• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.271-291
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• 2022

Pectin methylesterase (PME) plays an important role in vegetative and reproductive development and biotic/abiotic stress responses by regulating the degree of methyl-esterification of pectic polysaccharides in the plant cell wall. PMEs are encoded by a large multigene family in higher land plant genomes. In general, the expression of plant PME genes shows tissue- or cell-specific patterns and is induced by endogenous and exogenous stimuli. In this study, we identified PME multigene family members (CsPMEs) from the sweet orange genome and report detailed molecular characterization and expression profiling in different citrus tissues and two fruit developmental stages. We also discussed the possible functional roles of some CsPME genes by comparing them with the known functions of PMEs from other plant species. We identified 48 CsPME genes from the citrus genome. A phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the identified CsPMEs were divided into two groups/types. Some CsPMEs showed very close phylogenetic relationships with the PMEs whose functions were formerly addressed in Arabidopsis, tomato, and maize. Expression profiling showed that some CsPME genes are highly or specifically expressed in the leaf, root, flower, or fruit. Based on the phylogenetic relationships and gene expression profiling results, we suggest that some CsPMEs could play functional roles in pollen development, pollen tube growth, cross incompatibility, root development, embryo/seed development, stomata movement, and biotic/abiotic stress responses. Our results shed light on the biological roles of individual CsPME isoforms and contribute to the search for genetic variations in citrus genetic resources.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.1003-1013
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• 2021

Thioredoxin (TRX) protein is an antioxidant responsible for reducing other proteins by exchanging cysteine thiol-disulfide and is also known for its anti-allergic and anti-aging properties. On the other hand, epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important material used in the cosmetics industry and an essential protein necessary for dermal wound healing facilitated by the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. EGF also assists in the formation of granulation tissues and stimulates the motility of fibroblasts. Hence, genetically modified soybeans were developed to overexpress these industrially important proteins for mass production. A single-dose oral-toxicity-based study was conducted to evaluate the potential toxic effects of TRX and EGF proteins, as safety assessments are necessary for the commercial use of seed-specific protein-expressing transgenic soybeans. To achieve this rationale, TRX and EGF proteins were mass purified from recombinant E. coli. The single-dose oral-toxicity tests of the TRX and EGF proteins were carried out in six-week old male and female Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. The initial evaluation of the single-dose TRF and EGF treatments was based on monitoring the toxicity signatures and mortality rates among the mice, and the resultant mortality rates did not show any specific clinical symptoms related to the proteins. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the weights between the treatment and control groups of male and female ICR mice. After 14 days of treatment, no differences were observed in the autopsy reports between the various treatment and control groups. These results suggest that the minimum lethal dose of TRX and EGF proteins is higher than the allowed 2,000 mg·kg^-1 limit.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.210-210
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• 2022

Silybum marianum is an annual or biennial plant from the Asteraceae family. It can grow in low-nutrient soil and drought conditions, making it easy to cultivate. From the seed, a specialized plant metabolite called silymarin (flavonolignan complex) is produced and is known to alleviate the liver from hepatitis and toxins damages. To infer the phylogenetic placement of a Korean milk thistle, we conducted a chloroplast assembly and annotation following by a comparison with existing Chinese reference genome (NC_028027). The chloroplast genome structure was highly similar with an assembly size of 152,642 bp, an 153,202 bp for Korean and Chinese milk thistle respectively. Moreover, there were similarities at the gene level, coding sequence (n = 82), transfer RNA (n = 31) and ribosomal RNA (n = 4). From all coding sequences gene set, the phylogenetic tree inference placed the Korean cultivar into the milk thistle clade; corroborating the expected tree. Moreover, an investigation the tree based only on the ycf1 gene confirmed the same tree; suggesting that ycf1 gene is a potential marker for DNA barcoding and population diversity study in milk thistle genus. Overall, the provided data represents a valuable resource for population genomics and species-centered determination since several species have been reported in the Silybum genus.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2023

This study aimed to identify and compare the characteristics of Elymus humidus on common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chinse Spring, CS). The seed length, width, height, and weight of E. humidus were smaller than those of the CS. In particular, the germination rate of E. humidus was substantially lower than that of CS. In the anatomical dissection of the leaf, E. humidus showed a considerably different xylem diameter of the main vascular bundle in the main vein; however, there was no difference in the phloem of the main vascular bundle compared with the xylem and phloem of the main vascular bundle in the main vein of CS, although E. humidus showed a leaf structure similar to that of CS. In addition, E. humidus had a thinner epidermis than that of CS. Regarding stomatal traits, E. humidus showed a graminoid stomata type similar to that of CS. On the adaxial and abaxial sides, the density, length, and width of the stomata in E. humidus were smaller than those in CS, whereas the distance between stomata in E. humidus was greater than that in CS. The chromosomes of E. humidus were classified as long and short based on their respective lengths. Long chromosomes were classified based on the ratio of the long arm to the short arm e.g., 1:1 or 2:1. Short chromosomes showed the same trend and some short chromosomes were microsatellites. To evaluate genetic diversity, 38 barley EST markers with polymorphisms between E. humidus and CS were selected from 236 barley EST markers.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.55-59
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• 2010

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage of Nelumbinis Semen Extracts Methods : Nelumbins semen were extracted with hot-water and ethylacetate (EtOAC). The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating assay were performed for antioxidative effect and ${\phi}X$-174 RF I DNA cleavage assay and intracellular DNA damage assay were used for inhibitory effect on intracellular DNA damage. Results : In DPPH, Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity of EtOAC extracts were 96.22%, 53.53%, 64.72%, while those of hot-water extracts were 20.86%, 10.72%, 29.74% at $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively. In ${\phi}X$-174 RF I plasmid DNA cleavage assay, the protective effects of EtOAC and hot-water extracts against oxidative DNA damage were 76% and 6% at $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively. Conclusion : These results indicated that the seed extracts of Nelumbo nucifera can be used as a natural antioxidants, which effectively inhibits the oxidative DNA damage.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2014

In this paper, we propose a pioneering concept of DPD(Disaster Prevention Design) to realize a securable society in the future. Features of danger in the future society are expected to be diverse, abrupt occurring, large scale, and complicated ways. Due to increment of dangers with their features of uncertainty, interactivity, complexity, and accumulation, human-oriented design concept naturally participates in activities to prevent our society against disasters effectively. We presented DPD is an essential design activity in order to cope with dangers expected in the future societies as well as realize securable environments. DPD is also an integrated design aids including preemptive protections, rapid preparing, recovery, and interactive cooperation. We also expect these activities of DPD is effective for generation of new values in the market, satisfaction of social needs, expansion of design industry, and a novel chance for development in the future society. Throughout this paper, we submit various aspects of DPD concepts including definition, classification, scope, necessity, strategy, influencing elements, process, and its principle. We expect these concepts will be the seed and/or basement of DPD research for the future works. For the direction of study for DPD in the future, we emphasize alarm system for preemptive protection rather than recovery strategy for the damage occurred. We also need to research about progressive prevention techniques and convergence with other areas of design. In order to transfer the concept of product design from facility-oriented mechanism to human-oriented one, we should develop new kinds of city basis facilities, public-sense design concepts referred to social weak-party, e-Learning content design preparing disasters, and virtual simulation design etc. On the other hand, we have to establish laws and regulations to force central and/or provincial governments to have these DPD strategies applying their regional properties. Modern design activities are expanding to UI(user interface) content design area overcoming the conventional design concept of product and/or service. In addition, designers are recognized as art directors or life stylists who will change the human life and create the social value. DPD can be divided into prevention design, preparedness design, response design, and recovery design. Five strategies for successful DPD are Precaution-oriented, Human-oriented, Sense-oriented, Legislation, and Environment Friendly Strategies.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2016

We examined damages from gamma-irradiaion and determined the optimal gamma-ray dose for mutation breeding in lentil (Lens culinaris L.) bean. Four individual lines (L-C, L-2, L-8 and L-9), that have remarkable adaptability in South Korea were gamma-irradiated at doses of 50, 70, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 Gy. The germination rate of seed decreased as the dose increased over 50 Gy in all lines. However, $LD_{50}$ and $RD_{50}$ were different among lines. The median lethal doses($LD_{50}$) were approximately 127 (L-C), 74 (L-2), 95 (L-8), and 144 (L-9) Gy. The median reduction doses($RD_{50}$) for plant height, number of leaves, root length, and flash weight were 156, 176, 150, and 180 Gy for L-C, 253, 198, 127, and 142 Gy for L-2, 188, 175, 200, and 190 Gy for L-8, and 162, 210, 224, and 184 for L-9, respectively. The growth characteristics of the $M_1$ generation decreased as the dose increased over 70 Gy. The optimal doses of gamma irradiation for mutation breeding of lentil were determined to be 70 Gy (L-2, L-8) and 100 Gy (L-C, L-9). We performed the comet assay to observe nuclear DNA damage induced by gamma-irradiation. In comet assay, a clear difference was identified over 100 Gy treatments. With increasing doses of gamma-ray in the range of 50 to 500 Gy, the rate of head DNA was decreased significantly from 97.5% to 81.6%. Tail length was consecutively increased from $1.9{\mu}m$ to $17.4{\mu}m$. Our result provides basic information for construction of mutant pools in lentils.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2011

This study was carried out to develop salt tolerant varities of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) which can be grown in the high salty reclaimed land. The seeds of three varieties 'Naehan', 'Tammi', and 'Halla' were treated by proton ion beams and gamma rays with 0 to 2,000 Gy. For the selection of salt tolerant lines, emergence and survival rate, and growth characteristics of $M_2$ to $M_4$ generations were investigated in the Saemangeum reclaimed fields with the different salt concentrations. The lines with potential salt tolerance were selected in the $M_4$ generation and tested indoor for their growth characteristics. There was no significant changes in the soil pH for $M_4$ generation during growth period. However, soil EC was higher in early spring than sowing period (mid October). In $M_4$ generation test, the seeds of original and selected line showed high rates of emergence and survival, as determined one month after sowing. After wintering, however, the original varieties showed the significant reduction in the survival rate, while the selected lines showed a higher survival rate and good growth, leading to the completion of their life cycle. Consequently we selected 9 lines from $M_4$ generation with better performance in growth and yield. Soil EC was $2.8{\sim}4.3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ during $M_4$ generation growth period. The laboratory test of the lines selected from $M_4$ generation was made for their salt tolerance potential. The selected lines showed higher chlorophyll and proline contents than the original varieties. There was also no significant difference in the emergence rate of seed between the original and selected varieties. In 200 mM natural sea salt, the $N{\gamma}600-21-1-641$ line derived from 'Naehan' was the highest in growth rate, leaf chlorophyll and proline contents. $T{\gamma}800-20-2-461$ line derived from 'Tammi' didn't show significant difference in growth rate compared to original variety in 200 mM and withered in 250 mM like other lines as time passed. $H{\gamma}200-7-1-740$ line showed similar growth and chlorophyll content compared to its original variety.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.677-685
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• 2021

Cannabis sativa L. belongs to the Cannabaceae family and is an annual herbaceous flowing plant. The plants can be classified into narcotic marijuana and nonnarcotic hemp. Different parts of C. sativa L. have been used as food, medicine, cosmetics, fiber and textile. However, the use of leaf, flower, and seed of C. sativa L was forbidden in Korea in January 1977 as a result of the Cannabis Control Act due to the narcotic properties. The plant's mature stems have limited uses for the production of fiber and sheets. Recently, various cannabinoids, terpenes and essential fatty acids were identified from C. sativa L., and their safety and useful bio-activities, such as neuroprotective, anti-inflammation, antithrombosis, antiepileptic, and antimicrobial activities, and the relief of pain, have been highlighted. Furthermore, the process of reduction of tetrahydrocannabinol, a representative narcotic compound, and the isolation of cannabidiol, a nonnarcotic active compound in C. sativa L., have been determined. These findings resulted in the legalization of C. sativa L. in Korea for medical use in December 2018 and the exclusion of C. sativa L. from the narcotic list of the UN Commission on Narcotics Drugs (UNCND) in December 2020. Therefore, developments of various high-value added products have commenced worldwide. Additionally, in 2021, the Korean government deregulated special zones based on hemp. In this study, the current status and the prospect of the hemp industry, as well as essential techniques for developing new hemp products, are provided for the activation of the Korea Green-Rush.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2015

Bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) has been farmed only in the South Sea of Korea. East Sea Fisheries Research Institute (ESFRI) has developed bay scallop aquaculture technologies to extend its aquaculture area to the Southeast Sea of Korea. For the artificial spawning, the water temperature was maintained at $23^{\circ}C$. Over 100,000,000 eggs were spawned through artificial spawning inductions, such as air exposure and thermal shock by rising the water temperature. The fertilization rate was over 91% with nearly 94,000,000 fertilized eggs. The shape of fertilized eggs was spherical with an average diameter of $61.7{\pm}0.05{\mu}m(54.1-67.4{\mu}m)$. Five days after fertilization, the eggs developed into prodissoconch shell, and continuously grew into umbo stage and then umbones stage. After 8 days of fertilization, the size of larva became $179.7{\pm}8.4{\mu}m$ on average ($150.4-204.8{\mu}m$), and the larva formed a foot and an eye spot. The larvae grew to $235.4{\pm}9.7{\mu}m$ in 10 days and attached to adherence material, becoming juvenile bay scallop. The shells grew from 22.71 mm to 72.40 mm in 6 month (June-December). The total weight increased from 2.0 g to 32.7 g at the same period. The daily growth rates of young scallop were $0.35mm\;d^{-1}$ (Apr. to Jun.) and $0.41mm\;d^{-1}$ (Jun. to Aug.), which were comparable to those found in the South Sea. These findings suggest that the bay scallop aquaculture may be suitable in the Southeast Sea of Korea and may provide an additional crop to aquaculturists.