The complete mitochondrial genome of Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén, 1826) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) collected in a mid-Western part of Korean peninsula.

Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén, 1826) is one of key rice pests in Northeast Asia. We have determined the mitochondrial genome of L. striatellus collected in a mid-western part of Korean peninsula. The circular mitogenome of L. striatellus is 16,359 bp long including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and a single large non-coding region of 1,972 bp. The base composition was AT-biased (77.3%). In comparison of the two Chinese L. striatellus mitogenomes with Korean mitogenome, total 140 and 40 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 166 and 118 insertions and deletions were identified, presenting intra-species variations based on geographical distribution.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Laodelphax striatellus (Fallén, 1826) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) collected in a southern part of Korean peninsula.

A 16,359 bp mitochondrial genome of Laodelphax striatellus collected in a southern part of Korean peninsula was completed and their intraspecies variations were compared with Korean and Chinese L. striatellus mitogenomes. The circular mitogenome of L. striatellus contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNAs, and a single large non-coding region of 1,972 bp. The base composition was AT-biased (77.3%). It has only one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in AT-rich region compared to other Korean mitogenome, but total 41 and 141 SNPs and 118 and 166 insertions and deletions, respectively, compared to two Chinese mitogenomes, suggesting the possibility of tracing migration based on geographic genetic diversity.

Plasma SUMO1 Protein is Elevated in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia in the elderly. The accumulation of amyloid-ß peptides and tau proteins is the major pathogenic event of AD. There is accumulating evidence that both tau and amyloid-ß linked to the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), which is increased in the brain of AD model mouse. The present study focused on the determination of SUMO1 protein level in AD blood plasma by the ELISA methods. We compared plasma from 80 dementia patients (average age 75.3 y), 89 persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (average age 73.71 y),and 133 cognitively normal controls (average age 71.97 y). The plasma level of SUMO1 was significantly increased in dementia patients, as compared to control groups. The levels of SUMO1 correlated to decreased Mini-Mental State Examination (r =-0.123, p = 0.029). These results suggest that elevated plasma SUMO1 levels may be associated with AD.