• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.249-256
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to understand the evolutionary relationships between fish and other vertebrates which had DNA with the genetic defects in homoglobin expression, with comparison to the nucleotide homologies of the ${\beta}$-globin genes. The predicted amino acid sequence from carp ${\beta}$-globin gene was compared with those of other vertebrates from the published data. The nucleotide homologies of the predicted amino acid sequence from the carp ${\beta}$-globin gene with those of goldfish and mirror carp were high, and the rates were 97.3% and 93.9%, respectively. On the other hand, with the previously reported ${\beta}$-globins of goat, frog, human, rat, goose, chicken, and duck, it showed low homology ranging from 45.9 to 58.1%. The carp ${\beta}$-globin has one inserted amino acid residue, which was also found in other fish ${\beta}$globin, but not in other vertebrate ${\beta}$-globins.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2012

We have previously identified a DNA silent region located downstream of the 3'-end of the ${\beta}^{major}$ globin gene (designated B1-559) that contains a B1 retrotransposon, consensus binding sites for erythroid specific transcription factors and shares the capacity to act as promoter in hematopoietic cells interacting with ${\beta}$-globin gene LCR sequences in vitro. In this study, we have cloned four new non-polyA RNA transcripts being detected upon blockade of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cell differentiation to erythroid maturation by methylation inhibitors and demonstrated that two of them share high structural homology with sequences of B1 element found within the B1-559 region. Although it is not clear yet whether and how these RNAs interfere with induction of erythroid maturation, these data provide evidence for the first time showing that methylation inhibitors can activate silent repetitive DNA sequences in MEL cells and may have implications in cancer chemotherapy using demethylating drugs as antineoplastic agents.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.241-248
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• 2007

Epigenetic modification dependent DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) play an important role in tissue- and stage-specific gene regulation and normal mammalian development. In this study, we show that DNMTs are expressed at different levels during hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation to proerythrocytes. DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B were highly expressed at day 7 after differentiation. We used specific siRNA as a tool to probe the relationship between the expression of DNMTs and erythropoietic differentiation. When introduced siRNA of DMNT1 and DMNT3b in human $CD34^+$ cells, these more differentiated into erythrocytes. This was confirmed by glycophorin A (GPA) positive cell analysis and globin gene expression. $GPA^+$ cells increased up to $20{\sim}30%$, and ${\gamma}$- and ${\epsilon}$-globin genes increased in siRNA transfected cells. Therefore, our data suggest that suppression of DNA methylation can affect positively differentiation of HSC and may contribute to expression of erythrocyte lineage genes including GPA and globins.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2014

The transcription factor CP2 regulates various biological systems at diverse tissues and cells. However, none of the four CP2 isoforms has been solved in structure yet. In particular, two different regions of the CP2b isoform have been characterized to interact with the PIAS1 in nucleus to regulate the ${\alpha}$-globin gene expression. Among them, in this study, the region encompassing residues 251-309 of CP2b was prepared as a recombinant protein and its solution structure was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that the CP2b(251-309) fold belongs to typical IDRs (intrinsically disordered regions), likely to facilitate promiscuous interactions with various target proteins. Unfortunately, however, its interaction with the N-terminal domain of PIAS1 (residues 1-70), which has been identified as one of the CP2b-binding sites, was not observed in the NMR-based titration experiments. Therefore, it could be postulated that the 251-309 region of CP2b would not contact with the PIAS1(1-70), but alternatively interact with another CP2b-binding region that encompasses residues 400-651 of PIAS1.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.229-234
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• 2006

We have generated transgenic mice that expressed mouse extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) in their skin. In particular, the expression plasmid DNA containing human keratin K14 promoter was used to direct the keratinocyte-specific transcription of the transgene. To compare intron-dependent and intron-independent gene expression, we constructed two vectors. The vector B, which contains the rabbit -globin intron 2, was not effective for mouse EC-SOD overexpression. The EC-SOD transcript was detected in the skin, as determined by Northern blot analysis. Furthermore, EC-SOD protein was detected in the skin tissue, as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. To evaluate the expression levels of EC-SOD in various tissues, we purified EC-SOD from the skin, lungs, brain, kidneys, livers, and spleen of transgenic mice and measured its activities. EC-SOD activities in the transgenic mice skin were approximately 7 fold higher than in wild-type mice. These results suggest that the mouse overexpressing vector not only induces keratinocyte-specific expression of EC-SOD, but also expresses successfully functional EC-SOD. Thus, these transgenic mice appeared to be useful for the expression of the EC-SOD gene and subsequent analysis of various skin changes, such as erythema, inflamation, photoaging, and skin tumors.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.193-196
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• 2013

Haemoglobin is an interesting physiologically significant protein composed of specific functional prosthetic haem and globin moieties. In recent decades, there has been substantial interest in attempting to understand the structural basis and functional diversity of avian haemoglobins (Hbs). Towards this end, purification, crystallization, preliminary X-ray diffraction and molecular-replacement studies have been carried out on Amaurornis phoenicurus Hb. Crystals were grown by the hanging drop vapor-diffusion method using PEG 2000 and NaCl as precipitants. The crystals belonged to the primitive monoclinic system $P2_1$, with unit-cell parameters $a=65.33{\AA}$, $b=93.14{\AA}$, $c=98.54{\AA}$, ${\beta}=100.48^{\circ}$; a complete data set was collected to a resolution of $2.6{\AA}$. The Matthews coefficient of $2.30{\AA}^3Da^{-1}$ for the crystal indicated the presence of two ${\alpha}_2{\beta}_2$ tetramers in the asymmetric unit.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2014

Isolating total DNA from small samples using traditional methods is difficult and inefficient mainly due to loss of DNA during filtration and precipitation. With advances in molecular pathology, DNA extraction from micro-dissected cells has become essential in handling clinical samples. Genomic DNA extraction using small numbers of cells can be very important to successfully PCR amplify DNA from small biopsy specimens. We compared our experimental genomic DNA extraction method (A) with two other commercially available methods: using spin columns (B), and conventional resins (C), and determined the efficacy of DNA extraction from small numbers of cells smeared on a glass slide. Approximately 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 cells were isolated from fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) slides aspirated from histologically proven papillary thyroid carcinoma masses. DNA was extracted using the three techniques. After measuring DNA quantity, PCR amplification was performed to detect the ${\beta}$-globin and $BRAF^{V600E}$ gene mutations. DNA extracted by method (A) showed better yield than the other methods in all cell groups. With our method, a suitable amount of genomic DNA to produce amplification was extracted from as few as 50 cells, while more than 100 to 200 cells were required when methods (B) or (C) were applied. Our genomic DNA extraction method provides high quality and improved yields for molecular analysis. It will be especially useful for paucicellular clinical samples which molecular pathologists often confront when handling fine needle aspiration cytology, exfoliative cytology and small biopsy specimens.