• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.379-384
• /
• 2001

Long terminal repeats(LTRs) of the human endogenous retrovirus(HERV) heve been found to be coexpresed with genes located nearby. It has been suggested that the LTR elements have contributed to the genetic variation of human genome connected to various diseases. Recently, HERV-W family was identified in the cerebrospinal fluids and brains of individuals with schizophrenia. Using cHNA library derived from human fetal brain, we performed PCR amplification and identified seven new HERV-W LTR elements. Those LTR elements showed a high degree of sequence similarity(98∼99%) with HERV-W (AF072500). A phylogentic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method revealed that seven new HERV-W LTR elements(FB-1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12) were closely related to the AX000960, AF072504, and AF072506 from Gen Bank database. Our data suggest that several copy numbers of the HERV-W LTR elements are expressed in human feta brain and may contribute to an understanding of biological function connected to neuropsychiatric diseases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.743-749
• /
• 2004

The gene encoding human serum albumin (HSA) was cloned from human liver cDNA library by PCR. The HSA cDNA in size of 2,176 bp, including 1,830 bp of open reading frame, was cloned into the plasmid carried with the 5'flanking sequence of goat $\beta$-casein gene (-4,044 to +2,025 bp) to get a tissue specific expression vector in mammary gland named pGB562/HSA (12.5 kb). A 9.6 kb DNA fragment in which the sequence is in order of goat $\beta$-casein gene regulatory sequence, HSA cDNA and SV40 polyadenylation signals was isolated from the pGB562/HSA by SacI and DraIII cutting, and used to microinject into the pronuclei of mouse fertilized eggs to produce transgenic mice. Three transgenic mice (2 female and 1 male) were identified by PCR and dot Southern blot analysis. The copy numbers of integrated transgene were more than 10 copies in line #21 and #26 as well as over 50 copies in line #31 of transgenic mice. HSA protein collected from the milk of lactating transgenic mice was confirmed by immuno-detection of Western and slot blot. The concentrations of HSA in the milk were from 0.05 to 0.4 mg/ml. An obvious antigen and antibody conjugate could be observed in immunohistochemical stain of mammary gland tissue from lactating day 11 of HSA transgenic mice. The transmission of transgene and its expression was recognized according to the results of RT-PCR and sequences analyses of their progeny.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.22-30
• /
• 2011

Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor of vitellin (Vn), which is the major yolk protein in nearly all oviparous species, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, and most invertebrates. It is one of the most important factors during reproduction, and numerous studies have shown that Vg genes are markers of the reproductive cycle and effecter genes induced by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Previously, we isolated two distinct cDNAs encoding vitellogenin homologs Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 from Pandalus shrimp Pandalopsis japonica. In this study, full-length genomic sequences of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 were determined using a PCR-based genome walking strategy. Isolated Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 genes were 11,910 and 11,850 bp long, respectively. Both Pj-Vg genes had 15 exons and 14 introns, and the splicing sites were also the same, suggesting that they arose via gene duplication. The similar structural characteristics of decapod Vg genes suggest that they are all orthologs that evolved from the same ancestral gene. Analysis of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 expression revealed that the relative copy numbers of Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 were similar in the hepatopancreas, whereas Pj-Vg2 transcripts were also detected in the ovary. Expression of both Pj-Vg genes was induced in hepatopancreas of mature individuals, whereas only Pj-Vg2 transcripts were upregulated in the ovaries from mature animals, suggesting that both Pj-Vgs are important for oocyte development. A strong positive correlation was found between Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2 transcripts in the same individual, indicating they are under the same control mechanisms. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between ovarian and hepatopancreatic Pj-Vg2 transcripts, suggesting that its dual expression is regulated by similar physiological conditions. Knowledge of the similarities and differences between the two vitellogenin-like genes, Pj-Vg1 and Pj-Vg2, would help us to understand their roles in reproduction and other physiological effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.653-660
• /
• 2007

In this study, we have investigated sequence variants in the PRNP gene of 20 individuals belonging to the Korean cattle, and have analyzed and compared genetic features between varieties of other cattle breeds. Of the 73 sequence variants identified in Korean cattle, 27 were identified for the first time in this study, whereas 46 of these polymorphisms had previously been isolated. We discovered a 2.6 kb SNP hot spot region localized on the putative promoter region of the PRNP gene. Furthermore, the copy numbers of the octapeptide repeat (24 bp indel) which is detected on the coding sequence (CDS) of the PRNP exhibited a completely homozygous 6/6 genotype which is dominant in other cattle breeds. We also characterized a new 19 bp/10 bp allele located on the putative promoter region of the PRNP gene, which represented 0.71 in allele frequency. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to address polymorphisms of the PRNP gene structure in Korean cattle in which BSE has yet to be discovered. Therefore, our findings may prove useful with regard to our current understanding of allelic diversity in bovine species, and may also provide new insights into the genetic factors associated with susceptibility or resistance to BSE.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.126-129
• /
• 2017

The identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is clinically important for diagnosing cancer. We have previously developed a size-based filtration platform followed by epithelial cell adhesion molecule immunofluorescence staining for detecting CTCs. To characterize CTCs independently of cell surface protein expression, we incorporated a chromosomal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay to detect abnormal copy numbers of chromosomes in cells collected from peripheral blood samples by the size-based filtration platform. Aneuploid cells were detected in the peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer. Unexpectedly, aneuploid cells were also detected in the control group, which consisted of peripheral blood samples from patients with benign lung diseases, such as empyema necessitatis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. These findings suggest that chromosomal abnormalities are observed not only in tumor cells, but also in benign infectious diseases. Thus, our findings present new considerations and bring into light the possibility of false positives when using FISH for cancer diagnosis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.235-239
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to test whether the transgenic cattle pass the transgene to their progeny through germ cells, and whether the transgene is expressed in the mammary gland of ransgenic cows. Two male ransgenic calves were born from IVF-derived embryos injected with bovine $\beta-casein/human$ lactoferrin fusion gene and then grew up to be reproducible. Semen was collected from a transgenic bull after 18 mon of age and then frozen. Bovine oocytes matured in vitro were fertilized with spermatozoa of the transgenic bull and cultured in $50\;{\mu}L$ drops of CRlaa medium supplemented with 3 mg/mL BSA. After 48 h of culture, cleaved embryos were determined for the presence of transgenes by DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Proportion of transgene positives among bovine embryos fertilized with sperm of the transgenic bull was $20.9\%$ (28/134). One of transgenic bulls did not produce transgenic sperm. Out of 34 calves produced from recipient heifers inseminated with semen of the other bull, 3 $(8.8\%)$ were transgenic animals (2 females and 1 male). Thus, one transgenic bull showed a low transmission frequency below Mendelian levels in both the IVF-derived embryos and his progeny. It was demonstrated by Southern blot that copy numbers of the transgene in the transgenic progeny enhanced about 1.8 times as compared to those of the founder bull The results demonstrate that the transgenic bull carrying human lactoferrin gene could pass his transgene to the progeny through germ cells, although he is a germ-line mosaic.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.243-246
• /
• 2001

Human endoqenous retroviral long terminal repeats (LTRs) have been found to be coexpressed with sequences of genes closely located nearby. It has been suggested that the LTR elements have contributed to structural changes or genetic variations of human genome connected to various diseases and evolution. Using cDNA library derived from placenta tissue, we performed PCR amplification and identified five new HERV-W LTR elements. Those LTR elements showed a high degree of sequence similarity (98-99%) with HERV-W LTR (AF072500). A phylogenetic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method revealed that HERV-W LTR elements could be mainly divided into two groups through evolutionary divergence. Five new HERV-W LTR elements (pla-1, 4, 5, 6, 7) belonged to the group I with AX000960, AF072504, and AF072506 from GenBank database. The data suggest that several copy numbers of the HERV-W LTR elements are transcribed in placenta and may contribute to the understanding of biological function such as human placental morphogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.7
• /
• pp.993-1003
• /
• 2013

Methanotrophs are the most important sink of $CH_4$, which is a more highly potent greenhouse gas than $CO_2$. Methanotrophic abundance and community diversity in cover soils from two typical semi-aerobic landfills (SALs) in China were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time-PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) based on 16S rRNA genes, respectively. Real time-PCR showed that Type I methanotrophs ranged from $1.07{\times}10^6$ to $2.34{\times}10^7$ copies/g soil and that of Type II methanotrophs from $1.51{\times}10^7$ to $1.83{\times}10^8$ copies/g soil. The ratio of Type II to Type I methanotrophic copy numbers ranged from 5.61 to 21.89, indicating that Type II methanotrophs dominated in SAL. DGGE revealed that Type I methanotrophs responded more sensitively to the environment, changing as the community structure varied with different soil types and locations. Methylobacter, Methylosarcina, and Methylomicrobium for Type I, and Methylocystis for Type II were most prevalent in the SAL cover layer. Abundant interflow $O_2$ with high $CH_4$ concentration in SALs is the reason for the higher population density of methanotrophs and the higher enrichment of Type II methanotrophs compared with anaerobic landfills and other ecosystems, which proved a conclusion that increasing the oxygen supply in a landfill cover layer would greatly improve $CH_4$ mitigation.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.164-172
• /
• 1996

KP elements derived from Korean populations (Seoul, Cheonan and Taegu) of Drosophila melunoguster were examined for their molecular structure. The entire 1.15 kb sequence of the three KP elements KC-137 (Cheonan), KS-95 (Seoul) and KT-99 (Taegu) have been obtained by PCR amplification using inverted repeat primers and DNA sequencing. The 1.15 kb fragments of KP elements were cloned into pCRmll vector plasmids, and subsequently sequenced. The sequence of the three KP elements in these populations suggested that there might have been derived from the complete P element by a 1753 bp internal deletion between positions 808 and 2560. Therefore these KP elements were confirmed to be identical to that isolated from M'10 strains widely distributed in most Eurasian populations of D. melanoguster. Sequence comparison with the 2.9 kb complete P element in pn25.1 revealed that KC-137 has only shown to be two base substitutions of A to G and G to A at positions 62 and 242, respectively. The retained sequence of the two KP elements KS-95 and KT-99 shows complete homology to the P factor in pn25.1. Based on this result, the two base substitutions in KC-137 might be due to Taq DNA pollunerase errors. Finally, it is suggested that the high copy numbers of KP elements provieds an explanation for the suppression of P-mediated hybrid dvssenesis in Korean population of D. melunogoster.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.403-412
• /
• 2020

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a hyperglycemia-induced progressive development of renal insufficiency. Excessive glucose can increase mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce cell damage, causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Our previous study indicated that cilostazol (CTZ) can reduce ROS levels and decelerate DN progression in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes. This study investigated the potential mechanisms of CTZ in rats with DN and in high glucose-treated mesangial cells. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 5 mg/kg/day of CTZ after developing STZ-induced diabetes mellitus. Electron microscopy revealed that CTZ reduced the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane and improved mitochondrial morphology in mesangial cells of diabetic kidney. CTZ treatment reduced excessive kidney mitochondrial DNA copy numbers induced by hyperglycemia and interacted with the intrinsic pathway for regulating cell apoptosis as an antiapoptotic mechanism. In high-glucose-treated mesangial cells, CTZ reduced ROS production, altered the apoptotic status, and down-regulated transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). Base on the results of our previous and current studies, CTZ deceleration of hyperglycemia-induced DN is attributable to ROS reduction and thereby maintenance of the mitochondrial function and reduction in TGF-β and NF-κB levels.