• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2011

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can self-renew maintaining the undifferentiated state. Self renewal requires many factors such as Oct4, Sox2, FoxD3, and Nanog. NF-${\kappa}B$ is a transcription factor involved in many biological activities. Expression and activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ increase upon differentiation of ES cells. Reportedly, Nanog protein directly binds to NF-${\kappa}B$ protein and inhibits its activity in ES cells. Here, we found a potential binding site of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the human Nanog promoter and postulated that NF-${\kappa}B$ protein may regulate expression of the Nanog gene. We used human embryonic carcinoma (EC) cells as a model system of ES cells and confirmed decrease of Nanog and increase of NF-${\kappa}B$ upon differentiation induced by retinoic acid. Although deletion analysis on the DNA fragment including NF-${\kappa}B$ binding site suggested involvement of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the negative regulation of the promoter, site-directed mutation of NF-${\kappa}B$ binding site had no effect on the Nanog promoter activity. Furthermore, no direct association of NF-${\kappa}B$ with the Nanog promoter was detected during differentiation. Therefore, we conclude that NF-${\kappa}B$ protein may not be involved in transcriptional regulation of Nanog gene expression in EC cells and possibly in ES cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.116-120
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• 2004

The medicinal properties of Ganoderma lucidum have been recognized in China for many centuries. Active pharmaceutical components include triterpenes. To elucidate the molecular regulation of triterpene biosynthesis in this mushroom, a 57-base pair DNA fragment encoding the fourth conserved domain SQ-4 (SMGLFLQKTNIIRDYNEDL) of squalene synthase was synthesized and cloned into the expression vector pET-32a(＋). The recombinant fusion protein induced by IPTG (isopropyl-$\beta$-D-thiogalactopyranoside) was overexpressed in the Escherichia coli. Using the purified recombinant fusion protein of 20.9 kDa, a specific polyclonal antibody was obtained from immunized rabbit. Expression of squalene synthase at different development stages of Ganoderma lucidum was analyzed.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.90-93
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• 1998

Cultured isolates of Prorocentrum minimum, P. micans, P. triestinum, P. balticum, Gymnodinium sanguineum, Alexandrium catenella, Scrippsiella trochoidea, and Heterosigma akashiwo from red tides in southern coast of Korea were phylogenetically compared on the basis of their 24S rRNA genes. For each isolate approximately 700 bp of 24S rDNA, encompassing D1 and D2 hypervariable domains, was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The sequences were aligned with those reported in Genbank by using ClustalW program and phylogenetic tree was generated to show that morphospecies designations in the Alexandrium and Prorocentrum species are congruent with terminal taxa defined by phylogenetic analysis of the 24S rRNA fragment. Our results suggest that the molecular phylogeny approach could facilitate identification of domestic dinoflagellates which have ambiguous morphologies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on the xylene metabolism. Methods : Among 247 workers, 116 were occupationally exposed to xylene and 131 were not. Workers exposed to xylene had different work such as spray, touch-up, mix & assist, and pre-treat. Questionnaire variables were age, sex, use of personal protective equipment, smoking, previous night's drinking and work duration. The urinary methylhippuric acid was measured in the urine collected in the afternoon and corrected by urinary creatinine concentration. The genotypes of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 were investigated by using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. Results : 1. The urinary concentrations of o-, m-, and p-methylhippuric acid and total methylhippuric acid in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the non-exposed group (p<0.001). 2. In multiple regression analysis, the urinary methylhippuric acid concentration was significantly influenced by exposure grade (Job-exposure matrixes), smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment (p<0.1). 3. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not affect urinary methylhippuric acid level in the exposed group (p>0.05). Conclusions : Exposure grade, smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment affected urinary methylhippuric acid level, whereas genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not. However, further investigation for the effect of genetic polymorphism on the metabolism of xylene with a larger sample size is needed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 1999

Shigella sonnez is important causes of human enleric infcctions. S. sonnei KNIH104S was isolated from patient of shigellosis in Korea and previously reported. We cloned 1.7 kb BamHI fragment containing the asd gene encoding an aspartate $\beta$-semialdehyde dehydrogenase from chromosomal DNA of S. sonnei KNIH104S. This recombinant plasmid was named as pSAB17. E. coli $\chi$6097, an a d mutant, cannol grow on the LB medium without DL-$\alpha$, $\varepsilon$-diaminopimclic acid (50 pgiml) but E. coli x 6097(pSAB17) can grow on the same medium. We sequenccd the asd gene ol Shigella for the first time. The asd gcne was composed of 1,104 base pairs with ATG initiation codon and TAA termination codon. Sequence comparison of the asd gene exhibited 99.9% nucleolide sequence hornology with that of E. coli. Also, We constructed the balanced-lethal vector using pBluescrip SK(+) and asd gene of S. sonnei KNIH104S.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2000

Salmonella typhi is one of important causes of human enteric infections. S. typhi KNIH100 was isolated from a patient of typhoid fever in Korea. We cloned a 5.0 kb SalⅠ fragment containing the aroA gene encoding a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthetase from chromosomal DNA of this strain. This recombinant plasmid was named pSAL80. E. coli CGSC2829, an aroA- mutant, was not grown on the M9 minimal medium but E. coli CGSC2829 (pSAL80) was grown on the M9 minimal medium. The aroA gene was composed of 1,284 base pairs with ATG initiation codon and TAA termination codon. Sequence comparison of the aroA gene exhibited 99%, 98%, and 77% identity with those of S. typhi Ty2, S. typhimurium, and E. coli respectively. As in the cases of Shigella sonnei and E. coli, the serC and aroA genes lie in a single operonic structure.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.409-417
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• 2007

Burkholderia sp. HY-10 isolated from the digestive tracts of the longicorn beetle, Prionus insularis, produced an extracellular lipase with a molecular weight of 33.5 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE. The lipase was purified from the culture supernatant to near electrophoretic homogenity by a one-step adsorption-desorption procedure using a polypropylene matrix followed by a concentration step. The purified lipase exhibited highest activities at pH 8.5 and $60^{\circ}C$. A broad range of lipase substrates, from $C_4\;to\;C_{18}$ p-nitrophenyl esters, were hydrolyzed efficiently by the lipase. The most efficient substrate was p-nitrophenyl caproate ($C_6$). A 2485 bp DNA fragment was isolated by PCR amplification and chromosomal walking which encoded two polypeptides of 364 and 346 amino acids, identified as a lipase and a lipase foldase, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified lipase and nucleotide sequence analysis predicted that the precursor lipase was proteolytically modified through the secretion step and produced a catalytically active 33.5 kDa protein. The deduced amino acid sequence for the lipase shared extensive similarity with those of the lipase family 1.2 of lipases from other bacteria. The deduced amino acid sequence contained two Cystein residues forming a disulfide bond in the molecule and three, well-conserved amino acid residues, $Ser^{131},\;His^{330},\;and\;Asp^{308}$, which composed the catalytic triad of the enzyme.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1478-1484
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• 2003

CRAMP was identified from a cDNA clone derived from a mouse femoral marrow cells as a member of cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide. Tertiary structure of CRAMP in TFE/$H_2O$ (1 : 1, v/v) solution has been determined by NMR spectroscopy previously and consists of two amphipathic $\alpha-helices$ from Leu4 to Lys10 and from Gly16 to Leu33. These two helices are connected by a flexible region from Gly11 to Gly16. Analysis of series of fragments composed of various portion of CRAMP revealed that an 18-residue fragment with the sequence from Gly16 to Leu33 (CRAMP-18) was found to retain antibacterial activity without cytotoxicity. The effects of two Phe residues at positions 14 and 15 of CRAMP-18 on structure, antibacterial activity, and interaction with lipid membranes were investigated by $Phe^{14,15}$ ${\rightarrow}$ Ala substitution (CRAMP-18-A) in the present study. Substitution of Phe with Ala in CRAMP-18 caused a significant reduction on antibacterial and membrane-disrupting activities. Tertiary structures of CRAMP-18 in 50% TFE/$H_2O$ (1 : 1, v : v) solution shows amphipathic ${\alpha}$-helix, from $Glu^2{\;}to{\;}Leu^{18}$, while CRAMP-18-A has relatively short amphipathic ${\alpha}$-helix from $Leu^4{\;}to{\;}Ala^{15}$. These results suggest that the hydrophobic property of $Phe^{14}{\;}and{\;}Phe^15$ in CRAMP-18 is essential for its antibacterial activity, ${\alpha}$-helical structure, and interactions with phospholipid membranes.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.431-440
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• 2016

In 2004, bacterial spot-causing xanthomonads (BSX) were reclassified into 4 species-Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, X. vesicatoria, X. perforans, and X. gardneri. Bacterial spot disease on pepper plant in Korea is known to be caused by both X. axonopodis pv. vesicatoria and X. vesicatoria. Here, we reidentified the pathogen causing bacterial spots on pepper plant based on the new classification. Accordingly, 72 pathogenic isolates were obtained from the lesions on pepper plants at 42 different locations. All isolates were negative for pectolytic activity. Five isolates were positive for amylolytic activity. All of the Korean pepper isolates had a 32 kDa-protein unique to X. euvesicatoria and had the same band pattern of the rpoB gene as that of X. euvesicatoria and X. perforans as indicated by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A phylogenetic tree of 16S rDNA sequences showed that all of the Korean pepper plant isolates fit into the same group as did all the reference strains of X. euvesicatoria and X. perforans. A phylogenetic tree of the nucleotide sequences of 3 housekeeping genes-gapA, gyrB, and lepA showed that all of the Korean pepper plant isolates fit into the same group as did all of the references strains of X. euvesicatoria. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, we identified the pathogen as X. euvesicatoria. Neither X. vesicatoria, the known pathogen of pepper bacterial spot, nor X. perforans, the known pathogen of tomato plant, was isolated. Thus, we suggest that the pathogen causing bacterial spot disease of pepper plants in Korea is X. euvesicatoria.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2002

Purpose This study was carried out to investigate the correlation between Sasang constitution and lL-4 polymorphism of Atopy gene. Methods 1. We have selected 165 cases of DNA samples from individuals with proven history of Atopy symptom and Sasang constitution. 2. The lL-4 589C-T polymorphism was genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Result They were divided six groups as the history of atopy and age. There is no group shown statistical correlation in the result of constitutional lL-4 polymorphism typing. Conclusion 1. In the total groups, lL-4 polymorphism(589C-T change of 5q31-33 position) were noted 0.727 on Soumin, 0.790 on Soyangin and 0.809 on Taeumin. It was larger on Taeumin, but there is no stastical difference between. 2. In the Atopy groups, lL-4 polymorphism(589C-T change of 5q31-33 position) were noted 0.682 on Soyangin, 0.750 on Taeumin and 0.807 on Soumin. It was larger on Soumin, but there is no stastical difference between constitution.