• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.245-249
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• 2009

A fluorescing, copolymer(Q)-bearing, quaternary ammonium pendant was mixed with excess natural salmon sperm DNA with a molecular weight of $1.3{\times}10^6$(2,000 base pairs) to afford highly fluorescing, complex mixtures. The fluorescence life-time of the polymer Q was greatly increased when mixed with DNA: for the mixture of Q:DNA=1:750 the fast and slow decay lifetimes increased from ca. 10 to 100 ps and from 20 ps to ca. 1 ns, respectively. The enhanced fluorescence of the mixtures was ascribed to efficient compartmentalization and reduced conformational relaxation of the polymer Q by complexation with excess DNA.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.607-612
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• 2011

Several investigators have shown that CpG-DNA has outstanding effects as a Th1-responsive adjuvant and that its potent adjuvant effects are enhanced by encapsulation with a liposome of proper composition. In this study, we showed that encapsulation with phosphatidyl-${\beta}$-oleoyl-${\gamma}$-palmitoyl ethanolamine (DOPE): cholesterol hemisuccinate (CHEMS) complex enhances the immunostimulatory activity of CpG DNA and the binding of CpG-DNA to TLR9. We also examined involvement of myeloid differentiation protein (MyD88) and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in liposome-encapsulated CpG-DNA-induced IL-8 promoter activation. In this manuscript, the natural phosphodiester bond CpG-DNA encapsulated by DOPE : CHEMS complex is designated as Lipoplex(O). Importantly, we successfully screened B cell epitopes of envelope protein (E protein) of hepatitis C virus (HCV-E) and attachment glycoprotein G of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV-G) by immunization with complexes of several peptides and Lipoplex(O) without carriers. Therefore, Lipoplex(O) is potentially applicable as a universal adjuvant for peptide-based epitope screening and antibody production.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.538-545
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• 1995

When DNA replication of simian virus 40 (SV40) is initiated on the replication origin, the regions containing the initiation sites of DNA primase, which participates in the transient RNA primer synthesis for formation of Okazaki fragments in the lagging strand, were chosen as the target sites of antisense RNA for studies of the inhibition of SV40 DNA replication. Four recombinant transcription vectors, pUC-PrI, pUC-PrII, pGEM-PrBS, and pGEM-PrSN, coding antisense RNA, were constructed. Four antisense RNAs (named as I, II, BS, and SN) having the size of 18, 19,58, and 123 nts, respectively, were made from the transcription vectors by in vitro transcription. And then, antisense RNA in the concentration of 2${\mu}m$ were added to COS cells transfected with pATSV-W which is a recombinant plasmid containing the SV40 origin of replication. The inhibitory extent of DNA replication was measured by DpnI resistance and was confirmed by measurement of transient RNA primer synthesis. The result shows that six combinations of antisense RNA (I, II, BS, SN, I+SN, and BS+SN) lead to the inhibition of SV40 DNA replication by up to 85%.

• ALGAE
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2019

DNA metabarcoding is currently used for large-scale taxonomic identification to understand the community composition in various marine ecosystems. However, before being widely used in this emerging field, this experimental and analytic approach still has several technical challenges to overcome, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) bias, and lack of well-established metabarcoding markers, a task which is difficult but not impossible to achieve. In this study, we present an adapted PCR-free small-organelles enriched metagenomics (SoEM) method for marine biodiversity assessment. To avoid PCR bias and random artefacts, we extracted target DNA sequences without PCR amplification from marine environmental samples enriched with small organelles including mitochondria and plastids because their genome sequences provide a valuable source of molecular markers for phylogenetic analysis. To experimentally enrich small organelles, we performed subcellular fractionation using modified differential centrifugation for marine environmental DNA samples. To validate our SoEM method, two marine environmental samples from the coastal waters were tested the taxonomic capturing capacity against that of traditional DNA metabarcoding method. Results showed that, regardless of taxonomic levels, at least 3-fold greater numbers of taxa were identified in our SoEM method, compared to those identified by the conventional multi-locus DNA metabarcoding method. The SoEM method is thus effective and accurate for identifying taxonomic diversity and presents a useful alternative approach for evaluating biodiversity in the marine environment.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and reliable method for the sex determination of beef using the PCR(polymerase chain reaction) technique. We have used two bovine sex determining genes, SRY and ZFY, on the Y-chromosome to identify the sex of Hanwoo and Holstein beet. We attempted to amplify 1,348 bp and 979 bp fragments from male and female genomic DNA corresponding to the SRY and ZFY genes, respectively, using male specific primers. The amplified PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in a 1.5% agarose gel to detect a male specific DNA band. When DNA from male beef was amplified with primers specific for the SRY gene, a DNA band of 1,348 bp was present in all of the male samples, but absent from all of the female samples. Also, when DNA from male beef was amplified with primers specific for the ZFY gene, a DNA band of 979 bp was observed in all of the male samples, but absent from all female samples. In conclusion, the bovine SRY and ZFY genes are typically found only in male beef. For the practical application of this method for the sexing of commercial beef at the processing and marketing stages after slaughter. a total of 350 beef samples collected randomly from local markets were analyzed for sex determination. The proportions of male and female samples were 252 (72%) and 98 (28%), respectively. Therefore. the SRY and ZFY genes. which are specific for the Y-chromosome, may be useful sex-diagnostic DNA markers to distinguish male meat from female meat.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.535-538
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• 2006

In our previous studies, we have observed that curcumin and momordin I isolated from Ampelopsis radix inhibit the formation of Fos-Jun-activation protein-1 (AP-1) DNA complex. We have screened more effective compounds which have a 5-membered ring framework like momordin I and have modified disaccharide or carboxylic acid portions in momordin I. We synthesized momordin I derivatives according to the published method with slight modification. Synthetic momordin I derivatives showed remarkable inhibitory activities on Fos-Jun-AP-1 DNA complex formation results in in vitro assays. The $IC_{50}$ values of momordin I derivatives were about 4.0 $\mu$M in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). This value is about 125 times higher than that of curcumin and about 12 times higher than that for curcumin derivative C1, and moreover about 30 times higher than that for momordin I. We found momordin I derivatives (a) and (b) are the strongest inhibitory compound for Fos-Jun-AP-1 DNA complex formation.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.109-120
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• 1995

As the genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs) and their recombinant plasmid DNAs could be released into natural environments, their stabilities and impacts to indigenous microorganisls have become very importhant research subjects concerning with environmental and ecological aspects. In this study, the genetically modified E. coli CU103 and its recombinant pCU103 plasmid DNA, in which pcbCD genes involving in degradation of biphenyl and 4-chlorobiphenyl were cloned, were studied for their survival and stability in several different waters established under laboratory conditions. E. coli CU103 and its host E. coli XL1-Blue survived longer in sterile distilled water (SDW) and filtered autoclaved river water (FAW) than in filtered river water (FW). A lot of extracellular DNAs were released from E. coli CU103 by lytic action of phages in FW and the released DNAs were degraded by DNase dissolved in the water. Such effects of the factors in FW on stability of the recombinant pCU103 plasmid were also observed in the results of gel electrophoresis, quantitative analysis with bisbenzimide, and transformation assay. Therefore, the recombinant plasmids of pCU103 were found to be readily liberated from the genetically modified E. coli CU103 into waters by normal metabolic processes and lysis of cells. And the plasmid DNAs were quite stable in waters, but their stabilities could be affected by physicoKDICical and biological factors in non-sterile natural waters.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2001

A cDNA encoding the defensin homologue of a novel family member was isolated from the cDNA library of the firefly,Pyrocoelia rufa. Sequence analysis of the cDNA encoding the defensin homologue of P. rufa resulted that the 165 bp cDHA has an open reading frame of 55 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequences of the defensin homologue gene from P. rufa showed identity to known mammalian defensins. Also 6 cystein residues in the P. rufa defensin homologue gene were conserved in the same position as those of known mammalian defensins. The result suggested that P. rufa defensin homologue is a novel member of the insect defensin family. Southern blot analysis suggests that there may be a single copy number of the P.rufa defensin homologue gene and their fat body-specific expression pattern at the transcriptional level was confirmed by Northern blot analysis.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.20-23
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• 1994

Specific binding to the oric region of E, coli chromsome by IciA protein inhibits initiation of chrorrnsomal replication in vitro by blocking the opening of this region effected by the initiator DnaA protein. The IciA protein has been suggested play a critical role in a key stage of the cell cycle. In order to study the structure-function relationship of IciA protein, we are determining the three-dimensional structure of IciA Votein by X-ray crystallography, As a first step toward its structure detumination E. coli IciA protein has been crystallized using sodium formate as a precipitant.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.292-295
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• 1997

Exposure of seedling of rice (Oriza sativa cv.Dongin) to cold stress ($6^{circ}C$, 7day) induced differential gene expression. Differentially expressed polyadenylated RNA induced by low temperature were isolated and identified from the leaves of rice (Oriza sativa cv.Dongin) seedling by using the technique, differential display of reverse transcription through polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR). Four bands of cDNAs were differentially displayed on the PAGE gel through DDRT-PCR, and among them three bands were those of overexpressed genes while one band was of an underexpressed gene One of the overexpressed cDNA was characterized. The size of the DDRT-PCR product was found to be about 200 bp. The sequence of the cloned DNA was compared with those of GenBank through a BLAST E-Mail server, and it was found to have no homologies in the nucleotide sequence with that of any known DNA: therefore, it was designated as RC101 The expression of the cold-stress induced-gene, RC101, was sustained with Northern Blot analysis by using the cloned DDRT-PCR product as a probe.