• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.217-236
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• 2016

Polyporoid and corticioid fungi are among the most important wood-decay fungi. Not only do they contribute to nutrient cycling by decomposing wood debris, but they are also valuable sources for natural products. Polyporoid and corticioid wood-inhabiting fungi were investigated in Odaesan National Park. Fruit bodies were collected and identified based on morphological and molecular analyses using 28S and internal transcribed spacer regions of DNA sequences. As a result, a total of 149 species, 69 genera, 22 families, and 11 orders were recognized. Half (74 species) of the species were polypores, and the other half (75 species) were corticioid fungi. Most of the species belonged to Polyporales (92 species) followed by Hymenochaetales (33 species) and Russulales (11 species). At the genus level, a high number of species was observed from Steccherinum, Hyphodontia, Phanerochaete, Postia, and Trametes. Concerning distribution, almost all the species could be found below 1,000 m, and only 20% of the species were observed from above 1,000 m. Stereum subtomentosum, Trametes versicolor, T. hirsuta, T. pubescens, Bjerkandera adusta, and Ganoderma applanatum had wide distribution areas. Deciduous wood was the preferred substrate for the collected species. Sixty-three species were new to this region, and 21 species were new to Korea, of which 17 species were described and illustrated.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2018

A new naturally occurring benzoic acid derivative, benzyl 2,4-di(benzyloxy)benzoate (1) and six known compounds (2-7) were isolated from the fungus, Preussia sp. found in frozen soil of the Himalaya Mountain. The structures of the new compound, together with the known compounds were determined by 1D-and 2D-NMR experiments, as well as comparison with published values. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, the known compounds 2-7 were isolated for the first time from the genus Preussia and the family Sporormiaceae. The isolates were evaluated for cancer chemopreventive potential based on their ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited NO production by 50.7% and 88.5% at a concentration of 100 mg/ml, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.765-775
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• 2019

A new ${\alpha}$-amylase-encoding gene (amySL3) of glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13 was identified in soda lake isolate Alkalibacterium sp. SL3. The deduced AmySL3 shares high identities (82-98%) with putative ${\alpha}$-amylases from the genus Alkalibacterium, but has low identities (<53%) with functionally characterized counterparts. amySL3 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant enzyme (rAmySL3) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The optimal temperature and pH of the activity of the purified rAmySL3 were determined to be $45^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.5, respectively. rAmySL3 was found to be extremely halophilic, showing maximal enzyme activity at a nearly saturated concentration of NaCl. Its thermostability was greatly enhanced in the presence of 4 M NaCl, and it was highly stable in 5 M NaCl. Moreover, the enzyme did not require calcium ions for activity, and was strongly resistant to a range of surfactants and hydrophobic organic solvents. The major hydrolysis products of rAmySL3 from soluble starch were maltobiose and maltotriose. The high ratio of acidic amino acids and highly negative electrostatic potential surface might account for the halophilic nature of AmySL3. The extremely halophilic, calcium-independent, and surfactant-resistant properties make AmySL3 a promising candidate enzyme for both basic research and industrial applications.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2022

Bombyx shini Park & Sohn, 2002 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), which was listed as an endemic species in South Korea has recently been renamed as the East Asian silk moth Rotunda rotundapex Miyata & Kishida, 1990 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the R. rotundapex to announce genomic characteristics and to clarify its validity with a new name. The 15,294-bp long complete mitogenome comprises a typical set of genes [13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes] and one major noncoding, A + T-rich region, with an arrangement identical to that observed in most lepidopteran mitogenomes. The A/T content of the whole mitogenome was 79.22%; however, it varied among the regions/genes as follows: A + T-rich region, 91.62%; srRNA, 84.67%; lrRNA, 83.01%; tRNAs, 81.43%; and PCGs, 77.46%. Phylogenetic analyses of 35 species in the Bombycoidea superfamily showed the sister relationship between the families Sphingidae and Bombycidae s. str., with the higher nodal support [bootstrap support (BS) = 78%]. The Saturniidae was placed as the sister to the two families, but the nodal support for this relationship was low (BS = 53%). Current R. rotundapex was placed together with previously reported con-species with the highest nodal support, forming a separate clade from Bombyx, validating that B. shini can have a new genus name, Rotunda. However, the Korean R. rotundapex showed a substantial sequence divergence at 5.28% to that originated from an individual of type locality Taiwan in 1,459-bp of COI sequences. Considering such a high sequence divergence an additional study, which includes morphological and DNA barcoding data from further extensive distributional range maybe is needed for further robust taxonomic conclusion.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.266-277
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• 2022

The current surveys of Ulva in the subtidal area around Jeju Island give a chance to discover unrecorded green algal species of the Korean macroalgal flora. As a result of this investigation, we found Ulva adhaerens Matusmoto & Shimada, inhabiting the subtidal regions, up to 15 m deep, and conducted the DNA barcoding on plastid rbcL-3P and tufA regions with describing the morphological characteristics. Our specimens of U. adhaerens forms a monophyletic clade with the Japanese type specimen and U. piritoka Ngāti Kuri, Heesch & W.A. Nelson from New Zealand exhibiting each 0.3% sequence divergences, respectively, in the plastid rbcL-3P. The genetic variation of U. adhaerens clade is 1.0-3.9% in rbcL-3P and 4.8-9.8% in tufA to each Ulva species, including the generic type, U. lactuca Linneaus. The morphology of Korean U. adhaerens specimens is identical to the type specimens of U. adhaerens from Japan having the development of rhizoidal filaments from both of the cell layers of the distromatic blade and the extension of rhizoidal clumps with adhesive trait between blades by extended rhizoidal clumps at the basal blades. The thallus attachment to substrate is by numerous minute discoidal plates made up of rhizoids originating from the inner part of distromatic blades in basal. Although there are still some problems to resolve the relationship between U. adhaerens and U. piritoka in the rbcL dataset and the phylogenetic pattern of the Group II intron of rbcL, we propose the new record of U. adhaerens in Korean macroalgal flora based on the morphological characteristics of Korean specimens. Continued study of the genus Ulva by morphological and molecular assessment will delimit the species of Ulva, elucidate the relationships between them, and uncover the species diversity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2021

The genus Glycyrrhiza (Licorice) has been used as an oriental herbal medicine for a long time in Asian countries. Wongam (WG), which is Glycyrrhiza new variety, have been developed to improve limitation of licorice including low productivity, environmental restriction and insufficient components by Korea Rural Development Administration. To using WG as a herbal medicine, it is important to reveal the adverse effects in health. In this study, we evaluated the genotoxicity test of WG extract through in vitro bacterial reverse mutation (AMES) assay, in vitro chromosomal aberration assay and in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. When compared with the control, WG extract with or without the S9 mix showed no genotoxicity in the AMES assay up to 5000 ㎍/plate and in the chromosomal aberration assay up to 1100 ㎍/ml. In micronucleus assay, no significant increase in the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes or in the mean ratio of polychromatic to total erythrocytes up to 5000 mg/kg/day for 2 days. The present study demonstrated that WG extract is safe and reliable herbal medicine since no detectable genotoxic effects at least under the conditions of this study.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2023

A single specimen of the genus Plectorhinchus (Family: Haemulidae) was collected from the coastal waters around Jejudo Island on November 1, 2017 by a longline. The specimen was identified as Plectorhinchus vittatus by the morphological characters as follows: eight black vertical stripes on the body, scattered polka dots on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. It is clearly distinguished from the congeneric species, P. lineatus, which is morphologically very similar to P. vittatus, in the number of gill rakers, stripes on the abdomen, and black patterns on the base of the pelvic fin. In this study, the occurrence of this species has been newly revealed at higher latitudes, suggesting the expansion of the northern distribution limit. Following Lee et al. (1999), we propose its Korean name as "Chu-sa-eo-reum-dom".

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.362-368
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• 2015

Two new and one unrecorded hybrids of the genus Asplenium were newly found in Korea. They were proved to be hybrid based on intermediate morphology between putative parents. The first hybrid is $A.{\times}uiryeongse$ C.S. Lee & K. Lee (Aspleniaceae), nom. nov. (vernacular name: geo-mi-sa-cheol-go-sa-ri). This new hydrid is a cross between the Asian walking fern, A. ruprechtii and A. pekinens in Uiryeong-gil, Mt. Bukansan, Seoul, Korea. The other new one occurs in Mt. Seongsan in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, $A.{\times}montanus$ C.S. Lee & K. Lee, nom. nov. (vernacular name: san-kko-ri-go-sa-ri) which might have experienced multiple hybridization events between A. ruprechtii ${\times}$ A. trichomanes and A. incisum following the hybrid between A. ruprechtii and A. trichomanes. In addition, one unrecorded hybrid, $A.{\times}kitazawae$ Kurata & Hutoh (vernacular name: geo-mi-dol-dam-go-sa-ri), reported first from Japan, is found in natural habitats in Do-dong, Daegu-si, and is a hybrid, between the Asian walking fern and A. sarelli. These hybrid taxa grow in sympatric regions with both putative parental species. The diagnostic characters for each taxon and evidence for their hybridization have been suggested. Descriptions, illustrations, and photographs of these hybrid taxa in their habitats are provided from Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.406-413
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• 2016

Abalones are gastropod mollusks belonging to the genus Haliotis. Pacific abalones are regarded as a very important marine gastropod mollusk in Korea, Japan, China, and also in food industries around the world. In Korea, 6 species of abalone have been reported to occur along the coasts: Haliotis discus hannai, Haliotis discus discus, Haliotis madaka, Haliotis gigantea, Haliotis diversicolor supertexta, and Haliotis diversicolor diversicolor. This study was performed to discriminate the genetic variances by the partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis against four species of Pacific abalone (H. discus hannai, H. discus, H. madaka, H. gigantea). COI gene is reasonably well conserved and has been sequenced in various invertebrate taxa. The RAPD analysis technique is a relatively simple and low cost method that allows differentiation of taxa without the need to know their genomes. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships within each species. The COI and RAPD analysis were able to distinguish between H. gigantea and the other three species. However, these analysis methods were inadequate to distinguish between H. discus and H. madaka. These results are believed to be able to provide a basis data for future hybrid breeding research by defining the genetically closely related four species of abalone, which is to develop new hybrid abalone for export using hybrid breeding.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2010

The Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) has assembled a culture collection of cold-adapted bacterial strains from both the Arctic and Antarctic. To identify excellent protease-producers among the proteolytic bacterial collection (874 strains), 78 strains were selected in advance according to their relative activities and were subsequently re-examined for their extracellular protease activity on $0.1{\times}$ ZoBell plates supplemented with 1% skim milk at various temperatures. This rapid and direct screening method permitted the selection of a small group of 15 cold-adapted bacterial strains, belonging to either the genus Pseudoalteromonas (13 strains) or Flavobacterium (2 strains), that showed proteolytic activities at temperatures ranging between $5-15^{\circ}C$. The cold-active proteases from these strains were classified into four categories (serine protease, aspartic protease, cysteine protease, and metalloprotease) according to the extent of enzymatic inhibition by a class-specific protease inhibitor. Since highly active and/or cold-adapted proteases have the potential for industrial or commercial enzyme development, the protease-producing bacteria selected in this work will be studied as a valuable natural source of new proteases. Our results also highlight the relevance of the Antarctic for the isolation of protease-producing bacteria active at low temperatures.