• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.660-672
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• 2022

The target of rapamycin complex (TORC) plays a key role in plant cell growth and survival by regulating the gene expression and metabolism according to environmental information. TORC activates transcription, mRNA translation, and anabolic processes under favorable conditions, thereby promoting plant growth and development. Tomato fruit ripening is a complex developmental process promoted by ethylene and specific transcription factors. TORC is known to modulate leaf senescence in tomato. In this study, we investigated the function of TORC in tomato fruit ripening using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of the TORC genes, TOR, lethal with SEC13 protein 8 (LST8), and regulatory-associated protein of TOR (RAPTOR). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of tomato TORC genes were the highest in the orange stage during fruit development in Micro-Tom tomato. VIGS of these TORC genes using stage 2 tomato accelerated fruit ripening with premature orange/red coloring and decreased fruit growth, when control tobacco rattle virus 2 (TRV2)-myc fruits reached the mature green stage. TORC-deficient fruits showed early accumulation of carotenoid lycopene and reduced cellulose deposition in pericarp cell walls. The early ripening fruits had higher levels of transcripts related to fruit ripening transcription factors, ethylene biosynthesis, carotenoid synthesis, and cell wall modification. Finally, the early ripening phenotype in Micro-Tom tomato was reproduced in the commercial cultivar Moneymaker tomato by VIGS of the TORC genes. Collectively, these results demonstrate that TORC plays an important role in tomato fruit ripening by modulating the transcription of various ripening-related genes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2021

Oryzalin is a dinitroaniline herbicide that has been known to disrupt microtubules. Microtubules and microfilaments are components of cytoskeletons that are implicated in plant cell growth, which requires the synthesis of cellulose when cell walls elongate. In addition, microtubules are also involved in the sedimentation of statoliths, which regulate the perception of gravity in the columella cells of root tips. In this study, we investigated the effect of oryzalin on the growth and gravitropic response of Arabidopsis roots. The role of ethylene in oryzalin's effect was also examined using these roots. Treatment of oryzalin at a concentration of 10-4 M completely inhibited the roots' growth and gravitropic response. At a concentration of 10-6 M oryzalin, root growth was inhibited by 47% at 8 hr when compared to control. Gravitropic response was inhibited by about 38% compared to control in roots treated with 10-6 M oryzalin for 4 hr. To understand the role of oryzalin in the regulation of root growth and gravitropic response, we measured ethylene production in root segments treated with oryzalin. It was found that the addition of oryzalin stimulated ethylene production through the activation of ACC oxidase and ACC synthase genes, which are key components in the synthesis of ethylene. From these findings, it can be inferred that oryzalin inhibits the growth and gravitropic response of Arabidopsis roots by stimulating ethylene production. The increased ethylene alters the arrangement of the microtubules, which eventually interferes with the growth of the cell wall.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 1998

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was purified from the culture broth of the Bacillus firmus var. alkalophilus, using ultrafiltration, starch adsorption/desorption, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Sephacryl HR-100. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was determined as 77,000 by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for the CD synthesis were 6.0 and 5$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity of this enzyme was stably kept at the range of pH 6.0～9.5 and up to 5$0^{\circ}C$. However, in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$, the optimum temperature for CD synthesis was shifted 55~6$0^{\circ}C$ and this enzyme was stable up to 6$0^{\circ}C$ because of the stabilizing effect of $Ca^{2+}$. The purified CGTase produced CDs with high conversion yields of 45~51% from sweet potato starch, com starch and amylopectin as substrate, especially, and the product ratio of $\beta$-CD to ${\gamma}$-CD was obtained at range of from 5.8:1 to 8.4:1 according to the kind of substrate. The purified enzyme produced mainly $\beta$-CD without accumulation of $\alpha$-CD during enzyme reaction using various starches as the substrate, indicating that the purified enzyme is the typical $\beta$-CGTase. The purified CGTase produced 25 g/l of CDs from 5.0% (w/v) liquefied com starch and the conversion yield of CDs was 50%, and the content of $\beta$-CD was 84% of total CDs after 8 hours under the optimum reaction condition.ion.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1722-1727
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• 2006

The nutritive value of 4 straws, obtained after thrashing of seeds from fodder crops, was assessed as complete feed for ruminants. Sixteen male Murrah buffaloes (liveweight 365.8${\pm}$19.5 kg), were divided into 4 equal groups and offered ad lib. straw of either Trifolium resupinatum, Trifolium alexandrium, Medicago sativa or Lolium perenne, supplemented with minerals and vitamin A, for 40 days in a completely randomized design. Simultaneously, each straw was offered to 3 rumen fistulated male buffaloes in order to assess the biochemical changes in the rumen. Compared to other straws M. sativa straw had higher (p<0.05) organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), acid-detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose content. L .perenne had the highest (p<0.05) hemicellulose and lowest (p<0.05) CP and acid-detergent lignin (ADL) content. T. resupinatum had the lowest concentration of cell wall constituents (CWC). The digestibility of nutrients of T. resupinatum and L. perenne straw was similar, but higher (p<0.05) than that of other straws. M.sativa straw showed highest (p<0.05) digestibility of CP. The highest OM digestibility of T. resupinatum and CP digestibility of M. sativa were responsible for highest (p<0.05) total volatile fatty acids and trichloroacetic acid precipitable nitrogen in the strained rumen liquor. The digestible crude protein (DCP) was highest (p<0.05) in M. sativa followed by that in T. alexandrium. The total purine derivatives excreted in urine varied from 0.22-0.32 mmol/kg $W^{.75}/d$. The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis indicated that OM of straws of M. sativa and that of T. alexandrium was used more (p<0.05) efficiently. The microbial protein synthesized was highest in T. resupinatum, but statistically similar to other groups. The values for N-retention and apparent biological value were highest for L. perenne, though comparable with that of M. sativa and T. alexandrium. The available metabolizable energy (ME) was highest (p<0.05) in T. resupinatum followed by that in L. perenne and lowest in M. sativa. It was concluded that all the straws, supplemented with minerals and vitamin A, could be fed exclusively to adult ruminants with no adverse affect, as animals were able to maintain body weight (372${\pm}$20.1 kg).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.957-966
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• 2017

Objective: To understand the dynamic structure, function, and influence on nutrient metabolism in hosts, it was crucial to assess the genetic potential of gut microbial community in yaks of different ages. Methods: The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles and Illumina-based metagenomic sequencing on colon contents of 15 semi-domestic yaks were investigated. Unweighted pairwise grouping method with mathematical averages (UPGMA) clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the DGGE fingerprint. The Illumina sequences were assembled, predicted to genes and functionally annotated, and then classified by querying protein sequences of the genes against the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) database. Results: Metagenomic sequencing showed that more than 85% of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences belonged to the phylum Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, indicating that the family Ruminococcaceae (46.5%), Rikenellaceae (11.3%), Lachnospiraceae (10.0%), and Bacteroidaceae (6.3%) were dominant gut microbes. Over 50% of non-rRNA gene sequences represented the metabolic pathways of amino acids (14.4%), proteins (12.3%), sugars (11.9%), nucleotides (6.8%), lipids (1.7%), xenobiotics (1.4%), coenzymes, and vitamins (3.6%). Gene functional classification showed that most of enzyme-coding genes were related to cellulose digestion and amino acids metabolic pathways. Conclusion: Yaks' age had a substantial effect on gut microbial composition. Comparative metagenomics of gut microbiota in 0.5-, 1.5-, and 2.5-year-old yaks revealed that the abundance of the class Clostridia, Bacteroidia, and Lentisphaeria, as well as the phylum Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Lentisphaerae, Tenericutes, and Cyanobacteria, varied more greatly during yaks' growth, especially in young animals (0.5 and 1.5 years old). Gut microbes, including Bacteroides, Clostridium, and Lentisphaeria, make a contribution to the energy metabolism and synthesis of amino acid, which are essential to the normal growth of yaks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.951-957
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• 2004

Hypoglycemic effect of Prunus mume (PM) extract containing in Sangjinyangheul-tang and Hwangkeumtang, one of the diabetic herbal medicines, was determined by investigating insulin-like action, insulin sensitizing action and a-glucoamylase suppressing action. Insulin-like activity of 3T3-L1 fibroblast was not shown with the treatment of PM methanol extracts. However, treatment with 20% or 40% PM methanol extracts and differentiation inducers significantly decreased the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to adipocytes. A significant insulin sensitizing activity was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, giving PM extracts (60%, 80% and 100%) with 1 ng/mL insulin to reach glucose uptake level increased by 50 ng/mL of insulin alone. In addition, 20% and 40% methanol extracts of PM suppressed the a-glucoamylase activity by 30% in vitro. However, there was no significant differences in the peak of serum glucose levels and area under the curve in Sprague Dawley male rats treated with PM ethanol extract or cellulose and 2 g maltose or dextrin/kg body weight. These data suggested that PM extracts contain effective insulin sensitizing compounds, lipid synthesis suppressing compounds and possibly a-glucoamylase suppressing compounds. Therefore, PM extracts are beneficial for anti-diabetic treatment in obese diabetic patients.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.44-52
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• 2018

In this study, copper was recovered from copper containing sludge by selectively controlling electro-refining process conditions in copper sulfate electrolyte solution. Electro-refining process was performed by LSV (Linear Sweep Voltammetry) result according to copper sulfate electrolyte solution concentration, applied current density, additive type and concentration. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and PSA (Particle Size Analyzer) were used to analyze the shape and size of copper powder. In the 0.1 ~ 0.4 M copper sulfate electrolyte solution without organic additives, the copper powder size decreased as the applied current density became closer to the limiting current density and the copper powder size tended to decrease in 0.2 ~ 0.3 M copper sulfate electrolyte solution. In addition, when the shape and size of the copper powder were analyzed by adding various types and concentrations of organic additives to the previous experimental, fine spherical copper powder having the smallest size (nm) was obtained under the condition of cellulose type additive 2,000 ppm.