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Effect of Particle Size on Physico-Chemical Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Corn Silk Powder (옥수수수염 분말의 입자크기별 이화학적 특성과 항산화활성)

  • Cha, Sun-Mi;Son, Beom-Young;Lee, Jin-Seok;Baek, Seong-Bum;Kim, Sun-Lim;Ku, Ja-Hwan;Hwang, Jong-Jin;Song, Beom-Heon;Woo, Sun-Hee;Kwon, Young-Up;Kim, Jung-Tae
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.57 no.1
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    • pp.41-50
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    • 2012
  • The study was carried out to analyze the relationship between analysis of antioxidant activity and the level of functional components according to particle size of corn silk. Particle size was classified into 5 groups. By particle size distribution and color difference, the total phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed. The particle sizes of corn silk were $199.17{\mu}m$, $178.27{\mu}m$, $85.48{\mu}m$, $27.4{\mu}m$ and $20.97{\mu}m$, respectively. The lightness of colored pigments was increased when the particle size was decreased. The contents of free sugar (fructose, glucose, galactose, sucrose, and maltose) of corn silk were analyzed using a HPLC. The total phenol contents by the particle sizes of corn silk were 2.01 mg/g, 2.02 mg/g, 2.06 mg/g, 2.26 mg/g and 2.26 mg/g, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activities of samples were 21.00%, 21.75%, 22.90%, 24.35% and 23.67%, respectively. Antioxidative activities of Trolox and Fe(II) in corn silk were measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. TEAC values of samples were $2.36{\mu}mol$ TE / g dw, $2.81{\mu}mol$ TE / g dw, $3.20{\mu}mol$ TE / g dw, $3.36{\mu}mol$ TE / g dw, and $3.44{\mu}mol$ TE / g dw, respectively. FRAP values of samples were $11.67{\mu}mol$ Fe(II) / g dw, $12.80{\mu}mol$ Fe(II) / g dw, $13.43{\mu}mol$ Fe(II) / g dw, $13.85{\mu}mol$ Fe(II) / g dw and $15.95{\mu}mol$ Fe(II) / g dw, respectively. Total phenolic content and antioxidantive activities based on FRAP assay and TEAC assay were increased with decreasing particle size. In addition, DPPH radical scavenging activity was also increased. A significant correlation was also noted between DPPH radical scavenging activities and the content of phenolic compounds.

Fruit Quality of Rabbiteye Blueberry as Affected by Manual Floral Buds Thinning (블루베리 인력적화 시기와 방법이 과실특성에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Hong Lim;Chae, Won-Byoung;Kim, Jin-Gook;Lee, Mock-hee;Rhee, Han-Cheol;Kim, Seung-Hui;Kwack, Yong-Bum
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.38 no.3
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    • pp.166-172
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    • 2019
  • BACKGROUND: Increase in the ratio of small berries in blueberry production decreases the farmers' profits due to weakening market competitiveness and lowering harvest efficiency. One of the reasons for increased small berries is over fruit-load. For improving productivity and competitiveness of blueberry in Korea, hand-thinning can be applied to increase fruit quality before the developing adequate chemical thinning methods. This study was conducted to investigate the proper timing and methods for floral buds thinning in rabbiteye blueberry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight years old bushes of rabbiteye bluberries 'Brightwell' as a primary cultivar and 'Powderblue' as a pollinizer were used for this study. Fruit size distribution by leaf-to-fruit ratio was investigated by counting the number of leaves and fruits in canes of 127 'Brightwell' plants whose fruit set varied. Fifty percent of flowers/floral buds were removed in four different floral buds stages such as bud swell, late pink bud, full bloom, and petal fall, and the consumed time for thinning and fruit characteristics were recorded to investigate the effect and proper timing of floral buds thinning. Fruit weight and soluble solids content tended to increase in proportion to leaf-to-fruit ratio and the production of the number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter decreased when leaf-to-fruit ratio was more than 2.5. Manual floral buds thinning by hands was fastest in full bloom stage and slowest in bud swelling stage. In all cultivars, fruit size was significantly smaller in non-thinning treatment than thinning, and there was, however, no significant difference in total fruit yield. The number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter increased in both cultivars as floral buds thinning was delayed. Consumed time for picking 90% berries out of total berries per bush was shortest in full bloom stage thinning in 'Brightwell' and bud swelling, full bloom thinning in 'Powderblue'. These were 25 and 20 days faster than no thinning, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the effect of floral buds thinning varied depending on the cultivars, our results confirmed that floral buds thinning was effective for the early intensive harvesting and the increase of the large fruit ratio and the harvesting productivity. Also, in order to increase thinning efficiency, it is recommended to remove the flower buds before the full bloom stage.

A Diagnostic Analysis on the Conservation Status for the Maintenance of the Front Wall of Jungjeongdang Area of Dodong-Seowon (도동서원 중정당 전면 담장의 보수를 위한 진단학적 보존 상태 분석)

  • Kim, Kyu-Yeon
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.1-11
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    • 2019
  • This study was conducted to analyze the conservation status by diagnostical methology for the front wall of Jungjeongdang area of Dodong-Seowon. The study was carried out as photogrammetry and mapping - investigation of materials and conservation status - analysis and evaluation of conservation status. The results are as follows. First, in the case of photogrammetry, each photograph was took in superposition, and the distortions of the photographs were corrected and synthesized. Based on this, actual survey drawings of the wall were prepared. Second, in case of material and conservation status, the wall is in the form of Wapyeondam and the material of the head part are tile, mud and lime, and the material of the body part are mud and tile. The mud was mixed with gravel, sand and straw. At the base part, amorphous natural stones and mud were used. The remarkable damage that appears on the wall is erosion of the base part, and some disintegration appears in the body part. There is a biological patina on the head and the base, and vegetation such as lichen is concentrated on the partial body. There was superficial deposit in the head part, and some tiles were broken or lost. Deep fissures are intensively located in some part of the eastern wall. Third, in the case of analysis and evaluation of the conservation status, it is considered that by the erosion of the foundation part and the disintegration of the body part, there is a possibility that physical damage will continue to be applied to the wall, so immediate action is necessary. The distribution of biological patina and vegetation does not appear to cause great problems in the wall, but it is necessary to reduce it in view of aesthetic problems. A cracked or missing tile would need to be replaced, and deep cracks in the eastern wall appear to have been caused by subsidence, and reinforcement of the underground is necessary to prevent further damage.

A Study of Eye Refractive Error for High School Students in Tong-Du-Cheon Area ;(II) (동두천지역 고등학생의 안굴절상태 조사 및 연구 II)

  • Choi, Hae Jung;Cha, Jung Won;Park, Moon Chan;Chen, Ko Hsein
    • Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.103-113
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    • 1998
  • Until now, the study of eye refractive error examination for high school students are a few report that in Korea. In particular, there is few report about the visual power for same group during several years. We compared the study of refractive error done this year with that reported three years ago at the same high school. From the these data, the distribution of ammetropia was investigated. The study of refractive error for high school students was also compared with those reported before for the Adults and the middle school student. When the visual power is refered to spherical equivalent, the 36% of the whole students examined above had emmetropia and the other part of them fumed out to be ammetropia which is classify to 60.6% belonged to myopia and 4.4% belonged to hyperpia. The ratio of myopia for this year students is increased in comparision with the students in 1995. The ratio of emmetropia for this year students is 7.4% higher, and the ratio of myopia for this year students is 4% higher, but the ratio of hyperopia is very lower than that for the adults in 1997. In the kind of refractive error, it is classified that a simple myopia is shown to highest ratio as a 28.6% of 1212 eyes examined, a compound myopic astigmatism to the next high ratio as a 22.4%, a simple myopic astigmatism as 14.4%, a simple hyperopic astigmatism as 3.1%, a mixed astigmatism as a 1.7%, a simple astigmatism as 1.2%, a compound hyperopic astigmatism as 1.2%, respectively. The percentage of an astigmatism is a 76.7% of total eyes examined if Cyl-0.25 Dptr is included to an astigmatism. On the other hand, The percentage of an astigmatism is a 45.6% of total eyes examined if Cyl-0.25 Dptr is excluded to an astigmatism. In the kind of astigmatism, the number of students had an astigmatism with the rule is about 4.5 times than that of astigmatism against the rule. From the result of comparision the right eye with the left eye, the right eye of the students had more a myopic refractive error than the left eye, which is same as adults' case, there is no difference in a refractive error between the boy students and the girl students.

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Serial Survey on Group A beta-Hemolytic Streptococcal Carrier Rate and Serotyping in Elementary School Children in 1996~1998 (3년간(1996~1998) 초등학생의 A군 연쇄구균 보균율과 혈청학적 분류에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Ji-Hyun;Kim, Ju-Ye;Kang, Hyeon-Ho;Cha, Sung-Ho;Lee, Young-Hee
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.143-151
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    • 2000
  • Purpose : The accuracy of bacteriologic diagnosis of beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis depends on the degree of carrier rate in that area where the throat swabs are obtained and the evaluation of serological T typing as an epidemiologic marker is important to understand epidemiology of streptococcal infection. The purpose of this study is to know the carrier rates of group A streptococcus in normal children form four different areas and to find out the epidemiologic characteristic in distribution of the serotypes for 3 years. Method : Throat swabs were obtained from the tonsillar fossa of normal school children in four different areas(Uljin, Seoul, Osan, Kunsan) from March to May 1996, in Uljin in April 1997, and in Uljin in April 1998. The samples were plated on a 5% sheep blood agar plate and incubated overnight at $37^{\circ}C$ before examination for the presence of beta-hemolytic colonies. All isolated beta-hemolytic streptococcus were grouped and serotyped by T agglutination. Results : The carrier rate of beta-hemolytic streptococci and group A streptococci in 1996 were 27.6%, 18.6% at Uljin; 16.4%, 2.7% at Seoul; 33.0%, 26.0% at Osan; 20.0%, 12.3% at Kunsan, respectively. Among 1,192 normal school children from 4 different areas, we obtained 179 strains of group A streptococci. Fifty two percent of the strains were typable by T agglutination in 1996. Common T-type in 1996 were NT, T1, T3, T2 at Uljin; T12, T25 at Seoul; NT, T6, T28 at Osan; T25, T4, NT, T5 at Kunsan, in decreasing order, respectively. At Uljin, T1, T3, T25 accounted for 69% of strains in 1996, T1, T12, T25 accounted for 70% in 1997, and T12, T4 accounted for 88% in 1998. Conclusion : Higher carrier rates were found in Uljin and Osan, where there are a lower population density with scanty of medical facilities compared with another areas. We supposed that low carrier rates is likely to be related to antibiotic abuse or some epidemiologic factor. The periodic and seasonal serotyping analysis is important in monitoring and understanding the epidemiologic patterns of group A streptococci.

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A Prediction Model for Removal of Non-point Source Pollutant Considering Clogging Effect of Sand Filter Layers for Rainwater Recycling (빗물 재활용을 위한 모래 정화층의 폐색특성을 고려한 비점오염원 제거 예측 모델 연구)

  • Ahn, Jaeyoon;Lee, Dongseop;Han, Shinin;Jung, Youngwook;Choi, Hangseok
    • Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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    • v.30 no.6
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    • pp.23-39
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    • 2014
  • An artificial rainwater reservoir installed in urban areas for recycling rainwater is an eco-friendly facility for reducing storm water effluence. However, in order to recycle the rainwater directly, the artificial rainwater reservoir requires an auxiliary system that can remove non-point source pollutants included in the initial rainfall of urban area. Therefore, the conventional soil filtration technology is adopted to capture non-point source pollutants in an economical and efficient way in the purification system of artificial rainwater reservoirs. In order to satisfy such a demand, clogging characteristics of the sand filter layers with different grain-size distributions were studied with real non-point source pollutants. For this, a series of lab-scale chamber tests were conducted to make a prediction model for removal of non-point source pollutants, based on the clogging theory. The laboratory chamber experiments were carried out by permeating two types of artificially contaminated water through five different types of sand filter layers with different grain-size distributions. The two artificial contaminated waters were made by fine marine-clay particles and real non-point source pollutants collected from motorcar roads of Seoul, Korea. In the laboratory chamber experiments, the concentrations of the artificial contaminated water were measured in terms of TSS (Total Suspended Solids) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and compared with each other to evaluate the performance of sand filter layers. In addition, the accumulated weight of pollutant particles clogged in the sand filter layers was estimated. This paper suggests a prediction model for removal of non-point source pollutants with theoretical consideration of the physical characteristics such as the grain-size distribution and composition, and change in the hydraulic conductivity and porosity of sand filter layers. The lumped parameter ${\theta}$ related with the clogging property was estimated by comparing the accumulated weight of pollutant particles obtained from the laboratory chamber experiments and calculated from the prediction model based on the clogging theory. It is found that the lumped parameter ${\theta}$ has a significant influence on the amount of the pollutant particles clogged in the pores of sand filter layers. In conclusion, according to the clogging prediction model, a double-sand-filter layer consisting of two separate layers: the upper sand-filter layer with the effective particle size of 1.49 mm and the lower sand-filter layer with the effective particle size of 0.93 mm, is proposed as the optimum system for removing non-point source pollutants in the field-sized artificial rainwater reservoir.

Results of Radiotherapy for the Uterine Cervical Cancer (자궁경부암의 방사선치료성적)

  • Kim, Chul-Yong;Choi, Myung-Sun;Suh, Won-Hyuck
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.63-73
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    • 1988
  • One hundred fifty-four patients with the carcinoma of the uterine cervix were studied retrospectively to assess the result and impact of treatment at Department of Radiation Oncology, Korea University, Hae-Wha Hospital from Feb 1981 through Dec. 1986. Prior to radiotherapy, the patients were evaluated and staged by recommendation of FIGO including physical examination, pelvic examination, cystoscopy, rectosigmoidoscopy, chest X-ray, IVP. Ba enema. Also, an additional pelvic CT scan was obtained for some of the patients. The patients were treated by radiotherapy alone or adjuvant postoperative irradiation; in case of radiation therapy only, whole pelvic irradiation was given with Co-60 teletherapy unit via AP and PA parallel opposing fields or 4-oblique fields, 180 cGy per day, 5 days per week and intracavitary insertion was performed. In satges Ia, Ib, and IIa with small primary lesion, external irradiation was initially given to pelvis up to $2,000\~3,000\;cGy/2frac{1}{2}\;-3frac{1}{2}$ weeks and then intracavitary insertion was performed using Fletcher-Mini-Declos Applicator with cesium-137 cources and followed by external irradiation of $1,000\~2,000\;cGy/1frac{1}{2}\;-2frac{1}{2}$weeks via AP and PA parallel opposing fields with midline shield to spare of bladder and rectum. However, if the primary lesion is large, external irradiation was given without midline shield. More than stages IIb, the patients were treated by external beam irradiation up to 5,400cGy/30f for 6 weeks via 4-oblique portals and at the dose of 5,040cGy/28f the field was cut 5cm from the top margin for spare of small bowel, and followed by intracavitary irradiation, If there was residual tumor an additional dose of $900\~l,200cGy/5\~7f$ was given to parametrium and/or residual tumor area. Total dose of radiation to A and B-point were as follows; A-point; In early stages, Ia, Ib, IIa; $8,000\~9,000$ B-point $5,000\~6,000 cGy$ A-point; In advanced stages IIb, IIIa, IIIb; $9,000\~10,000$ B-point $60,000\~7,000cGy$ The results were obtained and as fellows; 1 The patients distribution according to FIGO staging system were stage Ia 6, Ib 27, IIa 28, IIb 54, IIIa 12, IIIb 18, and stage IVa 9. 2. Value of CT scan were demonstration of cervix tumor mass, parametrial and pelvic side wall tumor spread, pelvic and inguinal lymph nodes metastases, and hydronephrosis. Three dimensional quantitative demonstration of tumor volume is also important in planning radiation therapy. Another advantage of CT scan was detection of recurrent tumor after radiation or surgery. 3. Local control rate of tumor according to the size was $91.3\%$ for less than 5cm in size and $44.6\%$ in tumor over 5cm (p<0.0068). 4. Thirty out of 50 recurrent sites has locoregional failures and 17 cases has distant metastases. And the para-aortic lymph nodes were the most common site for distant metastases. 5. The most common complication was temporal rectal bleeding which was controlled most by conservative management. However, 4 patients required for endoscopic cauterization. 6. The 5-year survival rates showed; stage la and Ib $95\%,\;stage\;IIa\;81\%\;stage\;lIb\;67\%,\;stage\;IIIa\;37.7\%,\;stage\;IIIb\;23\%$ and 3-year survival rate of stage IVa showed $11.6%$, retrospectively.

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A Study on the Main Issue and Its Solution Explored through Mediation Cases - Focused on the Cases of Busan National Labor Relations Commission - (조정사건을 통해 살펴본 주요 쟁점사항과 해결방안에 대한 연구 - 부산지방노동위원회의 사례를 중심으로 -)

  • Song, Kyung-Soo;Kim, Yong-Ho
    • Management & Information Systems Review
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.253-292
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    • 2011
  • This study is significant of groping for the autonomous perspective of a medication system for the establishment of harmonious regional labor-management relationship and investigating a plan to minimize previously labor disputes through both analyzing mediation cases and finding out any core issue from the labor-management relationship, with matters experienced in the mediation field when I had served as a mediator. Specially, this study has also objectives to prevent previously any labor dispute through analyzing and minimizing the issue of the labor dispute by case and to establish harmonious labor-management relationship thereby. Further since it is necessary to understand the organization and roles of the regional labor relations commission in order to understand the concrete matters in respect of the labor dispute mediation, this study shall be to explore in detail the matters relating hereto and to acquire general knowledge of mediation through case analysis. Additionally, there is little studies exploring alternative research for the establishment of reasonable labor-management relationship with core issues referred a mediation to the labor relations commission through both the position heightening of the labor relations commission and the analysis of core issues until now. Thus, this study may provide a theoretical base for raising a technique to enhance negotiation skill through acquiring the previous training or full knowledge on the approaching manner to be taken by the labor and management in the collective bargaining or wage bargaining on the basis of items analyzed by core issue. The heightening perspectives to be acquired through the analysis of 50 or more mediation cases are as follows. First, it deems to be important what position each mediation party takes. Second, the information acquired by an investigator in the preliminary investigation before holding the mediation is very importantly utilized in the mediation. Third, the gumption of mediators in charge of the mediation is very helpful for the resolution of a case. Fourth, it shall be preceding to understand dispute issues. After reviewing fully the investigation report of an investigator, if separate review is required, it is tried to hold a separate meeting and then reduce the number of issues asserted by the labor & management and, if the number of such issues is reduced, the mediation may approach to be concluded. Fifth, it shall be kept in mind that any matter other than the scope of the law be based on not the judgement of mediator but the legal interpretation. Sixth, it is necessary for both labor and management parties to take a positive approach so as to make the healthy labor & management relationship anchored. Seventh, notwithstanding the mediators are part-time and take a service attitude, it shall be encouraged to abstain from slandering or inveighing against the mediators because the mediation is taken against oneself. Eighth, it is necessary to convert the management's recognition about a labor union. Ninth, it is necessary to not raise any issue on the matters, such as time-off system and multiple labor union, etc., which are legally enforced. Tenth, it is confirmed that the regional labor relations commission plays a bridge role of narrowing down the issue difference between the labor and management.

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A Survey on the Consumer Attitude Toward Health Food in Korea (II) -Consumer Perception on Health Foods- (건강식품에 대한 소비자 인식 연구 (II) -건강식품에 관한 소비자 의식구조-)

  • Lee, Eun-Joo;Ro, Seung-Ok;Lee, Cherl-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.11 no.4
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    • pp.487-495
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    • 1996
  • The consumer perception on health and food habit, the experience of health food use and the discrimination between health food and drug of Korean consumer were surveyed by using a questionnaire containing 20 items in order to obtain the basic data for the assessment of the benefit and risk of health foods in Korea. A total of 1,000 people over 20 years of age living in Seoul and the vicinities were interviewed and asked to fill out the questionnaire during the period from the October 1995 to the February 1996. Among the 882 answers collected 23 was incomplete data, and 859 answers were used for the statistical analysis by using SAS program. The survey revealed a strong interest of the consumer on health food by showing that more than a half of the subjects (58.8%) had the experience of actual use of health food, and 68.2% believed the effectiveness. What the consumer expect most from health food was to have beneficial effect to maintain overall health condition (59.8%), and the most negative aspect of health food was the overstatement on the effectiveness by the producers (52.1%). The most important source of information for the purchase of health food was the suggestion of friends and relatives (30.6%). Among the health foods registered and regulated by the food law, royal jelly (22.7%), squalene (16.0%), refined fish oil (15.1%), lactic acid bacteria (10.6%) and aloe (8.8%) were relatively well aware. Although 84% of the subjects perceived that health food is different from drug or traditional medicine, the largest percentage of the subject selected ginseng as the most well known type of health food (22.7%) as well as the most well known drug (or traditional medicine) (41.7%). Ginseng was also chosen as the most frequently used health food (17.0%), and vitamin tablets the third (13.0%). The vague definition of health food and unambiguous discrimination of it from medicine by the consumers were problematic for the correct use and reasonable purchasing behavior. The clear definition and proper regulation on the manufacture and distribution of health food, more strict control of labelling and advertisement, and a wide consumer education on health food were recommended.

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Evolutionary Explanation for Beauveria bassiana Being a Potent Biological Control Agent Against Agricultural Pests

  • Han, Jae-Gu
    • 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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    • 2014.05a
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    • pp.27-28
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    • 2014
  • Beauveria bassiana (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) is an anamorphic fungus having a potential to be used as a biological control agent because it parasitizes a wide range of arthropod hosts including termites, aphids, beetles and many other insects. A number of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs) have been isolated from B. bassiana and functionally verified. Among them, beauvericin and bassianolide are cyclic depsipeptides with antibiotic and insecticidal effects belonging to the enniatin family. Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) play a crucial role in the synthesis of these secondary metabolites. NRPSs are modularly organized multienzyme complexes in which each module is responsible for the elongation of proteinogenic and non-protein amino acids, as well as carboxyl and hydroxyacids. A minimum of three domains are necessary for one NRPS elongation module: an adenylation (A) domain for substrate recognition and activation; a tholation (T) domain that tethers the growing peptide chain and the incoming aminoacyl unit; and a condensation (C) domain to catalyze peptide bond formation. Some of the optional domains include epimerization (E), heterocyclization (Cy) and oxidation (Ox) domains, which may modify the enzyme-bound precursors or intermediates. In the present study, we analyzed genomes of B. bassiana and its allied species in Hypocreales to verify the distribution of NRPS-encoding genes involving biosynthesis of beauvericin and bassianolide, and to unveil the evolutionary processes of the gene clusters. Initially, we retrieved completely or partially assembled genomic sequences of fungal species belonging to Hypocreales from public databases. SM biosynthesizing genes were predicted from the selected genomes using antiSMASH program. Adenylation (A) domains were extracted from the predicted NRPS, NRPS-like and NRPS-PKS hybrid genes, and used them to construct a phylogenetic tree. Based on the preliminary results of SM biosynthetic gene prediction in B. bassiana, we analyzed the conserved gene orders of beauvericin and bassianolide biosynthetic gene clusters among the hypocrealean fungi. Reciprocal best blast hit (RBH) approach was performed to identify the regions orthologous to the biosynthetic gene cluster in the selected fungal genomes. A clear recombination pattern was recognized in the inferred A-domain tree in which A-domains in the 1st and 2nd modules of beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases were grouped in CYCLO and EAS clades, respectively, suggesting that two modules of each synthetase have evolved independently. In addition, inferred topologies were congruent with the species phylogeny of Cordycipitaceae, indicating that the gene fusion event have occurred before the species divergence. Beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases turned out to possess identical domain organization as C-A-T-C-A-NM-T-T-C. We also predicted precursors of beauvericin and bassianolide synthetases based on the extracted signature residues in A-domain core motifs. The result showed that the A-domains in the 1st module of both synthetases select D-2-hydroxyisovalerate (D-Hiv), while A-domains in the 2nd modules specifically activate L-phenylalanine (Phe) in beauvericin synthetase and leucine (Leu) in bassianolide synthetase. antiSMASH ver. 2.0 predicted 15 genes in the beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster of the B. bassiana genome dispersed across a total length of approximately 50kb. The beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster contains beauvericin synthetase as well as kivr gene encoding NADPH-dependent ketoisovalerate reductase which is necessary to convert 2-ketoisovalarate to D-Hiv and a gene encoding a putative Gal4-like transcriptional regulator. Our syntenic comparison showed that species in Cordycipitaceae have almost conserved beauvericin biosynthetic gene cluster although the gene order and direction were sometimes variable. It is intriguing that there is no region orthologous to beauvericin synthetase gene in Cordyceps militaris genome. It is likely that beauvericin synthetase was present in common ancestor of Cordycipitaceae but selective gene loss has occurred in several species including C. militaris. Putative bassianolide biosynthetic gene cluster consisted of 16 genes including bassianolide synthetase, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, and putative Gal4-like transcriptional regulator genes. Our synteny analysis found that only B. bassiana possessed a bassianolide synthetase gene among the studied fungi. This result is consistent with the groupings in A-domain tree in which bassianolide synthetase gene found in B. bassiana was not grouped with NRPS genes predicted in other species. We hypothesized that bassianolide biosynthesizing cluster genes in B. bassiana are possibly acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from distantly related fungi. The present study showed that B. bassiana is the only species capable of producing both beauvericin and bassianolide. This property led to B. bassiana infect multiple hosts and to be a potential biological control agent against agricultural pests.

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