• 생명과학회지
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.956-961
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• 2022

식물에서 재조합 단백질을 생산하는 것은 여러 가지 장점이 있다. 식물은 인간 병원체에 감염되지 않으며, 박테리아와 달리 내독소를 생산하지 않는다. 엽록체 형질전환은 핵 형질전환에 비해 안정적으로 많은 유전자를 발현시킬 수 있는 등 다양한 이점이 있다. 항균펩타이드(AMP)는 많은 동물들이 가지고 있는 선천면역의 일종으로, 소량이라도 항균력을 가지며, 기존 항생제와 다르게 쉽게 내성균이 생기지 않는다. 항균펩타이드인 moricin은 누에나방의 한 종류인 Bombyx mori에서 분리되었으며, C-말단은 염기성 아미노산이 모여 있고, N-말단은 α-helix 구조를 가지고 있다. Moricin을 생산할 때 SUMO와 6xHis tag를 융합하여 사용하였다. 발현된 moricin의 용해성과 안정성을 높이기 위해 SUMO를, 발현된 moricin을 정제하기 위하여 6xHis tag를 이용하였다. 본 연구에서 담배 엽록체와 대장균에서 항균펩타이드를 발현하기 위한 형질전환벡터를 제작하였다. 또한, 엽록체와 박테리아의 전사 및 번역의 유사성을 이용하여 대장균에서 단백질의 발현을 확인하였다. 발현된 moricin을 Ni 컬럼 및 SUMOase를 처리하여 정제하고 agar diffusion assay를 이용하여 항균 활성을 확인하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.304-311
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• 2015

Most follicles in the mammalian ovary undergo atresia. Granulosa cell apoptosis is a hallmark of follicle atresia. Our previous study using a microRNA (miRNA) microarray showed that the let-7 microRNA family was differentially expressed during follicular atresia. However, whether the let-7 miRNA family members are related to porcine (Sus scrofa) ovary follicular apoptosis is unclear. In the current study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of let-7 family members in follicles and granulosa cells were similar to our microarray data, in which miRNAs let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, and let-7i were significantly decreased in early atretic and progressively atretic porcine ovary follicles compared with healthy follicles, while let-7g was highly expressed during follicle atresia. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and Hoechst33342 staining demonstrated that let-7g increased the apoptotic rate of cultured granulosa cells. In addition, let-7 target genes were predicted and annotated by TargetScan, PicTar, gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways. Our data provide new insight into the association between the let-7 miRNA family in granulosa cell programmed death.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권2호
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• pp.312-329
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• 2022

Feed cost is the main factor affecting the economic benefits of pig industry. Improving the feed efficiency (FE) can reduce the feed cost and improve the economic benefits of pig breeding enterprises. Liver is a complex metabolic organ which affects the distribution of nutrients and regulates the efficiency of energy conversion from nutrients to muscle or fat, thereby affecting feed efficiency. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that can regulate feed efficiency through the modulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, we analyzed miRNA profiling of liver tissues in High-FE and Low-FE pigs for the purpose of identifying key miRNAs related to feed efficiency. A total 212~221 annotated porcine miRNAs and 136~281 novel miRNAs were identified in the pig liver. Among them, 188 annotated miRNAs were co-expressed in High-FE and Low-FE pigs. The 14 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (DE) in the livers of high-FE pigs and low-FE pigs, of which 5 were downregulated and 9 were upregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of liver DE miRNAs in high-FE pigs and low-FE pigs indicated that the target genes of DE miRNAs were significantly enriched in insulin signaling pathway, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathway, and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. To verify the reliability of sequencing results, 5 DE miRNAs were randomly selected for quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR results of miRNAs were confirmed to be consistent with sequencing data. DE miRNA data indicated that liver-specific miRNAs synergistically acted with mRNAs to improve feed efficiency. The liver miRNAs expression analysis revealed the metabolic pathways by which the liver miRNAs regulate pig feed efficiency.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.299-309
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• 2023

Glutathione peroxidases (Gpx) are a group of antioxidant enzymes that protect cells or tissues against damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Gpx proteins identified in mammals exhibit high catalytic activity toward glutathione (GSH). In contrast, a variety of non-mammalian Gpx proteins from diverse organisms, including fungi, plants, insects, and rodent parasites, show specificity for thioredoxin (TRX) rather than GSH and are designated as TRX-dependent peroxiredoxins. However, the study of the properties of Gpx in the environmental microbiome or isolated bacteria is limited. In this study, we analyzed the Gpx sequences, identified the characteristics of sequences and structures, and found that the environmental microbiome Gpx proteins should be classified as TRX-dependent, Gpx-like peroxiredoxins. This classification is based on the following three items of evidence: i) the conservation of the peroxidatic Cys residue; ii) the existence and conservation of the resolving Cys residue that forms the disulfide bond with the peroxidatic cysteine; and iii) the absence of dimeric and tetrameric interface domains. The conservation/divergence pattern of all known bacterial Gpx-like proteins in public databases shows that they share common characteristics with that from the environmental microbiome and are also TRX-dependent. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis shows that the bacterial Gpx-like proteins exhibit a star-like radiating phylogenetic structure forming a highly diverse genetic pool of TRX-dependent, Gpx-like peroxidases.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.517-524
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• 2007

There were many different families of zinc finger proteins that contained multiple cysteine and/or histidine residues and used zinc to stabilize their folds. The classical C2H2 zinc finger proteins were the founding members of this superfamily and were among the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic genomes. C2H2 proteins typically contained several C2H2 fingers that made tandem contacts along the DNA. Here we reported a novel C2H2 type zinc finger gene, ZNF438, which encoded 828 amino acids that formed five zinc finger domains. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the ZNF438 was mapped to human chromosome 10p11.2 and shared 62% identity with rat and mouse homologues. RT-PCR analysis indicated that it was ubiquitously expressed in 18 human adult tissues. With immunofluorescence assay, it was shown that the exogenous Flag-tagged ZNF438 was located in nucleus of COS-7 cells. To further explore the function of ZNF438, we examined the transcriptional activity of ZNF438 protein by transfecting recombinant pM-ZNF438 into mammalian cells. The subsequent analysis based on the duel luciferase assay system showed that ZNF438 was a transcriptional repressor.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권8호
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• pp.1132-1139
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• 2008

CpG island는 유전자의 발현 기작과 많은 관련이 있다. 포유동물 유전자의 약 $30{\sim}60$% 정도의 프로모터와 엑손부위에 CpG island가 존재 한다. 최근의 연구 결과에 따르면 CpG island의 과메틸화는 주요 암 억제유전자들을 불활성화 시켜 암을 일으키는 주요 요인이 되는 것으로 밝혀졌다. CpG island의 과메틸화는 거의 모든 암 종류에서 발견되고 있다. 따라서 CpG island를 검색하는 프로그램은 매우 중요한 의미를 갖는다. 그래서 D. Takai 와 P. A. Jones 등이 2002년 검증한 CpG island 정의 기준을 이용하여 윈도우 기반의 소프트웨어 프로그램인 CpGi를 개발하였다. CpGi는 Visual C++ 6.0로 구현하였으며, 입력서열 양식은 FASTA 포맷을 허용하도록 구성하였다. CpGi의 검색 성능을 평가하기 위해 2개의 인간 Contig, 즉, AP00524 (22번 염색체)와 NT_029490.3 (21번 염색체) 등을 대상으로 기존의 다른 CpG island 검색 프로그램인 Emboss-CpGPlot 및 CpG Island Searcher 등과 검색결과를 비교 분석하였다. CpGi에 의한 검색 결과는 다른 두 프로그램에 비해 같거나 오히려 보다 정확한 검색 결과를 보여주었다. CpGi는 사용자 친화적인 윈도우 인터페이스로 구현되어 있어 사용자가 프로그램을 구동하고 이용하기 매우 쉽고, 분석결과에 대한 이해도 용이하다. 본 프로그램은 사용자가 지정한 파라미터 값들(%GC, Obs (CpG)/Exp (CpG), 분석 윈도우 크기, 스텝크기, Gap 허용치, #CG)에 의해 CpG island의 위치를 결정하고, G+C%와 CpG island의 위치를 시각적으로 보여준다. 결과적으로, CpGi는 CpG island 관련 실험 연구자들뿐만 아니라 대용량 서열 분석 및 주석 작업을 위해 매우 유용한 도구로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 식물조직배양학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-35
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• 1997

Fertilized egg, by successive cell divisions, differentiates into different tissues and organs with various structures and functions. Different cells and tissues contain different proteins, products of selective gene expression. Not all the genes in any genomes are equally active, temporal and spatial gene expression being the general rule. Present paper attempts to review the tanscriptional mechanisms or the initiations of transcription from several angles. In some of the organisms the genes in the process of transcription or the genes in the inactive state can be seen under the light microscope. Some bands of Drosophila polytene chromosomes may exhibit a swollen or puff appearance under certain conditions. A puff, unfolded or decondensed form of chromomere, represents sets of intense transcriptional activity or RNA synthesis. The heterochromatic X chromosome whose genes remain inactive in the female mammals can be visualized as a dark staining structure called Barr body, Configuration of chromatin differs between transcribed and nontranscribed chromatin. Modification to the chromatin facilitates RNA synthesis. The movement of large polymerase molecule along the DNA would probably be facilitated if some modifications of the chromatin configuration is effected. Methylation of cytosines in CG sequences is associated with inactive genes. Methylation can play a role in determination of mammalian cells during embryogenesis. Demethylation is necessary for the gene to be expressed during development A histone modification that is also known to be correlated with transcriptional capacity of chromatin is acetylation of the lysine residues of the core histones. Chromatin containing a high level of histone acetylation is very sensitive to DNase 1. For the transcription to occur TBP must first bind to the TATA box. Another TF, TF IIB, then binds to the promoter-TBP complex, facilitating the access of RNA polymerase to the transcription initiation site. As recently as eight years ago researchers assumed that histones were irrelevant to the regulation of gene expression. Histones combine with the DNA to form nucleosome of the chromatin. Histones are vital participant in gene regulation. Histone and basal factors compete for access to TATA box. When DNA is exposed to basal factors before histones are introduced, the basal factors assemble on TATA boxes preventing the access of histones, allowing transcription to occur, for transcription to begin, activator protein at the upstream activation sequence or enhancer must interact with the tail of histone H4 at TATA box and cause the histone role particle to dissociate from the TATA box leading to partial breakup of the histone core particle and allowing the basal factors to bind to the TATA box. New concept of genomic flux in contrast to the old concept of static genome has been developed based on the powerful new molecular techniques. Genomic changes such as repetitive DNAs and transposable elements, it is assumed but not yet proved, may affect some of the developmental patterns that characterize particular cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. In the last decade or so remarkable achievement have been made in the researches of the structures and functions of TFs and the specific target sequences located in promoters or enhancers where these TFs bind. TFs have independent domains that bind DNA and that activate transcription. DNA binding domain of TFs serves to bring the protein into the right location. There are many types of DNA binding domains. Common types of motifs can be found that are responsible for binding to DNA. The motifs are usually quite short and comprise only a small part of the protein structure. Steroid receptors have domains for hormone binding, DNA binding, and activating transcription. The zinc finger motif comprises a DNA binding domain. Leucine zipper consist of a stretch of amino acids with a leucine residue in every seventh position Two proteins form a dimer because they interact by means of leucine zippers on similar α-helical domain. This positions their DNA binding basic domains for interaction with the two halves of a DNA sequence with dyad symmetry of TGACTCA, ACTGAGT.