• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.614-621
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• 2010

Increasing accuracy of broiler diet formulation based on amino acid digestibility in comparison to application of total amino acids could lead to more feed efficiency and productivity. This experiment was conducted for determination of sampling site (excreta and ileum) and recognition of the effects of a commercial enzyme ($Grind^{(R)}$ Danisco, Finland) on metabolizable energy, protein and amino acid digestibility of barley. This study was modulated by a marker in 21-day old Arbor Acres chickens. Corn-soybean meal was used as a control diet and, in the other two treatments, barley (at a level of 40%) with and without enzyme as the test ingredient were supplemented to the basal diet. Chromic oxide was included in all diets (0.5%) as an indigestible marker. Apparent metabolizable energy (AME), corrected by nitrogen (AMEn) and apparent digestibility of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, alanine, tyrosine, valine and methionine were significantly (p<0.05) higher in feces than ileum. Protein digestibility of diet and barley was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the ileum than in feces. Apparent digestibility of tryptophan, proline, methionine, phenylalanine and lysine was increased significantly (p<0.05) by enzyme supplementation. In contrast, no response was observed in AME, AMEn, and protein digestibility of the diet and barley by enzyme supplementation. The results of this study have shown that AME and amino acid digestibility were increased in feces, in contrast an adverse effect was observed for protein digestibility of the diet and barley.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2009

A cDNA clone encoding phytocystatin was isolated from Brassica rapa seedlings, through rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). This gene (name as Brcpi1; GenBank accession no.: EF079953) had a total length of 881 bp with an open reading frame of 609 bp, and encoded predicted polypeptide of 203 amino acid (aa) residues including a putative N-terminal signal peptide. Other relevant regions found its sequence included the G and PW conserved aa motifs, and the consensus LARFAV sequence for phytocystatins and the reactive site QVVAG. The BrCPI1 protein shared 95, 94, 81, 80 and 78% identity with other CPI proterins isolated from Brassica oleracea (BoCPI-1), Arabidopsis thaliana (AtCY SB), Glycine max (GmCPI), Oryza sativa (OsCYS-2) and Zea may (ZmCPI) at amino acid level, respectively. Southern blot analysis showed that Brcpi1 was a low copy gene. Expression pattern analysis revealed that Brcpi1 was a tissue-specific expressing gene during reproductive growth and strongly expressed at mature seedling stages. Furthermore, overexpression of Brcpi1 in transgenic Arabidopsis was enhanced tolerance to salt and cold stresses. Meanwhile the juvenile seedling of Brcpi1 transgenic plants was not affected by various concentrations ABA in MS medium. Taken together, the results showed that Brcpi1 functioned as a cysteine protease inhibitor and it exhibited a protective agent against diverse types of abiotic stress, which induced this gene in a tissue- and stress-specific manner.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.13-33
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to offer the raw data for establishing the management and restoration plan by objective surveying and analysing the flora distributed in Seoak District, Gyeongju National Park, Korea. The flora summarized as 411 taxa including 92 families, 285 genera, 363 species, 2 subspecies, 41 varieties and 5 forms. The rare plants designated by Korea Forest Service were 2 taxa including Exochorda serratifolia and Potentilla discolor. The Korean endemic plants were 3 taxa including Philadelphus schrenkii, Lespedeza maritima and Weigela subsessilis. The specific plants by floristic region were 16 taxa including Asplenium sarelii, Pyrrosia petiolosa, Vitex negundo var. incisa and so forth. The target plants adaptable to climate change were 2 taxa including Lespedeza maritima and Carpesium macrocephalum, and the plants with approval for delivering oversea were 4 taxa including Exochorda serratifolia, Glycine soja, Lespedeza maritima and Weigela subsessilis. The naturalized plants were 51 taxa including Phytolacca americana, Viola papilionacea, Lamium purpureum and so forth. The invasive alien plants were 3 taxa including Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aster pilosus and Lactuca scariola. NI(Naturalized Index) was 12.4% of all 411 taxa of surveyed flora in this study and UI(Urbanized Index) was 15.9% of all 321 taxa of naturalized plants in Korea. Potentilla discolor in rare plant, Philadelphus schrenkii in endemic plant and Dictamnus dasycarpus in specific plant were established the conservation plan. Whereas, invasive alien plants such as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aster pilosus and Lactuca scariola should be removed as soon as possible. The damaged sites in Seoak District were divided between wildfire area and farmland. To restore a forest fire site, we will have to apply a natural renewal and community planting. In case of farmland, we will have to do ecological planting using native species and constrcut a forest wetland.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.17-35
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to offer the raw data for management and conservation of national park by systematic and objective surveying and analysing the flora distributed in the Hwarang district, Gyeongju national park. The results are as follows. The vascular plants in this site were summarized as 396 taxa: 95 families, 272 genera, 351 species, 2 subspecies, 38 varieties and 5 forma. The rare plants designated by Korea Forest Service were 5 taxa: Exochorda serratifolia S.Moore, Potentilla discolor Bunge, Prunus yedoensis Matsum, Lysimachia coreana Nakai and Inula salicina var. asiatica Kitam.. The korean endemic plants were 6 taxa: Populus tomentiglandulosa T.B.Lee, Clematis trichotoma Nakai, Lespedeza maritima Nakai, Lysimachia coreana Nakai, Forsythia koreana (Rehder) Nakai and Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L.H.Bailey. The specific plants by floristic region were 30 taxa: Asplenium sarelii Hk., Salix chaenomeloides Kimura, Lysimachia barystachys Bunge, Achillea alpina L., Celtis aurantiaca Nakai, Vitex negundo var. incisa (Lam.) C.B.Clarke and so forth. The plants with approval for delivering oversea were 6 taxa: Clematis trichotoma Nakai, Exochorda serratifolia S.Moore, Glycine soja Siebold & Zucc., Lespedeza maritima Nakai, Lysimachia coreana Nakai and Weigela subsessilis (Nakai) L.H.Bailey. The naturalized plants were 49 taxa: Bilderdykia dumetora (L.) Holub, Descurainia pinnata Britton, Oxalis corymbosa DC., Bidens frondosa L., Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. and so forth. The invasive alien plants were 2 taxa: Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Aster pilosus Willd. In future, if we will survey the flora of whole Gyeongju national park, we will offer the help to establishing the conservation plan of ecosystem in Gyeongju national park.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.8.1-8.7
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• 2012

The motor neuron degeneration 2 (mnd2) mice carry a point mutation of A to T nucleotide transversion at the serine 276 residue of high temperature requirement A2 (HtrA2), resulting in losses of an AluI restriction enzyme site (5'AGCT3') and the HtrA2 serine protease activity. Moreover, dysfunctions of HtrA2 are known to be intimately associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Thus, this mnd2 mouse is an invaluable model for understanding the physiological role of HtrA2 and its pathological role in neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, many molecular and cellular biologists in this field have limited experience in working with mutant mouse models due to the necessity of acquired years of the special techniques and knowledges. Herein, using the mnd2 mouse model as an example, we describe easy-to-use standard protocols for web-based analyses of target genes, such as HtrA2, and a novel approach for simple and accurate PCR-AluI-RFLP-based genotype analysis of mnd2 mice. In addition, band resolution of AluI-RFLP fragments was improved in 12% polyacrylamide gel running in 1X Tris-Glycine SDS buffer. Our study indicates that this PCR-AluI-RFLP genotype analysis method can be easily applied by the molecular and cellular biologist to conduct biomedical science studies using the other mutant mouse models.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1131-1138
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• 2009

In this study, the breads with medicinal herbs (MH) composites showing cognitive function were prepared and their characteristics were examined. Fifteen kinds of medicinal herbs were extracted with hot water and divided into 3 groups (MH-1, MH-2, MH-3) based on their contents. All groups showed cognitive function in terms of promoting muscarinic receptor, NMDA receptor and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. In the preparation of breads containing MH extracts of various contents (0, 10, 20, 30, and 50%), there were no significant difference among loaf weight of all groups, but loaf volume of all groups were significantly (p<0.05) decreased with increasing content of MH extracts compared to the control group. The "a" and "b" values of bread crumb increased with the content of MH extracts while "L" value decreased, but these values of bread crust were similar to the control group. The most improvements in hardness, fracturability, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness of bread were noticed by the addition of 10$\sim$20% MH extracts, while adhesiveness and springiness of bread were the most by the 30% addition ones. Through the sensory evaluation, it was revealed that appearance, mouth feeling, taste, overall preference and crumb texture of bread were not significantly different (p<0.05) between control and those with the 10% addition ones. Therefore the 10% addition ones, which got similar scores to control, will make the most desirable product.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2019

Based on their virulence, the avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are classified into two pathotypes: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. Among the 16 HA subtypes of AIV, only the H5 and H7 subtypes are classified as HPAI. Some AIVs, including H5 and H7 viruses, can infect humans directly. Six H7 subtype isolates from wild birds of the H7N7 (n=4) and H7N1 (n=2) subtypes were characterized in this study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that eight viral genes (HA, NA, PB2, PB1, PA, NP, M, and NS) of the H7 isolates clustered in the Eurasian lineage, the genetic diversity of which is indicated by its division into several sublineages. The Korean H7 isolates had two motifs, PEIPKGR and PELPKGR, at the HA cleavage site, which have been associated with LPAI viruses. Six H7 isolates encoded glutamine (Q) and glycine (G) at positions 226 (H3 numbering) and 228 of HA, suggesting avian-type receptor-binding specificity. None of the Korean H7 isolates had the amino acid substitutions E627K in PB2 and I368V in PB1, which are critical for efficient replication in human cells. The Korean H7 isolates showed no deletions in the NA stalk region and in NS. These results suggest that the Korean H7 isolates from wild birds are different from the H7N9 influenza viruses isolated in China in 2013, which are capable of infecting humans.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.671-677
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• 2011

We previously reported the isolation and characterization of a gene, SCA1 (for soybean $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase 1), encoding a calmodulin-regulated $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase that is located in the plasma membrane in soybean. Here, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase designated as SCA2 was isolated from soybean. The two $Ca^{2+}$-ATPases, SCA1 and SCA2, share a remarkably high degree of similarity (78%). Ten transmemebrane domains were predicted by hydropathy analysis. Using gel overlay assays, CaM was found to bind to SCA2 in a $Ca^{2+}$-dependent manner. Southern blot analysis revealed the presence of two copies of the $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase gene in the soybean genome. An N-terminal truncation mutant that deletes sequence through the putative calmodulin binding site was able to complement a yeast mutant (K616) that was deficient in two endogenous $Ca^{2+}$ pumps. Our results indicate that SCA2 is structurally highly conserved with type IIB $Ca^{2+}$ pumps in plants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2012

Glycosynthase is an active site nucleophile mutant enzyme, prepared from glycosidase, which is capable of synthesizing oligosaccharide derivatives without the hydrolysis of the product. Thermoacidophilic ${\alpha}$-glucosidase of Thermoplasma acidophilum (AglA) exhibits a transglycosylating activity yielding various glycosides. AglA was converted to glycosynthase by the substitution of the catalytic nucleophile Asp-408 residue into non-nucleophile glycine in order to increase its ability to synthesize various glycosides by transglycosylation. The glycosynthase mutant was purified by Ni-NTA chromatography and its glycoside-synthesizing activity was measured by using an external nucleophile, sodium formate buffer, providing maltose as a donor and p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-D-glucopyranoside ($pNP{\alpha}G$) as an acceptor, respectively. In addition, $pNP{\alpha}G$ was examined for its feasibility to act as both a donor and an acceptor, and products were compared with those of the wildtype enzyme. The mutant enzyme was found to catalyze the formation of a specific product from $pNP{\alpha}G$ with a yield of 42.5% without further hydrolysis, while the wild-type enzyme produced two $pNP{\alpha}G$ products at low yields. The results demonstrate the possibility of satisfactory yields for the reactions in the presence of small amounts of acceptor, and demonstrate that the high activity of the mutant, at pHs below neutrality, was applicable in the transfer of glucose from the natural donor.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2020

Stem blight symptom of soybean was severely developed in 2016 in Hwaseong and Yeoncheon. During the seedling period, the damping-off of seedlings and the brown or black spots of cotyledons were observed. After August, the leaves began to be yellowed, and partially browned areas on leaves began to develop. After September, microsclerotia began to form even on the surface of the stems that had exhibited water-soaking symptom. After mid-October of the harvest season, the epidermis of the stem was peeled off, resulting in the formation of a large number of microsclerotia in the cortex. The pathogens isolated from these symptoms were the best in mycelial growth at 32-35℃, and the formation of microsclerotia was the most at 20-28℃. The pathogen was identified as Macrophomina phaseolina through the morphological characteristics of the pathogen and the sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region gene. In addition, when inoculated with a soybean stem using toothpicks cultured with the pathogen, the same symptoms as seen on the soybean field occurred. When the pathogen was re-isolated at the lesion site, the same pathogen was isolated and identified as Macrophomina phaseolina. Based on the results, the disease is reported as soybean charcoal rot.