• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1628-1634
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• 2009

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) function as molecular chaperones that protect cells against environmental stresses. In the present study, the genes of hsp17.6 and hsp17.7, cytosolic class I sHSPs, were cloned from a tropical plant, Ageratina adenophorum. Their C-terminal domains were highly conserved with those of sHSPs from other plants, indicating the importance of the C-terminal domains for the structure and activity of sHSPs. The recombinant HSP17.6 and HSP17.7 were applied to determine their chaperone function. In vitro, HSP17.6 and HSP17.7 actively participated in the refolding of the model substrate citrate synthase (CS) and effectively prevented the thermal aggregation of CS at $45^{\circ}C$ and the irreversible inactivation of CS at $38^{\circ}C$ at stoichiometric levels. The prior presence of HSP17.7 was assumed to suppress the thermal aggregation of the model substrate CS. Therefore, this report confirms the chaperone activity of HSP17.6 and HSP17.7 and their potential as a protectant for active proteins.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.577-583
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• 2014

Benzyladenine (BA, 99% purity), MaxCel$^{(R)}$ (1.9% BA), Fruitone (3.5% NAA), MaxCel$^{(R)}$ + Fruitone, a nd s imazine were applied postbloom as fruitlet thinning agents to mature 'Hongro' and 'Fuji' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees. BA and MaxCel$^{(R)}$ were applied at $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ a.i. while Fruitone at $0.1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ a.i. and simazine at $400mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ a.i. All PGRs were applied at 8 days after full bloom (DAFB, 6 mm fruit diameter) in both cultivars, while simazine was treated twice at 7 and 14 DAFB. In 'Hongro', the number of total fruit set per flower cluster in terminal buds was 1.67, 1.84, and 1.81 in MaxCel$^{(R)}$ + F ruitone, MaxCel$^{(R)}$, and simazine applications, respectively, when compared with 2.35 of water control. These reductions in fruit set were mainly attributed to the increased ratio of defruited clusters by the thinning agents. In 'Fuji' apple, the number of total fruit set per flower cluster in terminal buds was 1.29, 1.60, and 1.76 in MaxCel$^{(R)}$ + Fruitone, Fruitone, and MaxCel$^{(R)}$, respectively, when compared with 2.56 of water control in 'Fuji' apple. The addition of Fruitone to the MaxCel$^{(R)}$ promoted the thinning efficacy in both cultivars, compared to MaxCel$^{(R)}$ only. The thinning efficacies were similarly observed with lateral flowers in both cultivars. A significant increase of fruit weight by the postbloom thinning treatments was observed only in the BA application in 'Hongro', while the effect was observed in BA and MaxCel$^{(R)}$ in 'Fuji'. While the soluble solids content increased in the BA, MaxCel$^{(R)}$ and MaxCel$^{(R)}$+Fruitone treatments in both cultivars, other fruit quality attributes were not affected by the application of post-bloom thinning agents.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2017

Gibberellic Acid-Stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) genes are involved in plant hormone signaling, cell division and elongation, as well as in responses to stress conditions in plants. In this study, we isolated a GASA gene from hybrid poplar (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) and analyzed its physiological phenotype and molecular functions in poplar. PagGASA cDNA encodes a putative protein composed of 95 amino acids containing an N-terminal signal peptide and a conservative cysteine-rich C-terminal domain. Southern blot analysis revealed that one or two copies of the PagGASA are present in the poplar genome. The PagGASA transcripts were highly detected in flowers and roots. Moreover, the expression of PagGASA was induced by growth hormone (gibberellic acid) and stress hormones (abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid). By using transgenic analysis, we showed that the upregulation of PagGASA in poplar provides high tolerance to drought stress. Therefore, our results suggest that PagGASA plays an important role in drought stress tolerance via stress-related plant hormone signaling in poplar.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.693-698
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• 2008

The full-length cDNA of LebZIP2 (Lycopersicon esculentum bZIP2) encodes a protein of 164 amino acids and contains a N-terminal basic-region leucine zipper domain. Analysis of the deduced tomato LebZIP2 amino acid sequence revealed that it shares 85% sequence identity with both tobacco bZIP and pepper CcbZIP. LebZIP2 mRNA is expressed at a high level exclusively in flowers. Presently, LebZIP2 was strongly increased also following NaCl and mannitol treatments. No significant LebZIP2 expression was evident following cold treatment. Transient LebZIP2 overexpression resulted in increased NbNOA1 and NbNR transcript levels in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Our results indicate that LebZIP2 might play roles as an abiotic stress-signaling pathway and as a transcriptional regulator of the NbNOA1 or NbNR genes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine whether britanin, isolated from the flowers of Inula japonica (Inulae Flos), modulates the generation of allergic inflammatory mediators in activated mast cells. To understand the biological activity of britanin, the authors investigated its effects on the generation of prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$), leukotriene $C_4$ ($LTC_4$), and degranulation in IgE/Ag-induced bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Britanin dose dependently inhibited degranulation and the generations of $PGD_2$ and $LTC_4$ in BMMCs. Biochemical analyses of IgE/Ag-mediated signaling pathways demonstrated that britanin suppressed the phosphorylation of Syk kinase and multiple downstream signaling processes, including phospholipase $C{\gamma}1$ ($PLC{\gamma}1$)-mediated calcium influx, the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs; extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, c-Jun $NH_2$-terminal kinase and p38), and the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathway. Taken together, the findings of this study suggest britanin suppresses degranulation and eicosanoid generation by inhibiting the Syk-dependent pathway and britanin might be useful for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.877-881
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• 2007

The genetic diversity and population structure of Potentilla freyniana in Korea were determined using genetic variations at 19 allozyme loci. Thirteen of the 19 loci (68.4%) showed detectable polymorphism. Genetic diversity at the population level was high ($H_{EP}$ = 0.270). Total genetic diversity values ($H_T$) varied between 0.190 and 0.584, giving an average overall polymorphic loci of 0.371. The interlocus variation of genetic diversity within populations ($H_S$) was high (0.354). On a per locus basis, the proportion of total genetic variation due to differences among populations ($G_{ST}$) ranged from 0.008 for Fe-2 to 0.310 for Gpi with a mean of 0.065, indicating that about 6.5% of the total allozyme variation was among populations. Wide geographic ranges, perennial herbaceous nature and the persistence of multiple generations are associated with the high level of genetic variation in P. freyniana. The estimate of gene flow based on $G_{ST}$, was high among Korean populations of P. freyniana (Nm =3.57). Although P. freyniana usually propagated by asexually-produced ramets, I could not rule out the possibility that sexual reproduction occurred at a low rate because each ramet may produce terminal flowers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2013

Formate dehydrogenase (FDH), catalyzing the oxidation of the formate ion to carbon dioxide, is known as the stress protein in response to drought, low temperature and pathogen infection. To study the functions of FDH in poplar (Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa), we isolated a FDH cDNA (PagFDH1) and examined its expressional characteristics. The PagFDH1 is 1,499 base pairs long and encodes a putative 388 amino acid protein with an expected molecular mass of 42.5 kDa. The PagFDH1 protein has N-terminal mitochondria signal peptide and $NAD^+$ binding domain. Southern blot analysis indicated that a single copy of the PagFDH1 is present in the poplar genome. PagFDH1 is expressed highly in the suspension cells (especially in the lag and early exponential phases) and moderately in roots, flowers and leaves. ABA-mediated enhanced expression of PagFDH1 in response to drought and salt stress treatments indicates that the gene product could play an important role in the development of stress resistant trees.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.544-551
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• 2013

The effect of different silicon (Si) sources and methods of application on the growth of two chrysanthemum cultivars grown in a soilless substrate was investigated. Rooted terminal cuttings of Dendranthema grandiflorum 'Lemmon Eye' and 'Pink Eye' were transplanted into pots containing a coir-based substrate. A nutrient solution containing 0 or $50mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ Si from calcium silicate ($CaSiO_3$), potassium silicate ($K_2SiO_3$) or sodium silicate ($Na_2SiO_3$) was supplied once a day through an ebb-and-flood sub irrigation system. A foliar spray of 0 or $50mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ Si was applied twice a week. Cultivar and application method had a significant effect on plant height. Cultivar, application method, and Si source had a significant effect on plant width. Of the three Si sources studied, $K_2SiO_3$ was found to be the best for the increasing number of flowers, followed by $CaSiO_3$ and $Na_2SiO_3$. In both the cultivars, sub irrigational supply of Si developed necrotic lesions in the older leaves at the beginning of the flowering stage as compared to the control and foliar spray of Si. Cultivar, application method, Si source, and their interactions had significant influence on leaf tissue concentrations of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), sodium (Na), boron (B), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). The addition of Si to the nutrient solution decreased leaf tissue concentrations of Ca, Mg, S, Na, B, Cu, Fe, and Mn in both cultivars. The greatest Si concentration in leaf tissue was found in 'Lemmon Eye' ($1420{\mu}g{\cdot}g^{-1}$) and 'Pink Eye' ($1683{\mu}g{\cdot}g^{-1}$) when $K_2SiO_3$ was applied through a sub irrigation system and by foliar spray, respectively.