In field conditions, the zebra2 (z2) mutant in rice (Oryza sativa) produces leaves with transverse pale-green/yellow stripes. It was recently reported that ZEBRA2 encodes carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO) and that low levels of lutein, an essential carotenoid for non-photochemical quenching, cause leaf variegation in z2 mutants. However, we found that the z2 mutant phenotype was completely suppressed by growth under continuous light (CL; permissive) conditions, with concentrations of chlorophyll, carotenoids and chloroplast proteins at normal levels in z2 mutants under CL. In addition, three types of reactive oxygen species (ROS; superoxide [O2-], hydrogen peroxide [H2O2], and singlet oxygen [1O2]) accumulated to high levels in z2 mutants grown under short-day conditions (SD; alternate 10-h light/14-h dark; restrictive), but do not accumulate under CL conditions. However, the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in z2 leaves were much lower than normal in both permissive CL and restrictive SD growth conditions, indicating that deficiency of these two carotenoids is not responsible for the leaf variegation phenotype. We found that the CRTISO substrate tetra-cis-lycopene accumulated during the dark periods under SD, but not under CL conditions. Its accumulation was also positively correlated with 1O2 levels generated during the light period, which consequently altered the expression of 1O2-responsive and cell death-related genes in the variegated z2 leaves. Taking these results together, we propose that the z2 leaf variegation can be largely attributed to photoperiodic accumulation of tetra-cis-lycopene and generation of excessive 1O2 under natural day-night conditions.

Obesity, a strong risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, is characterized by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from precursor cells, preadipocytes. Recent research suggests that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in 3T3-L1 adipocyte facilitates adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation. This study was to investigate whether reduced ROS production by Sargassum micracanthum extract (SME) could protect the development of obesity through inhibition of adipogenesis. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated SME for up to 8 days following standard induction of differentiation. The extent of differentiation reflected by amount of lipid accumulation and ROS production was determined by Oil red O staining and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. Treatment of SME significantly inhibited ROS production and adipocyte differentiation that is depend on down regulation of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), a major ROS generator, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), a key adipogenic transcription factor. These results indicate that SME can inhibit adipogenesis through a reduced ROS level that involves down-regulation of NOX4 expression or via modulation of adipogenic transcription factor.

Harvesting of marshfire glasswort (Salicornia europaea) by local people has been increased recently since this plant was known for a well-being food. Even though some harvesting sites are facing high risk of environmental pollution, Salicornia europaea is still harvested on a large scale. Therefore, to investigate safety of Salicornia europaea as a food resource, salt marsh environment, potential harvestable biomass, element and heavy metal accumulations in Salicornia europaea has been studied in three salt marshes, west-coast of Korea. Salicornia europaea showed 150 – 230g/㎡/yr harvestable biomass. Biomass and nitrogen contents of Salicornia europaea were closely related to soil nitrogen and carbon concentrations. Average Na, Zn, Fe, Cr accumulations in Salicornia europaea were 41479, 18, 297, 1.5 (mg/kg), indicating valuable trace element contents. However, average heavy metal accumulations such as As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg accumulations were 1.5, 7.1, 4.2, 1.5, 0.1 (mg/kg), which were even or higher than national standards (0.5, 0.5, 2, 2, 0.1) of salts. These results imply that harvesting and eating of Salicornia europaea in west-coast research sites would be harmful because the contents would be much higher if it is calculated as only considering salts and minerals. Therefore, harvesting of Salicornia europaea from some salt marsh in west-coast of Korea should be done cautiously.

최근 국내에서는 산업의 발달에 따른 농경지의 도시화, 택지개발 및 농업용수 사용량 감소의 영향으로 매년 50∼150개 정도의 보가 폐기되고 있는 실정이며, 미국의 경우 기능을 상실한 보 또는 소규모 댐을 철거하여 어류의 생태 통로를 복원하고 수질을 개선하고 있는 추세이다(한국건설기술연구원, 2008). 또한, 보 하류부에 입경이 작은 토사가 퇴적되고, 굵은 입경은 보 상류에 퇴적되어 하천의 유사연속성이 유지되고 있지 못하고 있다. 이러한 보 하류부의 퇴적부는 점차로 그 용적이 증가하고, 육지화되는 특성을 나타낸다. 이러한 현상은 하도육역화 현상으로 정의하고 관련 관리 기술을 개발하고 있다(현대건설, 2011). 이와 관련하여 본 연구에서는 기능을 상실한 보를 개선하거나 대체하고 유사연속성을 유지하면서 생태적으로 하천의 종적연결이 가능하도록 퇴적방지용 하상구조(현대건설, 2011)를 제안하였다(그림 1). 본 연구에서는 퇴적방지하상구조의 홍수안정성과 유사연속성에 대한 효과를 분석하고 3차원 수치모형(FLOW-3D)을 이용하여 수리특성을 모의하였다. 수치모의에 사용된 수로 연장은 9.25 m이고 폭은 0.82 m이며 경계조건으로는 상류수심을 0.04, 0.08, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 m로 적용하였으며, 하류경계조건은 Out flow로 설정하였다. 또한 상류수심이 0.15 m인 경우에 대해 퇴적방지용 하상구조의 폭을 0.74 m, 0.64 m, 0.54 m 로 수치모의를 수행하였다. 수치모의 결과 퇴적방지용 하상구조의 폭이 수로 폭과 같은 경우 상류 수심이 증가할수록 운동에너지 및 총 에너지가 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 퇴적방지용 하상구조 수리특성은 속도수두의 감소율과 흐름방향 와(vorticity)를 주요인자로 채택하여 분석하였다. 속도수두 감소율의 수치모의를 비교분석한 결과, 속도수두의 감소율 범위는 그림 2에 나타난 바와 같이 38.9%에서 73.1%로 나타났으며 상류측 수위가 증가할수록 감소율은 작아지는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과로 퇴적방지 하상구조에 의해 속도수두가 저감되어 하천의 홍수 안전성에 유리할 것으로 판단되었다. 흐름방향 와(vorticity)의 수치모의를 비교분석한 결과, 그림 3에 나타난 바와 같이 (-)방향(반시계방향) 와(vorticity)는 도수 현상에 의해 증가하는 것으로 나타나 상류에서 유입되는 부유사가 퇴적방지용 하상구조 형상에 의해 발생하는 와(vorticity)에 의해 교란되어 부유하게 되어 유사배제의 가능성이 높을 것으로 분석되었다. 이러한 결과, 퇴적방지용 하상구조가 홍수 안전성 확보와 유사배제에 효과가 있는 기술로 적용되는데 가능성이 있는 것으로 판단되었다. 향후, 수리모형실험이나 실제적용에 의한 모니터링 연구가 수행된다면 수리특성에 관한 기초자료가 도출되어 퇴적방지용 하상구조의 상용화가 가능할 것이다.

Taxifolin-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside and quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside were isolated from an EtOAc-soluble extract of the leaves of Chamaecyparis obtuse. Quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside was found to possess a potent inhibitory activity of human recombinant aldose reductase in vitro, its IC50 value being 11.5 μM. Kinetic analysis showed that quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside exhibited uncompetitive inhibition against DL-glyceraldehyde. Also, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside suppresses sorbitol accumulation in rat lens under high glucose conditions, demonstrating the potential to prevent sorbitol accumulation in vivo. These results suggest that this compound may be a promising agent in the prevention or treatment of diabetic complications.

일반적으로 보석란으로 알려진 금선련은 대만에서 폐나 간의 질병 및 발열이나 두통 치료를 위한 전통식물약제로 사용되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 생물반응장치를 이용하여 조직배양된 금선련 식물체에 대하여 화장품 성분으로써 응용 가치를 평가하였다. 이미 몇몇 보고 된 논문에서 금선련은 항암활성, 면역 활성, 간 보호 활성 및 지질대사의 약리학적 활성 등에 대한 연구가 되고 있지만 화장품 성분으로 효능들에 대한 연구는 알려져 있지 않다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 생물반응장치를 이용하여 조직배양된 금선련 추출물에 대하여 미백 및 항비만 관련한 효능 효과를 평가하였다. 실험 결과 조직배양된 금선련 추출물은 tyrosinase 활성 및 멜라닌 합성 억제 효과뿐만 아니라 지방 전구 세포의 지방세포로의 분화를 억제시킴으로써 세포 내 지질 축적을 억제하였다. 이러한 결과들은 피부보호를 위한 화장품 성분으로서 응용 가능성을 제공 할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

A resveratrol synthase (RS) gene was isolated from peanut (Arachis hypogaea, L. cv. Jinpoong) plants. This gene was placed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (CaMV35S) and introduced into two Korean varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cvs. Jasim and Jowon) plants by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Putative transformants were screened by PCR with primers designed from CaMV 35S promoter, NOS terminator and RS gene. Most of selected transgenic potato plants showed the amplification of expected fragments by PCR of genomic DNA with gene-specific primers, while they were absent in untransformed control plants. Expression of the resveratrol synthase gene was also examined by northern blot analysis. The transformants showed a band which was lacking in the control plant, confirming that the introduced gene is transcribed into mRNA in the transformants. The strength of the band, which reflected the level of mRNA expression, differed among the individual transformants. Among the transformants obtained, the highest trans-resveratrol content in the transgenic young leaves of purple-fleshed "Jashim" was 2.11 μgg-1 fresh weight and that in the microtubers in vitro of purple fleshed "Jashim" was 8.31 μgg-1 fresh weight. This amount of resveratrol may have a positive biological effect on human health.

본 연구는 화단국을 이용하여 미적 가치를 제공할 수 있는 관상식물의 중금속에 대한 생육 양상 및 중금속 축적 능력을 확인함으로써 오염지의 경광조성 및 환경친화적인 중금속 정화방법인 식물복원법(phytoremediation)의 가능성을 규명을 위해 화단국인 도입품종인 ‘Branivory'과 국내 육성 품종인 ‘금방울’과 ‘화이트 미리’를 공시하여 토양 내에 Cd를 처리하여 생육량과 생리적 특성을 조사하였다. 공시 3품종의 신초장은 Cd처리구에 비해 대조구에서 다소 높았고, 특히 화이트 미리’는 216mm의 가장 높은 신초장을 보였고, Cd 처리구에서는 대조 품종인 ‘Branivory'에 비해 국내 육성종인 ‘화이트 미리’는 처리구의 16주에서 높은 196mm의 신초장을 보였다. 지상부 생체중과 건물중에서도 ‘화이트 미리’는 대조구에 비해 낮은 것으로 보였으나, 다른 품종에 비해 16주의 Cd 처리구에서는 높은 23.7g의 생육반응을 나타내는 특성을 보였다. 또한 식물체 내의 생리물질의 변화에 있어서는 수용성 단백질 함량은 Cd 처리구에서는 전체적으로 대조구에서 그 함량이 증가하였으나, 수용성 탄수화물에서는 시간별 품종간 차이를 보였는데 ‘Branivory’와 ‘금방울’에서는 8주차에서 가장 높은 경향을 보였다. 엽록소 함량은‘금방울’ 품종에 있어서는 8주 대조구에서 4.81mg/g으로 가장 현저하였다. 한편 Cd 처리구에서 생육량과 생리적 양상에서 다소 저해를 보였지만 축적량이 증가하는 경향을 보였고, '금방울’에서 8주의 2.88ppm, 16주의 7.04ppm 이었고, ‘Branivory'는 1.55ppm(8주), 2.56ppm(16주)으로, ‘화이트 미리’에서는 0.31ppm(8주), 0.88ppm(16주) 순으로 품종간 차이가 현저하였다. 따라서 국내 육성품종과 도입품종의 간의 비교에서 토양오염지에서 국내 육성품종에 있어 생육상에서는 화이트 미리’가 우수한 생육반응을, 중금속 축적에서는 '금방울’에서 우수함을 나타냄으로써 경관조성이 가능한 phytoremediator로서의 가능성이 있을 것이라 생각된다. 그러나 또한 그 효과를 극대화시키기 위해 보다 많은 품종의 비교실험이 필요할 것으로 생각되며, 인산, 소석회, 토양개량제 등의 첨가를 통한 토양내 bioavailability를 높이고 활착과 보다 많은 건물생산량을 높일 수 있는 연구가 뒤따라야 할 것으로 생각된다.

한국에서 ‘가가이모과잎'이라고 불리는 인도의 전통 식물 약재인 Gymnema sylvestre는 당뇨의 원인인 생체 내당의 대사를 조절하는 약재로 이용되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 Gymnema sylvestre 잎으로부터 인공적으로 조직 배양한 캘러스를 대량 배양하였다. 배양된 캘러스부터 추출물을 얻은 후 지방 전구 세포인 3T3-Ll 세포를 이용하여 항비만 효과를 관찰하였다. 결과적으로, Gymnema sylvestre 잎으로부터 조직 배양한 캘러스 추출물은 지방 전구 세포의 지방세포로의 분화뿐만 아니라 세포 내 지질 축적을 억제 하였다. 또한 지방세포의 형성을 조절하는 초기 지방세포 내의 전사인자인 C/EBP-α 발현을 억제하면서 인슐린에 의해 유도된 지방세포의 분화를 억제하였다. 따라서 이러한 결과들은 피부를 위한 화장품 성분으로서 응용 가능성을 제공할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

In order to investigate the genotypic variations of Zn accumulation in rice plant, thirty-five rice cultivars of different cultivar groups (temperate japonica, tropical japonica, tongil, and indica) were irrigated with irrigation water containing 2 ppm Zn throughout all growth season in a field experiments in 2007. At harvest, thirty-five rice cultivars showed large difference in Zn concentrations in root, shoot, straw, grain, chaff, brown rice, rice bran, and polished rice. Zn concentrations in polished rice ranged from 5.15 to 21.24 mg/kg. The total Zn accumulation in shoot varied from 12.18 to 54.84 mg/m2. Two japonica rice cultivar groups (temperate japonica, and tropical japonica) presented the higher Zn concentration in shoot compared to indica and Tongil cultivar groups. The large genotypic variation suggested the possibility of breeding low Zn accumulating rice varieties.

In the present experiment, thirty-five rice cultivars were irrigated by irrigation water containing 2 ppm Ni throughout all growth season in order to investigate the genotypic differences in Ni accumulation of rice. At harvest, thirty-five rice cultivars showed large difference in Ni concentrations in shoot, straw, grain, chaff, brown rice, rice bran, and polished rice, but not in root. Ni concentraions in polished rice ranged from 0.43 to 2.28 mg/kg. The total Ni accumulation of shoot varied from 0.63 to 2.93 mg/m2. Indica cultivar groups presented the highest Ni concentration of polished rice, but no significant difference from the other cultivar group. At the same time, indica cultivar group significantly accumulated more Ni by shoot compared to the other cultivar groups. The large genotypic variation suggested the possibility to breed low Ni accumulating rice cultivar.

In order to investigate the genotypic differences in Pb accumulation of rice, thirty-five rice cultivars were irrigated by irrigation water containing 10 ppm Pb throughout all growth season under field condition. At harvest, thirty-five rice cultivars showed significant difference in Pb concentrations in straw, grain, chaff, brown rice, rice bran, and polished rice, but not in root. Pb concentration in polished rice ranged from 0.02 to 0.22 mg/kg. The total Pb accumulation in shoot varied from 0.77 to 2.74 mg/m2. There were no significant difference of Pb concentration in all of rice parts among four rice cultivar groups. Indica and tongil cultivar groups presented the higher Pb accumulation in shoot. The large genotypic variation suggested the possibility of breeding low Pb accumulating rice cultivar.

In order to investigate the genotypic differences in Cu accumulation of rice, 35 rice cultivars of different cultivar groups (temperate japonica, tropical japonica, tongil, and indica) were cultivated in a field condition that rice was irrigated by irrigation water containing 2 ppm Cu throughout all growing season in 2007. Thirty-five rice cultivars showed large differences in Cu concentrations in all rice parts, including root, shoot, straw, grain, chaff, brown rice, rice bran, and polished rice. Cu concentrations in polished rice ranged from 0.78 to 2.84 mg/kg. The total Cu accumulation of shoot varied from 1.31 to 4.54 mg/m2. Indica and tongil cultivar groups presented the higher Cu concentration and accumulation comparing the two japonica rice cultivar groups (temperate japonica and tropical japonica). The large genotypic variation suggested the possibility of breeding low Cu accumulating rice cultivar.

Cd contamination in irrigation water can imperil human health through food chain. In order to investigate the genotypic differences in Cd accumulation of rice, thirty-five rice cultivars of different cultivar groups (temperate japonica, tropical japonica, tongil, and indica) were grown with irrigation water containing 2 ppm Cd throughout all growing season under the field condition in 2007. At harvest, highly significant differences in Cd concentration in different rice parts (root, shoot, straw, grain, chaff, brown rice, rice bran, and polished rice) was found among rice varieties and rice cultivar groups. Cd concentration of polished rice ranged from 0.26 to 1.85 mg/kg. The total Cd accumulation of shoot varied from 0.69 to 7.87 mg/m2. Indica cultivar group showed significantly higher Cd concentration and accumulation compared to the other rice cultivar groups. On the other hand, the distribution ratio in polished rice was the highest in Tongil cultivar group. The large genotypic variation suggested the possibility of breeding low Cd accumulating rice variety.

This experiment was conducted to examine the influence of four plant growth regulators on growth, photosynthesis parameters and yield of soybean. To increase dry matter accumulation of seeds, some growth regulators were applied to field grown soybean cv. Sinpaldalkong #2 as determinate type and Muhankong as indeterminate type at dense planting condition. Choline caused significant reduction of stem length, but did not increase seed yield. The number of leaf and total leaf area were showed significant increase in all the treatments, but those increased tremendously in Muhankong treated with ethrel. CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency of a single leaf were showed the highest as 17.2 molm-2s-1 and 9.3 μ mmol mol-1 treated with mepiquat in Sinpaldalkong, respectively. The Photosynthetic rate was closely related to stomatal conductance, transpiration and water use efficiency. Mepiquat treatment mainly produced positive effects on the number of pods, percent of pod setting, number of seeds per pod in two cultivars and also increased their seed yield as compared with control.

AtHMA3 is one of P1B-ATPase of Arabidopsis thaliana which transports and/or stores Cd and Pb in the plant cell. To test whether AtHMA3 can be used to develop enhanced resistance plant to Cd and Pb for phytoremediation, we overexpressed AtHMA3 in Columbia-0 using a pBI121vector containing the 35S promoter. To evaluate their Cd and Pb resistance, seeds of three different T3 homozygous(HMA3-1~3) and wild type plants(col-0) were germinated and grown on agar plates containing 50μM Cd, 500μM Pb and 50μM Cd+ 500μM Pb for 3 weeks. 35S::AtHMA3 grew better than wild type plants about 1.1-to 1.8-fold in Cd or Pb containg mediums. Fresh weights of all three lines of transgenic plants were 1.2-to 1.5-fold higher than those of wild type plants in Cd or Pb-containing medium. In addition to, we measured Cd and Pb content in both wild type and transgenic plants grown in solution with 50μM Cd, 500μM Pb and 50μM Cd+ 500μM Pb for 6 d. AtHMA3-overexpressing plants had consistently higher Cd and Pb contents than wild type plants. Chlorophyll contents were not significant difference between overlines and wild-types. These results show that HMA3 contributes to Cd and Pb resistance, and it might be useful for the phytoremediation.

말차, 오룡차, 홍차 및 보이차로 제조한 음료가 Cd에 중독된 SD계 흰쥐의 해독에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 관능검사 결과 일반 물 추출물에 비하여 색상, 향, 맛에 대한 기호도가 현저하게 향상되었으며, 종합적 기호도는 오룡차 음료가 4.18점, 홍차음료가 4.14점으로 말차음료나 보이차 음료의 점에 비하여 높았다. SD계 흰쥐를 정상군 (NC), Cd 대조군(Cd-Co), Cd투여 말차음료 15% 급여군 (Cd-Gt), Cd투여 오룡차음료 1

Echinacea purpurea is an important medicinal plant native of North America, which contains caffeic acid derivatives, alkamides, glycoproteins, and polysaccharides. For commercial roduction of bioactive compounds from Echinacea purpurea, adventitious roots were induced and proliferated in 5 and 20-liter bioreactors under various cultural conditions (Medium composition, inoculum density, air volume, light, temperature et al.). In a 5-liter bioreactor, more than 10-fold of biomass increment was achieved after 5 weeks of culture. Increases of root biomass and bioactive compounds were correlated with increased consumption of sucrose and macro/micro nutrients in the medium. Elicitations have been conducted with UV-C, NO, and SA to increase the accumulation of total polyphenolics, flavonoids and caffeic acid derivatives in the adventitious root cultures, which resulted in 1.2-1.6 times of increment. Based on the previous experimental results, 500-liter and 1000-liter scale bioreactors were applied for large scale cultures of Echinacea purpurea adventitious roots. Total root biomass of 3.62 kg and 5.05kg (dry weight) were achieved in a 500 L and a 1000 L bioreactor, respectively. The accumulation of 22.55 mg/g DW cichoric acid, 4.92 mg/g DW chlorogenic acid and 3.99 mg/g DW caftaric acids were also achieved from the adventitious root in a 1000-liter scale bioreactor.