• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

In this study, bovine Dnmt1 cDNA was sequenced and detected Dnmt1 mRNA level in bovine tissues by northern blot, methylation pattern of genome by southern blot, specific localization of Dnmt1 in mouse and bovine preimplantation embryos by immunocytostaining and Dnmt1 protein level in ovary and testis by western blot. Bovine Dnmt1 cDNA sequence showed more homology with that of human than mouse and rat. The RNA level of Dnmt1 was 10 times higher expression in placenta than other tissues. This indicates that placenta was hypermethylated compared to others organs. The genomic DNA could not be cut by a specific restriction enzyme (HpaII) in placenta, lung and liver of bovine. It suggests that Dnmt1 in some somatic cells was already methylated. Dnmt1, which has the antibody epitope 1316~1616, was distributed in nucleus and cytoplasm including the stage of pronuclear stage and maturation of oocyte and gradually weaken to blastocyst stage compare to negative. In addition, Dnmt1 was strongly expressed in tetraploid embryo and cloned 8-cell than IVF 8-cell. An aberrant pattern of DNA methylation in cloned embryo may be abnormal development of fetus, embryonic lethality and placenta dysfunction. The somatic specific band (190kDa) was appeared in ovary and testis, but oocyte specific band (175kDa) was not. Further investigations are necessary to understand the complex links between the methyltransferases and the transcriptional activity of genes in the cloned bovine tissues.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.315-323
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• 1994

Mammalian oviductal epithelial cells have been known to improve in vitro fertilization and embryonic development. Recently, co-cultured human embryos with the epithelial cells in human genital tract has been reported to improve the pregnancy rate. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the epithelial cells of human genital tract on the development of mouse early embryos and human fertilized oocytes. The epithelial cells of human genital tract were collected from the fallopian tubes which were obtained during hysterectomy in fertile women and from the endometrium during endometrium biopsy. Collected human ampullary cells(HACs) and endometrial cells(HECs) were cultured for 10 days to establish primary monolayer. Second passaged HACs and HECs were obtained by trypsinization were cryopreserved in PBS with 1.5 M DMSO for later use. To investigate the effect when co-cultured with HACs and HECs, we tried to apply strict quality control on mouse embryo, from two cell to blastocyst prior to human trial. The results of quality control were as follows; In Group I (Ham's F10 with 10% FCS), Group IT (co-cultured with HACs) and Group ill (co-cultured with HECs), developmental rates to blastocyst were 63.3%(253/400), 76.0%(304/ 400),74.0%(296/400), respectively. Hatching rates were 36.8%(147/400), 41.80/0(167/400), 38.0%(152/400), respectively(p<0.05). To perform the human IVF, cryopreserved HACs were thawed at 37$^{\circ}C$ waterbath, seeded on the well dish and cultured for 48 hI'S. The pronuclear stage embryos were transferred to the seeded well dish. After 24 hRS, co-cultured embryos were examined and transferred to patient's uterus. The results of human IVF when co-cultured with HACs were that fertilization and developmental rates were 61.8% (256/414), 95.3% (244/256) as compared with 57.2% (279/488) and 94.6%(264/279) in Ham's F10 supplemented with 10% FCS(control). However, 62.9% (161/256) of co-cultured human embryos showed good embryos(no or slight fragmentation) as compared with 53.8 % (150/279) in control(p < 0.05). Pregnancy rate was 40.0% (12/30) when co-cultured with HACs whereas 30.6%(11/36) in control. In conclusions, co-culture system using HACs and HECs improved the developmental and hatching rates of mouse embryo. Also, in human IVF system when co-cultured with HACs, it improved both the quality of human embryos and the pregnancy rate.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.656-661
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• 2007

In this report, we describe an optimized method for generation of ephA8 BAC transgenic mice expressing the lacZ reporter gene under ephA8 regulatory sequences. First, we constructed a targeting vector that carries a 1.2 kb ephA8 DNA upstream of its first exon, a lacZ expression cassette, a kanamycin cassette, and a 0.7 kb ephA8 DNA downstream of its first exon. Second, the targeting vector was electroporated into cells containing the ephA8 BAC and pKOBEGA, in which recombinases induce a homologous recombination between the ephA8 BAC DNA and the targeting vector. Third, the FLP plasmid expressing the Flipase was electroporated into these bacteria to eliminate a kanamycin cassette from the recombinant BAC DNA. The appropriate structures of the modified ephA8 BAC DNA were confirmed by Southern analysis. Finally, BAC transgenic mouse embryos were generated by pronuclear injection of the recombinant BAC DNA. Whole mount X-gal staining revealed that the lacZ reporter expression is restricted to the anterior region of the developing midbrain in each transgenic embryo. These results indicate that the ephA8 BAC DNA contains most, if not all, regulatory sequences to direct temporal and spatial expression of the lacZ gene in vivo.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권11호
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• pp.609-618
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• 2014

DNA methylation at cytosines (5mC) is a major epigenetic modification involved in the regulation of multiple biological processes in mammals. How methylation is reversed was until recently poorly understood. The family of dioxygenases commonly known as Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) proteins are responsible for the oxidation of 5mC into three new forms, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). Current models link Tet-mediated 5mC oxidation with active DNA demethylation. The higher oxidation products (5fC and 5caC) are recognized and excised by the DNA glycosylase TDG via the base excision repair pathway. Like DNA methyltransferases, Tet enzymes are important for embryonic development. We will examine the mechanism and biological significance of Tet-mediated 5mC oxidation in the context of pronuclear DNA demethylation in mouse early embryos. In contrast to its role in active demethylation in the germ cells and early embryo, a number of lines of evidence suggest that the intragenic 5hmC present in brain may act as a stable mark instead. This short review explores mechanistic aspects of TET oxidation activity, the impact Tet enzymes have on epigenome organization and their contribution to the regulation of early embryonic and neuronal development.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.123-127
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• 1990

모성 및 부성 genome의 기능을 알아보기 위하여 미세조작기법과 Sendai virus를 이용한 핵융합 기술을 이용하여 2개의 자성전핵만으로 구성된 2배체의 gynogenetic 수정란을 그리고 2개의 웅성전핵만으로 구성된 2배체의 androgenetic 수정란을 인위적으로 작출하였다. 이들의 작출효율은 biparental 수정란에서는 56%, gynogenetic 수정란에서는 50% 그리고 androgenetic 수정란에서는 56% 이었다. 이들을 체외에서 배양한 결과 gynogenetic 및 androgenetic 수정란은 2-세포기 이후에는 biparental 및 intact 수정란에 비하여 그 발달능이 매우 저조하였으나 이들 중 25% 이상이 포배까지 발달한 수 있음을 확인하였다. Gynogenetic 및 androgenetic 수정란을 동기화된 수란생쥐의 난관내에 이식하였던 바, androgenetic 수정란은 전혀 착상 되지 않았으나, gynogenetic 수정란에서는 착상이 확인되었다. 핵이식기법으로 인위조작된 2배체의 biparental 수정란으로부터 28마리의 생쥐 신생자를 생산하였다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.117-121
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• 2016

Although piglets have been delivered by embryo transfer (ET) with in vitro produced (IVP) embryos and blastocysts, a success rate has still remained lower level. Unlike mouse, human, and bovine, it is difficult to a production of piglets by in vitro fertilization (IVF) because of an inappropriate in vitro culture (IVC) system in pig. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate whether minimized exposure time in IVC can improve the pregnancy and delivery rates of piglets. Immediately after IVM, the oocytes were denuded and co-incubated with freshly ejaculated boar semen for 3.5 to 4 hours at $38.5^{\circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ in air. To avoid long-term exposure to in vitro state, we emitted IVC step after IVF. After that the presumptive zygotes were transferred into both oviducts of the surrogate on the same day or 1 day after the onset of estrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed on day 28 after ET and then was checked regularly every month by ultrasound examination. The 3 out of 4 surrogates were determined as pregnant (75%) and a total of 5 piglets (2 females and 3 males) were delivered at $118.3{\pm}2.5$ days of pregnancy period. In conclusion, a short-term exposure time may be an important factor in the production of IVP-derived piglets. It can be apply to the in vitro production system of transgenic pig by IVF, cloning, and pronuclear microinjection methods.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.305-315
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• 2001

본 연구의 목적은 외래 EGFP 유전자를 분화이전의 웅성생식세포에 도입한 후 이를 난모세포내에 미세주입하여 형질전환동물을 생산하는 기술을 개발하는 데에 있다. 이를 위하여 반수체 정자세포에서 특이적으로 발현하는 생쥐의 mTP1과 햄스터의 hPrm2 유전자 발현 시기를 RT-PCR로 조사한 결과 그시기는 생쥐와 햄스터에서 각각 18일령과 20일령으로 확인되었다. 이에 따라 외래 유전자의 침입이 용이한 감수분열 직전단계인 17일령의 생쥐와 19일령의 햄스터 정자세포를 EGFP 유전자가 포함된 배양액에 부유시킨 다음, 전기자극을 부여한 결과 0.18 ㎸/cm의 전기자극을 가한 후 72시간 배양한 정자세포의 28.5%와 32.1%에서 EGFP 유전자가 발현되는 것으로 확인되었다. EGFP유전자가 도입된 반수체 정자의 수정 및 발달 능력을 검증하기 위하여, 이들 정자세포를 햄스터 난자 내에 미세주입 하였으나, 형광현미경하에서는 EGFP유전자의 발현은 관찰할 수 없었다. 이에 이들 난자를 공시하여 PCR분석을 실시한 결과, 약 44%의 수정란에서 EGFP 유전자의 존재가 확인되었다. 이러한 결과로 보아 반수체 정자세포는 외래 유전자를 난자 내에 도입하기 위한 운반체로 이용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.