• 생태와환경
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.466-471
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• 2008

Little is known about DNA-level and physiological levels for health assessments of stream or river environments. Recently, comet assay, so called Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE) is introduced for assessments of DNA damage in the medical science, food science and mammal toxicology. The comet assay is known as a biomarker which is one of the best barometers in assessing the DNA damage by oxidative stress. In this study, we conducted the comet assay using sentinel species, Zacco platypus, as one of the pre-warning alarm systems for the aquatic ecosystem health assessments and also applied it to Gap Stream as a model system. Tail extent moments in the S1 and S2 were 5.20 and 9.90 respectively and the moment was 19.89 in the S3. Statistical ANOVA in the tail moments showed a significant difference (n=75, p<0.05) between S1 and S3. Also, the proportions of DNA in the tail were 14.47, 23.64, and $30.04{\mu}m$ in the upstream (control site), midstream, downstream sites, respectively. Our results in the downstream were accord with previous studies of individual-level, population-level, and community-level in Gap Stream. Our results suggest that the comet assay may be used as an important tool for diagnosing ecological health of aquatic ecosystems in the level of DNA.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.225-230
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• 2004

방사선에 노출된 고추유묘의 잎으로부터 세포핵을 분리하여 단세포전기영동방법인 comet 분석을 통하여 핵 DNA의 손상정도를 조사하였다. Comet 분석에서 꼬리부분의 길이 (T)와 머리부분의 길이 (H)를 측정하여 T/H 비율을 조사하였다. 무처리세포는 T/H 비율이 1.28이었으나 50 및 100 Gy의 방사선을 처리한 세포는 각각 3.54 및 3.39로 방사선처리에 의해 상당량의 핵 DNA가 손상을 입은 것으로 나타났다. Comet의 head-DNA량은 무처리가 76.8%였으나 50 및 100 Gy를 처리한 세포는 각각 55.9% 및 59.5%를 보였다. 고선량의 방사선을 처리하기 전에 미리 20 Gy 이하의 저선량 방사선을 종자에 전처리하였을 경우 종자의 발아 및 생장에 대한 영향은 없었지만, 후속 고선량에 대한 핵 DNA의 손상은 경감되는 경향을 보였다.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.1076-1081
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• 2001

현재 중국으로부터 수입량이 증가하고 있는 땅콩을 대상으로 국산과 중국산 시료의 TL, ESR, DNA comet(single cell gel electrophoresis) 분석을 실시하여 원산지별 특성을 비교하였다. Density separation 방법으로 추출한 미네랄의 TL측정 결과, 감마선 조사되지 않은 시료는 25$0^{\circ}C$ 부근에서 intensity가 낮은 glow curve를 나타내었고, 조사 시료는 18$0^{\circ}C$ 부근에서 아주 강한 intensity의 glow curve를 보여주었다. 첫 번째 측정된 glow curve(TL$_1$)의 normalization을 위하여 재조사 방법에 의해 TL$_2$를 측정하여 TL ratio(TL$_1$/TL$_2$)를 비교해 본 결과, 비조사 시료는 0.05 이하, 조사 시료는 0.2이상으로 방사선 조사 여부의 판별이 가능하였다. 땅콩껍질을 사용한 ESR 측정에서는 조사 유래의 특이적인 signal이 나타나지 않아 적용 가능성이 낮았다. DNA comet assay 결과, 비조사 시료는 tail이 없거나 아주 짧은 전형적인 intact cell을 나타낸 반면, 조사 시료는 long tail을 가진 comet을 나타내면서 선량 의존적으로 (r=0.761/Korean, r=0.768/Chinese) tail length가 증가하여 조사 여부의 확인이 가능하였다. 모든 실험에서 원산지별 차이는 크지 않았다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 땅콩의 방사선 조사 여부 확인에는 TL 분석 및 DNA comet assay가 적용 가능하였다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

Objective: The usual seminal profile has been customarily used for diagnosing male infertility based on an examination of semen samples. However, sperm DNA fragmentation has also been causally linked to reproductive failure, suggesting that it should be evaluated as part of male infertility assessments. To compare the ability of the five most widely utilized methodologies of measuring DNA fragmentation to predict male infertility and reactive oxygen species by Oxisperm kit assay. Methods: In this case-control study, which received ethical committee approval, the participants were divided into fertile and infertile groups (50 patients in each group). Results: The alkaline comet test showed the best ability to predict male infertility, followed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test, and the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), while the neutral comet test had no predictive power. For our patient population, the projected cut-off point for the DNA fragmentation index was 22.08% using the TUNEL assay, 19.90% using SCSA, 24.74% using the SCD test, 48.47% using the alkaline comet test, and 36.37% using the neutral comet test. Significant correlations were found between the results of the SCD test and those obtained using SCSA and TUNEL (r = 0.70 and r = 0.68, respectively; p< 0.001), and a statistically significant correlation was also found between the results of SCSA and the TUNEL assay (r = 0.77, p< 0.001). Likewise, the results of the alkaline comet test showed significant correlations with those of the SCD, SCSA, and TUNEL tests (r = 0.59, r = 0.57, and r = 0.72, respectively; p< 0.001). Conclusion: The TUNEL assay, SCSA, SCD, and the alkaline comet test were effective for distinguishing between fertile and infertile patients, and the alkaline comet test was the best predictor of male infertility.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2001

Recently, single cell gel electrophoresis, also known as comet assay, is widely used for the detection and measurement of DNA strand breaks in vitro and in vivo in many toxicological fields such as radiation exposure, human monitoring and toxicity evaluation. As well defined, comet assay is a sensitive, rapid and visual method for the detection of DNA strand breaks in individual cells. Briefly, a small number of damaged cells suspended in a thin agarose gel on a microscope slide were lysed, unwinded, electrophoresed, and stained with a fluorescent DNA binding dye. The electric current pulled the charged DNA from the nucleus such that relaxed and broken DNA fragments migrated further. The resulting images which were subsequently named for their appearance as comets, were measured to determine the extent of DNA damages. However, some variations could be occurred in procedures, laboratories's conditions and kind of cells used. Hence, to overcome and to harmonize these matters in comet assay, International Workshop on Genotoxicity Test Procedure (IWGTP) was held with several topics including comet assay at Washington D.C. on March, 1999. In spite of some consensus in procedures and conditions in IWGTP, there are some problems still remained to be solved. In this respect, we attempted to set the practical optimal conditions in the experimental procedures such as lysis, unwinding, electrophoresis and neutralization conditions and so on. First of all, we determined optimal lysis and unwinding time by using 150 $\mu$M methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) which is usually used concentration. And then, we determined optimal positive control concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and MMS in the presence and absence of S9 metabolic activation system, respectively.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.89-100
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• 2004

The comet assay (also called the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay) has been widely used for detecting DNA damage and repair in individual cells. Since the conventional methods of evaluating comet assay data using frequency statistics are unsatisfactory we developed a new quantitative measure of DNA damage/repair that is based on all information residing in the dose/time-response curves of a comet experiment. Blood samples were taken from 25 breast cancer patients before undergoing radiotherapy. The comet assay was performed under alkaline conditions using isolated lymphocytes. Tail DNA, tail length, tail moment and tail inertia of the comet were measured for each patient at four doses of $\gamma$-rays (0, 2, 4 and 8 Gy) and at four time points after irradiation (0, 10, 20 and 30 min) using 100 cells each. The resulting three-dimensional dose-time response surface was modeled by multiple regression, and the second derivative, termed 2D, on dose and time was determined. A software module was programmed in SAS/AF to compute 2D values. We applied the new method successfully to data obtained from cancer patients to be assessed for their radiation sensitivity. We computed the 2D values for the four damage measures, i.e., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and examined the pairwise correlation coefficients of 2D both on the log scale and the unlogged scale. 2D values based on tail moment and tail DNA showed a high correlation and, therefore, these two damage measures can be used interchangeably as far as DNA repair is concerned. 2D values based on tail inertia have a correlation profile different from the other 2D values which may reflect different facets of DNA damage/repair. Using the dose-time response surface, other statistical models, e.g., the proportional hazards model, become applicable for data analysis. The 2D approach can be applied to all DNA repair measures, Le., tail moment, tail length, tail DNA and tail inertia, and appears to be superior to conventional evaluation methods as it integrates all data of the dose/time-response curves of a comet assay.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.594-598
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• 2002

과일의 방사선 조사 여부 확인과 저장에 따른 변화를 측정하기 위해 감마선 조사로 유도된 DNA손상을 comet assay로 확인하였다. 키위, 오렌지, 배를 구입하여 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 kGy의 저 선량으로 조사하고 비 조사 시료와 조사 시료간의 DNA 손상정도를 tail length와 tail moment로 측정하였다. 과일 씨의 DNA를 형광 염색하여 이미지 분석기를 이용하여 comet 양상을 관찰한 결과, 모든 시료에서 비 조사 시료보다 조사시료의 tail length가 더 길었으며 조사 선량이 증가할수록 tail length가 유의적으로 길게 나타났다. Tail moment로 나타난 결과도 이와 비슷하였으나 전체적으로 tail length에 비해 그 민감도가 낮았다. 방사선 조사한 과일을 저온에서 3개월 동안 저장한 후에도 저장 전과 마찬가지로 모든 시료에서 비 조사시료보다 조사 시료의 tail length가 더 길었으며, 조사 선량이 증가할수록 tail length가 길게 나타나, 저장 후에도 comet assay를 이용해 조사 시료와 조사 시료의 방사선 조사여부를 검지할 수 있었다 따라서 본 연구결과 comet assay는 신선한 과일과 일정기간 저장한 과일의 방사선 조사여부 판별에 유용하게 사용될 수 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국환경생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경생물학회 2002년도 학술대회
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• pp.145-153
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• 2002

유해 화학 물질류에 의해 오염된 해양 환경 시료의 환경독성 수준을 평가하기 위하여 다양한 화학물질에 대해 민감성이 우수한 생물학적 독성평가기법을 개발 하고자하였다. 지속성 유기오염 물질 중 다환 방향 족 탄화수소(PAHs)를 처리한 광어(Conger myriaster)와 개조개(Saxidomus pupurata)의 DNA 손상정도를 single cell gel electrophoresis assay(comet assay)를 통해 분석하였다. PAHs 중 광양만에서 높은 농도로 검출되는 benzo(a)pyrene을 농도별(0, 10, 50, 100 ppb)로 처리한 후 2일과 4일에 광어의 혈액세포와 개조개의 근육세포를 채취해 comet assay를 실시하였다. benso(a)pyrene에 대한 DNA 손상정도를 처리된 농도와 생물종에 따라 다르게 나타났는데 광어의 혈액세포는 2일에 가장 DNA 손상정도가 높았고, 4일에는 회복되는 경향을 나타냈다. 개조개의 근육세포는 시간이 지나면서 DNA 손상정도가 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 이와 같은 결과는 comet assay 기법이 유해 화학물질로 오염된 해양생물 종의 환경독성을 검색하는 유용한 수단이 될 수 있음을 보여준다.

• 한국환경독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경독성학회 2003년도 추계국제학술대회
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• pp.159-159
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• 2003

Comet assay is a potential monitoring tool because DNA strand breakage may be produced by a wide range of agents. The comet assay, also called the single-cell gell electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, is rapid and sensitive method for the detection of DNA damage in cells. This study was performed for the identification of DNA damage in the cells from flounders and clams exposed to PAHs. As a control experiments, flounder and clam cells were exposed to $H_2O$$_2$. The cells exposed to $H_2O$$_2$ were displayed a typical nuclei movement DNA damage of cells were significantly increased when the isolated cells from the blood of flounders and the tissue of clams were in vitro exposed to the different concentrations (5, 10, 50, 100 ppb) of five kinds of PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, pyrene, fluoranthene, anthrancene, and phenanthrene). For the in vivo test, flounders and clams were exposed to the different concentrations of BaP for 4 days. The results showed that DNA strand breakage was effected by the concentration of BaP and the duration of exposure. In high concentration of BaP, the mean tail lengths of nuclei was longer than it In low concentration, while the mean size of head DNA decreased. In this research, both in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of PAHs could be biomonitored by the comet assay. Especially, clams and flounders seem to be useful as materials for monitoring genotoxic damage by comet assay.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.204-210
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• 2016

DNA damage responses are important for the maintenance of genome stability and the survival of organisms. Such responses are activated in the presence of DNA damage and lead to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA repair. In Caenorhabditis elegans, double-strand breaks induced by DNA damaging agents have been detected indirectly by antibodies against DSB recognizing proteins. In this study we used a comet assay to detect DNA strand breaks and to measure the elimination of DNA strand breaks in mitotic germline nuclei of C. elegans. We found that C. elegans brc-1 mutants were more sensitive to ionizing radiation and camptothecin than the N2 wild-type strain and repaired DNA strand breaks less efficiently than N2. This study is the first demonstration of direct measurement of DNA strand breaks in mitotic germline nuclei of C. elegans. This newly developed assay can be applied to detect DNA strand breaks in different C. elegans mutants that are sensitive to DNA damaging agents.