• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.646-660
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• 2019

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone essential for seed development and seedling growth under unfavorable environmental conditions. The signaling pathway leading to ABA response has been established, but relatively little is known about the functional regulation of the constituent signaling components. Here, we present several lines of evidence that Arabidopsis Raf-like kinase Raf10 modulates the core ABA signaling downstream of signal perception step. In particular, Raf10 phosphorylates subclass III SnRK2s (SnRK2.2, SnRK2.3, and SnRK2.6), which are key positive regulators, and our study focused on SnRK2.3 indicates that Raf10 enhances its kinase activity and may facilitate its release from negative regulators. Raf10 also phosphorylates transcription factors (ABI5, ABF2, and ABI3) critical for ABA-regulted gene expression. Furthermore, Raf10 was found to be essential for the in vivo functions of SnRK2s and ABI5. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Raf10 is a novel regulatory component of core ABA signaling.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1606-1615
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• 2022

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of dietary supplemented propolis in two growing rabbit breeds on growth performance, immune response, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and cecal microflora composition. Methods: A total of 90 growing rabbits aged 6 weeks from two breeds (V-line and Jabali) were randomly allocated to 3 dietary propolis experimental treatments. The experimental treatments consisted of a 2×3 factorial arrangement with two rabbit breeds and three levels of dietary propolis supplementation (0, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg). Each sub-treatment has 15 rabbits. The experimental period lasted six weeks. Results: There were no significant differences in growth performance and carcass characteristics due to propolis administration. Propolis supplementation at a high level significantly increased (linear; p<0.05) cellular-mediated immunity compared with the unsupplemented group. Furthermore, the rabbits receiving propolis exhibited a significant increase (linear and quadratic; p<0.03) in IgM immunoglobulins compared to the control. The current study provides further evidence that the dietary inclusion of propolis can significantly reduce pathogenic bacterial colonization in growing rabbits. The total count of microflora, E. coli, and Salmonella spp. was significantly lower (linear; p<0.01) in supplemented rabbit groups compared to the control group according to the microbiological analysis of cecal digesta. Based on breed effect, the results indicated that Jabali rabbits (local) performed better than V-line rabbits (foreign) in the majority of the studied traits. Conclusion: Dietary propolis is promising for further investigation into improving intestinal health and enhancing immunity in growing rabbits.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1905-1917
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• 2023

Objective: Nanog homeobox (NANOG) is a core transcription factor that contributes to pluripotency along with octamer binding transcription factor-4 (OCT4) and sex determining region-Y box-2 (SOX2). It is an epiblast lineage marker in mammalian pre-implantation embryos and exhibits a species-specific expression pattern. Therefore, it is important to understand the lineage of NANOG, the trophectoderm, and the primitive endoderm in the pig embryo. Methods: A loss- and gain-of-function analysis was done to determine the role of NANOG in lineage specification in parthenogenetic porcine blastocysts. We analyzed the relationship between NANOG and pluripotent core transcription factors and other lineage makers. Results: In NANOG-null late blastocysts, OCT4-, SOX2-, and SOX17-positive cells were decreased, whereas GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6)-positive cells were increased. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression of SOX2 was decreased in NANOG-null blastocysts, whereas that of primitive endoderm makers, except SOX17, was increased. In NANOG-overexpressing blastocysts, caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2-), SOX17-, and GATA6-positive cells were decreased. The results indicated that the expression of primitive endoderm markers and trophectoderm-related genes was decreased. Conclusion: Taken together, the results demonstrate that NANOG is involved in the epiblast and primitive endoderm differentiation and is essential for maintaining pluripotency within the epiblast.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.402-407
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• 1995

Single-run Partial cDNA sequencing was conducted on 1,592 randomly selected human fetal liver cDNA clones of Korean origin to isolate novel genes related to liver functions. Each partial cDNA sequence determined was analyzed by comparing it with the databases. GenBank, Protein Information Resource (PIR) and SWISS-PROT Protein Sequence Data Bank. From a set of 1.592 cDNA clones reported here, 1,433 (90.0% of the total) were informative cDNA sequences. The other 159 clones were identified as DNA sequences which had originated from the cloning vector. Among 1,433 informative partial cDNA sequences, 851 (59.3%) clones were revealed to be identical to known human genes. These known genes have been classified into 225 different kinds of genes. In addition, 340 clones (23.7%) showed various degrees of homology to previously known human genes. Ninety four (6.6%) clones contained various repeated sequences. Twenty four (1.7%) partial cDNA sequences were found to have considerable homology to known genes from evolutionarily distant organism such as yeast, rice, Arabidopsis, mouse and rat, based on database matches, whereas 124 (8.7%) had no Significant matches. Human homologues to functionally characterized genes from different organisms could be classified as candidates for novel human genes of similar functions. Information from the partial cDNA sequences in this study may facilitate the analysis of genes expressed in human fetal liver.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.743-749
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• 2015

Production of genome-edited animals using germline-competent cells and genetic modification tools has provided opportunities for investigation of biological mechanisms in various organisms. The recently reported programmed genome editing technology that can induce gene modification at a target locus in an efficient and precise manner facilitates establishment of animal models. In this regard, the demand for genome-edited avian species, which are some of the most suitable model animals due to their unique embryonic development, has also increased. Furthermore, germline chimera production through longterm culture of chicken primordial germ cells (PGCs) has facilitated research on production of genome-edited chickens. Thus, use of avian germline modification is promising for development of novel avian models for research of disease control and various biological mechanisms. Here, we discuss recent progress in genome modification technology in avian species and its applications and future strategies.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2_spc
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• pp.350-363
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• 2023

Beef quality is characterized by marbling (marbling degree and marbling fineness), physiochemical (shear force, meat color, fat color, texture, and maturity), and sensory (tenderness, flavor, juiciness, taste, odor, and appearance) traits. This paper summarizes and addresses beef-quality characteristics and the beef-grading systems in Korea, Japan, the USA, and Australia. This paper summarizes recent research progresses on the genetic and nutritional factors that affect beef quality. Intramuscular (i.m.) adipose tissue deposition or marbling is a major determinant of beef quality. This paper addresses the mechanisms of i.m. adipose tissue deposition focused on adipogenesis and lipogenesis. We also address selected signaling pathways associated with i.m. adipose tissue deposition. Nutrients contribute to the cellular response and phenotypes through gene expression and metabolism. This paper addresses control of gene expression through several nutrients (carbohydrates, fat/fatty acids, vitamins, etc.) for i.m. adipose tissue deposition. Several transcription factors responsible for gene expression via nutrients are addressed. We introduce the concept of genome-based precision feeding in Korean cattle.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.323-327
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• 1983

The intercellular material was extracted from rice leaf tissue. The quantitative tests of protein and soluble carbohydrate, and activity of peroxidase, showed differences between tissue extract and intercellular material. Also electrophoretic patterns of peroxidase and esterase isozymes were not similar between them. It indicated that the intercellular material which was extracted, was not the mixture of cellular materials.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.802-810
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• 2007

Fibrobacter succinogenes, a Gram-negative, anaerobic ruminal bacterium is a major fibre digesting species in the rumen. It intensively degrades plant cell walls by an erosion type of mechanism, burrowing its way through the complex matrix of cellulose and hemicellulose with the release of digestible and undigested cell wall fragments. The enzymes involved in this process include a combination of glucanases, xylanases, arabinofuranosidase(s) and esterases. The genome of the bacterium has been sequenced and this has revealed in excess of 100 putative glycosyl hydrolase, pectate lyase and carbohydrate esterase genes, which is greater than the numbers reported present in other major cellulolytic organisms for which genomes have been sequenced. Modelling of the amino acid sequences of two glycanases, CedA and EGB, by reference to crystallized homologs has enabled prediction of the major features of their tertiary structures. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with mass spectroscopy has permitted the documentation of proteins over expressed in F. succinogenes grown on cellulose, and analysis of the cell surfaces of mutant strains unable to bind to cellulose has enabled the identification of candidate proteins with roles in adhesion to the plant cell wall substrate, the precursor to cellulose biodegradation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.599-605
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• 1995

The ultrastructures of in vitro-derived bovine blastocysts have been compared with those of blastocysts obtained from a superovulated cow. In vivo blastocysts obtained from the uterus showed well-differentiated features, while in vitro-derived embryos, which were developed from in vitro fertilized ovum, showed insufficient cellular organizations. In vitro-derived embryos contained many undefined cellular organizations in the perivitelline spaces compared with in vivo-derived blastocysts. Other features of in vivo and in vitro blastocysts were characterized by differential development of microvilli projection into blastocoele from the surface of the trophoblast cells. The conceivable reason for the difference between in vivo and in vitro developments of bovine embryos is that it is likely that in vitro culture system adopted in the present experiment may not be sufficient for better embryonic development.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.301-310
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• 2018

LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) contain an N-terminal DNA binding domain (DBD) and a C-terminal regulatory domain (RD). Typically, LTTRs function as homotetramers. VV2_1132 was identified in Vibrio vulnificus as an LTTR that is a homologue of HypT (also known as YjiE or QseD) in Escherichia coli. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of full-length VV2_1132 at a resolution of $2.2{\AA}$, thereby revealing a novel combination of the domains in the tetrameric assembly. Only one DBD dimer in the tetramer can bind to DNA, because the DNA binding motifs of the other DBD dimer are completely buried in the tetrameric assembly. Structural and functional analyses of VV2_1132 suggest that it might not perform the same role as E. coli HypT, indicating that further study is required to elucidate the function of this gene in V. vulnificus. The unique structure of VV2_1132 extends our knowledge of LTTR function and mechanisms of action.