• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.889-892
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• 2000

Antisense molecules are structurally simple linear oligomers of nucleotides. They can recognize a complementary sequence by base pairing, therefore, antisense drugs composed of 15-16 bases are potentially useful, unlike drugs such as protein agonists, antagonists, and inhibitors. Since antisense oligomers are classified as nucleotides, they are subject to attack by nucleases. In order to be antisense drugs resistant to degradation by nucleases, the structural modifications in the linkages, bases, and sugars to satisfy this requirement are considerable. We attempted in this study, to synthesize 16-mer antisenses with a modified linkage and adenosine. When studying on the three-dimensional structure of the oligomer, however, the existence of isomers may complicate the interpretation of the NMR data. Therefore, an attempt was made to eliminate the above problem, thus, two dimers were synthesized and their structural studies were carried out.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 1995

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), a hydrophobic glycoprotein promoting transfer of cholesteryl esters (CE) from high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to lower-density lipoproteins in the plasma, has been recognized a potent atherogenic factor during the development of coronary artery diseases. This study demonstrated a possible utilization of antisense RNA to inhibit expression of the CETP gene using vaccinia virus as an expression system. The CETP cDNA was inserted into a transfer vector (pSC11) in sense and antisense orientations and used to generate recombinant viruses. Recombinants containing sense or antisense orientations of the CETP cDNA were isolated by $TK^-$ selection and X-gal test. The inserted CETP cDNAs in the recombinants were identified by Southern blot analysis and allowed to transcribe in host cells (CV-1). Expressions of the exogenous CETP mRNA, extracted from the CV-1 cells coinfected with viruses containing sense and antisense DNAs, were monitored by Northern blot analysis using the CETP cDNA probe, by Western blot analysis using monoclonal antibody against the C-terminal active region of the CETP and by the CETP assay. Decreased expressions of the exogenous CETP cDNA were clearly evident in the Northern and Western blot analyses as the dose of antisense expression increased. In the CETP assay, the CETP activities decreased compared to the activity obtained from the cell extracts infected with sense construct only.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.328-338
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• 1998

Porphyromonas endodontalis, an anaerobic Gram negative cocobacillus which was known to be associated with the infected root canals and periapical lesions, is very difficult to culture and to detect by the traditional method in that it requires much time to induce the specific black pigmentation, and it is very sensitive to oxygen and the antibiotics added in the culture medium. In this study, the nucleotide sequences of the 'probe h' (0.73kb), one of the specific DNA probes top. endodontalis (ATCC 35406) which had been developed by our department, was determined and then a pair of primers for PCR amplification was fabricated to identify P. endodontalis. The plasmids containing 'probe h' were purified by $Wizard^{TM}$ Midipreps DNA Purification System (Promega Corp.), and the nucleotide sequences of the 'probe h' were determined by the dideoxy chain termination method using TaqTrack Sequencing System (Promega Corp.) and detected by fluorescent labelling method. The sense/antisense PCR primers were designed with computer software (Lasergene, DNASTAR Ind. PCR was done with a programmable GeneAmp PCR System 2400 (Perkin Elmer-Cetus Co.). Each sample containing the whole genomic DNA of P. endodontalis and other black-pigmented Bacteroides was itailly denatured at $94^{\circ}C$ for 5 min and then subjected to 30 cycles, each of them consisting of 60s at $94^{\circ}C$, 60s at $60^{\circ}C$, and 90s. at $72^{\circ}C$. The amplified DNA was resolved electrophoretically in a 1.0 % agarose gel in 1X TAE buffer, stained with EtBr, and photographed on a UV transilluminator. The results were as follows : 1. The nucleotide sequences of 'probe h' (743 base pairs) were obtained by dideoxy chain termination method, and from that results the specific primers to P. endodontalis (ATCC 35406), 'Primer H1/ Primer H2', were designed. 2. It has been found that 'Primer H1/H2' could detect P. endodontalis (ATCC 35406) using PCR. 3. The PCR system with this primers may be a powerful technique to amplify the specific sequences of 'probe h' of P. endodontalis (ATCC 35406) that produce distinct identification of it from other black-pigmented Bacteroides, and this could help us to determine the nature of periapical disease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.9-14
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• 1999

Pseudomonas iodinum IFO 3558 adenosine deaminase(ADA) gene was cloned by the polymerase chain reaction and deduced the amino acid sequence of the enzyme. DNA sequence homology of Pseudomonas iodinum IFO 3558 ADA gene was compared to those of E. coli, human and mouse ADA genes. Unambiguous sequence from both strands of pM21 was obtained for the region believed to encode ADA. The sequence included a 804-nucleotide open reading frame, bounded on one end by sense primer and on the other end by two antisense primer. This open reading frame encodes a protein of 268 amino acids having a molecular weight of 29,448. The deduced amino acid sequence shows considerable similarity to those of E. coli, mouse and human ADA. Pseudomonas iodinum IFO 3558 nucleotide sequence shows 98.5% homology with that of the E. coli ADA sequence and 51.7% homology with that of the mouse ADA sequence and 52.5% homology with that of the human ADA sequence. The ADA protein sequence of Pseudomonas iodinum IFO 3558 shows 96.9% homology with that of the E. coli and 40.7% homology with that of the mouse and 41.8% homology with that of the human. The distance between two of the conserved elements, TVHAGE and SL(1)NTDDP has veen exactly conserved at 76 amino acids for all four ADAs. Two of the four conserved sequence elements shared among the four ADAs are also present in the yeast, rat, human (M), and Human(L) AMP deaminase. The SLSTDDP sequence differs only in the conservative substitution of a serine for an asparagine. A conserved cysteine with conserved spacing between these two regions is also found. Thus, sequence analysis of four ADAs and four AMP deaminases revealed the presence of a highly conserved sequence motif, SLN(S)TDDP, a conserved dipeptide, HA, and a conserved cysteine residue.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2015

DBM-2198, a six-membered azasugar nucleotide (6-AZN)-containing phosphorothioate (P = S) oligonucleotide (AZPSON), was described in our previous publication [Lee et al. (2005)] with regard to its antiviral activity against a broad spectrum of HIV-1 variants. This report describes the mechanisms underlying the anti-HIV-1 properties of DBM-2198. The LTR-mediated reporter assay indicated that the anti-HIV-1 activity of DBM-2198 is attributed to an extracellular mode of action rather than intracellular sequence-specific antisense activity. Nevertheless, the antiviral properties of DBM-2198 and other AZPSONs were highly restricted to HIV-1. Unlike other P = S oligonucleotides, DBM-2198 caused no host cell activation upon administration to cultures. HIV-1 that was pre-incubated with DBM-2198 did not show any infectivity towards host cells whereas host cells pre-incubated with DBM-2198 remained susceptible to HIV-1 infection, suggesting that DBM-2198 acts on the virus particle rather than cell surface molecules in the inhibition of HIV-1 infection. Competition assays for binding to HIV-1 envelope protein with anti-gp120 and anti-V3 antibodies revealed that DBM-2198 acts on the viral attachment site of HIV-1 gp120, but not on the V3 region. This report provides a better understanding of the antiviral mechanism of DBM-2198 and may contribute to the development of a potential therapeutic drug against a broad spectrum of HIV-1 variants.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 1990

Complementary DNA (cDNA) coding for human cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) (superoxide: superoxide oxidoreductase E.C.1.15.1.1) was isolated from human liver cDNA library of $\lambda$gt11 by in situ plaque hybridization. The insery cDNA gas the 5' untranslational region (UTR) and 3'UTR of SOD1 gene. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method was used fro subcloning of SOD1 structural gene. Using synthetic sense strand primer (24mer) containing a start codon and antisense strand primer (24mer), SOD1 structural gene was selectively amplified. Amplified DNA was directly cloned into the HincII site of pUC19 plasmid. Insery cDNA was subcloned into M13 mp19 and sequenced by dideowy chain termination method with Sequenase. The nucleotide sequence of insert cDNA had an open reading frame (ORF) coding for 153 amino acid residues. The structural gene of cytoplasmic SOD was placed under the control of bacteriophage $\lambda P_{L}$ regulatory sequences, generating a highly efficient expression plasmid. The production of human SOD1 in E. coli cells was about 7% of total cellular proteins and recombinant human SOD1 possessed its own enzymatic acitivity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.509-514
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• 1995

A putative secondary structure of the mRNA for the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene is proposed based on not only chemical and enzymatic determination of its single- and double-stranded regions but also selection by the computer program MFOLD for energy minimum conformation under the constraints that the experimentally determined nucleotides were forced or prohibited to base pair. An RNA of 536 nucleotides including the 461-nucleotide HBV X mRNA sequence was synthesized in vitro by the phage T7 RNA polymerase transcription. The thermally renatured transcripts were subjected to chemical modifications with dimethylsulfate and kethoxal and enzymatic hydrolysis with single strand-specific RNase T1 and double strand-specific RNase V1, separately. The sites of modification and cleavage were detected by reverse transcriptase extension of 4 different primers. Many nucleotides could be assigned with high confidence, twenty in double-stranded and thirty-seven in Single-stranded regions. These nucleotides were forced and prohibited, respectively, to base pair in running the recursive RNA folding program MFOLD. The results suggest that 6 different regions (5 within X mRNA) of 14~23 nucleotides are Single-stranded. This putative structure provides a good working model and suggests potential target sites for antisense and ribozyme inhibitors and hybridization probes for the HBV X mRNA.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.12.1-12.10
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• 2024

Background: Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius are the major etiological agents of staphylococcal infections in humans, livestock, and companion animals. The misuse of antimicrobial drugs has led to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus spp., including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP). One novel therapeutic approach against MRSA and MRSP is a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) that can bind to the target nucleotide strands and block expression. Previously, two PNAs conjugated with cell-penetrating peptides (P-PNAs), antisense PNA (ASP)-cmk and ASP-deoD, targeting two essential genes in S. aureus, were constructed, and their antibacterial activities were analyzed. Objectives: This study analyzed the combined antibacterial effects of P-PNAs on S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius clinical isolates. Methods: S. aureus ATCC 29740 cells were treated simultaneously with serially diluted ASP-cmk and ASP-deoD, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were measured. The combined P-PNA mixture was then treated with S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius veterinary isolates at the determined MIC, and the antibacterial effect was examined. Results: The combined treatment of two P-PNAs showed higher antibacterial activity than the individual treatments. The MICs of two individual P-PNAs were 20 and 25 µM, whereas that of the combined treatment was 10 µM. The application of a combined treatment to clinical Staphylococcus spp. revealed S. aureus isolates to be resistant to P-PNAs and S. pseudintermedius isolates to be susceptible. Conclusions: These observations highlight the complexity of designing ASPs with high efficacy for potential applications in treating staphylococcal infections in humans and animals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2014

We identified SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) genes in the Korean genome. eNOS is present in the vascular endothelium, platelets, and several other cell types that continuously produce modest amounts of NO. Endothelium-derived NO plays a key role in the regulation of vascular tone, and the impaired effects of NO on the cardiovascular system appear to be responsible for coronary atherosclerosis and thrombosis. In recent studies, a missense variant within exon 7 of the eNOS gene in patients with coronary spastic angina-GAG to GAT substitution, which results in the replacement of glutamic acid by aspartic acid (Glu298Asp [G894T])-has been identified and is known to be significantly associated with coronary spasm. We prepared PCR primers based on sequences in Genbank. Primers were prepared for normal and SNPs separately, as reported for other Asian countries, such as G894T. Their sequences were different only at the 3' ends so that primer extension could only by possible when base pairs between templates and primers matched. We also employed ARMS (Amplification Refractory Mutation System) technology to improve the specificity of the PCR reaction. In conclusion, we were able to demonstrate the eNOS G894A polymorphism in Korean gemone. This study should facilitate research on the cause of myocardial infarction and development on further therapy at the genetic level.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3223-3228
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• 2012

HMGN5 is a typical member of the HMGN (high mobility group nucleosome-binding protein) family which may function as a nucleosomal binding and transcriptional activating protein. Overexpression of HMGN5 has been observed in several human tumors but its role in tumorigenesis has not been fully clarified. To investigate its significance for human lung cancer progression, we successfully constructed a shRNA expression lentiviral vector in which sense and antisense sequences targeting the human HMGN5 were linked with a 9-nucleotide loop. Inhibitory effects of siRNA on endogenous HMGN5 gene expression and protein synthesis were demonstrated via real-time RT-PCR and western blotting. We found HMGN5 silencing to significantly inhibit A549 and H1299 cell proliferation assessed by MTT, BrdU incorporation and colony formation assays. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that specific knockdown of HMGN5 slowed down the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and decreased the populations of A549 and H1299 cells at the S and G2/M phases. Taken together, these results suggest that HMGN5 is directly involved in regulation cell proliferation in A549 and H1299 cells by influencing signaling pathways involved in cell cycle progression. Thus, our finding suggests that targeting HMGN5 may be an effective strategy for human lung cancer treatment.