• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2016

$Na^+/K^+$-ATPase is a membrane protein and plays a key role in osmotic regulation in living organisms. In the present study, a cDNA sequence encoding the $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase alpha subunit from the monogonont rotifer, Brachionus koreanus was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends technique. To investigate the role of this enzyme in osmotic stress, enzymatic activities of $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase were measured after exposure to different salinities for 48 h. The full-length Bk $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase cDNA was 3069 bp-long, encoding a 1022-amino acid polypeptide. Bk $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase possesses eight membrane spanning regions and five conserved domains. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Bk $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase had high identity with those of other species, and was closely clustered with other Brachionus sp. These findings indicate that this protein was conserved both structurally and functionally. B. koreanus $Na^+/K^+$-ATPase activity was stimulated in both hyposaline (6 psu) and hypersaline (32 psu) conditions, suggesting that this protein may play a role in osmoregulation. This study would provide better understanding of the physiology of B. koreanus and this enzyme may be useful as a molecular marker for evaluation of osmotic stress in aquatic environment.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.369-377
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• 1996

Ultrastructural changes of chloride cells in the gill from seawater-adapted killifish (Orizias latipes) were studied with a transmission electronmicroscope. Chloride cells contain many mitochondria and specifically developed tubular systems. Apical pits, formed by several neighboring chloride cells, were exposed to the environment. Degeneration and death of the chloride cells by apoptosis occurred more frequently than by necrosis. Apoptotic chloride cells shrank, became to apoptotic bodies, and eventually were phagocytosed and digested by the microphages around them. We conclude that apoptosis plays an important role in increased cellular turnover of chloride cells for the osmoregulation caused by changes in salinity of the environment.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 1995

Staphylococcus aureus, the most salt-tolerant nonhalophilic bacterium, is the only foodborne pathogen that is able to grow at a levels below 0.90. The fundamental osmorgulatory strategy used by this organism involves the accumulation of intracellular compatible solutes such as proline or glycine betaine which are accumulated by transport and act as osmoregulators in cells. In this study, levels of proline transport systems and glycine betaine transport system of S. aureus were examined when cells are grown at high osmolarity. The levels of all three transport systems within S. aureus were elevated at high osmolarity and the most dramatic increase was found for the low-affinity proline transport system. However, in 5mM glycine betaine-supplemented medium, the level of the low-affinity proline transport system did not become elevated when cultures were grown at high osmolarity. The metabolic fate of the accumulated proline and glycine getaine was investigated by thin-layer chromatography an found to be not metabolized by S. aureus.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.101-107
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• 1995

Staphylococcus aureus, the most salt-tolerant food-borne pathogen, produces enterotoxins which may cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and cramps. Since this bacterium has been able to grow at extremely high osmolarity its identity in foods with low water activity values such as salted or dried foods is of great concern. In this study, the growth of S. aureus at high osmolarity has been studied and the doubling time of S. aureus grown at TSB medium containing 15% NaCl has been found to be increased to 4∼5 hours. The stimulation of proline uptake after exposure of cells to high concentration of both extracellular KCl and sucrose was not increased. Stimulation of proline uptake at these environment only occured when 25mM NaCl was present I transport buffer. In additional experiments, the time required to reach mid-logarithmic phase in defined medium of high osmolarity found to be reduce by the presence of glycine betaine, proline, and choline.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.216-224
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• 1997

In order to investigate the osmoregulation capability of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus with the different salinities, juvenile fish $(13.6{\pm}0.2\;TL)$ stocked in seawater (SW) were abruptly transferred to each experimental group $0\%SW(0\%_{\circ}),\;25\%SW(7.7\%_{\circ}),\;50\%SW(16.1\%_{\circ})\;and \;100\%SW(32.8\%_{\circ})$ and reared for 60 days. Blood samples were taken by the time schedule after the transfer. Plasma $Na^{+},\;K^{+},\;Cl^{-}$ and osmolality, muscle water content, and the electron microscopical observations of chloride cells were analyzed and made by the time schedule. In $100\%SW$, the maintainable levels of plasma $Na^{+},\;K^{+},\;Cl^{-}$ and osmolality were $167.1{\pm}7.7mM/l,\;9.1{\pm}2.1mM/l,\;137.8{\pm}5.6mM/l\;and\;351{\pm}18\;mOsm/kg$, respectively. These values were significantly changed at $6h\~1\;day$ after the beginning of the experiment with four different salinities. Fish from $0\%\;and\;25\%SW$ had lower osmolalities than those of fish from $50\%\;and\;100\%SW$, and showed the hyposmotic regulation pattern. At the end of the experiment (60 days after transfer), however, no significant difference was found in the concentrations of plasma $Na^{+},\;K^{+}\;and\;Cl^{-}$ among four experimental groups. Hematocrit was increased with salinity (P<0.01). After 10 days, fish from $0\%\;and\;25\%SW$ showed the hypertrophy, fusion and edema of epithelial layer in gill lamella. However, at the 15th day, epithelial layer in gill lamella was back to the normal status. On gill of fish from $0\%SW$, one apical pit held two or three chloride cells in common. Muscle water content was subsequently regulated to near the normal levels within 4 days, and there was no significant difference among four different salinities at the end of the experiment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.3
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• pp.461-468
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• 2012

This study was conducted to study the seasonal changes of relative water relations parameters by pressure-volume curves of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) leaves for understanding ecological characteristics. In growing season, the osmotic potentials at full turgor (${\Psi}_o^{sat}$) and at incipient plasmolysis (${\Psi}_o^{tlp}$) decreased, while increased the maximum bulk elastic modulus of the cell wall ($E_{max}$) and relavive water content ($RWC^{tlp}$). Korean mistletoe in Quercus variabilis and Korean mistletoe in Quercus mongolica in November showed best maximum perssure potential (${\Psi}_{P,\;max}$). Pressure potential (${\Psi}_P$) and water potential (${\Psi}_L$) in Korean mistletoe in Quercus variabilis were rapidly decreased with decreasing of relative water content. The values of $RWC^{tlp}$ in November were all above 84% showing that the function of osmoregulation is somewhat better, and symplastic water content (Vo/DW) and maximum water content (Vt/DW) were variable seasonally. Thus, responses to water relations of Korean mistletoe in Quercus variabilis and Korean mistletoe in Quercus mongolica such as ${\Psi}_o^{sat},\;{\Psi}_o^{tlp},\;E_{max},\;{\Psi}_{P,\;max},\;RWC^{tlp}$ showed increaing drought tolerance with increasing of leaf aging.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2006

Stress responses, osmoregulation and growth of black porgy reared in freshwater or seawater were investigated by supplying the feed (10 mg/kg feed) treated with the $T_3$ (3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine) for 90 days. Plasma $T_3$ in black porgy reared for 60 days in freshwater with (FT) or without (FN) $T_3$, treatment was lower than that in black porgy reared in seawater with (ST) or without (SN) $T_3$ treatment. The concentration of $T_3$ in FT was significantly more than that in FN. Plasma cortisol in FT, at the same day, was 4 times higher than that in FN, whereas the differences of the hormone between ST and SN was not significant. Although the levels of plasma glucose in FN and FT tended to be lower than that in ST and SN, no differences were found between fish reared in freshwater and seawater after $T_3$ treatment. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of black porgy reared in seawater showed no difference throughout the experimental period. However, at the beginning stages of the experiment, the plasma levels of these enzymes in FN and FT were higher than in SN and ST. Recovering of AST level to the level of SN or FT was laster in FT than in FN. However, no effects of the exogenous $T_3$ treatment on osmoregulatory capacity and growth of black porgy reared in freshwater or seawater were observed in this study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1461-1476
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• 2009

This review focuses on the metabolic and osmoregulatory functions of betaine and its impact on nutrient digestibility and performance in pigs and poultry. Betaine is the trimethyl derivative of the amino acid glycine, and is present in plant and animal tissue. It has been shown to play an important role in osmoregulation of plants, bacteria and marine organisms. Due to its chemical structure, betaine exerts a number of functions both at the gastrointestinal and metabolic level. As a methyl group donor, betaine is involved in transmethylation reactions and donates its labile methyl group for the synthesis of several metabolically active substances such as creatine and carnitine. Therefore, supplementation of betaine may reduce the requirement for other methyl group donors such as methionine and choline. Beneficial effects on intestinal cells and intestinal microbes have been reported following betaine supplementation to diets for pigs and poultry, which have been attributed to the osmotic properties of betaine. Furthermore, betaine potentially enhances the digestibility of specific nutrients, in particular fiber and minerals. Moreover, at the metabolic level, betaine is involved in protein and energy metabolism. Growth trials revealed positive effects of supplemental betaine on growth performance in pigs and poultry, and there is evidence that betaine acts as a carcass modifier by reducing the carcass fat content. In conclusion, due to its various metabolic and osmoregulatory functions, betaine plays an important role in the nutrition of monogastric animals.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.78-84
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• 2002

Taurine (2-ethaneaminosulfonic acid, $^+{NH}_3{CH_2}{CH_2}{SO_3^{-}}$) is endogenous amino acid with functions as modulator of osmoregulation, antioxidation, detoxification, transmembrane calcium transport, and a free radical scavenger in mammalian tissues. Taurine transporter(TAUT) contains 12 transmembrane helices, which are typical of the $Na^+$- and $Cl^-$-dependent transporter gene family, and has been cloned recently from several species and tissues. To analyze the expression of TAUT mRNA, one step RT-PCR was performed from human and mouse cultured cell lines and from various mouse tissues. The primers were designed to encode highly conserved amino acid sequences at the second transmembrane domain and at the fourth and fifth intracellular domains. RT-PCR analysis showed both of the human intestine HT-29 and mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cell lines expressed mRNA of TAUT. To define the expression patterns of the TAUT mRNA in the murine organs, RT-PCR was performed to detect cDNA representing TAUT mRNA from seven different mouse tissues. The TAUT was detected in all of the mouse tissues analyzed such as heart, lung, thymus, kidney, liver, spleen and brain. A large amount of transcript was fecund from heart, liver, spleen, kidney, and brain, while lung contained a very small amount of transcript.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 2006

To investigate the effects of environmental salinity on the expression of the genes for growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) in the pituitary, and their receptors (GHR, PRLR) In the kidney, intestine, and gills in teleosts, we acclimated juvenile olive flounders (Paralichthys olivaceus) to different salinities (5, 15, 25, or 32 psu) for 3 days and examined their mRNA levels using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In the fish adapted to low salinity, the PRL mRNA levels in the pituitary were elevated dramatically, whereas the GH mRNA levels did not differ significantly. PRLR mRNA increased significantly in fish exposed to low salinity, whereas GHR mRNA levels did not differ. These results suggest that PRL is an important hormone for flounders that are acclimated to brackish water and it may control ion homeostasis with PRLR in the osmoregulatory organs.