• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1159-1165
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• 2016

The nutritional value of feed proteins and their utilization by livestock are related not only to the chemical composition but also to the structure of feed proteins, but few studies thus far have investigated the relationship between the structure of feed proteins and their solubility as well as digestibility in monogastric animals. To address this question we analyzed soybean meal, fish meal, corn distiller's dried grains with solubles, corn gluten meal, and feather meal by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine the protein molecular spectral band characteristics for amides I and II as well as ${\alpha}$-helices and ${\beta}$-sheets and their ratios. Protein solubility and in vitro digestibility were measured with the Kjeldahl method using 0.2% KOH solution and the pepsin-pancreatin two-step enzymatic method, respectively. We found that all measured spectral band intensities (height and area) of feed proteins were correlated with their the in vitro digestibility and solubility ($p{\leq}0.003$); moreover, the relatively quantitative amounts of ${\alpha}$-helices, random coils, and ${\alpha}$-helix to ${\beta}$-sheet ratio in protein secondary structures were positively correlated with protein in vitro digestibility and solubility ($p{\leq}0.004$). On the other hand, the percentage of ${\beta}$-sheet structures was negatively correlated with protein in vitro digestibility (p<0.001) and solubility (p = 0.002). These results demonstrate that the molecular structure characteristics of feed proteins are closely related to their in vitro digestibility at 28 h and solubility. Furthermore, the ${\alpha}$-helix-to-${\beta}$-sheet ratio can be used to predict the nutritional value of feed proteins.

• ALGAE
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2008

Many species in Gymnodiniales, which are unarmored dinoflagellates, are responsible for marine algal blooms and some of them have potent toxin in the cell. Their taxonomy has so far been well-defined, and several genera (e.g. Akashiwo, Gymnodinium, Karenia) have recently been re-described. In Korea, few works have been carried out on their taxonomical and molecular studies. This study focused on comparison of both morphological and molecular characteristics of five unarmored dinoflagellates on Korean coastal water: Akashiwo sanguinea, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Gymnodinium catenatum, Gymnodinium impudicum and Karenia aureolum (=K. mikimotoi). Morphological characteristics observed here was in good accordance with the original descriptions of individual species. In addition, none of difference was found in morphological comparisons between the Korean and foreign strains. Furthermore, molecular analysis showed that the SSU rDNA sequences were generally identical according to each species. In some distinct features, A. sanguinea, which has generally the same morphological features, were divided into two groups: one was Korean isolates including European isolates, the other was American isolates. In the two groups, the nucleus was positioned differently: middle of the cells in the Korean isolates (GnSg02, GnSg03), near the epicone in American isolates (CCMP1593, CCMP1837). In addition, this was strongly supported by phylogenetic analysis, inferred from the SSU rDNA sequences. K. aureolum (GrAr01) was corresponded to European G. aureolum (=K. mikimotoi) in shape and position of nucleus, chloroplast, however, which is similar to K. digitata in view of having a finger-like sulcus. This was in good agreement with phylogenetic study of these species. G. catenatum have identical morphology except the ridge location, and their genotype of SSU rDNA was also identical to GenBank data of the same species. From this study, we found that the five Korean unarmored dinoflagellates are identical morphological characteristics and genotype to each species of foreign isolates.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.565-573
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• 2009

The pig could be a useful model to characterize molecular aspects determining several delicate phenotypes because they have been bred for those characteristics. The Korean native pig (KNP) is a regional breed in Korea that was characterized by relatively high intramuscular fat content and reddish meat color compared to other western breeds such as Yorkshire (YS). YS grew faster and contained more lean muscle than KNP. We compared the KNP to Yorksire to find molecular clues determining muscle characteristics. The comparison of skeletal gene expression profiles between these two breeds showed molecular differences in muscle. We found 82 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) defined by fold change (more than 1.5 fold difference) and statistical significance (within 5% of false discovery rate). Functional analyses of these DEGs indicated up-regulation of most genes involved in cell cycle arrest, down-regulation of most genes involved in cellular differentiation and its inhibition, down-regulation of most genes encoding component of muscular-structural system, and up-regulation of most genes involved in diverse metabolism in KNP. Especially, DEGs in above-mentioned categories included a large number of genes encoding proteins directly or indirectly involved in p53 pathway. Our results indicated a possible role of p53 to determine muscle characteristics between these two breeds.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2024

This study aimed to describe the morphological and molecular characteristics of Paralecithodendrium longiforme (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae) adults and cercariae isolated in Thailand. Adult flukes were isolated from the Chinese pipistrelle bat (Hypsugo sp.), and cercariae were detected in the viviparid snail (Filopaludina martensi martensi) from Chiang Mai province. The morphological characteristics were observed and described using conventional methods, and the molecular characteristics with internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and 28S rDNA gene sequences. The adult flukes were fusiform, 0.84-0.98 mm in length, and 0.37-0.49 mm in width, and were distinguishable from other species by the presence of longitudinal uterine coils. The cercariae were nonvirgulate xiphidiocercariae, with the oral sucker bigger than the acetabulum, the tail without fin fold, a body size of 117.5-138.3×48.3-52.2 ㎛, and a tail size of 100.7-103.7×15.0-18.9 ㎛. Molecular studies revealed that the adults and cercariae shared 99.3% (ITS2) and 99.6% (28S rDNA) homology with each other. They were phylogenetically close to P. longiforme with an identity of 94.5% for ITS2 and 98.7% for 28S rDNA. This study provides new information on the natural definitive host and first intermediate host of P. longiforme in Thailand. The discovery of its cercarial stage in Filopaludina snails highlights the importance of monitoring the associated second intermediate host and prevention and control of this potentially zoonotic trematode.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.53-53
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.191.1-191
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1382-1388
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• 2009

Rubus crataegifolius is a shrub species and is primarily distributed throughout Asia and Europe. We collected 550 representative samples of the eleven populations in Korea to estimate leaf variation within species. The 35 morphological characteristics allowed us to resolve well-supported fixed characteristics and variable characteristics. Sixteen of twenty-three quantitative characteristics and five of twelve qualitative characteristics showed significant differences among populations. We argued that the population differentiation can accounted for the variation in phenetic characteristics such as spine in this species, but were less successful in accounting for variation in other traits. Within a polystatistic leaf structure, their morphological differences could be modulated by ecological pressure such as temperature, altitude, duration of sunshine, and solar radiation. The phenogram showed two distinct clades. One was a group in central Korea and the other was a group in the southern regions of Korea. If morphological characteristics in R. crataegifolius populations reflect their ecological niche, morphology should be regarded with caution as the main criterion for population studies in R. crataegifolius.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.414-419
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• 1995

The retroviruses carrying ${\nu}-myc$ and ${\nu}-raf$ oncogenes were infected into fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC) to study the molecular mechanisms involved in T cell development. T cell lymphomas in the different stages of T cell development were obtained from this culture system. Interestingly, a few cell lines obtained from this system have a lack of transfected oncogenes, however these cells have the characteristics of transformed cells. In spite of the discrete phenotype of these transformed cell lines, the same pattern of recombination of endogenous c-raf genes was detected from Southern blot analysis. We suggest in this regard that the translocation event of thymocytes, or abnormal promoter activity, can cause lymphomagenesis by way of c-raf.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.294-299
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• 1996

Glyoxalase I (Ee 4.4.1.5, lactoylglutathione lyase) from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, anion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and affinity chromatography on S-hexylglutathione agarose. The purified enzyme was judged to be homogeneous on SDS-PAGE, and consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a relative molecular weight of 24,000. The enzyme was most active at $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5. It was catalytically most active with methylglyoxal as substrate. A number of properties of the Chlamydomonas glyoxalase I enzyme, such as substrate specificity, molecular mass, kinetic parameters, pi, metal ion effect, have been determined and compared with those reported for preparations from other sources. It had somewhat different characteristics from mammalian enzymes.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.184-187
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• 2002

Blood products from slaughterhouses that are not hygienically prepared for disposal or food consumption pose a human health hazard. Gamma irradiation is an effective method for sterilization of blood products, but may introduce changes in the molecular characteristics of proteins. This study evaluated the effects of irradiation on animal plasma proteins. Bovine and porcine blood was obtained from a slaughterhouse and the plasma proteins purified and lyophilized. The secondary structure and molecular weight distribution of the plasma protein solutions and powders were examined after ${\gamma}$-irradiation at 1, 5, 7 and 10 kGy. Gamma-irradiation affected the molecular properties of the protein solutions, but not the protein powders. Circular dichroism and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies showed that increased doses of ${\gamma}$-irradiation decrease the ordered structure of plasma proteins in solution, and cause initial fragmentation of the polypeptide chains and subsequent aggregation.