• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.48-53
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• 2013

Recently, the isolation rate of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in clinical laboratories and the incidence of NTM infections are on the increase in Korea, but there have been only a few studies that reveal the general aspect of NTM isolation or species distribution. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the species identification by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PRA, PCR-RFLP), and the clinical significance of mycobacterial cultures. PRA was used during the novel region of the rpoB gene and was developed for rapid and precise identification of mycobacteria to the species level. From January 2012 to April 2012, we examined pre-identified nontuberculous mycobacteria (60 species in 3 hospital of Busan-Kyeongnam area). We confirmed 4 (6.6%) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and 56 (93.4%) NTM from 60 pre-identified NTM species by multiplex PCR (MolecuTech $MTB-ID^R$ V3, YD Diagnostics, Korea) and PRA (Myco-ID, YD Diagnostics, Korea). The distribution of 56 NTM species were M. intracellulare type I 15 (26.7%), M. avium 14 (25%), M. abscessus 11 (19.5%), M. kansasii type I 3 (5.4%), M. pulveris 2 (3.6%), M. intracellulare type, M. chelonae, M. kansasii type V, M. gallinarum, M. wolinskyi. Respectively, 1 (1.8%) and 6 (10.7%) species were not identified.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.287-295
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• 2005

In order to compare bacteria] community structure and diversity in activated sludges, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of PCR-amplified 16s rDNAs was analyzed for 31 domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants (WTPs). Regardless of the characteristics of the wastewaters, the bacteria] community structures of activated sludges appeared diverse and complex. In particular, activated sludges in domestic WTPs contained higher bacterial diversity than those in industrial WTPs. It was also found that terminal restriction fragment (T-RF) profiles derived from domestic WTPs were very similar with each other, although activated sludges were collected from different plants at different locations. Interestingly, activated sludges of a WTP where restaurant and toilet sewages of a company were managed showed a bacterial community structure similar to that of domestic WTPs. Activated sludges in leather industria] WTPs also showed a high similarity. However, other wastewaters possessed different bacterial communities, so that overall similarity was as low as about $30\%$. Since activated sludges from WTPs for domestic wastewaters and a company sewage appeared to hold similar bacterial communities, it was necessary to confirm if similar wastewaters induce a similar bacterial community. To answer this question, analysis of T-RFs for activated sludges, taken from another 12 domestic WTPs, was conducted by using a 6­FAM$^{TM}$-Iabeled primer and an automated DNA sequencer for higher sensitivity. Among 12 samples, it was again found that T-RF profiles of activated sludges from Yongin, Sungnam, Suwon, and Tancheon domestic WTPs in Kyonggi-do were very similar with each other. On the other hand, T-RF profiles of activated sludges from Shihwa and Ansan WTPs were quite different from each other. It was thought that this deviation was caused by wastewaters, since Ansan and Shihwa WTPs receive both domestic and industrial wastewaters. From these results, it was tentatively concluded that similar bacterial communities might be developed in activated sludges, if WTPs treat similar wastewaters.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between economic traits of Korean cattle (Hanwoo) and genetic variation in fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) gene within QTL region of carcass weight and marbling score traits on BTA 14. We sequenced for detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with 24 unrelated Hanwoo samples and identified four SNPs (-1141A>G, 949A>G, 969A>G and 1085C>G). Relationship between the genotypes of 583 Hanwoo individuals by PCR-RFLP and economic traits were analyzed by the mixed regression model implemented in the ASReml program. As the result of statistical analysis, SNP1 (-1141A>G) showed significant effect (p<0.003) on marbling score (MS) and SNP2 (949A>G) showed significant effect (p<0.034) on eye muscle area (EMA). Further studies are required to validate the significant SNPs in a bigger population, but the SNPs (-1141A>G and 949A>G) of FABP5 could be a genetic marker to estimate molecular breeding value (MEBV) for carcass traits in Hanwoo.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2005

Purpose: Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked dominant neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1 per 10,000~15,000 female births worldwide. The disease-causing gene has been identified as MECP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein). In this study, we carried out diagnostic mutational analysis of MECP2 gene in RTT patients. Methods: We analyzed four exons and putative promoter of MECP2 gene from the peripheral blood of 43 Korean patients with RTT by PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing. Results: Mutations were detected in MECP2 gene about 60.5% of patients. The mutations consisted of 14 different types including 9 missense mutations, 4 nonsense mutations and 1 frameshift mutation. Of these, three mutations (G161E, T311M, P385fsX409) were newly identified and these were determined as disease-causing mutations by PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing analysis. Most of the mutations were located within MBD (42.3%) and TRD (50%). T158M, R270X, and R306C mutations were identified with high frequency. An intronic SNP (IVS3+23C>G) was newly identified in only three of the patients. It may be a disease-related and Korea-specific SNP with RTT. The L100V and A201V have been reported to be unclassified variant and SNP. However, these mutations were not found in more than 100 normal Korean control samples. These base substitutions seem to be the disease-causing mutations in Korean RTT contrary to previous studies. Conclusion: Disease-causing mutations and polymorphisms would be very important for diagnosing of RTT in Korean. The experimental procedure used in this study might be considered for molecular biologic diagnosis used in clinical field.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.229-235
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• 2001

Background : Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is the only established genetic risk factor for emphysema. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of the genotypes of A1AT genotypes in healthy Koreans. Method : The study population consisted of 380 Healthy Koreans enrolled at the Health Promotion Center in Kyungpook National University Hospital. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphim (RFLP) for detecting the A1AT variants M1(Ala), M1(Val), M2, S and Z were used. Results : The genotypes of subjects were as follows : M1(Val)/M1(Val), 254(66.8%) ; M1(Val)/M2, 105(27.6%) ; M2/M2, 19 (5.0%) ; and M1(Val)/M1(Ala), 2 (0.5%). There was no case with 'deficiency' alleles such as S and Z found in this study. Conclusion : These results suggest that A1AT deficient alleles are either extremely rare or not present in Koreans.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2006

Objective: To investigate whether polymorphism of Catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene is associated with the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Korean women. Methods: One hundred and thirty-six PCOS patients and eighty four controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from the patients diagnosed according to the 2003 revised criteria of the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group. Age matched women with regular menstruation from same geographic region were recruited as control subject. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products were done to determine all individuals' genotype. Results: In women with $COMT^{LL}$ genotype, there was decreased PCOS risk and this difference was statistically significant (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11~0.51). Conclusion: The results suggest that the $COMT^{LL}$ genetic polymorphism might be associated with PCOS risk in Korean women.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.308-314
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• 2012

Two hundred and twenty three yeast strains were randomly isolated from Korean traditional $nuruk$. Among them, six urease producing yeast strains (designated JJA, JJB, JJ22, SHA, SHC and SH10) were selected on the Christensen urea agar plates. They showed the same pattern in the PCR-RFLP analysis of the ITS I-5.8S-ITS II region digested with $Hae$III and $HinF$1 restriction endonucleases. Its DNA sequences showed 100% (strains SHA, SHC and SH10) and 99.8% (strains JJA, JJB and JJ22) identity with those of $Issatchenkia$ $orientalis$ type strain ATCC 24210. Phylogenetic analysis resulted in that all the strains were closely related to $I.$ $orientalis$. Two representative strains, JJ22 and SH10, showing the highest urease activities were selected for further characterization. Their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics were also the same as $I.$ $orientalis$. Therefore, both the two strains were identified as $I.$ $orientalis$. They could grow at a wide range of temperature between $20-40^{\circ}C$ as well as pH between 2.0 and 10.0. However, a higher level urease activity were obtained at acidic pH than that at alkalic pH. The maximal level of urease activity was obtained at $30^{\circ}C$ (strain SH10) or $35^{\circ}C$ (strain JJ22) and in a liquid medium adjusted to the initial pH 5.0.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.757-765
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• 2014

Campbell Early grapes were spontaneously fermented with and without sulfiting to investigate the effect of sulfiting on the fermentation characteristics and physicochemical properties of Campbell Early wine. During the fermentation, the increase in the alcohol and the decrease in the soluble solid contents were faster without sulfiting, as was the increase in the yeast viable counts compared to those with sulfiting. However, the final alcohol and soluble solid contents reached similar levels with and without sulfiting. The PCR-RFLP analysis of the yeast in the ITS I-5.8S-ITS II region revealed that the increase in the S. cerevisiae was faster in the initial fermentation stage and reached a slightly higher level in the late stage with sulfiting than without sulfiting. The wine prepared after the fermentation with sulfiting showed higher malic and tartaric acid contents, as well as methanol, acetaldehyde, and n-propanol contents, than the wine prepared without sulfiting. The ethyl acetate content of the wine without sulfiting was 375.5 mg/L, which was 5.3 times higher than that (70.5 mg/L) with sulfiting. In the sensory evaluation, the wine without sulfiting obtained higher scores in flavor and overall preference than that with sulfiting.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.839-848
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• 2015

A molecular marker is a molecule contained within a sample taken from an organism or other matter. The development of molecular techniques for genetic analysis has led to a great contribution to our knowledge of plant genetics and our understanding of the structure and behavior of various genomes in plants. Recently, functional molecular markers have been developed to detect the presence of major genes from the analysis of pedigreed data in absence of molecular information. DNA markers have developed into many systems based on different polymorphism-detecting techniques or methods such as RFLP, AFLP, RAPD, SSR, SNP, etc. A new class of very useful DNA markers called genic molecular markers utilizing the ever-increasing archives of gene sequence information being accumulated under the EST sequencing projects on a large number of plant species. Functional markers are derived from polymorphic sequences, and are more likely to be involved in phenotypic trait variation. Based on this conceptual framework, the marker systems discussed below are all (gene)-targeted markers, which have the potential to become functional. These markers being part of the cDNA/EST-sequences, are expected to represent the functional component of the genome i.e., gene(s), in contrast to all other random DNA based markers that are developed/generated from the anonymous genomic DNA sequences/domains irrespective of their genic content/information. Especially I sited Poczai et al’ reviews, advances in plant gene-targeted and functional markers. Their reviews may be some useful information to study molecular markers in plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.299-314
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• 2011

The choice of molecular markers is the first step when selecting experimental plans in the field of population genetics. The popular molecular markers in population genetic studies are mainly allozyme, RAPD, RFLP, AFLP, microsatellite, SNP and ISSR. Among these, microsatellites are frequently found in nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial genome, showing a high level of polymorphism and nuclear microsatellites are codominant. Thus, it is a favorable molecular marker for population structure analyses and genetic diversity studies. Microsatellites are composed of tandem repeated 1~6 base pair nucleotide motifs and can be easily amplified by PCR reactions using locus specific primers. Because microsatellites have low cross-species transferability, however, they are only applicable between phylogenetically close species. In wild plants, the lack of genomic information and the high development cost of the microsatellite obstruct the wider use of microsatellites in plant population genetics research. In this review, we introduce the basis for microsatellite markers, the development process, and analytical methods as well as evolutionary models and their applications. In addition, possible genotyping errors which lead to erroneous conclusions are discussed.