• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.200-204
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• 2004

Retron is a prokaryotic genetic element that produces multicopy single-stranded DNA covalently linked to RNA (msDNA) by a reverse transcriptase. It was found that cells producing a large amount of msDNA, rather than those that did not, showed a higher rate of mutation. In order to understand the molecular mechanism connecting msDNA production to the high mutation rate the protein patterns were compared by two dimensional gel electrophoresis. Ten proteins were found to be differentially expressed at levels more than three fold greater in cells with than without msDNA, nine of which were identified by MALDI TOF MS. Eight of the nine identified proteins were repressed in msDNA-producing cells and, surprisingly, most were proteins functioning in the dissimilation of various carbon sources. One protein was induced four fold greater in the msDNA producing cells and was identified as a 30S ribosomal protein S2 involved in the regulation of translation. The molecular mechanism underlying the elevated mutation in msDNA-producing cell still remains elusive.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2016

A retron is a bacterial retroelement that encodes an RNA gene and a reverse transcriptase (RT). The former, once transcribed, works as a template primer for reverse transcription by the latter. The resulting DNA is covalently linked to the upstream part of the RNA; this chimera is called multicopy single-stranded DNA (msDNA), which is extrachromosomal DNA found in many bacterial species. Based on the conserved features in the eight known msDNA sequences, we developed a detection method and applied it to scan National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) RefSeq bacterial genome sequences. Among 16,844 bacterial sequences possessing a retron-type RT domain, we identified 48 unique types of msDNA. Currently, the biological role of msDNA is not well understood. Our work will be a useful tool in studying the distribution, evolution, and physiological role of msDNA.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2013

We examined the effect of parental folate deficiency on the folate content, global DNA methylation, folate receptor-alpha (FR${\alpha}$), insulin-like-growth factor-2 (IGF-2) and -1 receptor (IGF-1R) in the liver and plasma homocysteine in the postnatal rat. Male and female rats were randomly fed a folic acid-deficient (paternal folate-deficient, PD and maternal folate-deficient, MD), or folic acid-supplemented diet (paternal folate-supplemented, PS and maternal-folate-supplemented, MS) for four weeks. They were mated and grouped accordingly: $PS{\times}MS$, $PS{\times}MD$, $PD{\times}MS$, and $PD{\times}MD$. Pups were killed on day 21 of lactation. The hepatic folate content was markedly reduced in the $PD{\times}MD$ and $PS{\times}MD$ and $PD{\times}MS$ as compared with the $PS{\times}MS$ group. The hepatic global DNA methylation was decreased in the $PD{\times}MS$ and $PS{\times}MD$ groups as much as in the $PD{\times}MD$ group, and all the three groups were significantly lower as compared to the $PS{\times}MS$ group. There were no significant differences in the hepatic FR${\alpha}$, IGF-2 and IGF-1R expressions among the groups. Positive correlations were found between the hepatic folate content and global DNA methylation and protein expressions of FR${\alpha}$, IGF-2 and IGF-1R, whereas an inverse correlation was found between hepatic folate content and plasma homocysteine level in the 3-week-old rat pup. The results of this study show that both paternal and maternal folate deficiency at mating can influence the folate content and global DNA methylation in the postnatal rat liver.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2004

A cDNA encoding the masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou, estrogen receptor $\alpha$ (msER$\alpha$) was cloned from the pituitary gland by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding 513 amino acid residues, and the calculated molecular weight of this protein is about 56,430 Dalton. The amino acid sequences of the DNA binding and ligand binding domains of msER$\alpha$ showed high homology to those of other fish species (84-100%). Reverse transcription PCR analysis showed that the mRNA level of msER$\alpha$ in the pituitary was slightly higher in estradiol-17$\beta$(E2) injected masu salmon than that of control fish. To test the biological activity of msER$\alpha$, the cDNA was ligated to a mammalian expression vector and transfected into a gonadotrope-derived cell line, L$\beta$T2, with a reporter plasmid including estrogen responsive element. Expression of the reporter protein, luciferase, was E2 and msER$\alpha$-dependent. The masu salmon ER$\alpha$ is structurally conserved among teleost species and functions as a transcriptional activator in the pituitary cells.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.290.1-290.1
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• 2003

Oxidative DNA damage has been associated with many disease. Quantation of DNA adducts is considered to be a useful biomarker of oxidative DNA damage because its formation can also be induced by oxidative stress. Extensive efforts have been taken to identify the analytical methods for minimizing the artifactual formation of oxidative DNA damage. We have done direct analysis of DNA adducts using LC/ESI-MS without urine sample extraction. (omitted)

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1280-1285
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• 2004

Retron is a prokaryotic genetic element, producing a short single-stranded DNA covalently linked to RNA (msDNA-RNA) by a reverse transcriptase (RT). In retron EC83, msDNA is further processed at between the 4th and the $5^{th}$ nucleotides, leaving a 79 nucleotide-long single-stranded DNA as a final product. To investigate this site-specific cleavage in msDNA synthesis, we purified the RT protein of retron EC83. Initially, RT ORF was cloned under the tac promoter, but the expression was very poor largely because of poor translation. In order to facilitate translation, the nucleotide sequence for the first nine amino acids was randomized with synonymous codons. This change of downstream sequence of translational initiation codon greatly affected the efficiency of translation. We could isolate clones which greatly increased RT production, and their sequences were compared to those of the low producers. The overproduced protein was purified and was shown to have RT activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.49-51
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• 2002

To identify and evaluate the dichlorobenzidine(DCB)-DNA adducts in liver cell and bladder epithelial cells by $^{32}$ P-postlabeling and GC/MS-SIM, we orally exposed the dichlorobenzidine (20mg/kh body wt.,/day)to male sprague-dawley rats for 14 days. Two kinds of DCB-DNA adduct were found at the same site of thin layer chromatogram of $^{32}$ P-postlabeling method in liver cells and bladder epithelial cells. In liver cells, relative adduct labeling(RAL) $\times$ 10$^{12}$ of DCB-DNA adduct A1 were 34.1$\pm$3.71 and 69.9$\pm$5.02, that of adduct A2 were 74.1$\pm$10.1 and 105.1$\pm$10.1 on 10 and 14 days after treatment, respectively. And in bladder epithelia cells, RAL $\times$ 10$^{12}$ of DCB-DNA adduct A1 were 5.92$\pm$1.60 and 15.9$\pm$1.31, that of adduct A2 were 9,81$\pm$2.81 and 22.8$\pm$1.79 on 10 and 14 days after treatment, respectively. DCB metabolites formed DNA adducts were monoacetyl-dichlorobenzidine(acDCB) and diacety1-dichlorobenzidine(di-acDCB), which was identify by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-scan ionization mode(GC/MS-SIM), along with hydrolysis, extraction and TFA(trifluoroacetyl anhyride) derivatization with DCB-DNA adducts isolated from live cells and bladder epithelial cells. The base peak of acDCB were 252 and 294 m/z, and that of di-acDCB were 252, 294 and 336 m/z. In conclusion, the exposed DCB formed two kinds of DCB-DNA adduct, the proximate materials of that were acDCB and di-acDCB in liver and bladder epithlial cells. And the above GC/MS-SIM method was found the DCB-DNA adducts could be monitoring by gas chromatography.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2002

To identify and evaluate the dichlorobenzidine(DCB)-DNA adducts in liver cell and bladder epithelial cells by $^{32}$ P-postlabeling and GC/MS-SIM, we orally exposed the dichlorobenzidine(20mg/kh body wt./day) to male Sprague-Dawley rats(l85$\pm$10g) for 14 days. Two kinds of DCB-DNA adduct(A1 and A2) were found at the same site of thin layer chromatogram of $^{32}$ P-postlabeling method in liver cells and bladder epithelial cells. In liver cells, relative adduct labeling(RAL) $\times$ 10$^{12}$ of DCB-DNA adduct A1 were 34.1$\pm$3.71 and 69.9$\pm$5.02, that of adduct A2 were 74.1$\pm$10.1 and 105.1$\pm$10.1 on 10 and 14 days after treatment, respectively. And in bladder epithelia cells, RAL $\times$ 10$^{12}$ of DCB-DNA adduct A1 were 5.92$\pm$1.60 and 15.9$\pm$1.31, that of adduct A2 were 9.81$\pm$2.81 and 22.8$\pm$1.79 on 10 and 14 days after treatment, respectively. DCB metabolites formed DNA adducts were monoacetyl-dichlorobenzidine(acDCB) and diacetyl-dichlorobenzidine(di-acDCB), which was identify by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-scan ionization mode(GC/MS-SIM), after hydrolysis of DCB-DNA adducts isolated from live cells and bladder epithelial cells. The base peak of acDCB were 252 and 294 m/z, and that of di-acDCB were 252, 294 and 336 m/z. In conclusion, the exposed DCB formed two kinds of DCB-DNA adduct, the proximate materials of that were acDCB and di-acDCB in liver and bladder epithelial cells. And the above GC/MS-SIM method was found the DCB-DNA adducts could be monitoring by gas chromatography.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.385-392
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• 2011

The otter (Lutra lutra) in Korea is classified as a first grade endangered species and is managed under state control. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of the otter that inhabits the Changnyeong, Jinju, and Geoje areas in Gyeongsangnamdo, Korea using mtDNA and microsatellite (MS) markers. As a result of the analysis using the 676-bp D-loop sequence of mtDNA, six haplotypes were estimated from five single nucleotide polymorphisms. The genetic distance between the Jinju and Geoje areas was greater than distances within the areas, and the distance between Jinju and Geoje was especially clear. From the phylogenetic tree estimated using the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis by the MrBays program, two subgroups, one containing samples from Jinju and the other containing samples from the Changnyeong and Geoje areas were clearly identified. The result of a parsimonious median-joining network analysis also showed two clear subgroups, supporting the result of the phylogenetic analysis. On the other hand, in the consensus tree estimated using the genetic distances estimated from the genotypes of 13 MS markers, there were clear two subgroups, one containing samples from the Jinju, Geoje and Changnyeong areas and the other containing samples from only the Jinju area. The samples were not identically classified into each subgroup defined by mtDNA and MS markers. It could be inferred that the differential classification of samples by the two different marker systems was because of the different characteristics of the marker systems used, that is, the mtDNA was for detecting maternal lineage and the MS markers were for estimating autosomal genetic distances. Nonetheless, the results from the two marker systems showed that there has been a progressive genetic fixation according to the habitats of the otters. Further analyses using not only newly developed MS markers that will possess more analytical power but also the whole mtDNA are needed. Expansion of the phylogenetic analysis using otter samples collected from the major habitats in Korea should be helpful in scientifically and efficiently maintaining and preserving them.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.sup2
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• pp.299-308
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate adhesion and gene expression of the MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on machined titanium surface (MS) and anodized titanium surface (AS) using MTT test, Scanning electron micrograph and cDNA microarray. Materials and Methods: The MTT test assay was used for examining the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells, osteoblast like cells from Rat calvaria, on MS and AS for 24 hours and 48 hours. Cell cultures were incubated for 24 hours to evaluate the influence of the substrate geometry on both surfaces using a Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM). The cDNA microarray Agilent Rat 22K chip was used to monitor expressions of genes. Results: After 24 hours of adhesion, the cell density on AS was higher than MS (p < 0.05). After 48 hours the cell density on both titanium surfaces were similar (p > 0.05). AS had the irregular, rough and porous surface texture. After 48 hours incubation of the MC3T3-E1 cells, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was up-regulated on AS than MS (more than 2 fold) and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor was down-regulated (more than 2 fold) on AS than MS. Conclusion: Microarray assay at 48 hours after culturing the cells on both surfaces revealed that osteoinductive molecules appeared more prominent on AS, whereas the adhesion molecules on the biomaterial were higher on MS than AS, which will affect the phenotype of the plated cells depending on the surface morphology.