• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

The bacterial toxin, tolaasin, causes brown blotch disease on the cultivated mushrooms by collapsing fungal and fruiting body structure of mushroom. Cytotoxicity of tolaasin was evaluated by measuring hemolytic activity because tolaasins form membrane pores on the red blood cells and destroy cell structure. While we investigated the inhibitions of hemolytic activity of tolaasin by $Zn^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$, we found that $Ni^{2+}$ is another antagonist to block the toxicity of tolaasin. $Ni^{2+}$ inhibited the tolaasin-induced hemolysis in a dose-dependent manner and its Ki value was $\sim10$ mM, implying that the inhibitory effect of $Ni^{2+}$ is stronger than that of $Cd^{2+}$. The hemolytic activity was completely inhibited by $Ni^{2+}$ at the concentration higher than 50 mM. The effect of $Ni^{2+}$ was reversible since it was removed by the addition of EDTA. When the tolaasin-induced hemolysis was suppressed by the addition of 20 mM $Ni^{2+}$, the subsequent addition of EDIA immediately initiated the hemolysis. Although the mechanism of $Ni^{2+}$ -induced inhibition on tolaasin toxicity is not known, $Ni^{2+}$ could inhibit any of fallowing processes of tolaasin action, membrane binding, molecular multimerization, pore formation, and massive ion transport through the membrane pore. Our results indicate that $Ni^{2+}$ inhibits the pore activity of tolaasin, the last step of the toxic process.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Soil salinity causes reduction of crop productivity. Rhizosphere microbes have metabolic capabilities and ability to adaptation of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) could play a role as elicitors for inducing tolerance to stresses in plants by affecting resident microorganism in soil. This study was conducted to demonstrate the effect of selected strains on rhizosphere microbial community under salinity stress. METHODS AND RESULTS: The experiments were conducted in tomato plants in pots containing field soil. Bacterial suspension was inoculated into three-week-old tomato plants, one week after inoculation, and -1,000 kPa-balanced salinity stress was imposed. The physiological and biochemical attributes of plant under salt stress were monitored by evaluating pigment, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and ion concentrations. To demonstrate the effect of selected Bacillus strains on rhizosphere microbial community, soil microbial diversity and abundance were evaluated with Illumina MiSeq sequencing, and primer sets of 341F/805R and ITS3/ITS4 were used for bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. As a result, when the bacterial strains were inoculated and then salinity stress was imposed, the inoculation decreases the stress susceptibility including reduction in lipid peroxidation, enhanced pigmentation and proline accumulation which subsequently resulted in better plant growth. However, bacterial inoculations did not affect diversity (observed OTUs, ACE, Chao1 and Shannon) and structure (principle coordinate analysis) of microbial communities under salinity stress. Furthermore, relative abundance in microbial communities had no significant difference between bacterial treated- and untreated-soils under salinity stress. CONCLUSION: Inoculation of Bacillus strains could affect plant responses and soil pH of tomato plants under salinity stress, whereas microbial diversity and abundance had no significant difference by the bacterial treatments. These findings demonstrated that Bacillus strains could alleviate plant's salinity damages by regulating pigments, proline, and MDA contents without significant changes of microbial community in tomato plants, and can be used as effective biostimulators against salinity stress for sustainable agriculture.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2014

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA elements that often cause mutations in genes and alterations in the chromosome structure. In order to identify and characterize transposable elements (TEs) in Pleurotus eryngii, a TE-enriched library was constructed using two sets of TE-specific degenerated primers, which target conserved sequences of RT and RVE domains in fungal LTR retrotransposons. A total of 256 clones were randomly chosen from the library and their insert sequences were determined. Comparative investigation of the insert sequences with those in repeat element database, Repbase, revealed that 71 of them were found to be TE-related fragments with significant similarity to LTR retrotransposons from other species. Among the TE sequences, the 70 TEs were Gypsy-type LTR retrotransposons, including 20 of MarY1 from Tricholoma matsutake, 26 of Gypsy-8_SLL from Serpula lacrymans, and 16 of RMER17D_MM from mouse, whereas a single sequence, Copia-48-PTR, was found as only Copia-type LTR retrotransposon. Southern blot analysis of the HindIII-digested P. eryngii genomic DNA showed that the retrotransposon sequences similar to MarY1 and Gypsy-8_SLL were contained as high as 14 and 18 copies per genome, respectively, whereas other retrotransposons were remained low. Moreover, both of the two Gypsy retrotransposons were expressed in full length mRNA as shown by Northern blot analysis, suggesting that they were functionally active retrotransposons.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.468-472
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• 2013

Chrysanthemum is an economically important horticultural plant in many countries. The white rust is one of the most devastating diseases caused by an obligate fungal pathogen Puccinia horiana. This is being controlled mostly by application of chemicals. In Korea, 26 items are registered and 10 items contain 6 triazole compounds. To identify and to obtain the information of the drug target for triazoles, possible sterol 14-demethylase orthologues were extracted. From the draft genome information, the nucleotide sequence of the sterol 14-demethylase gene was identified. The amino acid sequence was deduced and the tertiary structure of the enzyme was predicted. This protein showed no less than 84% amino acid sequence identities to those of genus Puccinia and no more than 68% to those of other genus.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.412-417
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• 2011

A series of homobinuclear complexes of the type [$M_2L(NO_3)_n(H_2O)_m$] where M=$UO_2$(VI), ZrO(IV), Th(IV); L=3-benzylidine-imino-5-p-sulphonamido phenyl azo-2-thiohyatoin(bispt), 3-furfurylidine-imino-5-p-sulphonamido phenyl azo-2-thiohydantoin(fispt),3-pyridyl-2'-methylene-imino-5-p-sulphonamido phenyl azo-2-thiohydantoin(pmispt) and 3-thienyl-2'-methylene-imino-5-p-sulphoanamido phenyl azo-2-thiohydantoin(tmispt); n=8 for Th(IV) and 4 for others, m=4 for bispt and 3 for others have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, thermal analysis, molar conductance, magnetic moment and spectroscopic data (IR, electronic and $^1H$-NMR). In the light of this information, the ligands can be visualized as tetradentate co-ordinating through azomethine nitrogen, carbonyl oxygen to one metal centre where as azo nitrogen and thioimido nitrogen to the other metal centre yielding homo binuclear complexes of the above composition. The fungi toxicity of the ligands & their zirconyl complexes against some fungal pathogen has been studied.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

COP9 signalosome (CSN), which is originally identified as the regulator of the photomorphogenic development in plant, is highly conserved protein complex in diverse eukaryotic organisms. Most eukaryotic CSN complex is composed of 8 subunits, which is structurally and functionally similar to the lid subunit of 26S proteasome and eIF3 translation initiation complex. CSN play important functions in the regulation of cell cycle and checkpoint response by controlling Cullin-Ring E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRL) activities. CSN exhibits an isopeptidase activity which cleaves the neddylated moiety of cullin components. In fission yeast, S-phase cell cycle progression was delayed and the sensitivity to g-ray or UV was increased in CSN1 and CSN2 deletion mutants, indicating that yeast CSN is also involved in the checkpoint regulation. CSN in fungal system more closely resembles that of the higher organisms in the structure and assembly of their components. Functionally, CSN is associated with the regulation of conidiation rhythms in Neurospora crassa and the sexual development in Aspsergillus nidulans. Recent studies also revealed that CSN functions as an essential cell cycle regulator, playing key roles in the regulation of DNA replication and DNA damage response in Aspergillus. Overall, CSN of microorganisms, such as fission yeast and fungi, share functionally common aspects with higher organisms, implying that they can be useful tools to study the role of CSN in the CRL-mediated diverse cellular activities.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2020

Host shifting and host expansion of fungal plant pathogens increases the rate of emergence of new pathogens and the incidence of disease in various crops, which threaten global food security. Magnaporthe species cause serious disease in rice, namely rice blast disease, as well as in many alternative hosts, including wheat, barley, and millet. A severe outbreak of wheat blast due to Magnaporthe oryzae occurred recently in Bangladesh, after the fungus was introduced from South America, causing great loss of yield. This outbreak of wheat blast is of growing concern, because it might spread to adjacent wheat-producing areas. Therefore, it is important to understand the host range and population structure of M. oryzae and related species for determining the evolutionary relationships among Magnaporthe species and for managing blast disease in the field. Here, we collected isolates of M. oryzae and related species from various Poaceae species, including crops and weeds surrounding rice fields, in Korea and determined their phylogenetic relationships and host species specificity. Internal transcribed spacer-mediated phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. oryzae and related species are classified into four groups primarily including isolates from rice, crabgrass, millet and tall fescue. Based on pathogenicity assays, M. oryzae and related species can infect different Poaceae hosts and move among hosts, suggesting the potential for host shifting and host expansion in nature. These results provide important information on the diversification of M. oryzae and related species with a broad range of Poaceae as hosts in crop fields.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 2009

A Pseudomonas strain SG3 producing biosurfactant and showing antifungal and insecticidal activities was isolated from agricultural soil severely contaminated with machine oils. The antagonistic bacterium inhibited mycelial growth of all of the tested fungal pathogens. The fermentation broth of SG3 also effectively suppressed the development of various plant diseases including rice blast, tomato gray mold, tomato late blight, wheat leaf rust, barley powdery mildew and red pepper anthracnose. An antifungal substance was isolated from the fermentation broth of SG3 by ethyl acetate partitioning, silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC under the guide of bioassay. The chemical structure of the antifungal substance was determined to be rhamnolipid B by mass and NMR spectral analyses. The antifungal biosurfactant showed a potent in vivo antifungal activity against gray mold and late blight on tomato plants. In addition, rhamnolipid B inhibited mycelial growth of B. cinerea causing tomato gray mold and zoospore germination and mycelial growth of P. infestans causing tomato late blight. Pseudomonas sp. SG3 producing rhamnolipid B could be used as a new biocontrol agent for the control of plant diseases occurring on tomato plants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 1995.06b
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• pp.27-53
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• 1995

In plant pathology there is an increasing necessity for improved cytological techniques as basis for the localization of cellular substances within the dynamic fine structure of the host-(plant)-pathogen-interaction. Low temperature (LT) preparation techniques (shock freezing, freeze substitution, LT embedding) are now successfully applied in plant pathology. They are regarded as important tools to stabilize the dynamic plant-pathogen-interaction as it exists under physiological conditions. - The main advantage of LT techniques versus conventional chemical fixation is seen in the maintenance of the hydration shell of molecules and macromolecular structures. This results in an improved fine structural preservation and in a superior retention of the antigenicity of proteins. - A well defined ultrastructure of small, fungal organisms and large biological samples such as plant material and as well as the plant-pathogen (fungus) infection sites are presented. The mesophyll tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana is characterized by homogeneously structured cytoplasm closely attached to the cell wall. From analyses of the compatible interaction between Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei on barley (Hordeum vulgare), various steps in the infection sequence can be identified. Infection sites of powdery mildew on primary leaves of barley are analysed with regard to the fine structural preservation of the haustoria. The presentation s focussed on the ultrastructure of the extrahaustorial matrix and the extrahaustorial membrane. - The integration of improved cellular preservation with a molecular analysis of the infected host cell is achieved by the application of secondary probing techniques, i.e. immunocytochemistry. Recent data on the characterization of freeze substituted powdery mildew and urst infected plant tissue by immunogold methodology are described with special emphasis on the localization of THRGP-like (threonine-hydrxyproline-rich glycoprotein) epitopes. Infection sites of powdery mildew on barley, stem rust as well as leaf rust (Puccinia recondita) on primary leaves of wheat were probed with a polyclonal antiserum to maize THRGP. Cross-reactivity with the anti-THRGP antiserum was observed over the extrahaustorial matrix of the both compatible and incompatible plant-pathogen interactions. The highly localized accumulation of THRGP-like epitopes at the extrahaustorial host-pathogen interface suggests the involvement of structural, interfacial proteins during the infection of monocotyledonous plants by obligate, biotrophic fungi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2020

Although Candida albicans is the major fungal pathogen of candidemia, severe infections by non-albicans Candida (NAC) spp. have been increasing in recent years. Among NAC spp., C. glabrata has emerged as the second most common pathogen. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate its structure, epidemiology, and basic biology. In the present study, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed with a total of 102 C. glabrata clinical isolates that were isolated from various types of clinical specimen. For MLST, six housekeeping genes-FKS, LEU2, NMT1, TRP1, UGP1, and URA3-were amplified and sequenced. The results were analyzed using the C. glabrata database. Out of a total of 3,345 base-pair DNA sequences, 49 variable nucleotide sites were found, and the results showed that 12 different sequence types (ST) were identified from the 102 clinical isolates. The data also demonstrated that the undetermined ST1 was the most predominant ST in Korea. Further, seven undetermined STs (UST) containing UST2-8 were classified at specific loci. The data from this study may provide a fundamental database for further studies on C. glabrata, including its epidemiology and evolution. The data may also contribute to the development of novel antifungal agents and diagnostic tests.