• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.659-663
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• 2010

Microalgae has been seen all over the seawater and several species are used for human food. Specially, Nannochloropsis oculata, a photosynthetic microalgae, has been focused for a vast array of valuable nutritious compounds. In order to find high mass Nannochloropsis oculata culture conditions, some of important growth factors of pH, temperature, culture media, and $CO_2$ effect were tested. The optimal growth condition was found to be as follows : 3% artificial seawater, initial pH 8.5, and temperature $25^{\circ}C$. The alga mass and chlorophyll content were dramatically increased by applying 5% flue $CO_2$ gas (1.50 g/L algae in a continuous $CO_2$ flue; 0.76 g/L alga without $CO_2$). It was shown that the chlorophyll biosynthesis was also closely associated with alga growth.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2013

Research on mutant generation and isolation for microalgae yielding enhanced lipid accumulation is an important issue for the production of economic biodiesel. In the present study, ultraviolet (UV-B type) ray induced mutant generation was tried using a photosynthetic microalgae, Nannochloropsis oculata (N. oculata), for the production of biodiesel. The resulting colonies were isolated and further cultured with both liquid and solid state f/2 media. After a few week cultivation, changes of cell growth rate, dry cell weight, and several important intracellular components (chlorophyll, carotenoid, and lipid) were investigated. Two mutants among thousands colonies showed an increased cell growth and high lipid accumulation as compared to those of wild type. It was also observed that the increased cell growth rate is associated with the overexpressed intracellular proteins. However, the mutants showed a decrease in the chlorophyll biosynthesis.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2010

The rice CHLH gene encodes the $Mg^{2+}$-chelatase H subunit, which is involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Growth of the chlorophyll-deficient oschlh mutant is supported by mitochondrial activity. In this study, we investigated the activity of mitochondrial respiration in the illuminated leaves during oschlh seedling development. Growth of mutant plants was enhanced in the presence of 3% sucrose, which may be used by mitochondria to meet cellular energy requirements. ATP content in these mutants was, however, significantly lowered in light conditions. Low cytosolic levels of NADH in illuminated oschlh mutant leaves further indicated the inhibition of mitochondrial metabolism. This down-regulation was particularly evident for oxidative stressresponsive genes in the mutant under light conditions. Hydrogen peroxide levels were higher in oschlh mutant leaves than in wild-type leaves; this increase was largely caused by the impairment of the expression of the antioxidant genes, such as OsAPXl, OsRACl, and OsAOXc in knockout plants. Moreover, treatment of mesophyll protoplasts with ascorbic acid or catalase recovered ATP content in the mutants. Taken together, these results suggest that the light-mediated inhibition of mitochondrial activity leads to stunted growth of CHLH rice seedlings.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1970

Nucleic acid and protein biosynthese of the glucose-bleached Chlorella cells in relation to the process of the chloroplast reformation were traced, by measuring the changes in the amounts of cell constituents and nuclease activities of the cells during the greening process. The contents of RNA and protein of the glucose-bleached cells decreased significantly, shile the contents of nucleotides and amino acids of the cells increased to compared with those of the control, showing that the biosynthetic activities of RNA and protein of the cells were inhibited severely in the glucose-bleaching process. In the early greening process of the glucose-bleached Chlorella cells the contents of RNA and protein of the cells increased significantly, while the contents of nucleotides nad amino acids of the cells increased to compared with those of the control, showing that the biosynthetic activities of RNA and protein of the cells were inhibited severely in the glucose-bleaching process. In the early greening process of the glucose-bleached Chlorella cells the contents of RNA and protein of the cells increased significantly wihout any increase in the chlorophyll contents showing that the massive biosynthese of RNA and protein proceed prior to the chlorophyll bioynthesis in the cells. The phosphate contents in the DNA fraction of the glucose-bleached cells decreased, but the contents of acid-insoluble polyphosphate increased to compared with those of the control in the early greening porcess, exhibiting that the incorporation of the phosphorus from acid-insoluble polyphosphate into DNA was retarded. In the greening process of the glucose-bleached cells the ribonuclease nad deoxyribonuclease activities of the cells decreased to compared with those of the control, although the initial activities of the both enzymes in the cell were far great compared with the control. Although the initial phosphate contents in the lipid fraction of the glucose-bleached Chlorella cells were more great than the control, the phosphate contents in the lipid fraction of the cells decreased in the early greening process to compared with control, and then increased in the late developmental stages in which massive chlorophyll biosynthesis occured.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.112-118
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• 2005

It was previously shown that AtNAP1 is a plastidic SufB protein involved in Fe-S cluster assembly in Arabidopsis. In this study, we investigated the effects of depleting SufB protein from plant cells using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). VIGS of NbNAP1 encoding a Nicotiana benthamiana homolog of AtNAP1 resulted in a leaf yellowing phenotype. NbNAP1 was expressed ubiquitously in plant tissues with the highest level in roots. A GFP fusion protein of the N-terminal region (M1-V103) of NbNAP1 was targeted to chloroplasts. Depletion of NbNAP1 resulted in reduced numbers of chloroplasts of reduced size. Mitochondria also seemed to be affected. Despite the reduced number and size of the chloroplasts in the NbNAP1 VIGS lines, the expression of many nuclear genes encoding chloroplast-targeted proteins and chlorophyll biosynthesis genes remained unchanged.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2012

In plants, the fifth step of the plastidial 2-Cmethyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway is catalyzed by 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase (MECP; EC: 4. 6. 1. 12), an enzyme proposed to play a key role in the regulation of isoprenoid biosynthesis. Here we report the isolation and functional characterization of a 823 bp Brassica rapa MECP (Brmecp) cDNA encoding a deduced polypeptide of 230 amino acid residues. Transcription levels of Brmecp were two-fold higher in petal compared to leaves. In addition, Brmecp expression in cabbage seedlings treated with ABA, $H_2O_2$ and drought was higher than control seedlings. These results were consistent with changes in chlorophyll contents in transgenic Arabidopsis. Thus, the Brmecp may contribute to the production of primary (chlorophylls and carotenoids) isoprenoid end-products in chloroplasts.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.477-483
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• 2016

Heat shock factors (Hsfs) are central regulators of abiotic stress responses, especially heat stress responses, in plants. In the current study, we characterized the activity of the Hsf gene HsfA3 in Arabidopsis under oxidative stress conditions. HsfA3 transcription in seedlings was induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), exogenous hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), and an endogenous $H_2O_2$ propagator, 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB). HsfA3-overexpressing transgenic plants exhibited increased oxidative stress tolerance compared to untransformed wild-type plants (WT), as revealed by changes in fresh weight, chlorophyll fluorescence, and ion leakage under light conditions. The expression of several genes encoding galactinol synthase (GolS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), which function as antioxidants in plant cells, was induced in HsfA3 overexpressors. In addition, galactinol levels were higher in HsfA3 overexpressors than in WT under unstressed conditions. In transient transactivation assays using Arabidopsis leaf protoplasts, HsfA3 activated the transcription of a reporter gene driven by the GolS1 or GolS2 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that GolS1 and GolS2 are directly regulated by HsfA3. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that GolS1 and GolS2 are directly regulated by HsfA3 and that GolS enzymes play an important role in improving oxidative stress tolerance by increasing galactinol biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 1994

This study was conducted to investigate how KC6361, a new type diphenylether compound inducing bleaching, increase the greening of cucumber cotyledon in darkness. Protoporphyrin IX formation, reaccumulation rate of protochlorophyllide(Pchlide) in darkness after phototransformation and Shibata shift were not affected. Whereas, aminolevulinic acid(ALA), protochlorophyll and chlorophyll were increased, and especially protochlorophyll was significantly accumulated. When KC6361 and phytol were applied alone or in combination with ALA, the transformation from Pchlide into protochlorophyll was accelerated in darkness. These results suggest that the greening of the etiolated cucumber cotyledon treated with KC6361 seems to be caused by the accumulation of phytol or/and Geranylgeranylpyrophosphate and their increased esterification with Pchlide in darkness.

• Mycobiology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.233-239
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• 2002

The main aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of two biologically active compounds(Strom and F-760) in control of wheat root rot disease and its causal organisms. Fusarium graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. solani and Bipolaris sorokiniana were used as target organisms. In vitro, the two compounds showed fungicidal effect on all investigated pathogens resulted in suppression of radial growth and mycelial dry weight of them. Under greenhouse conditions, treatment of wheat grains with either Strom or F-760 before cultivation significantly reduced the percent of disease distribution as well as the mean disease rating of plants in both seedling and flowering stages. Fresh and dry weights of plants as well as water maintenance capacity were increased as the result of applying these compounds as seed dressing. Also data showed that the membrane stability of plants was injured as a result of infection with all investigated organisms, while this injury was alleviated when F-760 and Strom were applied. The $K^+$ efflux and the leakage of UV absorbing metabolites was stimulated with fungal infection. However, F-760 and Storm treatment partially retarded the stimulatory effect on leakage of $K^+$ and UV-absorbing metabolites of fungal infected plants. On the other side, the fungal infection had inhibitory effects on pigment fractions(chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids) biosynthesis in wheat leaves. This retarding effect was partially or completely alleviated as the grains were treated with the applied compounds.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2003

Herbicidal activity of $\delta$-aminolevulinic acid(ALA), an intermediate for the biosynthesis of tetrapyrroles such as chlorophyll, heme, bacteriochlorophyll, and vitamin $\textrm{B}_{12}$ analogues, was examined to determine the variation in phytotoxic potential against different plant species as affected by different application methods. Seed-soaking treatment, ALA at low concentrations did not affect shoot and root lengths of test plants while at highest concentration reduced them by 20 to 30%. Alfalfa showed the most tolerant response to ALA in both pre- and post-emergence application, and followed by rice. When applied with pre-emergence, cotyledons of Chinese cabbage were severely bleached with 0.5 mM of ALA at 24 hrs after application, and root growth of rice, barnyard grass, and alfalfa was significantly inhibited with increasing of concentration. With post-emergence application, ALA at 2 to 4 mM reduced shoot and root growths of Chinese cabbage and barnyard grass completely. Herbicidal effects of ALA were more enhanced in the treatment combined with 2,2-dipyridyl sthan single application in barnyard grass and Chinese cabbage. The results suggest that alfalfa was the most tolerant to ALA among the tested plants, and that post-emergence application of ALA exhibited greatest photodynamic activity against tested plants.