• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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• 2000.05a
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• pp.530-530
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• 2000

The host defense system or immune system of all modern animals has their roots in very ancient organisms. After analyzing literature data concerning properties of invertebrates and vertebrates lectins we suggest that mechanism of mannans recognition may exist in marine invertebrates, as a universal mechanism for homeostasis maintenance and host defense, and mannan-binding lectins family of vertebrates has ancient precursor, as was shown for another S-type lectins family. We carried out the screening of mannan-binding type lectin among different species of echinoderms inhabiting in Piter the Grate Bay, the sea of Japan. As a result, the C-type lectins (SJL-32) specific for high mannose glycans was isolated from the coelomic plasma of the sea cucumbers Stichopus japonicus by ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Toyopearl 650M, affinity chromatography on a mannan-Sepharose 6B and gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200. SJL-32 is homodimer with molecular mass about 32 kDa on SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions. Protein part of the lectin has high conteins Asn, Glu, Ser. Hemagglutination of trypsin-treated O blood group human erythrocytes by SJL-32 was competitively inhibited by high-branched -D-mannan composed of -1,2 and -1,6 linked D-mannopyranose residues. In contrast, a variety of mono-, oligo-, and polysaccharides composed of residues of galactose and fucose showed absence or little inhibitory activities. The lectin activity strong depends on Ca2+ concentration, temperature and pH. Monospecific polyclonal antibodies were obtained to the lectin. As was shown by ELISA assay, antibodies to SJL-32 cross-reacted with human serum mannan-binding lectin. This data allows making conclusion about common antigenic determinants and structural homology of both lectins. In our opinion, SJL-32 belongs to evolutionary high conservative mannan-binding lectins (MBLs) family and takes part in the host defense against pathogenic microorganisms.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.236-242
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• 1988

Mitochondrial DNAs of two Mdh allelotypes of the dark chub, Z. temmincki inhabiting in Korean fresh water, were analysed. Samples of each type were collected from four populations, and the fragment patterns for mtdNA of each type were explained from 7 of the eleven restriction enzymes with hexanucleotide recognition site. Genome size was approximately 16.7 kilobases. The highly typical mtdNA fragments of each type were discovered in digestion profiles produced by Eco RI and Pst I enzyrnes. The comparisons of restriction fragment patterns and relative digestion maps permitted the estimation of fragment homology (F) and nucleotide sequence divergence(p). Between the two identical types, sequence divergence(p) was 0.128(MS), and 0.045(MM), ; between the two different types, 0.195 (range 0.177-0.226). These result may provide a distinct difference more than the value derived from allozyrne analysis, and a powerful new molecular approach for assessing genetic-evolutionary relationship among fishes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.275-308
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• 2007

For 20 taxa of Korean Allium, including 16 species and 5 varieties, examined were morphological characters (i.e. sexuality, structure and shape of underground part, types and growing patterns of leaf and scape, and shapes of perianth, filament and pistil). The specialization and the evolutionary trends of taxonomic characters were inferred from morphological examination. Taxonomic relationships and system of Korean Allium were also studied. The characters showing evolutionary trends were the structure and shape of underground part including rhizome and bulb, leaf, scape, inflorescens, filament and ovary. It seemed that thin and short rhizome developed from thick and long one, and the membranous simple bulb tunic evolved into fibrous reticulate one. The presence of hyaline sheath in A. monanthum of sect. Microscordum was apomorphic. Both angular leaf blade with 2-rowed vascular bundle and flat blade with 1-rowed vascular bundle were developed from terete one with 2-rowed vascular bundle. The base of filament have differentiated from entire to toothed, and 2-ovuled ovary as well as erect scape before flowering was plesiomorphic type. In addition, sexuality, structure of underground part, the presence of hyaline sheath and cross-section structure of leaf were taxonomic characters with the level of the subgenus in this genus. Shape of rhizome, bulb, leaf, scape and pedicel discriminated each section from other ones in the subgenera easily. The shape and arrangement of perianth and filaments were the diagnostic characters for species level along with shape of ovary and stigma.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2017

The genome size is one of the basic characters of an organism, and it is widely applied in various fields of biology, such as systematics, breeding biology, population biology, and evolutionary biology. This factor was recently highlighted in genome studies because choosing a representative of a plant group having the smallest genome size is important for the efficiency of a genome project. For the estimation of the genome size, flow cytometry has recently been highlighted because it is a convenient, fast, and reliable method. In this study, we report the genome sizes of 15 taxa of Lamiaceae from nine genera distributed in Korea using flow cytometry. Data pertaining to the genome size for all of our species have not been reported thus far, and the data from Agastache, Clinopodium, Elsholtzia, and Isodon are the first reported for each genus. The genome sizes of 15 genera and 39 species were reported to the Plant DNA C-values Database (http://data.kew.org/cvalues/). Scutellaria indica L. has a genome size of 0.37 pg (1C). This is the fourth smallest value among the 98 Lamiaceae taxa in the Angiosperm DNA C-value Database, indicating that this taxon can be used as a reference species in the genome studies in Lamiaceae as a native Korean species. The largest genome size observed in this study is in Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. (1C=2.60 pg), representing the possible polyploidy origin of this species in the family.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.239-252
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to develop an evolutionary STEAM education program based on the brain and to analyze its effects on scientific interest and scientific creativity of elementary school students. Four different topics based on four scientific fields (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science) were derived from the science textbook under the 2015 revised curriculum to build a brain-based evolutionary STEAM education program. The research subjects were 90 fourth graders of S-elementary school located in Gyeonggi Province, Korea and they were divided into an experimental group of 45 students and a comparative group of 45 students. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, according to the independent samples t-test of scientific interest, no statistically significant difference were found between the two groups, but the brain-based evolutionary STEAM education had meaningful effect on improving 'interest in scientific learning' and 'anxiety about scientific learning'. Second, according to the paired samples t-test of scientific interest, the experimental group had significantly improved 'interest in science' but on the other hand, there was no effect on the comparative group. Third, scientific creativity and originality of the experimental group were significantly higher after the class than that of the comparative group. Fourth, although there were some significant differences between the two groups in scientific creativity after the class, both groups had improved scientific creativity between the results of pre and post test. Based on these results, we discuss implications for science education and STEAM education research.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.182-189
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• 2013

Halophytes are unique land plants that are capable of thriving in a high-salt environment. They are attracting public attention due to their ability to synthesize bioactive substances such as UV protectants or antioxidizing agents. To achieve unaffected growth under high salinity, halophytes may take advantage of the activities of cell growth factors such as expansins. Expansins are well-known cell wall proteins that are responsible for cell enlargement. They loosen cell walls, thereby contributing to actual plant growth. This study aimed to identify positive roles of expansins in the growth of halophytes. Three expansin cDNA clones were isolated from seedlings of Suaeda japonica. Comparing the deduced amino acid sequences of the expansin genes of S. japonica with those of other plant species suggested that the cDNA clones isolated from S. japonica belong to the EXPA (${\alpha}$-expansin) gene family. A phylogenetic tree based on the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that the expansins of S. japonica share a close evolutionary relationship with those of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) and jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), both of which are woody dicots. SjEXPAs did not show any remarkable change in the gene expression level in different NaCl concentrations, providing a clue to the unaffected seedling growth of S. japonica in a high-salt environment. In conclusion, the present study presents the first report of expansin genes from halophytes and suggests a putative role for these genes in plant growth under high salinity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.2 s.75
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• pp.253-258
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• 2006

Garlic is a perennial herb primarily distributed throughout the world. These plants are regarded as a medically and agricultural important crop in the world. The genetic relationships between cultivated and wild species were investigated at the population levels by constructing tree based on ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeats) markers. In addition, ISSR analysis was also conducted to estimate genetic diversity and population structure of these species. Three wild garlic populations in Korea were found to have more alleles per locus (mean 1.672 vs. 1.510) higher percent polymorphic locus (67.2 vs. 51.0), and higher diversity (0.250 vs. 0.198) than three cultivated populations. The cultivated and wild species in Korea are well separated from each other at phylogenetic trees. Although there is not direct evidence that A. victorialis is an ancestor of Korean A. sativum, there is a possibility that cultivated A. sativum in Korea has evolved from wild A. victorialis in Korea. Populations of A. victorialis may be useful in germ-plasm classification and evolutionary process.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.62-69
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• 2015

The Asian cavity-nesting honeybee, Apis cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae), has been extensively studied for its biogeography and genetic diversity, but the molecules utilized in past studies were mainly ~90 bp long mitochondrial non-coding sequences, located between $tRNA^{Leu}$ and COII. Thus, additional molecular markers may enrich our understanding of the biogeography and genetic diversity of this valuable bee species. In this study, we reviewed the public genome database to find introns of cDNA sequences, with the assumption that these introns may have less evolutionary constraints. The six introns selected were subjected to preliminary tests. Thereafter, two introns, titled White gene and MRJP9 gene, were selected. Sequencing of 552 clones from 184 individual bees showed a total of 222 and 141 sequence types in the White gene and MRJP9 gene introns, respectively. The sequence divergence ranged from 0.6% to 7.9% and from 0.26% to 17.6% in the White gene and the MRJP9 introns, respectively, indicating higher sequence divergence in both introns. Analysis of population genetic diversity for 16 populations originating from Korea, China, Vietnam, and Thailand shows that nucleotide diversity (π) ranges from 0.003117 to 0.025837 and from 0.016541 to 0.052468 in the White gene and MRJP9 introns, respectively. The highest π was found in a Vietnamese population for both intron sequences, whereas the nine Korean populations showed moderate to low sequence divergence. Considering the variability and diversity, these intron sequences can be useful as non-mitochondrial DNA-based molecular markers for future studies of population genetics.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 1993

To investigate the gene rearrangement via short repeated sequences in chloroplast DNA, the pattern of heterologous gene clusters containing the 151 bp repeated sequence with the development of plastid was compared in rice and the homologous gene clusters from various plant sources were searched for comparative analysis. Southern blot analysis of rice DNA using rp12 gene containing 151 bp repeated sequence as a probe showed the presence of heterologous gene clusters. Such heterologous gene clusters varied with the development of plastid. Also it was observed that the heterologous gene clusters were observed in all of the rice cultivars used in this work. Finally the comparative analysis of DNA sequence of the homologous gene clusters from various plants showed the evolutionary gene rearragngement via short repeated sequence among plants. These results suggest the possible relationship between the plastid development and gene rearrangement through short repeated sequences.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1599-1605
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• 2015

The development of rapid and efficient genome sequencing methods has enabled us to study the evolutionary background of bacterial genetic information. Here, we present comparative genomic analysis of 17 Streptomyces species, for which the genome has been completely sequenced, using the pan-genome approach. The analysis revealed that 34,592 ortholog clusters constituted the pan-genome of these Streptomyces species, including 2,018 in the core genome, 11,743 in the dispensable genome, and 20,831 in the unique genome. The core genome was converged to a smaller number of genes than reported previously, with 3,096 gene families. Functional enrichment analysis showed that genes involved in transcription were most abundant in the Streptomyces pan-genome. Finally, we investigated core genes for the sigma factors, mycothiol biosynthesis pathway, and secondary metabolism pathways; our data showed that many genes involved in stress response and morphological differentiation were commonly expressed in Streptomyces species. Elucidation of the core genome offers a basis for understanding the functional evolution of Streptomyces species and provides insights into target selection for the construction of industrial strains.