• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2014

Methane oxidation and the production potentials of ground soil (soil A) and garden soil (soil B, C, & D) in an urban school were evaluated, and the methanotrophic and methanogen communities in the soil samples were quantified using quantitative realtime PCR. The methanotrophic community in the raw soil A sample possessed a $6.1{\times}10^3$ gene copy number/g dry weight soil, whereas those in the raw soils B~D samples were $1.6-1.9{\times}10^5$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil. Serum bottles added with the soil samples were enriched with methane gas, and then evaluated for their methane oxidation potential. The soil A sample had a longer induction phase for methane oxidation than the other soils. However, soil A showed a similar methane oxidation potential with soils B~D after the induction phase. The methanotrophic community in the enriched soil A sample was increased by up to $2.3{\times}10^7$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil, which had no significantly difference compared with those in soils B~D ($1.2-2.8{\times}10^8$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil). Methane production showed a similar tendency to methane oxidation. The methanogens community in raw soil A ($1.7{\times}10^5$ gene copy number/g dry weight soil) was much less than those in raw soils B~D ($1.3-3.4{\times}10^7$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil). However, after methane gas was produced by adding starch to the soils, soil samples A~D showed $10^7$ gene copy numbers/g dry weight soil in methanogens communities. The results indicate that methanotrophic and methanogenic bacteria have coexisted in this urban school's soils. Moreover, under appropriate conditions for methane oxidation and production, methanotrophic bacteria and methanogens are increased and they have the potential for methane oxidation and production.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1863-1869
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• 2014

The amplification of telomerase component (TERC) gene could play an important role in generation and treatment of haematological malignancies. This present study was aimed to investigate copy number amplification status of TERC gene in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients who were being treated with imatinib mesylate (IM). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of CML-IM Resistant (n=63), CML-IM Respond (n=63) and healthy individuals (n=30). TERC gene copy number predicted (CNP) and copy number calculated (CNC) were determined based on $Taqman^{(R)}$ Copy Number Assay. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed to confirm the normal signal pattern in C4 (calibrator) for TERC gene. Nine of CML patients showed TERC gene amplification (CNP=3), others had 2 CNP. A total of 17 CML patients expressed CNC>2.31 and the rest had 2.31>CNC>1.5. TERC gene CNP value in healthy individuals was 2 and their CNC value showed in range 1.59-2.31. The average CNC TERC gene copy number was 2.07, 1.99 and 1.94 in CML-IM Resistant patients, CML-IM Respond and healthy groups, respectively. No significant difference of TERC gene amplification observed between CML-IM Resistant and CML-IM Respond patients. Low levels of TERC gene amplification might not have a huge impact in haematological disorders especially in terms of resistance towards IM treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2014

Increasing the gene copy number has been commonly used to enhance the protein expression level in the yeast Pichia pastoris. However, this method has been shown to be effective up to a certain gene copy number, and a further increase of gene dosage can result in a decrease of expression level. Evidences indicate the gene dosage effect is product-dependent, which needs to be determined when expressing a new protein. Here, we describe a direct detection of the gene dosage effect on protein secretion through expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under the direction of the ${\alpha}$-factor preprosequence in a panel of yeast clones carrying increasing copies of the EGFP gene (from one to six copies). Directly examined under fluorescence microscopy, we found relatively lower levels of EGFP were secreted into the culture medium at one copy and two copies, substantial improvement of secretion appeared at three copies, plateau happened at four and five copies, and an apparent decrease of secretion happened at six copies. The secretion of EGFP being limiting at four and five copies was due to abundant intracellular accumulation of proteins, observed from the fluorescence image of yeast and confirmed by western blotting, which significantly activated the unfolded protein response indicated by the up-regulation of the BiP (the KAR2 gene product) and the protein disulfide isomerase. This study implies that tagging a reporter like GFP to a specific protein would facilitate a direct and rapid determination of the optimal gene copy number for high-yield expression.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 1993

The effects of genetic and environmental factors on productivity of a cloned protein were studied in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Plasmid stability and copy level were very high for a $REP^+$ system(at ca. 10 generations, stability: 65-90%, plasmid copy number per cell: 40-200), whereas these were very low for a yep- system(at ca. 10 generations, stability: 30%, plasmid copy number per cell 20). In plasmids containing the $2{\mu}m$ circle genome, a $[cir^o]$ strain was a preferred host cell since the plasmid stability and the copy number in a $[cir^o]$ strain were higher than in a $[cir^+]$strain. Cloned gene expression was dependent on plasmid copy number and stability. The inducer (galactose) level played a very important role in cloned lacZ gene expression, showing that a galactose concentration of 0.8% was sufficient for induction of gene expression. Induction rate was very fast in the case of plasmids exhibiting high stability and copy number by a factor of 4 to 25. The time to reach the peak value of gene expression was longer when galactose was added at the start of fermentation (ca. 26 hours) than at the mid-exponential phase (ca. 6 hours). Glucose repression was reduced by a factor of 2 to 5 as the relative inducer level increased.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

Targeting Microcystin (MC), which is most abundantly detected in the North-Han River water area, we analyzed the relationship between the MC biosynthesis gene (mcyA gene), cyanobacteria cell density, and MC concentration, derived an RNA-MC conversion formula, and derived the cyanobacteria. The concentration of MC present in cells was predicted. In the North-Han River waters, the mcyA gene was found mainly at downstream sites of the North-Han River after Muk-Hyeon Stream junction, and higher copy numbers were found on average than other sites. In the Uiam Lake waters upstream of the North-Han River, the mcyA gene copy number increased at the Kong-Ji Stream point, and after September, the mcyA gene copy number decreased throughout the North-Han River waters. The expression of the mcyA gene was concentrated in the short period of summer due to the spatio-temporal difference between upstream and downstream water bodies. The mcyA gene expression level was not only highly correlated with MC concentration, but also correlated with the cell density of Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum circinale, which are known to biosynthesize MC. Six conversion formulas derived based on the RNA-MC relationship showed statistical significance (p<0.05) and exhibited high correlation coefficients (r) of 0.9 or higher. The expression level of MC biosynthesis gene present in eRNA determines the synthesis of cyanotoxin substances in water, quickly quantifies gene activity, and can be fully utilized for early warning of MC development.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.76-80
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• 2010

Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been thought to have a substantial genetic background, major contributing genes have yet to be identified or successfully replicated. Immunological dysfunction has been suggested to be associated with ASD, and T cell-mediated immunity was considered important for the development of ASD. In this study, we analyzed 163 ASD subjects and 97 normal controls by genomic quantitative PCR to evaluate the association between the copy number variation of the 7q34 locus, harboring the TCRB gene, and ASDs. As a result, there was no significant difference of the frequency distribution of TCRB copy numbers between ASD cases and normal controls. TCRB gene copy numbers ranged from 0 to 5 copies, and the frequency distribution of each copy number was similar between the two groups. The proportion of the individuals with <2 copies of TCRB was 52.8% (86/163) in ASD cases and 57.1% (52/91) in the control group (p=0.44). The proportion of individuals with >2 copies of TCRB was 11.7% (19/163) in ASD cases and 12.1% (11/91) in the control group (p=0.68). After the effects of sex were adjusted by logistic regression, ORs for individuals with <2 copies or >2 copies showed no significant difference compared with the diploid copy number as reference (n=2). Although we could not see the positive association, our results will be valuable information for mining ASD-associated genes and for exploring the role of T cell immunity further in the pathogenesis of ASD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4719-4722
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• 2016

Background: Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) is involved in the detoxification of carcinogenic agents. DNA copy number variants of GSTM1 may be associated with cancer progression and may result in reduced survival time of various cancers. Determination of DNA copy number variants was here used to assess the association between GSTM1 copy number variant and pathological status and survival time of colorectal-cancer patients treated with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Methods: One hundred thirteen Thai colorectal-cancer patients were investigated for GSTM1 copy number variant by real-time PCR. Relationships between gene copy number variants and clinico-pathological parameters were determined. Result: Associations were evident between GSTM1 copy number and stage of tumor (P = 0.026) and metastasis at diagnosis (P = 0.049), with odds ratio values of 0.2 and 0.3 respectively. Conclusions: GSTM1 copy number variant was here not related with reduced overall survival for the colorectal-cancer patients receiving 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 1992

The KEM1 gene is known to affect microtubule and spindle pole body function during the cell division cycle in Saccharomjyces cerevisiae. To identify new genes with functions similar or related to those of KEM1, we isolated a high copy suppressor gene (ROK1) that suppresses the kem1 mutation when cloned on a high copy number plasmid but not on a low copy number plasmid. Two clones which suppress both the benomyl hypersensitivity and the $Kar^{-}$ enhancing phenotype of kem1 null mutation were isolated and were shown to have a 9.0 kb identical insert by restriction endonuclease analysis. The restriction map constructed indicates that this suppressor gene, ROK1 is not KEM1. Subcloning experiments suggest that the functional region of ROK1 is at least 3.0kb in size.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.789-793
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• 2010

Artificial chromosome manipulation and amplification of single-copy yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) are usually required in order to use YACs for applications such as physical mapping and functional analysis in eukaryotes. We designed and implemented a Simultaneous YAC Manipulation-Amplification (SYMA) system that combines the copy number amplification system of YAC with a convenient YAC manipulation system. To achieve the desired split and to amplify a YAC clone-harboring plant chromosome, a pBGTK plasmid containing a conditional centromere and thymidine kinase (TK) gene was constructed as a template to amplify the splitting fragment via PCR. By splitting, new 490-kb and 100-kb split YACs containing the elements for copy number amplification were simultaneously generated from a 590-kb YAC clone. The 100-kb split YAC was then successfully amplified 14.4-fold by adding 3 mg/ml sulfanilamide and $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ methotrexate (S3/M50) as inducing substances.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.417-426
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• 2008

The effect of increasing levels of proclavaminate amidino hydrolase (Pah) on the rate of clavulanic acid production in Streptomyces clavuligerus ATCC 27064 was evaluated by increasing dosoge of a gene (pah2) encoding Pah. A strain (SMF5703) harboring a multicopy plasmid containing the pah2 gene showed significantly retarded cell growth and reduced clavulanic acid production, possibly attributable to the deleterious effects of the multicopy plasmid. In contrast, a strain (SMF5704) carrying a single additional copy of pah2 introduced into chromosome via an integrative plasmid showed enhanced production of clavulanic acid and increased levels of pah2 transcripts. Analysis of transcripts of other genes involved in the clavulanic acid biosynthetic pathway revealed a pattern similar to that seen in the parent. From these results, it appears that clavulanic acid production can be enhanced by duplication of pah2 through integration of a second copy of the gene into chromosome. However, increasing the copy number of only one gene, such as pah2, does not affect the expression of other pathway genes, and so only modest improvements in clavulanic acid production can be expected. Flux controlled by Pah did increase when the copy number of pah2 was doubled, suggesting that under these growth conditions, Pah levels may be a limiting factor regulating the rate of clavulanic acid biosynthesis in S. clavuligerus.