• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.259-264
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• 2001

It has been well known that the expression of S. typhimurium cadBA operon requires at least two extracellular signals: low pH and high concentration of lysine. To better understand the nature of pH-dependent and lysine dependent signal transduction, mutants were isolated in JF2238(cadA-lacZ) by Tn10 insertion, spontaneous mutagenesis, and EMS treatment. Two mutants were isolated from JF2238, expressed as a cadA-lacZ operon fusion in various growth conditions, and analyzed to have mutations in cadC, a gene encoding a function necessary for transcriptional activation of cadBA. One isolate (cadC6) conferred pH-independent and lysine-independent cadBA expression and the other(cadC4) showed pH-independent and lysine-dependent cadBA expression. cadR::Tn10 and cadR4 mutants were expressed in the absence of exogenously added lysine. They were also resistant to thiosine and complemented by lysP clone from E. coli. Thus, in the absence of exogenous lysine, cadR is a negative regulator of cadBA expression. Cadaverine, the product of lysine decarboxylation, was shown to inhibit expression of cadA-lacZ fusion in cad $C^+$ cell.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2016

For comparison of tetracycline-resistant ($Tc^R$) genes, we obtained 21 and 14 $Tc^R$ Staphylococcus spp. from marine environment and human patient, respectively. Although all isolates from human were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, higher proportion of $Tc^R$ isolates (12 out of 14) from human were utilizing tet(M) gene compared to that of $Tc^R$ isolates (6 out of 21) from marine environment. Additionally, collaborated utilization of tet(M) and erm(A) in $Tc^R-Em^R$ S. aureus in human patient, but not in $Tc^R$ Staphylococcus spp. isolates from marine environment was also characterized. Based on the nucleotide sequence of transposon related to $Tc^R$ gene, we confirmed the origin of tet(M) gene in $Tc^R$ Staphylococci isolated from marine environments and human are derived from Tn916/1545-like and Tn5801 transposon, respectively. It is the first report showing the presence of Tn5801 in all $Tc^R$ S. aureus carrying tet(M) in human patient. Alignment of the fully sequenced tet(M) from marine environmental isolates was also agreed with the determined transposons by showing the genomic mosaic structure composed with three genomic parts from Tn916/1545 and unknown transposons. Genetic characteristics of these tet(M) in environmental isolates were similar to each other but different from those in isolates from human showing only tet(M) from Tn916/5801 type. It may imply the presence of less dramatic communication of antibiotic resistant genes between Staphylococci isolated from marine environment and human.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2023

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a key component in the biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystem. However, it has been rarely explored, particularly complex river watershed dominated by natural and anthropogenic sources, such as various effluent facility and livestock. The current research developed a new analytical method for TOC/TN (Total Organic Carbon/Total Nitrogen) stable isotope ratio, and distinguish DOM source using stable isotope value (δ¹³C-DOC) and spectroscopic indices (fluorescence index [FI] and biological index [BIX]). The TOC/TN-IR/MS analytical system was optimized and precision and accuracy were secured using two international standards (IAEA-600 Caffein, IAEA-CH-6 Sucrose). As a result of controlling the instrumental conditions to enable TOC stable isotope analysis even in low-concentration environmental samples (<1 mgC L^-1), the minimum detection limit was improved. The 12 potential DOM source were collected from watershed, which includes top-soils, groundwater, plant group (fallen leaves, riparian plants, suspended algae) and effluent group (pig and cow livestock, agricultural land, urban, industry facility, swine facility and wastewater treatment facilities). As a result of comparing characteristics between 12 sources using spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC values, it were divided into four groups according to their characteristics as a respective DOM sources. The current study established the TOC/TN stable isotope analyses system for the first time in Korea, and found that spectroscopic indices and δ¹³C-DOC are very useful tool to trace the origin of organic matter in the aquatic environments through library database.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 1991

Escherichia coli/Corynebacterium glutamicum shuttle vectors, pECCG1 and pECCG2 were constructed by joining a 3.00 kb cryptic plasmid pCB 1 from C. glutamicum and a 3.94 kb plasmid pACYC 177 from E. coli. By trimming unessential parts and introducing mulitiple cloning site into the plasmid pECCG 1, a plasmid pECCG122(5.1kb) was constructed. All the shuttle vectors were stably maintained in C. glutamicum up to about 40 generations irrespective of kanamycin addition in the medium. Threonine operon (homoserine dehydrogenase/homoserine kinase) and dapA gene (dihydrodipicolinate synthetase) of C. glutamicum were cloned into the plasmid pECCG122, and the resultant plasmids were designated pTN31 and pDHDP19, respectively. They were used to study the effect of cloned foreign gene on the stability of the plasmid pECCG122. Plasmids pTN31 and pDHDP19 were segregated rapidly from C. glutamicum when cultured in the medium without kanamycin. In medium with $50\mu${\g/ml} of kanamycin, their segregation rates were much slower than those in medium without kanamycin, but the danamycin addition didn't guarantee the complete maintenance of the plasmids in C. glutamicum.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.264-270
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• 2003

A quantitative survey of the protozoa microfauna at bioreactor of advanced sewage treatment plant was carried out during a period of 11 months. In this study, 32 genera were identified, including 17 ciliates. The abundance of the important protozoa were compared with the operating parameters and water quality of the effluent of the plant using statistical procedure. Statistical analysis revealed a relationship between the abundance of some genera and removal rate. In particular, correlation analysis on the quality of effluent and protozoa indicated that Lepadella may be used as the bioindicator of TP removal and Trochilia, Entosiphon, Colepus may be used as the bioindicator of TN removal when water temperature was below $20^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.213-220
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• 2023

The most common skin disease, acne, often occurs in adolescence, but it is also detected/observed in adults due to air pollution and drug abuse. One of the causative agents of acne, Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) plays a role in the development of skin acne by inducing inflammatory mediators. Torreya nucifera (TN) is an evergreen tree of the family Taxaceae, having well reported antioxidant, anti-proliferative, liver protection, and nerve protection properties. Improvement of these bioactive properties of natural products is one of the purposes of natural product chemistry and pharmaceuticals. We believe biorenovation could be one improvement strategy that utilizes microbial metabolism to produce unique derivatives having enhanced bioactivity. Therefore, in this study, the C. acnes-induced RAW264.7 inflammation model was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the biorenovated Torreya nucifera product (TNB). The results showed improved viability of TNB-treated cells compared to TN-treated cells in the concentration range of 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/mL. At non-toxic concentrations, TNB inhibited the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 by suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. TNB also attenuated the expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α induced by C. acnes. Furthermore, TNB inhibited the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, a transcription factor known to regulate inflammatory mediators. Based on these results, this study suggests the potential of using TNB as natural material for the treatment of acnes and thus, supporting our postulation of biorenovation as an bioactivity improvement strategy.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.441-451
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• 2009

The major objectives of this study were to evaluate trophic state of reservoirs using major water quality variables and its relations in terms of trophic guilds and tolerance guilds with dominant lentic fishes. For this study, we selected 6 artificial reservoirs such as Namyang Reservoir ($N_yR$), Youngsan Reservoir ($Y_sR$), Daechung Reservoir ($D_cR$), Chungju Reservoir ($Cj_R$), Chungpyung Reservoir ($C_pR$), and Paldang Reservoir ($P_dR$), and collected fish during 2000~2007 along with data analysis of water quality monitored by the ministry of environment, Korea. Biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), indicators of organic matter pollution, varied depending on types of the reservoirs and the spatial patterns in terms of trophic gradients were similar to patterns of nutrients, Secchi depth and chlorophyll-a. Analysis of trophic state index (TSI) showed that reservoirs of $D_cR$ and $C_jR$ were mesotrophy and other 4 reservoirs were eutrophic state. The relations of trophic relations showedthat TSI (Chl-a) had a positive linear function [TSI (CHL)=0.407 TSI (TP)+28.2, n=138, p<0.05] with TSI (TP) but had a weak relation with TSI (TN). Also, TSI (TP) were negatively correlated ($R^2=0.703$, p<0.05) with TSI (SD), whereas TSI (TN) was not significant (p>0.05) relations with TSI (SD). Tolerance guilds of lentic fishes, based on three types of the reservoirs, reflected the exactly water quality in the TN, TP, BOD, and COD, and similar trends were shown in the fish feeding/trophic guilds.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2014

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor with a very poor prognosis. Treating osteosarcoma remains a challenge due to its high transitivity. Tenascin-C, with large molecular weight variants including different combinations of its alternative spliced FNIII repeats, is specifically over expressed in tumor tissues. This study examined the expression of Tenascin-C FNIIIA1 in osteosarcoma tissues, and estimated the effect of mechanical stimulation on A1 expression in MG-63 cells. Through immunohistochemical analysis, we found that the A1 protein was expressed at a higher level in osteosarcoma tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. By cell migration assay, we observed that there was a significant correlation between A1 expression and MG-63 cell migration. The relation is that Tenascin-C FNIIIA1 can promote MG-63 cell migration. According to our further study into the effect of mechanical stimulation on A1 expression in MG-63 cells, the mRNA and protein levels of A1 were significantly up-regulated under mechanical stress with the mTOR molecule proving indispensable. Meanwhile, 4E-BP1 and S6K1 (downstream molecule of mTOR) are necessary for A1 normal expression in MG-63 cells whether or not mechanical stress has been encountered. We found that Tenascin-C FNIIIA1 is over-expressed in osteosar-coma tissues and can promote MG-63 cell migration. Furthermore, mechanical stress can facilitate MG-63 cell migration though facilitating A1 overexpression with the necessary molecules (mTOR, 4E-BP1 and S6K1). In con-clusion, high expression of A1 may promote the meta-stasis of osteosarcoma by facilitating MG-63 cell migration. Tenascin-C FNIIIA1 could be used as an indicator in metastatic osteosarcoma patients.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2000

The aacCl, aacC2, aacC3, and aacC4 genes, which encode aminoglycoside acetyltransferase AAC(3)-I, AA(3)-II, AAC(3)-III, and AAC(3)-IV, respectively, and aerolysin genes in water samples from Juam lake were surveyed by polymerase chain reaction. Surface water was collected from January 1996 to December 1998, and then bacterial DNA was extracted from the water. Twelve samples were tested by PCR to servey the genes for aminoglycoside acetyltransferase and aerolysin in the lake water. The aacC2 gene was detected in 9 of 12 DNA samples. Among 9 samples showing aacC2 positive, 7 samples were associated with Tn3 sequence. However, none of the twelve samples amplified the expected DNA fragment for aacC1, aacC3, and aacC4 genes. PCR primer to detect the aerolysin gene was designed using the conserved region of the genes for aerolysin and hemolysin of Aeromonas spp. This primer set successfully amplified the expected 414 bp PCR product with the DNA samples from the lake water. The aerolysin gene was detected in 7 of 12 DNA samples. When Southern hybridization of the gel with probe was performed, the aerolysin gene was detected in 10 of 12 DNA samples. However, the seasonal fluctuation of these genes was not found.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.292-300
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• 2016

Diverse and comprehensive countermeasures were established to prevent water pollution in coastal areas such as constructed wetlands(CW).This study was conducted to assess the water quality improvement through CW constructed along the shoreline of Hwaseong coastal reservoir. The CW is located in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do and consisted of a forebay and a wetland. The CW was monitored twice during rainy days and 10 times during dry days. The monitoring results indicated that in and out flowrates were highly correlated with COD and TN loads. COD, TN and TP concentrations in the forebay was lower during dry days than rainy days. However, concentration and mass removal efficiencies of COD, TN and TP were greater during rainy days. In addition, the volume flowing into the CW was less compared to the outflow during rainy days indicating that the CW efficiently reduced the runoff volume. The overall pollutant removal efficiency of the CW were at least 50% for TSS, 20 to 35% for TP, and 26 to 94% for TN. The data gathered may be used to improve the pollutant removal efficiency of the system in the future.