• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

A total of 155 microbial strains were isolated from the Korean traditional soybean paste based on their morphological features on the growth of agar plate. Among the isolated strains, a total of 28 strains were capable of hydrolyzing isoflavone glycoside to isoflavone aglycone efficiently in the soybean paste. Finally, two strains, K123-1 and SI, were selected because of their resistance to 15% NaCl and ability to convert isoflavone glycoside to isoflavone aglycone efficiently during the fermentation of soybean paste. The isolated strains K123-1 and SI were identified to be Pichia guilliermondii and Candida fermentati, respectively, using the partial 26S rDNA sequence analysis and phylogenic analysis. Pichia guilliermondii K123-1 and Candida fermentati SI converted daidzin to daidzein up to 96% and 95%, respectively, and genistin to genistein up to 92% when soybean pastes were fermented at $30^{\circ}C$ for 20 days with a single isolated strain. Pichia guilliermondii K123-1 and Candida fermentati SI were able to grow in the presence of 15% NaCl on both liquid medium and agar plate. We think that Pichia guilliermondii K123-1 and Candida fermentati SI might be one of good candidates for making functional soybean paste because they are isolated from the Korean traditional soybean paste and have a good ability to convert isoflavone glycosides to isoflavone aglycones and a high salt tolerance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.85-85
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• 2017

Potato is important carbohydrate source over the world in that revealing high productivity per the unit area, and their cultivation area is estimated to be increased to cope with a scarcity of food according to the population increase. Major cultivated species of potato is Solanum tuberosum (2n = 4x = 48) and regarded as being originated in Andes region of South America. The diverse potato genetic resources has been collected and perserved in Highland Agricultural Research Institute (NICS, RDA), and the genetic materials as DNA stock is conserved in National Agrobiodiversity Center(NAS, RDA). The understanding of genetic constitution of conserved diversity is the basis for the germplam management and further utilization. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of potato germplasm(479 accessions) using 24 microsatellite markers which have been internationally used for fingerprinting of potato accession. The allele number and polymorphic information content (PIC) of total accessions per locus was ranged from 2 to 18 (mean = 8.2) and from 0.214 to 0.771 (mean = 0.595), respectively. Especially, the accession originated from Korea revealed average allele number of 6.0 (2 - 11) and average PIC value of 0.58 (0.193 - 0.763). Three groups were deduced by phylogenic analysis (Group-1, -2, -3); Korean accessions showed close genetic similarity to Japanese and USA accessions, and Korean landraces were mainly included in Group-3. We try to elaborate the genetic diversity analysis of conserved potato germplasm by acquiring more genotypes using applicable molecular markers.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2019

Two new SAM-dependent methyltransferase encoding genes (fvsmt1 and fvsmt2) were identified from the genome of Flammulina velutipes. In order to make a comprehensive characterization of both genes, we performed in silico analysis of both genes and used qRT-PCR to reveal their expression patterns during the development of F. velutipes. There are 4 and 6 exons with total length of 693 and 978 bp in fvsmt2 and fvsmt1, respectively. The deduced proteins, i.e., FVSMT1 and FVSMT2 contained 325 and 230 amino acids with molecular weight 36297 and 24894 Da, respectively. Both proteins contained a SAM-dependent catalytic domain with signature motifs (I, p-I, II, and III) defining the SAM fold. SAM-dependent catalytic domain is located either in the middle or at the N-terminal of FVSMT2 and FVSMT1, respectively. Alignment and phylogenic analysis showed that FVSMT1 is a homolog to a protein-arginine omega-N-methyltransferase, while FVSMT2 is of cinnamoyl CoA O-methyltransferase type and predicted subcellular locations of these proteins are mitochondria and cytoplasm, respectively. qRT-PCR showed that fvsmt1 and fvsmt2 expression was regulated in different developmental stages. The maximum expression levels of fvsmt1 and fvsmt2 were observed in stipe elongation, while no difference was found in mycelium and pileus. These results positively demonstrate that both the methyltransferase encoding genes are involved in the stipe elongation of F. velutipes.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.276-287
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• 2020

An algific talus slope is composed of broken rocks with vents connected to an ice cave, releasing cool air in summer and relatively warmer air in winter to maintain a more stable microclimate all year round. Such geological features create a very unusual and delicate ecosystem. Although there are around 25 major algific talus slopes in Korea, lichen ecology of these areas had not been investigated to date. In this study, we report the first exploration of lichen diversity and ecology at an algific talus slope, Jangyeol-ri, in Korea. A total of 37 specimens were collected over 2017-2018. Morphological and sequencing analysis revealed 27 species belonging to 18 genera present in the area. Of particular interest among these species was Solorina saccata, as it has previously not been reported in Korea and most members of genus Solorina are known to inhabit alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere. We provide here a taxonomic key for S. saccata alongside molecular phylogenetic analyses and prediction of potential habitats in South Korea. Furthermore, regions in South Korea potentially suitable for Solorina spp. were predicted based on climatic features of known habitats around the globe. Our results showed that the suitable areas are mostly at high altitudes in mountainous areas where the annual temperature range does not exceed 26.6 ℃. Further survey of other environmental conditions determining the suitability of Solorina spp. should lead to a more precise prediction of suitable habitats and trace the origin of Solorina spp. in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.93-119
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• 2004

Acanthamoeba and Naegleria are widely distributed in fresh water, soil and dust throughout the world, and cause meningoencephalitis or keratoconjunctivitis in humans and other mammals. Korean isolates, namely, Naegleria sp. YM-1 and Acanthamoeba sp. YM-2, YM-3, YM-4, YM-5, YM-6 and YM-7, were collected from sewage, water puddles, a storage reservoir, the gills of a fresh water fish, and by corneal washing. These isolates were categorized into three groups based on the mortalities of infected mice namely, highly virulent (YM-4), moderately virulent (YM-2, YM-5 and YM-7) and nonpathogenic (YM-3). In addition, a new species of Acanthamoeba was isolated from a freshwater fish in Korea and tentatively named Korean isolate YM-4. The morphologic characters of its cysts were similar to those of A. culbertsoni and A. royreba, which were previously designated as Acanthamoeba group III. Based on experimentally infected mouse mortality, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was highly virulent. The isoenzymes profile of Acanthamoeba YM-4 was similar to that of A. royreba. Moreover, an anti-Acanthamoeba YM-4 monoclonal anti-body reacted only with Acanthamoeba YM-4, and not with A. culbertsoni. Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker analysis and RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA and of a 188 small subunit ribosomal RNA, placed Acanthamoeba YM-4 in a separate cluster based on phylogenic distances. Thus Acanthamoeba YM-4 was identified as a new species, and assigned Acanthamoeba sohi. Up to the year 2002 in Korea, two clinical cases were found to be infected with Acanthamoeba spp. These patients died of meningoencephalitis. In addition, one case of Acanthamoeba pneumonia with an immunodeficient status was reported and Acanthamoeba was detected in several cases of chronic relapsing corneal ulcer, chronic conjunctivitis, and keratitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 2012

The movement of vesicles from the neuronal cell body to specific destinations requires molecular motors. The squid giant axon represents a powerful model for studies of the axonal transport mechanism because the axoplasm can readily be separated from the sheath by simple extrusion. In a previous study, vesicular movements in the axoplasm of the squid giant axon were inhibited by the kinesin antibody. In the present study, we cloned and sequenced the cDNAs for squid brain KIFs. Amplification of the conserved nucleotide sequences of the motor domain by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using first-strand cDNAs of the squid optic lobe identified six new KIF proteins. Motif analysis of the motor domains revealed that the squid KIFs are homologous to the consensus sequences of the mouse KIFs. The phylogenetic tree generated by using the maximum parsimony (MP) method, the neighbor-joining (NJ) method, the minimum evolution (ME) method, and the maximum likelihood (ML) method showed that squid KIFs are closest to mouse KIFs. These data prove the phylogenetic relationships between squid KIFs and mouse ones.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2008

Korean cultivated bramble, which is known as Bokbunja-ddal-gi is regarded to be originated from Korea native Rubus coreanus. However, little scientific evidence and significant morphological differences between Korean cultivated bramble(KCB) and R. coreanus throw doubt on the ancestry of KCB. This study was carried out to obtain phylogenetic information on KCB by comparing its nuclear genomic background with those of R. coreanus, black(R. occidentalis) and red(R. idaeus) raspberry, blackberry(R. lanciniatus) and R. crataegifolius. A total of 99 random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) markers were generated and used for phylogenetic analysis of 76 Rubus accessions. Accessions of each species were grouped into each distinct subclade by the RAPD markers at a similarity coefficient of about 0.59. The KCB subclade formed a clade with R. occidentalis and R. crataegifolius subclades at a similarity coefficient of 0.47. The R. coreanus subclade formed a clade with R. idaeus, R. lanciniatus and R. crataegifolius subclades at a similar similarity coefficient. Only one KCB accession from Hoengsung was included in R. coreanus subclade. The accession shows leaf and flower characteristics different from the rest of the KCB accessions. The phylogenetic relationship inferred from the RAPD markers suggests that the nuclear genomic background of KCB accessions which show morphological similarity to black raspberry is more closely related to black raspberry than to R. coreanus. This brings about the need for close scientific evaluations on the ancestry of KCB at both morphological and molecular levels.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2003

In order to isolate and characterize a novel fungal strain capable of producing cellulase, each samples of the old rice straw, soil, and the old tree were screened by congo red test. One of the fungi screened has been identified as Aspergillus tubingensis strain from the results of the phylogenic analysis based on partial DNA sequence and the basis of its biochemical properties. A carboxymethyl cellulase activity of the strain was higher than that of A. oryzae KCTC 6291. In CMCase activity measurement, it wasn't sensitive about pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, but the enzyme was more stable than A. oryzae under the various pH and temperature conditions and the enzyme activity was more similar to neutrality and alkali. Therefore, it could be suggested that the isolated strain has a potential possibility for the developing of the probiotics.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.247-252
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• 2002

A bacterium producing the extracellular mannanase was isolated from Korean formented food and has been identified as a member of the genus Bacillus from the result of the phylogenic analysis based on partial 165 rRNA sequences. The isolate, named Bacillus sp. WL-3, was shown to be similar to B. subtilis strain on the basis of its biochemical properties. The mannanase of culture supematant was the most active at $55^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0. The additional carbohydrates including u-cellulose, avicel, oat spelt xylan, guar gum and locust bean gum (LBG) increased the mannanase productivity. Especially, the maximum mannanase productivity was reached 65.5 U/ml in LB medium supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) LBG, which was 131-folds more than that in LB medium. It was sug-gested that the increase of mannanase production was owing to induction of mannanase biosynthesis by LBG hydrolysates transported following initial hydrolysis by extracellular mannanase during the cell growth. The molec-ular weight of WL-3 mannanase was estimated to approximately 38.0 kDa by zymogram on SDS-PAGE.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.25-36
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• 1964

The present paper deals with the comparative study on phylogenic difference in the patterns of energy metabolism of brain slices of several vertebrate species by measuring oxygen consumptionwith glucose-6-phosphate, glucose-1-phosphate, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate or glutamate as respiratory substrate employing Warburg's manometric method, by determination of the utilization rate of glucose using glucose-1-C14 by analyzing patterns of free amino acid distribution , and by histochemical determination using glucose-1-C14 by analyzing patterns of free amino acid distribution acid distribution , and by histochemical determination of glycogen contents. 1. Glucose enhances the oxygen consumption of brain slices of animals belinging to reptile, aves and mammalia while it shows a tendency to decrease that of animals belonging to pisces and amphibia. 2. Glucose-6--phosphate increase oxygen consumption more than glucose in every species examined, while glucose-1-phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate increase that of Rana nigromaculata only . In general m, it appears that phosphosugars are more effective as a respiratory substrate to those species which have less endogenous respiration than to those having larger endogenous respiration. 3. Similar patterns of free amino acid distribution and the relative amount are found among the species and in every species examined glutamic acid is detected in the larges amount . ${\gamma}$-Amino butyric acid, glycine, alanine and aspartic acid are found in every species. 4. Ophicephalus showed less oxygen consumption than endogenous respiration when glutamate was added to the medium. When sodium fluoride was added, the oxygen consumption was some what increased . Such phenomenon wasnot found in the frog. 5. The result of histochemcial analysis of the brain showed that glycogen was abundantly present in the fish , amphibia , and especially in the reptile and that no distinctive grains of glycogen were found in the bird and mammal . From these facts, it may be supposed that anaerobic glycolysis as energy source dominates in fish and amphibia and aerobic respiration through the oxidation of glucose dominates in bird and mamal , the reptile occupying transitional position between these two categories. The way of obtaining energy for brain activity by the oxidation of glucose supplied from the circulating blood is seemed to be first acquired by reptile and the function is completed both in aves and mammal.