• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1133-1140
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• 2006

Human HtrA1 (High temperature requirement protein A1) is a homologue of the E. coli periplasmic serine protease HtrA. A recent study has demonstrated that HtrA1 is a serine protease involved in processing of insulin like growth factor binding protein (ICFBP), indicating that it serves as an important regulator of IGF activity. Additionally, several lines of evidence suggest a striking correlation between proteolytic activity of HtrA1 serine protease and the pathogenesis of several diseases; however, physiological roles of HtrA1 remain to be elucidated. We used the pGEX bacterial expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying HtrA1, and the recombinant HtrA1 protein was utilized to investigate the optimal conditions in executing its proteolytic activity. The proteolytically active HtrA1 was purified to approximately 85% purity, although the yield of the recombinant HtrA1 protein was slightly low $460{\mu}g$ for 1 liter E. coli culture). Using in vitro endoproteolytic cleavage assay, we identified that the HtrA1 serine protease activity was dependent on the enzyme concentration and the incubation time and that the best reaction temperature was $42^{\circ}C$ instead of $37^{\circ}C$. We arbitrary defined one unit of proteolytic activity of the HtrA1 serine protease as 200nM of HtrA1 that cleaves half of $5{\mu}M\;of\;{\beta}-casein$ during 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which HtrA1 serine protease activity contributes in regulating its physiological function and to identify natural substrates of HtrA1.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.936-942
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• 2016

As the incidence of environmental diseases is increasing due to harmful environmental factors, there is a rising interest in developing eco-friendly materials for housing. In this study, we sought to develop antimicrobial interior fabric blind materials by employing ethanol extract of a medicinal plant Zanthoxylum piperitum DC. As determined by the disc diffusion method, the zones of inhibition of the pericarp ethanol extract at a concentration of 5 mg/disc against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans were 13.5±1.5 mm, 14.0±0.5 mm and 15.0±0.1 mm, respectively, whereas the leaf ethanol extract (5 mg/disc) against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and S. mutans were 12.8± 0.3 mm, 13.5±1.0 mm, and 12.0±0.1 mm, respectively. The IC₅₀ of the leaf ethanol extract against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus and S. mutans were about 0.5 mg/ml, 0.1 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml respectively. To examine whether the leaf ethanol extract possessing antibacterial activity of Z. piperitum DC can be applicable to production of antimicrobial fabric blind materials, the fabrics treated with either 1.0% or 2.0% of the leaf ethanol extract were tested for antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus using International Standard Fabrics Test Method. The results indicate that the fabric treated with the ethanol extract of Z. piperitum DC possesses an excellent antimicrobial activity against both pathogenic bacteria. These results suggest that Z. piperitum DC may be applicable to producing functional fabrics which are effective in reducing the harmful bacterial factors in indoor environments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2011

There is a growing recognition of the significance of $H_2S$ as a biological signaling molecule involved in vascular and nervous system functions. In mammals, two enzymes in the transsulfuration pathway, cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CGL), are believed to be chiefly responsible for $H_2S$ biogenesis. Genetic inborn error of CGL leads to human genetic disease, cystathioninuria, by accumulating cystathionine in the body. This disease is secondarily associated with a wide range of diseases including diabetes insipidus and Down's syndrome. Although the human CGL (hCGL) overexpression is essential for the investigation of its function, structure, reaction specificity, substrate specificity, and protein-protein interactions, there is no clear report concerning optimum overexpression conditions. In this study, we report a detailed analysis of the overexpression conditions of the hCGL using a bacterial system. Maximum overexpression was obtained in conditions of low culture temperature after inducer addition, performing low aeration during overexpression, and using a low concentration inducer (0.1 mM, IPTG) for induction. Expressed hCGL was purified by His-tag affinity column chromatography and confirmed by Western blot using hCGL antibody and enzyme activity analysis. We also report that the His tag with TEV site attached protein exhibits 76% activity for ${\alpha}-{\gamma}$ elimination reaction with L-cystathionine and 88% for ${\alpha}-{\beta}$ elimination reaction with L-cysteine compared to those of wild type hCGL, respectively. His tag with TEV site attached protein also exhibits a 420 nm absorption maximum, which is attributed to the binding cofactor, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP).

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to review our recent experiences with deep neck abscesses in children and adolescents and to provide helpful information in treatment and diagnosis by comparing them with those in other available literatures. Methods : Medical records of 36 children and adolescents admitted for deep neck abscess at two hospitals from January 2000 to October 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Male to female ratio was 1.4 : 1 and the mean age was 6.5 years. Painful neck swelling and fever were the most frequent symptoms in patients under thirteen years of age whereas trismus and headache were frequent symptoms in patients over fourteen years of age. Submandibular space was the most common site of deep neck abscess in patients under thirteen years of age, whereas peritonsillar space was the most common site in patients over fourteen years of age. The results of bacterial cultures were positive in 61.5% of drained cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly identified bacteria in 6 patients (37.5%) and 5 of them were under 2 years of age. Twenty six patients received surgical drainage while the others were treated with antibiotics only. There were no statistically significant differences in the durations of admission, fever after admission, and antibiotic treatment between surgical and medical treatment groups. Conclusion : The common sites of deep neck abscess, associated symptoms, and causative organisms were different between children and adolescents. As there were no differences in durations of admission, fever, or antibiotics treatments between surgical and medical treatment groups, surgical drainage may be avoided by early recognition and suspicion. However, if there is no improvement of symptoms or size of abscesses within 48-72 hours of antibiotic treatment, surgical drainage should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.640-644
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• 2009

A new sprout-soybean cultivar, "Sohwang" was developed at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) in 2008. "Sohwang" was selected from a cross between Pungsan and Pungsan/Nattosan. The preliminary, advanced, and regional yield trials to evaluate the performance of Iksan 58 were carried out from 2004 to 2008. This cultivar has a determinate growth habit with purple flower, grayish brown pubescence, yellow seed coat, Yellow hilum, lanceolate leaflet shape and small seed size (8.5 grams per 100 seeds). The maturity date of "Sohwang" is 10 days earlier than the check variety, "Pungsan". It has a good seed quality for soybean-sprout. The soybean-sprouts grown from "Sohwang" have high isoflavone ($3,041{\mu}g/g$)contents. This cultivar has resistance to soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and necrotic symptom (SMV-N), and other most troublesome soybean diseases which are bacterial pustule and black root rot. Especially, "Sohwang" has useful characteristics, such as lodging and shattering resistance. The average yield of "Sohwang" was 2.69 ton per hectare in the carried out for three years from 2006 to 2008 regional yield trials(RYT) for double cropping.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.549-553
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• 2011

'Jungmo 1012', a new japonica rice intermediate parent developed from a cross between 'Sambaegbyeo' having a good eating-quality and lodging resistance, and 'Ou329', was developed by the rice breeding team of Sangju Substation, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration in 2010. This variety has about 120 days growth duration from transplanting to harvesting in southern mid-mountainous area of Korea. It has 78 cm culm length and tolerance to lodging. In reaction to biotic and abiotic stresses, it shows strong resistance to blast and viviparous germination, but is susceptible to bacterial blight, virus diseases, and insect pests. The milled rice of 'Jungmo 1012' exhibit translucent, relatively clear non-glutinous endosperm and medium short grain. It has a little lower amylose content of 18.2%, and higher protein content of 6.3%, and good palatability of cooked rice compared with 'Odaebyeo'. The milled rice yield performance of this variety is about 5.55 MT/ha in local adaptability test for three years. 'Jungmo 1012' will be adaptable to southern mid-mountainous of South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.611-615
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• 2011

'Manjong' is a new japonica rice cultivar developed in 2009 derived from a cross between 'Yeongdeog34' and 'Nampyeongbyeo' at the Department of Functional Crop, NICS, RDA. This cultivar is suitable for the double cropping system after the cash crop cultivation. Heading date of 'Manjong' is later than 'Keumobyeo' under the late transplanting cultivation on July 10. It has high grain fertility under cold conditions and low premature heading. One of the distinguishing characteristics of this variety is its resistance to major diseases like leaf blast and rice stripe virus disease. However, it shows susceptibility to major insect pests and bacterial blight disease. Milled rice kernels are translucent with non-glutinous endosperm and have 7.2% protein and 18.7% amylose contents. Ripening ratio and head rice ratio is very higher than those of 'Keumobyeo'. The palatability of cooked rice is also better than 'Keumobyeo'. The milled rice yield of 'Manjong' in local adaptability tests after harvest of the cash crop is $4.81MT\;ha^{-1}$. This cultivar is suitable for planting in the plain paddy fields of Honam and Yeonnam regions in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.632-637
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• 2010

'Hanseol' is a new very early-maturing, cold tolerant and high quality japonica rice variety developed from a cross of 'Jinbu24' and 'Jinbu25' by the rice breeding team of National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 2009. The heading date of this variety is July 25, which is four days earlier than check variety, 'Jinbubyeo'. 'Hanseol' has 65 cm of culm length, 99 spikelets per panicle, 82.9% of ripened grain rate, and 21.5 g of 1,000 grain-weight of brown rice. This variety shows susceptibility to bacterial leaf blight and virus diseases, and insect pests. It is tolerant to cold stress in terms of less heading delay and high fertility in cold water irrigated cultivation. This variety shows delayed leaf senescence and considerable tolerance to viviparous germination at ripening stage. The milled rice of this variety exhibits translucent, clear non-glutinous endosperm and medium-short grain. 'Hanseol' showed low gelatinization temperature and 6.1% protein content, 19.1% amylose content and good palatability of cooked rice. The milled rice yield of this variety is about 5.43 MT/ha at ordinary culture in local adaptability test for three years. 'Hanseol' would be highly adaptable to mid-north and mid-mountainous areas, and mid-northern alpine area in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2009

Junamjosaeng is a new japonica rice cultivar developed in 2006 from a cross between Milyang165*3 and Koshihikari at the Department of Functional Crop Science, NICS, RDA. This cultivar is suitable for the double cropping system (i. e., before and after the cash crop). Heading date of Junamjosaeng is 6 days earlier than Keumobyeo under the late transplanting cultivation on July 10. It has a high grain fertility under cold conditions and low premature heading. One of the distinguishing characteristics of this variety is its resistance to major diseases like leaf blast, bacterial blight races ($K_1$, $K_2$, $K_3$) and rice stripe virus disease. However, it showed susceptibility to major insect pests. Milled rice kernels are translucent with non glutinous endosperm and have 6.7% protein and 19.8% amylose contents. Milling recovery of head rice is 75.7%. The palatability of cooked rice is better than Keumobyeo. The milled rice yield of Junamjosaeng in local adaptability tests after harvest of the cash crop was $4.43\;tons\;ha^{-1}$. This cultivar is suitable for planting in the plain paddy fields of Honam and Yeonnam regions in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2011

'Hangangchal 1' is a new glutinous rice cultivar of second generation Tongil-type with a mid-maturing ecotype that developed by the rice breeding team of Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute (YARI), RDA. in 2006. This cultivar was derived from a cross between 'Hangangchal', a Tongil-type glutinous cultivar and 'YR8208-20', a high yield potential in 1986/1987 winter season. 'Hangangchal 1' was selected by pedigree and bulk breeding methods from $F_3$ to $F_6$ populations. A promising line, YR10498-8-1-3, was selected and designated as 'Milyang 167' in 1997. The local adaptability test of 'Milyang 167' was carried out at seven locations during 3 years in 1998, 2005, and 2006. It has tolerance to lodging with good canopy architecture as 87cm of culm length. This cultivar is resistant to bacterial blight $K_1$, $K_2$, and $K_3$ race, rice stripe virus, rice dwarf virus, and leaf blast disease. The milled rice endosperm of 'Hangangchal 1' is glutinous and its whiteness was almost similar compared to 'Shinseonchalbyeo'. The yield of milled rice of 'Hangangchal 1' was average 5.97 MT/ha at ordinary cultivation of 9 kg/10a N fertilizer level in local adaptability test. This cultivar would be adaptable to the mid and southern plain of Korea.