Apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) is a hemolymph protein whose function is to facilitate lipid transport in an aqueous medium in insects. Recently, apolipophorin-III in Galleria mellonella and Hyphantria cunea was shown to play an unexpected role in insect immune activation. We show here a novel possible function/role of the apoLp-III in insects. To investigate the genes which have a relationship with apoLp-III in fall webworm larvae, we reduced endogenous Hc apoLp-III mRNA levels in larvae via RNA interference (RNAi). The RNAi-mediated Hc apoLp-III reduction resulted in the reduction of antioxidants, like MnSOD, catalase, and glutathione S transferase as well as immune proteins. In particular, expression of MnSOD commonly decreased in fat body, midgut, and hemocytes following the knockdown of Hc apoLp-III, which induced an elevated level of superoxide anion in Hyphantria cunea larvae. The observed effect of Hc apoLp-III RNAi suggests that Hc apoLp-III is related to the action/expression of antioxidants, especially MnSOD.

A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (HcSTAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and transcribed in hemocyte, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malpighian tubule. Especially, hemocyte and Malpighian tubule showed transcriptional activation of HcSTAT upon Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge. Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of HcSTAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vivo treatment with sodium orthovanadatetranslocates HcSTAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is toxic to living organisms, because its high reactivity causes oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme facilitating the removal of superoxide anions from living organisms. This study focused on the cloning of MnSOD cDNA from Hyphantria cunea and its induction upon bacterial infection and various stresses. The open reading frame of MnSOD is composed of 645 bp, encoding 215 amino acid residues. The theoretical molecular mass and pI of putative MnSOD was evaluated to be 24276 Da and 9.14, respectively. The MnSOD from H. cunea is highly similar to human MnSOD (59.5%) as well as Bombyx mori MnSOD (76.2%). MnSOD showed no big induction upon bacterial infection and stresses, compared to that of Cu/ZnSOD.

Apolipophorin-Ⅲ (apoLp-Ⅲ) is a hemolymph protein whose function is to facilitate lipid transport in an aqueous medium in insect. Recently, apolipophorin-Ⅲ in Galleria mellonella and Hyphantria cunea was shown to play an unexpected role in insect immune activation. We show here a novel possible function/role of apoLp-Ⅲ in insects. To investigate the genes which have a relationship with apoLp-Ⅲ in fall webworm larvae, we reduction of endogenous Hc apoLp-Ⅲ mRNA levels in larvae via RNA interference (RNAi). The RNAi-mediated Hc apoLp-Ⅲ reduction resulted in the reduction of antioxidants, like MnSOD, catalase, and glutathione S transferase as well as immune proteins. In particular, expression of MnSOD commonly decreased in fat body, midgut, and hemocytes following the knockdown of Hc apoLp-Ⅲ, which induced an elevated level of superoxide anion in H. cunea larvae. The observed effect of Hc apoLp-Ⅲ RNAi suggests that Hc apoLp-Ⅲ is related to the action/expression of antioxidants.

Innate immunity responses are triggered by the immune challenge and therefore involve signaling processes. The cellular response is initiated by hemocytes and mainly involves phagocytosis and encapsulation of intruders by these cells. To address whether Hc-STAT is activated upon bacterial challenge, we examined the subcellular location of STAT protein in hemocyte by immunostaining. A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (Hc-STAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and the protein is present in hemocytes, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malphigian tuble (Mt). Especially, hemocytes and Mt showed transcriptional activation of Hc-STAT upon Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge. Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of Hc-STAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vitro treatment with pervanadate translocates Hc-STAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells. Here we report the first evidence for the involvement hemocyte JAK/STAT pathway upon microbial infection in lepidopteran insect.

The injury of red bean (Vigna angularis) by the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was evaluated through an artificial inoculation experiment in cages randomly arranged in a field. Virgin adult pairs (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8) were released into screen-nets at the flowering stage of red bean, and the damage was investigated at harvest. Any insecticides were not sprayed through all plant-growing season. The absolute number of uninjured pod in a net showed a decreasing tendency according to the increase of the number of released adult pairs, but did not show a statically significant difference among treatments. The total production (number of pod and seed) of red bean was highly variable even in a treatment. The variation seemed to be caused by pre-infestation by M. vitrata and other insect species before netting. Instead, therefore, relative damage was compared among treatments. The total ratio of injured pod in a net increased according to the released adult number. The result clearly indicated that the mating ratio and fecundity within the screen-net also increased according to the number of released pairs and that the hatched larvae affected the damage. The corrected rate for pod injury at 8 pair release was about 46%. On the other hand, the ratio of injured seed per injured pod was about 80% regardless of treatments. The result suggested that one pod continuously be attacked till almost disappearance of itself.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is toxic to living organisms, because its high reactivity causes oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme facilitating the removal of superoxide anions from living organisms. This study focused on the cloning of MnSOD cDNA from Hyphantria cuneaand its induction upon bacterial infection and various stresses. The open reading frame of MnSOD is composed of 645 bp, encoding 215 amino acid residues. The theoretical molecular mass and pI of putative MnSOD was evaluated to be 24276 Da and 9.14, respectively. The MnSOD from H. cunea is highly similar to human MnSOD (59.5%) as well as Bombyx mori MnSOD (76.2%). MnSOD showed no big induction upon bacterial infection and stresses, compared to that of Cu/ZnSOD.

Innate immunity responses are triggered by the immune challenge and therefore involve signaling processes. The cellular response is initiated by hemocytes and mainly involves phagocytosis and encapsulation of intruders by these cells. To address whether Hc-STAT is activated upon bacterial challenge, we examined the subcellular location of STAT protein in hemocyte by immunostaining. A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (Hc-STAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and the protein is present in hemocytes, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malphigian tuble (Mt). Especially, hemocytes and Mt showed transcriptional activation of Hc-STAT upon Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge. Gram (-) bacteria and fungal challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of Hc-STAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vitro treatment with pervanadate translocates Hc-STAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells. Here we report the first evidence for the involvement hemocyte JAK/STAT pathway upon microbial infection in lepidopteran insect.

Based on my teaching experience in the Art colleges, I found potential usages of a game engine as a tool for fine art. This paper will provide new way to use game engine; Making a Virtual Art Gallery with a real-time 3D rendering game engine and Making a Draft movie for a 3D Animation in postproduction using a real-time 3D rendering game engine. This paper will also provide the case study of various projects draft movie for a 3D animation with Real-time 3D Rendering Game Engine. This study will provide new possibility of game engine.

Slow seedling growth rate and nodulation failure of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) has been limited its good establishment to pastures. The experiment was done to determine the effect of removal of cotyledon and unifoliolate on the shoot, root growth,

Background : This study was conducted to examine the suitability of the blue/white vinyl for ginseng cultivation greenhouses in different regions in an effort to develop a stable ginseng cultivation technology and contribute to popularizing ginseng greenhouse farming. Methods and Results : For comparison purposes, ginseng plants were cultivated in the traditional shading and greenhouse shading facilities. The average temperature in the greenhouse shading facilities during the period of May through October was 20.5℃ in Namwon, 21.4℃ in Jinan, and 23.3℃ in Iksan, with Iksan recording a 1.9–2.8℃ higher average temperature, presumably due to its location in a plain area with low elevation. The average temperatures in the traditional shading facilities ranged between 22.9℃ and 25.7℃, 2.4–2.6℃ higher compared with the greenhouse shading facilities. As for the incidence of disease and pest, as low as 0.1–0.3% of the plants grown under greenhouse shading were infected with Colletotrichum dematium, Alternaria panax, and Rhizoctonia solani, whereas much higher incidences were noted in the control plants, with 3.3–11.3%, 4.7–17.0%, 0.1–0.5%, and 3.0–5.7% infected with Colletotrichum dematium, Alternaria panax, Rhizoctonia solani, and Phytophthora cactorum, respectively, throughout the regions. Heat injury occurred only in Iksan (0.3%) in the case of greenhouse-shaded plants, whereas the control plants suffered from much severer heat injury: 3.5% in Namwon, 10% in Jinan, and as high as 35.3% in Iksan. As for the roots, Namwon outperformed other regions in root length (29.7 ㎝), taproot length (8.7 ㎝), and taproot diameter (25.3 ㎜), and also the root fresh weight (53.4 g), followed by Jinan (48.7 g) and Iksan (40.4 g). In yield as well, the greenhouse in Namwon outperformed other regions with 1,297㎏/10a, followed by Jinan (1,183 ㎏) and Iksan (932 ㎏). The effect of greenhouse blue-white vinyl shading on yield by region was analyzed to increase of 177% in Namwon, 209% in Jinan, and 173% in Iksan with respect to their respective traditional shading facilities. Conclusion : The suitability of the blue/white vinyl shading in ginseng cultivation greenhouses was tested experimentally in three different regions. As a result, greenhouse-shaded ginseng plants were found to be much less affected by heat injury compared with traditionally shaded ginseng plants, resulting in much higher yields in all regions. This allows the conclusion that greenhouse ginseng cultivation can contribute to more stable ginseng yield and popularization of ginseng cultivation.

Arabidopsis E3 SUMO ligase SIZ1 (AtSIZ1) controls vegetative growth and development including responses to nutrient deficiency and environment stresses. Here, we analyzed the effect of AtSIZ1 on the stability and amount of seed proteins. Proteomic analysis showed that the amount of three major nutrient reservoir proteins, CRUCIFERIN (CRU) 1, 2 and 3, were decreased in siz1-2 mutants. However, quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that transcript levels of CRU1, 2 and 3 genes were rather significantly higher in siz1-2 mutants than wild-type plants. Yeast two hybrid analysis revealed that AtSIZ1 interacts with CRU1, CRU2 and CRU3, strongly suggesting that CRU1, 2 and 3 proteins are sumoylated by AtSIZ1. In addition, the analysis of amino acid composition by HPLC showed that the contents of amino acids were a bit high in siz1-2 mutants. Our data indicate that AtSIZ1 plays an important function for accumulation of seed storage proteins through its ligase activity.

Wheat is a major food source for a large proportion of the worldwide population. Wheat production is hampered by drought, cold and various diseases. Wheat germplasms contain various characteristics such as high yield, low plant height, resistance to diverse diseases and good seed quality. In this study, we evaluated agronomic traits of wheat germplasms collected from the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) for application of the breeding program. Total 221 wheat lines contain cultivars and landraces were provided by NPGS and USDA-ARS. The germplasms were evaluated quantitative and qualitative agronomic properties in Korea university research farm. The agronomic traits of the germplasms in each region were analysed using statistical analysis. The most of germplasms were geographically originated from America continent. The germplasms average heading date showed on May 10. The average heading date of Africa germplasms was 6 days earlier than Europe germplasms. The germplasms average plant height and spike length showed 81.7 cm and 8.6 cm, respectively. The germplasms of Europe showed 21.7 cm taller than average plant height of America continent and the germplasms of Africa showed the smallest plant height comparing with other continents. The germplasms of Asia showed taller spikere length than that of other continents. Seed color in germplasm comprises white, red and purple seed color, 24%, 75%, 1%, respectively. In addition, about 39% of the germplasms indicated lodging resistant. These results could be useful for improvement of wheat breeding program.

The transition from vegetative growth to flowering is a major developmental switch in the plant cycle and the timing of flowering is very critical for reproduction of plant species. In transition to flowering in plants, Flowering locus C (FLC) is one of the crucial factors. Here, we showed How the stability and activity of FLC are regulated by sumoylation mechanism. By pull-down assay, we showed that FLC interact with E3 SUMO ligase in vitro and vivo. And we showed that FLC is sumoylated in vitro condition with AtSUMO1 protein. In transgenic plants with overexpression of FLC and inducible expression of AtSIZ1, sumo E3 ligase led to increase of FLC protein level and delayed the post-translation degradation of FLC indicating that Arabidopsis E3 sumo ligase AtSIZ1 stabilizes FLC. Also, the plants with overexpression of mutant FLC (K154R, a mutation of the sumoylation site on FLC) flowered considerably earlier than plants with overexpression of FLC but comparable with wild type indicating that sumoylation is a important part for function of FLC. Our data indicate that the sumoylation of FLC is critical for its role in the control of flowering time.

Flowering time is a important agronomic trait for grain production in rice. So the control of flowering time is a critical step. In Arabidopsis, expression of certain key flowering gene such as FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) is known to be epigenetically regulated by chromatin modification through Enhancer of Zeste[E(z)], a histone methyltransferase, that core component of repressive complex, polycomb repressive complex2(PRC2). However, the chromatin mechanism involved in the regulation of rice flowering genes is presently not well known. Here we show that predict coding region of a intronic LncRNA[termed rice COLDAIR(OsCOLDAIR)], which is expected to associate with a component of PRC2, is predicted at rice FLC gene. And additionally we suggest interaction of histone methyltransferase and E3 SUMO ligase that indicate possibility of interaction with rice E(z) gene and rice E3 SUMO ligase. Our study contribute to control of rice flowering time by observing two factor that can regulate expression of related of rice FLC gene.

Gliadins are the main class of wheat seed storage proteins. Since gliadins show a high level of polymorphism as well as genetically fixed, it can be used as a marker for the genetic identification. Gliadin subunit diversity information can be useful for wheat quality breeding programs. Tunisia is a country in the North Africa bordered with the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the east but with the Sahara desert to the south, which represent extremely different growth climate. Therefore, there may be a numerous variation in Tunisian common wheat and durum wheat. Total 48 lines of wheat consisted of 32 common wheat (16 Korean wheat and 16 Tunisian common wheat) and 16 Tunisian durum wheat were incorporated in this study. Gliadins were extracted with 70% ethanol and fractionated by acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (A-PAGE) at 8% in aluminum lactate buffer (pH 3.1). The gel was stained with 0.25% Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) R-250. The presence of each gliadin subunit band was scored and cluster analysis was carried out. The cluster showed that wheat varieties were classified into some groups and their genetic distance could be identified. The obtained information will be helpful to the future breeding program of tetraploid durum wheat as well as hexaploid common wheats. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MEST) (No. 2012K1A3A1A09028123) and carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project title: Development of high yielding wheat with stress tolerance via molecular breeding strategies, Project No. PJ008031)”, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

Drought tolerance is the ability of a plant to live, grow, and reproduce properly with limited water supply or under periodic conditions of water deficit. However, the climate changes and worldwide water shortages would result in the loss of applied water to irrigated land, increasing soil water deficit. To control the situation, we have carried out the international joint research project for the aim of developing that drought tolerance common wheat and durum wheat in Korea and Tunisia. Total 79 (41 common wheat, 39 durum wheat) Tunisian lines and 33 Korean wheat cultivars were incorporated in this study. Drought stress was applied for 25 days of stopping irrigation from the 3-leaf stage followed by re-watering for restoration in greenhouse. We selected top 13 (5 Korean line, 8 Tunisian line) tolerant lines and 11 (5 Korean, 6 Tunisian) susceptible lines based on growth parameter analysis. Primers (Operon primers and wheat Dreb1 gene) that have been known to be related drought resistance were applied to explain selected population. The correlation between PCR-based length polymorphism of selected lines and their resistance were evaluated. The obtained primer information will aid selection for drought tolerance durum as well as hexaploid common wheat.

Mutant analysis is one of most optimized genome-wide approach towards acquiring utile phenotypes and defining related genes. Gamma-irradiation, an acknowledged way of mutant-generating method, was applied to gain sets of mutant line in Brachypodium distachyon. B. distachyon is a model plant, commonly used in genus of Gramineae for the research of structure genomics and functional genomics. B. distachyon contribute to rapid and easy analysis because of its small size and quick growth. Mutant population was generated by different doses of gamma-irradiation (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 Gy) in the gamma field phytotron. Distance from the source gives same irradiation duration for each plant. Plant growth parameters such as plant height, tiller number, leaf length & width, internode number & diameter, maturity and yield components (ear number biomass) were scored on M0 plants. Plant responses to different doses of radiation are evaluated and the effective radiation dosages to generate mutant using gamma-phytotron are suggested. Chronic irradiation using gamma-phytotron is useful tool to generate mutants for genomic variations such as SNP or INDEL as well as suitable for functional study of genes in Gramineae.

Rye has important genes for biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Introduction of these genes to wheat by breeding wheat-rye translocation have been intensively used in wheat breeding program. Rye chromatin 1RS and/or 2RL show superior performance in unfavorable environments. In order to develop high yielding wheat, we applied various molecular breeding strategies. To develop EST-derived 1RS specific markers, we used comparative genomics with public sequence databases of Poaceae family. Putative rye chromatin specific sequences were used to design 1RS specific markers. To identify genes related to water deficiency, cDNA AFLP analysis was used in PEG treated seedlings of 1RS RILs. For functional analysis of identified genes and markers, we used Brachypodium distachyon, as a new model plant of temperate grasses. B. distachyon were recently applied for transformation and we constructed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Integration of those strategies and conventional breeding method would enhance the usefulness of rye chromatins for wheat improvement.