• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.607-612
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• 2019

During meiosis, programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired via recombination pathways that are required for faithful chromosomal segregation and genetic diversity. In meiotic progression, the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway is suppressed and instead meiotic recombination initiated by nucleolytic resection of DSB ends is the major pathway employed. This requires diverse recombinase proteins and regulatory factors involved in the formation of crossovers (COs) and non-crossovers (NCOs). In mitosis, spontaneous DSBs occurring at the G1 phase are predominantly repaired via NHEJ, mediating the joining of DNA ends. The Ku complex binds to these DSB ends, inhibiting additional DSB resection and mediating end joining with Dnl4, Lif1, and Nej1, which join the Ku complex and DSB ends. Here, we report the role of the Ku complex in DSB repair using a physical analysis of recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during meiosis. We found that the Ku complex is not essential for meiotic progression, DSB formation, joint molecule formation, or CO/NCO formation during normal meiosis. Surprisingly, in the absence of the Ku complex and functional Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 (MRX) complex, a large portion of meiotic DSBs was repaired via the recombination pathway to form COs and NCOs. Our data suggested that Ku complex prevents meiotic recombination in the elimination of MRX activity.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2017

This study reports three species in the genus Tubastraea from Korea: Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829; Tubastraea faulkneri Wells, 1982; and Tubastraea micranthus (Ehrenberg, 1834). Tubastraea faulkneri and T. micranthus are newly recorded in Korea. The specimens of three species were collected in the subtidal zones off Jeju-do between 1991 and 2010. The two newly recorded species were described in detail based upon the morphological characters of skeletal structures. The previous records of T. coccinea in Korea were supplemented with additional data in the remarks. These three species have a straight septal arrangement or irregular septal fusion in common as a main character for the genus Tubastraea, but they differ with respect to the growth form, intercorallite distance, exsertness from common coenosteum, and the detailed characters of septal arrangement. Tubastraea faulkneri is similar to T. coccinea in its plocoid growth form, well developed common coenosteum, and corallite size. However, unlike the latter species, the former species is characterized by rare or absent budding adjacent to the corallite edges, wider intercorallite distance, and irregularly developed septal fusion near the columella. In particular, T. micranthus is distinguished by an axial dendroid growth form, and the smallest corallites in this genus.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.356-362
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• 2019

The binding of MS2 bacteriophage coat protein (MCP) to MS2 binding site (MBS) RNA stem-loop sequences has been widely used to label mRNA for live-cell imaging at single-molecule resolution. However, concerns have been raised recently from studies with budding yeast showing aberrant mRNA metabolism following the MS2-GFP labeling. To investigate the degradation pattern of MS2-GFP-labeled mRNA in mammalian cells and tissues, we used Northern blot analysis of ${\beta}$-actin mRNA extracted from the Actb-MBS knock-in and $MBS{\times}MCP$ hybrid mouse models. In the immortalized mouse embryonic cell lines and various organ tissues derived from the mouse models, we found no noticeable accumulation of decay products of ${\beta}$-actin mRNA compared with the wild-type mice. Our results suggest that accumulation of MBS RNA decay fragments does not always happen depending on the mRNA species and the model organisms used.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify wild yeasts from the soil collected in Gwangju and Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. Among 10 strains, six strains were already reported, but four strains were unrecorded in Republic of Korea. To identify wild yeast strains, pairwise sequence comparisons of the D1/D2 region of the 26S rRNA gene sequence were performed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The cell morphologies were observed by phase contrast microscope and assimilation tests were carried out using API 20C AUX kit. The 10 strains were assigned to the phyla Basidiomycota (8 strains) and Ascomycota (2strains). The unrecorded four yeast strains, NH33, NH19, NH20, and YP416, belong to the phylum Basidiomycota and the genera Buckleyzyma, Leucosporidium, Holtermanniales, and Mrakia, respectively. All strains had oval-shaped and polar budding cells. In this research, the morphological and biochemical properties of four unreported yeast species were characterized intensively, which were not officially reported in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2001

A cDNA clone encoding the ribosomal protein S20 has been isolated from the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cDNA library by colony hybridization. The insert contained in the original plasmid pYJ10 was transferred intro shuttle vector pRS316 generate plasmid pYJll. The dDNA insert of plasmid pYJll, contains 484 nucleotides and encodes a protein of 118 amino acids with a calculated mass of 13,544 daltons. The deduced amino acid sequence of S. pombe ribosomal protein S20 is very homologous with fruit fly, rat, and budding yeast counterparts. It is also homologous with Xenopus S22 ribosomal protein. S. pombe ribosomal protein S20 appears to be relatively hydruphobic except the C-terminal region. The 728 bp upstream region of the S20 gene was amplified from chromosomal DNA and transferred into the BamHI/EcoRI site of the promoterles $\beta$-galactosidase gene of the vector YEp357R, which resulted in fusion plasmid pYS20. The synthesis of $\beta$-galactosidase from the fusion plasmid appeared to be the highest in the mid-exponential phase. The S. pombe cells with the fusion plasmid grown at 35$\^{C}$ gave lower $\beta$-galactosidase activity than the cells grown at 30$\^{C}$. Computer analysis showed the consensus sequence CAGTCACA in the upstream regions of various ribosomal protein genes in S. pombe, which would be involved in the coordinated expression of small ribosomal proteins.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2016

Exosomes are homogenous vesicles of 40-100 nm diameter produced endogenously. Exosomes are generated by inward budding into multi-vesicular bodies (MVB) and then released to extracellular space. Exosomes contain various nucleic acid and protein cargoes from their cells of origin and this endosomal cellular molecules are used for intracellular communication and for both promotion and suppression of immune responses. Recently, they are also considered as delivery vehicle for therapeutic proteins due to their characteristics of stability in body fluids and ability for target uptake. Also, they show less immune reactivity because the isolated exosome harboring therapeutic proteins can be from the same host. White-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis is one of the major insect commercially reared in Korea. There are bacterial and fungal pathogens causing diseases in the beetle, and these diseases incur economic loss to the larva-rearing farms. Due to their endosomal cargoes, exosomes are good candidates in use of disease diagnosis. In this study, we isolated insect exosome from the hemolymph of P. brevitarsis, and verified it by analysis of the exosome-specific surface proteins and RNA.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.477-487
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• 1993

To investigate phenological differences among species, and relationship between phenology and air temperatures, we surveyed foliation and flowering times of several woody plants in two temperate forests, Namhansansung and Taegwallyong area, for three years, 1991, 1992 and 1993. In Namhansansung area, the leaves of Quercus mor~golica, Rhododendron mucronulatum, Prunus levezlleana and Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa expanded in the early season(about 10 April), and those of Quercus variabilis, Quercus dentata and Maackia amurensis in the late season(about 5 May). The foliation time of the earliest species(Rhododendron mucronulatum) was 27 days earlier than thzt of the latest(Maackia amurensis, Quercus variabilis and Quercus dentata). In Taegwallyong area, the leaves of Staphylea bumalda and Rhamnus yoshinoi foliated on 25 April and those of Rhus verniciflua and Fraxinus rhynchophylla on 25 May. The annual mean air temperature of Narnhansansung area was $5.5^{\circ}C$ higher than that of Taegwallyong area. Foliation times of the same species were earlier in the former: the differences between two areas were 8~24 day among species. In contrast, flowering times of the same species were 0~22 days earlier in the former. It is concluded that the budding time of leaves was related to year day index(YDI), and foliation time of leaves was related to Nuttonson's index(Tn).

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2013

Low temperature is one of the major environmental factors that affect productivity including reduced growth and budding of vines, and changes of metabolic processes in grape (Vitis spp.). To screen the specific expression of abiotic stress-related genes against cold treatment in 'Kyoho' and 'Campbell Early' grapevines, expression of various defense-related genes was investigated by RT-PCR and real-time PCR. Among the 67 genes analyzed by RT-PCR and real-time PCR, 17 and 16 types of cDNA were up-regulated, while 5 and 6 types were down-regulated in cold-treated 'Kyoho' and 'Campbell Early' grapevines, respectively. Genes encoding carotene (Cart3564 and Cart4472), chalcone isomerase (CHI), cytochrome P450 (CYP), flavonol synthase (FLS), endo-${\beta}$-glucanase precursor (Glu), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), leucine-rich repeats (LRR), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP), proline rich protein 2 (PRP2), small heat shock protein (sHSP), temperature induced lipocalin (TIL), and thaumatin-like protein (TLP) were up-regulated, while those encoding CBF like transcription factor (CBF1), chitinase-like protein (CLP), cold induced protein (CIP), glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were down-regulated by low temperature treatment in both in 'Kyoho' and 'Campbell Early'.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 1978

Present experiments were conducted to determine the possibility of cultivation of 9 edible wild species selected among the higher fungi growing in Korea. In the investigation on the mycelial growth according t6o the different media, the mycelial growth of Coprinus comatus was fast on the CSA medium, when malt extract was added to the basal medium PSA, the mycelial of Lapista nuda and Auricularia auricula-judae was fast in growth and density. In the spawning, the mycelial growth of Pholiota squarrosa on the oak tree's sawdust, Pleurotus cornucopiae on the broad-leaves' sawdust, and Coprinus comatus on the compost was respectably fast and also it shown to be possibility of artificial cultivation owing to their carporphore budding when Coprinus comatus and Lepiota alborubescens cultivated on the rice straw, Auricularia auriculajudae and Pleurotus cornucopiae on the sawdust of the popla and Pholiota squarrosaon the sawdust of the oak tree.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.482-490
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• 2018

Candida albicans infections are often problematic to treat owing to antifungal resistance, as such infections are mostly associated with biofilms. The ability of C. albicans to switch from a budding yeast to filamentous hyphae and to adhere to host cells or various surfaces supports biofilm formation. Previously, the ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora was reported to inhibit cell wall synthesis and cause depolarization and permeabilization of the cell membrane in C. albicans. In this study, the P. lactiflora extract was found to significantly reduce the initial stage of C. albicans biofilms from 12 clinical isolates by 38.4%. Thus, to assess the action mechanism, the effect of the P. lactiflora extract on the adhesion of C. albicans cells to polystyrene and germ tube formation was investigated using a microscopic analysis. The density of the adherent cells was diminished following incubation with the P. lactiflora extract in an acidic medium. Additionally, the P. lactiflora-treated C. albicans cells were mostly composed of less virulent pseudohyphae, and ruptured debris was found in the serum-containing medium. A quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that P. lactiflora downregulated the expression of C. albicans hypha-specific genes: ALS3 by 65% (p = 0.004), ECE1 by 34.9% (p = 0.001), HWP1 by 29.2% (p = 0.002), and SAP1 by 37.5% (p = 0.001), matching the microscopic analysis of the P. lactiflora action on biofilm formation. Therefore, the current findings demonstrate that the P. lactiflora ethanol extract is effective in inhibiting C. albicans biofilms in vitro, suggesting its therapeutic potential for the treatment of biofilm-associated infections.