The extent and historical trend of metal pollution recorded in core sediments from the artificial Lake Shihwa, Korea.

The vertical distribution of trace metals in sediment cores was investigated to evaluate the extent and the historical record of metal pollution over 30 years in the artificial Lake Shihwa in Korea. A marked increase of trace metals after 1980 was observed due to the operation of two large industrial complexes and dike construction for a reclamation project. There was a decreasing trend of metal concentrations with the distance from the pollution source.

Tumor suppressor QM-like gene from disk abalone (Haliotis discus discus): molecular characterization and transcriptional analysis upon immune challenge.

We describe molecular characterization and transcriptional analysis of the gene encoding tumor suppressor QM-like protein, AbQM, in the disk abalone Haliotis discus discus. The full-length cDNA (765-bp) of AbQM was found to consist of a 654-bp ORF coding for a 218 amino acid protein of a 25 kDa molecular mass with a 10.2 isoelectric point.

Molecular characterization and induction of heat shock protein 90 in the Antarctic bivalve Laternula elliptica.

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a highly conserved molecular chaperone that plays a key role in protein synthesis, folding, denaturation prevention, and signal transduction. We cloned the complete complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence of the Laternula elliptica HSP90. The full-length cDNA was 2,823 bp in size and contained an open reading frame of 2,190 bp that was translated into 729 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 83.

Analysis of ESTs and expression of two peroxiredoxins in the thermally stressed Antarctic bivalve Laternula elliptica.

A total of 2592 expressed sequenced tags (ESTs) were generated from a cDNA library of the Antarctic bivalve Laternula elliptica, which is an important species in Antarctic coastal ecosystems. A cluster of 1789 unique sequences was revealed, which consisted of 273 contigs and 1076 singletons. Based on BLAST searches, we identified 508 genes, 56 of which were functionally related to immunity and stress responses, including the peroxiredoxins (Prxs).

Expressed sequence tag analysis of Antarctic hairgrass Deschampsia antarctica from King George Island, Antarctica.

Deschampsia antarctica is the only monocot that thrives in the tough conditions of the Antarctic region. It is an invaluable resource for the identification of genes associated with tolerance to various environmental pressures. In order to identify genes that are differentially regulated between greenhouse-grown and Antarctic field-grown plants, we initiated a detailed gene expression analysis.

Glaciecola agarilytica sp. nov., an agar-digesting marine bacterium from the East Sea, Korea.

A taxonomic study was carried out on an isolate, strain NO2(T), from marine sediment collected from the East Sea, Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed that this strain belonged to the Gammaproteobacteria and was most closely related to Glaciecola mesophila KMM 241(T) and Glaciecola polaris LMG 21857(T) (98.6 and 98.

Oceanobacillus profundus sp. nov., isolated from a deep-sea sediment core.

A halotolerant, facultatively alkaliphilic bacterium, designated CL-MP28T, was isolated from the surface of a sediment core sample collected at a depth of 2247 m in the Ulleung Basin of the East Sea, Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CL-MP28T revealed an affiliation with the genus Oceanobacillus. The sequence similarities between the isolate and type strains of members of the genus Oceanobacillus were in the range 95.

Psychroserpens mesophilus sp. nov., a mesophilic marine bacterium belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from a young biofilm.

A number of marine bacteria isolated from young biofilms were characterized as belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae. The taxonomic characterization of strain KOPRI 13649T, which was isolated from an acrylic surface at the seashore at Gangneung, Korea, is reported here. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain KOPRI 13649T was determined and was found to have a high level of similarity with that of Psychroserpens burtonensis (95.

Oceanisphaera donghaensis sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium from the East Sea, Korea.

A taxonomic study was carried out on two isolates, strains BL1(T) and BL11, from marine sediment collected from the East Sea, Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed that these isolates clearly affiliated with the Gammaproteobacteria. BL1T and BL11 were most closely related to Oceanisphaera litoralis KMM 3654T (97.

Sensitivity of leachate and fine contents on electrical resistivity variations of sandy soils.

Laboratory pilot tests were performed to investigate the relationship between electrical resistivity and contaminated soil properties. Three different sandy soils and leachate collected from one of the industrial waste landfill sites in Korea were mixed to simulate contaminated soil conditions. The values of electrical resistivity of the soils were measured using laboratory scaled resistivity cone penetrometer probe.