosine interaction domains, PID1 and PID2. The GSK $3{\beta}$ catalytic domain also contains a putative WW domain binding motif ($^{371}PPLA^{374}$), and we observed, using a pull down approach and co-immunoprecipitation, that it interacts physically with Fe65 via this motif. In addition, we detected co-localization of GSK $3{\beta}$ and Fe65 by confocal microscopy, and this co-localization was disrupted by mutation of the putative WW domain binding motif of GSK $3{\beta}$. Finally, in transient transfection assays interaction of GSK $3{\beta}$ (wt) with Fe65 induced substantial cell apoptosis, whereas interaction with the GSK $3{\beta}$ AALA mutant ($^{371}AALA^{374}$) did not, and we noted that phosphorylation of the Tyr 216 residue of the GSK $3{\beta}$ AALA mutant was significantly reduced compared to that of GSK $3{\beta}$ wild type. Thus, our observations indicate that GSK $3{\beta}$ binds to Fe65 through its $^{371}PPLA^{374}$ motif and that this interaction regulates apoptosis and phosphorylation of Tyr 216 of GSK $3{\beta}$.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.633-637
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• 1994

A bacterial strain KSM-35 producing maltotetraose forming amylase was isolated from compost and identified as Streptomyces based on its morphological, cultural, and physiological characteristics. The amylase from Streptomyces sp. KSM-35 culture filtrate was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by the liquid chromatographic procedures using DEAE-Toyo pearl and sephadex G-100 with 27.1% activity recovery. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 50,000 and the isoelectric point 4.3. The main product by the amylase from soluble starch was maltotetraose which accounted for 56% of all the oligosaccharides detected after 26 hrs of reaction. Maltose (20%o) and maltotriose (16%) were the next important byproducts while glucose and maltopentaose were detected as traces.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 1999

The car washing effluent containing various oils and detergent was treated by ultrafiltration membranes. Dead-end type stirred cell (Amicon 8050) with 10, 30 and lOOk dalton membranes was used to determine permeation and rejection characteristics for the car washing effluent. In case of low molecular weight cut-off membranes, the effect of membrane fouling was weak under the applied pressures. However, the permeation flux for YM100 membrane(look dalton) may be affected by oil layer formation on the membrane surface as well as oil particle plugging for a part of membrane pores due to compressible and deformable oil properties. Oil and particle rejections in the permeates were over 95%, but detergent was passed easily through the membranes. Hence, the permeates containing detergent can be recycled to the system, and may reduce water pollution. Also, the car washing effluent was treated continuously by a capillary type ultrafiltration membrane of MWCO 50k dalton. The experimental data were fitted suitably to the cake filtration model.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2010

Single cell PCR analysis and light and scanning electron microscopic techniques were utilized to identify free living bivalve larvae in the coastal waters of Tae-an, on the west coast of Korea. Through DNA sequencing, venerid clam larvae were isolated and identified as Ruditapes philippinarum (99% similarity) and Meretrix lusoria (99%). Under microscopic observation, the D-veliger stage of R. philippinarum exhibited symmetrical shoulder angles and an elliptical ventral form. In contrast, M. lusoria displayed asymmetrical shoulder angles and a round ventral form in the umbonal stage. Size of the R. philippinarum larvae was $156{\pm}22{\mu}m$ in length, $126{\pm}12{\mu}m$ in height, $92{\pm}14{\mu}m$ in width with a length: height ratio of 1.23. Meretrix lusoria was $202{\pm}44{\mu}m$ in length, $161{\pm}35{\mu}m$ in height, $96{\pm}38{\mu}m$ in width with a length: height ratio of 1.25. Experimental results indicate that morphological and molecular characteristics provide evidence for the larval identification of these two venerid clam larvae species in nature.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.88-91
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• 1985

For the systematic investigation of biochemical characteristics of Korean ginseng protein, protein fractions were analyzed by the techniques of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The effect of pH and various salts on extractibility of ginseng protein were determined while the amino acid composition was studied by amino acid autoanalyzer. The protein was consisted of 66.08% of albumin and 20.51% of glutelin. Extractability of ginseng protein was the lowest in pH 3.0 and the highest in $pH\;6.0{\sim}8.0$. Among the neutral salts solution, $0.4M\;Na_2CO_3$ showed maximum extractability while $1.0M\;MgSO_4$ solution showed the least extractability. Resonable precipitation was obtained by 40% of acetone and ammonium sulfate. It has been shown by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis that the soluble protein had 11 bands. The molecular weight for the main protein of the soluble protein wasestimated to be 43,000. In amino acid composition of water extracted protein, arginine content was the highest 47.17% while on the contray, proline and cystine contents were very low.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.143-152
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• 2001

Korean-style fermented soybean paste (KFSP), Doenjang, is a traditional food that is consumed as a protein source in Korea. Recently, efforts to identify biolgocial response modifiers (BRMs) have been focused on food products. Accordingly, this study which isolated abiologically active substance form KFSP, named KFSP-BRM, ws defined to be aheat-stable carbohydrate with a molecular weight of 2,000 kDa. The biological activity of KFSP-BRM was not inactivated by treatment with an anti-LPS antibody. The oral as well as intraperitoneal treatment of mice with KFSP-BRM significantly enhanced the number of B cells expressing surface significantly enhanced the number of B cells expressing surface immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG). Subsequently, an increased level of immunoglobulins in the sera was also observed. In vitro. KFSP-BRM was found to upregulate the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 by mactro phages and B cells but not the production of IL-2 by T cells. In conclusion, these data demonstrate the presence of a BRM in KFSP, which may provide an additional benefit to those consuming it is a food. KFSP-BRM is a novel B cellmitogen distinct from fresh soybean lectin or B cell mitogens, such as LPS and Streptococcus protein A. The major biological effects of KFSP-BRM would appear to be anincreased production of IL-1 and IL-6 by macrophages and B cells, thereby enhancing the function of mature B cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1993

Psychrotrophic bacterial strains utilizing crude oil as their sole carbon and energy sources were isolated from Antarctic soil and sea sediments. One of the strains named AI-I showed the hightest activity for emulsification of crude oil and the best growth. This strain was identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. A. calcoaceticus AI-I strain contains a plasmid (OCT plasmid) which was related to the utilization of alkane compounds. The molecular weight of this plasmid was estimated to be about 110 Md by agarose gel electrophoresis. The cured strain of A. calcoaceticus AI-I strain (OCT ) was not able to utilize normal hydrocarbon compounds ($C_6C_{17}$) as carbon and energy sources. A. ca/coaceticus AI-1 was resistant to ampicillin and sensitive to streptomycin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline. The results suggested that this strain carries a plasmid (OCT) responsible for oil utilization which is quite stable and might be concerned with antibiotics resistancy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.575-584
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• 2012

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that comprises four genetic lineages: I, II, III, and IV. Of these, lineage II is frequently recovered from foods and environments and responsible for the increasing incidence of human listeriosis. In this study, the phylogenetic structure of lineage II was determined through sequencing analysis of the ascB-dapE internalin cluster. Fifteen sequence types proposed by multilocus sequence typing based on nine housekeeping genes were grouped into three distinct sublineages, IIA, IIB, and IIC. Organization of the ascB-dapE internalin cluster could serve as a molecular marker for these sublineages, with inlGHE, inlGC2DE, and inlC2DE for IIA, IIB, and IIC, respectively. These sublineages displayed specific genetic and phenotypic characteristics. IIA and IIC showed a higher frequency of recombination (${\rho}/{\theta}$). However, recombination events had greater effect (r/m) on IIB, leading to its high nucleotide diversity. Moreover, IIA and IIB harbored a wider range of internalin and stress-response genes, and possessed higher nisin tolerance, whereas IIC contained the largest portion of low-virulent strains owing to premature stop codons in inlA. The results of this study indicate that IIA, IIB, and IIC might occupy different ecological niches, and IIB might have a better adaptation to a broad range of environmental niches.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2013

A novel bioactive molecule produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Bn1 (Bt-Bn1), isolated from a common pest of hazelnut, Balaninus nucum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was determined, purified, and characterized in this study. The Bt-Bn1 strain was investigated for antibacterial activity with an agar spot assay and well diffusion assay against B. cereus, B. weinhenstephenensis, L. monocytogenes, P. savastanoi, P. syringae, P. lemoignei, and many other B. thuringiensis strains. The production of bioactive molecule was determined at the early logarithmic phase in the growth cycle of strain Bt-Bn1 and its production continued until the beginning of the stationary phase. The mode of action of this molecule displayed bacteriocidal or bacteriolytic effect depending on the concentration. The bioactive molecule was purified 78-fold from the bacteria supernatant with ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and HPLC, respectively. The molecular mass of this molecule was estimated via SDS-PAGE and confirmed by the ESI-TOFMS as 3,139 Da. The bioactive molecule was also determined to be a heat-stable, pH-stable (range 6-8), and proteinase K sensitive antibacterial peptide, similar to bacteriocins. Based on all characteristics determined in this study, the purified bacteriocin was named as thuricin Bn1 because of the similarities to the previously identified thuricin-like bacteriocin produced by the various B. thuringiensis strains. Plasmid elution studies showed that gene responsible for the production of thuricin Bn1 is located on the chromosome of Bt-Bn1. Therefore, it is a novel bacteriocin and the first recorded one produced by an insect originated bacterium. It has potential usage for the control of many different pathogenic and spoilage bacteria in the food industry, agriculture, and various other areas.