• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1415-1420
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• 2017

The metallothionein (MT) gene (IbMT3) was selected from an EST library of suspension-cultured sweet potato cells. The MT gene, which is one of abundant ESTs in the library, is involved in stress regulation of cells and tissues. A full-length IbMT3 cDNA was obtained and analysis of its nucleotide sequence revealed that IbMT3 encoded a type 3 MT protein, based on its structural characteristics. The function of type 3 MT in plants is not yet known. Northern blot analysis showed stronger expression of IbMT3 in suspension-cultured cells than in sweet potato plant leaves. Since cell culture is known to impose a state of oxidative stress on cells, sweet potato plants were subjected to oxidative stress to investigate the transcriptional regulation of IbMT3. When the herbicide methyl viologen (MV) was administered for 6, 12, and 24 hr, IbMT3 transcription rapidly increased at 6 hr and then decreased. A cold treatment at $15^{\circ}C$ for 24 and 48 hr resulted in a gradual increase in IbMT3 expression. These findings indicate that IbMT3 expression is regulated in response to environmental and oxidative stress. IbMT3 isoform is expected to have antioxidant effects in sweet potato plants and may play an important role in cellular adaptation to oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Measles virus is a highly contagious, exanthematic virus, preventable by the use of an effective live-attenuated vaccine. However, measles virus remains endemic in many area of the world causing nearly 200,000 deaths per year and still a major cause of child mortality, mostly in developing countries. In March 2014, Republic of Korea was certified as a 'national measles elimination' by the WHO as a result of a high-quality case-based surveillance system and population immunity, which was achieved by a high vaccination rate (>95.0% since 1996). But, since the beginning of 2014, the Gyeonggi province has experienced a resurgence of measles cases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of measles viruses isolated from confirmed measles in Gyeonggi province during January 1, 2014 ~ July 31, 2014, 60 isolates were obtained from 72 confirmed measles specimens. Genotypic distributions and genetic diversities of isolated measles virus were analyzed by sequencing of nucleoprotein (N) gene. 58 (96.7%) imported cases were identified. The predominant genotype was B3, which reflects the circulating measles virus in adjacent countries. The sequences of nucleoprotein (N) gene of isolated MeV were showed that the strains characterized showed the highest degree of identity (99%) with the Philippine related strains in 2013-2014. Therefore, infected traveler returning from the Philippines transmitted secondary infection in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.313-327
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• 2006

This study investigated the geochernical characteristics of Mn scale formed in groundwater wells at the Damyang area. The composition of Mn scale consists mainly of MnO and $SiO_2$. The content of Mn ranges from56.61wt.% to 68.69wt.%, and $SiO_2$ content ranges from 1.56wt.% to 10.45wt.%. The contents of Mo and Ba in Mn scale increased with increased depth; whereas, the content of Zn and Pb decreased with increased depth. Birnessite, quartz and feldspars were identified in Mn scales using x-ray powder diffraction studies. The IR absorption bands for Mn scales show major absorption band due to OH stretching, adsorbed molecular water, and birnessite stretching, respectively. In the SEM and EDS analysis, the Mn scale consists of botryoidal, spherical, spherulite, and empty straw structure. Those structure may be precipitated simply due to oversaturation with concentrated Mn content or may be formed through biogenic precipitation by Lepthothrix discophora. Under microanalysis using EDS on those structure surface of Mn scales, the Mn atomic percent range from 28 to 44, and such elements revealed the presence of Si, K, Na, Ca, Cl, Cu, Zn, and Ba.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 1990.06b
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• pp.36-37
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• 1990

In the past, facile dissolution of cellulose has been hampered by the lack of suitable nondegrading solvents. Recently, this problem has been solved in our laboratory by the discovery of an inexpensive, convenient solvent system, that is the mixture of $NH_3\;and\;NH_4SCN$, for cellulose. Also, the $cellulose/NH_3/NH_4SCN$ solution system has been found to form the anisotropic, i.e., liquid crystalline phase. It is believed that both the cholesterio and the nematic phase occur. This finding has prompted extensive on-going researoh on the formation of the liquid crystalline phase from an inexpensive natural source such as cellulose since the nematic phase is envisioned as an excellent precursor sources for products with desirable properties, for example, high modulus and high strength. This interest naturally leads to a desire to understand the theological properties of the nematic phase so that the transformation of the nematic phase to the solid state with desirable properties can be efficiently accomplished, ;From this point of view, the theological behavior of the $cellulose/NH3_/NH_4SCN$ system has been studied as a function of shear rate and shear stress over a wide range of solvent compositions, cellulose concentration, centrifugation and urea contents, Results indicate that the viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate. A marked shear thinning behavior and a quasi-Newtonian behavior were observed in the low shear rate region and in the high shear rate region, respectively for all solvent compositions. The $cellulose/NH_3/NH_4SCN$ solution system only exhibited the viscosity increase with increasing cellulose concentration and failed to show the viscosity drop generally observed at the point of incipience of liquid crystal formation, This may be due to the gel-like nature of the solution by the association of the rodlike molecules into bundles which may serve as crosslinking points giving the cellulose solution a network structure. Also, simply hydrogen bonding may be so restrictive of molecular mobility that a viscosity drop is blocked. In addition to the above results, yield stress and thixotropy were also observed in the $cellulose/NH_3/NB_4SCN$ solution system which are characteristics of liquid crystal and gel, The results of the effect of centrifugation on viscosity show that viscosity decreases by the application of centrifugation. This may be explained by the change of the piled polydomain structure to the dispersed polydomain structure due to the pressure gradient generated during centrifugation.ation.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2010

Purpose : Kabuki syndrome is a multiple congenital malformation syndrome with mental retardation. It was named after its characteristic appearance, a face resembling that of an actor in a Kabuki play. To date, six Korean cases of Kabuki syndrome have ever been reported. Here, we present the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of six patients with Kabuki syndrome. Materials and Methods : Between 2003 and 2009, six Korean girls have been diagnosed and followed up as Kabuki syndrome at Center for Genetic Diseases of Ajou University Hospital. Their clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed by the retrospective review of medical records. Results : All six patients showed the characteristic facial dysmorphism and developmental delay. Persistent fingertip pads were also found in all patients. Most patients showed postnatal growth retardation (83.3%) and hypotonia (83.3%). Opthalmologic problems were common, particularly for strabismus (83.3%). Congenital heart defects were present in three patients (50%). Skeletal abnormalities including 5th finger shortening (83.3%), clinodactyly (50%), joint hypermobility (50%) and hip dislocation (16.7%) were also observed. There was no patient who had positive family history for Kabuki syndrome. Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analyses including karyotyping and array CGH could not reveal any underlying genetic cause of Kabuki syndrome. Conclusion : Korean patients with Kabuki syndrome showed a broad spectrum of clinical features affecting multiple organ systems. Although clinical manifestations of Kabuki syndrome have been well established, our results failed to detect recurrent chromosome aberrations which could cause Kabuki syndrome. Its natural history and genetic background remains to be further studied for providing appropriate management and genetic counseling.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.389-394
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• 2003

In order to screen microorganisms producing phopholipase D (PLD) had high transphosphatidylation activity, about 1,000 Actinomycetes strains were isolated from the 63 soil samples, collected over 6 local area in Korea. When the hydrolytic activity in the supernatant was determined, 131 strains produced PLD more than 0.3 U/ml. Among 131 culture broths tested, 23 ones had transphosphatidylation activity higher than 20% and finally one strain (Actinomycetes KF 923), which had highest hydrolytic and transphophadylation activity, was selected. Actinomycetes KF923 showed the highest hydrolytic activity (13 U/ml) and phosphatidylation activity (95%) after 48 h fermentation using the P medium (yeast extract 1%, peptone 1%, glucose 1.5%, glycerol 1%, $CaCo_3$ 0.4%, pH 7.2). PLD was purified from the culture broth of Actinomycetes KF923 and the specific activity of purified PLD was 567 U/mg. The molecular weight of PLD was about 55 kD and the optimum pH and temperature were 6.0 and $60^{\circ}C$, respectively. The stability of PLD toward pH and temperature were high around pH 8.0 and below $40^{\circ}C$. Special metal ions were not necessary to the PLD activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.657-663
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• 2005

Collagenases are generally defined as enzymes that are capable of degrading the polypeptide backbone of native collagen under conditions that do not denature the protein. An extracellular collagenase-producing bacterial strain was isolated from kimchi and identified to be Bacillus subtilis JS-17 through morphological, cultural, biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Optimum culture condition of Bacillus subtilis JS-17 for the production of collagenase was $1.5\%$ fructose, $1\%$ yeast extract, $0.5\%\;K_2HPO_4,\;0.4\%\;KH_2PO_4,\;0.01\%\;MgSO_4\cdot7H_2O,\;0.01\%\; MnSO_4\cdot4H_2O,\;,0.1\%$ citrate and $0.1\%\;CaCl_2$. The production of collagenase was optimal at $30^{\circ}C$ for 72 hr. A collagenase was isolated from the culture filtrate of Bacillus subtilis JS-17. The enzyme was purified using Amberlite IRA-900 column chromatography, Sephacryl S-300 HR column chromatography and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography The purified collagenase has an specific activity 192.1 units/mg. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 28 kDa by SDS-PACE. The purified collagenase has $100\%$ activity up to $55^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2004

In an effort to optimize tissue culture responses of Italian ryegrass(Lolium multiflorum Lam.) for future genetic manipulations to improve forage characteristics, the effects of culture medium supplements on tissue culture responses were investigated with mature seeds of three cultivars, 'Jeanne', 'Florida-80' and 'Metro', as explant tissues. For all explants, MS medium containing 5mg/L 2,4-D was optimal for embryogenic callus induction from mature seed and had a strong effect on successive plant regeneration. The optimal concentration of dicamba for the induction of embryogenic callus from mature seeds was 7mg/L. The highest plant regeneration frequency was observed when embryogenic callus was transferred to N6 medium supplemented with 1mg/L 2,4-D and 5mg/L BA. Plant regeneration frequency of callus cultured in the dark was higher than that of cultured in the light. Casein hydrolysate and L-proline improved both in embryogenic callus induction from mature seeds and plant regeneration. High-frequency regeneration system established in this study will be useful for molecular breeding of Italian ryegrass through genetic transformation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.547-556
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• 2016

Myometrial relaxation of mouse via expression of two-pore domain acid sensitive (TASK) channels was studied. In our previous report, we suggested that two-pore domain acid-sensing $K^+$ channels (TASK-2) might be one of the candidates for the regulation of uterine circular smooth muscles in mice. In this study, we tried to show the mechanisms of relaxation via TASK-2 channels in marine myometrium. Isometric contraction measurements and patch clamp technique were used to verify TASK conductance in murine myometrium. Western blot and immunehistochemical study under confocal microscopy were used to investigate molecular identity of TASK channel. In this study, we showed that TEA and 4-AP insensitive non-inactivating outward $K^+$ current (NIOK) may be responsible for the quiescence of murine pregnant longitudinal myometrium. The characteristics of NIOK coincided with two-pore domain acid-sensing $K^+$ channels (TASK-2). NIOK in the presence of $K^+$ channel blockers was inhibited further by TASK inhibitors such as quinidine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, and extracellular acidosis. Furthermore, oxytocin and estrogen inhibited NIOK in pregnant myometrium. When compared to non-pregnant myometrium, pregnant myometrium showed stronger inhibition of NIOK by quinidine and increased immunohistochemical expression of TASK-2. Finally, TASK-2 inhibitors induced strong myometrial contraction even in the presence of L-methionine, a known inhibitor of stretch-activated channels in the longitudinal myometrium of mouse. Activation of TASK-2 channels seems to play an essential role for relaxing uterus during pregnancy and it might be one of the alternatives for preventing preterm delivery.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2006

Response surface methodology was implemented to determine an optimal extraction condition in Phellinus linteus water extract. Extraction was performed on 10 experimental conditions including independent variables such as extraction time $(1{\sim}5\;hrs)$ and water volume over sample (sample : $H_2O$ = 1 : $40{\sim}200$, W/V), color browning, reducing and total sugar, that were based on the significant levels of 10% of central composition design. Color browning, reducing and total sugar contents were found to be more affected when the water volume was increased rather than extraction time. Maximum extraction condition was acquired at extraction time of $3.0{\sim}4.5\;hrs$ and water volume of $40{\sim}58.2\;ml$. Being extracted at the optimal extraction condition two of the free sugars, sucrose (0.126%) and glucose (0.012%), were detected. Total content of the free amino acids was found to be $503.26\;{\mu}g%$. Among them, essential amino acid contents were revealed as 5.4%. One major peak from gel permeation chromatography contained polysaccharide(s) with the molecular weights of 10 KDa.