• Proceedings of the Korea Crystallographic Association Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.18-18
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• 2003

Thioredoxin (Trx) is a small redox protein that is ubiquitously distributed from achaes to human. In diverse organisms, the protein is involved in various physiological roles by acting as electron donor and regulators of transcription and apoptosis as well as antioxidants. Sequences of Trx within various species are 27～69% identical to that of E. coli and all Trx proteins have the same overall fold, which consists of central five β strands surrounded by four α helices. The N-terminal cysteine in WCGPC motif of Trx is redox sensitive and the motif is highly conserved. Compared with general cysteine, the N-terminal cysteine has low pKa value. The result leads to increased reduction activity of protein. Recently, novel thio.edoxin-related protein (TRP14) was found from rat brain. TRP14 acts as disulfide reductase like Trx1, and its redox potential and pKa are similar to those of Trx1. However, TRP14 takes up electrons from cytosolic thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1), not from the mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase (TrxR2). Biological roles of TES14 were reported to be involved in regulating TNF-α induced signaling pathways in different manner with Trx1. In depletion experiments, depletion of TRP14 increased TNF-α induced phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα more than the depletion Trx1 did. It also facilitated activation of JNK and p38 MAP kinase induced by TNF-α. Unlike Trx1, TRP14 shows neither interaction nor interference with ASK1. Here, we determined three-dimensional crystal structure of TRP14 by MAD method at 1.8Å. The structure reveals that the conserved cis-Pro (Pro90) and active site-W-C-X-X-C motif, which may be involved in substrate recognition similar to Trx1 , are located at the beginning position of strand β4 and helix α2, respectively. The TRP14 structure also shows that surface of TRP14 in the vicinity of the active site, which is surrounded by an extended flexible loop and an additional short a helix, is different from that of Trx1. In addition, the structure exhibits that TRP14 interact with a distinct target proteins compared with Trx1 and the binding may depend mainly on hydrophobic and charge interactions. Consequently, the structure supports biological data that the TRP14 is involved in regulating TNF-α induced signaling pathways in different manner with Trx1.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2006

In this study, antimicrobial activity of oriental herbal medicine extract (OHME) was tested for some organisms and the preventive effects of OHME for the colonization of Campylobacter jejuni on epithelium of small intestine were examined in Korean native broiler chickens fed a forage added 1.0% OHME. The isolated Campylobacter spp were biotyped, serotyped and the susceptiblility of isolates to antimicrobial agent were examined. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited in 0.25% OHME. C. jejuni and C. coli were inhibited in 0.1% OHME, and Salmonella spp, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Escheichia coli 0157 were inhibited in 2.0% OHME. For the application of forage added 1.0% OHME in broiler chicken farm, the frequency of Campylobacter spp from feces, liver and spleen sample of chickens were examined during 2 weeks interval. The frequence of Campylobacter spp in feces from chickens fed assorted forage (control group) was increased from 25% in first week to 75% in seventh week. But the frequence of Campylobacter spp in feces sample from chickens 134 forage added OHME was slightly reduced from 25% in first week to 15% in seventh week. The frequence of Campylobacter spp in liver, and spleen was 13.7% and 10% respectively after seventh week in control group, but the Campylobacter spp was not isolated after fifth week in live and spleen from chickens fed forage added OHME. Isolated 56 strains of thermophilic Campyiobacter from Korean native chickens was classified as C. jejuni (76.7%), C. coli (214%) and C. laridis (1.6%). The majority of 43 isolates of C. jejuni was classified on biotype I (60.4%), II (30.2%). Most of 12 isolates of C.coli were biotype I (83.3%). Isolated 31 strains C. jejuni of showed 11 different serotype, and serotype 36 (18.6%), 17 (13.9%)were most frequent. Isolated 10 strains of C. coli showed 5 different serotypes and serotype 31 (33.3%) and 21 (25%) were relatively common. Isolated Campylobacter spp were highly susceptible to nalidixic acid, amikacin, gentamicin, colistin and chloramphenucol.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.833-838
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• 2015

Multidrug-resistant super bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections are major health threaten pathogens. However, to overcome the present healthcare situation, among the leading alternatives to current drugs are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are abundantly produced via various species in nature. AMPs, small host defense proteins, are in charge of the innate immunity for the protection of multicellular organisms such as fish, amphibian, reptile, plants and animals from infection. The number of AMPs identified per year has increased steadily since the 1980s. Over 2,000 natural AMPs from bacteria, protozoa, fungi, plants, and animals have been listed into the antimicrobial peptide database (APD). The majority of these AMPs (>86%) possess 11–50 amino acids with a net charge from 0 to +7 and hydrophobic percentages between 31–70%. This report classified AMP into several categories including biological source, biological functions, peptide properties, covalent bonding pattern, and 3D structure. AMP functions not only antimicrobial activity but facilitates cell biological activity such as chemotatic activity. In addition, fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC) originated from mouse lymph node stroma induced the expression of AMP in inflammatory condition. AMP induced from FRC contained whey acidic protein (WAP) domain. It suggests that the classification of AMP will be done by protein domain.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1970

A series of experiments have been made on the mass culture of Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Platymonas sp. and Chlorella sp. in the laboratory. The shortest lag phase was found In the culture of Ph. tricornutum followed by Platymonas sp. and Chlorella sp. As compared to the aeration culture, the stagnant culture, in general, showed long duration of the lag phase, short period of the exponential phase and extremely small daily increment. The relative growth constants of Ph. tricornutum, Chlorella sp. and Platymonas sp. were $0.302{\pm}0.028$, $0.226{\pm}0.013$, and $0.151{\pm}0.008$, respectively The maximum daily increment of the three species and then daily ages are as follows: Ph. tricornutum Maximum daily increment : 47.5, Daily age : 10, Platymonas sp. Maximum daily increment : 5.6, Daily age : 14, Chlorella sp. Maximum daily increment : 21.1, Daily age : 14 Comparing the packed cell volume with a certain number of cells, the largest value was found in the population of Ph. tricornutum followed by Platymenas sp. and Chlorella sp. A straight line relationship exists between the two values, and the magnitude of the relationship coincides well with the size of the cells. The culture of Ph. tricornutum was proved satisfactory for feeding the larvae of bivalves at about 12 days after innoculation and both of Platymenas sp. and Chlorella sp. were about 16 days respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.189-199
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• 2013

The distribution status and habitat characteristics of the endangered species, Lethenteron reissneri were investigated in 2011~2012 in Korea. During the study period, L. reissneri were collected 60 stations among 755 sampling stations investigated. The total numbers of ammocoetes and adults were 208 and 435, respectively from eight stations of the Han River drainage system, four stations of Geum River drainage system, 32 stations of Seomjin and Yeongsan River drainage systems, and 16 stations of Nakdong River drainage system. The Han and Geum river drainage systems, the Sapkyo Stream and independent streams running toward the East Sea were estimated to have suffered sudden reductions of population density, whereas the Seomjin River drainage system showed increased population density compared with historic occurrence records. L. reissneri inhabited the middle-upper stream of clean water with well-developed rapids and lots of aquatic organisms. According to IUCN Red List categories and criteria L. reissneri was assessed to be vulnerable (VU) [B2ab (ii,iii,iv,v);D1] because of the rapid reduction of the occupying areas and the small number of mature individuals. Besides the distribution status and habitat characteristics we discussed the conservation strategies of L. reissneri.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.459-466
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• 2013

To understand the fishery characteristics by a beam trawl off the coast of the Chungnam province, covering $125^{\circ}$ 50'~$126^{\circ}$ 05'E, $36^{\circ}$ 15'~$36^{\circ}$ 25'N, a beam trawl was deployed 2~4 times a month from March 2008 to February 2009. The catch was consisted of 96 species of 63 families belonging to 19 orders. Among these, organisms were identified as 54 species of fish, 27 species of crustaceans, 9 species of gastropoda, bivalves, and 6 species of cephalopods. Trachysalambria curvirostris which is the target species of the beam trawl fishery occupied only 2.1% of the total catch, showing a low ratio of catches. Most of T. curvirostris was harvested from July to November while small amount of T. curvirostris was captured from May to December. In this study, we concluded that the bycatch ratio except T. curvirostris in T. curvirostris fishery was relatively high, thus the fishery of T. curvirostris might affect the fishery resource management of bycaught species off the coast of Chungnam province.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2008

Ribosome stalling by nascent sticky peptide has been reported in several organisms across the kingdom. To test whether small subunit (SSU) rRNA is involved in this phenomenon, we developed a genetic system that utilized the specialized ribosome system to isolate SSU rRNA mutants that enable ribosomes to bypass the SecM-derived sticky peptide in protein synthesis. In this system, CAT-SecM mRNA, which encodes CAT protein containing the sticky peptide derived from SecM, is only translated by specialized ribosomes. These ribosomes were shown to transiently stall on CAT-SecM mRNA followed by the synthesis of the sticky peptide. Expression of specialized ribosomes resulted in the decreased steady-state level of CAT-SecM mRNA, which is consistent with a notion that ribosome stalling induces mRNA degradation. Isolation and characterization of SSU rRNA mutations using this genetic system that are sufficient to circumvent ribosome stalling induced by the SecM-derived sticky peptide will provide evidence of SSU rRNA function in mRNA cleavage.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.44-45
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• 2010

We are currently conducting studies on culturing and biocompatibility assessment of various cells such as neural stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells(IPS cells) on carbon nanotube (CNT), on nerve regeneration electrodes, and on silicon wafers with a focus on developing nerve integrated CNT based bio devices for interfacing with living organisms, in order to develop brain-machine interfaces (BMI). In addition, we are carried out the chemical modification of carbon nanotube (mainly SWCNTs)-based bio-nanosensors by the plasma ion irradiation (plasma activation) method, and provide a characteristic evaluation of a bio-nanosensor using bovine serum albumin (BSA)/anti-BSA binding and oligonucleotide hybridization. On the other hand, the researches in the case of "novel plasma" have been widely conducted in the fields of chemistry, solid physics, and nanomaterial science. From the above-mentioned background, we are conducting basic experiments on direct irradiation of body tissues and cells using a micro-spot atmospheric pressure plasma source. The device is a coaxial structure having a tungsten wire installed inside a glass capillary, and a grounded ring electrode wrapped on the outside. The conditions of plasma generation are as follows: applied voltage: 5-9 kV, frequency: 1-3 kHz, helium (He) gas flow: 1-1.5 L/min, and plasma irradiation time: 1-300 sec. The experiment was conducted by preparing a culture medium containing mouse fibroblasts (NIH3T3) on a culture dish. A culture dish irradiated with plasma was introduced into a $CO_2$-incubator. The small animals used in the experiment involving plasma irradiation into living tissue were rat, rabbit, and pick and are deeply anesthetized with the gas anesthesia. According to the dependency of cell numbers against the plasma irradiation time, when only He gas was flowed, the growth of cells was inhibited as the floatation of cells caused by gas agitation inside the culture was promoted. On the other hand, there was no floatation of cells and healthy growth was observed when plasma was irradiated. Furthermore, in an experiment testing the effects of plasma irradiation on rats that were artificially given burn wounds, no evidence of electric shock injuries was found in the irradiated areas. In fact, the observed evidence of healing and improvements of the burn wounds suggested the presence of healing effects due to the growth factors in the tissues. Therefore, it appears that the interaction due to ion/radicalcollisions causes a substantial effect on the proliferation of growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) that are present in the cells.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 1999

The wetland is very important ecologically as a habitat of diverse organisms. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the morphogenetic environment of Jilmoe Bog found in the Odae Mountain National Park Jilmoe Bog is located in the high etchplain(1,060m) where Daebo Granite which had intruded in Jura epoch of Mesozoic era has weathered deeply and has uplifted in the Tertiary. The annual mean temperature of study area is $5.3^{\circ}C$, the annual precipitation is 2,888mm. The minimun temperature of the coldest month(january) is below $-30^{\circ}C$ and the depth of frozen soil is over 1.6m. Jilmoe bog consists of a large bog and a small bog. The length of the large bog is 63m and its width is 42m. The basal surface of Jilmoe bog is uneven. Jilmoe bog is a string bog fanned due to frost actions. In String bog, its surface is wavy with stepped dry hills and net-like troughs crossing hill slope. It seems that string bog is related to the permofrost or seasonal permofrost of cold conifer forest(taiga) zone(where the depth of frozen soil is very deep in the least in winters). String bog is a kind of thermokarst that frozen soil thaws differentially locally in declining permofrost and ground surface becomes irregular. There is turf-banked terracette of width $30{\sim}40cm$ in the headwall of small cirque-type nivation hollow formed at footslope of Maebong mountain around Jilmoe bog. This turf-banked terracette is formed by the frost growth of soil water below grass mat in periglacial climate environment. Where water is plentiful such as a nivation follow${\sim}$valley corridor and a headwall of valley, turf patterned grounds of width $30{\sim}50cm$ are found. This turf patterned ground is 'unclassified patterned ground', earth hummock. In conclusion, Jilmoe bog is a string bog of thermokarst that the relief of ground surface is irregular according to locally differentially thawing of permofrost(frozen soil). Jilmoe bog is high moor, its surroundings belongs to periglacial environment that turf-banked terracette and turf patterned ground are fanned actively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.335-340
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• 2010

The paper describes the objectives of Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) project, focusing on procedural and practical aspects. YSLME is a highly productive sea yet possibly one of the most impacted large marine ecosystems, in terms of anthropogenic stressors, due the enormous coastal population. The aim of the YSLME project is the reduction of ecosystem stress through identification of the environmental problems in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) that are then addressed in the Strategic Action Programme (SAP). One of the major problems found to be affecting biological diversity is habitat modification through wetland reclamation, conversion and degradation. Since the early 1900's more than 40% of intertidal wetlands have been reclaimed in Korea, and 60% of Chinese coastal wetlands have been converted or reclaimed. Damaging fishing practices, pollution and coastal eutrophication have further degraded the coastal environment reducing the biological diversity. To combat this loss, the YSLME project has mounted a public awareness campaign to raise environmental consciousness targeted at all different levels of society, from politicians at parliamentary workshops, local government officer training events, scientific conferences and involvement of scientists in the project research and reporting, to university and high school students in our visiting internship programmes and environmental camps. We have also built networks through the Yellow Sea Partnership and by liaising and working with other environmental organizations and NGOs. NGO's are recognised as important partners in the environmental conservation as they already have extensive local networks that can be lacking in international organisations. Effective links have been built with many of these NGOs through the small grants programme. Working with WWF's YSESP project and other academic and research institutions we have conducted our own biodiversity assessments that have contributed to the science-based development of the SAP for the YSLME. Our regional targets for biodiversity outlined in the SAP include: Improvements in the densities, distributions and genetic diversity of current populations of all living organisms including endangered and endemic species; Maintenance of habitats according to standards and regulations of 2007; and a reduction in the risk of introduced species. Endorsement of the SAP and its successful implementation, during the proposed second phase of the YSLEM project, will ensure that biological diversity is here to benefit future generations.