• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.103-116
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• 1984

The structural gene of rabbit hemoglobin was cloned into Pst I site of pBR322 in E. coli. The complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from rabbit globin mRNA with avian myeloblastosis viral reverse transcriptase, and then RNA was destroyed at pH 11. The double stranded cDNA was synthesized with both Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I and reverse transcriptase and then the hairpin loop was opened with Sl nuclease. Double stranded cDNA was subsequently tailed with dCTP and annealed to dGMP-tailed vector DNA. After transformation and initial screening of appropriate clones by plasmid size, the cloned colonies were identified by in situ colony hybridization using by plasmid size, the cloned colonies were identified by in situ colony hybridization using $[^32P]$-labeled cDNA probes and characterized the inserts with restriction endonucleases. The expression of cloned globin gene was investigated by standard radioimmunoassay using rat anti-rabbit Hb serum as primary antibody and goat antirat IgG serum as secondary antibody. The result suggested that the chimeric proteins (the part of $\\beta$-lactamase from the vector pBR322 and globin from rabbit) were supposedly produced in E. coli and the product had the antigenic determinant of rabbit hemoglobin.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2008

It is estimated that over 80% of deer antlers produced in the world are consumed in Korea. However, mislabeling or fraudulent replacement of costly antlers with cheaper ones is one of the most common problems in the domestic antler market. Therefore, there is a great need for the development of technology to identify species of antlers. This study was carried out to develop an accurate and reliable method for the identification and authentication of species or subspecies of antlers using DNA sequence analysis and comparison of mitochondrial cytochrome band D-loop region genes among antlers of five deer species, Cervus elaphus sibericus, Cervus elaphus canadensis, Cervus nippon, Cervus elaphus bactrianus and Rangifer tarandus. A variable region of cytochrome band D-loop genes was amplified using PCR with specifically designed primers and sequenced directly. The cytochrome band D-loop region genes showed different DNA sequences between the species of antlers and thus it is possible to differentiate between species on the basis of sequence variation. To distinguish between reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) antlers and other deer antlers, PCR amplicons of the cytochrome b gene were digested with the restriction enzymes NlaIV and TaqI, respectively, which generates a species-specific DNA profile of the reindeer. In addition, samples of 32 sliced antlers labeled Cervus elaphus sibericus from commercial markets were collected randomly and the mt DNA D-loop region of these antler samples was sequenced. Among the antler samples investigated, only 62.5% were from Cervus elaphus sibericus, and others were from Cervus elaphus bactrianus (25.0%), elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Our results suggest that DNA sequencing of mt DNA and PCR-RFLP methods using NlaIV and TaqI enzymes are useful for the identification and discrimination of deer antler species by routine analysis.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.351-356
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• 2009

Ciliates are undoubtedly one of the most diverse protozoans that play a significant role in ecology. However, molecular examination, based on comparing the DNA sequences, has been done on a limited number of the species. Because most ciliates are uncultivable and their population sizes are often too small, it is usually difficult to obtain sufficient genomic DNA required for PCR based experiments. In the present study, we evaluated the effectiveness of four commercial DNA extraction procedures that extract high quality genomic DNA from a single ciliate cell. It was discovered that RED Extract-N-$Amp^{TM}$ PCR kit is the best method for removing PCR-inhibiting substances and minimizing DNA loss during purification. This method can also amplify more than 25 reactions of PCR. In addition, this technique was applied to single cells of 19 species belonged to 7 orders under 5 classes that isolated from mixed natural populations. Their small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) was successfully amplified. In summary, we developed a simple technique for the high-yield extraction of purified DNA from a single ciliate cell that may be more useful for rare ciliates, such as tiny and uncultivable marine microbes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 1996

Taq DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus has been shown to be very useful in the polymerase chain reaction method, which is being used for amplifying DNA. Not only does Taq DNA polymerase have high commercial value commercial value for the polymerase chain reaction application, but it is also important in studying DNA replication, because it is apparently an homologue to E. coli DNA polymerase I, which has long been used for DNA replication study (Lawyer et ai., 1993). The crystal structure determination of Taq DNA polymerase was initiated. An X-ray diffraction pattern breaks down a crystal structure into discrete sine waves in a Fourier series. The original shape of a crystal object in terms of electron density may be represented as the sum of those sine waves with varying amplitudes and phases in three dimensions. The molecular replacement method was initially employed to provide phase information for the structure of Taq DNA polymerase. The rotation search using the program MERLOT resulted in a solution peak with 5.4 r.m.s. PC-refinement of the X-PLOR program verified the result and also optimized the orientation angles. Next, the translation search using the X-PLOR program resulted in a unique solution peak with 7.35 r.m.s. In addition, the translation search indicated $P3_121$ to be the true space group out of two possible ones. The phase information from the molecular replacement was useful in the MIR phasing experiment.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.95-99
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• 2011

Objective : In this study, we demonstrate the protective effect on oxidative DNA damage of leaf extracts from Abeliophylli distichi Folium via its antioxidant activity for the establishment of new value for the herbal medicine. Methods : Abeliophylli distichi Folium leaves were extracted with hot-water and ethylacetate (EtOAC). The 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and hydroxyl scavenging assay and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating assay were performed for antioxidative effect and ${\varphi}$X-174 RF I DNA cleavage assay and intracellular DNA damage assay were used for inhibitory effect of intracellular DNA damage. Results : In DPPH, Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity of EtOAC extracts were 94.72%, 62.88%, 41.13%, and hot-water extracts were 88.86%, 56.7%, 37.4% at 200 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively. Also, those extracts showed protective effect of DNA damage against the oxidative stress. Conclusion : These results indicated that the leaf extracts of Abeliophylli distichi Folium can be used as a natural antioxidants, which effectively inhibits the oxidative DNA damage.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.3015-3020
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• 2014

The behavior of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione (BPQ) in aqueous solution and its interaction with native DNA was investigated using conventional absorption and linear dichroism (LD) spectroscopy. The appearance of a broad absorption maximum at long wavelengths and its proportional relationship to solvent polarizability suggested that BPQ adopts a aggregated state for all solutions examined. Disappearance of this absorption band at higher temperatures in aqueous solution also supported BPQ aggregation. When associated with DNA absorption spectral properties were essentially the same as that in aqueous solution. However, two isosbestic wavelengths were found in the concentration-dependent absorption spectrum of the BPQ-DNA complex, suggesting the presence of at least two or more DNA-bound BPQ species. Both species produced $LD^r$ spectra whose magnitude in BPQ absorption region is larger or comparable to that in the DNA absorption region, suggesting that the molecular BPQ plane is near perpendicular relative to the local DNA helical axis. Therefore, BPQ molecules are aligned along the DNA stem in both DNA-aggregated BPQ species.

• Interdisciplinary Bio Central
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.4
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• 2011

Arabidopsis is well-known to the world's plant research community as a model plant. Many significant resources and innovative research tools, as well as large bodies of genomic information, have been created and shared by the research community, partly explaining why so many researchers use this small plant for their research. The genome sequence of Arabidopsis was fully characterized by the end of the $20^{th}$ century. Soon afterwards, the Arabidopsis research community began a 10-year international project on the functional genomics of the species. In 2001, at the beginning of the project, the RIKEN BioResource Center (BRC) started its Arabidopsis resource project. The following year, the National BioResource Project was launched, funded by the Japanese government, and the RIKEN BRC was chosen as a core facility for Arabidopsis resource. Seeds of RIKEN Arabidopsis transposon-tagged mutant lines, activation-tagged lines, full-length cDNA over-expresser lines, and natural accessions, as well as RIKEN Arabidopsis full-length cDNA clones and T87 cells, are preserved at RIKEN BRC and distributed around the world. The major resources provided to the research community have been full-length cDNA clones and insertion mutants that are suitable for use in reverse-genetics studies. This paper provides an overview of the Arabidopsis resources made available by RIKEN BRC and examples of research that has been done by users and developers of these resources.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2005

A LIM protein gene homologue of the CRP (cysteine­rich protein) family in the whiter-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis, was cloned. The P. brevitarsis LIM protein cDNA encodes a 92 amino acid polypep­tide with a predicted molecular mass of 10,030 Da and a pI of 8.57. The P. brevitarsis LIM protein contains the cysteine-rich consensus sequence of LIM domain and the glycine-rich consensus sequence observed in the cysteine-rich protein family 1 (CRPl). The potential nuclear targeting signal is retained. The deduced amino acid sequence of the P. brevitarsis LIM protein cDNA showed 92$\%$ identity to another beetle, Apriona germari LIM protein. Northern blot analysis showed that P. brevitarsis LIM protein is highly expressed in epidermis and midgut, but not in the fat body.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2003

The glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) are enzymes responsible for the protection of cells from chemical toxicants and oxidative stress. We describe here the cDNA sequence and mRNA expression of a putative GST from the mole cricket, Gryllotalpa orientalis. The G. orientalis GST cDNA sequences comprised of 621 bp encoding 207 amino acid residues. The multiple sequence alignment of G. orientalis GST gene with other known insect GSTs showed several conserved residues that may be essential for the enzymatic activity of the protein. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of G. orientalis GST gene with other insect GST sequences revealed that the G. orientalis GST gene belongs to class I GST, forming a strong monophyletic group (100% bootstrap value) exclusively for class I GSTs from a diverse insect species. Northern blot analysis confirmed midgut-specific expression at transcriptional level, evidencing the midgut as a site for GST synthesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.487-491
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of rutaecarpine on DNA strand breaks and apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in murine Hepa-1c1c7 cells. Oxidative DNA damage was estimated by nuclear condensation assessment, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and Comet assay. Rutaecarpine inhibited cell death induced by $500{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$, as assessed by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Treatment with rutaecarpine reduced the number of DNA strand breaks induced by $H_2O_2$, as assessed by DAPI staining and Comet assay, and increased quinone reductase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and pAkt protein levels, as assessed by western blotting.