• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.269-277
• /
• 2008

Siberian flying squirrel, an endangered species in South Korea, is distributed through major mountain regions of South Korea. The number of Siberian flying squirrel(Pteromys volans) in South Korea has decreased and their habitats are fragmented and isolated because of anthropogenic activities. So far no molecular genetic data has, however, been available for their conservation and management. To obtain better information concerning genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Siberian flying squirrel in South Korea, we examined 14 individuals from South Korea, 7 individuals from Russia, and 5 individuals from northeastern China along with previously published 29 haplotypes for 1,140 bp of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene. The 14 new individuals from South Korea had 7 haplotypes which were not observed in the regions of Russia and Hokkaido. The level of genetic diversity(0.616%) in the South Korean population was lower than that in eastern Russia(0.950%). The geographical distribution of mtDNA haplotypes and reduced median network confirmed that there are three major lineages of Siberian flying squirrel, occupying; Far Eastern, northern Eurasia, and the island of Hokkaido. The South Korean population only slightly distinct from the Eurasia, and eastern Russian population, and is part of the lineage Far Eastern. Based on these, we suggest that the South Korean population could be considered to belong to one partial ESU(Far Eastern) of three partial ESUs but a different management unit. However, the conservation priorities should be reconfirmed by nuclear genetic marker and ecological data.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.502-508
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the methods of identifying zygotic seedlings of crosses between 'Morita unshiu' (Citrus. unshiu Marc.) and 'Ponkan' (C. reticulata Blanco). In order to investigate the frequency and position of zygotic seedlings and to determine the efficiency of zygotic seedling identification, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) were performed using UBC (9, 27, 229, 230, and 254) primers and F4/R27, F7/R14, F12/R10, and F44/R62 primer sets, respectively. A total of 37 putative zygotic seedlings out of 55 individuals were selected by RAPD and SRAP. The F7/R14 primer pair showed a screening ability of 45.5% (25/55), whereas the primer UBC27 revealed the highest efficiency of zygotic seedling identification (50.9%, 28/55). When both UBC27 and F7/R14 were properly used for selection of hybridized seedlings of 'Morita unshiu' (C. unshiu Marc.) and 'Ponkan' (C. reticulata Blanco), screening efficiency was increased to 60% (33/55) for putative zygotic seedlings. Thus, it is possible to select putative hybrid zygotic seedlings in an accurate and effective manner by RAPD and SRAP.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.444-450
• /
• 2013

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, and rod-shaped bacterial strain designated FW-$6^T$ was isolated from a freshwater sample and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Strain FW-$6^T$ grew optimally at $10-42^{\circ}C$ and at pH 7.0 on nutrient and R2A agar. Strain FW-$6^T$ displayed ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity that was responsible for its ability to transform ginsenoside $Rb_1$ (one of the dominant active components of ginseng) to Rd. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain FW-$6^T$ was shown to belong to the family Sphingomonadaceae and was related to Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM $12444^T$ (98.1% sequence similarity) and N. subterraneum IFO $16086^T$ (98.0%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.4%. The major menaquinone was Q-10 and the major fatty acids were summed feature 7 (comprising $C_{18:1}{\omega}9c/{\omega}12t/{\omega}7c$), summed feature 4 (comprising $C_{16:1}{\omega}7c/iso-C_{15:0}2OH$), $C_{16:0}$, and $C_{14:0}$ 2OH. DNA and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain FW-$6^T$ to the genus Novosphingobium. Strain FW-$6^T$ could be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from the recognized species of the genus Novosphingobium. The isolate that has ginsenoside converting ability therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Novosphingobium ginsenosidimutans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain FW-$6^T$ (= KACC $16615^T$ = JCM $18202^T$).

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.112-118
• /
• 2006

To select efficient entomopathogenic fungal strains of Lecanicillium for the biocontrol of aphid, Myzus persicae, conidial suspension ($1{\times}10\;conidia/ml$) was sprayed onto a detached Chinese cabbage leaf in a petri dish with a dampened filter paper that had 20 nymphs of aphid. Lecancillium strain 4078 and 6543 were the best strains for the biocontrol of aphid at high temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ and low relative humidity (RH) of 85%, respectively. The cumulative mortality of strain 4078 at $30^{\circ}C$ after 3 days was 100% and that of strain 6543 was 90% at 85% RH after 5 days. Strain 4078 also exhibited almost 100% germination ratio of conidia and high rate of mycelial growth at the broad temperature-range of $15{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. The strain 4078 and 6543 were all identified as Lecanicillium species based on the DNA sequences (accession no.: EF026004 and EF026005, respectively) of the ITS regions of the fungi. Excellent production of aerial conidia of strain 6543 was accomplished by using steamed polished rice as the solid culture medium.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2009

This study has been to examine the occupational exposure levels of Fluorouracil (5-FU) in a hospital and to investigate the most effective cleaning reagent for control. Fluorouracil is one of the cytotoxic drugs which are therapeutic agents used to treat cancer. The health practitioners working in the cytotoxic work room and oncology ward areas are exposed to adverse health risks like cytogenetic and DNA damage from cytotoxic drugs exposure by frequent skin contact from contaminated surfaces. Four kinds of cleaning reagents has been examined to degrade the 5-FU. It was found that 5-FU was only degraded soon after the reaction in 0.5%(w/v) NaClO solution. Therefore, 0.5%(w/v) NaClO solution has been chosen to decompose any residues on the contamination surfaces. A substantial level of contamination was found on the surfaces of cytotoxic work room and oncology ward areas. The contamination ranges of the surfaces in cytotoxic work room and oncology ward areas were from 2.0 to $13.8{\mu}g/m^2$ and 5.39 to $11.53{\mu}g/m^2$ respectively. Consequently, regulation of the occupational exposure limit, procedure of special cleaning, and the use of personal protective equipment are recommended during the manipulation and administration of the drugs to avoid skin contamination from cytotoxic drugs like 5-FU.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.212-218
• /
• 1998

An obligately methylotrophic bacterium which produces extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) was isolated through methanol-enrichment culture technique. The isolate was aerobic, nonmotile, and gram negative rod and exibited catalase, but no oxidase, activity. Plasmid, carotenoid, and poly-${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric acid were not found. The guanine plus cytosine content of DNA was 52-56%. The isolate was found to grow only on methanol and monomethylamine. Growth was optimal ($t_d=2.4h$) at $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.5 in a mineral medium containing 0.5% (v/v) methanol, 25 mM phosphate, and 0.212% ammonium sulfate. Methanol was assimilated through the ribulose monophosphate pathway. Maximun amount of EPS was produced in cells growing at the mid-stationary growth phase at $30^{\circ}C$ in a mineral medium (PH 6.5) containing 1.0% (v/v) methanol in the CIN ratio of 54.7. Thin-layer chromatographic and high performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that the EPS was composed of glucose and galactose. EPS which was not treated with ethanol (Pbe) exhibited stable viscosity under various concentrations of salts and temperatures hut showed high viscosity at low pH. EPS precipitated with ethanol (Pae) was found to be more stable in viscosity than the Pbe at various salt concentrations, temperatures, and pH. The Pae also exhibited higher viscosity than the Pbe and xanthan gum. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the lyophilized Pbe and Pae have a multi-layered structure and a structure of thick fibers, respectively.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.515-523
• /
• 1998

Oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages cellular DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids and others causing various diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and heart diseases. 8-Hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) is one of the products formed from DNA or RNA damaged by ROS. Since high amounts of 8-OHG can be excreted in urine, it may serve as a potential biomarker indicating the level of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Residents in industrial area with severe air pollution are expected to be affected by higher level of oxidative stress from pollutants like polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), etc. Smokers are also expected to be damaged by higher level of oxidative stress from cigarette smoke components like PAHs than non-smokers. To examine if the determination of the urinary concentration of 8-OHG could be used as exposure biomarker for the oxidative stress caused by air-pollutants, this study was performed to determine and compare the urinary concentrations of 8-OHG in smokers and non-smokers, or non-polluted area residents and polluted area residents. Urine samples were collected and purified by a strong cation exchange and cellulose partition column, then analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detector at 600 ㎷ potential. Concentrations of urinary 8-OHG in non-smokers and smokers of Seoul area college male students were determined as 15.12$\pm$9.68 (ng/mg creatinine) and 34.72$\pm$11.72 (ng/mg creatinine), respectively, showing significantly higher level of 8-OHG in smokers than in non-smokers. Urine samples of elementary school students were collected from Sokcho area, which is known to be non-polluted, and 3 representative polluted areas; Yocheon industrial area, Ulsan urban and Ulsan industrial area. The concentrations of 8-OHG in these samples were 12.42$\pm$8.27 (ng/ mg creatinine, Sokcho), 22.55$\pm$9.12 (ng/mg creatinine, Yocheon), 17.41$\pm$2.30 (ng/mg creatinine, Ulsan urban), 55.04$\pm$39.73 (ng/mg creatinine, Ulsan industrial). Thus, samples from polluted area tend to have higher level of 8-OHG and the levels of Yocheon and Ulsan industrial area were significantly higher than that of Sokcho area. The results indicate that the residents of polluted industrial area or smokers are more severely exposed to oxidative stress probably caused by air pollutants like PAHs. Thus, the determination of urinary 8-OHG concentration could be used as biomarker for the extent of body exposure to oxidative stress caused by various pollutants.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.16-21
• /
• 2019

Botrytis cinerea is the pathogen for a gray mold generating problems during the cultivation and transportation of roses. But there is little information about the difference of the symptom severity caused by gray mold on rose varieties and pathogen strains. 16 strains were collected from the rose cultivation area to confirm the degree of disease occurrence against strains and each variety. Collected 16 strains were identified based on the sequences analysis of ITS region of ribosomal DNA by using specific primers. The sequence analysis was performed by comparing the sequences to find a difference. To confirm the difference in disease occurrence for each strains, the difference was classified from 0 to 5 stages using charmant variety as a control. The data was confirmed through Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA. The result showed the significant difference in the pathogenicity caused by strains. WNG6_5 showed the lowest pathogenicity with 0.24 and WNG6_3 showed the highest with 3.20. The difference between two strains were almost 3.0. In addition, nine varieties of roses were more investigated with three strains such as the strains of WNG6_5, Hwa_1, and WNG6_3. The result showed that the Love Letter variety showed resistance and the Ice Bear variety was sensitive to three strains. Taken together, this study showed the significant difference by the interactions of rose varieties and gray mold strains.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2021

Tegillarca granosa, is one of the most important fishery resources throughout Asia. However, due to industrialization factories, marine environmental pollution, and global warming, the marine fishery production has drop sharply. In order to understand the genetic factors of the blood clam, which is a major fishery resource on the southern coast of Korea, the whole genome of blood clam was studied. The assembled genome of T. granosa was 915.4 Mb, and 19 chromosomes were identified. 25,134 genes were identified, and 22,745 genes were functionally annotated. As a result of performing gene gain and loss analysis between the blood clam genome and eight other types of shellfish, it was confirmed that 725 gene groups were expanded, and 479 gene groups were contracted. The homeobox gene cluster of blood clam showed a well-preserved genetic structure within lophotrochozoan ancestor. T. granosa genome showed high similarity between three hemoglobin genes with Scarpharca broughtonii. The blood clam genome will provide information for the genetic and physiological characteristics of blood clam adaptation, evolution, and the development of aquaculture industry.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.45-67
• /
• 2000

2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) is a mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amino found in cooked meat. The in vivo mutagenicity and hepatocarcinogenicity of MeIQx were examined in mice harboring the lacZ mutation reporter gene ($Muta^{TM}$ Mice) and bitransgenic mice over-expressing the c-myc oncogene. C57B1/$\lambda$lacZ and bitransgenic c-myc (albumin promoter)/$\lambda$lacZ mice were bred and weaned onto an AIN-76 based diet containing $0.06\%$ (w/w) MeIQx or onto control diet. After 30 weeks on diet, only male bitransgenic mice on MeIQx developed hepatocellular carcinoma ($100\%$ incidence) indicating that there was synergism between c-myc over-expression and MeIQx. By 40 weeks, hepatic tumor incidence was $100\%$ ($17\%$) and $44\%$ ($0\%$) in male c-myc/$\lambda$lacZ and C57B1/$\lambda$lacZ mice given MeIQx (or control) diet, respectively, indicating that either MeIQx or c-myc over-expression alone eventually induced hepatic tumors. At either time point, mutant frequency in the lacZ gene was at least 40-fold higher in MeIQx-treated mice than in control mice of either strain. These findings suggest that MeIQx-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is associated with MeIQx-induced mutations. Elevated mutant frequency in MeIQx-treated mice also occurred concomitant with the formation of MeIQx-guanine adducts as detected by the $^{32}P$-postlabeling assay. Irrespective of strain or diet, sequence analysis of the lacZ mutants from male mouse liver showed that the principal sequence alteration was a single guanine-base substitution. Adenine mutations, however, were detected only in animals on control diet. MeIQx-fed mice harboring the c-myc oncogene showed a l.4-2.6-fold higher mutant frequency in the lacZ gene than mice not carrying the transgene. Although there was a trend toward higher adduct levels in c-myc mice, MeIQx-DNA adduct levels were not significantly different between c-myc/$\lambda$lacZ and C57B1/$\lambda$lacZ mice after 30 weeks on diet. Thus, it appeared that factors in addition to MeIQx-DNA adduct levels, such as the enhance rate of proliferation associated with c-myc over-expression, may have accounted for a higher mutant frequency in c-myc mice. In the control diet groups, the lacZ mutant frequency was significantly higher in c-myc/$\lambda$lacZ mice than in 057B1/$\lambda$1acZ mice. The findings are consistent with the notion that c-myc over-expression is associated with an increase in mutagenesis. The mechanism for the synergistic effects of c-myc over-expression on MeIQx hepatocarcinogenicity appears to involve an enhancement of MeIQx-induced mutations.