• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2020

During the monitoring of fungal pests in 2016 and 2017, Acrodontium crateriforme, Naganishia friedmannii, Pestalotiopsis trachicarpicola, Penicillium wollemiicola, and Trichoderma thailandicum were isolated from indoor air, mushroom flies (Phytosciara flavipes), and media materials in the cultivation houses of oak wood mushroom (Lentinula edodes) located in Seocheon, Jangheung, Buyeo, and Yeoju, Korea. These fungal species were identified based on their morphological characteristics after their growth on PDA and subsequent molecular analyses of the 26S rDNA, 28S rDNA, β-tubulin gene, and translation elongation factor 1-α gene using PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing were performed. The results showed that these fungi were previously undocumented in Korea. This study reports descriptions of their taxonomical and known properties.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1021-1030
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• 2024

Objective: R-loops are DNA:RNA triplex hybrids, and their metabolism is tightly regulated by transcriptional regulation, DNA damage response, and chromatin structure dynamics. R-loop homeostasis is dynamically regulated and closely associated with gene transcription in mouse zygotes. However, the factors responsible for regulating these dynamic changes in the R-loops of fertilized mouse eggs have not yet been investigated. This study examined the functions of candidate factors that interact with R-loops during zygotic gene activation. Methods: In this study, we used publicly available next-generation sequencing datasets, including low-input ribosome profiling analysis and polymerase II chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq), to identify potential regulators of R-loop dynamics in zygotes. These datasets were downloaded, reanalyzed, and compared with mass spectrometry data to identify candidate factors involved in regulating R-loop dynamics. To validate the functions of these candidate factors, we treated mouse zygotes with chemical inhibitors using in vitro fertilization. Immunofluorescence with an anti-R-loop antibody was then performed to quantify changes in R-loop metabolism. Results: We identified DEAD-box-5 (DDX5) and histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) as candidates that potentially regulate R-loop metabolism in oocytes, zygotes and two-cell embryos based on change of their gene translation. Our analysis revealed that the DDX5 inhibition of activity led to decreased R-loop accumulation in pronuclei, indicating its involvement in regulating R-loop dynamics. However, the inhibition of histone deacetylase-2 activity did not significantly affect R-loop levels in pronuclei. Conclusion: These findings suggest that dynamic changes in R-loops during mouse zygote development are likely regulated by RNA helicases, particularly DDX5, in conjunction with transcriptional processes. Our study provides compelling evidence for the involvement of these factors in regulating R-loop dynamics during early embryonic development.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.418-427
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• 2020

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), the pathogen of black rot which is the most destructive disease of Brassica vegetables throughout the world. Here, we reported two novel sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers (i.e., XccR6-60 and XccR6-67) for the detection of Xcc race 6 via re-alignment of the complete genome sequences of Xcc races/strains/pathovars. The specificity of SCAR primer sets was verified by mean of PCR amplification using the genomic DNA template of Xcc races/strains/pathovars and two other plant infecting bacterial strains. The PCR result revealed that the XccR6-60 and XccR6-67 primer sets amplified 692-bp and 917-bp DNA fragments, respectively, specifically from race 6, while no visible amplification was detected in other samples. In addition, the SCAR primers were highly sensitive and can detect from a very low concentration of genomic DNA of Xcc race 6. However, the complete genome sequence of Xcc race 6 is not yet publicly available. Therefore, the cloning and sequencing of XccR6-60 and XccR6-67 fragments from race 6 provide more evidence of the specificity of these markers. These results indicated that the newly developed SCAR markers can successfully, effectively and rapidly detect Xcc race 6 from other Xcc races/strains/pathovars as well as other plant pathogenic bacteria. This is the first report for race-specific molecular markers for Xcc race 6.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2014

Lichen studies, including biodiversity, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation concerns require definitive species identification, however many lichens can be challenging to identify at the species level. Molecular techniques have shown efficacy in discriminating among lichen taxa, however, obtaining genomic DNA from herbarium and fresh lichen thalli by conventional methods has been difficult, because lichens contain high proteins, polysaccharides, and other complex compounds in their cell walls. Here we report a rapid, easy, and inexpensive protocol for extracting PCR-quality DNA from various lichen species. This method involves the following two steps: first, cell breakage using a beadbeater; and second, extraction, isolation, and precipitation of genomic DNA. The procedure requires approximately 10 mg of lichen thalli and can be completed within 20 min. The obtained DNAs were of sufficient quality and quantity to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region from the fungal and algal lichen components, as well as to sequence the amplified products. In addition, 26 different lichen taxa were tested, resulting in successful PCR products. The results of this study validated the experimental protocols, and clearly demonstrated the efficacy and value of our KCl extraction method applied in the fungal and algal samples.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.182-186
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• 2004

Morphological observation of roots and molecular technique were used to investigate the symbiotic relationships between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and ginseng roots. Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng, was collected from 8 sites in Korea. Colonization pattern of AM fungi in ginseng roots was determined as an Arum type under light microscopes. Nested PCR using AM fungal specific primers was employed to amplify a partial region on 18s rDNA of AM fungi from the root extracted mixed DNA. The amplified DNA was cloned and analyzed by random fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with restriction enzymes, AluI, HinfI and AsuC21. One from each RFLP pattern was selected for sequencing. A total 16 clones were sequenced and identified as 2 species of AM fungi; Paraglomus brasilianum and Glomus spurcum. Paramglomus brasilianum was found from most of the ginseng roots, in this syudy suggesting that this species of AM fungi could have specific relationship with the ginseng root. Possible roles of AM fungal species in ginseng roots are discussed.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2015

Two heterotrichid ciliates, Climacostomum virens (Ehrenberg, 1838) Stein, 1859 from brackish water and freshwater, and Fabrea salina Henneguy, 1890 from a solar saltern, were collected in Korea. They are novelly investigated in Korea by means of live observation, protargol staining and nuclear small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequencing. Climacostomum virens is characterized by pouch-like body shape, body length of $200-370{\mu}m$ in vivo, conspicuous cytopharyngeal tube, macronuclei ribbon-like shape, and one to four in number, with or without symbiont algae in cytoplasm, 34-66 somatic kineties, 67-113 adoral zone of membranelles, 8-42 peristomial kineties, 24-37 apical membranelles. SSU rDNA sequence size is 1,591 bp and GC contents 48.52%. Fabrea salina is also characterized by scoop-like body shape with proboscis, body length of $190-240{\mu}m$ in vivo, one to two rod-shaped macronuclei, oval micronuclei, grayish green cortical granules, 104-186 somatic kineties, 4-8 preoral kineties, 7-19 peristomial kineties and fragmented paroral membrane. SSU rDNA sequence size is 1,598 bp and GC contents 47.50%.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.238-244
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• 2007

Nowadays many people are concerned about being healthy, and many dairy products are taken as health supplementary foods. Among dairy products, kefir, also called as Tibet mushroom, is a yogurt fermented by kefir grain, which is a mixture of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Although there are many empirical evidences that kefir is very influential for human body, the exact reason is not definitively discovered. Therefore, it would be useful to understand characteristics of a kefir grain and to categorize bacteria in a kefir grain. In this paper, molecular biological apparatus such as PCR, electrophoresis, PCR purification, DNA sequencing were used to identify and classify the species of lactic acid bacteria and yeast in a kefir grain. We used PCR-based identification method using 16S rRNA primer and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) primer. We identified 6 different species which were selected on different medium. In addition, observation with scanning electron microscope (SEM) enabled us to grasp an external shape of the kefir grain. Although we found a limited number of microbial species, more intensive research are needed for extensive identification of microorganism species in Korean kefir grain.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.322-328
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• 2010

Fermented skate is a traditional Korean food popular in Southwestern area of Korea. It has a characteristic flavor and alkaline pH. In this study we tried to determine the microbial flora in fermented skate using two different approaches. In culture-independent method, we amplified V2 region of 16S rRNA gene by PCR and cloned them into pUC18 plasmid to construct 16S rDNA fragment library. BLAST searches for the sequences obtained from this library revealed that uncultured bacterium clone 054E11.b was the most dominant flora in this fermented fish. In culture-dependent method, we diluted suspension of skate and spreaded on MRS, PCA, and MacConkey plates. We identified colonies grown on those plates by using PCR amplification of V2 region of 16S rRNA and DNA sequencing. BLAST searches of those DNA sequences resulted in totally different species with the observations from the 16S rDNA library analysis. Discrepancies of results obtained from both approaches suggest that the agar plates used in culture-dependent method may be different from the real condition of fermented skate. Therefore, results from culture-independent approach using 16S rDNA fragment library analysis may reflect real microbial flora in fermented skate.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.127-145
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• 2011

Various environmental ecosystems are valuable sources for microbial ecology studies, and their analyses using recently developed molecular ecological approaches have drawn significant attention within the scientific community. Changes in the microbial community structures due to various anthropogenic activities can be evaluated by various culture-independent methods e.g. ARISA, DGGE, SSCP, T-RFLP, clone library, pyrosequencing, etc. Direct amplification of total community DNA and amplification of most conserved region (16S rRNA) are common initial steps, followed by either fingerprinting or sequencing analysis. Fingerprinting methods are relatively quicker than sequencing analysis in evaluating the changes in the microbial community. Being an efficient, sensitive and time- and cost effective method, T-RFLP is regularly used by many researchers to access the microbial diversity. Among various fingerprinting methods T-RFLP became an important tool in studying the microbial community structure because of its sensitivity and reproducibility. In this present review, we will discuss the important developments in T-RFLP methodology to distinguish the total microbial diversity and community composition in the various ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2010

The status of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal colonization in Pinus thunbergii seedlings was investigated 2 years after planting in an eastern coastal area of Korea. We established three $10{\times}10$ m plots at a P. thunbergii plantation in Gangneung and sampled lateral roots from 10 seedlings in each plot. ECMs were classified into morphological groups and the number of root tips of each morphotype was counted. In total, 8 ECM morphotypes were observed and fungal species that form each morphotype were identified by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear rDNA. Suillus granulatus was the most abundant species (44.1-65.7% of relative abundance) in all plots, followed by Tomentella ellisii (14.0-37.8%) and unidentified fungus belonged to Atheliaceae (10.6-20.1%). These 3 fungal species accounted for almost all of the ECM abundance in each plot (94.9-99.8%). The remaining 5 fungal species were uncommon and rare. There was no clear difference in ECM fungal communities among plots. Community structure of ECM fungi in the young P. thunbergii plantation was simple and composed of fungal species that were also observed in mature coastal pine forests.