• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
• /
• 제1권1호
• /
• pp.52-57
• /
• 2020

Bacterial symbionts are common across insects, including ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Reproduction-manipulating endosymbionts, such as Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Rickettsia, and Cardinium, are closely associated with many aspects of host-insect life. In addition, phage WO plays an essential role in the phenotypic effects of Wolbachia. Although endosymbionts are possible biological control agents, there is a lack of knowledge of their rate of infection of ants in Korea. We tested a range of Korean ant species for the presence of Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Rickettsia, Cardinium, and phage WO by extracting DNA from the ants and using specific primer sets to test the status of infections. In addition, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene of the host ants was amplified to confirm the molecular identification and phylogenetic relationship between the hosts. We found that infection with Wolbachia (29.6% of species) is relatively common when compared with that of other endosymbionts. Only one species was infected with Spiroplasma. Infection with Rickettsia and Cardinium was not detected in the examined ants. Most Wolbachia in ants were infected with phage WO. Although the phenotypic effects of endosymbionts in ants are still unknown, this first survey of endosymbionts in Korea is the first step toward the use of reproduction-manipulating endosymbionts.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제37권5호
• /
• pp.625-628
• /
• 2004

Homeobox genes encode a family of transcription factors that have essential roles in regulating the development of eukaryotes. Although they have been extensively studied in different phyla, relatively little is known about homeobox-containing genes and their function in molluscs. In this study, we used a polymerase chain reaction to investigate homeobox genes in the bivalve mollusc Pecten maximus. Four different homeobox sequences were identified; two were homologues of the non-Hox cluster gene caudal and the two remaining sequences had a significant homology to the ANT-C gene proboscipedia. These sequences represent the first cad and pb homologues isolated from a member of the class Bivalvia, phylum Mollusca.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 1993

The gene for mannose enzyme II of phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system from Corynebacterium glutamicum KCTC 1445 was cloned into Escherichia coli ZSC113 using plasmid pBR 322. The recombinant plasmid, designated pCTS3, contained 2.2 kb DNA fragment, and the physical map of the cloned DNA fragment was determined. The E. coli ptsM ptsG mutant transformed with pCTS3 restored glucose and mannose fermentation ability, and grew well on these sugars as the sole carbon source in the minimal medium. The transform ant harboring pCTS3 showed a PTS-mediated repression of growth on maltose by mannose analogue, 2-deoxyglucose. The specificity of the response to 2DG therefore indicates that the cloned DNA fragment carries mannose enzyme II gene.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• 제19권3호
• /
• pp.159-161
• /
• 2003

The coat protein (CP) gene of Apple mosaic virus (ApMV), a member of the genus Ilarvirus, was selected for the design of virus-specific primers for amplification and molecular detection of the virus in cultivated apple. A combined assay of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed with a single pair of ApMV-specific primers and crude nucleic acid extracts from virus-infected apple for rapid detection of the virus. The PCR product was verified by restriction mapping analysis and by sequence determination. The lowest concentration of template viral RNA required for detection was 100 fg. This indicates that the RT-PCR for detection of the virus is a 10$^3$times more sensitive, reproducible and time-saving method than the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The specificity of the primers was verified using other unrelated viral RNAs. No PCR product was observed when Cucumber mosaic virus (Cucumovirus) or a crude extract of healthy apple was used as a template in RT-PCR with the same primers. The PCR product (669 bp) of the CP gene of the virus was cloned into the plasmid vector and result-ant recombinant (pAPCP1) was selected for molecule of apple transformation to breed virus-resistant transgenic apple plants as the next step. This method can be useful for early stage screening of in vitro plantlet and genetic resources of resistant cultivar of apple plants.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 2011

The present study investigated the nuclear remodeling, development potential with telomerase activity and transcription level of X-linked genes (ANT3, HPRT, MeCP2, RPS4X, XIAP, XIST and ZFX) in the bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos using two different fusion and activation methods. Female adult fibroblasts were injected into perivitelline space of in vitro matured oocytes. The oocyte-nucleus complexes were fused and followed by immediately either activated (Group 1), or activated at 1 h post-fusion (hpf) (Group 2), respectively. The incidence of normal premature chromosome condensation (PCC) at 1 hpf was slightly increased in the Group 2, compared to those of Group 1, but there was no significant (p<0.05) difference. The incidence of normal pronucleus (PN) and chromosome spread at 5 and 18 hpf were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the Group 2 than those of Group 1. The cleavage rate to 2-cell stage, developmental rate to blastocyst stage, and the mean number of total and ICM cell numbers were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the Group 2, compared to those of Group 1. Level of telomerase activity was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the SCNT blastocysts of Group 2, compared to those of Group 1. Transcript levels of HPRT, MeCP2 and XIST were not significantly (p<0.05) different between blastocysts of Group 1 and 2. However, transcript level of ANT3, RPS4X, XIAP and ZFX were significantly (p<0.05) up-regulated in the SCNT blastocysts of Group 2, compared to those of Group 1. Taken together, it is concluded that oocyte activation at 1 hpf induces the enhanced developmental potential by efficient nuclear remodeling and subsequent facilitation of the nuclear reprogramming of bovine SCNT embryos.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• 제38권3호
• /
• pp.176-179
• /
• 2000

A challenge phage system was used to study the DNA-protein interaction between C4-dicarboxylic acid transport protein D(DCTD) or $\sigma$54, and a $\sigma$54 -dependent promoter, dctAp. R. meliloti dctA promoter regulatory region replaced the Omnt site on the phage. S. typhimurium strains overproducing either DCTD or $\sigma$54 directed this challenge phage towards lysogency, indicating that DCTD or E$\sigma$54 recognized the dctA promoter on the phage and repressed transcription of the ant gene. These challenge phage constructs will be useful for examining interactions between DCTD(or $\sigma$54) and the dctA promoter region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.591-598
• /
• 2012

Aim and background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of naturally occurring small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression, cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis by targeting mRNAs for translational repression or cleavage. The present study was conducted to study miRNAs in Egyptian breast cancer (BC) and their relation to metastasis, tumor invasion and apoptosis in addition to their association with the ER and PR statuses. Methods: Real Time RT-PCR was performed to identify the miRNA expression level of eight miRNAs and eight metastatic-related genes in 40 breast cancer samples and their adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. The expression levels of each miRNA relative to U6 RNA were determined using the $^{2-{\Delta}}CT$ method. Also, miRNA expression profiles of the BC and their corresponding ANT were evaluated. Results: The BC patients showed an up-regulation in miRNAs (mir-155, mir-10, mir-21 and mir-373) with an upregulation in MMP2, MMp9 and VEGF genes. We found down regulation in mir-17p, mir-126, mir-335, mir-30b and also TIMP3, TMP1 and PDCD4 genes in the cancer tissue compared to the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. Mir -10b, mir -21, mir-155 and mir373 and the metastatic genes MMP2, MMP9 and VEGF were significantly associated with an increase in tumor size (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between any of the studied miRNAs regarding lymph node metastasis. Mir-21 was significantly over-expressed in ER-/PR-cases. Conclusion: Specific miRNAs (mir-10, mir-21, mir-155, mir-373, mir-30b, mir-126, mir-17p, mir-335) are associated with tumor metastasis and other clinical characteristics for BC, facilitating identification of individuals who are at risk.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제31권4호
• /
• pp.273-278
• /
• 2004

Differential display 방법으로 NaCl에 의하여 발현이 증가되는 cDNA들을 분리하였으며 그중 하나가 식물유래의 outer envelope membrane protein과 높은 유사성을 보였으므로 이를 ShOEP로 명명하였다. ShOEP는 1293 bp 길이에 359개의 아미노산으로 구성된 open reading frame을 포함하고 있으며, 이로부터 추정되는 분자량은 8.9 kDa이었다. ShOEP 단백질은 애기장대의 OEP와는 40.6%, 시금치와는 38%의 유사성을 나타내었다. Northern 분석결과, ShOEP 유전자는 NaCl의 농도가 증가함에 따라 발현량이 급격히 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 염생식물인 퉁퉁마디의 OEP는 PEG에 의하여 발현이 증가하는 반면 비염생식물인 애기장대의 OEP는 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 효모 complementation 실험결과 ShOEP는 NaCl에 특이적이었으며 식물의 염분스트레스 내성 기작에 직접적으로 관여하고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• 미생물학회지
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.232-238
• /
• 1992

Campylobacter jejuni 에 열처리를 했을 때 그들의 생존성 및 열충격 단백질 합성의 양상과 더불어, dnaK 와 groESL 유전자를 이용하여 C. jejuni 의 열충격 유전자를 검출하여 그 특성을 E. coli 의 열충격 유전자와 비교하였다. C. jejuni 의 열충격 단백질은 48.deg.C 에서 가장 잘 발형되었으며, 48.deg.C 에서 30 분간의 처리중 세포들의 생존율은 떨어지지 않았다. C. jejuni 의 열충격 단백질로서의 Hsp90, Hsp66, Hsp60 이 합성되는 것을 SDS-PAGE 및 방사선사진법을 통해 확인하였다. dnaK 와 groESL 을 DNA 탐침자로 이용하여 Southern hybridization 한 결과, C. jejuni 의 열충격 유전자도 groESL 과 dnaK 유전자와 상동성을 가진 염기서열을 가지고 있었으나, 두 균주사이에는 열충격유전자를 내포하고 있는 DNA 상에서 제한효소의 절단부위에 차이가 있었다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제15권6호
• /
• pp.1258-1266
• /
• 2005

The present study was carried out in order to assess the protective effects of calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, isolated from Astragali radix (AR), on hyaluronidase (HAase) and the recombinant human interleukin-$1\beta$ (IL-$1\beta$)-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage and chondrocytes. We isolated the active component from the n-butanol soluble fraction of AR (ARBu) as the HAase inhibitor and structurally identified as calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside by LC-MS, IR, ${1}^H$ NMR, and ${13}^C$ NMR analyses. The $IC_{50}$ of this component on HAase was found to be 3.7 mg/ml by in vitro agarose plate assay. The protective effect of ARBu on the matrix gene expression of immortalized chondrocyte cell line C28/I2 treated with HAase was investigated using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and its effect on HAase and IL-$1\beta$-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage was determined by a staining method and calculating the amount of degraded glycosaminoglycan (GAG) from the cultured media. Pretreatment with calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside effectively protected human chondrocytes and articular cartilage from matrix degradation. Therefore, calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside from AR appears to be a potential natural ant-inflammatory or antii-osteoarthritis agent and can be effectively used to protect from proteoglycan (PG) degradation.