• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.338-343
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• 2008

An embryonic stem cell is a powerful tool for investigation of early development in vitro. The study of embryonic stem cell mediated neuronal differentiation allows for improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in embryonic neuronal development. We investigated expression profile changes using time course cDNA microarray to identify clues for the signaling network of neuronal differentiation. For the short time course microarray data, pattern analysis based on the quadratic regression method is an effective approach for identification and classification of a variety of expressed genes that have biological relevance. We studied the expression patterns, at each of 5 stages, after neuronal induction at the mRNA level of embryonic stem cells using the quadratic regression method for pattern analysis. As a result, a total of 316 genes (3.1%) including 166 (1.7%) informative genes in 8 possible expression patterns were identified by pattern analysis. Among the selected genes associated with neurological system, all three genes showing linearly increasing pattern over time, and one gene showing decreasing pattern over time, were verified by RT-PCR. Therefore, an increase in gene expression over time, in a linear pattern, may be associated with embryonic development. The genes: Tcfap2c, Ttr, Wnt3a, Btg2 and Foxk1 detected by pattern analysis, and verified by RT-PCR simultaneously, may be candidate markers associated with the development of the nervous system. Our study shows that pattern analysis, using the quadratic regression method, is very useful for investigation of time course cDNA microarray data. The pattern analysis used in this study has biological significance for the study of embryonic stem cells.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.92-105
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• 2014

Microbial characteristics of bacterial population were investigated in human remains and soil inside the bones in excavated grave no.4 and no.5 at Keundokgol site, Osu-ri, Buyeo. Phylogenetic characteristics of bacterial populations were analyzed by direct extracting of ancient DNA. In this study, based on the 16S rDNA sequences, in case of grave no.4, 319s from human remain were classified into 11 phyla, and 462s from soil were classified into 16 phyla. In case of grave no.5, 271s from human remain were classified into 10 phyla, and 497s from soil were classified into 11 phyla. Especially, Actinobacteria phylogenetic group are dominant group of bacterial populations in grave no.4 and no.5. Also, most of these were analyzed uncultured group. Thus, the discovery of a diversely microbial community and uncultured group was thought to be due to the specificity of the sample. Conclusively the general excavated human bones were contaminated with soil bacteria species their near around. This results contribute to preservation and management of ancient human bone from archaeological sites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2017

Sweet corns are enjoyed worldwide as processed products and fresh ears. Types of sweet corn are based on the gene(s) involved. The oldest sweet corn type has a gene called "sugary (su)". Sugary-based sweet corn was typically named "sweet corn". With its relatively short shelf life and the discovery of a complementary gene, "sugary enhanced (se)", the sweet corn (su only) was rapidly replaced with another type of sweet corns, sugary enhanced sweet corn, which has recessive homozygous su/su, se/se genotype. With the incorporation of se/se genotype into existing su/su genotype, sugary enhanced sweet corn has better shelf life and increased sweetness while maintaining its creamy texture due to high level of water soluble polysaccharide, phytoglycogen. Super sweet corn as the name implies has higher level of sweetness and better shelf life than sugary enhanced sweet corn due to "shrunken2 (sh2)" gene although there's no creamy texture of su-based sweet corns. Distinction between sh2/sh2 and su/su genotypes in seeds is phenotypically possible. The Involvement of se/se genotype under su/su genotype, however, is visually impossible. The genotype sh2/sh2 is also phenotypically epistatic to su/su genotype when both genotypes are present in an individual, meaning the seed shape for double recessive sh2/sh2 su/su genotype is much the same as sh2/sh2 +/+ genotype. Hence, identifying the double and triple recessive homozygous genotypes from su, se and sh2 genes involves a testcross to single recessive genotype, chemical analysis or DNA-based marker development. For these reasons, sweetcorn breeders were hastened to put them together into one cultivar. This, however, appears to be no longer the case. Sweet corn companies began to sell their sweet corn hybrids with different combinations of abovementioned three genes under a few different trademarks or genetic codes, i.g. Sweet $Breed^{TM}$, Sweet $Gene^{TM}$, Synergistic corn, Augmented Supersweet corn. A total of 49 commercial sweet corn F1 hybrids with B73 as a check were genotyped using DNA-based markers. The genotype of field corn inbred B73 was +/+ +/+ +/+ for su, se and sh2 as expected. All twelve sugary enhanced sweet corn hybrids had the genotype of su/su se/se +/+. Of sixteen synergistic hybrids, thirteen cultivars had su/su se/se sh2/+ genotype while the genotype of two hybrids and the remaining one hybrid was su/su se/+ sh2/+, and su/su +/+ sh2/+, respectively. The synergistic hybrids all were recessive homozygous for su gene and heterozygous for sh2 gene. Among the fifteen augmented supersweet hybrids, only one hybrid was triple recessive homozygous (su/su se/se sh2/sh2). All the other hybrids had su/su se/+ sh2/sh2 for one hybrid, su/su +/+ sh2/sh2 for three hybrids, su/+ se/se sh2/sh2 for three hybrids, su/+ se/+ sh2/sh2 for four hybrids, and su/+ +/+ sh2/sh2 for three hybrids, respectively. What was believed to be a classic super sweet corn hybrids also had various genotypic combination. There were only two hybrids that turned out to be single recessive sh2 homozygous (+/+ +/+ sh2/sh2) while all the other five hybrids could be classified as one of augmented supersweet genotypes. Implication of the results for extension service and sweet corn breeding will be discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.861-869
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• 2015

One of the domesticated species; the dog has been selectively bred for various aims by human. The dog has many breeds, which are artificially selected for specific behaviors and morphologies. Dogs contribute their life to human as working dogs for guide, rescue, detection or etc. Working dogs requires good personality, such as gentleness, robustness and patience for performing their special duty. Many studies have concentrated on finding genetic marker for selecting the high-quality working dog. In this study, we confirmed quantitative expression patterns of eight genes (ABAT; 4-Aminobutyrate Aminotransferase, PLCB1; Phospholipase C, Beta 1, SLC10A4; Solute Carrier Family 10, Member 4, WNT1; Wingless-Type MMTV Integration Site Family, Member 1, BARX2; BarH-Like Homeobox 2, NEUROD6; Neuronal Differentiation 6, SEPT9; Septin 9 and TBR1; T-Box, Brain, 1) among brains tissues from four dog breeds (Beagle, Sapsaree, Shepherd and Jindo), because these genes were expressed and have functions in brain mostly. Specially, BARX2, SEPT9, SLC10A4, TBR1 and WNT1 genes were highly expressed in Beagle and Jindo, and Sapsaree and German Shepherd were vice versa. The biological significance of total genes was estimated by database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID) to determine a different gene ontology (GO) class. In these analyses, we suppose to these eight genes could provide influential information for brain development, and intelligence of organisms. Taken together, these results could provide clues to discover biomarker related to functional traits in brain, and beneficial for selecting superior working dogs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.466-475
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• 2017

Dietary supplements have exhibited myriads of positive health effects on human health conditions and with the advent of new technological advances, including in the fields of proteomics, genomics, and metabolomics, biological and pharmacological activities of dietary supplements are being evaluated for their ameliorative effects in human ailments. Recent interests in understanding and discovering the molecular targets of phytochemical-gene-protein-metabolite dynamics resulted in discovery of a few protein signature candidates that could potentially be used to assess the effects of dietary supplements on human health. Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) is a folk medicine, commonly used as dietary supplement in China, Japan, and South Korea, owing to its different beneficial health effects including anti-diabetic implications. However, neither mechanism of action nor molecular biomarkers have been discovered that could either validate or be used to evaluate effects of persimmon on human health. In present study, Mass Spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic studies were accomplished to discover proteomic molecular signatures that could be used to understand therapeutic potentials of persimmon leaf extract (PLE) in diabetes amelioration. Saliva, serum, and urine samples were analyzed and we propose that salivary proteins can be used for evaluating treatment effectiveness and in improving patient compliance. The present discovery proteomics study demonstrates that salivary proteomic profile changes were found as a result of PLE treatment in prediabetic subjects that could specifically be used as potential protein signature candidates.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.803-811
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• 2022

Despite the importance of traditional Korean fermented foods, little is known about the microbial communities and diversity of fermented soy products. To gain insight into the unexplored microbial communities of both Doenjang (DJ) and Ganjang (GJ) that may contribute to the fermentation in Korean traditional foods, we carried out next-generation sequencing (NGS) based on the V3-V4 region of 16S rDNA gene analysis. The alpha diversity analysis results revealed that both the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were significantly different between the two groups, whereas the richness indices, including ACE, CHAO, and Jackknife, were not significant. Firmicutes were the most dominant phylum in both groups, but several taxa were found to be more abundant in DJ than in GJ. The proportions of Bacillus, Kroppenstedtia, Clostridium, and Pseudomonas and most halophiles and halotolerant bacteria, such as Tetragenococcus, Chromohalobacter, Lentibacillus, and Psychrobacter, were lower in DJ than in GJ. Linear discriminant effect size (LEfSe) analysis was carried out to discover discriminative functional biomarkers. Biomarker discovery results showed that Bacillus and Tetragenococcus were identified as the most important features for the classification of subjects to DJ and GJ. Paired-permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) further revealed that the bacterial community structure between the two groups was statistically different (p=0.001).

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

Numerous factors can affect the activities of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) hormonal axis, resulting in alteration of reproductive capacity or status such as onset of puberty and menopause. Soon after the finding of leptin, a multifunctional hormone secreted from adipocytes, a close relationship between reproduction and body energy balance have been manifested. Ghrelin, another multifunctional hormone from gastrointestinal tract, is an endogenous ligand of growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), and is thought to be a counterpart of leptin in the regulation of energy homeostasis. As expected, ghrelin can also modulate the reproductive capacity through the modulation of activities of HPG axis. This paper summarizes the current knowledge on the discovery, gene structures, tissue distribution and roles of ghrelin and GHSRs in mammalian reproduction in particular modulation of reproductive hormone secretion in HPG axis. Like POMC gene expression in pituitary gland, preproghrelin gene can generate a complex repertoire of transcripts which further undergo alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications. Concerning the roles of preproghrelin gene products in the control of body physiology except energy homeostasis, limited knowledge is available so far. Several lines of evidence, however, show the interplay of ghrelin between metabolism and reproduction. In rat and human, the distribution of ghrelin receptor GHSRs (GHSR1a and GHSR1b) has been confirmed not only in the hypothalamus and pituitary which were originally postulated as target of ghrelin but also in the testis and ovary. Expression of the preproghrelin gene in the brain and gonads was also verified, suggesting the local role (s) of ghrelin in HPG axis. Ghrelin might play a negative modulator in the secretions of hypothalamic GnRH, pituitary gonadotropins and gonadal steroids though the action on pituitary is still questionable. Recent studies suggest the involvement of ghrelin in regulation of puberty onset and possibly of menopause entry. It is now evident that ghrelin is a crucial hormomal component in 'brain-gut' axis, and is a strong candidate links between metabolism and reproduction. Opposite to that for leptin, ghrelin signaling is likely representing the 'hunger' state of body energy balance and is necessary to avoid the energy investment into reproduction which has not a top priority in maintaining homeostasis. Further researches are needed to gain a deep insight into the more precise action mechanism and role of ghrelin in reproduction, and to guarantee the successful biomedical applications.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2016

Recently, it was reported that certain polymorphisms in the growth hormone secretagogue receptor gene (GHSR) are associated with the growth of chickens. However, the correlation between GHSR polymorphisms and economic traits has not been investigated in Korean native chickens (KNCs). Therefore, the objective of this study was to confirm the suitability of the GHSR gene as a candidate for genomic selection and identify a genetic marker for KNCs. A total of 220 KNCs from six breeds raised at the National Institute of Animal Science were genotyped for the c.739+726 SNP in the GHSR gene using polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and the sequence for a subset of 30 birds was analyzed using direct sequencing. The association between the SNP genotypes and the economic traits of the KNCs was analyzed using the statistical package for the social science (SPSS) software program. The association analysis between the c.739+726T>C SNP and economic traits revealed that the SNP was significantly associated with body weight at 150 and 270 days (BW150 and BW270, respectively) in all KNCs (p<0.01), BW150 in KNC (Gary) (p<0.05), and egg production number in KNC (White, p<0.05). In addition, the SNPs discovered using direct sequencing (513A>G, 517A>T) had a significant effect on the body weight and egg production traits (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results might be useful as a basis for studies on the improvement of KNC breeds. Furthermore, these results suggest that the SNPs (c.739+726T>C, 513A>G, and 517A>T) located in the GHSR gene could be useful molecular genetic markers for KNCs.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2001

Currently 18 monoclonal antibodies were approved by FDA for inj ection into humans for therapeutic or diagnostic purpose. And 146 clinical trials are under way to evaluate the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies as anti-cancer agents, which comprise 9 % of clinical trials in cancer therapy field. When considering a lot of disappointment and worries existed in this field during the past 15 years, this boom could be called as resurrection. Antibodies have several merits over small molecule drug. First of all it is easier and faster in development, as proper immunization of the target proteins usually raises good antibody response. The side effects of antibodies are more likely to be checked out in immunohistomchemical staining of whole human tissues. Antibody has better pharmacokinetics, which means a longer half-life. And it is non-toxic as it is purely a "natural drug. Vast array of methods was developed to get the recombinant antibodies to be used as drug. The mice with human immunoglobulin genes were generated. Fully human antibodies can be developed in fast and easy way from these mice through immunization. These mice could make even human monoclonal antibodies against any human antigen like albumin. The concept of combinatorial library was also actively adopted for this purpose. Specific antibodies can be screened out from phage, mRNA, ribosomal library displaying recombinant antibodies like single chain Fvs or Fabs. Then the coding genes of these specific antibodies are obtained from the selected protein-gene units, and used for industrial scale production. Both $na\ddot{i}ve$ and immunized libraries are proved to be effective for this purpose. In post-map arena, antibodies are receiving another spotlight as molecular probes against numerous targets screened out from functional genomics or proteomics. Actually many of these antibodies used for this purpose are already human ones. Through alliance of these two actively growing research areas, antibody would play a central role in target discovery and drug development.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.143-151
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• 2007

To understand the mechanism of transcriptional regulation, it is essential to detect promoters and regulatory elements. Various kinds of methods have been introduced to improve the prediction accuracy of regulatory elements. Since there are few experimentally validated regulatory elements, previous studies have used criteria based solely on the level of scores over background sequences. However, selecting the detection criteria for different prediction methods is not feasible. Here, we studied the calibration of thresholds to improve regulatory element prediction. We predicted a regulatory element using MATCH, which is a powerful tool for transcription factor binding site (TFBS) detection. To increase the prediction accuracy, we used a regulatory potential (RP) score measuring the similarity of patterns in alignments to those in known regulatory regions. Next, we calibrated the thresholds to find relevant scores, increasing the true positives while decreasing possible false positives. By applying various thresholds, we compared predicted regulatory elements with validated regulatory elements from the Open Regulatory Annotation (ORegAnno) database. The predicted regulators by the selected threshold were validated through enrichment analysis of muscle-specific gene sets from the Tissue-Specific Transcripts and Genes (T-STAG) database. We found 14 known muscle-specific regulators with a less than a 5% false discovery rate (FDR) in a single TFBS analysis, as well as known transcription factor combinations in our combinatorial TFBS analysis.