• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2023

Targeting Microcystin (MC), which is most abundantly detected in the North-Han River water area, we analyzed the relationship between the MC biosynthesis gene (mcyA gene), cyanobacteria cell density, and MC concentration, derived an RNA-MC conversion formula, and derived the cyanobacteria. The concentration of MC present in cells was predicted. In the North-Han River waters, the mcyA gene was found mainly at downstream sites of the North-Han River after Muk-Hyeon Stream junction, and higher copy numbers were found on average than other sites. In the Uiam Lake waters upstream of the North-Han River, the mcyA gene copy number increased at the Kong-Ji Stream point, and after September, the mcyA gene copy number decreased throughout the North-Han River waters. The expression of the mcyA gene was concentrated in the short period of summer due to the spatio-temporal difference between upstream and downstream water bodies. The mcyA gene expression level was not only highly correlated with MC concentration, but also correlated with the cell density of Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum circinale, which are known to biosynthesize MC. Six conversion formulas derived based on the RNA-MC relationship showed statistical significance (p<0.05) and exhibited high correlation coefficients (r) of 0.9 or higher. The expression level of MC biosynthesis gene present in eRNA determines the synthesis of cyanotoxin substances in water, quickly quantifies gene activity, and can be fully utilized for early warning of MC development.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.16-20
• /
• 1989

The effect of E. coli plasmid DNA sequences contained by chimeric vectors on plasmid replication was investigated. We constructed YRp7- or 2.$\mu$m circle-based plasmids containing E. coli plasmid DNA sequences and those not containing it. By examining their maintenance in yeast, we showed that plasmid without E. coli plasmid DNA sdquences was nore stable and presented higher copy number, and espressed higher level of hepatitis B viral surface antigen as a foreign gene. This result suggested that E. coli plasmid DNA sequences within chimeric plasmid somehow inhibited plasmid replication in yeast.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.442-448
• /
• 2010

The objectives of this study were to analyze mutant lines of Chinese cabbage ($Brassica$ $rapa$ ssp. $pekinensis$) using gene tagging system (plasmid rescue and inverse polymerase chain reaction) and to observe the phenotypic characteristics. Insertional mutants were derived by transferring DNA (T-DNA) of $Agrobacterium$ for functional genomics study in Chinese cabbage. The hypocotyls of Chinese cabbage 'Seoul' were used to obtain transgenic plants with $Agrobacterium$ $tumefaciens$ harboring pRCV2 vector. To tag T-DNA from the Chinese cabbage genomic DNA, plasmid rescue and inverse PCR were applied for multiple copies and single copy insertional mutants. These techniques were successfully conducted to Chinese cabbage plant with high efficiency, and as a result, T-DNA of pRCV2 vector showed distinct various integration patterns in the transgenic plant genome. The polyploidy level analysis showed the change in phenotypic characteristics of 13 mutant lines was not due to variation in somatic chromosome number. Compared with wild type, the $T_1$ progenies showed varied phenotypes, such as decreased stamen numbers, larger or smaller flowers, upright growth habit, hairless leaves, chlorosis symptoms, narrow leaves, and deeply serrated leaves. The polyploidy level analysis showed the change in phenotypic characteristics of 13 mutant lines was not due to variation in somatic chromosome number. To tag T-DNA from the Chinese cabbage genomic DNA, plasmid rescue and inverse PCR were applied for multiple copies and single copy insertional mutants. Mutants that showed distinct phenotypic difference compared to wild type with 1 copy of T-DNA by Southern blot analysis, and with 2n = 20 of chromosome number were selected. These selected mutant lines were sequenced flanking DNA, mapped genomic loci, and the genome information of the lines is being recorded in specially developed database.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.61-86
• /
• 2001

All cancers are caused by abnormalities in DNA sequence. Throughout life, the DNA in human cells is exposed to mutagens and suffers mistakes in replication, resulting in progressive, subtle changes in the DNA sequence in each cell. Since the development of conventional and molecular cytogenetic methods to the analysis of chromosomal aberrations in cancers, more than 1,800 recurring chromosomal breakpoints have been identified. These breakpoints and regions of nonrandom copy number changes typically point to the location of genes involved in cancer initiation and progression. With the introduction of molecular cytogenetic methodologies based on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), namely, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and multicolor FISH (m-FISH) in carcinomas become susceptible to analysis. Conventional CGH has been widely applied for the detection of genomic imbalances in tumor cells, and used normal metaphase chromosomes as targets for the mapping of copy number changes. However, this limits the mapping of such imbalances to the resolution limit of metaphase chromosomes (usually 10 to 20 Mb). Efforts to increase this resolution have led to the "new"concept of genomic DNA chip (1 to 2 Mb), whereby the chromosomal target is replaced with cloned DNA immobilized on such as glass slides. The resulting resolution then depends on the size of the immobilized DNA fragments. We have completed the first draft of its Korean Genome Project. The project proceeded by end sequencing inserts from a library of 96,768 bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) containing genomic DNA fragments from Korean ethnicity. The sequenced BAC ends were then compared to the Human Genome Project′s publicly available sequence database and aligned according to known cancer gene sequences. These BAC clones were biotinylated by nick translation, hybridized to cytogenetic preparations of metaphase cells, and detected with fluorescein-conjugated avidin. Only locations of unique or low-copy Portions of the clone are identified, because high-copy interspersed repetitive sequences in the probe were suppressed by the addition of unlabelled Cotl DNA. Banding patterns were produced using DAPI. By this means, every BAC fragment has been matched to its appropriate chromosomal location. We have placed 86 (156 BAC clones) cytogenetically defined landmarks to help with the characterization of known cancer genes. Microarray techniques would be applied in CGH by replacement of metaphase chromosome to arrayed BAC confirming in oncogene and tumor suppressor gene: and an array BAC clones from the collection is used to perform a genome-wide scan for segmental aneuploidy by array-CGH. Therefore, the genomic DNA chip (arrayed BAC) will be undoubtedly provide accurate diagnosis of deletions, duplication, insertions and rearrangements of genomic material related to various human phenotypes, including neoplasias. And our tumor markers based on genetic abnormalities of cancer would be identified and contribute to the screening of the stage of cancers and/or hereditary diseases

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.51-59
• /
• 2011

Genetic Identification has become an important forensic investigation method which discerns identity through analysis of physical samples discovered in various crime scenes. Recently more samples are being requested to undergo A-STR analysis of low copy number (LCN) DNA, which is known as touch evidence-type sample and left on various objects such as a pen briefly used by the criminal, the gear of the car used for driving, the handle, and various buttons inside a car. This research attempted to extract the LCN DNA of the touch evidencetype left on crushed fingerprints on firearms, etc. and examine the genotyping success rate. Four types of firearms (M16, K1A, COLT 45 Pistol, M29 Revolver) were fired individually and physical samples were gathered from four parts of each firearm. Subsequently, in order to extract the LCN DNA, Microkit and $Prepfiler^{TM}$ were used to compare and analyze the quantity of DNA extracted and the genotyping success rate. Analysis results showed that the quantity of DNA extracted by $Prepfiler^{TM}$ was on average 1.7 times higher than that of Microkit, and in genotype analysis success rate $Prepfiler^{TM}$ also demonstrated 24.9% on average in contrast to 0% for Microkit. In regards to the grip part of the K1A, $Prepfiler^{TM}$'s success rate was as high as 50.6%.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.46-51
• /
• 2023

Exonic copy number variation (CNV), involving deletions and duplications at the gene's exon level, presents challenges in detection due to their variable impact on gene function. The study delves into the complexities of identifying large CNVs and investigates less familiar but recurrent exonic CNVs, notably enriched in East Asian populations. Examining specific cases like DRC1, STX16, LAMA2, and CFTR highlights the clinical implications and prevalence of exonic CNVs in diverse populations. The review addresses diagnostic challenges, particularly for single exon alterations, advocating for a strategic, multi-method approach. Diagnostic methods, including multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, droplet digital PCR, and CNV screening using next-generation sequencing data, are discussed, with whole genome sequencing emerging as a powerful tool. The study underscores the crucial role of ethnic considerations in understanding specific CNV prevalence and ongoing efforts to unravel subtle variations. The ultimate goal is to advance rare disease diagnosis and treatment through ethnically-specific therapeutic interventions.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.281-291
• /
• 2022

Quantifying the abundance of Chattonella species is necessary to effectively manage the threats from ichthyotoxic raphidophytes, which can cause large-scale mortality of aquacultured fish in temperate waters. The identification and cell counting of Chattonella species have been conducted primarily on living cells without fixation by light microscopy because routine fixatives do not retain their morphological features. Species belonging to the Chattonella marina complex, including C. marina and C. marina var. ovata, had high genetic similarities and the lack of clear morphological delimitations between the species. To estimate the abundance of C. marina complex in marine plankton samples, we developed a protocol based on the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay, with C. marina complex-specific primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA. Cell abundance of the C. marina complex can be determined using the ITS copy number per cell, ranging from 25 ± 1 for C. marina to 112 ± 7 for C. marina var. ovata. There were no significant differences in ITS copies estimated by the ddPCR assay between environmental DNA samples from various localities spiked with the same number of cells of culture strains. This approach can be employed to improve the monitoring efficiency of various marine protists and to support the implementation of management for harmful algal blooms, which are difficult to analyze using microscopy alone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.4493-4496
• /
• 2015

Alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been studied in various cancers. However, the clinical value of mtDNA copy number (mtCN) alterations in gastric cancer (GC) is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether alterations in mtCNs might be associated with clinicopathological parameters in GC cases. mtCN was measured in 109 patients with GC by real-time PCR. Then, correlations with clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. mtCN was elevated in 64.2% of GC tissues compared with paired, adjacent, non-cancerous tissue. However, the observed alterations in mtCN were not associated with any clinicopathological characteristics, including age, gender, TN stage, Lauren classification, lymph node metastasis, and depth of invasion. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that mtCN was not significantly associated with the survival of GC patients. In this study, we demonstrated that mtCN was not a significant marker for predicting clinical characteristics or prognosis in GC.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.246-252
• /
• 2008

Tumor tissue is usually contaminated by normal tissue components, which reduces the sensitivity of analysis for exploring genetic alterations. Although microdissection has been adopted to minimize the contamination of tumor DNA with normal cell components, there is a concern over the amount of microdissected DNA not enough to be applied to array-CGH reaction. To amplify the extracted DNA, several whole genome amplification (WGA) methods have been developed, but objective comparison of the array-CGH outputs using different types of WGA methods is still scarce. In this study, we compared the performance of non-amplified microdissected DNA and DNA amplified in 2 WGA methods such as degenerative oligonucleotide primed (DOP)-PCR, and multiple strand displacement amplification (MDA) using Phi 29 DNA polymerase. Genomic DNA was also used to make a comparison. We applied those 4 DNAs to whole genome BAC array to compare the false positive detection rate (FPDR) and sensitivity in detecting copy number alterations under the same hybridization condition. As a result microdissected DNA method showed the lowest FPDR and the highest sensitivity. Among WGA methods, DOP-PCR amplified DNA showed better sensitivity but similar FPDR to MDA-amplified method. These results demonstrate the advantage and applicability of microdissection for array-CGH analysis, and provide useful information for choosing amplification methods to study copy number alterations, especially based on precancerous and microscopically invaded lesions.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.183-193
• /
• 2015

Several transgenic marine medaka Oryzias dancena strains harboring a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter construct regulated by an endogenous ${\beta}$-actin promoter were established and their expression characteristics in relation to transgene copy numbers were examined in 21 transgene genotypes. Most of the transgenic strains displayed transgene insertion patterns typical of microinjection-mediated introduction of foreign DNA into fish embryos, characterized by the random integration of multiple transgene copies (ranging from 1 - 282 copies per cell), often accompanied by the formation of concatemer(s), as assessed by genomic Southern blot hybridization analysis and qPCR. Transgenic strains showed ubiquitous and continued temporal and spatial expression patterns of the transgenic GFP during most of their life cycle, from the embryonic stage to adulthood, enabling assessment of the expression pattern of the endogenous ${\beta}$-actin gene. However, a comparative evaluation of transgene copy numbers and expression levels showed that copy number-dependent expression, the stability of the ubiquitous distribution and expression efficiency per transgene copy varied among the transgenic strains. Fluorescence expression levels were positively correlated with absolute transgene copy numbers, whereas the expression efficiency per transgene copy was inversely related to the number of transgene integrant copies. Data from this study will guide the selection of potentially desirable transgenic strains with ubiquitous expression of a fluorescent transgene, not only in this marine medaka species but also in other related model fish species.