• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.166-175
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• 1993

The genetic variation patterns at 23 loci coding for 16 isozymes in eight natural populations of Pinus densiflora for. erects distributed in Kangwon-Kyungbuk region and 17 populations of Pinus densiflora and 13 populations of Pinus thunbergii were compared. The absence of marker alleles specific to P. thunbergii and almost the same allele-frequency distributions to those of P. densiflora did not support the hypothesis that P. densiflora for. erecta is a introgressive hybrid between P. densiflora and P. thunbergii. From the results of the hierarchial analysis of population differentiation using Wright's F statistics(1978), the frequency distributions of single-locus distance coefficients and other genetic analysis (genetic distance, cluster analysis, factor analysis, resin duct analysis), it was concluded that Pinus densiflora for. erecta cannot be treated genetically as a distinct group from other natural populations of P. densiflora.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2008

In Korean waters, there are two color types (blue and purple) of the blue crab Portunus trituberculatus. The blue type is common, but the ratio of the purple type has increased in landings. To determine whether there were significant morphometric or genetic differences between the blue and purple types, crabs caught from the West Sea of Korea were examined. Based on covariance analysis, there were significant differences in 1 of 10 morphometric characteristics of males between the two types, in none of the ten characteristics for females. Using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA fingerprinting, no specific AFLP marker was detected for each type. The heterozygosity and genetic diversity were very low. Analyses of pairwise distance, the Fst index, and genetic similarity revealed similar results, with very low genetic differentiation. Therefore, there is no significant difference between blue and purple types of the crab from the West Sea of Korea, and the two types in the West Sea can be managed as one stock.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2012

The pear psylla, $Cacopsylla$ $pyricola$ (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is a serious insect pest of commercial pear crops. The species, which resides on pear trees throughout its life cycle, is rapidly spreading in some regions of the world. The population genetic structure of the species collected from several pear orchards in Korea was studied to understand the nature of dispersal and field ecology of the species. The 658-bp region of mitochondrial COI gene and the 716-bp long complete internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced. Unlike other previously studied insect pests, the COI-based genetic diversity of the pear psylla was extremely low (maximum sequence divergence of 0.15%). This finding allowed us to conclude that the species may have been introduced in Korea relatively recently. ITS2 sequence-based analyses of phylogeny, population differentiation, gene flow, and hierarchical population structure all concordantly suggested that the pear psylla populations in Korea are neither genetically isolated nor hampered for gene flow. These genetic data are concordant with the dispersal of an overwintering winterform morph outside the non-pear habitat in the fall.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.91-98
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• 2010

Purpose: Silent mating-type information regulation 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase. SIRT1 plays an important role in the regulation of cell death/survival and stress response in mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the SIRT1 gene is involved in the development or progression of gastric cancers. Materials and Methods: SIRT1 and p53 genes in 86 gastric cancers were examined for genetic alterations by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism sequencing, as well as SIRT1 protein expression in 170 gastric cancers by immunohistochemistry. Results: In the genetic analysis, we found SIRT1 and p53 mutations in two and 12 cases, respectively. Two missense mutations, c.599 C>T (T200I) and c.1258 G>A (E420K), were detected in the SIRT1 gene coding region. The SIRT1 and p53 mutation were found in mutually exclusive gastric cancers. The immunohistochemistry revealed that SIRT1 overexpression was found in 95 (55.9%) of 170 gastric cancers. Altered SIRT1 expression was not statistically associated with clinicopathological parameters, including tumor differentiation, location, lymph node metastasis, or p53 expression. Two cases with an SIRT1 mutation showed increased SIRT1 expression. Conclusions: These results suggest that genetic alterations and overexpression of the SIRT1 gene may contribute to gastric cancer development.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.23.1-23.7
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• 2014

Background: Scanning of the genome for selection signatures between breeds may play important role in understanding the underlie causes for observable phenotypic variations. The discovery of high density single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provide a useful starting point to perform genome-wide scan in pig populations in order to identify loci/candidate genes underlie phenotypic variation in pig breeds and facilitate genetic improvement programs. However, prior to this study genomic region under selection in commercially selected Berkshire and Korean native pig breeds has never been detected using high density SNP markers. To this end, we have genotyped 45 animals using Porcine SNP60 chip to detect selection signatures in the genome of the two breeds by using the $F_{ST}$ approach. Results: In the comparison of Berkshire and KNP breeds using the FDIST approach, a total of 1108 outlier loci (3.48%) were significantly different from zero at 99% confidence level with 870 of the outlier SNPs displaying high level of genetic differentiation ($F_{ST}{\geq}0.490$). The identified candidate genes were involved in a wide array of biological processes and molecular functions. Results revealed that 19 candidate genes were enriched in phosphate metabolism (GO: 0006796; ADCK1, ACYP1, CAMK2D, CDK13, CDK13, ERN1, GALK2, INPP1; MAK, MAP2K5, MAP3K1, MAPK14, P14KB, PIK3C3, PRKC1, PTPRK, RNASEL, THBS1, BRAF, VRK1). We have identified a set of candidate genes under selection and have known to be involved in growth, size and pork quality (CART, AGL, CF7L2, MAP2K5, DLK1, GLI3, CA3 and MC3R), ear morphology and size (HMGA2 and SOX5) stress response (ATF2, MSRB3, TMTC3 and SCAF8) and immune response (HCST and RYR1). Conclusions: Some of the genes may be used to facilitate genetic improvement programs. Our results also provide insights for better understanding of the process and influence of breed development on the pattern of genetic variations.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.220-226
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• 2021

The role of particulate matter (PM) in health problems including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and pneumonia is becoming increasingly clear. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, major components of PM, bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhRs) and promote the expression of CYP1A1 through the AhR pathway in keratinocytes. Activation of AhRs in skin cells is associated with cell differentiation in keratinocytes and inflammation, resulting in dermatological lesions. Oleanolic acid, a natural component of L. lucidum, also has anti-inflammation, anticancer, and antioxidant characteristics. Previously, we found that PM10 induced the AhR signaling pathway and autophagy process in keratinocytes. Here, we investigated the effects of oleanolic acid on PM10-induced skin aging. We observed that oleanolic acid inhibits PM10-induced CYP1A1 and decreases the increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 induced by PM10. A supernatant derived from keratinocytes cotreated with oleanolic acid and PM10 inhibited the release of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in dermal fibroblasts. Also, the AhR-mediated autophagy disruption was recovered by oleanolic acid. Thus, oleanolic acid may be a potential treatment for addressing PM10-induced skin aging.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.219-219
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• 2022

Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI), encoded by the waxy gene, is responsible for the accumulation of amylose during the development of starch granules in rice endosperm. Despite many findings on waxy alleles, the genetic diversity and evolutionary studies are still not fully explored regarding their functional effects. Comprehensive evolutionary analyses were performed to investigate the genetic variations and relatedness of the GBSSI gene in 374 rice accessions composed of 54 wild accessions and 320 bred cultivars (temperate japonica, tropical japonica, indica, aus, aromatic, and admixture). GBSS1 coding regions were analyzed from a VCF file retrieved from whole-genome resequencing data, and eight haplotypes were identified in the GBSSI coding region of 320 bred cultivars. The genetic diversity indices revealed the most negative Tajima's D value in the tropical-japonica, followed by the aus and temperate-japonica, while Tajima's D values in indica were positive, indicating balancing selection. Diversity reduction was noticed in temperate japonica (0.0003) compared to the highest one (wild, 0.0044), illustrating their higher genetic differentiation by F_ST-value (0.604). The most positive Tajima's D value was observed in indica (0.5224), indicating the GBSSI gene domestication signature under balancing selection. In contrast, the lowest and negative Tajima's D value was found in tropical japonica (-0.5291), which might have experienced a positive selection and purified due to the excess of rare alleles. Overall, our study offers insights into haplotype diversity and evolutionary fingerprints of GBSSI. It ako provides genomic information to increase the starch content of cooked rice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1205-1215
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• 2012

This study was conducted to establish genetic criteria for phenotypic characteristics of Hanwoo cattle based on allele frequencies and genetic variance analysis using microsatellite markers. Analysis of the genetic diversity among 399 Hanwoo cattle classified according to nose pigmentation and coat color was carried out using 22 microsatellite markers. The results revealed that the INRA035 locus was associated with the highest $F_{is}$ (0.536). Given that the $F_{is}$ value for the Hanwoo INRA035 population ranged from 0.533 (white) to 1.000 (white spotted), this finding was consistent with the loci being fixed in Hanwoo cattle. Expected heterozygosities of the Hanwoo groups classified by coat colors and degree of nose pigmentation ranged from $0.689{\pm}0.023$ (Holstein) to $0.743{\pm}0.021$ (nose pigmentation level of d). Normal Hanwoo and animals with a mixed white coat showed the closest relationship because the lowest $D_A$ value was observed between these groups. However, a pair-wise differentiation test of $F_{st}$ showed no significant difference among the Hanwoo groups classified by coat color and degree of nose pigmentation (p<0.01). Moreover, results of the neighbor-joining tree based on a $D_A$ genetic distance matrix within 399 Hanwoo individuals and principal component analyses confirmed that different groups of cattle with mixed coat color and nose pigmentation formed other specific groups representing Hanwoo genetic and phenotypic characteristics. The results of this study support a relaxation of policies regulating bull selection or animal registration in an effort to minimize financial loss, and could provide basic information that can be used for establishing criteria to classify Hanwoo phenotypes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2013

Genetic variation in Asaum misandrum, a woodland herb in Korea, was investigated based on allozyme analysis with starch gel electrophoresis. All of previously reported populations in Korea were sampled and seven loci from six enzymes were analyzed. Overall genetic variation of A. misandrum population showed considerably high levels of genetic variation within the species (A = 2.05, P = 71.4, $H_E$ = 0.294). A positive $F_{IS}$ value of A. misandrum indicated overall deficiency of heterozygotes, and a low $F_{ST}$ value (0.112) meant very little differentiation among populations. Factors contributing to the high levels of genetic diversity found within populations of A. misandrum include population maintenance via wide distribution range from Korea to Japan and primarily outcrossing breeding system. Although it showed moderate genetic diversity level, most habitats of the species were scattered and discontinuous. Besides, low numbers of individuals were found in the most habitats and individuals are collected frequently from the wild due to the unique shape of the flowers as well as the rarity of the species. Thus, there is a need to set up a reasonable conservation strategies including the maintenance mechanism of genetic diversity of A. misandrum.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.463-469
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the skin with increased transepidermal water loss. Both an abnormal inflammatory response and a defective skin barrier are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) belongs to a family of G-protein coupled receptors and is activated by both trypsin and a specific agonist peptide, SLIGKV-$NH_2$. PAR2 is expressed in suprabasal layers of the epidermis and regulates inflammatory responses and barrier homeostasis. In this study, we show that nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) inhibits the PAR2-mediated signal pathway and plays a role in skin barrier recovery in atopic dermatitis. Specifically, NDGA reduces the mobilization of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in HaCaT keratinocytes by down-regulating inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-8, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 in HaCaT keratinocytes. Also, NDGA decreases the protein expression of involucrin, a differentiation maker of keratinocyte, in both HaCaT keratinocytes and normal human epidermal keratinocytes. We examined NDGA-recovered skin barrier in atopic dermatitis by using an oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis model in hairless mice. Topical application of NDGA produced an increase in transepidermal water loss recovery and a decrease in serum IgE level, without weight loss. Accordingly, we suggest that NDGA acts as a PAR2 antagonist and may be a possible therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis.