• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.89-89
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• 2017

A gene encoding squalene synthase from grain amaranth was cloned and characterized. The full-length cDNA was 1805-bp long and contained a 1248-bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 416 amino acids with a molecular mass of 47.6 kDa. Southern blot analysis revealed that the A. cruentus genome contained a single copy of the gene. Comparison of the cDNA and genomic sequences indicated that the amaranth SQS gene had 12 introns and 13 exons. All of the exons contributed to the coding sequence. The predicted amino acid sequence of the SQS cDNA shared high homology with those of SQSs from several other plants. It contained conserved six domains that are believed to represent crucial regions of the active site. We conducted qRT-PCR analyses to examine the expression pattern of the SQS gene in seeds at different developmental stages and in several tissues. The amaranth SQS gene was low levels of SQS transcripts at the initial stage of seed development, but the levels increased rapidly at the mid-late developmental stages before declining at the late developmental stage. These findings showed that the amaranth SQS is a late-expressed gene that is rapidly expressed at the mid-late stage of seed development. In addition, we observed that the SQS mRNA levels in stems and roots increased rapidly during the four- to six-leaf stage of development. Therefore, our results showed that the expression levels of SQS in stem and root tissues are significantly higher than those in leaf tissues. In present study provides useful information about the molecular characterization of the SQS clone isolated from grain amaranth. Finally, a basic understanding of these characteristics will contribute to further studies on the amaranth SQS.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2006

Kudzu vine(Pueraria montana var. lobata) is an invasive climbing woody vine that envelops trees and shrubs, pressing physically and shutting out sunlight, which needs to be controlled. Kudzu vine pathogens were surveyed as a way to seek its biocontrol agents in 2002. Occurrence of a bacterial halo blight disease of kudzu vine was observed at several localities in Korea including Euiwang and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, Daejon, and Gochang and Buan in Jeonbuk Province. Symptoms of brown to black spots with a surrounding yellowish halo appeared from June and lasted till the rainy season without much expansion, but accompanying often leaf blight and defoliation. Isolated bacteria were identified as Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola based on physiological and cultural characteristics, Biolog, fatty acid and 16S rDNA sequencing analyses. In artificial inoculation test, these bacteria produced the same halo spot symptoms on kudzu vine and bean plants. They also induced hypersensitive responses (HR) on tobacco, tomato, and chili pepper leaves. This is the first report of a bacterial disease of kudzu vine in Korea, and the bacterial pathogen can be used as a biocontrol agent against the pest plant.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.27-32
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• 1995

To understand whether ligninolytic enzyme catalyze polymerization or depolymerization of the high molecular weight (HMW) lignin, the action of laccase and Mn-peroxidase (MnP) towards commercial ligninsulfonates (LS) was examined in various conditions of pH and cosubstrates. Polymerization occurred when LS was incubated with laccase at pH 6.0. In contrast, the high molecular weight portions were significant1y reduced at pH 4.5, especially when glucose was added. When LS was treated with MnP at pH 4.5, compounds of low molecular weight were produced. In particular, when cellobiose was added to Mn-P reaction mixture, the breakdown of LS was observed. In conclusion, degradation of LS by laccase and MnP occurred primarily at pH 4.5 where-as polymerization of LS was dominant at pH 6.0. Color index, however, was not greatly changed in the degradation mixtures of LS.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.361-367
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• 1998

$\alpha$-Sexithiophene ($\alpha$-6T) thin films were deposited by organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD) technique. The $\alpha$-6T was synthesized and purified by the sublimation method. The thin films of the $\alpha$-6T were deposited under various deposition conditions. The effects of deposition rate, substrate temperature, and vacuum pressure on the formation of these films have been studied. The molecular orientation, crystallinity, and surface morphology of $\alpha$-6T films were investigated with angle-resolved UV/visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the crystalline structure of $\alpha$-6T films was monoclinic and independent uppon substrate temperature, deposition rate, and deposition pressure. On the other hand, the $\alpha$-6T molecules in the film deposited at a low deposition rate, higher substrate temperature, and under a high vacuum tended to be aligned perpendicular to the substrate.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.74-77
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• 2012

Organic acid (OA) profiling analysis was performed in culture media from Lactobacillus pentosus K34 (L. pentosus K34) and Pediococcus lolli PL24 (P. lolli PL24) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) following methoxime/tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives. 12 OAs were positively identified in culture media. Most of OA levels from L. pentosus K34 of hetero lactic fermentation were found to be higher when compared with those from P. lolli PL24 of homo lactic fermentation, which may explain different OA metabolism in each strain. In addition, the distorted dodecagonal star patterns were readily distinguishable, and the characteristics of each strain were well represented. The present study demonstrates that the OA metabolic profiling method by GC-MS combined with star pattern recognition is useful for the monitoring study of characteristic OA metabolism in various microorganisms.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.68.1-68.1
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• 2010

We focus on two Galactic molecular clouds that are located in wholly different environments and both are observed by FIMS instrument onboard STSAT-1. The Draco cloud is known as a translucent molecular cloud at high Galactic latitude. The FUV spectra show important ionic lines of C IV, Si IV+O IV], Si II* and Al II, indicating the existence of hot and warm interstellar gases in the region. The enhanced C IV emission inside the Draco cloud region is attributable to the turbulent mixing of the interacting cold and warm/hot media, which is supported by the detection of the O III] emission line and the $H{\alpha}$ feature in this region. The Si II* emission covers the remainder of the region outside the Draco cloud, in agreement with previous observations of Galactic halos. Additionally, the H2 fluorescent map is consistent with the morphology of the atomic neutral hydrogen and dust emission of the Draco cloud. In the Aquila Rift region near Galactic plane, FIMS observed that the FUV continuum emission from the core of the Aquila Rift suffers heavy dust extinction. The entire field is divided into three sub-regions that are known as the- "halo," "diffuse," and "star-forming" regions. The "diffuse" and "star-forming" regions show various prominent H2 fluorescent emission lines, while the "halo" region indicates the general ubiquitous characteristics of H2. The CLOUD model and the FUV line ratio are included here to investigate the physical conditions of each sub-region. Finally, the development of an infrared imaging system known as the MIRIS instrument onboard STSAT-3 is briefly introduced. It can be used in WIM studies through $Pa{\alpha}$ observations.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2017

Background: Species in the heterokont genus Synura are colonial and have silica scales whose ultrastructural characteristics are used for classification. We examined the ultrastructure of silica scales and molecular data (nuclear SSU rDNA and LSU rDNA, and plastid rbcL sequences) to better understand the taxonomy and phylogeny within the section Petersenianae of genus Synura. In addition, we report the first finding of newly recorded Synura species from Korea. Results: We identified all species by examination of scale ultrastructure using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Three newly recorded species from Korea, Synura americana, Synura conopea, and Synura truttae were described based on morphological characters, such as cell size, scale shape, scale size, keel shape, number of struts, distance between struts, degree of interconnections between struts, size of base plate pores, keel pores, base plate hole, and posterior rim. The scales of the newly recorded species, which belong to the section Petersenianae, have a well-developed keel and a characteristic number of struts on the base plate. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data from three genes in 32 strains (including three outgroup species). The results provided strong statistical support that the section Petersenianae was monophyletic, and that all taxa within this section had well-developed keels and a defined number of struts on the base plate. Conclusions: The phylogenetic tree based on sequence data of three genes was congruent with the data on scale ultrastructure. The resulting phylogenetic tree strongly supported the existence of the section Petersenianae. In addition, we propose newly recorded Synura species from Korea based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters: S. americana, S. conopea, and S. truttae.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3457-3460
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• 2014

Background: Thymomas and thymic carcinomas are rare malignancies and devising clinically effective molecular targeted therapies is a major clinical challenge. The aim of the study was to analyze BLC2 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) expression and KRAS and EGFR mutational status and to correlate them with the clinical characteristics of patients with thymomas and thymic carcinomas. Materials and Methods: A total of 62 patients (mean age: $50.4{\pm}13.2$ years) with thymomas and thymic carcinomas were enrolled. The expression of BLC2 and VEGFR in tumor cells and normal tissues was evaluated by RT-PCR. The mutational status of the KRAS and EGFR genes was investigated by PCR with sequence specific primers. Results: The BLC2 and VEGFR expression levels did not differ significantly between tumor and normal tissues. Moreover, there were no clearly pathogenic mutations in KRAS or EGFR genes in any tumor. None of the molecular markers were significantly related to clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Changes in levels of expression of BLC2 and VEGFR do not appear to be involved in thymic tumorigenesis. Moreover, our data suggest that KRAS and EGFR mutations do not play a major role in the pathogenesis of thymomas and thymic carcinomas.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated molecular divergences and phylogenetic characteristics of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene sequences from the order Oscillatoriales (Cyanobacteria). The rpoB of Oscillatoriales showed higher genetic divergence when compared with those of 16S rRNA (p-distance: rpoB=0.270, 16S=0.109), and these differences were statistically significant (Student t-test, p<0.001). Phylogenetic trees of 16S rRNA and rpoB were generally compatible; however, rpoB tree clearly separated the compared Oscillatoriales taxa, with higher phylogenetic resolution. In addition, parsimony analyses showed that rpoB gene evolved 2.40-fold faster than 16S rRNA. These results suggest that the rpoB is a useful gene for the molecular phylogenetics and species discrimination in the order Oscillatoriales.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2008

Meloxicam-loaded microspheres were prepared with poly(D,L-lactic acid)(PLA) by a solvent-emulsion evaporation method. The morphology, particle size, drug loading capacity, drug entrapment efficiency (EE) and release patterns of drug were investigated in vitro. Various batches of micro spheres with different size and drug content were obtained by changing the ratio of meloxicam to $PLA^{\circ}{\AE}s$ with different molecular weight, PLA concentration in the dispersed phase and stirring rate. Meloxicam crystals on microsphere surface, which were released rapidly and could act as a loading dose, were observed with increasing drug content. The release rate was increased with increase in drug contents and decrease in the molecular weight of PLA. Microspheres prepared with smaller molecular weight produced faster drug release rate. The release rate of meloxicam for long-acting injectable delivery system in vitro, which would aid in predicting in vivo release profile, could be controlled by properly optimizing various factors affecting characteristics of microspheres. Blood concentration-time profile of meloxicam after intramuscular injection of meloxicam-loaded microspheres in rabbits showed possibility of long term application of this system in clinical settings.