• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.40.1-40.13
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• 2022

Background: Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is used widely in cloning, stem cell research, and regenerative medicine. The type of donor cells is a key factor affecting the SCNT efficiency. Objectives: This study examined whether urine-derived somatic cells could be used as donors for SCNT in pigs. Methods: The viability of cells isolated from urine was assessed using trypan blue and propidium iodide staining. The H3K9me3/H3K27me3 level of the cells was analyzed by immunofluorescence. The in vitro developmental ability of SCNT embryos was evaluated by the blastocyst rate and the expression levels of the core pluripotency factor. Blastocyst cell apoptosis was examined using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling assay. The in vivo developmental ability of SCNT embryos was evaluated after embryo transfer. Results: Most sow urine-derived cells were viable and could be cultured and propagated easily. On the other hand, most of the somatic cells isolated from the boar urine exhibited poor cellular activity. The in vitro development efficiency between the embryos produced by SCNT using porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEFs) and urine-derived cells were similar. Moreover, The H3K9me3 in SCNT embryos produced from sow urine-derived cells and PEFs at the four-cell stage showed similar intensity. The levels of Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 expression in blastocysts were similar in the two groups. Furthermore, there is a similar apoptotic level of cloned embryos produced by the two types of cells. Finally, the full-term development ability of the cloned embryos was evaluated, and the cloned fetuses from the urine-derived cells showed absorption. Conclusions: Sow urine-derived cells could be used to produce SCNT embryos.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2008

This study investigated the developmental ability and gene expression of somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos using ear skin fibroblast cells derived from miniature pig. When miniature pig (m) and landrace pig (p) were used as donor cells, there were no differences in cleavage (79.2 vs. 78.2%) and blastocyst rates (27.4 vs. 29.7%). However, mNT blastocysts showed significantly higher apoptosis rate than that of pNT blastocysts (6.1 vs. 1.7%) (p<0.05). The number of nuclei in pNT blastosysts was significantly higher than that of mNT (35.8 vs. 29.3) (p<0.05). Blastocysts were analyzed using Realtime RT-PCR to determine the expression of Bax-${\alpha}$, Bcl-xl, H19, IGF2, IGF2r and Xist. Bax-${\alpha}$ was higher in mNT blastocyst than pNT blastocyst (p<0.05). There was no difference in Bcl-xl between two NT groups. Bax-${\alpha}$/Bcl-xl was, however, significantly higher in mNT blastocyst compared to pNT. The expression of imprinting genes were aberrant in blastocysts derived from NT compared to in vivo blastocysts. H19 and IGF2r were significantly lower in mNT blastocysts (p<0.05). The expression of IGF2 and Xist was similar in two NT groups. However, imprinting genes were expressed aberrantly in mNT compared to pNT blastocysts. The present results suggest that the NT between donor cells derived from miniature pig and recipient oocytes derived from crossbred pig might affect reprogramming of donor cell, resulting in high apoptosis and aberrant expression patterns of imprinting genes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.2238-2246
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• 2012

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate hydrogen bonding characteristics of hydroxyl groups in glucose aqueous solutions with different concentrations. The hydrogen bonding abilities and strength of different O and H atom types have been calculated and compared. The acceptor/donor efficiencies have been predicted and it has been found that: (1) O2-HO2 and O3-HO3 are more efficient intramolecular hydrogen bonding acceptors than donors; (2) O1-HO1, O4-HO4 and O6-HO6 are more efficient intramolecular hydrogen bonding donors than acceptors; (5) O1-HO1 and O6-HO6 are more efficient intermolecular hydrogen bonding acceptors than donors while hydroxyl groups O2-HO2 and O4-HO4 are more efficient intermolecular hydrogen bonding donors than acceptors. The hydrogen bonding abilities of hydroxyl groups revealed that: (1) the hydrogen bonding ability of OH2-$H_w$ is larger than that of hydroxyl groups in glucose; (2) among the hydroxyl groups in glucose, the hydrogen bonding ability of O6-HO6 is the largest and the hydrogen bonding ability of O4-HO4 is the smallest; (3) the intermolecular hydrogen bonding ability of O6-HO6 is the largest; (4) the order for intramolecular hydrogen bonding abilities (from large to small) is O2-HO2, O1-HO1, O3-HO3, O6-HO6 and O4-HO4.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 1994

Two strains of yeast (RA-74-2 and RA-912) showing superior fermenting ability at a high temperature were isolated from soils and wastewaters by an enrichment culture method. Based on the morphological and physiological charateristics, the two strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus, respectively. RA-74-2 was able to grow upto $43^{\circ}C$ and sustain similar fermenting ability in the temperatures range from 30 to $40^{\circ}C$. In addition, the sugar- and ethanol-tolerance of RA-74-2 were 30% (w/v) glucose and 10% (v/v) ethanol, which appeared to be higher than those of nine other industrial yeast strains currently being used in the alcohol factories. The thermotolerant ethanol fermenting yeast RA-912 showed identical growth in the temperatures range from 35 to $45^{\circ}C$ and was resistant to various heavy metals. The quality and quantity of byproducts of the isolated yeast strains in fermentation broth after fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$ were similiar with those obtained at $30^{\circ}C$. These results show that RA-74-2 can be adopted for the ethanol fermentation process where the expenses for cooling system is significant, and suggest that RA-912 may be applied in either SSF(simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) or Flash-fermentation process and RA-912 may be used as a gene donor for the development of thermotolerant ethanol-fermenting yeasts.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 1989

An in vitro fertilization assay employing zona-free hamster embryos was used to investigate human spermatozoal fertilitzing ability. Yanaghimarchi et al.(1976) first introduced this cross species fertilzation technique, with its application as a diagnostic tool for male infertility. Human spermatozoa were preincubated for 3 to 4 hrs in B W W medium at concentration of $4{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml prior to the addition to zona-free hamster embryos. After 3 hrs, human sperm was evaluated for fertilizing potential by the presence of swelling or decondencing sperm head in the cytoplasm. The results of penetration rates for sperm were as follow : 1. The average penetration rate of a 7 fertile donor group was $47.8{\pm}27.67%$(Range 14.3-98.0%) 2. The average penetration rate of 12 infertile patients with normal semen analysis was $21.7{\pm}26.9%$(Range 0-38.8%) 3. The average penetration rate of 10 infertile patients with semen abnormalities was $6.1{\pm}8.1%$(Range 0-25%)

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.108-115
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• 2006

The inherent biology of neural stem cells (NSCs) endows them with capabilities that not only circumvent many of the limitations of other gene transfer vehicles, but that enable a variety of novel therapeutic strategies heretofore regarded as beyond the purview of neural transplantation, Most neurodegenerative diseases are characterized not by discrete, focal abnormalities but rather by extensive, multifocal, or even global neuropathology. Such widely disseminated lesions have not conventionally been regarded as amenable to neural transplantation. However, the ability of NSCs to engraft diffusely and become integral members of structures throughout the host CNS while also expressing therapeutic molecules may permit these cells to address that challenge. Intriguingly, while NSCs can be readily engineered to express specified foreign genes, other intrinsic factors appear to emanate spontaneously from NSCs and, in the context of reciprocal donor-host signaling, seem to be capable of neuroprotective and/or neuroregenerative functions. Stem cells additionally have the appealing ability to "home in" on pathology, even over great distances. Such observations help to advance the idea that NSCs - as a prototype for stem cells from other solid organs - might aid in reconstructing the molecular and cellular milieu of maid eve loped or damaged organs.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.184-187
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• 2008

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) is an important metabolic intermediate in living organisms and participates in many reactions as a methyl group donor. SAM has been used as a dietary supplement and is proposed to have beneficial effects on the liver and brain. The aim of this study was to find lactic acid bacteria with high SAM-producing ability to be used as SAM enhancing probiotics. We used high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify the amount of SAM produced, and found that Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 produced a significantly higher amount of SAM than other Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus strains. The effect of various carbon and nitrogen sources on SAM production was examined. This study confirmed that Bifidobacterium may be utilized as a source of SAM in the functional food industry.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.119-122
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• 2002

Weakly coordinating anions show little affinity for binding to unfunctionalized iron(II) porphyrins. The electron-deficient 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinatoiron(II) compound is utilized in this study to demonstrate solution coordination by chloride, bromide and acetate ions. The binding strength of anions to the iron(II) porphyrin is reflected by a systematic change in pyrrole proton chemical shift in $^1H$ NMR spectra; the pyrrole resonance moves downfield when the ${\sigma}$-donor ability of anions is decreased.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.546-553
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• 2017

Aging is a natural and gradual process in human life. It is influenced by heredity, environment, lifestyle, and disease. DNA methylation varies with age, and the ability to predict the age of donor using DNA from evidence materials at a crime scene is of considerable value in forensic investigations. Recently, many studies have reported age prediction models based on DNA methylation from various tissues and body fluids. Those models seem to be very promising because of their high prediction accuracies. In this review, the changes of age-associated DNA methylation and the age prediction models for various tissues and body fluids were examined, and then the applicability of the DNA methylation-based age prediction method to the forensic investigations was discussed. This will improve the understandings about DNA methylation markers and their potential to be used as biomarkers in the forensic field, as well as the clinical field.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.288-297
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• 2005

Rehabilitation of the paralyzed face as a result of trauma or surgery remains a daunting task. Complete restoration of emotionally driven symmetric facial motion is still unobtainable, but current techniques have enhanced our ability to improve this emotionally traumatic deficit. Problems of mass movement and synkinesis still plague even the best reconstructions. The reconstructive techniques used still represent a compromise between obtainable symmetry and motion at the expense of donor site deficits, but current techniques continue to refine and limit this morbidity. In chronically paralyzed face, direct nerve anastomosis, nerve graft, or microvascular-muscle graft is not always possible. In this case, regional muscle transposition is tried to reanimate the eyelid and lower face. Regional muscle includes maseeter muscle, temporalis muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle. Temporalis muscle is preferred because it is long, flat, pliable and wide-motion of excursion. In order to reanimate the upper and lower eyelid, Upper eyelid Gold weight implantion and lower eyelid shortening and tightening is mainly used recently, because this method is very simple, easy and reliable.