• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2008

In April, July, October and December, 2003, we investigated the effects of water temperature, salinity and extinction coefficient on the distribution of phytoplankton communities at 22 stations in Jinju Bay of Korea. Water temperature and salinity showed a wide range of $10.4^{\circ}C-21.8^{\circ}C$ and 4.34-33.21 psu. Extinction coefficients showed a range of 0.09-3.08, above 1 from almost all the areas except in some central areas, especially, showed highest value (>2) in the estuary area. In phytoplankton, a total of 95 species belonging to 51 genera were identified. The predominant species were mainly diatoms throughout the year. Dominant species was Thalassionema nitzschioides, Skeletonema costatum, Thalassiosira sp. in April, S. costatum, Leptocylindrus danicus in July, C. debilis, S. costatum, C. curvisetus, Pseudonitzshia pungens in October, S. costatum, Asterionellopsis glacialis and C. debilis in December. S. costatum was a major dominant species for all the seasons. Considering the results of literature which is about physiological study, S. costatum seems to be euryhaline and eurythermal, and high affinity on the irradiance. Thus, the species might have been spread population in Jinju Bay where is characteristic of wide range of water temperature, salinity and high extinction coefficients.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.261-273
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• 2010

This study intended to investigate the environmental factors including soil and vegetation in order to understand the environmental and ecological characteristics of seven different habitats of Viola websteri. These habitats, according to investigations, are mostly located on the slope of mountains facing north at an altitude of 343 m to 991 m above sea level with angle of inclination from 1 degree to 33 degrees. The type of soil is mostly sandy loam and the average field capacity of soil is 28.97%. Their average organic matter is 16.63%, soil pH 5.62, and available phosphorus is 14.75%. A total of 133 vascular plants are identified in 18 quadrates of seven habitats. Dominant species of woody plants in seven habitats are represented as Acer pictum subsp. mono and Quercus mongolica in tree layer, and Acer pictum subsp. mono in subtree layer. Importance value of Viola websteri is 9.66%, as regards the herbaceous layer, and five highly ranked species such as Meehania urticifolia(8.53%), Pseudostellaria heterophylla(6.51%), Hylomecon vernalis(5.15%), Oxalis obtriangulata (4.52%), and Pseudostellaria davidii(4.15%) are considered to be an affinity with Viola websteri in their habitats. The degree of their average species diversity is 1.32, and that of dominance and evenness are 0.08 and 0.89, respectively. Correlation coefficients analysis based on environmental factors, vegetation and soil analysis shows that the coverage of Viola websteri is correlated with silt and sand ratio, and coverage of tree layers are correlated with species richness and altitude. Cluster analysis based on vegetation structure of each habitats are forms a three groups.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2001

The expression of recombinant proteins fused to 26 kDa glutathione S-transferase (GST) extracted from Schistosoma japonicum represents an attractive system for purifiying proteins of interest in a single step using GST-affinity chromatography. In addition, the GST-tag is used conveniently for detecting fused proteins since its high solubility as well as its relatively small size rarely interferes with the biological activity of the fused protein. In this regard, the GST system is frequently applied for tracing fusion proteins in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to elucidate the physiological interactions and functional compartments of proteins. To provide a further tool in analyzing GST-fusion proteins, a new monoclonal antibody, with a high specificity to the S. japonicum GST was produced. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized both with recombinant S. japonicum GST proteins, and by the fusion of splenocytes from these mice with myeloma cells. From this, a new anti -GST monoclonal antibody, termed SARAH, was generated. The specificity and reactivity of this antibody was confirmed by ELISA and by Western blot analysis. Results: SARAH showed a high reactivity to recombinant GST and GST fusion protein but not with native mammalian GST proteins as derived from other species including humans, cows, rabbits and rats. The applicability of SARAH was further demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy, where GST proteins that were expressed transiently in mouse fibroblast cells, were specifically detected without interference of endogenous GST. Conclusion: SARAH is new monoclonal antibody with a high specificity to recombinant GST proteins but not to endogenous GST in mammalian cells.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.96-106
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• 1984

Changes in weed floras and development of plant resistance to herbicides seemed to be closely related with increased and repeated use of herbicides. Herbicide use increased from 5% of the total consumption of pesticide in 1950 to 45% in 1976 in world basis. About 200 herbicides have been introduced to agriculture so as to control about 206 weed species which have been recorded important to human beings. In Korea, there was about 351 times in increased use of herbicides from 1966 to 1982. Interspecific selection by herbicide is mainly responsible for changes in weed floras and resulted in varying tolerance or susceptibility to herbicides, together with the changes of agricultural practices. The present trend toward continuous cereal cultivation throughout world will lead to type of changes in weed floras favorable to therophyte which can survive under unfavorable conditions as seeds rather than the types of geophyte which can survive unfavorable seasons as buds placed below soil surface. However, geophyte such as Sagitaria pygmaea, and Scirpus jurtcoides, and Cyperus rotundus and Cynodon dactylon in temperate warm climate become severe paddy weeds, presumably because of the removal of annual weeds by herbicides. Since differential tolerance to 2,4-D was firstly reported in Agrostis stolofera, about 30 species of weeds in 18 genera are presently known to have developed resistance to triazine herbicides. Resistance of weed biotypes to triazine herbicide is not mainly due to limited absorption and translocation or to the difference in metabolism, but is the result of biochemical changes at the site of metabolic activity, such as a loss of herbicide affinity for triazine binding site in the photosystem II complex of the chloroplast membrane. Genetical study showed that plastid resistance to triazine was wholly inherited through cytoplasmic DNA in the case of Brassica campestris. Plant tissue culture method can be utilized as an alternate mean of herbicide screening and development of resistance variants to herbicides as suggested by Chaleff and Parsons. In this purpose, one should be certain that the primary target process is operational in cell culture. Further, there are a variety of obstacles in doing this type of research, particularly development of resistance source and it's regeneration because cultured cells and whole plants represent different developmental state.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1403-1414
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• 2010

Aspergillus awamori BTMFW032, isolated from sea water, produced tannase as an extracellular enzyme under submerged culture conditions. Enzymes with a specific activity of 2,761.89 IU/mg protein, a final yield of 0.51%, and a purification fold of 6.32 were obtained after purification through to homogeneity, by ultrafiltration and gel filtration. SDS-PAGE analyses, under nonreducing and reducing conditions, yielded a single band of 230 kDa and 37.8 kDa, respectively, indicating the presence of six identical monomers. A pI of 4.4 and a carbohydrate content of 8.02% were observed in the enzyme. The optimal temperature was found to be $30^{\circ}C$, although the enzyme was active in the range of $5-80^{\circ}C$. Two pH optima, pH 2 and pH 8, were recorded, although the enzyme was instable at a pH of 8, but stable at a pH of 2.0 for 24 h. Methylgallate recorded maximal affinity, and $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ were recorded at $1.9{\times}10^{-3}$M and 830 ${\mu}Mol$/min, respectively. The impacts of a number of metal salts, solvents, surfactants, and other typical enzyme inhibitors on tannase activity were determined in order to establish the novel characteristics of the enzyme. The gene encoding tannase, isolated from A. awamori, was found to be 1.232 kb, and nucleic acid sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame consisting of 1,122 bp (374 amino acids) of one stretch in the -1 strand. In silico analyses of gene sequences, and a comparison with reported sequences of other species of Aspergillus, indicate that the acidophilic tannase from marine A. awamori differs from that of other reported species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

The habitats characteristics of Wedelia prostrata were investigated to compile basic data for conservation and restoration. Natural habitats were located at inclinations of $1-40^{\circ}$. Thirty eight vascular plants were identified from 19 quadrats in 7 habitats. The importance value of Wedelia prostrata is 44.77% and 5 highly ranked species such as Vitex rotundifolia(13.32%), Carex pumila(6.75%), Calystegia soldnella(4.24%), Aster hispidus(2.54%) and Artemisa capillaris(2.43%) are considered to be an affinity with Wedelia prostrata in their habitats. Species diversity was 0.79, and dominance and evenness were found to be 0.25 and 0.67, respectively. Average field capacity was 4.51%, the organic matter was 3.37%, pH was 8.17, available phosphorus was $1.33{\mu}g/g$, and electrical conductivity was $802.01{\mu}s/cm$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.494-500
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• 2007

The endophytic bruchid pest Callosobruchus maculatus causes severe damage to storage cowpea seeds, leading to economical losses. For this reason the use of $\alpha$-amylase inhibitors to interfere with the pest digestion process has been an interesting alternative to control bruchids. With this aim, $\alpha$-amylase inhibitors from baru seeds (Dipteryx alata) were isolated by affinity chromatographic procedures, causing enhanced inhibition of C. maculatus and Anthonomus grandis $\alpha$-amylases. To attempt further purification, this fraction was applied onto a reversed-phase HPLC column, generating four peaks with remarkable inhibition toward C. maculatus $\alpha$-amylases. SDS-PAGE and MALDI-ToF analysis identified major proteins of approximately 5.0, 11.0, 20.0 and 55 kDa that showed $\alpha$-amylase inhibition. Results of in vivo bioassays using artificial seeds containing 1.0% (w/w) of baru crude extract revealed 40% cowpea weevil larvae mortality. These results provide evidence that several $\alpha$-amylase inhibitors classes, with biotechnological potential, can be isolated from a single plant species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.143-146
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• 2004

Natural zeolites have exhibited high sorption capacity for inorganic cations including heavy metals and ammonium. Moreover, they were proven to be effective for environmental applications such as permeable barriers for controlling the spread of cation-contaminated groundwater. However zeolites have little or no affinity for anionic species like chromium, as they possess a net negative structural charge. To achieve the simultaneous sorption for anionic contaminants, surfactant-modified zeolite (SMZ) has been employed as the possible sorbents. Current study focuses on simultaneous removal of heavy metals having different ionic form in aqueous solution, cadmium (C $d^{2+}$) and chromium (Cr $O_{4}$$^{2-}$), using newly developed materials, ZanF. ZanF, a potential alternative to SMZ, was derived from zeolite modified by Fe(II) chloride followed by reduction with sodium borohydride. Batch experiments were performed to estimate the removal efficiency of ZanF at different conditions. Under different pH ranging from 2 to 6, removal efficiency was investigated. And C $d^{2+}$ removal efficiency was estimated by varying background concentration of Cr $O_{4}$$^{2-}$, and vice versa. With the test results, ZanF was expected to be a possible reactive materials alternative to SMZ in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) for treating the contaminated groundwater with cationic and anionic heavy metals.als.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1221-1226
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• 2008

A variety of fungal species are known to degrade cyanide through the action of cyanide hydratase, a specialized nitrilases which hydrolyze cyanide to formamide. This work is a report on two unknown and un-characterized members from Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus nidulans. Recombinant forms of three cyanide hydratases (CHT) originated from N. crassa, Gibberella zeae, and A. nidulans were prepared after their genes were cloned with N-terminal hexahistidine purification tags, expressed in E. coli and purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. These enzymes were compared according to their pH activity profiles, and kinetic parameters. Although all three were similar, the N. crassa CHT has the widest pH range of activity above 50% and highest turnover rate ($6.6{\times}10^8min^{-1}$) among them. The CHT of A. nidulans has the highest Km value of the three nitrilases evaluated in here. Expression of CHT in both N. crassa and A. nidulans were induced by the presence of KCN, regardless of any presence of nitrogen sources. These data can be used to determine optimal procedures for the enzyme uses in the remediation of cyanide-containing wastes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1179-1184
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• 2010

We report the generation of the first monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the polysaccharide chitosan. Mice were immunized with a mixture of chitosans, and hybridoma clones were screened for specific binders, resulting in the isolation of a single clone secreting a chitosan-specific IgM, mAbG7. In ELISAs, the antibody could bind to chitosans of varying composition, but demonstrated the highest affinity for chitosans with lower degrees of acetylation (DA) and very poor binding to chitin. We tested the ability of the antibody to bind to chitosan in situ, using preparations of fungal cell walls. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed that the antibody bound strongly to the cell walls of fungi with high levels of chitosan, whereas poor staining was observed in those species with cell walls of predominantly chitin or cellulose. The potential use of this antibody for the detection of fungal contamination and the protection of plants against fungal pathogens is discussed.