• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2018

The rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, is an important pathogen of rice plants. It is well known that genes encoded in the genome have different evolutionary histories that are related to their functions. Phylostratigraphy is a method that correlates the evolutionary origin of genes with evolutionary transitions. Here we applied phylostratigraphy to partition total gene content of M. oryzae into distinct classes (phylostrata), which we designated PS1 to PS7, based on estimation of their emergence time. Genes in individual phylostrata did not show significant biases in their global distribution among seven chromosomes, but at the local level, clustering of genes belonging to the same phylostratum was observed. Our phylostrata-wide analysis of genes revealed that genes in the same phylostratum tend to be similar in many physical and functional characteristics such as gene length and structure, GC contents, codon adaptation index, and level of transcription, which correlates with biological functions in evolutionary context. We also found that a significant proportion of genes in the genome are orphans, for which no orthologs can be detected in the database. Among them, we narrowed down to seven orphan genes having transcriptional and translational evidences, and showed that one of them is implicated in asexual reproduction and virulence, suggesting ongoing evolution in this fungus through lineage-specific genes. Our results provide genomic basis for linking functions of pathogenicity factors and gene emergence time.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.835-838
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• 2016

Background: Lung cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the world, both in terms of new cases (about 13% of total per year) and deaths (nearly one cancer death in five), because of the high case fatality. Errors in lung cancer type or malignant growth determination lead to degraded treatment efficacy, because anticancer strategy depends on tumor morphology. Materials and Methods: We have made an attempt to evaluate effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in the task of lung cancer classification based on gene expression levels. We processed four publicly available data sets. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute data set contains 203 samples and the task was to classify four cancer types and sound tissue samples. With the University of Michigan data set of 96 samples, the task was to execute a binary classification of adenocarcinoma and non-neoplastic tissues. The University of Toronto data set contains 39 samples and the task was to detect recurrence, while with the Brigham and Women's Hospital data set of 181 samples it was to make a binary classification of malignant pleural mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma. We used the k-nearest neighbor algorithm (k=1, k=5, k=10), naive Bayes classifier with assumption of both a normal distribution of attributes and a distribution through histograms, support vector machine and C4.5 decision tree. Effectiveness of machine learning algorithms was evaluated with the Matthews correlation coefficient. Results: The support vector machine method showed best results among data sets from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital. All algorithms with the exception of the C4.5 decision tree showed maximum potential effectiveness in the University of Michigan data set. However, the C4.5 decision tree showed best results for the University of Toronto data set. Conclusions: Machine learning algorithms can be used for lung cancer morphology classification and similar tasks based on gene expression level evaluation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.248-255
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• 2002

Background: TAP1 and TAP2 are two ABC transporter genes located within the class II region of the human MHC. Their protein products form a heterodimer whose function is to transport peptides from the cytoplasm into the endoplasmic reticulum. This study was performed to examine the polymorphism of TAP genes and the distribution of HLA-TAP haplotypes in the Korean population through family analysis. Methods: The subjects used in this study were 50 healthy Korean families consisting of 233 individuals. TAP1 (codons 333 and 637) and TAP2 (codons 379, 565, 577, 651, 665, and 687) typings were carried out by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 genotyping results from a previous study were used for HLA-TAP haplotype analysis. Results: The number (gene frequency) of TAP1 and TAP2 alleles detected were 3 for TAP1 (A 81.5%, B 17.0%, and C 1.5%) and 8 for TAP2 (A1 32.0%, A2 12.5%, B 34.0%, Bky2 6.5%, C 7.0%, D 3.0%, E 4.5%, and G 0.5%). Eleven TAP1-TAP2 haplotypes were observed with $frequency{\geq}1%$, among which 4 haplotypes (A-B, B-A1, A-Bky2, and C-E) showed weak but significant positive linkage disequilibrium (P<0.05). When DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes were extended to TAP1 and TAP2 loci, much diversification of haplotypes was observed: 19 different DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes formed 58 different haplotypes extended to TAP1 and TAP2 loci. These results add more evidence to the view that recombination hotspot is present within and around TAP gene region. Conclusion: The allele frequencies of TAP1 and TAP2 genes and the distribution of TAP1-TAP2 and HLA-TAP haplotypes were studied in Koreans based on a family study.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2004

Objective:Although polymorphism of dopamine transporter gene(DAT1) has been considered to be implicated in the pathogenesis of social phobia, previous investigations have been inconsistent and controversial. The authors investigated the relationship between DAT1 polymorphism and social phobia in Koreans. Methods:DAT1 and alleles of fifty subjects who met DSM-IV criterion of social phobia, and those of age- & sex- matched fifty normal controls in Korea were compared. Additionally, patients were grouped into generalized(33) and nongeneralized(17) types and DAT1 polymorphism was compared with that of age- & sex- matched controls. DAT1 with variable number of tandem repeats(VNTR) were determined by using polymerase chain reaction. To compare the distribution of the DAT1 polymorphism between different groups, Fisher's exact test was used. Results:There were no significant differences in either genotypic(p=0.451) or allelic(p=0.452) distributions between the social phobia patients and the controls. There also were no differences in genotypic distribution between subtypes of social phobia patients and the controls. Conclusion:We couldn't find any association between DAT1 polymorphism and social phobia. Further studies including larger number of samples and diverse clinical variables should be conducted to elucidate the present findings.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2004

Purpose Phenylketonuria is an inborn error of metabolism, which is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. PKU is resulting from deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase. PAH gene spans about 90 kb on chromosome 12q and comprises 13 exons. In order to define the genetic basis of PKU and the frequencies and distribution of PAH mutations in the Korean population, we analyzed PAH gene in independent 80 patients with PKU. Methods All 13 exons including exon-intron boundaries and 2 kb of 5' upstream region of the PAH gene were analyzed by PCR-direct sequencing methods. Results PAH gene analysis revealed 39 different mutations including 10 novel mutations. The novel mutations consisted of 9 missense mutations (P69S, G103S, N207D, T278S, P281A, L293M, G332V, S391I and A447P) and a novel splice site variant (IVS10-3C>G). R243Q, IVS4-1G>A, and E6-96A>G were the most relevant mutations and they accounted in the whole for 38% of the mutant alleles identified in this study. We also observed that. $BH_4$ responsibility was. associated with genotype of R241C, R53H and R408Q. Conc1ustion Our present study with 80 participants extends the previous results to more comprehensive understanding of PAH allele distribution and frequency in Koreans. Although Korean mutation profile of PAH is similar to those of the nearest oriental populations (Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese), several different characteristic features are revealed. The characterization of the genotype-phenotype relationship was also performed. Our data would be very useful information for diagnosis, genetic counseling and planning of dietary and therapeutic strategies in Korean PAH patients.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.365-372
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• 1990

For the effort to produce transgenic amphibians, a plasmid DNA sequence (cytoplasmic actin promoter-linked bacterial $\beta$-galactosidase gene) was microinjected into fertilized Xenopus eggs. It appeared that the injection of 20 nl solution containing 1-2 ng of DNA was not toxic, but over 4 ng was toxic to embryonic development. The translational product of $\beta$-gal gene ($\beta$-galactosidase) had enzyme activity in all three germ layers of the embryo. Expression of the injected $\beta$-gal genes was first detected at mid-gastrula stage, and the activity persisted up to stage 43 (feeding tadpole) with decreased level of retention. However, the level of the expression was various among the injected individuals as well as each experiment. That is, $\beta$-galactosidase activities did not appear in all cells, instead a localized distribution pattern. Although other possibilities could not be omitted, this mosaic distribution of gene expression seemed to arise from unequal partition of the injected DNA into each blastomere during early cleavage.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2019

This study was done to characterize distribution of Rickettsia spp. in ticks in the northwestern and southwestern provinces in the Republic of Korea. A total of 2,814 ticks were collected between May and September 2009. After pooling, 284 tick DNA samples were screened for a gene of Rickettsia-specific 17-kDa protein using nested PCR (nPCR), and produced 88 nPCR positive samples. Of these positives, 75% contained 190-kDa outer membrane protein gene (ompA), 50% 120-kDa outer membrane protein gene (ompB), and 64.7% gene D (sca4). The nPCR products of ompA, ompB, and sca4 genes revealed close relatedness to Rickettsia japonica, R. heilongjiangensis, and R. monacensis. Most Rickettsia species were detected in Haemaphysalis longicornis. This tick was found a dominant vector of rickettsiae in the study regions in the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.579-588
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of generalized aggressive periodontitis with IL-6 promoter gene single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP). Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 52 generalized aggressive periodontitis patients(GAP) and 30 periodontally healthy control subjects, who were systemically healthy non-smokers. Genomic DNA was obtained from buccal swab. The IL-6 promotor SNP at the positions of -597, -572, and -174 were genotyped by amplifying the polymorphic region using polymerase chain reaction(PCR), restriction enzyme digestion and gel electrophoresis. Result: The genotype distributions for G/G, G/A and A/A genotypes of IL-6 -597 were 30.8%, 40.4%, and 28.8% in the GAP group and 53.3%, 40%, and 6.7% in the control group and were statistically different between 2 groups(p<0.05). Allele 2 frequency of IL-6 -597 were significantly higher in the GAP group than the control group(p<0.01). At the position of IL-6 -572, the distribution for C/C, C/G and G/G genotypes were 23.1%, 55.8% and 21.2% in the GAP group and 20%, 33.3%, and 46.7% in the control group. In female subjects, the genotype distribution were significantly different between 2 groups(p<0.01). In male subjects, allele 2 frequency of IL-6-572 was significantly lower in the GAP group than the control group(p<0.05). The genotype distribution of IL-6 -174 in the GAP group were 96.2%, 3.8% for G/G, G/C genotypes whereas only the G/G genotype was detected in the control group. Conclusion: In conclusion, significant associations were found in IL-6 gene promoter(-597, -572) polymorphisms and generalized aggressive periodontitis. Further cohort study will be necessary in larger population.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.27-30
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• 1998

Previously, we made a study report on the genotype distribution and the gene frequency of angiotesin I-converting enzyme (ACE) in Korean population, and on the association between hypertension and genetic variance of ACE. This time, we have investigated a rapid mismatch-PCR/RFLP assays for the variant of the angiotesin II type 1 receptor ($AT_1R$) gene (an $A{\rightarrow}C$ transversion at position 1166 of $AT_1R$ gene), a mutation which may interact with the ACE polymorphism in the determining of risk of myocardial infarction. The genotype distributions of Koreans' angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene were AA (66.3%):AC (28.1%):CC (5.6%), thus the AA genotype was most numerous, and the allele frequency was A:C = 0.803:0.197. Genotype distributions were shown as AA (76.8%):AC (20.9%):CC (2.3%), the allele frequency was A:C = 0.872:0.128 in the male group, and AA (47.4%):AC (41.0%):CC (11.6%), A:C = 0.679:0.321 in the female group. Differences were highly significant between the male and female groups (p<0.0001). Genotype distributions between angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene and angiotensin converting enzyme gene showed that there is no significance between $AT_1R$ genotypes and ACE genotypes in total subjects (p>0.05).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 1997

Water transport in highly-permeable membranes is facilitated by some specialized pathways, which are called aquaporins (AQP). AQP1 (AQP-CHIP) is the first recognized aquaporin identified from red cells and renal proximal tubules. Up until now 4 other aquaporin homologs have been reported. Each aquaporin has its unique tissue distribution and regulatory mechanims. To elucidate molecular mechanisms for their transcription regulation and tissue-specific expression isolation of aquaporin genes is required. To clone promoters of the AQP family mouse genomic library was screened by the 1st exon-specific probe of AQP4, and 5 different plaques were positively hybridized. Phage DNAs were purified and characterized by restriction mapping and sequencing. One of them is the mouse AQP-CD gene. The gene was consisted of 4 exons and the exon-intron boundaries of mouse AQP-CD gene were identified at identical positions in other related genes. The 5'-flanking region of AQP-CD gene contains one classic TATA box, a GATA consensus sequence, an E-box and a cyclic AMP-responsive element. The cloning of the mouse AQP-CD gene, of which product is expressed in the collecting duct and is responsible for antidiuresis by vasopressin, will contribute to understand the molecular mechanisms of tissue-specific expression and regulation of AQP-CD gene under various conditions.