Bum-Soo Lee

Comparative analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of ginseng leaf.

The expressed sequence tags (ESTs) referenced in this report are the first transcriptomes in a leaf from a half-shade ginseng plant. A cDNA library was constructed from samples of the leaves of 4-year-old Panax ginseng plants, which were cultured in a field. The 2,896 P. ginseng cDNA clones represent 1,576 unique sequences, consisting of 1,167 singletons and 409 contig sequences. BLAST comparisons of the cDNAs in GenBanks non-redundant databases revealed that 2,579 of the 2,896 cDNAs (89.1%) exhibited a high degree of sequence homology to genes from other organisms. The majority of the identified transcripts were found to be genes related with energy, metabolism, subcellular localization, and protein synthesis and transport. The chlorophyll a/b-binding protein ESTs in the ginseng leaf samples manifested a substantially higher level of expression than was observed in other plant leaves. The ESTs involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis were also identified and discussed.

Isolation and Characterization of Terpene Synthase Gene from Panax ginseng

Terpene synthase plays a key role in biosynthesis of triterpene saponins (ginsenosides) and is intermediate in the biosynthesis of a number of secondary metabolites. A terpene synthase (PgTPS) cDNA was isolated and characterized from the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. The deduced amino acid sequence of PgTPS showed a similarity with A. deliciosa (AAX16121) 61%, V. vinifera (AAS66357) 61%, L hirsutum (AAG41891) 55%, M truncatula (AAV36464) 52%. And the segment of a terpene synthase gene was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We studied expression of terpene synthase under stressful conditions like chilling, salt, UV, and heavy metal stress treatment. Expression of PgTPS was increased gradually after exposure to stresses such as chilling, salt, and UV illumination. But its transcription seems to be reduced by cadmium and copper treatment.

In silico gene expression analysis in Codonopsis lanceolata root

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) provide valuable tools that can be used to predict the genes involved in primary and secondary metabolite synthesis. To the best of our knowledge, ESTs have not yet been developed for Codonopsis.lanceolata, and therefore, the EST referenced in this report is the first transcript for C.lanceolata. A cDNA library was constructed using the roots of C. lanceolata plants that were grown in a field. The selected 881 cDNA clones were sequenced and processed with an EST pipeline, resulting in 636 unique sequences, including 517 singletons and 119 contig sequences. Using bioinformatics tools, 81% of the EST sequence was putatively annotated. Data for unique transcripts were mined from biological databases and functionally classified using gene ontology (GO), the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Orthology, KEGG pathway maps, and protein family. The GO-based analyses were examined in terms of biotic and abiotic stress response, transport, cellular component organization, biogenesis, and secondary metabolic processes. The KEGG-based analyses of most transcripts were sorted by carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Five randomly-selected putative genes were used for an expression study using various stresses such as salt, H2O2, salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonic acid. Mined data were organized in “The Codonopsis EST Database” (www.bioherbs.khu.ac.kr/Codonopsis).

The Effect of Haliotidis Concha on the Growth and Ginsenoside Biosynthesis of Korean Ginseng Hairy Root

In order to investigate the effects of elicitors on the growth and ginsenoside biosynthesis of ginseng hairy roots, we treated Panax ginseng hairy root with various concentrations of Haliotidis concha according to different time course. Haliotidis concha supplement increased the biomass and ginsenoside accumulation at 10 ㎎/L concentration. The growth rate of hairy root under a lighter concentration was greater than hairy root treated with a denser concentration. The highest content and productivity of ginsenosides appeared at 2 weeks after the treatment of 10 ㎎/L Haliotidis concha. The gene expression of squalene synthase, squalene epoxidase, dammarenediol synthase, cycloartenol synthase, β-amyrin synthase in hairy roots of ginseng were examined by RT-PCR. The Haliotidis concha treatment resulted in the obvious accumulation of the mRNA of triterpene biosynthesis in Panax ginseng hairy root as compared with the control. In this study, Haliotidis concha acts as a kind of elicitor for the production of ginsenosides.

Characteristics of Plantlets Redifferentiated from F1 Hybrid between Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius

The characteristics of plantlets redifferentiated from calli of F1 hybrid between Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius were investigated. Growth of plantlets redifferentiated from F1 hybrid was superior to the plants redifferentiated from Korean ginseng. Stem color of plantlets redifferentiated from F1 hybrid was more purple than that from Korean ginseng and leaf color of the former was also greener than that of the latter. Chunpoong, Yunpoong and Seonweon which are belonged to Korean ginseng showed same PCR band(A), while American ginseng showed different PCR band (B) in Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. F1 hybrid exhibited both A and B PCR band which belonged to Korean ginseng and American ginseng, respectively. F1 hybrid calli and plantlets redifferentiated from F1 hybrid calli showed same PCR band with that of F1 hybrid plant in ITS region. Therefore it was confirmed that piantlets redifferentiated from F1 hybrid exhibited genetic stability in ITS region.