• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.325-331
• /
• 2003

Objective: To investigate the association of genetic background between MTHFR A1298C genotype and male infertility. Materials and Methods: We compared 377 infertile males with 396 healthy fertile males with one or more offspring. Infertile males were classified into four subtypes (281 azoospermia, 26 oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), 59 severe OAT and 11 remnants) by World Health Organization (WHO). Pyrosequencing analysis for MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase) A1298C variation was performed on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of study group. To validate pyrosequencing data of A1298C variation for randomly selected 50 samples, we compared the pyrosequencing result with the PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) result of MTHFR A1298C genotype. Results: We studied MTHFR A1298C variation by pyrosequencing. A1298C variation data (1298 AC; p=0.2166 and 1298 CC; p=0.5056) of MTHFR gene was no significant difference in between fertile and infertile males. Conclusion: The genetic analysis in MTHFR gene didn't appear genetic difference in Korean fertile and infertile males. We require further study for MTHFR gene in infertile males.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.155-158
• /
• 2011

Uncoupling protein (UCP) 3 has a number of proposed roles in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism. A number of polymorphisms in the human UCP3 gene have been identified, and the correlation with obesity related phenotypes evaluated. The objective of this study was to identify SNP in porcine UCP3 gene and to investigate the effect of the SNP on economic traits. The sequencing analysis method was used to identify nucleotide polymorphisms at position 1405 bp (Genebank accession No : AY739704) in porcine UCP3 gene. The SNP (G150R), located in the exon 3, changed the amino acid to glycine (GGG) from arginine (AGG). This G150R showed three genotypes - GG, GR and RR - by digestion with the restriction enzyme Sma Ⅰ using the PCR-RFLP method. The G150R showed significant effects only on back fat (P<0.05). Animals with the genotype GG had significantly higher back fat thickness (1.358 cm) than animals with the genotype GR (1.288 cm, P<0.05) and RR (1.286 cm, P<0.05). However, the genotypes had no significant association with ADG and days to 90kg. According to results of this study, a G allele of the G150R was found to have a significant effect on back fat thickness. It will be possible to use SNP markers on selected pigs to improve backfat thickness, an important economic trait.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.245-251
• /
• 1994

Ten strains of 7 species from the genus Ganoderma, G. lucidum ATCC 64251, FP-103561-T, and ES70701, G. applanatum ATCC 44053 and FP-57035-T. G. lobatum ATCC 42985, G. resinaceum ATCC 52416, G. subamboinense var. laevisporum ATCC 52420, G. meredithae ATCC 64492, and G. microsporum ATCC 76024, were studied to discuss their phylogenetic relationships by utilizing restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs). Six restriction enzymes, BamHI, BglII, EcoRI, HindIII, PvuII, and XbaI which digested mtDNAs into adequate numbers of restriction fragments for cluster analysis, were used in this study. Restriction profiles of strains for each restriction enzyme were treated as analysis characters to calculate similarity coefficients, which were converted into nucleotide sequence divergence values whose mean values were then arranged in a matrix table. This table was utilized for a phylogenetic analysis using the Neighborjoining method of the PHYLIP package to construct phylogenetic tree. Three strains of G. lucidum and two strains of G. applanatum exhibited different lineages each but one of G. applanatum strains showed a close relationship with G. lobatum, which reflected the species complexity of these species whose strains were phenotypically indistinguishable but genetically distinct. The present results suggest that the natural classification of Ganoderma needs to be considered from the viewpoints of molecular biology-based systematics as well as morphological classifications and cultural identifications for better phylogenetic conclusions.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.246-255
• /
• 2007

Mutans streptococci have been implicated as cariogenic bacteria in dental caries because they can produce high levels of dental caries-causing lactic acid and extracellular polysaccharide. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the mutans streptococci from the dental plaque obtained from Koreans. The dental plaque samples were collected from the anterior and molar teeth of both jaws in 155 subjects (aged 2 to 33.2 years, average age $13.7{\pm}4.7\;years$). The samples were diluted by 100-fold in $1{\times}\;PBS$ and plated on mitis-salivarius bacitracin (MSB) agar plates. The mutans streptococci grown on MSB plates were screened by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeting dextranase gene (dex). The mutans streptococci were identified at the species level using a 16S rDNA sequencing comparison method. The biochemical tests were carried out to biotype the mutans streptococci. Ninety-five strains of the mutans streptococci out of 358 colonies, which were derived from 141 subjects, were isolated. Of them, 77 strains and 18 strains were Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, respectively. The biotyping data showed that 62, 1, 20, 10, and 2 strains were biotypes I, II, IV, V and variant, respectively. Of the two strains of variant biotype, one strains was similar to biotype IV except that it was positive to the arginine hydrolysis test. We considered this one strain a new biotype, and classified it as biotype VII. In conclusion, S. mutans and its biotype I was most frequently isolated in Korean dental plaque. The mutans streptococci strains isolated in this study might be useful for the study of the pathogenesis and the prevention of dental caries.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.29-34
• /
• 2006

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays an important role in the development of allergic disorders including asthma. Cigarette smoking was reported to elevate serum IgE level and air pollutants such as $NO_{2}$ have been reported to modulate the immune system including inflammation. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) were reported to affect inflammatory diseases including asthma. Therefore, in the present study we tried to investigate whether tobacco smoke or $NO_{2}$ exposure increases the level of IgE and the GST gene polymorphisms are associated with change of IgE level due to tobacco smoke or $NO_{2}$ exposure. We measured urinary cotinine, personal $NO_{2}$ exposure, and serum IgE levels in 300 healthy university students without allergic disorders. Allelic loss of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 and the GSTP1 (lle105Val) polymorphism were determined by PCR and RFLP. Total serum IgE levels were significantly different according to urinary cotinine levels (P=0.046), while $NO_{2}$ passive dosimeter level and genetic polymorphisms of three GSTs were not associated with total IgE level. Moreover, subjects with cotinine $500\;{\mu}g/g$ creatinine or more showed the highest level of total IgE when they had null type of GSTM1, null type of GSTT1, or variant type of GSTP1 (P<0.05). When we considered IgE level according to urinary cotinine levels in strata with the combinations of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genetic polymorphisms, the subjects with GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and GSTP1 variant types showed the largest difference between IgE levels of subpopulations according to cotinine levels (P=0.030). However, there was no significant difference between IgE levels of subpopulations according to $NO_{2}$ passive dosimeter levels in any group with combinations of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms. This result suggests that smoking increases allergic response measured as IgE level and combinations of the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorph isms modify the effect of smoking on serum IgE level.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.7-16
• /
• 2003

Objectives : The lipolytic effects of catecholamines in adipose tissue are mediated by members of adrenergic receptors. This study was conducted to examine the effects of ${\beta}2-AR$ Gln27Glu (Q27E) polymorphism on obesity indices and risk among obesity clinic patients. Methods : 532 subjects, 38 men and 494 women, who attended a weight loss program in a local obesity clinic were analyzed. Height, weight, BMI, WHR and obesity index were measured or calculated. Body composition was measured by bio-impedance analysis. Genotype of ${\beta}2-AR$ polymorphism in codon 27 was analyzed by PCR-RFLP method. Serum concentrations of fasting glucose, total and HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride were determined by autobiochemical analyzer. Results: The Genotype distributions of ${\beta}2-AR$ gene were QQ type 81.3%, QE type 17.9% and EE type 8%. Therefore, the frequency of E allele of ${\beta}2-AR$ gene was 0.170 in the total subjects. The frequency of the ${\beta}2-AR$ variant genotype(QE+EE) was significantly higher in obese group($BMI{\geqq}25$) compared with non-obese group(p=0.027). Weight was significantly higher in variant(QE+EE) type compared with normal(QQ) type in total subjects(p=0.001), male(p=0.022) and female(p=0.013). BMI, obesity index and WHR were also significantly higher in QE+EE type. Body fat man was significantly higher in QE+EE type in total subjects(p=0.005) and female(p=0.027). When forward stepwise regression analysis was used to create a model of risk predictors of obesity($BMI{\geqq}25$), QE+EE type of ${\beta}2-AR$ gene was found to be a significant risk factor for obesity (p=0.042, ORs 1.597). Conclusions: QE+EE genotype of ${\beta}2-AR$ was associated with increased obesity indices and might be a significant risk factor for obesity.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.1489-1498
• /
• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify polymorphism in olfactomedin like 3 (OLFML3) gene, and association analysis with meat quality, carcass characteristics, retail meat cut, and fatty acid composition in sheep, and expression quantification of OLFML3 gene in phenotypically divergent sheep. Methods: A total of 328 rams at the age of 10 to 12 months with an average body weight of 26.13 kg were used. A novel polymorphism was identified using high-throughput sequencing in sheep and genotyping of OLFML3 polymorphism was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Among 328 rams, 100 rams representing various sheep genotypes were used for association study and proc general linear model was used to analyse association between genotypes and phenotypic traits. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used for the expression analysis of OLFML3 mRNA in phenotypically divergent sheep population. Results: The findings revealed a novel polymorphism in the OLFML3 gene (g.90317673 C>T). The OLFML3 gene revealed three genotypes: CC, CT, and TT. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) associated with meat quality traits such as tenderness and cooking loss; carcass characteristics such as carcass length; retail meat cut such as pelvic fat in leg, intramuscular fat in loin and tenderloin, muscle in flank and shank; fatty acids composition such as tridecanoic acid (C13:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), ginkgolic acid (C17:1), linolenic acid (C18:3n3), arachidic acid (C20:0), eicosenoic acid (C20:1), arachidonic acid (C20:4n6), heneicosylic acid (C21:0), and nervonic acid (C24:1). The TT genotype was associated with higher level of meat quality, carcass characteristics, retail meat cut, and some fatty acids composition. However, the mRNA expression analysis was not different among genotypes. Conclusion: The OLFML3 gene could be a potential putative candidate for selecting higher quality sheep meat, carcass characteristics, retail meat cuts, and fatty acid composition in sheep.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.380-386
• /
• 2005

Purpose : The incidence of nonphysiologic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is twice as high in East Asians as in whites. Recently, UGT1A1 mutation was found to be a risk factor for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In congenitally-jaundiced Gunn rats, which lack expression of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, alternative pathways can be stimulated by inducers of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 enzymes. CYP1A2 plays a major role in bilirubin degradation of the alternate pathway. We studied the relationship between UGT1A1 and CYP1A2 gene polymorphism of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Koreans. Methods : Seventy-nine Korean full term neonates who had hyperbilirubinemia(serum bilirubin >12 mg/dL) without obvious causes of jaundice, were analyzed for UGT1A1 and CYP1A2 gene polymorphism; the control group was sixty-eight. We detected the polymorphism of Gly71Arg of UGT1A1 gene by direct sequencing and T2698G of CYP1A2 by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) using MboII and direct sequencing. Results : Allele frequency of Gly71Arg mutation in the hyperbilirubinemia group was 32 percent, which was significantly higher than 11 percent in the control group(P<0.0001). Mutant gene frequency of T2698G was 41.8 percent in patients and 32.3 percent in the control group(P=0.015), but allele frequency was 21 percent in patients and 19 percent in the control group, which was not significantly higher(P=0.706). There was no relationship between mutations of two genes(P=0.635). Conclusion : The polymorphism of UGT1A1 gene(Gly71Arg) and CYP1A2 gene(T2698G) was detected in Korean neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Only polymorphisms of Gly71Arg in UGT1A1 were significantly higher than control group.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.376-379
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Mycoplasama pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and exacerbates other respiratory conditions such as asthma. Surfactant protein A(SP-A) is involved in surfactant physiology and surfactant structure, and plays a major role in innate host defense and inflammatory processes in the lung. In this study, SP-A mediated mycoplasma cidal activity. The candidate-gene approach was used to study the association between the SP-A gene locus and Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in the genetically homogeneous Korean population. Methods : PCR-cRFLP-based methodology was used to detect SP-A genotype. The forty nine children with Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia were matched to 50 nomal neonates. Results : The specific frequencies for the alleles of the SP-A1 and SP-A2 gene in the study population were : $6A^2=21$ percent, $6A^3=45$ percent, $6A^4=11$ percent, $6A^8=9$ percent, $6A^{14}=8$ percent, 1A=11.3 percent, $1A^0=38$ percent, $1A^1=12.7$ percent, $1A^2=9.2$ percent, $1A^5=15.5$ percent, $1A^7=2.9$ percent, $1A^8=4.9$ percent, $1A^9=2.2$ percent, others=3.3 percent. The frequencies of specific genotypes such as $1A^2$ was higher than control group, significantly. Conclusion : $1A^2$ are susceptible factors for Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia. We conclude that the SP-A gene locus($1A^2$) is an important determinant for predisposition to Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.556-564
• /
• 2007

Purpose : We hypothesized that the persisting bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) of adolescents with asthma remission may be controlled mainly by genetic factors, and the BHR of symptomatic asthma by airway inflammation. ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor gene is considered to be a candidate gene in the development of BHR. Thus, ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor gene polymorphism may be associated with the BHR of adolescents with asthma remission, but not with the BHR of symptomatic asthma. To evaluate this hypothesis, ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor gene polymorphism at 2 sites (Arg16-Gly, Gln27-Glu) were examined. Methods : Two hundred two adolescents with BHR ($PC_{20}<18\;mg/mL$) and long term remission (neither asthma-related symptoms nor medication during the previous 2 years) of their asthma (remission group), 182 adolescents with symptomatic asthma (symptomatic group), and 200 healthy adolescents (control group) were studied. Asthma phenotypes were determined using methacholine bronchial provocation test and skin prick test. Genotypes of ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor polymorphism were evaluated by PCR-based methods. Results : Gly/Gly allele and Gly16-Gln27 haplotype were more prevalent in the remission group than in the control group (P=0.01, P=0.02), although there was no difference between the symptomatic group and the control group. In the remission group, there was significant difference in geometric mean of $PC_{20}$ among the 3 groups subdivided by the number of Gly16-Gln27 haplotype, showing that the Gly16-Gln27 haplotype was positively associated with BHR. However, no association was found between Gly16-Gln27 haplotype and BHR in the symptomatic group. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that ${\beta}_2$-adrenoceptor polymorphism at amino acid 16 and 27 was associated with BHR persisting in adolescents with asthma remission.