• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.116-121
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• 2010

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) promote the development of brain and vision of the fetus, relieve inflammation, inhibit oral dysplasia of rumor cell, decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease and regulate arrhythmia. ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase is the rate-limited enzyme in the desaturation process. This study reports the cloning, characterization and tissue expression of a ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase gene in the chicken. PCR primers were designed based on the predicted sequence of chicken ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase (accession number: XM421053) and used to isolate a cDNA fragment of 1,323 bp from chicken liver. Based on the 1,323 bp fragment an EST (BI390105) was obtained by BLAST. The EST and 5'nd of the 1,323 bp fragment were partially overlapped. Gene specific primers derived from the EST were used for amplification of the 5'nd. Another gene-specific primer derived from the 1,323 bp fragment was used for amplification of the 3'nd by 3'ACE. Then the three overlapping cDNA sequences obtained were assembled with DNAMAN software and a full-length ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase of 2,153 bp was obtained. The full-length cDNA contained an ORF of 1,335 bp with a 5'ntranslated region of 147 nucleotides followed by an ATG initiation codon. Stop codon TGA was at position 1,481-1,483 bp. The deduced amino acids shared an homology above 77% with bovine, mice, orangutan, rat and human. The protein sequence had three histidine-rich regions HDFGH (HisI region), HFQHH (HisII region) and HH (HisIII region), a cytochrome $b_{5}$-like domain containing a heme-binding motif and two transmembrane domains. Sequence analysis of the chicken genomic DNA revealed that the coding sequence of chicken ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase included 12 exons and 11 introns. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase expression levels were in turn liver, spleen, pancreas, lung, breast muscle, heart, and abdominal fat. The expression of ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase in liver was significantly higher than that in breast muscle (p<0.01). The expression of ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase in lung was significantly higher than that in abdominal fat (p<0.01). This is the first clone of chicken ${\Delta}-6$ desaturase.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4339-4345
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of BRCA1 (MIM: 113705) founder mutations in familial breast cancer (BC) patients with high risks in Iran. BRCA1 is among the cancer susceptibility genes best known for high penetrance mutations. BRCA1 genotyping is now used to determine patient counseling, management decisions, and prognosis of this syndrome. Materials and Method: Thirty nine patients with clinical BC and 29 high risk healthy women, related to the patients, participated in the study. DNA from blood samples was extracted and analyzed by PCR and SSCP methods in order to find 185delAG and 5382insC founder mutations. In addition, a 251bp fragment of BRCA1's exon 11 was amplified and analyzed for determination of new mutations. Results: The data indicated the presence of 185delAG and 5382insC founder mutations in both groups studied. Two out of 39 BC patients (5.1%) and one out of 29 relatives (3.4%) were suspected to be carriers of 185delAG mutations. However, we found only one patient (2.6%) to be a carrier of a 5382insC mutation. Also, 2 women (5.1%) of the patient group and 3 n (10.3%) of relatives group were identified as carriers of unclarified mutations in the 251bp fragment of the BRCA1 gene. The carriers of BRCA1 founder mutations have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: Therefore, these data are useful in counseling of individuals with a significant family history of breast cancer.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.103-109
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• 1999

Objective: Heat shock protein 70-2 (Hsp70-2) gene knockout mice are found to have premeiotic arrest at the primary spermatocyte stage with a complete absence of spermatids and spermatozoa. This observation led to the hypothesis that hspA2 may be disrupted in human testes with abnormal spermatogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we studied the mRNA expression of hspA2 in infertile men with azoospermia. Design: The mRNA expression were analyzed by competitive RT-PCR among testes with normal spermatogenesis, pachytene spermatocyte arrest, and sertoli-cell only syndrome. Materials and methods: Testicular biopsy was performed in men with azoospermia (n=15). Specimens were subdivided into three groups: (group 1) normal spermatogenesis (n=5), (group 2) spermatocyte arrest (n=5), (group 3) Sertoli-cell only syndrome (n=5). Total RNA was extracted by Trizol reagent. Total extracted RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA and amplified by PCR using specific primers for hspA2 target cDNAs. A competitive cDNA fragment was constructed by deleting a defined fragment from the target cDNA sequence, and then coamplified with the target cDNA for competitive PCR. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene was used as an internal control. Results: On Competitive RT-PCR analyses for hspA2 mRNA, significant amount of hspA2 expression was observed in group 1, whereas a constitutively low level of hspA2 was expressed in groups 2 and 3. Conclusion(s): The study demonstrates that the hspA2 gene expression is down-regulated in human testes with abnormal spermatogenesis, which in turn suggests that hspA2 gene may play a specific role during meiosis in human testes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.640-646
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• 1990

We have cloned the cdd gene from E. coli C600 using (cdd-) as a host. From the sequenced promoter region of E=, coli cdd gene which has been determined by Valentin-Hansen P. (1985), we synthesized the 23 mer oligonucleotides corresponding to the transcription initiation region and used as a probe for cloning of the cdd gene by Southern blotting. The isolated fragments in the blotting were introduced to the colony hybridization after transforming it into the E. coli JF611 (cdd-, pyr double mutant), and we identified the hybridized band at 27 kb long. From the original insert of 27 kb fragment in theBamHI site of pBR322, the 5.3 kb fragment containing the cdd gene was isolated by subsequent deletion and subeloning. From the derived plasmid pTK509, further deletion and subcloning were performed and clarified that the cdd gene was located in the 2.1 kb of SaZI/DraI segment in the insert of pTK605. The polypeptide encoded by the cloned DNA was appeared to be a molecular mass of 33,000.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.246-251
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• 1992

Molccular cloning of nod genes from Bradvrhizobium sp. SNU001, a nitrogen-fixing symbiont isolated from thc root nodules of soybean (Clycine trim) . was carried out. nod genes were found to be located on thc genome of the symbiont by gcnomic hybridization with 4.5 kb EcoRI/HndIII fragment (nod DABC) of Rhizohium meliloti as probe. Genomic library of this symbiont was constructed using h phage EMBL3-BanlHI vector. from which five nod positive clones were sclectcd by primary and secondary screening methods. The partial restriction map of inserted genomic DNA of h CNS-l(c1one 2) was constructed. and 3.9 kh Bun7HI fragment. which showed strong hybridization signal to the probe, was subcloned into pBS KS(+) plasmid vector. Partial restriction inap ot' a selected subclone (pBjCNS-I) was constructed and nod DABC was found to be located on the 1.8 kb KpnI/Sacl fragment of this subclone.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2009

Cockroaches have been recognized as a major cause of asthma. Bla g 4 is one of the most important German cockroach allergens. The aim of this study is to investigate IgE reactivity to the recombinant Bla g 4 (rBla g 4) in the sera of allergic patients and identify linear IgE binding epitope. For protein expression, full-length Bla g 4 (EF202172) was divided into 5 overlapping peptide fragments (E1: aa 1-100, E2: aa 34-77, E3: aa 74-117, E4: aa 114-156, and E5: aa 153-182). The full-length and 5 peptide fragments of Bla g 4 was generated by PCR and over-expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The IgE binding reactivities of the full-length and peptide fragments were measured by ELISA using 32 serum samples of cockroach allergy. The sera of 8 patients (25%) reacted with rBla g 4. Four sera (100%) showed IgE-binding reactivity to full-length and peptide fragment 4, and 2 sera (50%) reacted with peptide fragment 2. One (20%) serum reacted with peptide fragment 3. The results of ELISA using overlapping recombinant fragments indicated that the epitope region was located at amino acid sequences 34-73 and 78-113, and major IgE epitope of Bla g 4 was located at amino acid sequences 118-152 of C-terminal. B-cell epitope analysis of German cockroach allergen Bla g 4 could contribute to the strategic development of more specific and potentially efficacious immunotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 1986

Sterigmatocystin bears a close structural relationship to aflatoxin $B_1$ and is a carcinogenic compound that has been shown to affect various species of experimental animals. Reaction and toxicity of sterigmatocystin in the artificial gastric juice were investigated. Sterigmatocystin was degraded in artificial gastric juice and extracted by the method of A.O.A.C. After cleaned up by silica gel column chromatography, this substance was detected and characterized by thin layer chromatography, UV, IR and mass spectra. It showed $R{\mathcal{f}}$ 0.4 and brick-red color by TLC. Especially, in the mass spectrum of it, fragment peak at m/e 327 was due to the loss of the $-CH_3$ and $-H_2O$, fragment peak at m/e 341 was due to the loss of the $H_2O$ and $-H^+$, and fragment peak at m/e 239 was due to the loss of the 2-chloro-tetrahydrofuran and methyl group from the parent molecule. Therefore, a degraded substance of sterigmatocystin reacted in artificial gastric juice (Sub. K) was estimated with additional formation of hydrochloric acid. In four-day-old chicken embryos, the mean lethal dose $(LD_{50})$ was $140\;{\mu}g/egg$, and 90 to 100% of the embryos were killed with 1 mg/egg. This $LD_{50}$ $140\;{\mu}g/egg$ compared with an $LD_{50}$ $14.69\;{\mu}g/egg$ for sterigmatocystin (acute toxicity) showed the substance to be much less toxic than sterigmatocystin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2002

Bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria were isolated from kimchi. One isolate producing the most efficient bacteriocin was identified and named Lactococcus lactis B2, based on the biochemical properties and 16S rDNA sequences. The B2 bacteriocin inhibited many different Gram positive bacteria including Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus, but did not inhibit Gram-negative bacteria. The bacteriocin was maximally produced at temperatures between $25^{\circ}C\;and\;30^{\circ}C$ and at the initial pH of 7.0. Ninety $\%$ of the activity remained after 10 min of heat treatment at $121^{\circ}C,\;and\;100\%$, after 1 h exposure to organic solvents. The bacteriocin was purified from culture supernatant by ammonium sulfate precipitation, CM Sepharose column chromatography, ultrafiltration, and finally, by reverse-phase HPLC. A 1.58-kb fragment was amplified from B2 chromosome by using a primer set designed from the published nisA sequence. Sequencing result showed that the fragment contained the whole nisZ and 5' portion of nisB, whose gene product was involved in postmodification of nisin. The upstream sequence, however, was completely different from those of reported nisin genes.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2000

The crystal of cholesteryl crotylcarbonate was investigated by X-ray diffraction method. Crystallographic data for the title compound: P21, a=13.510(2)Å, b=11.843(2)Å, c=19.882(2)Å, β=106.88(1)°, Z=4. Reflections were collected with an Enraf-Nonius CAD-4 diffractometer equipped with a graphite monochromator. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by least-squares analyses. The final R value was 0.125 for 2607 reflections. The cholesterol fragment of the title compound were in good agreement with those for related cholesterol derivatives. The molecules were stacked in clearly separated layers. At the center of the layers, there were cholesteryl-cholesteryl interactions between the symmetry-related B molecules and the cholesteryl-C(17) side chain of A molecules. There were also interactions between the C(17) side chain of B molecules and the crotylcarbonate chain in the interface region between layers. The crystal structure of the title compound turned out to be isostructural with those of cholesteryl ethylcarbonate and cholesteryl propylcarbonate.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1991

pMB4 is a 2.4-kilobase plasmid of Staphylococcus aureus TR-1 that confers inducible resistance to the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B(MLS) antibiotics. By subcloning studies, it was found that the MLS resistance determinant was located at 1.0Kb fragment between Sau3AI and TaqI sites. DNA sequence of the MLS resistant determinant, named ermC-4 was determined, and found to be highly homologous with that of ermC. Because the leader peptide sequence of ermC-4 was identical with that of ermC, the expression of the resistance gene is thought to be controlled by posttranscriptional attenuation in S. aureus TR-1.