• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.9
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• pp.518-523
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• 2014

The maternal transcription factor Dorsal (Dl) functions as both an activator and a repressor in a context-dependent manner to control dorsal-ventral patterning in the Drosophila embryo. Previous studies have suggested that Dl is an intrinsic activator and its repressive activity requires additional corepressors that bind corepressor-binding sites near Dl-binding sites. However, the molecular identities of the corepressors have yet to be identified. Here, we present evidence that Capicua (Cic) is involved in Dl-mediated repression in the zerkn$\ddot{u}$llt (zen) ventral repression element (VRE). Computational and genetic analyses indicate that a DNA-binding consensus sequence of Cic is highly analogous with previously identified corepressor-binding sequences and that Dl failed to repress zen expression in lateral regions of cic mutant embryos. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) shows that Cic directly interacts with several corepressor-binding sites in the zen VRE. These results suggest that Cic may function as a corepressor by binding the VRE.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2011

The taxonomy of the umbelliferous species Angelica amurensis and its allies was reviewed on the basis of molecular phylogenies derived from sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Strict consensus of six minimal length 119-step trees derived from equally weighted maximum parsimony analysis of combined nuclear rDNA ITS1 and ITS2 sequences from 29 accessions of Angelica and outgroups indicated that Angelica purpuraefolia, known to be endemic to Korea, is the same species as A. amurensis. Comparisons of sequence pairs across both spacer regions revealed identity or 1-2 bp differences between A. purpuraefolia and A. amurensis. These results indicated that the two taxa are not distinguished taxonomically. Also, nuclear rDNA ITS regions are discussed as potential barcoding loci for identifying Korean Angelica.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.356-360
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• 2009

In the present study we have examined human-mouse homologous intronless disease and non-disease genes alongside their extent of sequence conservation, tissue expression, domain and gene ontology composition to get an idea regarding evolutionary and functional attributes. We show that selection has significantly discriminated between the two groups and the disease associated genes in particular exhibit lower $K_{a}$ and $K_{a}/K_{s}$ while $K_{s}$ although smaller is not significantly different. Our analyses suggest that majority of disease related intronless human genes have homology limited to eukaryotic genomes and their expression is localized. Also we observed that different classes of intronless disease related genes have experienced diverse selective pressures and are enriched for higher level functionality that is essentially needed for developmental processes in complex organisms. It is expected that these insights will enhance our understanding of the nature of these genes and also improve our ability to identify disease related intronless genes.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.175-187
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• 2012

Hainan is the second largest and southernmost island of China, and it harbors many species of the family Gracilariaceae. In this study, we conducted molecular and morphological analyses of gracilarian specimens collected from Hainan Island, to clarify their taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationships. Five species of Gracilariaceae in Hainan were determined through maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis of rbcL sequence data. Based on the phylogenetic trees and morphology, Hainan specimens were identified as three species of Gracilaria, one species of Gracilariopsis, and one species of Hydropuntia, namely, G. salicornia, G. tenuistipitata, Gracilaria sp., Gp. bailiniae and H. edulis. This is the first report of the molecular phylogeny of Gracilariaceae on Hainan Island, and it helps to clarify the taxonomy and distribution of gracilarian species in the Asia-Pacific region.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2017

During a sampling at Nokdong harbor, southern coast of Korea in January 2017, the marine diatom Coscinodiscus wailesii cells infected by a novel parasitoid nanoflagellate were observed. While the development process of the trophosomes of the parasitoid was more similar to that of Pseudopirsonia mucosa, division pattern of the auxosomes was similar to that of Pirsonia species. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from 18S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the parasitoid infecting C. wailesii fell within the cercozoan groups and branched as a sister lineage of the clade consisting of Pseudopirsonia mucosa and the undescribed Cercomonas sp. SIC7235, with the sequence dissimilarity of 7.3% with Pseudopirsonia mucosa. All of these developmental and molecular characteristics suggest that the parasitoid nanoflagellate infecting the diatom C. wailesii is a new Pseudopirsonia species.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.210-215
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• 2010

In an effort to isolate a bacterium producing chondroitin sulfate (CS), a marine bacterium, KS-1, which produces mucopolysaccharides, was isolated from seawater and identified as Marinobacter sp. based on analyses of its morphological and biochemical traits and 16S rDNA sequence. Agarose-gel electrophoresis showed that the KS-1 strain produces a CS-like mucopolysaccharide. Structural analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the structure of the CS-like mucopolysaccharide produced by Marinobacter sp. KS-1 is similar to that of dermatan sulfate (CS B). However, the molecular mass of the CS-like mucopolysaccharide is higher than that of standard chondroitin sulfates. Considering the above results, we conclude that the Marinobacter sp. KS-1 produces a CS-like mucopolysaccharide that differs somewhat from CS B in molecular mass.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.492-495
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• 2015

This study provides evidence that RecG regulates the expression of the OxyR-independent gene mexA in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. A reduction in mexA expression was observed in the absence of RecG, but not OxyR, by northern blot and quantitative real-time PCR analyses. The canonical palindromic RecG binding sequence was present upstream of the mexA promoter, and bound purified RecG and single strand-binding protein. These data reveal a novel mechanism of OxyR-independent gene transcription by RecG.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2009

Heat shock proteins are a class of molecular chaperones that can be found in nearly all organisms from Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya domains. Heat shock proteins experience increased transcription during periods of heat induced osmotic stress and are involved in protein disaggregation and refolding as part of a cell's danger signaling cascade. Heat shock protein, Hsp20 is a small molecular chaperone that is approximately 20kDa in weight and is hypothesized to prevent aggregation and denaturation. Hsp20 can be found in several strains of Proteobacteria, which comprises the largest phyla of the Bacteria domain and also contains several medically significant bacterial strains. Genomic analyses were performed to determine a common evolutionary pattern among Hsp20 sequences in Proteobacteria. It was found that Hsp20 shared a common ancestor within and among the five subclasses of Proteobacteria. This is readily apparent from the amount of sequence similarities within and between Hsp20 protein sequences as well as phylogenetic analysis of sequences from proteobacterial and non-proteobacterial species.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.57-60
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• 2022

Leaves of Chionanthus retusus were found to be damaged by leaf spot disease associated with a fungus in Iksan, Korea. Leaf spots were angular to irregular, vein-limited, scattered, 1-8 mm diameter, brownish-gray to dark brown when dry, with heavy fructification. The pathogen causes premature defoliation of C. retusus plant and was identified as Pseudocercospora chionanthi-retusi based on morphological and molecular-phylogenetic analyses. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using multi-locus DNA sequence data of partial actin (actA), partial translation elongation factor 1-alfa (tef1), partial DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) genes, and internal transcribed spacer regions. Current study provides detail morphological description of P. chionanthi-retusi on C. retusus in Korea, with supports of phylogenetic analysis and pathogenicity test.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.736-742
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• 2023

NifB, a radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme, is pivotal in the biosynthesis of the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co), commonly referred to as the M-cluster. This cofactor, located within the active site of nitrogenase, is essential for the conversion of dinitrogen (N₂) to NH₃. Recognized as the most intricate metallocluster in nature, FeMo-co biosynthesis involves multiple proteins and a sequence of steps. Of particular significance, NifB directs the fusion of two [Fe₄S₄] clusters to assemble the 8Fe core, while also incorporating an interstitial carbide. Although NifB has been extensively studied, its molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this review, we explore recent structural analyses of NifB and provide a comprehensive overview of the established catalytic mechanisms. We propose prospective directions for future research, emphasizing the relevance to biochemistry, agriculture, and environmental science. The goal of this review is to lay a solid foundation for future endeavors aimed at elucidating the atomic details of FeMo-co biosynthesis.