• Mycobiology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2009

Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycete human fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The ability to sense and respond to diverse extracellular signals is essential for the pathogen to infect and cause disease in the host. Four major stress-activated signaling (SAS) pathways have been characterized in C. neoformans, including the HOG (high osmolarity glycerol response), PKC/Mpk1 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), calcium-dependent calcineurin, and RAS signaling pathways. The HOG pathway in C. neoformans not only controls responses to diverse environmental stresses, including osmotic shock, UV irradiation, oxidative stress, heavy metal stress, antifungal drugs, toxic metabolites, and high temperature, but also regulates ergosterol biosynthesis. The PKC(protein kinase C)/Mpk1 pathway in C. neoformans is involved in a variety of stress responses, including osmotic, oxidative, and nitrosative stresses and breaches of cell wall integrity. The $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin- and Ras-signaling pathways also play critical roles in adaptation to certain environmental stresses, such as high temperature and sexual differentiation. Perturbation of the SAS pathways not only impairs the ability of C. neoformans to resist a variety of environmental stresses during host infection, but also affects production of virulence factors, such as capsule and melanin. A drug(s) capable of targeting signaling components of the SAS pathway will be effective for treatment of cryptococcosis.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.506-515
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• 2003

Six barley varieties that showed different degree of drought tolerance were grown with and without drought stress treatment (control), and investigated for the temporal changes in growth and several physiological traits after drought treatment. Soil water potential was -0.05 ㎫ at the initial stage of drought treatment and dropped to -0.29 ㎫ at 19 days after withholding irrigation. Soil water potential (SWP) maintained at -0.05 ㎫ in the control. The dry weight (DW) under the drought treatment were reduced compared to the control as follows: Dicktoo-S (short awn), 69% ; Dicktoo-L (long awn), 70%; Dicktoo-T (tetra), 86%; Dongbori-1, 69%; Suwonssalbori-365, 55% and Tapgolbori, ,37%. Dicktoo lines and Dongbori-1 were more tolerant than Suwonssalbori-365 and Tapgolbori. Leaf relative water contents (RWC) and leaf water potential (LWP) decreased obviously under the drought condition, the decrease being greater especially in the less drought-tolerant barley genotypes. Dongbori-1 and Dicktoo-L in drought treatment showed net photosynthesis of 38% and 17% compared to the control, respectively, and the other four genotypes much lower photosynthesis of 1.1% to 7.0%. Stomatal conductance, mesophyll conductance, and the photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) of PS II were reduced by drought treatment, the reduction being greater in drought-sensitive genotypes. The drought-tolerant genotypes had greater osmotic adjustment (OA) capacity under water stress. Thus, the decrease of RWC and LWP was lower and the turgor pressure conservation capacity was higher under water stress in drought-tolerant genotypes. Drought-tolerant genotypes showed less decrease of photosynthesis because stomatal conductance, mesophyll conductance and the ratio (Fv/Fm) of the variable to maximal fluorescence of drought-resistant genotype was decreased less in the drought stress condition. In conclusion, the drought-tolerant genotypes had better water conservation capacity through efficient OA, and this led to the lower decrease of photosynthesis and growth in water stress condition.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.52-54
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• 2004

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.879-886
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• 2004

Effects of culture mediwn supplements and osmotic stress treatment on embryogenic callus induction and somatic embryogenesis were investigated in order to optimize tissue culture conditions of alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.). SH mediwn containing 5mgIL 2,4-D and 0.2mgIL kinetin was optimal for embryogenic callus induction from cotyledon tissue of alfalfa. Somatic embryos were formed when the embryogenic callus was cultured on SH mediwn supplemented with ImgIL 2,4-D and 2mgIL BA. Supplementation of 5mM L-proline and IgIL casein hydrolysate into the regeneration mediwn further increased plant regeneration frequency. Osmotic stress treatment of callus appeared to improve the frequency of somatic embryo formation, but the frequency of somatic embryo formation differed by the osmotic stress treatment using different osmotic stressors. The highest plant regeneration frequency of 30.7% was observed when embryogenic callus was treated with 0.7M sucrose for 18h. Efficient regeneration system established in this study will be useful for molecular breeding of alfalfa through genetic transformation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2012

$Calotropis$ $procera$ L. is a perennial shrub distributed in saline areas of deserts of South Asia. Salt stress is a very challenging subject in arid and semi-arid areas. Germination stage is very sensitive and many plants do not germinate in saline soil. The objective of this study was identifying the salinity effect on seed germination of $Calotropis$ $procera$ L. The experimental design was a complete randomized block design with NaCl and $CaCl_2$ at five levels of isobar concentrations: 0.0, -0.01, -0.05, -0.1, and -0.15 MPa. Osmotic potential had significant effects ($P$ < 0.01) on germination percentage, germination rate, shoot length, root length, and seedling dry weight. All seedling characteristics decreased with decrease in osmotic potential. Shoot length and root length decreased more than the seedling characteristics. Germination was completely inhibited in -0.1 Mpa. Priming with NaCl and $CaCl_2$ (-0.1 MPa) for four days had significant effects ($P$ < 0.01) on the germination percentages. Priming improved the seedling characteristics in all samples, especially in -0.05 Mpa, but a decrease with decrease in osmotic potential.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2009

To understand the molecular mechanism underlying proline accumulation in Brassica napus, cDNAs encoding ${\Delta}^1$-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (BnP5CS), ornithine $\delta$-aminotransferase (BnOAT) and proline dehydrogenase (BnPDH) were isolated and characterized. Southern blot analysis of BnP5CSs in B. napus and its diploid ancestors suggested a gene loss may have occurred during evolution. The expression of BnP5CS1 and BnP5CS2 was induced, while the expression of BnPDH was inhibited under salt stress, ABA treatment and dehydration, prior to proline accumulation. The upregulation of BnOAT expression was only detected during prolonged severe osmotic stress. Our results indicate that stress-induced proline accumulation in B. napus results from the reciprocal action of activated biosynthesis and inhibited proline degradation. Whether the ornithine pathway is activated depends on the severity of stress. During development, proline content was high in reproductive organs and was accompanied by markedly high expression of BnP5CS and BnPDH, suggesting possible roles of proline during flower development.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.218-225
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• 2008

Changes in 13 free amino acids (FAA) of Haliotis discus discus exposed to various salinities were investigated using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Taurine, glycine and alanine are three major contributors to the total FAA in the gill tissues of H. discus discus. Concentration of taurine was 114 imol/g dry tissue weights accounting for 76.64% of total FAA in H. discus discus. Levels of most FAAs in H. discus discus exposed to low and high salinities for 24 h decreased dramatically. Taurine concentration was slightly increased in the samples exposed to 20 psu and 25 psu for 48 h, and greatly increased after 120 h exposure. After 48 hrs exposure to 20 psu, 25 psu, 30 psu and 40 psu, methionine in H. discus discus was not detected; no methionine was detected in the sample exposed to 20 psu, 25 psu, 30 psu and 40 psu after 120 h of exposure. Taurine:glycine ratio increased depending upon hyper-hypoosmotic condition as well as period of osmotic stress. These data indicate that taurine, glycine and methionine play important role in regulating osmotic stress in H. discus discus. This study suggesting that FAA analysis is a useful tool to diagnose osmotic stress to H. discus discus.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 1981

Laboratory experiements were conducted to evaluate water uptake and osmotic potential of soybean seeds associated with germinability. Bonus, Wayne, Essex and Pickett were selected for this study. Large and small seeds from the four varieties were included in water uptake measurements at $25^{\circ}C$ There were significant differences in water uptake during germination due to seed size and cultivars at optimum moisture condition, -6 and -15 bars soil moisture. As water stress increased, the water uptake of Pickett and Essex were superior to Bonus and Wayne, and small seeds were superior to large seeds. The seed moisture content at germination was 60.8% on a fresh weight basis under optimum moisture condition. The minimum moisture contents necessary for the germination were 50.2% at -6 bars and 50.9% at -15 bars. There were significant differences among varieties in seed osmotic potential during germination, although these differences depended on imbibition time. The average osmotic potential ranged from -32.0 bars after 4 hours imbibition to -11.2 bars at the beginning of germination. The correlation coefficient between seedling length and osmotic potential was not significant after any period of imbibition, suggesting that osmotic potential is not directly associated with seedling growth. However, osmotic potential is closely related to water uptake capacity of soybean seed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 1991

The germination of seeds is developmentally complex process requiring water uptake, which is regulated by both genotypic and environmental factors. The present study was undertaken to determine the difference in germination characteristics, and to compare the ability of the logistic and Weibull functions to describe the cumulative germination curve when two levels of osmotic potential(0, -5 bar) were put to seeds of alfalfa, tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. The effects of grass type, osmotic potential, and their interaction on the total germination and coefficient of germination velocity were significant(P<0.01). The Weibull equation for predicting percent cumulative germination curve of alfalfa had significantly lower residuals than the logistic equation regardless of osmotic potential(P<0.01), indicating that the Weibull equation was more efficient than the logistic equation to fit the data of the percent cumulative germination of alfalfa. The rate parameter from the logistic equation was decreased under water stress, whereas the scale and shape parameters were increased. There were significant differences in days to 20% germination estimated from the logistic and Weibull equations.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-70
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• 1998

In order to understand the influence of ferroxidase center on the protein assembly and solubility of tadpole ferrin, three mutant plasmids, pTH58K, pTH61G, and pTHKG were constructed with the aid of site-directed mutagenesis and mutant proteins were produced in Eshcerichia coli. Mutant ferritin H-subunits produced by the cells carrying plasmids pTH58K and pTHKG were active soluble proteins, whereas the mutant obtained from the plasmid pTH61G was soluble only under osmotic stress in the presence obtained from the plasmid pTH61G was soluble only under osmotic stress in the presence of sorbitol and betaine. Especially, the cells carrying pTH61G together with the plasmid pGroESL harboring the molecular chaperone genes produced soluble ferritin. The mutant ferritin H-subunits were all assembled into ferritin-like holoproteins. These mutant ferritns were capable of forming stable iron cores, which means the mutants are able to accumulate iron with such modified ferroxidase sites. Further functional analysis was also made on the individual amino acid residues of ferroxidase center.