• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.150-157
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• 2002

Background: Although Tat plays a role as a potent transactivator in the viral gene expression from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 long terminal repeat (HIV-1 LTR), it does not function efficiently in rodent cells implying the absence of a human specific factor essential for Tat-medicated transactivation in rodent cells. In previous experiments, we demonstrated that one of chimeric forms of TAR (transacting responsive element) of HIV-1 LTR compensated the restriction in rodent cells. Methods: To characterize the nature of the compensation, we tested the effects of several upstream binding factors of HIV-1 LTR by simple substitution, and also examined the role of the configuration of the upstream binding factor(s) indirectly by constructing spacing mutants that contained insertions between Sp1 and TATA box on Tat-mediated transactivation. Results: Human Sp1 had no effect whereas its associated factors displayed differential effects in human and rodent cells. In addition, none of the spacing mutants tested overcame the restriction in rodent cells. Rather, when the secondary structure of the chimeric HIV-1 TAR construct was destroyed, the compensation in rodent cells was disappeared. Interestingly, the proper interaction between Sp1 and TATA box binding proteins, which is essential for Tat-dependent transcription, was dispensable in rodent cells. Conclusion: This result suggests that the human-specific Tat cofactor acts to allow Tat to interact effectively in a ribonucleoprotein complex that includes Tat, cellular factors, and TAR RNA, rather than be associated with the HIV-1 LTR upstream DNA binding factors.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.26-38
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• 1996

To investigate the regulation of plant histone H2A gene expression, we isolated two H2A genes (TH254 and TH274) from wheat, which encode different types of variants. Both genes had an intron in the coding region. In the promoters, some characteristics sequences, such as Oct and Nona motifs, which are conserved among plant histone genes were also found, and they were located in a short region (about 120 bp) upstream from the putative TATA box. Analyses of promoter activity with H2A-GUS fusion genes in the transient system using tobacco protoplasts revealed novel types of positive cis-acting sequences in the TH254 promoter: a direct repeat of a 13-bp sequence (AGTTACATTATTG) and a stretch composed of an AT-rich sequence (ATATAGAAAATTAAAA) and a G-box (CACGTG). A quantitative S1 assay of the mRNA amounts from the TH254/GUS and TH274/GUG chimeric genes in stably transformed and cell cycle-synchronized tobacco cell lines showed that the promoters of both genes contained at least one cis-acting element responsible for S phase-specific expression. Histochemical analysis of transgenic tobacco plants carrying the chimeric genes showed that the promoters of the two H2A genes were both active in developing seedlings and flower organs but regulated in different manner.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.408-414
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• 1996

The SecY is a central component of the protein export machinery that mediate the translocation of secretory proteins across the plasma membrane, and has been known to be rate-limiting factor of secretion in Escherichia coli. In order to study the extracellular protein secretion in Gram-positive microorganism, we have, constructed strains harboring more than one copy of the gene for SecY. Firstly, the gene, for B. subtilis SecY and its promoter region was subcloned into pDH32 and the chimeric vector was inserted into amyE locus by homologous recombination. Secondly, low copy number vector, pCED6, was also used for subcloning the secY gene and for constructing a strain which harbors several copies of secY. The KH1 cell which harbor two copies of secY on the chromosome excreted more extracellular proteins than the wild type PB2. Moreover, the KH2 cells which harbor several copies of secY in pCED6 vector excreted more extracellular proteins than the KH1 cells. Here, we found that the capacity of protein secretion is partly controlled by the number of secY and it is suggested that SecY has also an important role in protein secretion in B. subtilis, a gram positive microorganism, as like in E. coli. This will promote the use of B. subtilis as a host for the expression of useful foreign gene and excretion of precious proteins.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2001

Callus formation and plant regeneration from the seeds of zoysiagrass cv. Zenith was tested on MS basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D) and of several cytokinins. A concentration of 1mg/L 2,4-D on medium stimulated callus formation. In the presence of 5mg/L 2,4-D, addition of 1mg/L kinetin significantly enhanced callus formation and plant regeneration over 2,4-D alone. To transfer foreign DNA into turfgrass, parameters for the bombardment of embryogenic callus with the particle bombardment were partially optimized using transient expression assay of a $chimeric \beta$-glucuronidase(GUS) gene driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. GUS gene was strongly expressed at helium pressure 1,100 psi and 6~9cm target distance.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.211-219
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• 2004

Transgenic zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica cv. Zenith) plants have been obtained by particle bombardment of embryogenic callus with the plasmid pSMABuba, which contains hygromycin resistance (hpt) and bialaphos resistance (bar) genes. Parameters on DNA delivery efficiency of the particle bombardment were partially optimized using transient expression assay of a chimeric $\beta-glucuronidase$(gusA) gene driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. Stably transfarmed zoysiagrass plants were recovered with a selection scheme using hygromycin. Transgenic zoysiagrass plants were confirmed by PCR analysis with specific primer for bar gene. Expression of the transgene in transformed zoysiagrass plants was demonstrated by Reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR analysis. All the tested transgenic plants showed herbicide BastaR resistance at the field application rate of $0.1\%-0.3\%$.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2000

Chloramphenicol acetyl CoA transferase (CAT) and angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitory peptide (ACEI) were fused to C-terminal region of rice ubiquitin to examine the level of transcripts or enzyme activities in yeast. When two chimeric genes under an inducible Gall promoter control were transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisaie, both CAT and ACE inhibitory activities were enhanced by three to four-fold as compared to those containing no ubiquitin gene. However, the levels of transcripts of ubiquitin fused and un fused genes were not significantly different each other. Therefore, it was suggested that the expression of foreign genes was post-transcriptionally enhanced by fusion of plant ubiquitin in heterologous organisms such as yeast.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.300-304
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• 1997

Leaf dise explants of Solanum tuberosum cultivar. Desiree and Atlantic, were infected with a Agrobacterium MP90 strain containing chimeric gene construct, consisting of antibiotic and low temperature regulated gene (H28) for transformation. regenerated multiple shoots were selected on a medium containing kanamycin and carbenieillin after exposure to Agrobacterium. Both PCR analysis of NPT Ⅱ, H28 genes and northern blot analysis indicated that the genes coding for the enzyme were successfully integrated into the potato genome and could be expressed in potato plants.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 1999

In recent years, numerous researches have been carried out in author's laboratory to develop several kinds of methods for producing transgened chicken, leaving a lot of new findings. Some of them are very useful to search for new approaches necessary to improve the efficiency of hatchability and the survival rate of developing trasgened embryos. The results obtained hitherto might be summarized as follows: (1) foreign gene(Lac Z/ Miw Z) introduced into blastodermal cells of developing embryos was successfully transferred to embryos, leading to the production of primordial germ cells(PGCs) carrying foreign DNA. However, hatched hickens failed to show the incorporation of introduced gene into the gonads. (2) When foreign gene was introduced into germinal crescent region (GCR), the gene was also efficiently incorporated into germ cells, resulting in the production of transgened chickens(offspring) which produced fruther offspring having foreign gene in the gonads. In this case, 2nd and 3rd generations of chickens were obtained through the reproduction of transgened birds. (3) In another way, the gene was injected into blood vessels of developing embryos at stage 13∼15, creating PGCs having foreign gene, and produced some transgened chickens. In this work, the PGCs were transfered between embryos, resulting in the production of transgenic chickens. (4) in these experiments, PGCs were effectively employed for producing transgenic birds, developing some kinds of chimeric chickens from homo- or hetero-sexual transfer of the PGCs from embryos. This means that the gonads from donor PGCs developed in some degree to the stage of hatching. However, these gonads showed slightly abnormal tissues similar to ovotestis like organs through histological examination. (5) Avian Leukosis Virus(ALV) induced B cell line(DT40) successfully carried foreign genes into chicken embryos, suggesting the possibility of the cells as a vector in this field of study in the future. (6) Inter-embryonic transfer of the PGCs also gave us some.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 1997.06a
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• pp.23-49
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• 1997

This is a progress report of rice biotechnology including development of gene transformation system, gene cloning and molecular mapping in rice. The scope of the research was focused on the connection between conventional breeding and biotech-researches. Plant transformation via Agrobacterium or particle bombardment was developed to introduce one or several genes to recommended rice cultivars. Two chimeric genes containing a maize ribosome inactivating protein gene (RIP) and a gerbicide resistant gene (bar) were introduced to Nipponbare, a Japonica cultivar, and transmitted to Korean cultivars. The homozygous progenies of herbicide resistant transgenic plant showed good fertility and agronomic characters. To explore the genetic resourses in rice, over 8,000 cDNA clones from immature rice seed have been isolated and sequenced. About 13% of clones were identified as enzymes related to metabolic pathway. Among them, twenty clones have high homology with genes encoding enzymes in the photorespiratory carbon cycle reaction. Up to now about 100 clones were fully sequenced and registered at EMBL and GenBank. For the mapping of quantitative tarits loci (QTL) and eternal recombinant inbred population with 164 F13 lines (MGRI) was developed from a cross between Milyang 23 and Gihobyeo, Korean rice cultivars. After construction of fully saturated RFLP and AFLP map, quantitative traits using MGRI population were analyzed and integrated into the molecular map. Eighty seven loci were determined with 27 QTL characters including yield and yield components on rice chromosomes. Map based cloning was also tried to isolate semi-dwarf (sd-1) gene in rice. A DNA probe, RG 109, the most tightly linked to sd-1 gene was used to screen from bacterial artifical chromosome (BAC) libraries and five over lapping clones presumably containing sd-1 gene were isolated. Rice genetic database including results of biotech reasearch and classical genetics is provided at Korea Rice Genome Server which is accessible with world wide web (www) browser. The server provides rice cDNA sequences and map informations linked with phenotypic images.