• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.292-297
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• 2007

The unicellular green alga, Haematococcus pluvialis used as a biological production system for astaxanthin. It accumulates large amounts of the red ketocarotenoid astaxanthin when exposed to various environmental stress such as active oxygen species and high light intensities. To induce astaxanthin biosynthesis of H. pluvialis, cells were incubated in either nitrate free at $25^{\circ}C$ under continuous high light intensity ($1,000\;{\mu}mol$ photons $m^{-2}s^{-1}$) for 2 days or high light stress only. Expressions of astaxanthin biosynthetic genes such as carotenoid hydroxylase, IPP isomerase and ${\beta}$-carotene ketolase were monitored under different culture conditions by using real time RT-PCR. All the subjected genes increased their expression under highlight and N-deprivation condition where a large amount of astaxanthin was accumulated.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2003

This study was cnducted ton investigate the effect of soil conditioner such as dolomite, slkudge and organic manure on changes of soil chemical properties of abandoned zinc mine area. Growth responses of Chrysanthemum azwadskii and Caryopteris incana (Tunb) Miq affected by the appication were also determined. In thejsoil of abandoned zinz mine area, total heavy metal contents espectially Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were high and organic matter contents was low. Application of sludge for phytoremediation resulted in higher soil organic content that other treatments tested. Heavy metal concentrations after application of soil conditioners were not different among treatments. The growth of C. zawadskii and C. incana (Tunb) Miq were significantly higher in sludge treatment than those in other treatments The cholrophyll content, chlorophyll flouorescence, protein content, photosynthetic rate and transpiration were high in sludge treatment. The heavy metal contents of C. zawadskii were the lowest in sludge treatment while those of C. incana (Tunb) Miq was the highest in sludge treatment.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2001

The deteriorative effect of ultraviolet-B(UV-B) radiation on photosynthesis was assessed by the simultaneous measurement of O$_2$ evolution and chlorophyll(Chl) fluorescence in green pepper. UV-B was given at the intensity of 1 W$.$m$\^$-2/, a dosage often encountered in urban area of Seoul in Korea, to detached leaves. Both Pmax and quantum yield of O$_2$ evolution was rapidly decreased, in a parallel phase, with increasing time of UV-B treatment. Chl fluorescence parameters were also significantly affected. Fo was increased while both Fm and Fv were decreased. Photochemical efficiency of PSII(Fv/Fm) was also declined, although to a lesser extent than Pmax. Both qP and NPQ were decreased similarly with increasing time of UV-B treatment. However, PS I remained stable. The addition of lincomycin prior to UV-B treatment accelerated the decline in Fv/Fm to some extent, suggesting that D1 protein turnover may play a role in overcoming the harmful effect of UV-B. The amount of photosynthetic pigments was less affected than photosynthetic response in showing decline in Chl a and carotenoids after 24 h-treatment. Presumptive flavonoid contents, measured by changes in absorbance at 270 nm , 300 nm and 330nm, were all increased by roughly 50% after 8 h-treatment. Among antioxidant enzymes, activities of catalase and peroxidase were steadily increased until 12h of UV-B treatment whereas ascorbate perxidase, dehydroascorvate reductase and glutathione reductase did not show any significant change. The results indicate that deteriorative effect of UV-B on photosynthesis precedes the protection exerted by pigment synthesis and antioxidant enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.224-227
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• 2012

As consumer interest in seed sprouts is increasing throughout the world, there is a need to investigate the potential production of leafy sprouts. Three colors of light; white (WRM), blue (BRM), and red (RRM), were studied to evaluate their effects on the approximate compositions of leafy safflower sprouts and their content of vitamin C. The approximate contents of moisture, ash, and total lipids were higher in sprouts grown with RRM than with BRM or WRM; however, crude protein content was higher in sprouts grown with WRM than with BRM or RRM. Chlorophyll content was higher in sprouts grown with RRM than with WRM or BRM, and ascorbic acid content was 157.57 mg% with WRM, 164.64 mg% with BRM and 158.10 mg% with RRM. Our results indicate that cultivation of leafy safflower sprouts under different-colored lights was an effective process for enhancing their nutritional quality.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.403-408
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• 2013

The composition and antioxidant activity of three kinds of dried laver were compared (ondolgim, bandolgim, and paraegim). Dolgim was high in protein (>35%), carbohydrates (>41%), and minerals (>7.5%). Lipid content in dolgim was very low (<1%); eicosapentaenoic acid was the most abundant fatty acid. There were higher levels of carotenoids than phycobilin in dolgim, and chlorophyll among pigments was present at the least amount. Porphyran content was high (>110 g/kg), while tocopherol content was very low (<12.0 mg/kg). Ondolgim had the lowest levels of carotenoids, phycobilin, and chlorophyll, however, polyphenol content was higher in ondolgim. The antioxidant activity was the same among the three kinds of dolgim, and both water and a 20% ethanol extract of dolgim showed higher antioxidant activity than did a 100% ethanol extract. The results suggested that dried laver dolgim was a good food and that all varieties provided both food and health functionality.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1992

The inhibitory effects of mercury ions on the growth of barley seedlings were studied and the distribution of metal elements in the organs of treated plants was investigated by using synchrotron radiation induced X-ray emission (SRIXE). Although the treatment of mercury ions caused growth inhibition, the mercury-specific increase in variable fluorescence and the abolishment of energy-dependent quenching in broken barley chloroplasts as shown by Moon et at. (1992) were not observed in the leaves of growth-inhibited seedlings. Instead the treatment of mercury decreased Fmax and Fo values. However, Fmax/Fo ratio and photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching coefficients were not affected significantly. By SRIXE analysis of $10\mu\textrm{m}$ mercury chloride treated seedlings, accumulation of mercury in roots was observed after 1 hour of treatment and similar concentration was sustained for 48 hours. Relative contents of mercury was high in roots and underground nodes where seeds were attachedl but was very low in leaves. Iron and zinc were also distributed mainly in the lower parts of the seedlings. However after 72 hours of treatment the contents of these metals in roots decreased and their distribution became more uniform, which may lead to death of the plants. These results suggest that the observed inhibitory effects on barley seedlings upto 48 hours after the treatment is not due to direct damages in the photosynthetic apparatus, but due to its accumulation in roots and the consequent retardation of the growth of barley seedlings. The decrease in Fmax and Fo is probably due to the decrease in chlorophyll and protein contents caused by the retardation of growth. The observed slow expansion of primary leaves could be also explained by the retardation of growth, but the fluorescence induction pattern from the leaves did not show characteristic symptoms of leaves under water stress.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.355-365
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• 2014

The present study has been performed on one year old tree saplings of Azadirachta indica (L.), Cassia siamea (L.), Dalbergia sissoo (Roxb.), Eucalyptus rostrata (L.), Mangifera indica (L.) and Schyzygium cumini (L.) in order to assess the effect of exposure of $SO_2-NO_2$, alone and combination of two gases. Tree saplings have been exposed to an average of $495{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ $SO_2$ and $105{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$ $NO_2$ for 40 d at the rate of $4hd^{-1}$ during 10:00 am to 01:00 pm in OTC. Total chlorophyll, specific leaf area (SLA), nitrate reductase (NR) activity, foliar protein, free proline content and free amino acids (AAs) of foliage have been the plant parameters, taken into consideration to evaluate the effect of gaseous exposure. Exposure of two gases has caused reduction in total chlorophyll content (P < 0.05, 0.01). Physiological and biochemical process has been seemed to be altered noticeable due to the combined effect of $SO_2+NO_2$ followed by $SO_2$ alone (P < 0.05, 0.01). $NO_2$ mediated stress has produced, stimulatory and inhibitory responses in tree saplings. Results reveal that tree saplings have been attempted to absorb the $NO_2$ through N assimilation pathway. E. rostrata, C. siamea have been emerged as moderate tolerant to $SO_2$ mediated stress followed by A. indica. Response pattern of S. cumini, M. indica and D. sissoo set them as good indicators of $SO_2-NO_2$ exposure. Effects of two gases on tree saplings have been found to be synergistic.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.567-573
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• 2010

To ascertain the effect of over-expressed maize calreticulin in tomato plant on tobamovirus movement in addition to validating potentiality of the gene (ZmCRT) as a means for the virus-resistance resource, four ZmCRT-expressing homozygous lines were generated from the T0 plants as using an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, nucleic acid analyses, and a conventional breeding method. Of them, a line was subjected to the bioassay for tolerances to tobacco mosaic virus-U1 (TMV-U1) and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) followed by RT-PCR and a chlorophyll fluorescence quenching analyses. Both transgenic plants transcribing ZmCRT and wild-type plants showed no symptom by 20 days after viruses inoculation, however the photosystem II quantum yield parameter measured from the upper leaves of ToMV-inoculated plants revealed that ZmCRT transgenic plants have higher photosynthetic ability than wild-type ones at that time, which indirectly implies that over-expressed ZmCRT product acts as a barrier to the cell-to-cell and/or systemic movement of ToMV. Moreover, ZmCRT transgenic plants showed remarkably longer shoot length than wild-type ones in 40 days after TMV-U1 or ToMV inoculation each, which might be resulted from higher photosynthetic ability during the phase not yet showing any external symptoms. Collectively, over-expressed ZmCRT protein in tomato plants is able to interrupt the systemic movement of infected TMV-U1 and ToMV even though not perfect.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.855-869
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disease with an increasing incidence globally; therefore, there is a growing demand for natural compounds effective in treating dermatitis. In this study, the protective effects of Lycium barbarum leaves with and without chlorophyll (LLE and LLE[Ch-]) on AD were investigated in animal models of AD and HaCaT cells. Further, we investigated whether LLE and LLE(Ch-) show any differences in physiological activity. MATERIALS/METHODS: AD was induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) for three weeks, while NC/Nga mice were fed LLE or LLE(Ch-) extracts for 7 weeks. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and cytokine (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6, and IL-4) concentrations and the degree of DNA fragmentation in lymphocytes were examined. A histopathological examination (haematoxylin & eosin staining and blue spots of toluidine) of the dorsal skin of mice was performed. To elucidate the mechanism of action, the expression of the thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) were measured in HaCaT cells. RESULTS: Serum IgE and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) levels as well as DNA fragmentation of lymphocytes were significantly decreased in AD-induced mice treated with LLE or LLE(Ch-) compared to those of the control group. The epidermal thickness of the dorsal skin and mast cell infiltration in the LLE group significantly reduced compared to that in the control group. The LLE extracts showed no cytotoxicity up to 1,000 ㎍/mL in HaCaT cells. LLE or LLE(Ch-)-treated group showed a reduction of TARC and MDC in TNF-α-and IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that LLE potentially improves inflammation by reducing the expression of chemokines that inhibit T helper 2 cell migration. LLE(Ch-) showed similar effects to LLE on blood levels of IgE, TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expression in HaCat cells, but the ultimate effect of skin improvement was not statistically significant. Therefore, both LLE and LLE(Ch-) can be used as functional materials to alleviate AD, but LLE(Ch-) appears to require more research to improve inflammation.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2008

We evaluated the response to salt stress of two different ginseng lines, STG3134 and STG3159, which are sensitive and tolerant, respectively, to salt treatment. Plants were exposed to a 5 dS/m salt solution, and chlorophyll fluorescence was measured. STG3134 ginseng was more sensitive than STG3159 to salt stress. To characterize the cellular response to salt stress in the two different lines, changes in protein expression were investigated using a proteomic approach. Total protein was extracted from detached salt-treated leaves of STG3134 and STG3159 ginseng, and then separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(2-DE). Approximately 468 protein spots were detected by 2-DE and Coommassie brilliant blue staining. Twenty-two proteins were found to be reproducibly up- or down-regulated in response to salt stress. Among these proteins, twelve were identified using MALDI-TOF MS and ESI-Q-TOF and classified into several functional groups: photosynthesis-related proteins(oxygen-evolving enhancer proteins 1 and 2, rubisco and rubisco activase), detoxification proteins(polyphenol oxidase) and defense proteins($\beta$-1,3-glucanase, ribonuclease-like storage protein, and isoflavone reductase-like protein). The protein levels of ribonuclease-like storage protein, which was highly induced in STG3159 ginseng as compared to STG3134, correlated tightly with mRNA transcript levels, as assessed by reverse-transcription(RT)-PCR. Our results indicate that salinity induces changes in the expression levels of specific proteins in the leaves of ginseng plants. These changes may, in turn, playa role in plant adaptation to saline conditions.