• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2017

The transcriptional activator AphB has been implicated in acid resistance and pathogenesis in the food borne pathogens Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio cholerae. To date, the full-length AphB crystal structure of V. cholerae has been determined and characterized by a tetrameric assembly of AphB consisting of a DNA binding domain and a regulatory domain (RD). Although acidic pH and low oxygen tension might be involved in the activation of AphB, it remains unknown which ligand or stimulus activates AphB at the molecular level. In this study, we determine the crystal structure of the AphB RD from V. vulnificus under aerobic conditions without modification at the conserved cysteine residue of the RD, even in the presence of the oxidizing agent cumene hydroperoxide. A cysteine to serine amino acid residue mutant RD protein further confirmed that the cysteine residue is not involved in sensing oxidative stress in vitro. Interestingly, an unidentified small molecule was observed in the inter-subdomain cavity in the RD when the crystal was incubated with cumene hydroperoxide molecules, suggesting a new ligand-binding site. In addition, we confirmed the role of AphB in acid tolerance by observing an aphB-dependent increase in cadC transcript level when V. vulnificus was exposed to acidic pH. Our study contributes to the understanding of the AphB molecular mechanism in the process of recognizing the host environment.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.564-577
• /
• 2016

Salinity stress limits plant cultivation in many areas worldwide; however, persimmon (Diospyros spp.) has high tolerance to salt. Five accessions of Diospyros [three of Diospyros lotus (accession numbers 824, 846, and 847); one of Diospyros kaki var. sylvestris (869); and one of Diospyros virginiana (844)] were chosen for analysis of salinity stress. We compared the effects of salt stress on plant growth, relative water content (RWC), malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide content ($H_2O_2$), and antioxidative enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; peroxidase, POD; and ascorbate peroxidase, APX) in leaves of healthy potted seedlings from each of the five accessions after salt treatment for 25 days. Salt stress affected the growth of plants in all five accessions, with all three D. lotus accessions showing the most severe effect. Salt stress increased membrane lipid peroxidation in all accessions, but a stronger increase was observed in the three D. lotus accessions. Moreover, accumulation of $H_2O_2$ was faster in salt-sensitive D. lotus compared to salt-tolerant D. virginiana 844. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes increased in D. virginiana 844 and in D. kaki var. sylvestris 869; the activities of SOD, CAT, and APX were at similar levels in D. virginiana 844 and D. kaki var. sylvestris 869, but POD activity was stimulated to a greater extent in D. virginiana 844. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes (except POD) decreased in D. lotus 824 and increased (except for SOD) in D.lotus 846. The activities of SOD and APX decreased in D. lotus 847, whereas POD and CAT activities both increased. Relative water content decreased significantly in D. lotus. No significant changes in lipid peroxidation or relevant antioxidant parameters were detected in any of the accessions in controls treated with 0.0% NaCl. D. virginiana 844 had higher antioxidant capacity in response to salinity compared to other persimmon rootstocks. These results indicate that changes of these key physiological variables are related to salinity resistance in different accessions of persimmon.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.65 no.2
• /
• pp.104-112
• /
• 2020

Maize is thought to be an alternative crop to rice in paddy fields for efficient field management and maintenance of rice production at appropriate levels in Korea. Thus efforts to breed waterlogging-tolerant maize cultivars have been ongoing. However, molecular studies related to waterlogging tolerance are limited for developing molecular markers to select waterlogging tolerant maize varieties. In this study, we examined molecular biological changes of B73 in the V3 stage after immersion treatment for 7 days. Overall growth of maize was lower in treated samples compared to non-immersed control samples. The length of leaf and root decreased by 21.3% and 50.6%, respectively and the weight of root reduced by 21.6%. Soil plant analysis development (SPAD) value and chlorophyll content of leaf also decreased by 55.7% and 35.3%, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) content of root increased by 46.5% at 2 hours in immersion treatment. In addition, immersed roots were 2.5-fold thickened with additional aerenchyma formation in the cortex. In order to identify the causes of these changes, we performed a microarray and found increased expression of genes, such as WIP1, PMIP2, EXPA1, TPS1, and MAS1, in immersed samples. These differentially expressed genes and expression of previously reported genes, including ALDH2, Wusl1032, UP-1, UP-2, and CAT2 were further confirmed with qRT-PCR. Here, we report 7 differentially expressed genes after immersing treatment, which may be utilized as useful resources for breeding waterlogging- tolerant maize.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.7
• /
• pp.1167-1179
• /
• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to fathom the underlying mechanisms of nutrition intervention and redox sensitive transcription factors regulated by Antrodia cinnamomea fermented product (FAC) dietary supplementation in broiler chickens. Methods: Four hundreds d-old broilers (41±0.5 g/bird) assigned to 5 groups were examined after consuming control diet, or control diet replaced with 5% wheat bran (WB), 10% WB, 5% FAC, and 10% FAC. Liver mRNA expression of antioxidant, inflammatory and lipid metabolism pathways were analyzed. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) concentration in each group were tested in the chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) of 35-d old broilers to represent the stress level of the chickens. Furthermore, these cells were stimulated with 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to evaluate the cell stress tolerance by measuring cell viability and oxidative species. Results: Heme oxygenase-1, glutathione S-transferase, glutamate-cysteine ligase, catalytic subunit, and superoxide dismutase, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) that regulates the above antioxidant genes were all up-regulated significantly in FAC groups. Reactive oxygen species modulator protein 1 and NADPH oxygenase 1 were both rather down-regulated in 10% FAC group as comparison with two WB groups. Despite expressing higher level than control group, birds receiving diet containing FAC had significantly lower expression level in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and other genes (inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-richcontaining family, pyrin domain-containing-3, and cyclooxygenase 2) involving in inflammatory pathways. Additionally, except for 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase that showed relatively higher in both groups, the WB, lipoprotein lipase, Acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid binding protein, fatty acid desaturase 2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha genes were expressed at higher levels in 10% FAC group. In support of above results, promoted Nrf2 and inhibited NF-κB nuclear translocation in chicken liver were found in FAC containing groups. H₂O₂ and NO levels induced by LPS and AAPH in cPBMCs were compromised in FAC containing diet. In 35-d-old birds, PGE₂ production in cPBMCs was also suppressed by the FAC diet. Conclusion: FAC may promote Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and positively regulate lipid metabolism, both are potential inhibitor of NF-κB inflammatory pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2017.06a
• /
• pp.337-337
• /
• 2017

Accurate and optimal water supply to cereal crop is critical in growing stalks and producing maximum yields. Excessive soil moisture may cause nutrient deficiencies and oxygen deficiency. Excessive soil water during crop growth stages results in decrease of yields. In Korea, the largest agricultural lands are paddy fields. Recently, upland crops are cultivated in paddy field soils to reduce overproduced rice in Korea. In order to success this policy, it is necessary to fully understand crop response to excessive soil moisture condition from paddy field soils. Adzuki bean is one of major legumes which provide protein in daily diet. Adzuki bean has been well know its weakness to excessive soil moisture condition, In order to obtain optimal yields of adzuki bean from paddy field cultivation, it is necessary to understand response of adzuki bean under different soil moisture conditions. This study investigated characteristics of growths, yields and response degree of water stress from adzuki bean. Three cultivars were selected for this study; Chungju, Hongeon, and Arari. All adzuki beans were cultivated in a paddy field which was divided into three sections with different soil moistures. The paddy field was located in Milyang, Gyeongsangnam during 2016. One section of the paddy field had the greatest average soil moisture content as 35.1% during adzuki bean cultivation (very poor). The second greatest soil moisture section had 32.6% (somewhat poor) and the smallest soil moisture section had 28.9% of soil moisture (somewhat well). During cultivation of three cultivar adzuki beans, soil moisture contents and groundwater levels were monitored. All the characteristics of growth and yield components were measured; height, thickness, 100 seed weights etc. Stress index values were calculated by Stress Day Index (SDI). All cultivars had the greatest yields from somewhat well section. Chungju had the greatest yields throughout all three sections compared to other cultivars. Chungju had 81% greater yield than Hongeon which had the smallest yield from somewhat well section. Arari set in middle from all sections. However there was no significant differences yields from very poor and somewhat poor sections. Leaf SPAD values tended to decrease and stable carbon isotope values increased as soil moisture increased. However, Chungju had no difference across different soil moistures in SPAD and stable carbon isotope values, while Hongeon had the greatest differences across sections. These trends followed by SDI values. Chungju had the smallest SDI values compared to other cultivars, which meant that Chungju was the strongest tolerance against excessive soil moisture than other cultivars. All three cultivars showed severe decrease of yields from very poor and somewhat poor sections. Arari and Hongeon showed great decrease from somewhat well section compared to yields from upland soil. These two cultivars may not be proper cultivating in paddy fields. In conclusion, adzuki bean is very sensitive to soil moisture condition and detailed soil managements are required to obtain optimal yields of adzuki bean from paddy field cultivation.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.51-62
• /
• 1995

It has been well known that ischemia and reperfusion injury to skeletal muscle following an acute arterial occlusion causes significant morbidity and mortality. The skeletal muscle, which contains high energy phosphate compounds, has ischemic tolerance. During the ischemia, the ATP is catalyzed to hypoxanthine anaerobically and hypoxanthine dehydrogenase is converted to xanthine oxidase. During reperfusion, the hypoxanthine is catalyzed to xanthine by xanthine oxidase under $O_2$, presence and that results in production of cytotoxic oxygen free radicals. These cytotoxic free radicals, $O_2^-,\;H_{2}O_2,\;OH^-$, are toxic and make lesions in skeletal muscle during reperfusion. The authors perform the present study to investigate the effects of allopurinol, the inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, on reperfused ischemic skeletal muscles by observing the ultrastructural changes of the muscle fibers. A total of 48 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats weighing from 200 g to 250 g were used as experimental animals. Under urethane(3.0mg/kg., IP) anesthesia, lower abdominal incision was done and the left common iliac artery were ligated by using vascular clamp for 1, 2 and 6 hours. The left rectus femoris muscles were obtained at 6 hours after the removal of vascular clamp. In the allopurinol pretreated group, 50mg/kg of allopurinol was administered once a day for 2 days and before 2 hours of ischemia. The specimens were sliced into $1mm^3$ and prepared by routine methods for electron microscopic observations. All preparations were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and then observed with Hitachi -600 transmission electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In 1 hour ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats, decreased glycogen particles and electron density of mitochondrial matrix and dilated terminal cisternae are seen. In 2 hours ischemia/6 hours repersed rectus femoris muscles of rats, mitochondria with electron lucent matrix, irregularly dilated triad and spheromembranous bodies are observed. In 6 hours ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats, irregularly arranged myofibrils, and many spheromembranous bodies, fat droplets and lysosome are seen. 2. In 1 hour ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats pretreated with allopurinol, decreased glycogen particle and dilated cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum and triad are observed. In 2 hours ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats pretreated with allopurinol decreased electron density of mitochondrial matrix and spheromembranous bodies are seen. In 6 hours ischemia/6 hours reperfused rectus femoris muscles of rats pretreated with allopurinol, mitochondria with electron lucent matrix, spheromembranous bodies and dilated cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum and terminal cistern are observed. The results suggest that the allopurinol attenuates the damages of the skeletal muscles of rats during ischemia and reperfusion.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.299-307
• /
• 1988

Several experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of external factors on germination and emergence of Eclipta prostrata (L.)L. The weight of viable achenes doubled as a result of 90 minutes soaking in water. The germination of E. prostrata was significantly improved by alternating temperatures. At a constant temperature of $35^{\circ}C$, only 78% of the achenes germination, whereas at alternating temperatures of 35/$20^{\circ}C$, 96.5% of the achenes germinated. E. prostrata was more sensitive than rice to moisture stress. No germination of E. prostrata achenes occurred in the absence of oxygen. No germination of E. prostrata achenes occurred in the dark or when they were exposed to green, blue, and far-red light. Germination of E. prostrata achenes was influenced by the duration of illumination after absorption of water. Ten hours of illumination was needed for maximum germination and 2 hours for 50% germination. No significant changes in germination of E. prostrata achenes were observed between pH 3 and 10. A high tolerance of E. prostrata achenes to salt was observed. Emergence of E. prostrata achenes was greatly affected by planting depth. In the upland soil, 74.0% of the achenes planted on the soil surface germinated, and no emergence was at planting depths of 0.5 cm or greater.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.400-405
• /
• 2005

Wet-injury often occurs in upland cereals growing in the paddy field due to oxygen deficiency in the rhizosphere caused by excessive water in the soil. Under hypoxia, energy metabolism is diminished causing non­reversible damage to root cells. This study was conducted to investigate effects of hypoxia on root growth and enzymes involved in the fermentative energy metabolism in upland cereals including barley, wheat, rye and triticale. Young seedlings were subject to hypoxia for up to 7 days. Root fresh weight and dry weight were decreased significantly by hypoxia for 5 to 7 days in all cereal seedlings. Root growth retardation under hypoxia was lowest in barley. Hypoxia-induced increases in activity and isozyme expression of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were commonly observed in roots of all cereal seedlings. The inherent ADH activity levels were higher in barley but the hypoxia-induced increases in ADH activities were lowest in barley than other cereals. The inherent LDH activity levels were lower in barley and the hypoxia-induced increases in LDH activities were lower in barley than other cereals. The results suggest the importance of the rapid enhancement of fermentative enzyme systems for increased tolerance to hypoxia.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.140-146
• /
• 2008

Marine ecotoxicological standard method using fish larvae was established with the standard test species of Oryzias latipes(Japanese Medaka) and Paralichthys olivaceus(flounder) and with the 7 day $LC_{50}$ as endpoint. Test method referred to the USEPA(1994) with the replacement of test species found in the Korean water. Standard test species were selected in terms of the species supply and ecological importance in Korean waters. Japanese medaka can be reared with small tanks in the lab and has wide tolerance on salinity, and flounder eggs can be easily obtained from commercial fish hatcheries. General conditions for larval fish toxicity test are as follows. The possible salinity ranges for toxicity test were $0{\sim}35\;psu$ for medaka and >20 psu for flounder. Test type was designated as static non-renewal test if the dissolved oxygen in the test chamber does not fall below 4.0 mg/L. Ages of test species were selected as 7 days after hatched for medaka(about 5 mm TL) and 25 days for flounder(about 10 mm TL) because of the low natural mortality after these periods. Test can be accepted when the survival rates are over 80% in control. Also, species sensitivity on standard reference materials(copper, cadmium or zinc) must be provided with the toxicity test results.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.305-319
• /
• 2022

The community temperature index (CTI) reflects the temperature and environmental preferences of the community. We investigated the distribution patterns of major aquatic insect assemblages (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera; EPT) based on CTI in streams of South Korea. We selected unpolluted 151 study sites at upper streams(less than 3^rd) with less than 1.5 mg L^-1 of biochemical oxygen demand. Study sites were clustered into six groups based on the similarities of their EPT composition. All three orders showed a continuous decrease in the number of species as CTI increased, especially in Plecoptera. In addition, the functional feeding groups were also significantly changed according the CTI changes. Temperature tolerance range of each group's indicator species varied according to the CTI of the group. Finally, changes of CTI reflected differences of EPT assemblages according to the differences of environmental condition including temperature. Therefore, CTI can be applied to the evaluation and preservation of stream ecosystems and prediction of community changes due to climate change.