• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2009

Controlled gene expression in specific cells is a valuable tool for gene therapy. We attempted to determine whether the lentivirus-mediated Tet-On inducible system could be applied to cancer gene therapy. In order to select the genes that induce cancer cell death, we compared the ability of the known pro-apoptotreic genes, Bax and tBid, and a cell cycle inhibitor, p21cip1/waf1, and determined that Bax was the most effective. For the cancer cell-specific expression of $rtTA2^S$-M2, we tested the matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) promoter and determined that it is highly expressed in cancer cell lines, including SNU475 cells. The co-transduction of two lentiviruses that contain sequences for TRE-Bax and $rtTA2^S$-M2, the expression of which is controlled by the MMP-2 promoter, resulted in the specific cell death of SNU475, whereas other cells with low MMP-2 expression did not evidence significant cell death. Our data indicate that the lentivirus-mediated Tet-On system using the cancer-specific promoter is applicable for cancer gene therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2016

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer related death. Alterations in gene sequence, structure, and expression have an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Fusion genes and alternative splicing of cancer-related genes have the potential to be oncogenic. In the current study, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate potential fusion genes and alternative splicing in non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: RNA was isolated from lung tissues obtained from 86 subjects with lung cancer. The RNA samples from lung cancer and normal tissues were processed with RNA-seq using the HiSeq 2000 system. Fusion genes were evaluated using Defuse and ChimeraScan. Candidate fusion transcripts were validated by Sanger sequencing. Alternative splicing was analyzed using multivariate analysis of transcript sequencing and validated using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. Results: RNA-seq data identified oncogenic fusion genes EML4-ALK and SLC34A2-ROS1 in three of 86 normal-cancer paired samples. Nine distinct fusion transcripts were selected using DeFuse and ChimeraScan; of which, four fusion transcripts were validated by Sanger sequencing. In 33 squamous cell carcinoma, 29 tumor specific skipped exon events and six mutually exclusive exon events were identified. ITGB4 and PYCR1 were top genes that showed significant tumor specific splice variants. Conclusion: In conclusion, RNA-seq data identified novel potential fusion transcripts and splice variants. Further evaluation of their functional significance in the pathogenesis of lung cancer is required.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.781-787
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• 2009

The sense and antisense digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes of four genes, Cdc25A, Cdc25B, Sox2 and Mnb, were produced by using SP6 and T7 RNA polymerases, respectively, and in vitro transcription. Expression patterns of the four genes were detected by in situ hybridization in HH (Hamburger and Hamilton) stage 10 chick embryos. In general, expression patterns of the four genes were similar. mRNA of the four genes was mostly restricted to the entire CNS (central nervous system). All were confined to an identical region, neural tube, neural groove and caudal neural plate, corresponding to the notochord or spinal cord, but there was some distinction in specific region or in concentration, for example in somites. The overlap in expression at the same developmental stage in the CNS suggests that the four genes may be functional similar or related in CNS development. Expression patterns of the four genes support specific roles of these regulators in the developing CNS.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2007

In a previous study, three larval cuticle protein genes were cloned from the mulberry longicorn beetle, Apriona germari (Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 136, 803-811, 2003). In the present study, the genomic structures of these three larval cuticle protein genes (AgLCP9.2, AgLCP12.6 and AgLCP12.3) were elucidated. All three cuticle protein genes consist of one intron and two exons. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA suggested that three cuticle protein genes are a single copy gene. In addition, a novel larval cuticle protein gene, AgLCP10.6, was cloned from A. germari in this study. The AgLCP10.6 cDNA contains an ORF of 300 nucleotides that are capable of encoding a 100-amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 10.6 kDa. The amino acid sequence deduced from the AgLCP10.6 cDNA contained a type-specific consensus sequence identifiable in other insect cuticle proteins and is most homologous to Drosophila melanogaster cuticle protein ACP65A (51 % protein sequence identity). Northern blot analysis revealed that AgLCP10.6 showed epidermis-specific expression.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2010

As in the O. mykiss electrophoretic profiles of RNA, the signals of each RNA sample from 9 individual tissues such as liver, muscle, brain, heart, pituitary gland, kidney, intestine, spleen and gill similar to positive control were obtained. The tissue distributions of the complimentary DNA (cDNA) of O. mykiss four genes were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR with primer sets for tissue expression analysis. In this rainbow trout species, author obtained bands of various sizes, ranged from 700 bp to 1,400 bp. A dissociation curve was made at the end of each run to make sure that there was no non-specific amplification. Supplementarily, the Ct of each DNA was compared. The Ct values of vinculin with rainbow trout tissues were determined in a manner similar to those for agouti-related protein (AgRP) and melanocortin receptors (MC4R I and MC4R II). Further, obtained Cts for standard curve of each DNA were affected by specific product (vinculin, AgRP and MC4R II genes). After several experiments with four individual genes of rainbow trout, author estimated a variation ratio of the mean Ct value of the DNA extracted using the comparative CTt method was 37.27, and the standard deviation was 5.33. The correlation coefficient between the Ct values and the concentration of cDNA was -0.98, -0.99, -0.91 and -0.86, respectively (vinculin, AgRP, MC4R I and MC4R II genes). Since this correlation showed high linearity, the straight line obtained was used as a standard for the O. mykiss tissues reared in aquarium. A PCR efficiency of 100% is ideally achieved when the slopes are close to the theoretical value of -3.31. According to quantification method, the results of quantification are strongly affected by the DNA fragmentation. The size of most DNA fragments obtained from various tissues of rainbow trout used in the experiment was approximately 100 bp. According to the four slopes, an efficiency of nearly 100% was estimated for four genes detection methods. Additionally, further analysis with more individuals and primers will be required to fully establish optimization in rainbow trout.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2010

As the frequency and the intensity of so called Asian dust (AD) events have increased, public concerns about the adverse health effects has spiked sharply over the last two decades. Despite the recent reports on the correlation between AD events and the risk for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, the nature of the toxicity and the degree of the risk are yet largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the dichloromethane extract of AD (AD-X) and that of urban dust (NAD-X) collected during a non-AD period on gene expression in HL-60 cells using Illumina Sentrix HumanRef-8 Expression BeadChips. Global changes in gene expression were analyzed after 24 h of incubation with 50 or 100 ${\mu}g$/ml AD-X and NAD-X. By one-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05) and Benjamini-Hochberg multiple testing correction for false discovery rate of the results, 573 and 297 genes were identified as AD-X- and NAD-X-responsive, respectively. The genes were classified into three groups by Venn diagram analysis of their expression profile, i.e., 290 AD-X-specific, 14 NAD-X-specific, and 283 overlapping genes. Quantitative realtime PCR confirmed the changes in the expression levels of the selected genes. The expression patterns of five genes, namely SORL1, RABEPK, DDIT4, AZU1, and NUDT1 differed significantly between the two groups. Following rigorous validation process, these genes may provide information in developing biomarker for AD exposure.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.343-355
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• 2006

Stem cells are unique cell populations with the ability to undergo both self-renewal and differentiation, although a wide variety of adult stem cells as well as embryonic stem cells have been identified and stem cell plasticity has recently been reported. To identify genes implicated in the control of the stem cell state as well as the characteristics of each stem cell line, we analyzed the expression profiles of genes in human embryonic, hematopoietic ($CD34^+$ and $CD133^+$), and mesenchymal stem cells using cDNA microarrays, and identified genes that were differentially expressed in specific stem cell populations. In particular we were able to identify potential hESC signature-like genes that encode transcription factors (TFAP2C and MYCN), an RNA binding protein (IMP-3), and a functionally uncharacterized protein (MAGEA4). The overlapping sets of 22 up-regulated and 141 down-regulated genes identified in this study of three human stem cell types may also provide insight into the developmental mechanisms common to all human stem cells. Furthermore, our comprehensive analyses of gene expression profiles in various adult stem cells may help to identify the genetic pathways involved in self-renewal as well as in multi-lineage specific differentiation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1352-1359
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• 2018

Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacterium that promotes animal intestinal health as a probiotic and is found in a wide variety of habitats. Here, we investigated the genomic features of different clusters of L. plantarum strains via pan-genomic analysis. We compared the genomes of 108 L. plantarum strains that were available from the NCBI GenBank database. These genomes were 2.9-3.7 Mbp in size and 44-45% in G+C content. A total of 8,847 orthologs were collected, and 1,709 genes were identified to be shared as core genes by all the strains analyzed. On the basis of SNPs from the core genes, 108 strains were clustered into five major groups (G1-G5) that are different from previous reports and are not clearly associated with habitats. Analysis of group-specific enriched or depleted genes revealed that G1 and G2 were rich in genes for carbohydrate utilization (${\text\tiny{L}}-arabinose$, ${\text\tiny{L}}-rhamnose$, and fructooligosaccharides) and that G3, G4, and G5 possessed more genes for the restriction-modification system and MazEF toxin-antitoxin. These results indicate that there are critical differences in gene content and survival strategies among genetically clustered L. plantarum strains, regardless of habitats.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.366-378
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• 2024

Application of commercial hormone failed to promote breeding in certain Pangasius species due to the differences of gonadotropin-releasing hormone specific peptide with species-specific bioactivities. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a hypothalamic decapeptide in the reproductive system that plays a crucial role in the regulation of reproductive processes. This study was performed to determine and analyse the GnRH genes from commercially important Pangasius sp., Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Pangasius nasutus. The GnRH1 and GnRH2 genes were amplified and cloned into TOPO vector, followed by phylogenetic analysis of a complete open reading frame (ORF) of GnRH genes. The GnRH1 and GnRH2 genes of P. hypophthalmus and P. nasutus were detected at 300 bp and 360 bp, encoded for 81 and 87 amino acids, respectively. Amino acid sequence identities revealed high homology of P. hypophthalmus and P. nasutus GnRH1 and GnRH2 genes in comparison with other fish and vertebrates. Phylogenetic tree showed that fish from various families were aggregated into a group of the same order due to their highest identity similarities. It revealed that the vertebrate formed clusters and are grouped according to their GnRH decapeptide and GnRH-associated peptide (GAP) region, indicating a close relationship among GnRH decapeptide and GAP in different vertebrate species.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.232-237
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• 2005

Mast cells play an important role in allergic inflammation by releasing their bioactive mediators. The function of mast cells is enhanced by stimulation because of the induction of specific genes and their products. While many inducible genes have been elucidated, we speculated that a significant number of genes remain to be identified. Thus, we applied differential display (dd) PCR to establish a profile of the induced genes in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) after they were co-cultured with 3T3 fibroblasts. To date, 150 cDNA fragments from the connective-type mast cells (CTMCs) were amplified. Among them, thirty cDNA fragments were reamplified for cloning and sequencing. The ddPCR strategy revealed that serine proteases were the most abundant genes among the sequenced clones induced during the maturation. Additionally, unknown genes from the co-culture of BMMCs with 3T3 fibroblasts were identified. We confirmed their induction in the CTMCs by Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR. Characterization of these induced genes during the maturation processes will provide insight into the functions of mast cells.