• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.488-492
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• 2012

Two strains, traditionally referred to as rock flower (Bawhi-kot) and buckwheat flower (Memil-kot or Chile-Kot), were isolated from stored traditional soy sauce and were identified by using the 18S ITS1/4 region sequences. The rock flower strain showed 99% of similarity with Cladosporium sp. and buckwheat flower strain was 99% identical with yeast Sterigmatomyces halophilus. Both strains were tentatively named Cladosporium sp. NK1 and Sterigmatomyces halophilus NK2, respectively. The optimal growth pHs and temperatures of both strains in a YPD broth medium were in the range of pH 5.0 to 7.0 and 22 to $27^{\circ}C$. Both strains were able to grow in more than 20% of NaCl. In the enzyme activity assay, high protease activity of Cladosporium sp. NK1 and S. halophilus NK2 were obtained in YPD containing 10% of NaCl. High amylase activities of both stains were in 15% and 5% of NaCl, respectively. Lipase activity was, however, not detected in both strains.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.970-980
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• 2012

Native halophytes, such as Suaeda maritima, Limonium tetragonum, S. japonica, Zoysia sinica, and Phragmites australis were collected from the Muan salt marsh. Ninety endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots of the collected halophytes. Molecular insights inferred by internal transcribed spacer containing ITS1, 5.8s, and the ITS2 region showed that all the fungal strains belong to ten orders, i.e., Capnodiales (4.44%), Cystofilobasidiales (1.11%), Dothideales (3.33%), Eurotiales (53.33%), Glomerellales (3.33%), Hypocreales (8.89%), Mucorales (1.11%), Pleosporales (15.56%), Sordariales (1.11%), and Trichosphaeriales (1.11%). The rest (6.67%) of all fungal isolates were not identified. Ninety fungal strains were confirmed at the genus level, containing Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cephalosporium, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Cryptococcus, Didymella, Dothideomycete, Emericellopsis, Epicoccum, Eupenicillium, Fusarium, Gibberella, Gongronella, Macrophoma, Microsphaeropsis, Nigrospora, Paecilomyces, Paraconiothyrium, Penicillium, Phaeomyces, Phoma, Pleosporales, Purpureocillium, and Talaromyces. Of all the endophytic fungi identified from the various halophytes, Aspergillus and Penicillium of Eurotiales had the highest abundance.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2017

Although many PCR-based assays have been developed, the majority of rapid detection of Toxoplasma gondii in animal and their meat product has been dependent on immunogenic assays. Thus, there is still a need for more reliable PCR based detection method for T. gondii in retail meats. Recently, a 529-bp repeat element that exists in 200-300 copies per genome of T. gondii genome had been spotlighted for its usefulness as potential detection targers. In this study, the 529-bp repeat element was selected for real-time PCR to detect three types of T. gondii (type I, II and III). A primer pair targeting 82-bp of the 529-bp element detected all three types of T. gondii and showed high level of specificity against 14 different food-borne pathogens as well as 3 protozoan parasites such as Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum and Entamoeba histolytica. Application of the new real-time PCR assay in meat samples showed improved detection sensitivity compared to the B1-gene targeted method suggesting potential new target for Toxoplasma gondii screening in retail meats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2011

Forty yeast strains isolated from soils taken from different locations in Egypt were tested for their P-solubilizing activities on the basis of analyzing the clear zone around colonies growing on a tricalcium phosphate medium after incubation for 5 days at $25^{\circ}C$, denoted as the solubilization index (SI). Nine isolates that exhibited P-solubilization potential with an SI ranging from 1.19 to 2.76 were genetically characterized as five yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces cerevisiae and four non-Saccharomyces, based on a PCR analysis of the ITS1-26S region amplied by SC1/SC2 species-specific primers. The highest P-solubilization efficiency was demonstrated by isolate PSY- 4, which was identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a sequence analysis of the variable D1/D2 domain of the 26S rDNA. The effects of single and mixed inoculations with yeast PSY-4 and Bacillus polymyxa on the P-uptake and growth of corn were tested in a greenhouse experiment using different levels of a phosphorus chemical fertilizer (50, 100, and 200 kg/ha super phosphate 15.5% $P_2O_5$). The results showed that inoculating the corn with yeast PSY-4 or B. polymyxa caused significant increases in the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots. The P-fertilization level also had a significant influence on the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots when increasing the P-level from 50 up to 200 kg/ha. Dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 200 kg/ha gave higher values for the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots, yet these increases were nonsignificant when compared with dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 100 kg/ha. The best increases were obtained from dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 100 kg/ha, which induced the following percentage increases in the shoot and root dry weights, and P-uptake in the shoots and roots; 16.22%, 46.92%, 10.09%, and 31.07%, respectively, when compared with the uninoculated control (fertilized with 100 kg/ha).

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2014

Tissue-specific gene expression is regulated by epigenetic modification involving trans-acting factors. Here, we identified that the human MAGEB16 gene and its mouse homolog, Mageb16, are only expressed in the testis. To investigate the mechanism governing their expression, the promoter methylation status of these genes was examined in different samples. Two CpG islands (CGIs) in the 5' upstream region of MAGEB16 were highly demethylated in human testes, whereas they were methylated in cells without MAGEB16 expression. Similarly, the CGI in Mageb16 was hypomethylated in mouse testes but hypermethylated in other tissues and cells without Mageb16 expression. Additionally, the expression of these genes could be activated by treatment with the demethylation agent 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5'-aza-CdR). Luciferase assays revealed that both gene promoter activities were inhibited by methylation of the CGI regions. Therefore, we propose that the testis-specific expression of MAGEB16 and Mageb16 is regulated by the methylation status of their promoter regions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.347-354
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• 2013

Innate immunity is the ability to differentiate infectious agents from self. The innate immune system is comprised of a complicated network of recognition and effector molecules that act together to protect the host in the early stage of an infectious challenge. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL or mannose-binding protein, MBP) belongs to the family of $Ca^{2+}$-dependent lectins (C-type lectin with a collagen-like domain), which are considered an important component of innate immunity. While it is associated with increased risk and severity of infections and autoimmunity, the most frequent immuno-deficiency syndrome was reported to be low MBL level in blood. Deficiency of human MBL is caused by mutations in the coding region of the MBL gene. Rat homologue gene of human MBL gene was used to study functions of wild type and mutant MBL proteins. Although extensive studies have yielded the structural information of MBL, the functions of MBL, especially mutant MBL, still require investigation. We previously reported the cloning of rat wild-type MBL gene and the production of a truncated form of MBL protein and its antibody. Here, we present the cloning of mutant MBL cDNA in collagen-like domain (R40C, G42D, and G45E) using site-directed mutagenesis and differential behaviors of wild type and mutant MBL in cells. The major difference between wild type and mutant MBL was that while wild type MBL was secreted, mutant MBL was inhibited for secretion, retained in endoplasmic reticulum, and still functioned as a lectin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.333-339
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• 2005

B/K protein is a novel protein containing double C2-like domains. We examined the specific signaling pathway that regulates the transcription of B/K in PC12 cells. When the cells were treated with forskolin ($50{\mu}M$), B/K mRNA and protein levels were time-dependently decreased, reaching the lowest level at 3 or 4 hr, and thereafter returning to the control level. Chemicals such as dibutyryl-cAMP, cellpermeable cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogue and CGS21680, adenosine receptor $A_{2A}$ agonist, also repressed the B/K transcription. However, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin did not show inhibitory effect on B/K transcription, suggesting direct involvement of cAMP in the forskolin-induced inhibition of B/K transcription. Effect of forskolin, dibutyryl cAMP and CGS21680 was significantly reduced in PKA-deficient PC12 cell line (PC12-123.7). One cAMP-response element (CRE)-like sequence (B/K CLS) was found in the promoter region of B/K DNA, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated its binding to CREM and CREB. Forskolin significantly suppressed the promoter activity in CHO-K1 cells transfected with the constructs containing B/K CLS, but not with the construct in which B/K CLS was mutated (AC：TG). Taken together, we suggest that the transcription of B/K gene in PC12 cells may be regulated by PKA-dependent mechanism.