• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.394-401
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• 2013

Trichoderma harzianum is one of rhizosphere fungus usually lives near the plant root regions in the soil. T. harzianum plays an important role in plant growth promotion and increases disease resistance against various plant pathogens on crops. In this study, the strain T. harzianum MPA167 was isolated from the barley rhizosphere soil in Suwon, Korea. Among 183 isolates, the strain T. harzianum MPA167 was selected as promising strain in which based on hyperparasitical activity against Phytophthora capsici and estimated disease control activity against P. capsici in the greenhouse conditions. The strain T. harzianum MPA167 was identified using 23s rDNA internal transcribed spacer(ITS) region sequences. MPA167 treatment ($1{\times}10^6$ spores/ml) showed greater disease suppression against Phytophthora blight of red-pepper caused by P. capsici in greenhouse compared with the water-treated control. Volatiles derived from T. harzianum MPA167 elicit growth promotion of tobacco and Arabidopsis seedlings in I-plate assay. In addition, T. harzianum MPA167 strain was also found to be effective for the growth promotion and induction of systemic resistance on red-papper plant. These results suggest that MPA167 might be used as one of the potential biocontrol agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2016

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation from the sun is the primary environmental factor that causes skin damages including skin cancer and premature skin aging. Because, even the most powerful sunscreen can't always afford enough protection, it is necessary to enhance the defensive power of skin against UV. Recently, constitutive photomorphogenic protein-1 (COP1) has shown to contribute to the regulation of UVB response of keratinocytes. In this study, we represent that COP1 and its associated protein, de-etiolated 1 (DET1), might participate in photoaging process in human skin as Arabidopsis COP1 does sun-protective function in plants. After UVB irradiation, the decrease of COP1 and DET1 mRNA expression was followed by the increase of c-Jun total protein. Moreover, transfection with DNA vectors expressing COP1 and DET1 down-regulated the c-Jun total protein. We found that Zanthoxylum piperitum extract (ZE) up-regulated the expression of COP1 and DET1 on human keratinocytes, and inhibited the expression of MMP1 which is one of the genes regulated by c-Jun signal. In addition, ZE has been reported to stimulate PPAR-${\alpha}$ and strengthen the skin barrier. We found that ZE decreased the UVB-induced IL-6 and IL-8 in NHEK cells. In human study, ZE protected skin against UV-B induced erythema and erythema-induced pigmentation. These results indicate that ZE could be useful for the protection against the adverse effects of UV irradiation through various mechanisms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2007

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) is a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid pathway, which synthesizes numerous secondary metabolites to participate in development and adaption. Two C4H isoforms, the 2192-bp BnC4H-1 and 2108-bp BnC4H-2, were cloned from oilseed rape (Brassica napus). They both have two introns and a 1518-bp open reading frame encoding a 505-amino-acid polypeptide. BnC4H-1 is 57.73 kDa with an isoelectric point of 9.11, while 57.75 kDa and 9.13 for BnC4H-2. They share only 80.6% identities on nucleotide level but 96.6% identities and 98.4% positives on protein level. Showing highest homologies to Arabidopsis thaliana C4H, they possess a conserved p450 domain and all P450-featured motifs, and are identical to typical C4Hs at substrate-recognition sites and active site residues. They are most probably associated with endoplasmic reticulum by one or both of the N- and C-terminal transmembrane helices. Phosphorylation may be a necessary post-translational modification. Their secondary structures are dominated by alpha helices and random coils. Most helices locate in the central region, while extended strands mainly distribute before and after this region. Southern blot indicated about 9 or more C4H paralogs in B. napus. In hypocotyl, cotyledon, stem, flower, bud, young- and middle-stage seed, they are co-dominantly expressed. In root and old seed, BnC4H-2 is dominant over BnC4H-1, with a reverse trend in leaf and pericarp. Paralogous C4H numbers in Brassicaceae genomes and possible roles of conserved motifs in 5' UTR and the 2nd intron are discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2014

In a variety of eukaryotic cells, autophagy sequesters a portion of the cytoplasm and targets it to a lytic compartment for degradation in bulk. Autophagy is a dynamic process for degrading cytoplasmic cargoes with various degrees of selectivity, and its activity is tightly regulated in a nutrient- and development-dependent manner. Autophagy research has drawn much attention since autophagy not only is an interesting cell biological phenomenon but also has great potential for medical and agricultural applications. For example, autophagy is associated with cancers and neurodegenerative diseases in human and mammalian cells and is also suggested in remobilization of nutrients during the senescence of plant leaves. In this general review, we describe genetic components of the core autophagic machinery conserved among yeast, animals, and plants and briefly explain how these components are responsible for major steps in plant autophagy. We discuss four common features of autophagic processes: (i) autophagy as a degradation pathway, (ii) the concept of flux in autophagy research, (iii) dependency on developmental and nutritional cues, and (iv) diversity of autophagy, focusing on selective types of autophagy. We also summarize cell biological and physiological functions of plant autophagy. Our intention is to provide a quick guide to autophagy for those who are new to autophagy research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1055-1062
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• 2014

We investigated the expression of cucumber genes involved in lipid mobilization and metabolism during cotyledon development to compare gene activity and to study the direction of carbon (acetyl unit) transport between glyoxysomes and mitochondria. The core metabolic pathway involving 10 genes was examined in four intracellular compartments: glyoxysomes (peroxisomes), mitochondria, chloroplasts, and cytosol. Additionally, we tested the early germination response of dark-grown seedlings and the immediate light response for a further 3 days. According to the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 3-L-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase 2 (Thio2), isocitrate lyase (ICL), and malate synthase (MS), the genes involved in storage lipid mobilization showed a similar and consistent pattern of gene expression in seedling development. Furthermore, coordinate expression of the A BOUT DE SOUFFLE (BOU) gene with ICL and MS during seedling emergence pointed to a possible secondary route of acetyl unit (acetyl-CoA) transport between peroxisomes and mitochondria in cucumber. The expression of the BOU gene was light dependent, as shown by BOU activity in Arabidopsis, suggesting that the dark condition also results in weak membrane biogenesis. In addition, several genes were active throughout the development of the green cotyledon, even during senescence. In conclusion, this study summarizes oil-seed germination and gene expression during cucumber cotyledon development and proposes an additional route for acetyl unit transport.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.312-325
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• 2015

In this review, we summarized the trends of genomics and transcriptomics research on peach, a model species of Rosaceae. Peach genome maps have been developed from various progeny groups with many next-generation sequencing (NGS) based single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Molecular markers of qualitative traits and quantitative trait loci (QTL) such as fruit characteristics, blooming date, and disease resistance have been analyzed. Among many characteristics, markers related to flesh softening and flesh adhesion are useful for marker assisted selection. Through comparative genomics, peach genome has been compared to the genome of Arabidopsis, Populus, Malus, and Fragaria species. Through transcriptomics and proteomics, fruit growth and development, and flavonoid synthesis, postharvest related transcriptomes and disease resistance related proteins have been reported. Recently, development of NGS based markers, construction of core collection of germplasm, and genotyping of various progenies have been preceded. In the near future, accurate QTL analysis and identification of useful genes are expected to establish a foundation for effective molecular breeding.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.359-364
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• 2012

This study were carried out to find bolting response of cultivation in different regions and to isolate FLC (FLOWERING LOCUS C) homologs in Angelica gigas Nakai. The mean temperature of different regions, ordering in altitude, were as follows: 100 m > 350 m > 530 m > 700 m. The largest amount of rainfall was occurred in the region of 350 m while the longest time of sunshine was occurred in the region of 100 m. The content of soil chemical properties in regions showed pH 6.2 ~ 7.4, T-N 0.17 ~ 26, organic mater $1{\sim}32gkg^{-1}$, $P_2O_5$ ${151{\sim}664_{mgkg}}^{-1}$, exchangeable potassium and calcium and magnesium were 0.78 ~ 1.15, 3.9 ~ 10.0, ${0.7{\sim}3.2_{cmol}}^{+kg-1}$. L5 line of A. gigas was occurred in bolting at all regions, but the bolting ratio was 60.0% in 700 m region with non-mulching treatment. Manchu of A. gigas was not occurred in bolting at all regions. The accumulation bolting ratio of L5 line by non-mulching was higher than that of mulching as 90.4% and 72.8% in 100 m region. The MADS-box transcription factor FLC is one of the well-known examples as a strong floral repressor. We decided to isolate FLC homologs from A. gigas as a starting point of flowering mechanism research of this plant. We have isolated two RT-PCR products which showed very high amino acid sequence homology to Arabidopsis FLC.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.155-170
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• 2018

In this paper, mechanisms of gene editing technologies including ZFN, TALENS and CRISPR were briefly discussed with mutual advantages and disadvantages. Classification criteria of gene edited, site-directed mutagenesis (SDN) crops for regulatory purpose were also discussed. The number of studies using CRISPR technology was high and studies conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana and rice were highest, followed by tobacco, tomato, wheat, and corn. It has been applied to a variety of plants such as other grain crops, flower crops, vegetable crops, and fruit trees. The number of studies focused on practical application or commercialization in the future were also increasing yearly, and the scope of studies also expanded to include research on metabolic engineering for mass production of useful proteins or substances, development of disease resistant crops against viruses, bacteria, and fungi, abiotic environmental stressresistant crops, and increased yields. In addition to this, it was revealed that application range is becoming more diversified, including the development of parthenocarpic tomatoes, hybrid rice lines using male sterility and increased shattering resistance Brassica napus. It was also revealed that the number of CRISPR gene edited crops permitted by the USDA(APHIS) increases yearly, to be released in the international seed market soon.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2015

The regulation of flowering time has crucial implications for plant fitness. MicroRNA156 (miR156) represses the floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana, but the mechanisms regulating its transcription remain unclear. Here, we show that two AGAMOUS-like proteins, AGL15 and AGL18, act as positive regulators of the expression of MIR156. Small RNA northern blot analysis revealed a significant decrease in the levels of mature miR156 in agl15 agl18 double mutants, but not in the single mutants, suggesting that AGL15 and AGL18 co-regulate miR156 expression. Histochemical analysis further indicated that the double mutants showed a reduction in MIR156 promoter strength. The double mutants also showed reduced abundance of pri-miR156a and pri-miR156c, two of the primary transcripts from MIR156 genes. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that AGL15 directly associated with the CArG motifs in the MIR156a/c promoters. AGL18 did not show binding affinity to the CArG motifs, but pull-down and yeast two-hybrid assays showed that AGL18 forms a heterodimer with AGL15. GFP reporter assays and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) showed that AGL15 and AGL18 co-localize in the nucleus and confirmed their in vivo interaction. Overexpression of miR156 did not affect the levels of AGL15 and AGL18 transcripts. Taking these data together, we present a model for the transcriptional regulation of MIR156. In this model, AGL15 and AGL18 may form a complex along with other proteins, and bind to the CArG motifs of the promoters of MIR156 to activate the MIR156 expression.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.571-577
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• 2017

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone involved in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The group A bZIP transcription factors play important roles in the ABA signaling pathway in Arabidopsis but little is known about their functions in rice. In our current study, we have isolated and characterized a group A bZIP transcription factor in rice, OsABF3 (Oryza sativa ABA responsive element binding factor 3). We examined the expression patterns of OsABF3 in various tissues and time course analysis after abiotic stress treatments such as drought, salinity, cold, oxidative stress, and ABA in rice. Subcellular localization analysis in maize protoplasts using a GFP fusion vector further indicated that OsABF3 is a nuclear protein. Moreover, in a yeast one-hybrid experiment, OsABF3 was shown to bind to ABA responsive elements (ABREs) and its N-terminal region found to be necessary to transactivate a downstream reporter. A homozygous T-DNA insertional mutant of OsABF3 is more sensitive to salinity, drought, and oxidative stress compared with wild type plants ＆ OsABF3OX plants. In addition, this Osabf3 mutant showed a significantly decreased sensitivity to high levels of ABA at germination and post-germination. Collectively, our present results indicate that OsABF3 functions as a transcriptional regulator that modulates the expression of abiotic stress-responsive genes through an ABA-dependent pathway.