A genome project has been launched and aims to sequence total genome of Cotesia plutellae bracovirus. On this process, several open reading frames (ORFs) have been identified. This study was intended to clone and express protein tyrosine phosphatase genes, PTP1 and PTP6. The ORFs of these two genes consist of 900 and 891 bp, respectively. PTP1 and PTP6 are genes of a group of genes that has been implicated as important regulatory components in cell growth, differentiation and malignant transformation by certain viruses. In this work,we studied the cloning and expression patterns of these genes in Plutella xylostella, a lepidopteran host of C. plutellae. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) produced the corresponding products of PTP1/6. These PCR products were cloned and expressed using an expression vector pBAD-TOPO, and then over-expressed using an inducer, L-arabinose. Then the purified proteins were confirmed using Western blotting (immunoblotting using V5 antibody) and the apparent molecular weights of both proteins were about 40 kDa. Expression of PTP genes were analyzed in the parasitized P. xylostella by realtime RT-PCR, which indicated late expression pattern of both PTPs during parasitization. We are pursuing to elucidate their physiological function in the parasitized host insect.

A method of estimating the lower bound of coronal magnetic field strength in the neighborhood of an ejecting plasmoid is presented. Based on the assumption that the plasma ejecta is within a magnetic island, an analytical expression for the force acting on the ejecta is derived. The method is applied to a limb coronal mass ejection event, and a lower bound of the magnetic field strength just below the CME core is estimated. The method is expected to provide useful information on the strength of reconnecting magnetic field if applied to X-ray plasma ejecta.

Beef marbling is known as one of the most important beef-quality traits in Korea. It is likely that marbling derived from fatty acids, mainly propionate, is mediated by rumen. Recently micro-agents were studied to enhance marbling, although many parts of that were digested in rumen. Therefore, this study was conducted to screen candidate materials to effect on beef quality with in vitro ruminal incubation. The materials such as saponin, chitosan, Zn compounds (4), vitamin C sources (2), Korean herb cocktail and garlic sources (2) were added to rumen fluid to 1.25% of substrate volume at 0 and 24 h incubation time. Total gas production in intact vitamin C source increased but that in all Zn compounds decreased (P＜0.05). Total gas production in Zn sulfate compound less decreased than in other Zn sources. Propionate in Zn sulfate increased than the other candidate compounds at all incubation time (P＜0.05). Experiment two was conducted to clarified effect of additives such as vitamin C sources (2), garlic lyophilized, Korea herb cocktail and Zn sulfate were supplemented with 2.5% volume at the 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h incubation time. Total gas in Zn sulfate was lower than any other treatments. Propionate in garlic, herb and Zn sulfate appeared to be lower than control and vitamin C sources at all incubation time, although significant difference was not observed in total VFA among control and all treatment. This study suggested that micro-agent might be used to improve beef quality with minute level.