• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

We have successfully applied the nested PCR to detect Cylindrocarpon destructans, a major pathogen causing root rot disease from ginseng seedlings in our former study. The PCR assay, in this study, was used to detect the pathogen from soils. The nested PCR using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1, 4 primer set and Dest 1, 4 primer set maintained the specificity in soils containing various microorganisms. For a soil DNA extraction method targeting chlamydospores, when several cell wall disrupting methods were tested, the combination of lyophilization and grinding with glass beads, which broke almost all the chlamydospores, was the strongest. The DNA extraction method which was completed based on the above was simple and time-saving because of exclusion of unnecessary stages, and efficient to apply in soils. As three ginseng fields whose histories were known were analyzed, the PCR assay resulted as our expectation derived from the field information. The direct PCR method will be utilized as a reliable and rapid tool for detecting and monitoring C. destructans in ginseng fields.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2010

The usefulness of constitutional diagnoses based on skin measurements has been established in oriental medicine. According to Sasang constitutional medicine, humans can be distinguished based on properties of skin's friction, thickness and elasticity. To quantify and standardize skin diagnosis, the present study designed an equipment for measuring skin elasticity of hand. But there were some noises in measuring skin elasticity such as measurement method, environment, operator and conditions of patient. So we considered a six sigma project for reducing the measurement errors. The project was followed to discipline process of five macro phases: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control(DMAIC). So, we could find the major factors which should be controled for stabilizing measurement system and we revised the SOP(Standard Operating Procedure) of the skin elasticity measurement.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1680-1686
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• 2015

Inhibition of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) genotoxicity by a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (IMC501) was assessed by the prokaryotic short-term bioassay SOSChromotest, using Escherichia coli PQ37 as the target organism. Results showed the ability of strain IMC501 to rapidly and markedly counteract, in vitro, the DNA damage originated by the considered genotoxin. The inhibition was associated with a spectroscopic hypsochromic shift of the original 4-NQO profile and progressive absorbance increase of a new peak. IR-Raman and GC-MS analyses confirmed the disappearance of 4-NQO after contact with the microorganism, showing also the absence of any genotoxic molecule potentially available for metabolic activation (i.e., 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide and 4-nitrosoquinoline-1-oxide). Furthermore, we have shown the presence of the phenyl-quinoline and its isomers as major non-genotoxic conversion products, which led to the hypothesis of a possible pattern of molecular transformation. These findings increase knowledge on lactobacilli physiology and contribute to the further consideration of antigenotoxicity as a nonconventional functional property of particular probiotic strains.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 1979

To determine the metabolism of leucine during the cuticle formation and the sclerotization process in Pieris rapae L., $U-^3$H-leucine or $U-^4$C-tyrosine is injected into the haemolymph of newly molted pupa through dorsal cuticle of heart area. The results show that leucine as a common amino acid participates in the synthesis of cuticle protein over the first 3 hr after ecdysis. It is also shown that leucine in the haemolymph at ecdysis is freely being moved between major internal organs during the short time period post-ecdysis, providing the evidence for some involvements including haemolymph protein synthesis and storage of fat body and gut in metabolism of leucine.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 2002

The major function of the thymus is to eliminate developing thymocytes that are potentially useless or autoreactive, and select only those that bear functional T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) through fastidious screening. It is believed that glucocorticoids (GCs) are at least in part responsible for cell death during death by neglect. In this review, we will mainly cover the topic of the GC-induced apoptosis of developing thymocytes. We will also discuss how thymocytes that are fated to die by GCs can be rescued from GC-induced apoptosis in. response to a variety of signals with antagonizing properties for GC receptor (GR) signaling. Currently, a lot of evidence supports the notion that the decision is made as a result of the integration of the multiple signal transduction networks that are triggered by GR, TCR, and Notch. A few candidate molecules at the converging point of these multiple signaling pathyways will be discussed. We will particularly describe the role of the SRG3 protein as a potent modulator of GC-induced apoptosis in the crosstalk.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.265-273
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• 2018

Tau protein is encoded in the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene and contributes to the stability of microtubules in axons. Despite of its basic isoelectric point and high solubility, tau is often found in intraneuronal filamentous inclusions such as paired helical filaments (PHFs), which are the primary constituent of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). This pathological feature is the nosological entity termed "tauopathies" which notably include Alzheimer's disease (AD). A proteinaceous signature of all tauopathies is hyperphosphorylation of the accumulated tau, which has been extensively studied as a major pharmacological target for AD therapy. However, in addition to phosphorylation events, tau undergoes a number of diverse posttranslational modifications (PTMs) which appear to be controlled by complex crosstalk. It remains to be elucidated which of the PTMs or their combinations have pro-aggregation or anti-aggregation properties. In this review, we outline the consequences of and communications between several key PTMs of tau, such as acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination, focusing on their roles in aggregation and degradation. We place emphasis on the structure of tau protofilaments from the human AD brain, which may be good targets to modulate etiological PTMs which cause tau aggregation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2012

This study investigated the distribution of endophytic fungi obtained from the surface sterilized tissues of leaves, stems and roots of chili pepper ($Capsicum$ $annuum$ L.) plants in seedling, flowering and fruiting stages in Korea and their antifungal activity. A total of 481 isolates were recovered and were identified using molecular techniques. Based on rDNA ITS gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis, 21 fungal genera were characterized, belonging to 16 Ascomycota and 5 Basidiomycota. $Penicillium$ in seedling stage, $Fusarium$ in flowering stage, $Colletotrichum$ followed by $Fusarium$, $Alternaria$ and $Xylaria$ in fruiting stage was predominant and $Alternaria$, $Cladosporium$ and $Fusarium$ were common in all growth stages. Among 481 endophytes 90 phenotypes were evaluated for the antimicrobial activity against three major pathogens ($Phytophthora$ $capsici$, $Colletotrichum$ $acutatum$ and $Fusarium$ $oxysporum$) of chili pepper. Among them 16 isolates inhibited the growth of at least one test microorganisms. Three strains showed a broad spectrum antifungal activity and displayed strong inhibition against chili pepper pathogenic fungi.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.446-452
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• 2012

The effect of heavy metals on seedling growth and pigment levels was studied in Arabidopsis using essential (Cu, Mn, and Zn) and non-essential metals (Pb and Hg). Generally increasing the concentrations of the metals resulted in a gradual decrease in root and shoot lengths, a decrease in chlorophylls, an increase in anthocyanins and a fluctuation in carotenoid content depending on the metal types. The toxicity of the metals decreased in the following order: Cu > Hg > Pb > Zn > Mn. Among the five metals, Cu was exceptionally toxic and the most potent inducer of anthocyanins. Pb induced the smallest quantity of anthocyanins but it was the strongest inducer of carotenoids. It suggests that the Cu-stressed Arabidopsis may use anthocyanins as its main antioxidants while the Pb-stressed Arabidopsis use carotenoids as its main protectants. All of the five metals induced an accumulation of anthocyanins. The consistent increase in anthocyanin content in the metal-stressed Arabidpsis indicates that anthocyanins play a major role in the protection against metal stresses.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.147-153
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• 2011

The Pseudorabies (PR), also called Aujeszky's disease (AD), is an infectious viral disease caused by an alpha herpes virus and has domestic and wild pigs, as well as a wide range of domestic and wild animals, as the natural host. Pseudorabies virus (PRV) virions contain several envelope glycoproteins. Among them, gB, gC and gD are regarded as the major immunogenic proteins. We expressed these glycoproteins using the bacterial expression system and analyzed recombinant proteins. Expression of glycoproteins gC and gD were observed on SDS-PAGE or Western blot analysis, but gB was not. Optimal concentration of IPTG and inducing time were determined as 1.0 mM and 4 h, respectively, for the expression of both gC and gD in E. coli. A sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was the most efficient detergent in solubilizing insoluble recombinant protein.

• Mycobiology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.123-127
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• 2004

Sweet persimmons have been increasingly cultivated in the southern part of Korea. However, anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum species is one of the major hindrances in cultivation and productions. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction(PCR) to detect Colletotrichum species with the AFLP(amplified fragment length polymorphism) method. In AFLP, we used E3(5'-GACTGCGTACCAATTCTA-3') and M1(5'-GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAG-3') primer combination and, as a result, 262 bp segment was observed in Colletotrichum species only. Specific PCR primers were designed from the sequence data and used to detect the presence of the fungus in genomic DNA isolated from symptomless sweet persimmon plants. Based on sequence data for specific segments, Co.B1(5'-GAGAGAGTAGAATTGCGCTG-3') and Co.B2(5'-CTACCATTCTTCTA GGTGGG-3') were designed to detect Colletotrichum species. The 220 bp segment was observed in Colletotrichum species only, but not in other fungal and bacterial isolates.