The lutropin/chorionicgonadotropin receptor (LHR) is a member of the rhodopsin-like subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that have been shown to mediate the internalization of its five (activation: three; inactivation: two) naturally occurring mutation. Gonadotropin receptors are members of the seven transmembrane (TM) receptor families. Several point mutations in TM II, III, V and VI have been identified in the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) gene, leading to constitutive activation and inactivation of the receptor. In eelLHR, we generated 3 types of constitutive activating mutations (M410T, L469R and D590Y) and 2 types of constitutive inactivating mutations (D383N and Y546F) to investigate how they work on hormone-receptor interaction. To assess the functional effects of 5 receptor mutations directly, wild-type (WT) and mutant receptors were transiently expressed in CHO-K1 cells. We evaluated the basal and cAMP stimulation by rec-LH hormone. The activity was shown to be a dose-dependent increase in cAMP production in LHR-WT expressing cells with an EC50 of 24.3 ng/ml and basal cAMP level of 2.6 nM. However, three activation mutants (D590Y, L469R and M410T) was most elevated the basal cAMP response at 12.8, 21.7 and 6.1 nM, respectively. In two inactivation mutants (D383N and Y546F) are very low in the basal cAMP activation. The EC50 was also considerably decreased to 42.3 ng/ml and 1181 ng/ml, respectively.

Sow longevity is important for efficient and profitable pig farming. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in social genetic effect (SGE) of pigs on stress-tolerance and behavior. The present study aimed to estimate genetic correlations among average daily gain (ADG), stayability (STAY), and number of piglets born alive at the first parity (NBA1) in Korean Yorkshire pigs, using the SGE model. The phenotypic records of ADG and reproductive traits of 33,120 and 11,654 pigs, respectively, were evaluated. The direct effect on ADG had a significantly negative genetic relationship with STAY, whereas the social effect on ADG had a neutral genetic relationship. In addition, the genetic correlation between the social effects on ADG and NBA1 tended to be positive, unlike the direct effects. The genetic correlation of the total effect on ADG with that of STAY was negative but non-significant, owing to the social effect. These results suggested that total genetic effect on growth in the SGE model might reduce the negative effect on sow longevity owing to the growth potential of pigs. We recommend including social effects as selection criteria in breeding programs to obtain satisfactory genetic changes in both growth and longevity.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a disorder that is manifested by a sudden decrease of renal function within several hours, and AKI remains a significant cause that can lead to increasing morbidity and mortality. Although AKI has been extensively studies in animal models, translating the results from animal studies into clinical use has not been successful due to various factors including basal etiology of kidney deficiency and comorbidities and the complexity of this pathology. As a golden parameter, measuring serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) has been conventionally used for determining the renal function, however, these biomarkers has been regarded suboptimal to identify renal injuries in early stages. In this study, we attempted to screen other serum biomarkers in early AKI event using cynomolgus monkeys. Two male monkeys, aged 60 months, were subjected to ischemic injury by unilateral clamping of renal pedicles for forty five minutes and then subsequently reperfused; the unclamped kidney was regarded as non-injured controls. Compared with control kidneys, we have found that the concentration of several inflammatory proteins including MCP1, TGFα, GSTα, were higher in the renal vein of injured kidney compared with control side after 24 and 48 hours of AKI. However, changes of serum level of KIM-1, which is one of the most-widely studied marker in rodent studies, were not different after AKI. Our results provide an useful information while developing a novel marker in AKI.

Recently, as the complexity of system becomes increased, it becomes important to manage, track, and control the configuration information of various assets of complex systems such as plant and factory over system lifecycle. We call it configuration management (CM). CM enables us to establish and maintain the consistency of a system’s functional and physical attributes with its design requirements, and operational information throughout its lifecycle. In this study, we look through the main concept of CM and relevant research works. Also, we address the CM processes suitable to small-and-medium sized plant in terms of modeling viewpoint.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a well-known functional and medicinal food for human health promotion. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), which are the major protein components in RJ, exhibit antimicrobial activities. However, the identities of the MRJPs of RJ responsible for its antioxidant effects have remained unclear. Here, we report that honeybee (Apis cerana) MRJP 2 (AcMRJP2) acts as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent in RJ. Using recombinant AcMRJP2, which was produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells, we established the antimicrobial and antioxidant roles of MRJP 2. AcMRJP2 bound to the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, and yeast, which then induced structural damage in the microbial cell walls and led to a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. AcMRJP2 protected mammalian and insect cells via the direct shielding of the cell against oxidative stress, which led to reduced levels of caspase-3 activity and oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis, followed by increased cell viability. Moreover, AcMRJP2 exhibited DNA protection activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our data indicate that AcMRJP2 could play a crucial role as an antimicrobial agent and antioxidant in RJ, suggesting that MRJP 2 is a component responsible for the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of RJ.

Cymbidium flower is mainly grown for exportation to China and Japan, but detection of a few pests including the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphidae), necessitated post-harvest treatment for casual exportation. Thus, we irradiated electron beam to cotton aphids occurring in cymbidium to establish post-harvest method for casual exportation of the flowers. For cymbidium, six categories of product quality were examined after eight different doses were irradiated (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800 and 1,000 Gy). One thousand Gy to cymbidium caused an extreme deterioration only in vase life in both colors compared to control (0 Gy). In the case of cotton aphids, adult longevity decreased from 11.23 (100 Gy) to 4.70 (400 Gy) when four different doses were irradiated (100, 200, 300, and 400 Gy), with control being an average of 20.89 days. The numbers of total first instar nymph produced per adult was not significantly differed among five doses (2.21 ~ 2.74 individuals), but was substantially lower compared to control (an average of 51.46; P < 0.0001). Live F1 nymphs did not develope to adults at all five doses, except for a single nymph at 100 Gy, which was dead right after emergence. The results of probit analysis indicated that majority of adults required 3.33 ~ 7.55 days for 90% mortality at 200 Gy and higher, but at 100 Gy it required 41.56 days. Therefore, higher than 100 Gy might be required for complete control of adult cotton aphids and their F1.

Momordica charantia is therophyte vine plants. It is called natural insulin and contains carantine and vitamin C and so on. Momordica charantia is one of the representative subtropical crops as a functional crop, showing efficacy on improvement of diabetes, cancer, abdominal obesity and improvement of hypertension. According to climate change, Momordica charantia is growing cultivation area, but there is still insufficient research for insect pest occurrence and insecticides. Due to the lack of proper control measures, the damage caused by insect pests is increasing as the year goes by. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and damage of insect pests in Momordica charantia and utilize it as basic data for development of insect pest control technology. As a result, 5 orders of 13 species of insect pests were investicated. Among them, Aphis gossypii, Frankliniella intonsa, and Frankliniella occidentalis showed high density. In particular, Aphis gossypii showed the highest density in mid-May, also Frankliniella intonsa and Frankliniella occidentalis showed high density in the middle of June. The leaf damage caused by the larvae of Palpita indica was observed in late June. After mid July, the biginning of the high temperature period, the insect pest density decreased, but the damages caused by moths were severe.

The black-veined white, Aporia crataegi (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), which is distributed mainly in Eastern Asia is presumed to be extinct in South Korea, only with some numbers of dried specimens left, whereas the species is found casually in circumferential countries. One of the common conservation practices for such species is to launch introduction program, but prior population genetic analysis between donor and donee populations might be essential for long-term conservation. In this study, we developed 11 microsatellite markers specific to A. crataegi using Illumina paired-end sequencing to investigate the genetic relationships of A. crataegi populations from South Korea and circumferential Asian countries (China, Russia, Mongolia, and Japan). Further, two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene segments (COI and CytB) were sequenced from the samples. The population- and individual-based Principal Coordinates and STRUCTURE analyses collectively suggested that the South Korean population of A. crataegi is most differentiated from the Japanese population, whereas it was closer to Mongolian and Chinese populations. The STRUCTURE analysis based on two concatenated mtDNA gene sequences also supported different genetic composition of Japanese population from the remaining populations including that of South Korea and rather similar genetic composition between the populations of South Korea and Mongolia. These results collectively suggest that northern populations, in particular, Mongolian populations can be considered as the most genetically compatible one as doner population, when reintroduction program is launched.

나무이는 감귤그린병, 제브라칩병과 같은 식물병원균의 매개충이 되는 경제적으로 중요한 해충그룹으로서, 귤나무이(Diaphorina citri Kuwayama)는 감귤산업에 큰 피해를 주는 감귤그린병(Citrus Huanglongbing Disease)을 매개하여 전 세계적으로 문제가 되고 있다. 최근 기후 온난화로 귤나무이가 유입될시 제주도를 비롯한 남부지방에서도 하우스 재배 감귤에는 충분히 월동 가능할 것으로 분석된다(감귤연구소, 2015).제주도지역이 경우, 묘목 수입에 의하여 전파될 가능성이 가장 클 것으로 예상된다. 이에 국내 유입 대비를 위한 예찰방법 및 동정법 개발이 필요한 실정이다. 제주도 지역을 2016년부터 현재까지 43지점을 조사한 결과, 18종의 나무이와 14종의 기주식물을 확인되었다. 또한 실내사육을 통해서 생육단계별 생태사진과 동정에 필요한 암수 생식기 표본, DNA 염기서열을 확보하였다. 현재까지 운향과를 기주로하는 나무이는 발견되지 않았으며 귤나무이 또한 발견되지 않았다.