• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.179-183
• /
• 2016

Even though klotho deficiency in mice exhibits multiple aging-like phenotypes, studies using large animal models such as pigs, which have many similarities to humans, have been limited due to the absence of cell lines or animal models. The objective of this study was to generate homozygous klotho knockout porcine cell lines and cloned embryos. A CRISPR sgRNA specific for the klotho gene was designed and sgRNA (targeting exon 3 of klotho) and Cas9 RNPs were transfected into porcine fibroblasts. The transfected fibroblasts were then used for single cell colony formation and 9 single cell-derived colonies were established. In a T7 endonuclease I mutation assay, 5 colonies (#3, #4, #5, #7 and #9) were confirmed as mutated. These 5 colonies were subsequently analyzed by deep sequencing for determination of homozygous mutated colonies and 4 (#3, #4, #5 and #9) from 5 colonies contained homozygous modifications. Somatic cell nuclear transfer was performed to generate homozygous klotho knockout cloned embryos by using one homozygous mutation colony (#9); the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were 72.0% and 8.3%, respectively. Two cloned embryos derived from a homozygous klotho knockout cell line (#9) were subjected to deep sequencing and they showed the same mutation pattern as the donor cell line. In conclusion, we produced homozygous klotho knockout porcine embryos cloned from genome-edited porcine fibroblasts.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.362-372
• /
• 2018

High mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) is an abundant, chromatin-associated, non-histone protein involved in transcription, chromatin remodeling, and recombination. Recently, the HMGB2 gene was found to be significantly downregulated during senescence and shown to regulate the expression of senescent-associated secretory proteins. Here, we demonstrate that HMGB2 transcription is repressed by p21 during radiation-induced senescence through the ATM-p53-p21 DNA damage signaling cascade. The loss of p21 abolished the downregulation of HMGB2 caused by ionizing radiation, and the conditional induction of p21 was sufficient to repress the transcription of HMGB2. We also showed that the p21 protein binds to the HMGB2 promoter region, leading to sequestration of RNA polymerase and transcription factors E2F1, Sp1, and p300. In contrast, NF-Y, a CCAAT box-binding protein complex, is required for the expression of HMGB2, but NF-Y binding to the HMGB2 promoter was unaffected by either radiation or p21 induction. A proximity ligation assay results confirmed that the chromosome binding of E2F1 and Sp1 was inhibited by p21 induction. As HMGB2 have been shown to regulate premature senescence by IR, targeting the p21-mediated repression of HMGB2 could be a strategy to overcome the detrimental effects of radiation-induced senescence.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.148-156
• /
• 2019

The Transgenic livestock can be useful for the production of disease-resistant animals, pigs for xenotranplantation, animal bioreactor for therapeutic recombinant proteins and disease model animals. Previously, conventional methods without using artificial nuclease-dependent DNA cleavage system were used to produce such transgenic livestock, but their efficiency is known to be low. In the last decade, the development of artificial nucleases such as zinc-finger necleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas has led to more efficient production of knock-out and knock-in transgenic livestock. However, production of knock-in livestock is poor. In mouse, genetically modified mice are produced by coinjecting a pair of knock-in vector, which is a donor DNA, with a artificial nuclease in a pronuclear fertilized egg, but not in livestock. Gene targeting efficiency has been increased with the use of artificial nucleases, but the knock-in efficiency is still low in livestock. In many research now, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) methods used after selection of cell transfected with artificial nuclease for production of transgenic livestock. In particular, it is necessary to develop a system capable of producing transgenic livestock more efficiently by co-injection of artificial nuclease and knock-in vectors into fertilized eggs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.299-303
• /
• 2015

KO mice provide an excellent tool to determine roles of specific genes in biomedical filed. Traditionally, knockout mice were generated by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Recently, engineered nucleases, such as zinc finger nuclease, transcription activator-like effector nuclease and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), were used to produce knockout mice. This new technology is useful because of high efficiency and ability to generate biallelic mutation in founder mice. Until now, most of knockout mice produced using engineered nucleases were C57BL/6 strain. In the present study we used CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate knockout mice in FVB strain. We designed and synthesized single guide RNA (sgRNA) of CRISPR system for targeting gene, Abtb2. Mouse zygote were obtained from superovulated FVB female mice at 8-10 weeks of age. The sgRNA was injected into pronuclear of the mouse zygote with recombinant Cas9 protein. The microinjected zygotes were cultured for an additional day and only cleaved embryos were selected. The selected embryos were surgically transferred to oviduct of surrogate mother and offsprings were obtained. Genomic DNA were isolated from the offsprings and the target sequence was amplified using PCR. In T7E1 assay, 46.7% among the offsprings were founded as mutants. The PCR products were purified and sequences were analyzed. Most of the mutations were founded as deletion of few sequences at the target site, however, not identical among the each offspring. In conclusion, we found that CRISPR system is very efficient to generate knockout mice in FVB strain.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.647-652
• /
• 2009

A duplex PCR technique was applied for specific identification of cow and goat milk in milk products by using primers targeting the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. Duplex PCR using primers specific for cow and goat generated specific fragments of 223bp and 326bp from cow and goat milk DNA, respectively. Duplex PCR was applied to 15 milk products purchased from the market to verify label statements. The labeling statements of four market milk products, three yoghurt products, and one whole milk powder product were confirmed in the duplex PCR. The labeling statements of five of seven infant milk powder products were also confirmed by duplex PCR but the other two products were shown to be contaminated with either cow or goat milk. The proposed duplex PCR provides a rapid and sensitive approach to detection of as little as 0.1% cow milk in goat milk and one-step detection of cow or goat milk in milk products.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 1998.10a
• /
• pp.8-13
• /
• 1998

Polyoma Virus Enhancer core Binding Protein (PEBP2)는 유전자의 전사를 조절하는 hetero-dimeric transcription factor로서 $\alpha$와 $\beta$ subunit으로 구성되어 있다. $\alpha$ subunit을 coding 하는 유전자중 하나인 PEBP2aB는 급성백혈병과 관련되어있는 t(8;21) 또는 t(12;21)에 의하여 변형됨으로서 백혈병 발병의 원인이 되고 있다 (Miyoshi et al., 1993; .Romana et al., 1995). $\beta$ subunit을 coding 하는 PEBP2$\beta$도 inv(16)에 의하여 변형됨으로서 백혈병을 유도하는 주요 원인이 되고 있다 (Liu et al., 1993). 이 유전자들의 생물학적 활성을 밝히기 위한 연구가 gene targeting에 의한 knockout mouse 생산 방법으로 수행되었다. 그 결과 PEBP2$\alpha$B와 PEBP2$\beta$ 유전자가 definitive hematopoiesis에 있어서 결정적으로 중요한 역할을 하고 있음이 관찰되었다 (Okuda et al., 1996, Wang et al., 1996a, 1996b), 이는 이들 유전자가 bematopoietic master switch 유전자임을 밝힌 중요한 결과로서 이로부터 혈액학 연구 분야의 새로운 장이 열리게 되었다. 또한 이러한 연구 결과들은 PEBP2 family에 속하는 다른 유전자의 생물학적 활성의 연구를 촉진하는 계기가 되었다. 최근 PEBP2$\alpha$A 유전자가 결손된 마우스가 생산되었는데 이 유전자의 경우에는 모든 종류의 뼈의 생성이 완전히 결손됨이 관찰되었다 (Komori et al., 1997). 이는 PEBP2$\alpha$A 유전자가 뼈의 생성을 지배하는 master switch 유전자임을 보여주는 중요한 관찰로서 bone biologist 들의 큰 관심을 모으고 있다. 본 연구팀은 PEBP2 family 유전자 중 유일하게 아직 생물학적 활성이 규명되지 않은 PEBP2$\alpha$C 유전자의 활성을 knockout 마우스를 생산하는 방법에 의하여 분석하였으며 소화기관의 형성에 중요한 역할을 하고 있음을 확인하였다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.651-656
• /
• 2013

Human schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi is a chronic and debilitating helminthic disease still prevalent in several countries of Asia. Due to morphological similarities of cercariae and eggs of these 2 species, microscopic differentiation is difficult. High resolution melting (HRM) real-time PCR is developed as an alternative tool for the detection and differentiation of these 2 species. A primer pair was designed for targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene to generate PCR products of 156 base pairs for both species. The melting points of S. japonicum and S. mekongi PCR products were $84.5{\pm}0.07^{\circ}C$ and $85.7{\pm}0.07^{\circ}C$, respectively. The method permits amplification from a single cercaria or an egg. The HRM real-time PCR is a rapid and simple tool for differentiation of S. japonicum and S. mekongi in the intermediate and final hosts.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.6
• /
• pp.601-606
• /
• 2017

Cystoisospora is responsible for morbidity in immunocompromised patients. PCR is sensitive for diagnosing Cystoisospora; however, it needs reevaluation for differential molecular diagnosis of cystoisosporiasis. We aimed at evaluating melting curve analysis (MCA) after real-time PCR (qPCR) in diagnosis and genotyping of Cystoisospora as an alternative to conventional PCR. We included 293 diarrheic stool samples of patients attending the Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine of Cairo University Hospitals, Egypt. Samples were subjected to microscopy, nested PCR (nPCR), and qPCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2) of the ribosomal RNA (r RNA) gene followed by melting temperatures ($T_ms$) analysis and comparing the results to PCR-RFLP banding patterns. Using microscopy and ITS2-nPCR, 3.1% and 5.8% of cases were Cystoisospora positive, respectively, while 10.9% were positive using qPCR. Genotyping of Cystoisospora by qPCR-MCA revealed 2 genotypes. These genotypes matched with 2 distinct melting peaks with specified $T_ms$ at $85.8^{\circ}C$ and $88.6^{\circ}C$, which indicated genetic variation among Cystoisospora isolates in Egypt. Genotype II proved to be more prevalent (65.6%). HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma and leukemic patients harbored both genotypes with a tendency to genotype II. Genotype I was more prevalent in lymphomas and mammary gland tumors while colorectal and hepatocellular tumors harbored genotype II suggesting that this genotype might be responsible for the development of cystoisosporiasis in immunocompromised patients. Direct reliable identification and differentiation of Cystoisospora species could be established using $qPCR-T_ms$ analysis which is useful for rapid detection and screening of Cystoisospora genotypes principally in high risk groups.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.58 no.4
• /
• pp.383-387
• /
• 2015

A duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method was developed to authenticate the use of cat and rabbit in food and to prevent unlawful distribution of illegally butchered meat in both domestic and imported food market. Species-specific primers were designed targeting mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The sizes of PCR products were 191 bp for cat and 101 bp for rabbit, which were relatively small for better application of the detection method on processed foods. Specificities of primers were verified using 21 animal species including cat and rabbit. Limit of detection was examined by serial dilution of the sample DNA and confirmed as 0.005 ng for rabbit and 0.0005 ng for cat using Bioanalyzer. The developed duplex PCR method showed specificity and sensitivity in the identification of two target species.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.58 no.4
• /
• pp.369-375
• /
• 2015

Meat from black pigs (BP) is in high demand compared with that from modern white pig (WP) breeds such as Landrace pigs owing to its high quality. However, the growth rate of black pigs is slower than that of white pig breeds. We investigated differences in the fecal microbial composition between white and black pigs to explore whether these breeds differed in the composition of their gut microbial communities. The swine gut microbiota was investigated using Illumina's MiSeq-based sequencing technology by targeting the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Our results showed that the composition of the gut microbiota was significantly different between the two pig breeds. While the composition of the WP microbiota shifted according to the growth stage, fewer shifts in composition were observed for the BP gut microbiota. In addition, the WP gut microbiota showed a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio compared with that of BP. A high ratio between these phyla was previously reported as an obesity-linked microbiota composition. Moreover, the WP microbiota contained a significantly higher abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, suggesting a possibility of higher fiber digestion efficiency in WP compared to BP. These findings may be important factors affecting growth performance and energy-harvesting capacities in pigs. Our findings of differences in the gut microbiota composition between the two breeds may provide new leads to understand growth rate variation across pig breeds.