• Animal cells and systems
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2004

Reproductive cycle and spawning rhythm with lunar cycle of the ascidian, Halocynthia hilgendorfi ritteri were investigated by histological examination. The specimens were sampled in the coastal waters of Yongdam, northwest of Jeju Island, Korea, from November 2001 to January 2003. H. hilgendorfi ritteri is a synchronous hermaphrodite; the gonads are located in the mantle. The reproductive cycle can be grouped into the following successive stages in the ovary: growth (February to June), vitellogenesis (April to September), mature (July to December), spent (November to February), and recovery (December to April). Likewise, in the testis, the stages observed were: growth (October), mature (October to December), spent (November to February), and resting (January to September). Major spawning probably occurs between November and January, when water temperatures decrease. The histological observations of the gonads suggested that this species is a multiple spawner during the spawning period. Spawning occurred between the new moon and full moon, and again between the full moon and new moon, suggesting that the spawning rhythm is influenced by the lunar cycle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.642-646
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• 2000

Fish paste was prepared to enhance physiological functions by adding 2.5, 5 and 10% dietary fiber isolated from ascidian (halocynthia roretzi) tunic. Hardness, adhesiveness, gumminess, chewiness and shear force of the fish paste were increased with addition of the dietary fiber. Water activity and Hunter's color values of the fish paste were not significantly changed by addition of the dietary fiber. Results of sensory evaluation indicated that no difference was observed in color, texture and overall acceptance (p<0.05). However, the fish paste with 5% dietary fiber scored the highest and was generally preferred by sensory panels.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.37-40
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• 2002

Ascidians are lower chordates, and their tadpole-like larvae share a basic body plan with vertebrates. To study photoreceptive systems in ascidians, we have isolated and characterized cDNA clones for three opsins, five G protein ${\alpha}$ subunits (G${\alpha}$), catalytic and regulatory subunits of cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE), and arrestin from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis tadpole larva. Ci-opsin1 and Ci-opsin2 are vertebrate-type opsins, while Ci-opsin3 is a retinal photoisomerase similar to retinochrome and mammalian RGR. Both Ci-opsin1 and arrestin are specifically localized in the photoreceptor cells of the ocellus, whereas Ci -opsin2 is not expressed in the photoreceptors, but is co-localized in another population of neurons in the brain with PDE (Ci-PDE9 and Ci-PDE$\delta$). Ci-opsin3 is present in the entire region of the brain. Though five different cDNAs encoding Ga have been cloned, no transducin-type G protein has been found yet. Interestingly, one of G${\alpha}$i isoform is conspicuously expressed in the entire region of the brain. The Ci-opsin3 gene expression was observed in a broad area of the brain vesicle as well as in the visceral ganglion. Genes encoding ascidian homologs of CRALBP and ${\beta}$-CD, whose function is required for the mammalian visual cycle, are co-expressed with Ci-opsin3 in the brain vesicle and visceral ganglion. Localization of Ci-opsin3, CRALBP, and ${\beta}$-CD in a broad area of the brain suggests that the brain of the ascidian larva has a visual cycle system similar to that of the vertebrate RPE. Based on these data, we discuss the evolution of vertebrate visual systems.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.445-453
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• 1994

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were cultured with different levels of carotenoids in odor to investigate the feeding effect of ascidian tunic extracts on the liver fatty acid compositions of them. Dominant monoenoic fatty acids of the ascidian tunic extracts were 16:1n-7($5.9\%$), 18:1n-9($21.9\%$), and 18:1n-7($3.5\%$) and polyenoic fatty acids of them were linoleic(18:2n-6, $14.2\%$), eicosapentaenoic(20:5n-3, $3.5\%$), and docosahexaenoic acid(22:6n-3, $8.3\%$). The compositions of fatty acid in the liver lipids were affected by the tunic extract levels during the feeding. The percentage of monoenoic acids in extract diets was decreased, and that of n-3PUFA was increased during feeding 2 weeks. But the n-3PUFA contents were decreased in 4 weeks. The 20:4n-6 content in rainbow trout fed extract diet was higher than that in the control and pink diet groups. The rainbow trout fed with ascidian tunic extracts showed an increase of essential fatty acids in the fish tissue, compared to the control or pink diet feeding groups.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Potoscience Conference
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• spring
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• pp.15-15
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• 2001

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.423-428
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• 1998

The effective extraction methods and chemical components of crude polysaccharides of ascidian tunics were investigated. Tow extraction conditions, autoclaving or enzyme treatment, were applied. The proximate composition of ascidian tunics was not much different between those dried in raw (containing pigments) and those acetone treated and dried (decolorized), showing $50\%$ of carbohydrate and $40\%$ of protein. It was possible to extract up to $10\%$ of crude polysaccharides from ascidian tunics regardless of the extraction methods, autoclaving or enzyme treatment. In case of the latter the extraction yield by neutrase was higher than that with alkalase (Novo co.) or mixture 2000 (Pacific chemical co.). The most effective enzyme concentration and extraction time appeared to be 24 hrs of extraction with $3\%$ neutrase. On the other hand, in autoclave treatment, 6 hrs extraction showed most desirable extraction yield, about $9.7\%$. The compositions of amino acid of decolorized ascidian tunic (acetone treated group) and the crude polysaccharide from the autoclaving (water solubles) or neutrase treatment (enzyme digestibles) were similar to each other. Histidine was the highest both in the neutrase and autoclave treatment group and the yield were $29.2\%,\;20.4\%$, respectively, followed by aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Among the minerals, the content of Ca was significantly high, followed by Mg and Na.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.214-220
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• 1993

Browning of ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi, meat occurres very rapidly when skinned off or cut during processing and it resulted the quality loss of fresh frozen, dehydrated or fermented products. In this study, the causes of color development and prevention of browning were experimented. The browning of ascidian meat may be occurred enzymatically by a tyrosinase contained in meat and viscera which acted specifically on L-tyrosine as a substrate rather than on catechol. Activity of the enzyme in viscera was three times higher than in meat. The optimum pH and temperature on the tyrosinase activity of crude enzyme obtained from ascidian was 6.0 and $30{\sim}35^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme was inactivated heating at $80^{\circ}C$ for 3 minutes or $90{\sim}100^{\circ}C$ for 1 minute and it was inhibited by $0.1{\sim}0.5mM$ solutions at ascorbic acid, sodium hydrogen sulfite, cystein, citric acid, cyanide but only sodium hydrogen sulfite treatment was effective to retard such a high content of enzyme as in case of viscera. In practical use for processing of ascidian meat browning was retarded by dipping the viscera removed ascidian meat in 0.2M citric acid for 5 minutes or $0.2\%$ sodium hydrogen sulfite solution for 1 minute resulting in sulfur dioxide residue less than 100 ppm.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.128-150
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• 2005

Invertebrate animals, which lack adaptive immune systems, have developed other systems of biological host defense, so called innate immunity, that respond to common antigens on the cell surfaces of potential pathogens. During the past two decades, the molecular structures and functions of various defense components that participated in innate immune systems have been established in Arthropoda, such as, insects, the horseshoe crab, freshwater crayfish, and the protochordata ascidian. These defense molecules include phenoloxidases, clotting factors, complement factors, lectins, protease inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides, Toll receptors, and other humoral factors found mainly in hemolymph plasma and hemocytes. These components, which together compose the innate immune system, defend invertebrate from invading bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. This review describes the present status of our knowledge concerning such defensive molecules in invertebrates.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.323-326
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• 2014

Colonial ascidian, Eusynstyela monotestis (Tokioka, 1953), is newly reported from Korean waters. The specimens of E. monotestis examined in this study were collected at subtidal zone of Beomseom, Munseom, Seopseom and Chagwido in Jeju-do by SCUBA diving. The genus Eusynstyela Michaelsen, 1904 is also new to Korean waters and it is distinct from other genera by having branchial sac with folds, longitudinal stigmata, hermaphrodite gonads on both sides, 1-2 male follicles in each gonad and body wall with endocarps. Eusynstyela monotestis is distinct from other species by having gonad with only single male follicle. In this paper, detailed descriptions and photographs of Eusynstyela monotestis (Tokioka, 1953) are provided.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.60-62
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• 2016

A colonial ascidian, Synoicum clavatum has previously been reported from Japan. Here, we provide detailed descriptions and illustrations of S. clavatum as the first record in Korea. Synoicum clavatum is characterized by club-shaped colonies with oval head and elongate stalk, circular cloacal systems, a branchial sac with 14-16 stigmata rows of 10-17 stigmata per row and a stomach with smooth surface. The specimens of S. clavatum were collected in the subtidal zone (15-25 m depth) at Beomseom and Mumseom in Jeju-do while SCUBA diving from 2000 to 2014.