• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.167-170
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• 2003

Cytochrome $b_{5}$($b_{5}$) can be found in a variety of tissues and plays a role in the electron transfer pathways. Several retropseudogenes (numbered as I, II, II, IV, V) have been identified and well investigated for their structures. However, retropseudogene I is not clear in terms of its location on the chromosome. In addition the structure and the exression of retropseudogene V have not been confirmed. To examine the structure of bs retropseudogenes V and to see whether it is expressed in human blood we applied recombinant DNA technologies including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Retropseudogene V turned out to contain open reading frame (ORF) within its structure, however, no evidence of its expression was detected. Retropseudogene I was also found on the chromosome V. This study should contribute to the understanding of the structure of bs gene family.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.310-312
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• 2012

Cytochrome $b_5$ is involved in the reduction of methemoglobin back to hemoglobin, thereby maintaining normal function of the blood to carry oxygen around. Congenital abnormal condition of this enzyme causes a rare disease called methemoglobinemia. At least 4 different retropseudogenes are reported so far for cytochrome $b_5$. However, type III pseudogene has attracted most attention because it contains open reading frame in its structure. Although there is no evidence yet if this pseudogene is actually expressed in the cell or the blood the possibility of its expression needs to be elucidated. We have isolated type III pseudogene by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pGEX-4T-1 expression vector followed by SDS-PAGE. Protein was expressed and the size of the expressed protein was 28 kDa as expected in its genetic code. This result also shows that the protein is not harmful for the viability of the microorganism. This study may contribute to the genetic diagnosis of cardiac diseases, possibly caused by cytochrome $b_5$.