• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권9호
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• pp.1070-1076
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• 2009

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which prolongs the replicative life span of cells, is highly upregulated in 85-90% of human cancers, whereas most normal somatic tissues in humans express limited levels of the telomerase activity. Therefore, TERT has been a potential target for anticancer therapy. Recently, we described a new approach to human cancer gene therapy, which is based on the group I intron of Tetrahymena thermophila. This ribozyme can specifically mediate RNA replacement of human TERT (hTERT) transcript with a new transcript harboring anticancer activity through a trans-splicing reaction, resulting in selective regression of hTERT-positive cancer cells. However, to validate the therapeutic potential of the ribozyme in animal models, ribozymes targeting inherent transcripts of the animal should be developed. In this study, we developed a Tetrahymena-based trans-splicing ribozyme that can specifically target and replace the mouse TERT (mTERT) RNA. This ribozyme can trigger transgene activity not only also in mTERT-expressing cells but hTERT-positive cancer cells. Importantly, the ribozyme could selectively induce activity of the suicide gene, a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, in cancer cells expressing the TERT RNA and thereby specifically hamper the survival of these cells when treated with ganciclovir. The mTERT-targeting ribozyme will be useful for evaluation of the RNA replacement approach as a cancer gene therapeutic tool in the mouse model with syngeneic tumors.

• BMB Reports
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.315-323
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• 2009

In order to elucidate ultimate biological function of the genome, the model animal system carrying mutations is indispensable. Recently, large-scale mutagenesis projects have been launched in various species. Especially, the mouse is considered to be an ideal model to human because it is a mammalian species accompanied with well-established genetic as well as embryonic technologies. In 1990', large-scale mouse mutagenesis projects firstly initiated with a potent chemical mutagen, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) by the phenotype-driven approach or forward genetics. The knockout mouse mutagenesis projects with trapping/conditional mutagenesis have then followed as Phase II since 2006 by the gene-driven approach or reverse genetics. Recently, the next-generation gene targeting system has also become available to the research community, which allows us to establish and analyze mutant mice carrying an allelic series of base substitutions in target genes as another reverse genetics. Overall trends in the large-scale mouse mutagenesis will be reviewed in this article particularly focusing on the new advancement of the next-generation gene targeting system. The drastic expansion of the mutant mouse resources altogether will enhance the systematic understanding of the life. The construction of the mutant mouse resources developed by the forward and reverse genetic mutagenesis is just the beginning of the annotation of mammalian genome. They provide basic infrastructure to understand the molecular mechanism of the gene and genome and will contribute to not only basic researches but also applied sciences such as human disease modelling, genomic medicine and personalized medicine.

• Macromolecular Research
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.195-201
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• 2007

Non-viral vectors, including lipid- or polymer-based systems, have attracted much attention to date as a gene delivery vehicle, due to safety issues with viral vectors. Chitosan, a naturally existing cationic polymer, has shown great potential as a gene delivery carrier, as it has low immunogenicity and toxicity, excellent transcellular transport ability, and is relatively easy to chemically modify. This review summarizes and discusses the general features of chitosan and its applications as a delivery carrier of DNA and RNA.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2001년도 발생공학 국제심포지움 및 학술대회 발표자료집
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• pp.47.2-49
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• 2001

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.53-62
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• 2002

• 한국수정란이식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국수정란이식학회 2001년도 발생공학 국세심포지엄
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• pp.19-21
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• 2001

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한불임학회 1999년도 제37차 춘계 학술대회
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• pp.13-20
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• 1999

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.59-67
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• 2015

동물의 장기를 인간에게 이식하게 되면 초급성거부반응(Hyperacute rejection, HAR)이 일어난다. 초급성거부반응은 면역계의 구성요소 중 보체(complement)에 의해 일어나는 거부반응으로 돼지의 혈관세포 표면에 있는 $Gal{\alpha}$(1,3)Gal 당분자에 인간의 항체가 즉각 반응하기 때문에 일어나며, ${\alpha}1,3$-galactosyltransferase(${\alpha}1,3$-GT) 유전자는 돼지 혈관세포 표면의 $Gal{\alpha}$(1,3)Gal 당분자 생성에 관여한다. 따라서 인간에게 돼지의 장기를 이식하기 위해서는 ${\alpha}1,3$-galactosyltransferase 유전자를 제거하는 것이 필요한 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구실의 이전 연구에서, 시카고 미니돼지 귀체세포에서 상동 재조합(Homologous recombination)을 통해 ${\alpha}1,3$-galactosyltransferase 유전자가 제거된 체세포를 개발한 바 있으며, 이 체세포를 통하여 ${\alpha}1,3$-GT 유전자가 제거된 돼지도 생산된 바 있다. 본 연구에서는, human serum 처리 시 돼지 세포를 보호해 준다고 보고되고 있는 human complement regulator인 human Decay-accelerating factor(hDAF)와 human ${\alpha}1,2$-fucosyltransferase(hHT)유전자를 ${\alpha}1,3$-GT 유전자 위치에 gene targeting하여 동시에 hDAF와 hHT가 발현하는 체세포를 개발하였다. Knock-in vector는 hDAF와 hHT 두 유전자가 발현할 수 있도록 IRES로 연결하였으며, ${\alpha}1,3$-GT 유전자의 start codon을 이용하여 발현할 수 있도록 구축하였다. 구축한 vector는 electroporation을 통해 미니 돼지 체세포에 도입하였으며, PCR 결과, ${\alpha}1,3$-GT 유전자 위치에서 상동 재조합이 일어났음을 확인하였다. Positive-negative 선별 방법을 통해 얻은 gene targeting 된 체세포는 RT-PCR에 의해 hDAF와 hHT 유전자의 발현이 확인되었으며, 대조군(NIH minipig)에 비해 ${\alpha}1,3$-GT 유전자의 발현이 감소하였다. 또한 이들 세포에 100% human complement serum을 처리하였을 때 knock-in 세포가 대조군에 비해 30% 정도 더 높은 생존율을 보였다. 따라서 개발된 체세포는 이종간 장기이식을 위한 돼지 생산과 함께 이를 이용한 이종간의 장기 이식 시 초급성 거부반응을 억제하는 데 사용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.274-279
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• 2012

For the quantitative analysis of genetically modified (GM) maize in processed foods, primer sets and probes based on the 35S promoter (p35S), nopaline synthase terminator (tNOS), p35S-hsp70 intron, and zSSIIb gene encoding starch synthase II for intrinsic control were designed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products (80~101 bp) were specifically amplified and the primer sets targeting the smaller regions (80 or 81 bp) were more sensitive than those targeting the larger regions (94 or 101 bp). Particularly, the primer set 35F1-R1 for p35S targeting 81 bp of sequence was even more sensitive than that targeting 101 bp of sequence by a 3-log scale. The target DNA fragments were also specifically amplified from all GM labeled food samples except for one item we tested when 35F1-R1 primer set was applied. A reference plasmid pGMmaize (3 kb) including the smaller PCR products for p35S, tNOS, p35S-hsp70 intron, and the zSSIIb gene was constructed for real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The linearity of standard curves was confirmed by using diluents ranging from $2{\times}10^1{\sim}10^5$ copies of pGMmaize and the $R^2$ values ranged from 0.999~1.000. In the RT-PCR, the detection limit using the novel primer/probe sets was 5 pg of genomic DNA from MON810 line indicating that the primer sets targeting the smaller regions (80 or 81 bp) could be used for highly sensitive detection of foreign DNA fragments from GM maize in processed foods.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.237-242
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• 2006

Knowledge of molecular mechanisms governing malignant transformation brings new opportunities for therapeutic intervention against cancer using novel approaches. One of them is gene therapy based on the transfer of genetic material to an organism with the aim of correcting a disease. The application of gene therapy to the cancer treatment has led to the development of new experimental approaches such as suicidal gene therapy, inhibition of oncogenes and restoration of tumor-suppressor genes. Suicidal gene therapy is based on the expression in tumor cells of a gene encoding an enzyme that converts a prodrug into a toxic product. Representative suicidal genes are Herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) and cytosine deaminase (CD). Especially, physicians and scientists of nuclear medicine field take an interest In suicidal gene therapy because they can monitor the location and magnitude, and duration of expression of HSV1-tk and CD by PET scanner.