• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.373-381
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• 2007

Seed storage proteins (SSPs) are important for seed germination and early seedling growth. We studied the accumulation and degradation profiles of four major Arabidopsis 12S SSPs using a 2-DE scheme combined with mass spectrometric methods. On the 2-DE map of 23 dpa (days post anthesis) siliques, 48 protein spots were identified as putative full-length or partial $\alpha$, $\delta$ subunits. Only 9 of them were found in 12 dpa siliques with none in younger than 8 dpa siliques, indicating that the accumulation of 12S SSPs started after the completion of cell elongation processes both in siliques and in developing seeds. The length and strength of transcription activity for each gene determined the final contents of respective SSP. At the beginning of imbibition, 68 SSP spots were identified while only 2 spots were found at the end of the 4 d germination period, with $\alpha$, subunits degraded more rapidly than the $\alpha$ subunits. The CRC $\delta$ subunit was found to degrade from its C-terminus with conserved sequence motifs. Our data provide an important basis for understanding the nutritional value of developing plant seeds and may serve as a useful platform for other species.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2011

Non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis) is a popular vegetable in Asian countries. The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), an insect with worldwide distribution, is a main pest of Brassicaceae crops and causes enormous crop losses. Transfer of the anti-insect gene into the plant genome by transgenic technology and subsequent breeding of insect-resistant varieties will be an effective approach to reducing the damage caused by this pest. We have produced transgenic non-heading Chinese cabbage plants expressing the potato proteinase inhibitor II gene (pinII) and tested the pest resistance of these transgenic plants. Non-heading Chinese cabbages grown for 45 days on which buds had formed were used as experimental materials for Agrobacterium-mediated vacuum infiltration transformation. Forty-one resistant plants were selected from 1166 g of seed harvested from the infiltrated plants based on the resistance of the young seedlings to the herbicide Basta. The transgenic traits were further confirmed by the Chlorophenol red test, PCR, and genomic Southern blotting. The results showed that the bar and pinII genes were co-integrated into the resistant plant genome. A bioassay of insect resistance in the second generation of individual lines of the transgenic plants showed that DBM larvae fed on transgenic leaves were severely stunted and had a higher mortality than those fed on the wild-type leaves.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-25
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• 1998

The HLA genes located in the short arm of chromosome 6 specify heterodimeric glycoproteins involved in the regulation of the immune response. Recently, in the elucidation of HLA polymorphism, serological and cellular typing methods have been replaced by DNA typing using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The purpose of this study was to establish the HLA DNA typing methods and determine gene frequencies of HLA molecules in Koreans. PCR-SSP (sequence specific primers) and PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) techniques were used for the analysis of HLA-A, -B, -C, DRBl genes and HLA-DQAl, DQBl, DPBl genes, respectively. The results of B-lymphoblastoid cells used for control experiment were consistent with the previous data identified in the 11th International Histocompatibility Workshop. Seventeen, 23, 16, 8, 16, 13 and 37 types of HLA-A, B, C, DQAl, DQBl, DPBl and DRBl alleles were found, respectively, in a total of unrelated 120 Korean individuals. The most frequent HLA alleles were $A^*$02 (27.0%), B$^*$40 (17.6%), Cw$^*$01 (19.2%), DQAl$^*$0301 (32.1%), DQBl$^*$0303 (12.9%), DPBl$^*$0501 (31.3%) and DRBl$^*$1501 (9.2%) among Koreans. This study shows that DNA typing method using PCR technique is a relatively simple, fast and practical tool for the determination of the HLA-class I and II genes. Moreover, the data of HLA gene frequencies could be useful for the Korean database before clinical applications, including organ and unrelated bone marrow transplantation, anthropological study, disease association and individual identification.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2004

Chinese cabbage ('Baechu') Kimchi was fermented at the three different temperatures right after it was prepared. Samples were taken everyday for measuring bacterial populations, pH, and titratable acidity through the whole periods of fermentation up to 50 days. pH values and developed acidity were significantly affected by the fermenting temperatures of 4, 10, and $20^{\circ}C$, suggesting that different bacterial flora has been established by the temperatures exposed. The modified MRS agar containing vancomycin (300 $\mu$g/mL) was used for isolating the vancomycin-resistant LAB strains and 127 isolates were finally obtained. Of the LAB isolates, 13 isolates were subjected to the identification experiments based on the biochemical characteristics and the molecular-typing approach, an ITS-PCR, whether they belong to the genus Leuconostoc or not. The data obtained from API 50 CHL kit resulted that six isolates were identified as the members of Leuconostoc and six as Lactobacillus brevis strains except for a single isolate YKI 30-0401, which was not able to be identified because its biochemical traits were not matched to the database of API 50 CHL kit. It was noted that some isolates were distinct in a couple of some biochemical characteristics compared with those of the reference Leuconostoc species. To overcome the limitations experienced in the commercial identification products above, an ITS-PCR experiment was also conducted for the isolates, resulting that eight isolates belong to Leu. mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides or dextranicum with a single band of 564 bp, and four to L. brevis strains. The ITS-PCR profiles clearly differentiated the closely-related LAB isolates for which same results were obtained by the biochemical method. This molecular approach, however, failed to produce the amplicons for the YKI 20-1003, leaving the strain unidentified. Judging from the identification data obtained in the Kimchi fermented at $4^{\circ}C$ or $10^{\circ}C$, Leuconostoc spp. including Leu. mesenteroides/dextranicum were likely predominant species in the earlier stage and L. brevis occurred at the high level through the whole period. By contrast, L. brevis, as one of the major flora, possibly lead the fermentation from the beginning in the Kimchi fermented at $20^{\circ}C$.}C$.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2001

Background: A large number of diseases occur in association with specific HLA-B or-C alleles. Recently a new gene, termed maj or histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA), has been identified in close proximity to HLA-B. The function of this gene is still unknown. However, it is structurally similar to HLA class I genes. MICA gene is polymorphic and is potentially associated with several diseases. Methods: To evaluate the association of MICA gene in Korean patients with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infections, Polymerase chain reaction-Sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) was done for MICA alleles in the extracellular exons, and a microsatellite analysis for GCT repeat polymorphisms in the TM exon was also completed. Results: In 199 Korean healthy controls, 7 alleles were observed and the frequencies for each allele were MICA008 (44.7%), MICA0 10 (34.2%), MICA002 (31.7%), MICA004 (23.6%), MICA0 12 (2 1.6%), MICA009 (19.6%), and MICA007 (6.5%). When 65 HIV seropositive patients were analyzed, MICA007 allele frequency was significantly higher than in controls (15.4% vs 6.5 %, RR=2.6, p<0.04). In contrast, the frequencies of other MICA alleles and microsatellite alleles in the transmembrane region of MICA gene were not significantly different between HIV seropositive patients and controls. The tight linkage between MICA alleles in the extracellular exons and GCT repeat polymorphisms in the TM exon was observed as follows; MICA002/A9, MICA004/A6, MICA007/A4, MICA008/A5.1, MICA0 10/A5, and MICA0 12/A4 in both groups. No significant difference between patients and controls was observed in the haplotype frequencies of MICA alleles in the extracellular exons and GCT repeat polymorphisms in the TM exon. Conclusion: The data suggest that immune functions related with MICA gene may affect a HIV infections.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.446-452
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• 2011

Total 480 lactic acid-producing bacteria were isolated from five kinds of kimchi, and their antibacterial activity was tested against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using an agar diffusion assay. Among them, 340 isolates showed a halo on MRS agar against one or more indicator strains, which were identified using multiplex PCR, an API 50CHL kit, and a 16S rDNA sequence analysis. As a result, 169 Lactobacillus plantarum, 20 Lactobacillus fermentum, two Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei, two Lactobacillus sp., and 15 Pediococcus sp. were identified. This may be the first report on the isolation of antibacterial Lactobacillus fermentum from kimchi.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.442-448
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to analyze mutant lines of Chinese cabbage ($Brassica$ $rapa$ ssp. $pekinensis$) using gene tagging system (plasmid rescue and inverse polymerase chain reaction) and to observe the phenotypic characteristics. Insertional mutants were derived by transferring DNA (T-DNA) of $Agrobacterium$ for functional genomics study in Chinese cabbage. The hypocotyls of Chinese cabbage 'Seoul' were used to obtain transgenic plants with $Agrobacterium$ $tumefaciens$ harboring pRCV2 vector. To tag T-DNA from the Chinese cabbage genomic DNA, plasmid rescue and inverse PCR were applied for multiple copies and single copy insertional mutants. These techniques were successfully conducted to Chinese cabbage plant with high efficiency, and as a result, T-DNA of pRCV2 vector showed distinct various integration patterns in the transgenic plant genome. The polyploidy level analysis showed the change in phenotypic characteristics of 13 mutant lines was not due to variation in somatic chromosome number. Compared with wild type, the $T_1$ progenies showed varied phenotypes, such as decreased stamen numbers, larger or smaller flowers, upright growth habit, hairless leaves, chlorosis symptoms, narrow leaves, and deeply serrated leaves. The polyploidy level analysis showed the change in phenotypic characteristics of 13 mutant lines was not due to variation in somatic chromosome number. To tag T-DNA from the Chinese cabbage genomic DNA, plasmid rescue and inverse PCR were applied for multiple copies and single copy insertional mutants. Mutants that showed distinct phenotypic difference compared to wild type with 1 copy of T-DNA by Southern blot analysis, and with 2n = 20 of chromosome number were selected. These selected mutant lines were sequenced flanking DNA, mapped genomic loci, and the genome information of the lines is being recorded in specially developed database.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to identify cold-tolerance genes in Brassica rapa. In order to acheive this goal, we analyzed a KBGP-24K oligo chip data [BrEMD (B. rapa EST and Microarray Database)] using B. rapa ssp. pekinensis inbred line 'Chiifu' under cold stress condition ($4^{\circ}C$). Among 23,929 unigenes of B. rapa, 417 genes (1.7%) were primarily identified as cold responsive genes that were expressed over 5-fold higher than those of wild type control, and then a gene which has unknown function and has full length sequence was selected. It was named BrCSR (B. rapa Cold Stress Resistance). BrCSR was transformed using expression vector pSL101 to confirm whether BrCSR can enhance cold tolerance in tobacco plants. $T_1$ transgenic tobacco plants expressing BrCSR were selected by PCR and Southern hybridization analyses, and the function of BrCSR was characterized by expression level analysis and phenotype observation under cold stress condition. The expression level of BrCSR in transgenic tobacco plants increased up to about two folds in quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay and this was very similar to Northern blot hybridization analysis. Analysis of phenotypic characteristics clearly elucidated that transgenic tobaccos expressing BrCSR were more cold tolerant than wild type control under $4^{\circ}C$ treatment. Based on these results, we conclude that the over-expression of BrCSR might be closely related to the enhancement of cold tolerance.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2003

Background: As all HLA class II genes, the DQ genes show their polymorphic variation mainly in the second exon, which encodes the first extracellular domain of the molecule. PCR-SSOP (Polymerase chain reaction-Sequence specific oligonucleotide probe) techniques were frequently used for HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 typing but certain alleles, $DQA1^*0101/0104/0105$, $^*302/0303$, $*0501/0505$ and $DQB1^*0201/^*0202$ which differ from each other in segment other than exon 2, could not be unequivocally assigned. Methods: To overcome this problem, we applied additional PCR-SSP (PCR-Sequence specific primer) method to analyze DQA1 exons 1, 3 and 4 and DQB1 exon 3. And we investigated the distributions and haplotypes of HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles in 406 unrelated Korean healthy individuals. Results: Using this method the indistinguishable alleles of DQA1 and DQB1 in PCR-SSOP were typed definitively. We also found several important associations between DQA1 and DQB1 alleles in the Korean population; $DQA1^*0101-DQB1^*0501$, $DQA1^*0104-DQB1^*0502$ or $-^*0503$, $DQA1^*0105-DQB1^*0501$, $DQA1^*0302-DQB1^*0303$, $DQA1^*0303-DQB1^*0401$ or $-^*0402$, $DQA1^*0501-DQB1^*0201$, $DQA1^*0505-DQB1^*0301$, and $DQA1^*0201-DQB1^*0202$. The haplotypes of DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 associated with $DQA1^*01$, $^*03$, $^*05$, and $DQB1^*02$ subtypes were investigated. Several haplotypes associated with these alleles were observed in the Korean population. Conclusion: Our results can be helpful to find potential unrelated donors for bone marrow registries and study the HLA-associated disease and anthropology at high-resolution allelic level.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.748-755
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• 2013

This study was conducted to find a salt tolerance gene in Brassica rapa. In order to meet this objective, we analyzed data from a KBGP-24K oligo chip [BrEMD (Brassica rapa EST and microarray database)] of the B. rapa ssp. pekinensis 'Chiifu' under salt stress (250 mM NaCl). From the B. rapa KBGP-24K microarray chip analysis, 202 salt-responsive unigenes were primarily selected under salt stress. Of these, a gene with unknown function but known full-length sequence was chosen to closely investigate the gene function. The selected gene was named BrSSR (B. rapa salt stress resistance). BrSSR contains a 285 bp open reading frame encoding a putative 94-amino acid protein, and a DUF581 domain. The pSL94 vector was designed to over-express BrSSR, and was used to transform tobacco plants for salt tolerance analysis. T1 transgenic tobacco plants that over-expressed BrSSR were selected by PCR and DNA blot analyses. Quantitative real-time RT PCR revealed that the expression of BrSSR in transgenic tobacco plants increased by approximately 3.8-fold. Similar results were obtained by RNA blot analysis. Phenotypic characteristics analysis showed that transgenic tobacco plants with over-expressed BrSSR were more salt-tolerant than the wild type control under 250 mM NaCl for 5 days. Based on these results, we hypothesized that the over-expression of BrSSR may be closely related to the enhancement of salt tolerance.