• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2016

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential plant steroid hormones required for cell elongation, plant growth, development and abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. BRs are recognized by BRI1 receptor kinase that is localized in the plasma membrane, and the BRI1 protein will eventually autophosphorylate in the intracellular domain and transphosphorylate BAK1, which is a co-receptor in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, little is known of the role OsBRI1 receptor kinase plays in Oryza sativa, monocotyledonous plants, compared to that in Arabidopsis thaliana, dicotyledonous plants. As such, we have studied OsBRI1 receptor kinase in vitro and in vivo with recombinant protein and transgenic plants, whose phenotypes were also investigated. A OsBRI1 cytoplasmic domain (CD) recombinant protein was induced in BL21 (DE3) E.coli cells with IPTG, and purified to obtain OsBRI1 recombinant protein. Based on Western blot analysis with phospho-specific pTyr and pThr antibodies, OsBRI1 recombinant protein and OsBRI1-Flag protein were phosphorylated on Threonine residue(s), however, not on Tyrosine residue(s), both in vitro and in vivo. This is particularly intriguing as AtBRI1 protein was phosphorylated on both Ser/Thr and Tyr residues. Also, the OsBRI1 full-length gene was expressed in, and rescued, bri1-5 mutants, such as is seen in normal wild-type plants where AtBRI1-Flag rescues bri1-5 mutant plants. Root growth in seedlings decreased in Ws2, AtBRI1, and 3 independent OsBRI1 transgenic seedlings and had an almost complete lack of response to brassinolide in the bri1-5 mutant. In conclusion, OsBRI1, an orthologous gene of AtBRI1, can mediate normal BR signaling for plant growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2009

We reported previously that overexpression of a salicylic acid (SA) methyltransferase1 gene from rice (OsBSMT1) or a SA glucosyltransferase1 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSAGT1) leads to increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae due to reduced SA levels. To further examine their roles in the defense responses, we assayed the transcript levels of AtBSMT1 or AtSAGT1 in plants with altered levels of SA and/or other defense components. These data showed that AtSAGT1 expression is regulated partially by SA, or nonexpressor of pathogenesis related protein1, whereas AtBSMT1 expression was induced in SA-deficient mutant plants. In addition, we produced the transgenic Arabidopsis plants with RNAi-mediated inhibition of AtSAGT1 and isolated a null mutant of AtBSMT1, and then analyzed their phenotypes. A T-DNA insertion mutation in the AtBSMT1 resulted in reduced methyl salicylate (MeSA) levels upon P. syringae infection. However, accumulation of SA and glucosyl SA was similar in both the atbsmt1 and wild-type plants, indicating the presence of another SA methyltransferase or an alternative pathway for MeSA production. The AtSAGT1-RNAi line exhibited no altered phenotypes upon pathogen infection, compared to wild-type plants, suggesting that (an)other SA glucosyltransferase(s) in Arabidopsis plants may be important for the pathogenesis of P. syringae.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2009

Plant defensins are small (5-10 kDa) basic peptides thought to be an important component of the defense pathway against fungal and/or bacterial pathogens. To understand the role of plant defensins in protecting plants against the brown planthopper, a type of insect herbivore, we isolated the Brassica rapa Defensin 1 (BrD1) gene and introduced it into rice (Oryza sativa L.) to produce stable transgenic plants. The BrD1 protein is homologous to other plant defensins and contains both an N-terminal endoplasmic reticulum signal sequence and a defensin domain, which are highly conserved in all plant defensins. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the defensin domain of various plant defensins, we established that BrD1 belongs to a distinct subgroup of plant defensins. Relative to the wild type, transgenic rices expressing BrD1 exhibit strong resistance to brown planthopper nymphs and female adults. These results suggest that BrD1 exhibits insecticidal activity, and might be useful for developing cereal crop plants resistant to sap-sucking insects, such as the brown planthopper.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.228-233
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• 2004

Nitrate removal was examined from May to October 2003 of a surface flow treatment wetland cell, which was a part of a treatment wetland system composed of four wetland cells and a distribution pond The system was established on rice paddy near the Kohung Estuarine Lake located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Effluent from a secondary-level night soil treatment plant was funneled into the system. The investigated cell, 87 m in length and 14 m in width, was created in April 2003. An open water was designed at its center, which was equivalent to 10 percent of its total area. Cattails (Typha angustifolia) were transplanted from natural wetlands into the cell and their stems were cut at about 40cm height from their bottom ends. Average $25.0\;m^3/day$ of effluent from the treatment plant was funneled into the cell by gravity flow and average $24.1\;m^3/day$ of its treated effluent was discharged into the Sinyang Stream flowing into the lake. Its water depth was maintained about 0.2 m and its hydraulic detention time averaged 5.2 days. Average height of the cattail stems was 42.5 cm in May 2M3 and 117.7 cm in September 2003. The number of stems averaged $9.5\;stems/m^2$ in May 2003 and $16.4\;stems/m^2$ in September 2003. The growth of cattails was good. Temperature of influent and effluent averaged 25.9 and $26.7^{\circ}C$, respectively. $NO_3$-N loading rate of influent and effluent averaged 176.67 and $88.09\;mg/m^2\;day$, respectively. Removal of rf03-N averaged $89.58\;mg/m^2\;day$ and its removal rate by mass was about 50%. Considering its initial operating stage in which cattail rhizomes and litter layer on the bottom were not Idly established, the $NO_3$-N removal rate of the cell was rather good.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 1995

Water extracts from Polygonum aviculare and Salix koreansis markedly inhibited the germination of lettuce and rice seeds, indicating the presence of biologically active substances. The biochemical substances such as salicylic and+vanillic acid, tannic acid + gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-cressol, sinapic acid and catechol etc. belonging to phenolic compounds were detected in the cultured cells, suggesting that the secondary metabolites can be synthesized in plant cell and tissue culture. In addition, fatty acid like linolenic acid and organic acid such as oxalic acid were presented in the highest amount, 3.7 mg/g and 14.288 mg/g, respectively, which seem to be related to exhibiting phytotoxicity of P. aviculare. Petroleum ether extract exhibited another potential relating to inhibitory effect which needs further investigation. Calli from two plant sources were easily introduced by uses of 1.0 mg/l of 2.4-D and 0.1 to 0.2 mg/l of BAP in MS basal medium which can be implemented for a large scale production through cell culture.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2009

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, but their functions remain elusive. The proteins AlLTP2-4 were isolated from three related Allium plants: garlic (A. sativum L.), Welsh onion (A. fistulosum L.), and Nanking shallot (A. ascalonicum L.). These novel proteins comprise a new class of LTPs associated with the Ace-AMP1 from onion (A. cepa L.). The AlLTP genes encode proteins harboring 132 common amino acids and also share a high level of sequence identity. Protein characteristics and phylogenetic analysis suggest that LTPs could be classified into five distinct groups. The AlLTPs were clustered into the most distantly related plant LTP subfamily and appeared to be restricted to the Allium species. In particular, the number of amino acids existing between the fourth and fifth Cys residue was suggested as a conserved motif facilitating the categorization of all the LTP-related proteins in the family. Unlike other LTPs, AlLTPs harboring both the putative C-terminal propeptide and N-terminal signal peptide were predicted to be localized to cytoplasmic vacuoles. When a chimeric GFP protein fused with both N-terminal and C-terminal AlLTP2 signal peptides was expressed in rice cells, the fluorescence signal was detected in the endomembrane compartments, thereby confirming that AlLTPs are an unprecedented intracellular type of LTP. Collectively, our present data demonstrate that AlLTPs are a novel type of LTP associated with the Allium species.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.746-756
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• 2014

This study investigated the quality characteristics and physiological activities of takju prepared with whole chestnut (15%, 30% and 50% with steamed rice) during fermentation. The pH level began to decrease after the secondary brewing stage. The total acid as well as the organic acid content increased during fermentation. Lactic acid and succinic acid were the main organic acids in takju fermented with whole chestnut. The level of total sugar and reducing sugars in takju fermented with whole chestnut increased at the first brewing stage and then slowly decreased after 4 days of fermentation. Also, the total number of viable cells and microbial populations such as lactic acid bacteria and yeast in the treatments increased to about 108 CFU/mL after 1 days of fermentation and then decreased gradually afterward. The ethanol content in takju fermented with whole chestnut rapidly increased during the initial 4 days of fermentation, to a maximum content of 18.2% after 8 days. The colour values of the treatments did not show any significant differences between 0% and 15% chestnut content. However L value decreased, while the a and b values increased when the whole chestnut content above 30%. The total polyphenol level, electron donating ability, nitrite-scavenging ability and ferrous ion effect also increased as the ratio of whole chestnut increased. Sensory scores of takju fermented with 15% chestnut were greater than those of takju prepared by other treatments.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.138-146
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• 2019

Vitamin $B_3$ (niacin) is essential for all living cells and plays a central role in energy metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Vitamin $B_3$, a water-soluble vitamin, is present in the form of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, a monocarboxylic acid derivative of pyridine. While nicotinic acid is commonly effective in lowering cholesterol levels, unlike nicotinic acid, nicotinamide is ineffective on lipids. Presence rates of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, which are the available forms of vitamin $B_3$, are different for each food. However, the studies in the literature are generally based on the analysis of total amount of vitamin $B_3$ in foods and the studies determining the profile of vitamin $B_3$ in foods are limited. The aim of the study was to determine the vitamin $B_3$ profiles of 10 kinds of animal based food and 10 different plant based food samples. In this study, 10 kinds of animal based food samples consisting of veal (veal steak fillet), chicken (breast), turkey meat (thigh), goat meat (leg, belly), lamb (leg, back, arm), mutton (belly), bovine meat (loin) and 10 different plant based food samples namely; barley, rye, wheat (bread), wheat (durum), oat, rice, dried pea, green lentil, red lentil and chickpea were studied by high performance liquid chromatography using post-column derivatization system. The presence rates of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide were determined in the meat samples as 30% and 70% and as 87% and 13% in the cereal and legume samples, respectively. Nicotinic acid levels were found in low amounts in the meat samples. The amounts of nicotinic acid in the cereal and legume samples were significantly higher than the meat samples. Consequently, the plant based foods such as cereals and legumes, with a ratio of 87% nicotinic acid presence, standout as the best source of nicotinic acid and encouraging regular intake of those cereals and legumes containing rich nicotinic acid would remove nicotinic acid deficiency in human.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2022

Cyanobacteria are distributed worldwide, and many new cyanobacterial species are discovered in tropical region. The Nostoc-like genus Amazonocrinis has been separated from the genus Nostoc based on polyphasic methods. However, species diversity within this genus remains poorly understood systematically because only one species (Amazonocrinis nigriterrae) has been described. In this study, two novel strains (NUACC02 and NUACC03) were isolated from moist rice field soil in Thailand. These two strains were characterized using a polyphasic approach, based on morphology, 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis, internal transcribed spacer secondary structure and ecology. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that the two novel strains formed a monophyletic clade related to the genus Amazonocrinis and were distant from the type species A. nigriterrae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (<98.1%) between novel strains and all other closely related taxa including the Amazonocrinis members exceeded the cutoff for species delimitation in bacteriology, reinforcing the presence of a new Amazonocrinis species. Furthermore, the novel strains possessed unique phenotypic characteristics such as the presence of the sheath, necridia-like cells, larger cell dimension and akinete cell arrangement in long-chains and the singularity of D1-D1', Box-B, V2, and V3 secondary structures that distinguished them from other Amazonocrinis members. Considering all the results, we described our two strains as Amazonocrinis thailandica sp. nov. in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.562-569
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• 2024

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes a devastating bacterial leaf blight in rice. Here, the antimicrobial effects of ᴰ-limonene, ᴸ-limonene, and its oxidative derivative carveol against Xoo were investigated. We revealed that carveol treatment at ≥ 0.1 mM in liquid culture resulted in significant decrease in Xoo growth rate (> 40%) in a concentration-dependent manner, and over 1 mM, no growth was observed. The treatment with ᴰ-limonene and ᴸ-limonene also inhibited the Xoo growth but to a lesser extent compared to carveol. These results were further elaborated with the assays of motility, biofilm formation and xanthomonadin production. The carveol treatment over 1 mM caused no motilities, basal level of biofilm formation (< 10%), and significantly reduced xanthomonadin production. The biofilm formation after the treatment with two limonene isomers was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, but the degree of the effect was not comparable to carveol. In addition, there was negligible effect on the xanthomonadin production mediated by the treatment of two limonene isomers. Field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) unveiled that all three compounds used in this study cause severe ultrastructural morphological changes in Xoo cells, showing shrinking, shriveling, and holes on their surface. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR revealed that carveol and ᴰ-limonene treatment significantly down-regulated the expression levels of genes involved in virulence and biofilm formation of Xoo, but not with ᴸ-limonene. Together, we suggest that limonenes and carveol will be the candidates of interest in the development of biological pesticides.