• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1317-1321
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• 2007

Arginine conjugated PAMAM dendrimer, PAMAM-R was modified with propylene oxide via hydroxylation of primary amines of arginine residues. About 49 amines were detected to be converted to amino alcohols by 1H NMR. The newly synthesized polymer, PAMAM-R-PO was able to completely retard pDNA from a charge ratio of 2. The average diameter of PAMAM-R-PO polyplex was found to be 242 nm at a charge ratio of 30. The Zeta-potential value of PAMAM-R-PO polyplex was able to reach 20-30 mV over a charge ratio of 10. PAMAM-R-PO indicated higher cell viability than unmodified PAMAM-R on HeLa and 293 cells because of its hydroxylated amines. Transfection experiments on 293 cells showed that the transfection efficiency of PAMAM-R-PO was found to be 1.5-1.9 times higher than that of PEI25kDa at a charge ratio of 30. The polymer eventually displayed about 2 times greater transfection efficiency than PAMAM-R at the same charge ratio in the absence of serum. Therefore, we concluded that the modification of primary amines of PAMAMR to amino alcohols gives positive effects such as reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced transfection efficiency on 293 cells for gene delivery potency of PAMAM-R.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.579-584
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• 2013

In this study, we synthesized functional dendrimer derivatives as nonviral gene delivery vectors. Poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM, generation 4) was modified to possess functional amino acids to enhance gene transfection efficiency. PAMAM G4 derivatives conjugated with L-arginine (Arg) and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) showed higher transfection efficiency and lower cytotoxicity compared to the native PAMAM G4 dendrimer. The polyplex of the PAMAM G4 derivative/pDNA was evaluated using an agarose gel retardation assay and Picogreen reagent assay. Additionally, the MTT assay was performed to examine the cytotoxicity of synthesized polymers. All PAMAM G4 derivatives showed lower cytotoxicity than PEI25kD. Particularly, PAMAM G4-GABA-Arg displayed enhanced transfection efficiency compared to the native PAMAM G4 dendrimer.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.429-440
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• 2023

Objective: 12-oxo-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-KETE), a metabolite of arachidonic acid, is a strong candidate signal for placenta separation following calf discharge at delivery. In the present study, the effects of 12-KETE on bovine trophoblast cells were investigated to determine its function in the placentome at delivery. Methods: Bovine trophoblast cells derived from blastocysts were used. They were cocultured with or without fibroblasts derived from bovine placentome and/or bovine uterine epithelial cells. 12-KETE was added to the culture medium. Results: Bovine trophoblast cells contained binucleate cells and strongly expressed caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX-2) genes. Addition of 12-KETE to the trophoblast cell colony without feeder cells or that on a fibroblast monolayer induced rapid exfoliation of the colony. After 12-KETE addition, trophoblast cells emitted strong fluorescence caused by the degradation of dye-quenched collagen, indicating that 12-KETE activated matrix metalloproteinase of the trophoblast cells. Exfoliated cell colonies were stained with YOPRO-1, but not propidium iodide (PI). Moreover, DNA fragmentation and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) gene (apoptosis stimulator) upregulation were observed in exfoliated cells, indicating that 12- KETE induced trophoblast cell apoptosis. These results were consistent with previous in vivo observations; however, even a lower concentration of 12-KETE activated trophoblast protease. Meanwhile, fibroblasts derived from the bovine placentome converted arachidonic acid to 12-KETE. Conclusion: These observations indicate that 12-KETE may serve as a signal for placenta separation at delivery.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.226.3-227
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• 2003

A cationic lipid emulsion (o/w) containing lipiodol and 1, 2-dioleoyl-sn- glycero-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) has been prepared as a gene delivery system. In order to increase the transfection efficiency of the lipiodol emulsion, 1 2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine (DOPE) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) were incorporated as additional lipids. By including DOPE and Tween 80, the cationic emulsion became a more potent gene carrier under in vitro condition in the presence of serum, and under in vivo condition. (omitted)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2016

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short amino acids that have been widely used to deliver macromolecules such as proteins, peptides, DNA, or RNA, to control cellular behavior for therapeutic purposes. CPPs have been used to treat immunological diseases through the delivery of immune modulatory molecules in vivo. Their intracellular delivery efficiency is highly synergistic with the cellular characteristics of the dendritic cells (DCs), which actively uptake foreign antigens. DC-based vaccines are primarily generated by pulsing DCs ex vivo with various immunomodulatory antigens. CPP conjugation to antigens would increase DC uptake as well as antigen processing and presentation on both MHC class II and MHC class I molecules, leading to antigen specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses. CPP-antigen based DC vaccination is considered a promising tool for cancer immunotherapy due to the enhanced CTL response. In this review, we discuss the various applications of CPPs in immune modulation and DC vaccination, and highlight the advantages and limitations of the current CPP-based DC vaccination.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2014

In this paper, we made a new polycationic polymeric liposome composed of low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI) and 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA). PCDA liposome was prepared by ultraviolet irradiation. PEI was further conjugated on the surface of the polymerized PCDA liposome using coupling reagents to make PCDA-PEI. The blue-to-red transition of PCDA liposome was observed during the coupling reaction. The size distribution of liposome and complexes with plasmid DNA was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The complex formation was also identified by agarose gel electrophoresis and PicoGreen reagent assay. We confirmed the complex formation of the polymeric liposome with DNA and then performed transfection and cytotoxicity assay in HEK 293 and HeLa cells. As a result, PCDA-PEI showed significant gene transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. This study shows that PEI-conjugated PCDA liposome could be an efficient gene or drug delivery carrier.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.374-383
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• 2018

Background/Aims: There have been numerous efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with antiviral agents during pregnancy. However, there are limited data regarding the outcomes of pregnant women after delivery. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral agents in preventing MTCT of HBV and maternal long-term outcomes. Methods: The HBV-infected pregnant women treated with antiviral agents to prevent MTCT were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-one pregnant women who received telbivudine or tenofovir during late pregnancy (28-34 week) were analyzed. Hepatitis B virus surface antibody (HBsAb) positivity was tested in 43 infants after 7 months of birth. Eleven mothers were followed >1 year after delivery. Results: The mean HBV DNA titer before antiviral therapy was 8.67 (6.60-9.49) log copies/mL, and the median age at delivery was 32 years (range, 22-40). Eleven patients were treated with tenofovir and 30 with telbivudine. The median duration was 57 days (range, 23-100), and the median HBV DNA titer at birth was 5.06 log copies/mL (range, 2.06-6.50). Antiviral treatments were associated with significant HBV DNA reduction (P<0.001). Among 43 infants (two cases of twins), HBsAb was not detected in two, subsequently confirmed to have HBV infection. Biochemical flare was observed in two of 11 mothers followed >12 months, and an antiviral agent was administered. Conclusions: Antiviral treatment during late pregnancy effectively reduced MTCT. Long-term follow-up should be required in such cases. In addition, given that maternal biochemical flare occurred in 18% of mothers, re-administration of antiviral agents might be required.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.674-680
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• 2013

Yeast Dekkera/Brettanomyces bruxellensis is probably the most common contaminant in wineries and ethanol production processes. The considerable economic losses caused by this yeast, but also its ability to produce and tolerate high ethanol concentrations, make it an attractive subject for research with potential for industrial applications. Unfortunately, efforts to understand the biology of D. bruxellensis and facilitate its broader use in industry are hampered by the lack of adequate procedures for delivery of exogenous DNA into this organism. Here we describe the development of transformation protocols (spheroplast transformation, LiAc/PEG method, and electroporation) and report the first genetic transformation of yeast D. bruxellensis. A linear heterologous DNA fragment carrying the kanMX4 sequence was used for transformation, which allowed transformants to be selected on plates containing geneticin. We found the spheroplast transformation method using 1M sorbitol as osmotic stabilizer to be inappropriate because sorbitol strikingly decreases the plating efficiency of both D. bruxellensis spheroplast and intact cells. However, we managed to modify the LiAc/PEG transformation method and electroporation to accommodate D. bruxellensis transformation, achieving efficiencies of 0.6-16 and 10-20 transformants/${\mu}g$ DNA, respectively. The stability of the transformants ranged from 93.6% to 100%. All putative transformants were analyzed by Southern blot using the kanMX4 sequence as a hybridization probe, which confirmed that the transforming DNA fragment had integrated into the genome. The results of the molecular analysis were consistent with the expected illegitimate integration of a heterologous transforming fragment.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.569-574
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• 2014

As a scaffold, SLX4/FANCP interacts with multiple proteins involved in genome integrity. Although not having recognizable catalytic domains, SLX4 participates in diverse genome maintenance pathways by delivering nucleases where they are needed, and promoting their cooperative execution to prevent genomic instabilities. Physiological importance of SLX4 is emphasized by the identification of causative mutations of SLX4 genes in patients diagnosed with Fanconi anemia (FA), a rare recessive genetic disorder characterized by genomic instability and predisposition to cancers. Recent progress in understanding functional roles of SLX4 has greatly expanded our knowledge in the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), Holliday junction (HJ) resolution, telomere homeostasis and regulation of DNA damage response induced by replication stress. Here, these diverse functions of SLX4 are reviewed in detail.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.135-139
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• 2006

We optimized the biological and physical parameters for DNA delivery into thalli of the red alga Porphyra yezoensis using a particle bombardment device. The efficiency of transformation was determined using the ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ (GUS) assay. The optimal helium pressure, distance of tungsten particle flight, and ratio of DNA to tungsten particles were $23kgf/cm^2$, 8 cm, and $5{\mu}g/mg$ tungsten, respectively. During bombardment, osmotic treatment with a mixture of 0.6 M mannitol and sorbitol increased the efficiency of GUS transformation. After 2 days, the blue color indicating GUS activity was observed using a histochemical assay.