Professor Heo Jaebok's Research Team at Dong-A University Publishes Cover Paper in Biotechnology and Plant Science Journal

Dong-A University (President Lee Hae-woo) announced on the 15th that Professor Heo Jae-bok's research team from the Department of Biomaterials Engineering (Molecular Genetics) recently published papers in leading journals in the fields of biotechnology and plant science, and was also selected for the cover paper.

Professor Heo's team published a paper in the academic journal of biotechnology and plant science, Plant and Cell Physiology (top 17.9% in the plant science field).

This paper applied gamma rays and gene editing technology to a domestic perilla variety, improving perilla oil, which is prone to rapid rancidity due to omega-3, and developed a perilla variety that delays rancidity even after long-term storage.

This research was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Development Administration under the Next-Generation Crop New Breeding Technology Development Project Group (2024). Additionally, further research is underway to produce omega-9 (oleic acid), a higher-grade oil than perilla omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, and it is expected that new health-functional and food industry-customized perilla varieties will be developed.

The study, conducted over seven years in collaboration with Professor Kim Hyun-wook of Sejong University, was recognized for its scientific excellence and was selected as one of the "54 Excellent Agricultural Food R&D Achievements" in 2020.

Professor Heo also published a paper in the world-renowned plant science journal The Plant Journal (top 7.1% in the plant science field), revealing the correlation between the interaction protein LHP1, which inhibits the function of the flowering-inducing MYB73 protein.

This research was conducted in collaboration with Professor Sung Sbum from the University of Texas, USA, and supported by the Korea Research Foundation's Regional University Outstanding Scientist Support Project (2024). The first author of the paper was graduate student Chae Ji-a from the Department of Applied Life Sciences, Plant Developmental Genetics Laboratory, who is enrolled in the integrated master's and doctoral program. Graduate student Chae is supported by the "Green Convergence Technology Talent Cultivation Specialized Graduate School Biomaterials Project Group" (Director Professor Jung Young-soo).

Professor Heo said, "I will continue to accelerate my research efforts to produce excellent research outcomes and bring honor to my alma mater."

Professor Heo Jae-bok was appointed to his alma mater Dong-A University in 2011 and has been listed four times in "People Who Brightened Korea" (Hanbit-sa) due to his active research.

Cover of the journal featuring Professor Heo Jae-bok from Dong-A University and the published paper.

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