• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.128-133
• /
• 1998

Analyses of now karyotypes using different maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines have been performed. The accumulation and isolation of high quality and quantity metaphase chromosomes from root tips can be achieved from many kinds of maize lines. The chromosome suspensions were prepared by a simple slicing method from synchronized maize root tips and analyzed with a now cytometry. The variations of experimental now karyotypes were detected among inbred lines in terms of the positions and/or the numbers of chromosome peaks. The 2C DNA amount among 8 inbred lines ranged from 5.09 to 5.52 pg. The variability of DNA content in maize chromosome 1 was 9.1 % ranging from 0.685 to 0.747 pg. The selection of appropriate maize lines is critical for sorting specific single chromosome types. At least five different chromosome types can be discriminated and sorted from five maize lines.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2016.02a
• /
• pp.375.1-375.1
• /
• 2016

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized genetics and become one of the most popular techniques in modern biological and medical sciences. It can be used not only as an in vitro DNA amplification method but also used in many bioassay applications. The PCR can be used to exponentially produce a large number of DNA copies from a small quantity of DNA molecules in a few hours. However, as unwanted DNA fragments are also often manufactured, the amplification efficiency of PCR is decreased. To overcome this limitation, several nanomaterials have been employed to increase the specificity of the PCR reaction. Recently, graphene has attracted a great interest for its excellent electron transfer, thermal and biocompatibility. Especially, gold nanoparticle-coated graphene oxide (GO/AuNPs) led to enhance electron and thermal transfer rate and low-charge transfer resistance. Therefore, we report the development of a demonstration for the PCR efficiency using a large-scale production of the GO and combination of gold nanoparticles. Because a thermal conductivity is an important factor for improving the PCR efficiency in different DNA polymerases and different size samples. When PCR use GO/AuNPs, the result of transmission electron microscopy and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed an enhanced PCR efficiency. We have demonstrated that GO/AuNPs would be simply outperformed for enhancing the specificity and efficiency of DNA amplification procedure.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.445-456
• /
• 2008

Telomeres consist of TTAGGG tandem repeated DNA sequences with specific proteins and locate at chromosome ends. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence, apoptosis and cancer. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which has a template for the synthesis of telomeric DNA. This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeric DNA and telomerase activity in cattle cells. Analysis of the quantity of telomere in lymphocytes was done at different ages, sex and among Korean cattle and Holstein breeds. The telomerase activity was also analyzed in liver, brain, heart, kidney, and testis tissues of fetal calf and of 18 month old cattle. The amount of telomeres in lymphocytes and other tissue cells was analyzed by Quantitative-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (Q-FISH) technique using a telomeric DNA probe. Telomerase activity was analyzed by Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol assay (TRAP). The amount of telomeric DNA on the lymphocytes during the whole life span was decreased along with age. Quantity of telomeres in Korean cattle was significantly higher than that in Holstein breed. The amount of telomeric DNA in males was significantly higher than that in females. Telomerase activity was up-regulated in most bovine tissues during fetal stage, but was down-regulated in most tissues at mature 18 month age except the testis cells. This study indicates that the amount of telomeres and telomerase activity of cells can be used as an age marker or/and a physiological marker of cattle.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.16-18
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeres and telomerase activity of several chicken cells. Telomere quantity and telomerase activity were analyzed during organ development, growth and aging in embryonic and adults chicken. Analyzed cells were whole embryos and the cells from brain, heart, liver, kidney, lymphocytes and germinal tissues in Korean Native Chicken. The amount of telomeric DNA was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) techniques using a chicken telomere repeat probe. Telomerase activity was performed by Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP) assay. In results, telomerase activity was highly detectable in early embryonic cells, germinal cells and kidney cells. Whereas the cells from brain, heart, and liver had gradually down-regulated pattern of telomerase activity. Analyzing the telomere quantities on chicken cells, the amount of telomeric DNA of most chicken cells gradually decreased as growth. From these results, the amount of telomeric DNA was directly affected by telomerase activity. Consequently the telomere quantity and telomerase activity are closely relate to cell differentiation and tissue specificity during developmental and growing stages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 2015

Genome walking is a par ticular application for identifying sequences of unknown genomic regions adjacent to a known region. Many genome walking methods based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are available. Even if earlier techniques suffer from low reproducibility, inefficiency, and non-specificity, improved strategies have been developed. In this study, we present an alternative strategy: the genomic DNA is digested with restriction enzymes. After cytosine overhangs at 5' ends, the fragments are ligated to linker adaptor s had guanine overhang at 3' ends. Then nested PCR is performed. The improvements in this strategy focus on two points. The first is the C tailing method using Pfu polymerase instead of the A tailing method based on nontemplate-dependent terminal transferase activity of Taq polymerase. Therefore unintended modification of target DNA can be prevented without A tailing error. The second point is the use of C/G-specific ligation had advantage in the ligation efficiency compared with A/T-specific ligation. Therefore, the C-G linker PCR method increases ligation efficiency between digested genomic DNA and adaptor DNA. As a result, the quantity of target DNA to amplify by PCR is enriched. We successfully used G-C linker PCR to retrieve flanking regions bordering the phophinothricin resistance gene in genetically modified tobacco (GMO).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2018

In an age when a small quantity of sperm can lead to pregnancy through in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, selecting healthy sperm is important. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is known to be higher in infertile men. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the alkaline comet test are SDF tests that directly measure DNA damage and have shown closer correlations with assisted reproduction results than indirect tools such as the sperm chromatin structure assay or the sperm chromatic dispersion test. It is difficult; however, to endorse a single test as the best test overall; instead, it is best to select a testing method based on each patient's clinical condition and goals. In a couple struggling with infertility, if the male partner has a high level of SDF, he should aim to decrease SDF through lifestyle modifications, antioxidant treatment, and ensuring an appropriate duration of abstinence, and physicians need to treat the underlying diseases of such patients. If sperm DNA damage continues despite the patient's and physician's efforts, other methods, such as micromanipulation-based sperm selection or testicular sperm extraction, should be used to select healthy sperm with nuclear DNA integrity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.357-361
• /
• 2018

This study aimed to explore efficient DNA extraction methods using tree nuts. Four different DNA extraction procedures, including silica membrane method, modified silica method, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method, and modified CTAB method were examined for their relative efficiency in extracting DNA from pistachio, pine nut, almond, hazelnut, cashew nut, walnut, and peanut. The quality and quantity of the extracted DNA were subsequently assessed by spectrometric measurements, gel electrophoresis, and PCR amplifications. CTAB method was the most appropriate one for extracting DNA from pine nut, cashew nut, pistachio, and peanut. However, it could be replaced by the silica membrane method for walnut and modified CTAB method for almond and hazelnut.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.465-474
• /
• 2008

The amount of telomeric DNA was quantified across different breeds(Landrace, Duroc, Yorkshire and Berksire), at different ages(90 days old and 180 days old) and among sexes(male and female) in pigs raised at the Performance Testing Station of Korea Swine Association, Jinkyo, Korea. The telomeric DNA amount was quantified by Quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization(Q-FISH) using a porcine telomeric DNA probe on interphase nuclei of lymphocytes. Analysis revealed that the amount of telomeric DNA on the pig lymphocytes was found to decrease with age. The quantity of telomeres significantly differed among breeds at 90 days of age. The colored breeds such as Berkshire and Duroc had higher amount of telomeric DNA than the Yorkshire and Landrace breed. In addition, the amount of telomeric DNA in male lymphocytes was significantly higher than that of females. In the correlation coefficients between the telomere quantity and their productive traits; average daily gain, loin percent and index value were positively correlated, whereas body length, feed efficiency and back fat thickness correlated negatively. However, the correlation coefficients were very low and not significant. Therefore, this study suggests that the amount of telomeres on lymphocytes can be considered as a physiological marker but not as a productive marker in pig.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.311-316
• /
• 2014

Lichen studies, including biodiversity, phylogenetic relationships, and conservation concerns require definitive species identification, however many lichens can be challenging to identify at the species level. Molecular techniques have shown efficacy in discriminating among lichen taxa, however, obtaining genomic DNA from herbarium and fresh lichen thalli by conventional methods has been difficult, because lichens contain high proteins, polysaccharides, and other complex compounds in their cell walls. Here we report a rapid, easy, and inexpensive protocol for extracting PCR-quality DNA from various lichen species. This method involves the following two steps: first, cell breakage using a beadbeater; and second, extraction, isolation, and precipitation of genomic DNA. The procedure requires approximately 10 mg of lichen thalli and can be completed within 20 min. The obtained DNAs were of sufficient quality and quantity to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region from the fungal and algal lichen components, as well as to sequence the amplified products. In addition, 26 different lichen taxa were tested, resulting in successful PCR products. The results of this study validated the experimental protocols, and clearly demonstrated the efficacy and value of our KCl extraction method applied in the fungal and algal samples.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.293-301
• /
• 2020

The applications of DNA barcoding have a wide range of uses, such as in taxonomic studies to help elucidate cryptic species and phylogenetic relationships and analyzing environmental samples for biodiversity monitoring and conservation assessments of species. After obtaining the DNA barcode sequences, sequence similarity-based homology analysis is commonly used. This means that the obtained barcode sequences are compared to the DNA barcode reference databases. This bioinformatic analysis necessarily implies that the overall quantity and quality of the reference databases must be stringently monitored to not have an adverse impact on the accuracy of species identification. With the development of next-generation sequencing techniques, a noticeably large number of DNA barcode sequences have been produced and are stored in online databases, but their degree of validity, accuracy, and reliability have not been extensively investigated. In this study, we investigated the extent to which the amount and types of erroneous barcode sequences were deposited in publicly accessible databases. Over 4.1 million sequences were investigated in three largescale DNA barcode databases (NCBI GenBank, Barcode of Life Data System [BOLD], and Protist Ribosomal Reference database [PR2]) for four major DNA barcodes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 [COI], internal transcribed spacer [ITS], ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain [rbcL], and 18S ribosomal RNA [18S rRNA]); approximately 2% of erroneous barcode sequences were found and their taxonomic distributions were uneven. Consequently, our present findings provide compelling evidence of data quality problems along with insufficient and unreliable annotation of taxonomic data in DNA barcode databases. Therefore, we suggest that if ambiguous taxa are presented during barcoding analysis, further validation with other DNA barcode loci or morphological characters should be mandated.