• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2005

Recent reports suggest that floral organs such as sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels are specified by quaternary MADS protein complexes with different combinations. The formation of quaternary complexes of ABCDE MADS proteins may be the molecular basis of ABCDE model for the floral organ development. The MADS complexes involved in each floral organ development seem to be conserved in at least dicot species although detailed molecular mechanism is slightly different depending on species. Even in monocot, at least rice, MADS complexes similar to those in dicot exist, suggesting that the floral organ specification by MADS protein complexes may be conserved in most of plants. The MADS protein complexes may have more specific recognition of target genes or more transcription activation ability than monomers or dimers, resulting in finely regulated floral organ development.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.417-428
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• 2011

Species-specific PCR assay was developed for detection of cattle, sheep, goat, horse, dog, pig, chicken, duck, goose, and turkey using mitochondrial 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA as target genes. Also, an internal positive control was used to detect possible false negatives by using 18S rRNA gene. We designed species-specific primers with amplicon length of 190, 219, 350, 467, 241, 119, 171, 229, 111 and 268 bp for cattle, sheep, goat, horse, dog, pig, chicken, duck, goose, and turkey respectively. The specificity of the primers was tested against the other 10 non-target animal species and a cross-reaction was not observed. We developed two multiplex PCR assays for the simultaneous identification of Korea's major livestock species (cattle, pig, chicken and duck) and poultry species (chicken, duck, goose and turkey) from analogous samples, retaining the same specificity. The limit of detection of the multiplex PCR assay (cattle, pig, chicken and duck) ranged between 1 pg and 0.1 pg of template DNA extracts from raw meat. Applying multiplex PCR assays to DNA extracts from experimental pork/beef and pork/chicken tested raw and heat-treated ($120^{\circ}C$ for 30 min) mixtures respectively, detection limit was 0.1% level beef in pork, pork in beef and chicken in pork and 1.0% level pork in chicken. In conclusion, this assay using gel-based capillary electrophoresis would be very useful in highly sensitive and rapid identification of animal species or ingredients in minced meat and other meat products.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.239-248
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• 2021

The emergence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has partly increased treatment failure and patient mortality. Class D β-lactamases is an important mechanism of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in this species. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the presence oxacillinase gene and genetic fingerprints of A. baumannii isolates from the intensive care unit of an Egyptian tertiary care hospital. One hundred and twenty A. baumannii clinical isolates were collected. Multiplex PCR was performed to detect genes encoding oxacillinases (OXA-23, OXA-24, OXA-51, OXA-58 and OXA-143). Molecular typing of all collected isolates was performed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR assay. Out of 120 examined isolates, 92, 88 and 84% were resistant to ertapenem, imipenem and meropenem, respectively. The species-specific, commonly present OXA-51 gene was found in all isolates while OXA-23 showed a high prevalence of 88% of isolates. OXA-24 and OXA-143 genes were detected in 3% and 1% of isolates, respectively. No OXA-58 gene was detected. Five clusters consisting of 19 genotypes were detected using RAPD-PCR. Genotype A was the most prevalent, it was observed in 62% of the isolates followed by genotype B (12%). These results revealed that genotypes A and B are common in the hospital. Results also demonstrate that RAPD-PCR is a rapid and reliable method for studying the clonal similarity among A. baumannii isolated from different clinical specimens.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.566-571
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• 2020

To classify a presumed hybrid of imported grouper species acquired from the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, maternal and paternal lines were identified based on partial sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (co1) and nuclear recombination activation gene 1 (rag1) genes. The matrilineal species was identified as Epinephleus moara by a partial (760 bp) co1 sequence. Ambiguous sequences with base pairs belonging to E. moara or E. lanceolatus were found in a total of 15 different base pairs in the partial 1,159 bp of the rag1 gene, and the patrilineal species was found to be E. lanceolatus. Therefore, all of the groupers examined in the study were identified to be hybrids of E. moara and E. lanceolatus. In addition, a fast and convenient method using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was established for hybrid discrimination. Hybrids between E. moara ♀ and E. lanceolatus ♂ were identified through specific bands of 387 bp and 433 bp in PRIMER 6.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2021

This study is designed according to the fact that the feces presumed to be from a Prionailurus bengalensis was found in Ulleungdo Island, where Prionailurus bengalensis is not known to inhabit, and that visual observation of the feces may cause errors in species identification. The feces observed in Ulleungdo Island on October 21, 2019 and August 29, 2020, in Gyeongju on December 4, 2020, and in Jecheon on December 7, 2020 was found intactly on grass, not buried in the ground. Although it was difficult to distinguish and identify the feces of Felis catus and Prionailurus bengalensis with visual observation, the feces collected from Ulleungdo Island was closely related to the Felis catus according to the genetic analysis whereas the ones collected from Gyeongju and Jecheon was identified from Prionailurus bengalensis. Therefore through the gene analysis, this study proved that visual observation of feces with similar appearance, specifically the feces found in Ulleungdo Island, Gyeongju, and Jecheon, may cause errors in species identification. It is judged to be necessary to analyze fields signs and genes for the species identification when using the feces of Felis catus and Prionailurus bengalensis.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2005

In order to identify potential biomarkers of environmental monitoring, we evaluated heat shock genes expressions as effects of various environmental pollutants (nonylphenol, bisphenol-A, 17a­ethynyl estradiol, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, endosulfan, paraquat dichloride, chloropyriphos, fenitrothion, cadmium chloride, lead nitrate, potassium dichromate, benzo[a]pyrene and carbon tetrachloride) on larvae of aquatic midge Chironomus tentans (Diptera, Chironomidae). Heat shock protein 70 gene expression increased in most of chemicals treated larvae compared to control. The response was rapid and sensitive to low chemical concentrations but not stressor specific. In conjunction with stressor specific biomarkers, heat shock protein 70 gene expression in Chironomus might be developed for assessing exposure to environmental stressors in the fresh water ecosystem. Considering the potential of Chironomus larvae as biomonitoring species, heat shock gene expression has a considerable potential as a sensitive biomarker for environmental monitoring in Chironomus.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1331-1335
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• 2000

The WL6 strain isolated from Kimchi could not be made scientific name because it was identified as three species, i.e., Leuconostoc mesenternides ssp cremoris, Leu. mesenteroides ssp. dextranicum or Lactobacillus bifermentans when it was tested by API kit or Biolog system methods. The unidentifiable WL6 strain was finally reclassified as Lactobacillus bifermentans by genetic identification using two PCR-based specific sequence primer sets which were originated from homologous pepN and 16S rRNA genes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1072-1080
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• 2018

A plant-specific B3 domain and AP2 domain-containing transcription factor, RAV1 acts as a negative regulator of growth in many plant species and its transcription was down-regulated by BR and ABA. In this study, we found that RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants showed abnormally developed ovules, resulting in reduced seed size, weight, and number in a silique. Interestingly, the endogenous expression of RAV1 fluctuated during seed development; it remained low during the early stage of seed development and sharply increased in the seed maturation stage. In plants, seed development is a complex process that requires coordinated growth of the embryo, endosperm, and maternal integuments. Among many genes that are associated with endosperm proliferation and embryo development, three genes consisting of SHB1, MINI3, and IKU2 form a small unit positively regulating this process, and their expression was regulated by BR and ABA. Using the floral stage-specific RNAs, we found that the expression of MINI3 and IKU2, the two downstream genes of the SHB1-MINI3-IKU2 cascade in the seed development pathway, were particularly reduced in the RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants. We further determined that RAV1 directly binds to the promoter of MINI3 and IKU2, resulting in their repression. Direct treatment with brassinolide (BL) improved seed development of RAV1-overexpressing plants, but treatment with ABA severely worsened it. Overall, these results suggest that RAV1 is an additional negative player in the early stages of seed development, during which ABA and BR signaling are coordinated.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2013

The collared scops owl that occurs in Korea is a protected species but its exact specific status has been questioned. To resolve the species status, a molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted using two fragments of mitochondrial DNA, cytochrome b (cyt b, 891 bp) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2, 627 bp) genes. Phylogenetic trees of cyt b revealed that all Korean specimens formed a monophyletic group with Japanese scops owl Otus semitorques with very low sequence divergence (d=0.008). We obtained a similar ND2 tree as well (d=0.003); however, the genetic distance between Korean individuals and O. lempiji from GenBank (AJ004026-7, EU348987, and EU601036) was very high and sufficient enough to separate them as species (cyt b, d=0.118; ND2, d=0.113). We also found that Korean species showed high differentiation from O. bakkamoena (AJ004018-20 and EU601034; cyt b, d=0.106; ND2, d=0.113) and O. lettia (EU601109 and EU601033, cyt b, d=0.110; ND2, d=0.117) as well. Therefore, we suggest that the Korean collared scops owl should be designated as Otus semitorques.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.331-344
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• 2011

The well-conserved NBS domain of resistance (R) genes cloned from many plants allows the use of a PCR-based approach to isolate resistance gene analogs (RGAs). In this study, we isolated an RGA (CapRGC) from Capsicum annuum "CM334" using a PCR-based approach. This sequence encodes a protein with very high similarity to Rx genes, the Potato Virus X (PVX) R genes from potato. An evolutionary analysis of the CapRGC gene and its homologs retrieved by an extensive search of a Solanaceae database provided evidence that Rx-like genes (eight ESTs or genes that show very high similarity to Rx) appear to have diverged from R1 [an NBS-LRR R gene against late blight (Phytophthora infestans) from potato]-like genes. Structural comparison of the NBS domains of all the homologs in Solanaceae revealed that one novel motif, 14, is specific to the Rx-like genes, and also indicated that several other novel motifs are characteristic of the R1-like genes. Our results suggest that Rx-like genes are ancient but conserved. Furthermore, the novel conserved motifs can provide a basis for biochemical structural. function analysis and be used for degenerate primer design for the isolation of Rx-like sequences in other plant species. Comparative mapping study revealed that the position of CapRGC is syntenic to the locations of Rx and its homolog genes in the potato and tomato, but cosegregation analysis showed that CapRGC may not be the R gene against PVX in pepper. Our results confirm previous observations that the specificity of R genes is not conserved, while the structure and function of R genes are conserved. It appears that CapRGC may function as a resistance gene to another pathogen, such as the nematode to which the structure of CapRGC is most similar.