• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2008

Sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene (1,140 bp) and control region (803 bp) of Siberian flying squirrels from Korea (Pteromys volans aluco) and Mt. Changbai of northeast China (P. v. arsenjevi) were obtained to reexamine the taxonomic status of the Korean subspecies. In the cytochrome b gene, six haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi, and in control region, seven haplotypes of P. v. aluco formed a clade with six haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi. Furthermore, six haplotypes of cytochrome b gene of P. v. aluco from this study formed a clade with four haplotypes of P. v. arsenjevi in far-east Russia obtained from GenBank. We also investigated the research papers previously published that reported the length of tail vertebrae of P. volans, and found that the length was not sufficiently large as to be a key character of P. v. aluco. This result is not consistent with morphological description for its haplotype. Therefore, we conclude that P. v. aluco from Korea might possibly be a synonym of P. v. arsenjevi from northeast China and nearby Russia.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2011

Brucella (B.) abortus is a facultative intracellular pathogen that infects a wide variety of animal species and human. Brucellosis is the zoonosis and an extremely important disease around the world. Although the eight species can be differentiated by conventional phenotypic tests, these species display a high degree of DNA homology in DNA-DNA hybridization assay (>90%). Various methods have been established for genotyping of Brucella species, but most of analytical methods are lack reproducibility and limited capability to differentiate them. The attempt of this study was to evaluate multiple-locus VNTR analysis (MLVA) for use of epidemiological trace-back analysis in bovine brucellosis. Ninety-four B. abortus isolates from Gyeongbuk province during 2006~2010 were analyzed using 16 VNTR locus. High resolution automatic capillary electrophoresis system was used for more throughput, simpleer, faster, and better discriminable than conventional gel electrophoresis. As a result, 13 different genotypes were identified from 94 B. abortus isolates. MLVA could contribute to epidemiological trace-back analysis of bovine brucellosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.280-283
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• 1998

We have cloned the RNA polymerase sigma-like factors from a wide range of actinomycetes by using specific primers with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The specific oligonucleotide primers were designed on the basis of amino acid sequences of conserved regions from HrdA, B, D of Streptomyces griseus as well as from the rpoD box of many eubacteria. The consensus sequences were from the rpoD box and helix-turn-helix motif involved in -35 recognition. The designed primers were successfully applied to amplify the DNA fragments of the hrd homolog genes from 8 different strains of actinomycetes which produce a wide variety of important antibiotics. The 480 bp of the DNA fragment was amplified from all 8 strains, and it was identified as a part of hrdA and hrdB as we designed. The deduced amino acid sequence of PCR-amplified DNA fragments were highly homologous to those of other known RNA polymerase sigma factors of S. griseus and Streptomyces aureofaciens. Therefore, this study with specifically designed primers will support rapid cloning of the RNA polymerase sigma factors which recognize different classes of promoters from actinomycetes, and it will also be helpful in understanding the relationship of promoters and sigma factors leading to heterogeneity of RNA polymerases in actinomycetes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.557-562
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• 2023

Dysregulation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin has been linked to various human cancers, indicating that Parkin is a tumor suppressor protein. However, the mechanisms of action of Parkin remain unclear to date. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of Parkin as a tumor suppressor in human lung and colorectal cancer cells. Results showed that Parkin overexpression reduced the viability of A549 human lung cancer cells by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest. In addition, Parkin caused DNA damage and ATM (Ataxia telangiectasia mutated) activation, which subsequently led to p53 activation. It also induced the p53-mediated upregulation of p21 and downregulation of cyclin B1. Moreover, Parkin suppressed the proliferation of HCT-15 human colorectal cancer cells by a mechanism similar to that in A549 lung cancer cells. Taken together, our results suggest that the tumor-suppressive effects of Parkin on lung and colorectal cancer cells are mediated by DNA damage/p53 activation/cyclin B1 reduction/cell cycle arrest.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.398-403
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• 1999

In our previous studies, we reported that hybridoma B-lymphocytes can be used to determine the virulence of Listeria species in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Here, we examined the cytopathic effect, i.e., membrane damage and the nature of cell death induced by Listeria monocytogenes on murine hybridoma B-lymphocytes (Ped-2E9). Membrane damage was assessed by microscopic analyses and by measuring the release of intracellular alkaline phosphatase(AP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Cell death was determined by DNA fragmentation analyses using agarose gel electrophoresis. Infection by listeriolysin O (LLO)-producing L. monocytogenes strains induced substantial amounts of AP and LDH release from Ped-2E9 hybridoma B-cells, suggesting severe membrane damage in these cells, while an LLO-negative L. monocytogenes mutant strain had no effect. An LLO-producing recombinant L. innocua ($prifA^+hly^+$) strain also induced high AP and LDH release and cytopathic changes in Ped-2E9 cells. Light or scanning electron microscopic examination revealed L. monocytogenes mediated membrane destabilization, pore formation, intense cytoplasmic granulation, bleb formation, and lysis of Ped-2E9 cells. LLO-producing L. monocytogenes and L. innocua ($prifA^{+}hly{^}+$) also induced ladder-like DNA fragmentation in Ped-2E9 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that L. monocytogenes, specifically LLO-producing strains, can induce a severe cytopathic effect leading to apoptosis in hybridoma B-lymphocytes (Ped-2E9).

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2009

The Perciformes include approximately 40% of all bony fishes and are the largest order of vertebrates. This order includes some of the most economically relevant marine fishes, particularly the red seabream, black seabream and rock bream. A 409 bp fragment of the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and 403 bp and 518 bp fragments of ribosomal RNA (12S and 16S rRNA, respectively) were sequenced from five populations of natural and cultured red seabreams, natural black seabream, and natural and cultured rock breams. The mitochondrial DNA sequences were utilized for the genetic identification and population structural analyses of these three species. Phylogenetic relationships of intra- and inter-species were elucidated using three types of molecular genetic markers from three species of the order Perciformes in Korea. We noted no significant differences in the intra-specific variation of the cyt b and rRNA genes in each population however, inter-specific divergences were greater than intra-specific variation. Inter-specific variation was induced more by transition than transversion type in the cyt b and rRNA genes. The cyt b gene and rRNA genes make it possible to determine the inter-species divergence. The rRNA genes have more conserved sequences than the cyt b gene. Therefore, these genes are expected to prove useful among species belonging to the different genera or families.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6911-6917
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• 2014

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a complex and heterogeneous tumor with poor prognosis due to frequent intrahepatic spread and extrahepatic metastasis. The molecular mechanisms underlying HCC pathogenesis still remain obscure. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the abundance and the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor kappa B/p65 subunit in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with HCC and to assess its prognostic significance and association with hypoxia inducible factor one alpha (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) in blood. Subjects and methods: This study was carried out on 40 patients classified equally into liver cirrhosis (group I) and HCC (group II), in addition to 20 healthy volunteers (group III). All groups were subjected to measurement of NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 subunit expression levels by real time-PCR, and DNA binding activity was evaluated by transcription factor binding immunoassay. Serum HIF-$1{\alpha}$ levels were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Significant increase of both the expression level and DNA binding activity of NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 subunit together with serum HIF-1 alpha levels was noted in HCC patients compared to liver cirrhosis and control subjects, with significant positive correlation with parameters for bad prognosis of HCC. In conclusion, NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling is activated in HCC and associated with disease prognosis and with high circulating levels of HIF-1 alpha.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.459-465
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• 1996

Bacillus thuringiensis serovar. darmstadiensis produced bipyramidal endo-toxin. The toxin protein was purified by Renografin-76 step gradient centrifugation and investigated by electron microscope. Analysis of total plasmid DNA patterns showed that four different size of plasmids existed in wild type B. thuringiensis serovar. darmstadiensis. Total plasmids DNA was isolated and transformed into pst I site of pBR322 cloning vector. Ten clones containing crystal toxin gene were forst screened colony hybridization by using PUYBT 9044 probe ontained B. thuringiensis kurskaki HD 1 toxin gene. Cloned-DNA was digested with EcoR1 and HindIII and transformed to pIBI30 sequencing vector. Finally, 2.6kb and 3.6kb size fragments contatined toxin-gene were cloned with restriction analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.506-511
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• 1998

When the spermine, which is one of the polyamines containing cation in vivo, binds to DNA, it can increase the stability of DNA. At the same time, it can cause B-form to Z-form transformations of DNA. However, because we cannot determine the binding geometry of the spermine to DNA by using spectroscopic methods, nobody can show the accurate binding mechanism of a DNA-spermine complex. Thus, we used DAPI as a spectroscopic probe of spermine, which binding geometry was well known. At the result of base selective binding geometry of spermine to synthetic DNA, the concentration of spermine gets higher, it grows the hydrophobic environment of DAPI which bound the minor groove of adenine-thymine base pair. Simultaneously, spermine seems to bridge the backbones around the minor groove of $poly[d(A-T)_2]$. So that, the intensity of fluorescence spectrum of that shows sudden increasement. In guanine-cytocine base pair, $poly[d(G-C)_2]$, we can suppose that spermine bind to the major groove of that, shoving out the DAPI which is partially intercalated between the base pocket across the major groove of it. In both cases, spermine doesn't show the base selectivity against to DNA.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.379-386
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• 1997

Recombinant plasmid, pBKH4, containing NPT II and P35S-BcHSP17.6 was constructed by ligation of Bum H I -digested pBKSl-l and BcHSP 17.6 (thermotolerance gene) 6om pBLH4. The tobacco leaf disc was cocultivated with transformed Agmbacterium tumefaciens bearing pBKH4 for 24 hours and transformed shoots were selected on MS-n/B medium containing $100\;{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$ of kanamycin. Heat-killing temperature of Nicotima tabacum was $50^{\circ}$ for >15min, and transformed tobacco plants with BcHSP17.6 cDNA exhibited thermotolerance at the heat-killing temperature. The transgenic plants were analyzed by Southern blot hybridization with the probe of ${\alpha}^{_32}P$ labelled BcHSP17.6 cDNA. Transcription and expression level of BcHSP17.6 cDNA were also continued by Northern blot analysis and Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion assay. In this study, we suggest that the BcHSP17.6 cDNA introduced to tobacco plant is related to thenuoto-lerance and 17.6-kD LMW HSP acts as a protector from heat damage in plants.