• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1539-1545
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• 2010

In beer, glutathione works as the main antioxidant compound, which also correlates with the stability of the beer flavor. In addition, high residual sugars in beer contribute to major nonvolatile components, which are reflected in a high caloric content. Therefore, in this study, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GSH1 gene encoding glutamylcysteine synthetase and the Saccharomycopsis fibuligera ALP1 gene encoding ${\alpha}$-amylase were coexpressed in industrial brewing yeast strain Y31 targeting the ${\alpha}$-acetolactate synthase (AHAS) gene (ILV2) and alcohol dehydrogenase gene (ADH2), resulting in the new recombinant strain TY3. The glutathione content in the fermentation broth of TY3 increased to 43.83 mg/l as compared with 33.34 mg/l in the fermentation broth of Y31. The recombinant strain showed a high ${\alpha}$-amylase activity and utilized more than 46% of the starch as the sole carbon source after 5 days. European Brewery Convention tube fermentation tests comparing the fermentation broths of TY3 and Y31 showed that the flavor stability index for TY3 was 1.3-fold higher, whereas its residual sugar concentration was 76.8% lower. Owing to the interruption of the ILV2 gene and ADH2 gene, the contents of diacetyl and acetaldehyde as off-flavor compounds were reduced by 56.93% and 31.25%, respectively, when compared with the contents in the Y31 fermentation broth. In addition, since no drug-resistant genes were introduced to the new recombinant strain, it should be more suitable for use in the beer industry, owing to its better flavor stability and other beneficial characteristics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1841-1847
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• 2008

Vibrio vulnificus is a causative agent of serious diseases in humans, resulting from the contact of wound with seawater or consumption of raw seafood. Several studies aimed at detecting V. vulnificus have targeted vvh as a representative virulence toxin gene belonging to the bacterium. In this study, we targeted the rpoS gene, a general stress regulator, to detect V. vulnificus. PCR specificity was identified by amplification of 8 V. vulnificus templates and by the loss of a PCR product with 36 non-V. vulnificus strains. The PCR assay had the 273-bp fragment and the sensitivity of 10 pg DNA from V. vulnificus. SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR assay targeting the rpoS gene showed a melting temperature of approximately $84^{\circ}C$ for the V. vulnificus strains. The minimum level of detection by real-time PCR was 2 pg of purified genomic DNA, or $10^3$ V. vulnificus cells from pure cultured broth and $10^3$ cells in 1 g of oyster tissue homogenates. These data indicate that real-time PCR is a sensitive, species-specific, and rapid method for detecting this bacterium, using the rpoS gene in pure cultures and in infected oyster tissues.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1473-1480
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• 2012

The Galactose-${\alpha}1$,3-galactose (${\alpha}1$,3Gal) epitope is responsible for hyperacute rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Human decay-accelerating factor (hDAF) is a cell surface regulatory protein that serves as a complement inhibitor to protect self cells from complement attack. The generation of ${\alpha}1$,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) knock-out pigs expressing DAF is a necessary step for their use as organ donors for humans. In this study, we established GGTA1 knock-out cell lines expressing DAF from pig ear fibroblasts for somatic cell nuclear transfer. hDAF expression was detected in hDAF knock-in heterozygous cells, but not in normal pig cells. Expression of the GGTA1 gene was lower in the knock-in heterozygous cell line compared to the normal pig cell. Knock-in heterozygous cells afforded more effective protection against cytotoxicity with human serum than with GGTA1 knock-out heterozygous and control cells. These cell lines may be used in the production of GGTA1 knock-out and DAF expression pigs for xenotransplantation.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.149-154
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• 2007

In the present study, we performed the PCR assay using TOX2P/TOX2M primer targeting a specific region within mcyB gene to identify potential microcystin-producing cyanobacteria. TOX2P/TOX2M primer set was effective in amplifying mcy gene in the field samples containing Microcystis spp. of 1,000 cells per mL. Moreover, the results from the PCR assay agreed with those of the ELISA analysis. Consequently, this study demonstrated that TOX2P/TOX2M primer set can be used as a genetic probe for the early detection of cyanobacterial toxigenicity in Korean water bodies.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.3-4
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• 2000

The synthesis of acyl-CoA catalyzed by acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS, EC 6.2.1.3) from fatty acid, ATP, and CoA is a crucial reaction in mammalian fatty acid metabolism. In arachidonate metabolism, acyl-CoA synthetase(ACS) plays a key role in the esterification of free arachidonate into membrane phospholipids. Following its release by the action of calcium dependent phospholipase, free arachidonate is believed to be rapidly converted to arachidonoyl-CoA and reesterified into phospholipids in order to prevent excessive synthesis of eicosanoids. In previous studies, we have characterized five ACSs (designated as ACS1-5) with different tissue distribution. ACS1, ACS2, and ACS5 are similar in structure and fatty acid preference, and completely different from ACS3 and ACS4. The latter are arachidonate-preferring enzymes closely related in structure but expressed in different tissues: ACS3 mRNA is highly expressed in the brain and the mRNA for ACS4 is expressed in steroidogenic tissues including adrenal gland, ovary, and testis. To learn more about the potential function of ACS4 in arachidonate metabolism, we have produced knock-out mice for ACS4 gene. ACS4+/- females become pregnant less frequently and produce small litters with extremely low transmission of the disrupted alleles. Striking morphological changes including extremely enlarged uterine filled with numerous proliferative cysts of various size were detected in ACS4+/- females. Furthermore, marked accumulation of prostaglandins were seen in the uterus of heterozygous females. These results indicate that ACS4 is critical for the uterine arachidonate metabolism and heterozygous disruption of its gene lead to impaired pregnancy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1492-1495
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• 2008

Successful control of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, the causal agent of bacterial leaf streak, requires a specific and reliable diagnostic tool. A pathovar-specific PCR assay was developed for the rapid and accurate detection ofthe plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola in diseased plant. Based on differences in a membrane fusion protein gene of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola and other microorganisms, which was generated from NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and CMR (http://cmr.tigr.org/) BLAST searches, one pair of pathovar-specific primers, XOCMF/XOCMR, was synthesized. Primers XOCMF and XOCMR from a membrane fusion protein gene were used to amplity a 488-bp DNA fragment. The PCR product was only produced from 4 isolates of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola among 37 isolates of other pathovars and species of Xanthomonas, Pectobacterium, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Escherichia coli, and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi. The results suggested that the assay detected the pathogen more rapidly and accurately than standard isolation methods.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7375-7379
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• 2013

The main aim of this study was to investigate the roles of GST-${\pi}$ and $pol{\beta}$ genes in the chemoresistance of esophageal carcinoma cells. Eukaryotic expression vectors containing each gene were constructed and transfected into EC9706 cells, and the biological effects of the two genes assessed based on a resistance index. We additionally investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-resistance effects of GST-${\pi}$ and $pol{\beta}$ genes using recombinant lentiviruses carrying siRNAs against the two genes. Our results showed that upregulation of GST-${\pi}$ and $pol{\beta}$ genes suppresses chemosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells to cisplatin, while downregulation of these two genes with RNAi technology reverses this chemoresistance. Multi-site injection of recombinant lentivirus targeting the GST-${\pi}$ gene into transplanted cDDP tumors effectively reversed their chemoresistant phenotype. However, the same treatment against the $pol{\beta}$ gene did not lead to significant efficacy against chemoresistance.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6215-6220
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• 2013

Kisspeptins (KPs) encoded by the KiSS-1 gene are C-terminally amidated peptide products, including KP-10, KP-13, KP-14 and KP-54, which are endogenous agonists for the G-protein coupled receptor-54 (GPR54). Functional analyses have demonstrated fundamental roles of KiSS-1 in whole body homeostasis including sexual differentiation of brain, action on sex steroids and metabolic regulation of fertility essential for human puberty and maintenance of adult reproduction. In addition, intensive recent investigations have provided substantial evidence suggesting roles of Kisspeptin signalling via its receptor GPR54 in the suppression of metastasis with a variety of cancers. The present review highlights the latest studies regarding the role of Kisspeptins and the KiSS-1 gene in tumor progression and also suggests targeting the KiSS-1/GPR54 system may represent a novel therapeutic approach for cancers. Further investigations are essential to elucidate the complex pathways regulated by the Kisspeptins and how these pathways might be involved in the suppression of metastasis across a range of cancers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.118-118
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• 2017

A high-resolution physical map targeting a cluster of yield-related QTLs on the long arm of rice chromosome 9 was constructed across a 35.5kb region containing the six predicted genes including the probable ascorbate peroxidase (OsApx). The $BC_3F_6$ near isogenic lines (NILs) were derived from a cross between the Oryza sativa Hwaseong and O. rufipogon. The plant height and length of internodes were compared between Hwaseong and NILs. There were significant differences in plant height between Hwaseong and NILs. The NILs internodes were longer than Hwaseong, showing dramatic elongation in the first and fourth internodes; thereby, leading to increased plant height. The antioxidant activity of Hwaseong and NILs was also analyzed by 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In order to understand whether or not OsApx gene is important in scavenging $H_2O_2$ in rice, DAB staining was used. Intense dark-brown coloration was observed in Hwaseong than NILs. In addition, DPPH scavenging ability of Hwaseong showed lower value than NILs. These results indicated that the internode elongation and antioxidant activity might possibly be controlled by OsApx. To know the causative relationship of the gene and phenotype, we will further analyze the gene expression and use it for functional studies by complementation transgenic approach.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1585-1590
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• 2002

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata(RCDP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder clinically characterized by symmetrical shortening of the proximal limbs, contractures of joints, a typical dysmorphic face, cataracts, and itchyosis. Patients with RCDP can be subdivided into three subgroups based on biochemical analysis and complementation studies. RCDP type I results from mutations in the PEX7 gene encoding the peroxisomal targeting signal type II(PST2) receptors and presents with both a defect in plasmalogen biosynthesis and phytanic acid oxidation. RCDP type II is deficient in the activity of dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase(DHAP-AT). RCDP type III is deficient in alkyl-dihydroxyacetonephosphate synthase(alkyl-DHAP). We report a case of RCDP type I which was confirmed with biochemical study, fibroblast culture, and gene study.