• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.613-630
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• 2006

Nucleic acids are virtually omnipresent; they exist in every living being. These macromolecules constitute the most important genetic storage material: the genes. Genes are conserved throughout the evolution of all living beings; they are transmitted from the parents to their offspring. Many interdisciplinary research groups are interested in modifying nucleic acids for use in a wider variety of applications. These modified oligonucleotides are used in many diverse fields, including diagnostics, detection, and therapeutics. In this account, we summarize our research efforts related to modified nucleic acid systems. First, we discuss our syntheses of modified oligonucleotides containing fluorescent tags for use as molecular probes (molecular beacons) to detect single-nucleotide polymorphisim (SNP) in nucleic acids and to distinguish between the B and Z forms of DNA. We also describe our research efforts into oligonucleotides functionalized with steroid derivatives to enhance their cell permeability, and the synthesis of several calix[4]arene-oligonucleotide conjugates possessing the ability to form defined triplexes. In addition, we have performed systematic studies to have an understanding about the functional groups necessary for a given nucleoside to behave as an organo or hydrogelator. The aggregation properties of a number of nucleoside-based phospholipids have been examined in different solvents; some of these derivatives are potential candidates for use as nucleoside-based liposomes. Finally, we also describe our research efforts toward the preparation of isoxazole- and isoxazoline-containing nucleoside derivatives and the determination of their antiviral activities.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.269-274
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• 2017

The PCR analysis was performed on DNA samples extracted from a total of 20 individuals using six oligonucleotides primers. The author accomplished clustering analyses to reveal the Euclidean genetic distances among four clam populations from Gochang, Seocheon, Taean and Anmyeon of the Korean peninsula. The oligonucleotides primer OPA-08 generated 5 unique loci to each population, approximately 550 bp and 600 bp, respectively, in the MCS population. Especially, the primer OPA-20 generated 15 unique loci to each population, which were identifying each population, approximately 400 bp, 750 bp and 800 bp, in the MCT population. Individuals from MCG clam population ($0.637{\pm}0.227$) exhibited higher band-sharing values than did individuals from MCG clam population ($0.402{\pm}0.115$) (P<0.05). The dendrogram obtained by the six oligonucleotides primers indicates four genetic clusters: cluster 1 (MCG 01, 02, 04 and 05), cluster 2 (MCS 06, 07, 08, 09 and 10), cluster 3 (MCT 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) and cluster 4 (MCA 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and MCG 03). Among the twenty clam individuals, the shortest genetic distance that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals 14 and 15 from the MCT population (genetic distance = 0.094), while the longest genetic distance among the twenty individuals that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals MCG no. 01 and MCG no. 02 (genetic distance = 0.687). Comparatively, individuals of MCS clam population were fairly closely related to that of MCT clam population, as shown in the hierarchical dendrogram of Euclidean genetic distances.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.382-388
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• 2018

본 연구는 치아우식증의 주 원인균으로 작용하는 S. mutans에 특이적인 앱타머 및 그 작용 기전에 관한 것으로 더욱 상세하게는 SELEX방법을 이용하여 S. mutans에 특이적인 앱타머를 선별하고, 앱타머와 결합하는 단백질 분자를 정제 및 동정함으로써 S. mutans의 부착에 관련된 기전을 보다 더 명확하게 규명하고자 하였다. 표적분자에 높은 친화도와 선택성으로 결합할 수 있는 특성을 가지는 앱타머는 3차원적인 특이적 구조에 의해 표적물질에 대해 수 nM ~ 수 pM 수준의 높은 결합력과 선택성을 지니고 있으며, 항체와 유사한 특성을 가지는 핵산으로 여겨지고 있다. 또한, 항체에 비해 안정성이 매우 높아 실온 보관이나 운반이 가능하고, 장시간이나 반복사용이 요구되는 진단용으로의 응용이 매우 용이하다. 또한 생체 내 면역거부반응이 거의 일어나지 않는 점 등을 바탕으로 보다 저렴한 앱타머로 대체하려는 시도가 이루어지고 있으며, 이는 치료용으로의 개발연구에 매우 중요한 장점이 될 수 있다. 이를 위하여 39개의 random sequence를 갖는 DNA library를 제조하고, S. mutans를 앱타머 선별의 대상물질로 하여, SELEX 방법을 통하여 선별하고 pCR2.1 cloning vector에 cloning하고, 그 염기서열을 분석하였다. 그 결과 6종의 서로 다른 염기서열을 갖는 앱타머를 선별하였으며, 선별된 앱타머 중 SM-2를 이용하여 앱타머와 직접 결합하는 단백질을 분리, 동정하였다. 위의 결과로부터 선별된 앱타머들은 S. mutans에 선택적으로 결합함을 확인하였고, 이 앱타머는 세균의 당 대사 및 단백질 합성 관련 단백질에 결합함으로서 세균의 부착을 억제 할 수 있음을 확인하였다.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1994년도 춘계학술대회 and 제3회 신약개발 연구발표회
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• pp.267-267
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• 1994

In order to obtain insight into the mechanism by which DNA containing a thymine photo-dimer is recognized by the excision repair enzyme, T$_4$ endonuclease V, we have taken NMR study of this protein and its complex with oligonucleotides. The conformations of five different DNA duplexes DNA I : d(GCGGATGGCG).d(CGCCTACCGC), DNA II d(GCGGTTGGCG) .d(CGCCAACCGC), DNA III : d(GCGGT ^ TGGCG) .d(CGCCAACCGC), DNA IV d(GCGGGCGGCG).d(CGCCCGCCGC) and DNA V d(GCGGCCGGCG) . d(CGCCGGCCGC) were studied by $^1$H NMR. The NMR spectra of these five DNA duplexes in the absence of the enzyme clearly show that the formation of a thymine dimer within the DNA induces only a minor distortion in the structure, and that the overall structure of B type DNA is retained. The photo-dimer formation is found to cause a large change in chemical shifts at the GC7 base pair, which is located at the 3'-side of the thymine dimer, accompanied by the major conformational change at the thymine dimer site. The binding of a mutant T$_4$ endonuclease V (E23Q), which is unable to digest DNA containing a thymine dimer, to the DNA duplex d(GCGGT ^ TGGCG)ㆍd(CGCCAACCGC) causes a large down-field shift in the imino proton resonance of GC7. Therefore, this position is thought to be either the crucial point of the interaction wi th T$_4$ endonuclease V, or the si to of a conformational change in the DNA caused by the binding of T$_4$ endonuclease V. Usually, it is very difficult to assign NMR peaks in DNA * protein complex because of severe peak overlaps. In order to overcome these peak overlaps, we used a method of deuterium incorporation.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.89-98
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• 2014

The twenty-one individuals of Meretrix lusoria were secured from Gunsan, Shinan and Yeonggwang on the coast of the Yellow Sea and the southern sea in the Korean Peninsula, respectively. Amplification of a single COI fragment (720 bp) was imagined, and no apparent size differences were observed in amplified fragments between Meretrix lusoria and M. petechialis individuals. The size of the DNA fragments also varied excitedly, from 200 to 1,600 bp. The oligonucleotides primer BION-08 produced the least loci (a total of 17), with an average of 2.43 in the Gunsan population, in comparison to the other primers used. Remarkably, the primer BION-13 detected 42 shared loci by the three populations, major and/or minor fragments of sizes 200 bp and 400 bp, respectively, which were identical in all samples. The dendrogram gained by the seven oligonucleotides primers highlight three genetic clusters: cluster 1 (GUNSAN 01 ~ GUNSAN 07), cluster 2 (SHINAN 08 ~ SHINAN 14) and cluster 3 (YEONGGWANG 15 ~ YEONGGWANG 21). The longest genetic distance among the twenty-one Meretrix lusoria individuals that displayed significant molecular differences was between individuals GUNSAN no. 01 and SHINAN no. 14 (genetic distance = 0.574). Comparatively, individuals of SHINAN population were fairly closely related to that of YEONGGWANG population. In this study, PCR analysis has discovered significant genetic distances between two white clam population pairs (P<0.05).

• 약학회지
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.156-160
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• 2009

The present study was undertaken to determine whether transgelin participates in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction and, if so, to investigate the mechanism. By PCR homology cloning, the cDNA sequence of ferret transgelin was determined and phosphorothioate antisense and random oligonucleotides were synthesized and introduced into strips of ferret aorta by a chemical loading procedure. Treatment of ferret aorta with transgelin antisense oligonucleotides resulted in a significant decrease in protein levels of transgelin to sham- or random sequence-loaded muscles, but no change in the protein levels of actin. Contraction in response to a phorbol ester was significantly decreased in antisense-treated muscles compared to sham- or random sequence-loaded controls. Neither basal intrinsic tone nor the contraction in response to phenylephrine was significantly affected by the antisense treatment. The data indicate that transgelin plays a significant role in the regulation of contraction and suggest that in a tonically active smooth muscle transgelin may function as a signalling protein to facilitate PKC or ERK-dependent signalling rather than thick filament regulation including $Ca^{2+}$ or calmodulin dependent regulation of myosin light chain kinase.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.305-311
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• 2021

The oligonucleotides polymers (ON-polymers) were used producing a total of 110 loci unique to each clam population (LUECP) in group one and 132 in group two, respectively, varying in amount of DNA fragments (FRs) from greater than near 50 to a smaller quantity than 1,050 bp. The larger FR amounts (>1,050 bp) are not noticed in the two Scapharca subcrenata groups. The ON-polymer OPD-01 produced 33 LUECP, which were defining each group, almost 300 bp, 450 bp, and 500 bp, in the group one. The OPD-15 recognized 22 loci shared by the two clam populations (Loci shared by the two clam populations, LSTCP), a variety of FRs of sizes 300 bp that were equivalent in all specimens. The mean number of LUECP was varied and 1.2-fold greater in the shellfish group two than in the group one. Respecting mean bandsharing (BS) grade outcomes, entities in the shellfish group one (0.779±0.011) had a little higher BS grades than did entities from the group two (0.756±0.009) (p<0.05). The entities of the shellfish group one are not tightly gathered with other entities of the group two. The genetic distance (GD) (0.422) of this invertebrate (SUBCRENATA 02 and 01) is 7.41-fold hereditarily distinct to the GD (0.057) of the other invertebrate (SUBCRENATA 22 and 19). The polar dendrogram (PDG) procured by the five ON-polymers underlines two characteristic groups.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.81-84
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• 2014

To examine the microenvironmental effect of DNA on the photosensitized reaction, the electron-donor-connecting porphyrin, meso-(9-phenanthryl)-tris(N-methyl-p-pyridinio) porphyrin (Phen-TMPyP), was synthesized. Phen-TMPyP can bind to oligonucleotides with two binding modes, depending on the DNA concentration. The fluorescence lifetime measurement of Phen-TMPyP shows a shorter component than that of the reference porphyrin without the phenanthryl moiety. However, the observed value is much longer than those of previously reported similar types of electron-donor-connecting porphyrins, suggesting that electron-transfer quenching by the phenanthryl moiety is not sufficient. The fluorescence quantum yield of Phen-TMPyP ($5{\mu}M$) decreased with an increase in DNA concentration of up to $5{\mu}M$ base pair (bp), possibly due to self-quenching through an aggregation along the DNA strand, increased with an increase in DNA concentration of more than $5{\mu}M$ bp and reached a plateau. The fluorescence quantum yield of Phen-TMPyP with a sufficient concentration of DNA was larger than that of the reference porphyrin. The singlet oxygen ($^1O_2$) generating activity of Phen-TMPyP was confirmed by the near-infrared emission spectrum measurement. The quantum yield of $^1O_2$ generation was decreased by a relatively small concentration of DNA, possibly due to the aggregation of Phen-TMPyP, and recovered with a sufficient concentration of DNA. The recovered quantum yield was rather smaller than that without DNA, indicating the quenching of $^1O_2$ by DNA. These results show that a DNA strand can stabilize the photoexcited state of a photosensitizer and, in a certain case, suppresses the $^1O_2$ generation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.657-662
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• 2006

Identification of accessible sites in targeted RNAs is a major limitation to the effectiveness of antisense oligonucleotides. A class of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, known as the “10-23” DNA enzyme or DNAzyme, which is a small catalytic DNA, has been shown to efficiently cleave target RNA at purine-pyrimidine junctions in vitro. We have designed a strategy to identify accessible cleavage sites in the target RNA, which is hepatitis C virus nonstructural gene 3 (HCV NS3) RNA that encodes viral helicase and protease, from a pool of random DNAzyme library. A pool of DNAzymes of 58 nucleotides-length that possess randomized annealing arms, catalytic core sequence, and fixed 5'/3'-end flanking sequences was designed and screened for their ability to cleave the target RNA. The screening procedure, which includes binding of DNAzyme pool to the target RNA under inactive condition, selection and amplification of active DNAzymes, incubation of the selected DNAzymes with the target RNA, and target site identification on sequencing gels, identified 16 potential cleavage sites in the target RNA. Corresponding DNAzymes were constructed for the selected target sites and were tested for RNA-cleavage in terms of kinetics and accessibility. These selected DNAzymes were effective in cleaving the target RNA in the presence of $Mg^{2+}$. This strategy can be applicable to identify accessible sites in any target RNA for antisense oligonucleotides-based gene inactivation methods.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.64-71
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• 2006

To investigate the effects of the nucleotide sequences in Shine-Dalgarno (SD) and the spacer region (SD-ATG) on bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene expression, the expression vectors under the control of the T7 promoter (pT7-7 vector) were constructed using bGH derivatives (bGH1 & bGH14) which have different 5'-coding regions and were induced in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Oligonucleotides containing random SD sequences and a spacer region were chemically synthesized and the distance between the SD region and the initiation codon were fixed to nine bases in length. The oligonucleotides were annealed and fused to the bGH1 and bGH14 cDNA, respectively. When the bGH gene was induced with IPTG in E. coli BL21(DE3), some clones containing only bGH14 cDNA produced considerable levels of bGH in the range of $6.9\%\;to\;8.5\%$ of total cell proteins by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Otherwise, the bGH was not detected in any clones with bGH1 cDNA. Accordingly, the nucleotide sequences of SD and the spacer region affect on bGH expression indicates that the sequences sufficiently destabilize the mRNA secondary structure of the bGH14 gene. When the free energy was calculated from the transcription initiation site to the +51 nucleotide of bGH cDNA using a program of nucleic acid folding and hybridization prediction, the constructs with values below -26.3 kcal/mole (toward minus direction) were not expressed. The constructs with the original sequence of bGH cDNA also did not show any expression, regardless of the free energy values. Thus, the disruption of the mRNA secondary structure may be a major factor regulating bGH expression in the translation initiation process. Accordingly, the first stem-loop among two secondary structures present in the 5'-end region of the bGH gene should be disrupted for the effective expression of bGH.