Platycodon grandiflorum is a perennial flowering plant, known as Chinese bell flower, widespread in northeast Asia. The roots of this species are used for centuries to treat diseases, and have extensive pharmacological effects such as reducing adiposity, hyperlipidemia as well as anti-atherosclerotic disorder. In this study, systematical and targeting proteome analysis were executed from the 3, 4 and 5 months aged diploid and tetraploid roots of Platycodon grandiflorum and the proteins were separated by 2-DE and stained by CBB. In diploid roots, a total of 30 protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using MASCOT search engine according to the similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins along with the UniProt database. Among the 30 differentially expressed proteins, 21 proteins sopts were identified as up-regulated and 9 proteins were identified as down-regulated. In contrary, a total of 40 differentially expressed proteins were confirmed from tetraploid roots whereas 28 protein spots were confirmed as up-regulated and 12 proteins were identified as down-regulated. However, the differentially expressed proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots were classified into 12 and 14 possible functional categories respectively using Protein Information Resources. The results revealed that the identified proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots were mainly involved in oxidoreductase activity, nucleotide binding, transferase activity and catalytic activity in bellflower roots. In conclusion, the exclusive proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics and functions of proteins and metabolic activity of Platycodon grandiflorum.

Platycodon grandiflorum, known as Doraji in Korea, is used in various medications and traditional cuisine in Korea. This study was conducted to characterize the hormonal effects of diploid and tetraploid roots of P. grandiflorum using proteomics technique. Prior to proteome analysis, different kinds of growth hormones; IBA (1mg/L), NAA (1mg/L) and IAA (1mg/L) were applied in the adventitious (Diploid and tetraploid) roots for investigation. Solid (1/4MS) and liquid (1/2MS) medium were performed in the present study to investigate the hormonal effects. In diploid roots, two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 1154 protein spots were identified using image analysis by Ludesi REDFIN 3 programme (Ludesi AB, Lund, Sweden: www.ludesi.com). Out of 1154 differential expressed protein spots, a total of 33 protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were selected for mass spectrometry. Among the 33 protein spots, 7 protein spots were up-regulated in IBA, 12 proteins in NAA and 14 proteins in IAA. In the case of tetraploid roots that performed under solid medium, a total of 842 differentially expressed protein spots were identified of which 34 proteins spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were selected for mass spectrometry. Out of 34 protein spots, 11 proteins were up-regulated in IBA, 10 proteins in NAA and 13proteins in IAA. However, a total of 659 differentially expressed proteins were confirmed from the liquid medium of tetraploid roots from which 32 proteins spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were sorted for MS analysis. Out of these 32 proteins, a total of 3 proteins were up-regulated in IBA, 7 proteins in NAA and 22 proteins in IAA. The identified proteins may provide insight clues for better understanding of the characteristics of proteins and biological activity from adventitious roots of Platycodon grandiflorum.

Among the abiotic stresses, heavy metal (HM) toxicity is thought to be one of the major abiotic stresses leading to hazardous effects in plants. In spite of its potential physiological and economical significance, morphological alterations induced by heavy metals in plants have so far been grossly overlooked. In the present study, the morphological and physiological changes were observed in the leaf of sorghum plants treated with different concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 150 μM) of CdCl2. Results revealed that plants endured reduction in growth and morphological changes amazingly altered by cadmium. The growth of sorghum seedlings treated with 150 μM cadmium was more inhibited than that of sorghum seedlings treated with 100 μM Cd, 50μM and non-treated plants. The morphological characteristics revealed that the cadmium stress inhibited the root and shoot elongation after growing the rise seedling in the presence of cadmium. In the case of ion concentration, the concentrations of Zn2+, Ca2+ were decreased whereas Fe2+ concentration was increased except 100 μM under cadmium stress. In confocal microscopy, results showed that the absorption degree of cadmium was increased by the higher concentration of cadmium. The fluorescence intensity of cadmium was also increased. Thus, it seemed that cadmium has an influence on sorghum in the case of early stages of sorghum. This study reported the effects of heavy metal, cadmium on the growth and physiological characteristics of sorghum seedlings, hoping to provide references on the mechanism of heavy metal damaging plants, and phyto-remediation for heavy metal polluted soil.

In this study, we measured the morphometric and histological changes in the cyprinid loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, during the early period of growth. Eyes, yolk length, yolk height, and yolk volume of the larva decreased for 16 days post hatching (DPH) (P<0.05). During 60 DPH (P>0.05), the most anterior extension of the head × the posterior end of the supraoccipital, the most anterior extension of the head × the origin of the dorsal fin, the most anterior extension of the head × the origin of the pectoral fin, the posterior end of the supraoccipital × the origin of the pelvic fin, and the origin of the dorsal fin × the ventral origin of the caudal fin gradually decreased, whereas the most anterior extension of the head × the dorsal origin of the caudal fin, the origin of the dorsal fin × the origin of the anal fin, the origin of the dorsal fin × the origin of the pectoral fin, and the insertion of the dorsal fin × the origin of the pelvic fin gradually increased (P<0.05). In the cyprinid loach, the retina is composed of six layers: the epithelial layer, ganglion cell layer, inner nuclear layer, inner plexiform layer, outer limiting membrane, and rod and cone layer (RCL). After hatching, part of the RCL gradually increased in density. The kidney and midgut epithelium were already formed in the cyprinid loach just after hatching and grew gradually in subsequent days.

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) has been found to inhibit the synthesis and release of gonadotropin (GTH) in avian and mammalian species. It was originally identified in the brain of a quail as a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide with a C-terminal Arg-Phe-NH2 motif (RFamide peptide). Homologs of this peptide have been identified in a couple of model fish species such as goldfish (Carassius auratus) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). Understanding GnIH system could be particularly useful in some aquaculture species with problems of frequent reproduction and/or precautious sexual maturation. However, GnIH system in such species has not been studied yet. In this study, we have identified a pupative GnIH gene in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). We also investigated the role of GnIH in the reproduction of this species. The full length sequence of putative tilapia GnIH gene coded for a protein (197 amino acids) containing two modified RFamides (MPLRF and LSQRF) and a LPQRF cDNA sequence of 594 bp. This putative GnIH gene showed high homology with the GnIH genes of Takifugu rubripes (72%) and Tetraodon nigroviridis (74%). PCR analysis showed that expression of this gene was ubiquitously distributed in the whole brain, ovary and testis as well as in the peripheral tissues examined in this study (liver, kidney, intestine, spleen, muscle and gill) except heart and eye. Expression level of this gene in sexually inactive group was significantly higher than the expression level in first gonadal development and sexually active groups (P<0.05). On the contrary, the expression level of LH-β gene was low in sexually inactive group but significantly higher in first gonadal development and sexually active groups (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the level of FSH-β gene expression between different reproductive phases in this species. In vitro studies revealed an inhibitory effect of GnIH on LH-β mRNA and FSH-β mRNA levels. No significant difference between GnIH and GnIH with LHRH-a treatments on LH-β and FSH-β mRNA expression in female tilapia pituitary cells.

Although much effort has been made to find agronomically important loci in the soybean plant, extensive linkage disequilibrium and genome duplication have limited efficient genome-wide linkage analyses that can identify important regulatory genes. In this respect, recombination block-based analysis of cultivated plant genomes is a potential critical step for molecular breeding and target locus screening. We propose a new three-step method of detecting recombination blocks and comparative genomics of bred cultivars. It utilizes typical reshuffling features of their genomes, which have been generated by the recombination processes of breeding ancestral genomes. To begin with, mutations were detected by comparing genomes to a reference genome. Next, sequence blocks were examined for likenesses and difference with respect to the reference genome. The boundaries between the blocks were taken as recombination sites. All recombination sites found in the cultivar set were used to split the genomes, and the resulting sequence fragments were named as core recombination blocks (CRBs). Finally, the genomes were compared at the CRB level, instead of at the sequence level. In the genomes of the five Korean soybean cultivars used, the CRB-based comparative genomics method produced long and distinct CRBs that are as large as 22.9 Mb. We also demonstrated efficiency in detecting functionally useful target loci by using indel markers, each of which represents a CRB. We further showed that the CRB method is generally applicable to both monocot and dicot crops, by analyzing publicly available genomes of 31 soybeans and 23 rice accessions.

High temperature impediment in developing stages of crops has been occurred due to the impact of global warming. Rice production is notable to be sensitive to increasing environmental temperature and grain filling temperatures are already approaching threatening levels in many countries with rice cultivation. Recent proteomic analyses exposed impulsive changes of metabolisms during rice grain development. Interestingly, proteins involved in glycolysis, citric acid cycle, lipid metabolism, and proteolysis were accumulated at higher levels in mature grain than those of developing stages. High temperature (HT) stress in rice ripening period enhances damaged (chalky) grains which have loosely compacted shape starch granules. We carried out two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to analyze protein profiles during grain filling and different developmental stages of rice seed maturation. Proteins were separated from the fertilized seeds (seeds from 7 days and 21 days after fertilization) and seed maturation stage using IEF in the first-dimension and SDS-PAGE in the second dimension along with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. More than 1,000 protein spots were detected on a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A total of 120 different protein spots out of 140 protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF and nano LCQ-TOF mass spectrometer. The identified proteins were categorized into six (6) different groups according to their expression patterns during grain filling and seed maturation. Some proteins were confirmed during seed development stages such as cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase, whereas others were appeared at a specific stage like putative subtilisin-like protease, germin-like, seed allergenic proteins. Furthermore, the chalking mechanism of rice grain under the HT stress could be discussed in terms of grain starch glycome, transcriptome, and proteome.

Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a major staple for a large portion of the world. The crop ranks fifth among the cereals world-wide with respect to its importance for food and feed applications. To this end, the grain harvested from sorghum, and the millets provides an important source for dietary calories and protein for approximately one billion people in the semi-arid regions of the world. However, grain sorghum products are known to have relatively poor digestibility, only approximately 50%–70%, in comparison with other grains, such as wheat and maize, which tend to have digestibility percentages over 80% and 70%, respectively. Protein with high digestibility is by definition nutritionally superior owing to the increased availability of amino acids. Digestibility can be impacted by both protein–protein and⁄or protein–nonprotein interactions. However, with respect to grain sorghum, it is thought that the major factor influencing digestibility is the former because of high protein cross-linking around the protein body. To understand the mechanism of seed storage proteins in the sorghum, the proteomic analysis was carried out between the wild(BTX623) and mutant(M271207) genotypes of sorghum. Proteins were separated from the mature seed using IEF in the first-dimension and SDS-PAGE in the second dimension along with hybrid LTQ-FTICR mass spectrometry. After image analysis using Progenesis SameSpot software, we identified the 62 differential expressed protein spots out of 293 protein spots. Out of total differential expressed spots, 35 differential expressed protein spots (more than2-fold) were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Out of 35 protein spots, we were identified 20 protein spots as up-regulated and 15 protein spots as downregulated, significantly. In our proteomic investigation, the candidate proteins may provide novel clues for better understanding the characteristics of seed proteins in Sorghum.

We examined the morphometric characteristics and fluctuating asymmetry of diploid and triploid marine medaka, Oryzias dancena. We used morphometric parameters the truss and classical dimensions. Significant differences in all the classical and truss dimensions of the diploid and triploid fish. All the dimensions of the triploid fish were greater than those of the diploid fish. The triploid marine medaka shows sexual dimorphism in these characters, and the sexual dimorphism of the triploid marine medaka is similar to that of the diploid marine medaka. Thus, the growth of triploid marine medaka is faster than that of the diploid fish, and it displays clear sexual dimorphism, with male fish having longer dorsal and anal fins than female fish. we examined fluctuating asymmetry of eye diameter, maxilla length, operculum length, number of pectoral fin ray and number of pelvic fin ray. In all experimental groups, Eye diameter and maxilla length showed no significant difference between left side and right side (P>0.05). Trends of operculum length in triploid male group and pectoral fin ray's number in diploid male group showed similar trend with trends of operculum length in triploid female group and pectoral fin ray’s number in diploid female group. However, trends of operculum length in diploid male group and pectoral fin ray's number in triploid male group showed opposite trend with trends of operculum length in diploid female group and pectoral fin ray’s number in triploid female group. Trend of pelvic fin ray's number in all groups showed similar trend with trend of pectoral fin ray’s number in all groups.

Discovery, identification, and informatics of low molecular weight peptide are extensively rising in the field of proteomics research. In this study, we analyzed protein profiles to discover peptide based biomarker for twelve different soybean seeds with three different agronomic types using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS). For optimization of SELDI-TOF MS in soybean seed proteome analysis, four different extraction buffers were tested with urea solubilization buffer, thiourea/urea solubilization buffer, phenol extraction buffer, and modified trichloroacetic acid (TCA)/acetone precipitation/urea solubilization extraction buffer. Two different type of ProteinChip arrays, cation exchange (CM10) and anion exchange (Q10), applied to profile peptides. Among the four different extraction buffers, phenol extraction was selected to protein extraction methodology. Numbers of detected peak cluster in twelve soybean seeds were 125 at CM10 and 90 at Q10 array in the mass range from 2 to 40 kDa. Among them, 82 peak clusters at CM10 and 33 peak clusters at Q10 array showed significantly different peak clusters at p<0.00004 (CM10) and p<0.00005 (Q10) among twelve different soybean cultivars. Moreover, 29 peak clusters at CM10 and 17 peak clusters at Q10 array were detected in all cultivars as an ‘universally existed peptide’. In comparison with three different agronomic types, total of 55 peak clusters (CM10) and 23 peak clusters (Q10) were significantly different peak clusters at p<0.00004 and p<0.0001, respectively. In these probability levels, soybean seeds were well discriminated into different cultivar and different type with each other. Also we could find several specific peptide biomarkers for agronomic type.

Geneally, rice seeds regardless indica or japonica are showing low germination ratio or completely lost germination ability together with lost of good eating quality under high temperature and humidity conditions. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate a longevity for conservation of good eating quality during long term storage in rice. For the longevity evaluation, germination ability was studied after 5 days of high temperature and humidity stress (50℃/RH 95%). Dharial, originated from Bangladesh and showing weedy type with red pericarp, was selected as a good donor for longevity genes. A mutant was developed from Dharial through EMS mutagenesis and two populations of Dharial/4*Ilmibyeo and Dharial/4*Gopumbyeo were also developed for genetic study. In the 2-DE analysis followed by MALDI-TOF MS with wild and mutant lines, several candidate genes were identified. In the longevity test of two populations, a few lines showing good germination ability after high temperature and humidity stress were selected and subjected to confirm the relationships between longevity and conservation of good eating quality under long term storage.

광나무(L. lucidum)는 ursolic acid와 oleanolic acid를 다량 포함하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 광나무 열매, 줄기, 잎 세 부위 추출물의 항주름 효능을 평가하였다. 광나무 추출물은 human skin fibroblasts에서 독성이 없을 뿐만 아니라 MMP-1과 MMP-2의 발현을 감소시키고 COL1A1의 발현을 증가시켰다. 이들 추출물은 모두 농도 의존적으로 COL1A1의 발현을 증가시켰으며 MMP-1과 MMP-2의 발현을 감소시켰다. 광나무 세 부위 추출물 가운데, 열매 부위에 가장 많은 양의 ursolic acid 와 oleanolic acid가 함유되어 있었으며 가장 강한 COL1A1 upregulating 효과와 MMP-1과 MMP-2 downregulating 효과를 나타냈다. 이처럼 항주름 효능을 보이는 광나무 열매 추출물은 기능성 화장품 소재로 개발될 수 있는 가능성이 있다.