• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.192-197
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• 2007

Bulb color in onions (Allium cepa) is an important trait whose complex inheritance mechanism involves epistatic interactions among major color-related loci. Recent studies revealed that inactivation of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway was responsible for the color differences between yellow and red onions, and two recessive alleles of the anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) gene were responsible for a pink bulb color. Based on mutations in the recessive alleles of these two genes, PCR-based markers for allelic selection were developed. In this study, genotype analysis of onions from segregating populations was carried out using these PCR-based markers. Segregating populations were derived from the cross between yellow and red onions. Five yellow and thirteen pink bulbs from one segregating breeding line were genotyped for the two genes. Four pink bulbs were heterozygous for the DFR gene, which explains the continuous segregation of yellow and pink colors in this line. Most pink onions were homozygous recessive for the ANS gene, except for two heterozygotes. This finding indicated that the homozygous recessive ANS gene was primarily responsible for the pink color in this line. The two pink onions, heterozygous for the ANS gene, were also heterozygous for the DFR gene, which indicated that the pink color was produced by incomplete dominance of a red color gene over that of yellow. One pink line and six other segregating breeding lines were also analyzed. The genotyping results matched perfectly with phenotypic color segregation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.296-302
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• 2010

Microcystis (Cyanobacteria, Chroococcales) is one of the green tide-causing organisms in freshwaters, and some species produce microcystin that is hepatotoxin. In the aspects of freshwater quality controls and health concerns, therefore it is necessary to manage the harmful organisms. In the present study, RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene sequences of Microcystis were determined and characterized in order to use a potential marker for the molecular detections of the species. Microcystis rpoB showed high divergences of DNA similarity and genetic distances when compared with those of 16S rRNA, and the molecular differences were statistically significant (Student t-test, p<0.05). Parsimony analyses showed the rpoB gene evolves more than 2-fold faster than 16S rRNA. In addition, phylogeny of the rpoB gene separated each M. aeruginosa strain more clearly compared with a 16S rRNA tree. This study found that the order Chroococcales, including Microcystis, has approximately two rRNA operons and single copy of the rpoB gene in their chromosomes. These results suggest that the rpoB gene is a useful marker for the molecular phylogenetics and the detection of Microcystis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene and complex phenotypes such as blood pressure, body compositions and bone parameters in young men about 20 years, and to collect the fundamental data in designing the exercise program. Eighty healthy young men including 41 controls and 39 athletes were recruited, Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene was genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. By association study, there were no significance in genotype and allele frequencies of Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene between controls and athletes, respectively (p>0.05). When the relationship between physiological parameters and Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene was tested, this polymorphism was significantly associated with 3th lumber and left femoral neck Z-score values in controls (p<0.05), but these associations were not detected in athletic groups (p>0.05). It is likely that Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene is a genetic marker for the bone mineral density index in young men, but environmental factors such as exercise modify the significant effect of this polymorphism. Thus, our results suggest that Trp64Arg polymorphism in the ${\beta}_3$-adrenergic receptor gene may be applicable as a predictive marker for osteoporosis in Korean young men, and regular exercise may prevent the disadventageous effect of this polymorphism for bone mineral density in male athletic group.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.57-58
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• 2018

An accurate diagnostic marker for detecting early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (eHCC) is clinically important, since early detection of HCC remarkably improves patient survival. From the integrative analysis of the transcriptome and clinicopathologic data of human multi-stage HCC tissues, we were able to identify barrier-to-autointegration factor 1 (BANF1), procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 3 (PLOD3) and splicing factor 3b subunit 4 (SF3B4) as early HCC biomarkers which could be detected in precancerous lesions of HCC, with superior capabilities to diagnose eHCC compared to the currently popular HCC diagnostic biomarkers: GPC3, GS, and HSP70. We then showed that SF3B4 knockdown caused G1/S cell cycle arrest by recovering $p27^{kip1}$ and simultaneously suppressing cyclins, and CDKs in liver cancer cells. Notably, we demonstrated that aberrant SF3B4 overexpression altered the progress of splicing progress of the tumor suppressor gene, kruppel like factor 4 (KLF4), and resulted in non-functional skipped exon transcripts. This contributes to liver tumorigenesis via transcriptional inactivation of $p27^{kip1}$ and simultaneous activation of Slug genes. Our results suggest that SF3B4 indicates early-stage HCC in precancerous lesions, and also functions as an early-stage driver in the development of liver cancer.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.224-231
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• 2012

To assess the genetic diversity of Aconitum coreanum (Ranunculaceae) populations in Korea, we have amplified and sequenced eight organellar marker regions, and developed and analyzed microsatellite markers. No sequence variation was detected from the eight organellar markers. Ten microsatellites were developed using Next Generation Sequencing and two microsatellite markers, AK_CA03 and AK_CT07, were identified polymorphic and applied for 143 individuals of twelve A. coreanum populations. Four and five alleles were detected for the two microsatellite loci, respectively, and number of migrants ($N_m$) was estimated as 1.12586. Two microsatellite marker loci showed $F_{ST}$ of 0.205 and 0.275, respectively. The heterozygosity deficit, low level of among-population differentiation, small size of gene flow, and lack of sequence variation of the organellar markers suggest that A. coreanum is reproductively isolated from other Aconitum species and there has been continuous gene flow among the populations of A. coreanum or it has dispersed relatively recently after speciation. Though population pairwise $F_{ST}$'s presented significant geographic structure, further sampling and study will be necessary to confirm this.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2007

The green revolution has significantly helped in increasing the food production. So far, various breeding methods have been exploited, besides them recombination DNA technology provides another approach for increasing the food production. By means of this technology the losses in food production incurred by various biotic and abiotic stresses can be effectively controlled. In most of the transgenic studies scientists have used antibiotic resistant genes as markers for easy selection of transformants but there are risks involved in use of GM foods. To make such foods safer and environment friendly we have discussed a novel strategy i.e. Cre-lox which involves site specific recombination. By means of Cre-lox the marker genes can be specifically removed once the selection of transformants is over. In addition, this strategy can be used to module the hybrid chromosomes, avoid gene silencing and incorporate single copy of a transgene for its higher expression.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2020

The identification of adult stem cells is challenging because of the heterogeneity and plasticity of stem cells in different organs. Within the same tissue, stem cells may be highly proliferative, or maintained in a quiescent state and only to be activated after tissue damage. Although various stem cell markers have been successfully identified, there is no universal stem cell marker, which is exclusively expressed in all stem cells. Here, we discuss the roles of master developmental regulator RUNX1 in stem cells and the development of a 270 base pair fragment of the Runx1 enhancer (eR1) for use as stem cell marker. Using eR1 to identify stem cells offers a distinct advantage over gene promoters, which might not be expressed exclusively in stem cells. Moreover, RUNX1 has been strongly implicated in various cancer types, such as leukemia, breast, esophageal, prostate, oral, skin, and ovarian cancers-it has been suggested that RUNX1 dysfunction promotes stem cell dysfunction and proliferation. As tissue stem cells are potential candidates for cancer cells-of-origin and cancer stem cells, we will also discuss the use of eR1 to target oncogenic gene manipulations in stem cells and to track subsequent neoplastic changes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2024

This study aimed to elucidate the potential of Homeobox A11 (HOXA11) as a therapeutic target and a diagnostic methylation marker for cervical cancer. Gene expression analysis using cDNA microarray in cervical cancer cell lines revealed significantly reduced expression of the HOXA11 gene. Subsequent investigation of HOXA11 promoter methylation in samples from normal individuals and invasive cervical cancer patients showed over 53.2% higher methylation in cancer scrapes compared to normal scrapes. Furthermore, overexpression of HOXA11, which is downregulated in cervical cancer, strongly suppressed cell growth in cervical cancer cell lines, HeLa and HT3. Additionally, we performed transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and confirmed that the inhibition of cervical cancer cell proliferation occurred via apoptosis. Mechanistically, overexpression of HOXA11 led to mitochondrial apoptosis characterized by PARP cleavage due to increased c-Myc and enhanced cytochrome C secretion into the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that HOXA11 could potentially serve as a methylation marker for diagnosing cervical cancer and as a novel therapeutic target for its treatment.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2000

In order to develop the specific genetic marker for Korean native cattle (Hanwoo), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of 6 different cattle breeds was attempted by using 38 decamer primers. In comparison of RAPD patterns, two distinctive DNA bands specific for Hanwoo were detected. One was 296 bp of DNA fragment found to be specific only for female Hanwoo when primer GTCCACACGG was employed. In individual analysis of this RAPD marker was observed only in female individuals with the possibility of $85.3\%$. The other was 521 bp of RAPD marker amplified using TCGGCGATAG and AGCCAGCGAA primers, which showed $83.0\%$ of genetic frequency in 85 male and 68 female individuals tested. Nucleotide sequencing of these genetic markers revealed that 296 bp marker has a short micro satellite-like sequence, ACCACCACAC, and a tandem repeat sequence of microsatellite GAAAAATG in the determined sequence. Two distinctive tandem repeats of microsatellite sequences, MC and GAAGA, were also appeared in 521 bp DNA marker. In BLAST search, any gene having high homology with these markers was not found.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1425-1438
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• 2021

Maintaining a high level of beef consumption requires paying attention not only to quantitative traits but also to the quality and dietary properties of meat. Growing consumer demands do not leave producers many options for how animals are selected for breeding and animal keeping. Meat and carcass fatness quality traits, which are influenced by multiple genes, are economically important in beef cattle breeding programs. The recent availability of genome sequencing methods and many previously identified molecular markers offer new opportunities for animal breeding, including the use of molecular information in selection programs. Many gene polymorphisms have thus far been analyzed and evaluated as potential candidates for molecular markers of meat quality traits. Knowledge of these markers can be further applied to breeding programs through marker-assisted selection. In this literature review, we discuss the most promising and well-described candidates and their associations with selected beef production traits.