• Animal cells and systems
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2002

Phylogenetic signal present in the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA) and the nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (28S rDNA) was explored to assess their utility in resolving family level relationships of the superfamily Tephritoidea. These two genes were chosen because they appear to evolve at different rates, and might contribute to resolve both shallow and deeper phylogenetic branches within a highly diversified group. For the 16S rDNA data set, the number of aligned sites was 1,258 bp, but 1,204 bp were used for analysis after excluding sites of ambiguous alignment. Among these 1,204 sites, 662 sites were variable and 450 sites were informative for parsimony analysis. For the 28S rDNA data set, the number of aligned sites was 1,102 bp, but 1,000 bp were used for analysis after excluding sites of ambiguous alignment. Among these 1000 sites, 235 sites were variable and 95 sites were informative for parsimony analysis. Our analyses suggest that: (1) while 16S rDNA is useful for resolving more recent phylogenetic divergences, 28S rDNA can be used to define much deeper phylogenetic branches; (2) the combined analysis of the 16S and 28S rDNAs enhances the overall resolution without losing phylogenetic signal from either single gene analysis; and (3) additional genes that evolve at intermediate rates between the 16S and 28S rDNAs are needed to further resolve relationships among the tephritoid families.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.673-680
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• 2017

Fludarabine, a chain terminating anti-cancer drug, is a purine analogue that causes DNA strand breaks in normal cells. In this study, we determined if A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng extract mixture reduce cytotoxicity of fludarabine. Treatment of HaCaT cells with $10{\mu}M$ of fludarabine for 24 hours decreased cell viability and increased DNA strand breaks. Treatment of A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng extract mixture for 24 hours increased cell viability as compared with single extract treatment. The protective effect of these extracts on cell activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner. DNA strand breaks induced by fludarabine decreased as concentration of extract mixture increased. p-H2AX level, a marker of DNA strand breakage, decreased depending on the concentration of extract mixture. The effect of mixed extract of A. melanocarpa and Korean red ginseng on DNA damage is due to the anti-oxidative effect of A. melanocarpa and signal transmission through glucocorticoid receptor upon binding of saponin of Korean red ginseng.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2013

Objectives : The origin of Breeae Herba (So-gye) and Cirsii Herba (Dae-gye) is differently prescribed in Korean and Chinese modern pharmacopoeia. Since the similar morphological characteristics and chaotic plant names, moreover, the aerial part of Carduus crispus have been used as the Cirsii Herba. To develop a reliable method for correct identification of these herbal medicines and to evaluate the genetic relationship of these closely related plant species, we analyzed sequences of DNA barcode regions. Methods : Thirty-one samples of 6 medicinal plants (B. segeta, B. setosa, C. japonicum var. maackii, C. setidens, C. chanroenicum, and C. crispus) were collected from different habitate and nucleotide sequences of DNA barcode regions (rDNA-ITS, matK, and rbcL) were analyzed after amplification using appropriate primers reported in previous studies. The nucleotides of species-specific authentic marker and phylogenetic relations were estimated based on the entire sequences of DNA barcodes by the analysis of ClastalW and UPGMA, respectively. Results : In comparative analysis of DNA barcode sequences, we obtained specific nucleotides to discriminate the medicinal plant of Breeae/Cirsii Herba in species level and evaluated the phylogenetic relationship of these species. Futhermore, we identified distinct marker nucleotides enough to authenticate respective species. These sequence differences at corresponding positions were avaliable genetic markers to determine the botanical origins of Breeae Herbal as well as Cirsii Herba. Conclusions : These marker nucleotides would be useful to identify the official herbal medicines by providing of definitive information that can identify each plant species and distinguish from unauthentic adulterants and substitutes.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.767-778
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• 2023

The aim of the research is to identify that porcine oocytes can function as recipients for interspecies cloning and have the ability to develop to blastocysts. Furthermore each mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in interspecises cloned embryos was analyzed. For the study, mouse-porcine and porcine-porcine cloned embryos were produced with mouse fetal fibroblasts (MFF) and porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFF), respectively, introduced as donor cells into enucleated porcine oocytes. The developmental rate and cell numbers of blastocysts between intraspecies porcine-porcine and interspecies mouse-porcine cloned embryos were compared and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the estimate of mouse and porcine mtDNA copy number in mouse-porcine cloned embryos at different stages.There was no significant difference in the developmental rate or total blastocyst number between mouse-porcine cloned embryos and porcine-porcine cloned embryos (11.1 ± 0.9%, 25 ± 3.5 vs. 10.1 ± 1.2%, 24 ± 6.3). In mouse-porcine reconstructed embryos, the copy numbers of mouse somatic cell-derived mtDNA decreased between the 1-cell and blastocyst stages, whereas the copy number of porcine oocyte-derived mtDNA significantly increased during this period, as assessed by real-time PCR analysis. In our real-time PCR analysis, we improved the standard curve construction-based method to analyze the level of mtDNA between mouse donor cells and porcine oocytes using the copy number of mouse beta-actin DNA as a standard. Our findings suggest that mouse-porcine cloned embryos have the ability to develop to blastocysts in vitro and exhibit mitochondrial heteroplasmy from the 1-cell to blastocyst stages and the mouse-derived mitochondria can be gradually replaced with those of the porcine oocyte in the early developmental stages of mouse-porcine cloned embryos.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

The advantages of replicon vectors of RNA viruses include a high ability to stimulate innate immunity and exponential amplification of target mRNA leading to high expression of foreign antigens. The present study aimed to construct a DNA-layered nervous necrosis virus (NNV) replicon vector system in which the capsid protein gene was replaced with a foreign antigen gene and to compare the efficiency of foreign antigen expression between the conventional DNA vaccine vector and the present replicon vector. We presented the first report of a nodavirus DNA replicon-based foreign antigen expression system. Instead of a two-vector system, we devised a one-vector system containing both an NNV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase cassette and a foreign antigen-expressing cassette. This single-vector approach circumvents the issue of low foreign protein expression associated with the low co-transfection efficiency of a two-vector system. Cells transfected with a vector harboring hammerhead ribozyme-fused RNA1 and RNA2 (with the capsid gene ORF replaced with VHSV glycoprotein ORF) exhibited significantly higher transcription of the VHSV glycoprotein gene compared to cells transfected with either a vector without hammerhead ribozyme or a conventional DNA vaccine vector expressing the VHSV glycoprotein. Furthermore, the transcription level of the VHSV glycoprotein in cells transfected with a vector harboring hammerhead ribozyme-fused RNA1 and RNA2 showed a significant increase over time. These results suggest that NNV genome-based DNA replicon vectors have the potential to induce stronger and longer expression of target antigens compared to conventional DNA vaccine vectors.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.106-110
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• 2009

Objective : To study the Oriental Medicine-based strategies or therapeutics for chronic HBV infection. Methods : A chronic HBV carrier was treated with only oriental therapies. Then, serum biochemical parameters were serially chased, and change of HBV-DNA level was evaluated. Result : The biochemical indicators (AST, ALT, gamma-GTP, bilirubin) fluctuated during the treatment period. After one episode of drastic elevation of serum aminotransferase, HBV-DNA disappeared from the blood along with normalization of biochemical parameters within two years of beginning treatment. Conclusion : Oriental Medicine-based therapeutics could be an alternative strategy against chronic infection of HBV.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2013

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium that are found in cereals and agricultural products. ZEN has been implicated in mycotoxicosis in farm animals and in humans. The toxic effects of ZEN are well known, but the ability of an alkaline Comet assay to assess ZEN-induced oxidative DNA damage in Chang liver cells has not been established. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the Comet assay for the determination of cytotoxicity and extent of DNA damage induced by ZEN toxin, and the second aim was to investigate the ability of N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) to protect cells from ZEN-induced toxicity. In the Comet assay, DNA damage was assessed by quantifying the tail extent moment (TEM; arbitrary unit) and tail length (TL; arbitrary unit), which are used as indicators of DNA strand breaks in SCGE. The cytotoxic effects of ZEN in Chang liver cells were mediated by inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of oxidative DNA damage. Increasing the concentration of ZEN increased the extent of DNA damage. The extent of DNA migration, and percentage of cells with tails were significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner following treatment with ZEN toxin (p < 0.05). Treatment with a low concentration of ZEN toxin (25 ${\mu}M$) induced a relatively low level of DNA damage, compared to treatment of cells with a high concentration of ZEN toxin (250 ${\mu}M$). Oxidative DNA damage appeared to be a key determinant of ZEN-induced toxicity in Chang liver cells. Significant reductions in cytolethality and oxidative DNA damage were observed when cells were pretreated with NACA prior to exposure to any concentration of ZEN. Our data suggest that ZEN induces DNA damage in Chang liver cells, and that the antioxidant activity of NACA may contribute to the reduction of ZEN-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity via elimination of oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.245-252
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• 2001

Erm proteins, MLS (macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B) resistance factor proteins, show high degree of amino acid sequence homology and comprise of a group of structurally homologous N-methyltransferases. On the basis of the recently determined structures of ErmC` and ErmAM, ErmSF was divided into two domains, N-terminal end catalytic domain and C-terminal end substrate binding domain and attempted to overexpress catalytic domain in E. coli using various pET expression systems. Three DNA fragments were used to express the catalytic domain: DNA fragment 1 encoding Met 1 through Glu 186, DNA fragment 2 encoding Arg 60 to Glu 186 and DNA fragment 3 encoding Arg 60 through Arg 240. Among the pET expression vectors used, pET 19b successfully expressed the DNA fragment 3 and pET23b succeeded in expression of DNA fragment 1 and 2. But the overexpressed catalytic domains existed as inclusion body, a insoluble aggregate. To assist the soluble expression of ErmSF catalytic domains, Coexpression of chaperone GroESL or Thioredoxin and lowering the incubation temperature to $22^{\circ}C$ were attempted, as did in the soluble expression of the whole ErmSF protein. Both strategies did not seem to be helpful. Solubilization with guanidine-HCl and renaturation with gradual removal of denaturant and partial digestion of overexpressed whole ErmSF protein (expressed to the level of 126 mg/ι culture as a soluble protein) with proteinase K, nonspecific proteinase are under way.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.245-248
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• 1998

Human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells have an extraordinarily large number of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, and their growth is inhibited by EGF, which results in growth arrest at the Gl phase. In order to investigate the EGF-mediated inhibition mechanism, the expression level of DNA topoisomerase (topo) II was analyzed after EGF treatment. As a result, it was shown that EGF treatment lowered the amount of 170 kDa topo II (topo $II{\alpha}$) but not 180 kDa (topo $II{\beta}$). However, the A431 cell variant resistant to EGF was not sensitive to EGF treatment. These results suggest that EGF-induced growth arrest of A431 cells may be closely related to the depletion of topo $II{\alpha}$.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2000

It has been demonstrated that the injection of naked DNA expressing vascular endothelial growth factor 165(VEGFl165) to the affected area can provide significant therapeutic effects on peripherol artery occlusive diseases. Success with this type of gene therapy highly depends on the quality of the vector delivering the therapeutic gene, especially in terms of the level and duration of gene expression in the localized area. We have recently developed a vector expressing VEGF165(pCK-VEGF) for the treatment of peripheral artery occulsive diseases and demonstrated high level expression of VEGF165 in mouse skeletal muscle. This study was designed to assess the acute toxicity of intramuscularly injected pCK-VEGF in BALB/c mice and Sprague-Dawely rats. There was no evidence of any changes in clinical signs, body weights, or gross pathological signs. We estimate LD50 values of pCK-VEGF higher than 50mg/kg in mice and 20 mg/kg in rats by intramuscular injection.