• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2013

The presence of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) has previously been reported in citrus growing regions of Turkey. All serologically and biologically characterized isolates including I$\breve{g}$d${\i}$r, which was the first identified CTV isolates from Turkey, were considered mild isolates. In this study, molecular characteristics of the I d r isolate were determined by different methods. Analysis of the I$\breve{g}$d${\i}$r isolate by western blot and BD-RT-PCR assays showed the presence of MCA13 epitope, predominantly found in severe isolates, in the I$\breve{g}$d${\i}$r isolate revealing that it contains a severe component. For further characterization, the coat protein (CP) and the RNA-depen-dent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genes representing the 3' and 5' half of CTV genome, respectively, were amplified from dsRNA by RT-PCR. Both genes were cloned separately and two clones for each gene were sequenced. Comparisons of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences showed that while two CP gene sequences were identical, two RdRp clones showed only 90% and 91% sequence identity in their nucleotide and amino acid sequences, respectively, suggesting a mixed infection with different strains. Phylogenetic analyses of the CP and RdRp genes of I$\breve{g}$d${\i}$r isolate with previously characterized CTV isolates from different citrus growing regions showed that the CP gene was clustered with NZRB-TH30, a resistance breaking isolate from New Zealand, clearly showing the presence of severe component. Furthermore, two different clones of the RdRp gene were clustered separately with different CTV isolates with a diverse biological activity. While the RdRp-1 was clustered with T30 and T385, two well-characterized mild isolates from Florida and Spain, respectively, the RdRp-2 was most closely related to NZRB-G90 and NZRB-TH30, two well-characterized resistance breaking and stem pitting (SP) isolates from New Zealand confirming the mixed infection. These results clearly demonstrated that the I$\breve{g}$d${\i}$r isolate, which was previously described as biologically a mild isolate, actually contains a mixture of mild and severe strains.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2013

Although the role of ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation on Parkinson's disease is relatively well known, the physiological role and the regulatory mechanism governing the expression of ${\alpha}$-synuclein are unclear yet. We recently reported that ${\alpha}$-synuclein is expressed and secreted from cultured astrocytes. In this study, we investigated the effect of valproic acid (VPA), which has been suggested to provide neuroprotection by increasing ${\alpha}$-synuclein in neuron, on ${\alpha}$-synuclein expression in rat primary astrocytes. VPA concentration-dependently increased the protein expression level of ${\alpha}$-synuclein in cultured rat primary astrocytes with concomitant increase in mRNA expression level. Likewise, the level of secreted ${\alpha}$-synuclein was also increased by VPA. VPA increased the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and JNK and pretreatment of a JNK inhibitor SP600125 prevented the VPA-induced increase in ${\alpha}$-synuclein. Whether the increased ${\alpha}$-synuclein in astrocytes is involved in the reported neuroprotective effects of VPA awaits further investigation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.275-280
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• 2018

In the present study, we identified a Spirometra species of Myanmar origin (plerocercoid) by molecular analysis using mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes, as well as by morphological observations of an adult tapeworm. Spargana specimens were collected from a paddy-field in Taik Kyi Township Tarkwa Village, Yangon, Myanmar in December 2017. A total of 5 spargana were obtained from 20 frogs Hoplobatrachus rugulosus; syn: Rana rugulosa (Wiegmann, 1834) or R. tigrina (Steindachner, 1867). The plerocercoids were used for experimental infection of a dog. After 4 weeks of infection, an adult tapeworm was recovered from the intestine of the dog. Morphologically, the distinct features of Spirometra sp. (Myanmar origin) relative to S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens include a uterine morphology comprising posterior uterine coils that larger than the terminal uterine ball and coiling of the uteri diagonally (swirling) rather than spirally. The cox1 sequences (1,566 bp) of the Myanmar-origin Spirometra species showed 97.9% similarity to a reference sequence of S. decipiens (GenBank no. KJ599679) and 90.5% similarity to a reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei (GenBank no. KJ599680). Phylogenetic tree topologies were identical and presented high confidence level of values for the 3 major branches of the 3 Spirometra species in cox1 and nad1 genes. These results indicated that Myanmar-origin Spirometra species coincided with those of S. ranarum and may be considered as a valid species.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.240-245
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• 2008

The consumption of foods containing trans fatty acids (TFAs) is a matter of concern at present. According to many studies, trans fatty acids (TFAs) may cause illnesses such as the coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, large intestine cancer, and breast cancer. They can also raise low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and reduce high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. TFAs can also inhibit the synthesis of phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids in arterial cells. As a consequence the Food and Drug Administration has deemed that saturated fatty acid, cholesterol and trans fatty acid levels be listed on food labels as of 2006. The Korea Food and Drug Administration also has required the listing of trans fatty acid content on food labels since 2007. The aim of this study was to determine the total lipid and trans fatty acid (TFA) contents in retort food, powdered milk, biscuit and pizza products. The number of samples examined were 2 retort food, 6 powdered milk, 7 biscuit and 3 pizza products. The extraction of total lipids in retort food and powdered milk followed the chloroform methanol method. The extraction of total lipids in biscuit and pizza was by the acid digestion method. All samples were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) using a SP-2560 capillary column and a flame ionization detector. The TFA contents per 100g of sample were 1-2.8% (1.9%) in retort foods, 0.4-2.4% (1.37%) in powdered milk products, 0-2.9% (1.23%) in biscuits, and 2.8-3.45% (3.03%) in pizzas.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Globally, mulberry (Morus sp.) is exploited for feeding leaf to silkworms in order to obtain silk fiber or for animal feedstock production. Also, mulberry fruit is known to a by-product that was produced from mulberry tree after harvesting leaves for silkworm rearing, as a yield and consumption of mulberry fruit was increased, it has been fixing to a newincome crop. Mulberry leaves and fruits are used for the health benefits of human beings. Mulberry contains various bioactive components, such as alkaloids and flavonoids. Mulberry flavonoids are an important part of the diet because of their effects on human nutrition. The flavonoids in mulberry leaf and fruit of 'Suhyang'(Morus alba L.) were determined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Flavonoids for mulberry leaf and fruit of 'Suhyang' were analysed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-QTOF/MS)technique. An UPLC-DAD-QTOF/MS system was used, and identification of mulberry leaves constituents was carried out on the basis of the complementary information obtained from LC spectra, MS ions, and MS/MS fragments. The mulberry leaf (16 flavonoids) and fruit (9 flavonoids) were isolated and analyzed from Suhyang using UPLC-DAD-QTOF/MS chromatogram. To the best of our knowledge, Quercetin 3-O-(6"-O-malonyl) glucoside and quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (rutin) was detected on the highest content in leaf and fruit, respectively and further research will be devoted to evaluate their biological activity. CONCLUSION: Obtaining information about the concentration of functional materials in mulberry leaves could contribute to the development and promotion of processed, functional products and offer possible industrial use of 'Suhyang', holding promises to enhance the overall profitability of sericulture.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.275-285
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• 2017

To investigate the changes of dominant species of benthic macroinvertebrates according to the changes of temperature and precipitation, we surveyed twenty sites of the main Seomjin River in May and September in 2013 and 2014. The temperature, precipitation, water quality factors and substrate composition, which are important factors in benthos habitat environment, were collected and measured. The average temperature of the Seomjin River increased by $0.2^{\circ}C$ in 2014 compared to 2013, and the temperature increased from upstream to downstream, showing a difference of more than $3^{\circ}C$. Also, the annual cumulative precipitation (ACP) was increased toward low latitude. The temperature of Seomjin River increased more than twice in September ($21.7{\sim}24.5^{\circ}C$) after rainfall compared to May ($7.6{\sim}11.3^{\circ}C$) before rainfall, and CP (cumulative precipitation) increased about 3 times before rainfall (263 mm~287.5 mm) and after rainfall (756.3 mm~882 mm). Due to washing effect by summer precipitation, total number of species and individuals for benthic macroinvertebrates were higher in May than in September. Chironomidae sp. and Choroterpes altioculus were dominated in May, Ecdyonurus levis, Macrostemum radiatum and Choroterpes altioculus were dominated in September. As a result of correlation analysis between community indices and environment factors, it was found that there is a high correlation with boulder and sand among substrate compositions. According to the results of cluster analysis based on temperature, CP and the dominant species of benthic macroinvertebrates in Seomjin River, it was divided into two groups following temperature and CP, and the dominant species and geographical position were reflected and divided into detailed groups.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.503-514
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• 1997

The morphogenesis of panicle and spikelet in paddy rice has been studied in high yielding Indica$\times$Japonica hybrid cultivar, Milyang 23 and a Japonica type cultivar, Koshihikari. Germinated seeds planted in $5000^{-1}$ a pots filled with submerged soil and cultured under natural conditions. The young panicle of main stem were continuously dissected and observered by Cryo-SEM from the panicle initiation stage until heading stage. Although the date of panicle differentiation and heading in Koshihikari earlier than those of Milyang 23. the sequence of panicle development in two cultivars begins when first bract primordium at opposite side of flag-leaf primordium differentiated, synchronously followed by growth of the primary branch primordia (PBPs) and secondary branch primordia (SBPs), spikelet primordia(SPs), glumes as lateral organs on rachilla and organs composing single floret, and successive sporogenesis in the young spikelets continue after the enclosure by lemma and palea. The PBPs are acropetally initiated from the base of the panicle primordium, and the SBPs alternately differentiate from the base of upper PBP which differentiate later than the lower PBP. Spikelet development starts at the top of upper side PBP of the young panicle and continue basipetally even though SBPs continue to develop at the lower primary branch. Each PBP, SBP and SP differentiate with differentiation bract or bract hair cell around the base of each their primordia. The observation could confirm that Milyang 23 has not only 2~3 more defferentiated PBPs, but also more SBPs and SPs especially from middle-lower primary branch, at end of their differentiation stages, as compared to those of Koshihikari.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.742-746
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• 2011

To increase the quality of Korean traditional yakju, we prepared seed cultures by fermentation at $20^{\circ}C$ for 2 days after addition of 140% water, 3% nuruk and 1.5% yeast into cooked rice. After the 200% cooked rice, 120% water and 0.08% commercial saccharifying enzyme were added to seed cultures and fermented for 2 days at $20^{\circ}C$, wild ginseng was added and then further fermented for 5 days. Physicochemical properties of traditional yakju were investigated. Ethanol was produced (18.5%) by the addition of 1.2% wild ginseng. However, ethanol content was not increased by addition of microwave treated-wild ginseng and rice (either cooked rice or raw). The traditional yakju obtained by fermentation at $20^{\circ}C$ for 5 days, after 90 sec of microwave treated-wild ginseng was added into main fermentation broth, showed good total acceptability and also contained 791 ppm saponin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.2 s.82
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• pp.235-240
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• 2007

AvrRpt2 protein triggers hypersensitive response (HR) and strong disease resistance when it is translocated from a bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas sp. to host plant cells containing a cognate RPS2 resistance protein through Type III Secretion System (TTSS). However, AvrRpt2 protein can function as the effector that suppresses a basal defense and enhances the disease symptom when functional RPS2 resistance protein is absent in the infected plant cells. Using Affymetrix Arabidopsis DNA chip, we found that many genes were specifically regulated by AvrRpt2 protein in the rps2 Arabidopsis mutant. Here, we showed that expression of AtERF11 that is known as a member of B1a subcluster of AP2/ERF transcription factor family was down regulated specifically by AvrRpt2. To determine its function in plant resistance, we also generated the Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic plants constitutively overexpressing AtERF11 under CaMV 355 promoter, which conferred an enhanced resistance against a bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Thus, these results collectively suggest that AtERF11 plays a role as a positive regulator for disease resistance against biotrophic bacterial pathogen in plant.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1381-1392
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• 2017

This review described solvent-tolerant lipases and their potential industrial, biotechnological and environmental impacts. Although organic solvent-tolerant lipase was first reported in organic solvent-tolerant bacterium, many organic solvent-tolerant lipases are in not only solvent-tolerant bacteria but also solvent-intolerant bacterial and fungal strains, such as the well-known Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces and Aspergillus strains. As these lipases are not easily inactivated in organic solvents, there is no need to immobilize them in order to prevent an enzyme inactivation by solvents. Therefore, the solvent-tolerant lipases have the potential to be used in many biotechnological and biotransformation processes. With the solvent-tolerant lipases, a large number insoluble substrates become soluble, various chemical reactions that are initially impossible in water systems become practical, synthesis reactions (instead of hydrolysis) are possible, side reactions caused by water are suppressed, and the possibility of chemoselective, regioselective and enantioselective transformations in solvent and non-aqueous systems is increased. Furthermore, the recovery and reuse of enzymes is possible without immobilization, and the stabilities of the lipases improve in solvent and non-aqueous systems. Therefore, lipases with organic-solvent tolerances have attracted much attention in regards to applying them as biocatalysts to biotransformation processes using solvent and non-aqueous systems.