• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2016

Paclitaxel (taxol) has long been used as a potent anticancer agent for the treatment of many cancers. Ever since the fungal species Taxomyces andreanae was first shown to produce taxol in 1993, many endophytic fungal species have been recognized as taxol accumulators. In this study, we analyzed the taxol-producing capacity of different Colletotrichum spp. to determine the distribution of a taxol biosynthetic gene within this genus. Distribution of the taxadiene synthase (TS) gene, which cyclizes geranylgeranyl diphosphate to produce taxadiene, was analyzed in 12 Colletotrichum spp., of which 8 were found to contain the unique skeletal core structure of paclitaxel. However, distribution of the gene was not limited to closely related species. The production of taxol by Colletotrichum dematium, which causes pepper anthracnose, depended on the method in which the fungus was stored, with the highest production being in samples stored under mineral oil. Based on its distribution among Colletotrichum spp., the TS gene was either integrated into or deleted from the bacterial genome in a species-specific manner. In addition to their taxol-producing capacity, the simple genome structure and easy gene manipulation of these endophytic fungal species make them valuable resources for identifying genes in the taxol biosynthetic pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.6-9
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• 2005

Plant biotechnology involving genetic modification has been rather controversial. However, the major issues related to safety are being addressed by continued improvements in technology. Some of the related facts will be highlighted to set the tone for a scientific discussion on the possibilities of using the technology for crop improvement. Our main research interest is to understand the molecular regulation of shoot bud regeneration in plant tissue culture, which is essential for crop improvement by biotechnology. We have isolated and characterized some genes that are associated with adventitious shoot regeneration. These include a MADS-box cDNA (PkMADS1) from paulownia kawakamii, which regulates vegetative shoot development and in vitro shoot regeneration from leaf explants. Another gene we have characterized from petunia codesfor a cytokinin binding protein (PETCBP). Preliminary functional analysis of this gene indicated that this also affects adventitious shoot bud initiation. Also, the antisense suppression of this gene in petunia causedexcessive branching. Results from our work and selected other publications will be used to highlight the possibilities of manipulation of such genes to improve crop species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.244-257
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• 2000

Recent progress in molecular biology has made it possible to transfer genes of interest into cells and target tissues of living animals. This enables one to manipulate phenotype of cells and whole animals in selected and intended ways. The consequence of such gene transfer attempts have been the production of various types of "transgenic" animals that cannot be classified by classical nomenclature of exclusively either "transgenic" or "nontransgenic". Emphasis was placed on characterizing two transgenic categories, i.e., "transfectgenic and somatotransgenic" and "genuine transgenic" animals basically from a view point of their use for therapeutic purposes. Current state of art and possible solutions for problems encountered at present are discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.178-178
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• 1996

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the serious problems in Southeast Asia including Korea because it causes chronic hepatitis, which can easily be transformed In fatal conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatoma. Even though lots of informations on structural characteristics and gene expression mechanisms have been accumulated, the mechanism for HBV-induced hepatocellular injury which is believed to be the consequences of the immunological response is not well understood. In order tn perform immunopathological studies for prevention and treatment of HBV infection, we designed transgenic mice as a disease model which can mimic HBV infection, In this study, a promoter-HBV DNA fragment for the preparation of HBV transgenic mice has been constructed. To add a proper enzyme site on 5' end of HBV gene, total HBV (subtype adr) gene was inserted into BamHI site of pBluescript SK vector and reextracted by PstI-SacI treatment A liver-specific promoter, rat ${\alpha}$ 2u globulin gene promoter, was insrted to pBluescript SK vector and reextracted by BamHI-PstI treatment, Promoter-HBV DNA was constructed by ligation of two fragments using identical PstI sites. For large scale production of promoter-HBV DNA, it was inserted to BamHI-SacI site of pBluescript SK vector.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1995.10b
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• pp.82-82
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• 1995

Regulation of enzyme synthesis by transcriptional and translational control systems provides rather stable adaptation to change of amino acid level in the growth medium, while manipulation of enzyme activity through endproduct feedback inhibition represents rather short-term and reversible ways of adjusting metabolic fluctuation of amino acid level. Various control mechanisms interplay to regulate genes encoding enzymes for amino acid biosynthesis in the yeast, Sacchromyces cerevisiae. When amino acids are in short supply, genes under a cross-pathway regulatory mechanism Or general amino acid control (general control) increase their action, in which Gcn4p is the major positive regulator of gene expression. When cells are cultured in minimal medium, basal level expression is also regulated by supplementary control elements, where inorganic phosphate level is additionally involved. Most of amino acid biosynthetic genes are also regulated by the level of endproduct of the pathway. This pathway-specific regulatory mechanism is called specific amino acid control (specific controD, under which gene expression is reduced when endproduct is present in the medium. Derepression of a gene through general control can be usually overridden by repression through specific control, where the endproduct level of that particular pathway is high and not limiting. In this presentation, regulatory factors for basal level expression and general control of yeast amino acid biosynthesis will be discussed, m addition to pathway-specific repression patterns and interaction between CrOSS- and specific-control mechanisms. Preliminary results are also presented from the investigation of the cloned genes in the threonine biosynthetic pathway of the yeast. yeast.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.781-783
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• 1995

A method is described for the rapid and simple isolation of genomic DNA from 3 ml culture of Bifidobacterium. The method is expected to be used in gene manipulation of Bifidobacterium spp. The isolated DNA using this method is shown to be an excellent substrate for restriction endonuclease digestion and ligation with T4 DNA ligase.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 1991

Molecular characteristics and improving methods for thermal stability of enzyme have been considered. Intrinsic and extrinsic stabilizing mechanisms are two governing principles for enhanced thermal stability of enzyme in molecular basis. Factors contributing to the former and the latter mechanisms may be involved in the enhanced thermal stability of enzyme complementarily. Also, the methods for improving thermal stability of enzyme which comprise reaction in organic solvent system, chemical modification, immobilization, sequential unfolding and refolding, gene manipulation techniques and enzyme-antibody complexing are reviewed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.459-466
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• 1994

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in aves are the progenitor cells for the gametes. These cells first appear in the epiblast (Eyal-Giladi et al.. 1981). Then translocate and concentrate to endoderm of germinal crescent area in the junction of the area opaca and area pellucida lateral to the primitive streak in stage 4 through 7. They separate from the endoderm, temporarily circulate via the blood vascular system, leave the blood vessels, and finally settle down in the gonadal anlagen at stage 20-24 where they rapidly proliferate to form germ cells. Recently, several attempts have been made to introduce foreign gene into the avian genome to form a transgenic chicken. The stem cells most readily available as vehicles for genetic manipulation of germline in avian species are the PGCs. PGCs have recently been manipulated genetically and used successfully as a vector for gene transfer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.427-434
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• 1994

The primordial germ cells (PGCs) were transfected in vitro and expressed the exogenous RSVLTR/${\beta}G2$ plasmid, suggesting thaI PGC is a possible vector for direct gene transfer into the germ line. Transfection efficiency of cell suspensions containing PGCs was 1.5% by liposome mediated DNA transfection. By microinjection of the transfected PGCs into the host germinal crescent, PGCs migrated via blood vessel to the future gonad and these transfected PGCs resulted in the RSVLTR/${\beta}G2$ expression in the gonad. The results from the seeding of PGCs on the chorioallantoic membrane were insufficient to test the hypothesis that PGCs can penetrate or invade the chorioallantoic membrane for transport via the circulatory system.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.48-49
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• 2001

While transgenic manipulation in mice have been very successful the same is not true for cattle and pigs. The inability to isolate ES cells from the bovine and porcine has precluded the utilization of the gene targeting technology in these species. Fortunately new advances in cloning by nuclear transfer have opened up a unique opportunity to undertake precise genetic modification in cattle and pigs. The ability of a number of different laboratory groups to successfully clone cattle is due to numerous research programs focused on nuclear transfer in cattle, and the enormous base of knowledge developed over the last 20 years involving the application of assisted reproductive techniques in cattle. Successful and repeatable procedures for in vitro oocyte maturation, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro embryo culture are now well established for cattle. In our laboratory we have utilized nuclear transfer to reproduce the genotypes of several animals, selected for cloning based on their inherent genetic value. Results that we have obtained to date are similar to those reported by other laboratories. (omitted)