• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2011

Objectives The aim of this study is to explore the association among DRD4 polymorphism, temperament and alcohol drinking behavior of Koreans in their early adulthood. Method Participants were 172 healthy Korean adults (mean age $28.1{\pm}0.8$). Their temperament was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and their alcohol drinking behavior were evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire including the CAGE and the Korean version of Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K). DRD4 exon III 48 base pair variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) was genotyped by PCR. Results No significant association was found between DRD4 polymorphism and TCI temperament dimension (novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence) as well as alcohol drinking behavior scales. However, novelty seeking was significantly associated with alcohol drinking behavior. The higher level of novelty seeking was associated with the higher severity index of drinking (B = -0.225, p < 0.001) and problematic alcohol use on the CAGE and AUDIT-K [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.111, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.021-1.209, p = 0.015, OR = 1.087, 95% CI 1.009-1.170, p = 0.028]. Conclusion In our study, while there is no significant association of DRD4 polymorphism with temperament and alcohol drinking behavior, novelty seeking affects problematic alcohol use. Results suggest that novelty seeking may play an important role in problematic alcohol use in young Korean adults.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10339-10343
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• 2015

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females worldwide and a most prevalent malignancy in Iranian women. Chronic stress may make an important contribution to cancer, especially in the breast. Numerous studies showed roles of neurotransmitters in the occurrence and progression of cancers which are mediated by their various types of receptors. This study was conducted to evaluate alterations in the expression profile of dopamine receptor genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as stress factors in breast cancer patients and the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 patients and 30 healthy individuals. Total mRNA was extracted from PBMC and MCF-7 cells and RT-PCR was performed to confirm the presence of five dopamine receptors (DRD1-DRD5). Expression changes of dopamine receptor genes were evaluated by real time PCR. We observed that DRD2-DRD4 in PBMCs of breast cancer patients were increased compared to healthy individuals. In addition, all dopamine receptor subtypes but DRD1 were expressed in MCF-7 cells. Therefore, alterations of these receptors as stress factors should be assessed for selecting appropriate drugs such as D2-like agonists for treatment of breast cancer after performing complimentary tests. Determining the expression profile of dopamine receptor genes thus seems promising.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2004

Background:The dopaminergic genes have been implicated with some personality traits. Many recent studies indicated that there is a correlation between D2 dopamine receptor gene(DRD2) polymorphisms and the personality traits. The purpose of this study is to investigate a possible association between DRD2 gene (TaqI A, TaqI B) polymorphism and personality traits. Methods:The subjects were consisted of 173 blood-unrelated young female Koreans with a mean age(${\pm}SD$) of 13.88(${\pm}0.29$) years. These volunteers were recruited from one of the junior high schools in Seoul and were tested by the Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI). Genotyping of the DRD2 polymorphisms by PCR methods were carried out. Two DRD2 gene polymorphisms were classified and individually assessed as follows:TaqI A1+ vs A1-, TaqI B1+ vs B-. The associations between the TCI scores and TaqI A, TaqI B polymorphisms were assessed by Student's t-test. Results:In the 173 subjects, the allele frequencies of the DRD2 TaqI A1, TaqI B1 alleles ranged from 0.42 to 0.43, and these results are quite different from the ranges of 0.15-0.20 in the case of a Caucasian population. The genotype frequencies of DRD2(TaqI A1, TaqI B1) variants showed no significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. RD4(dependence vs. independence) of Cloninger's TCI, a sub-dimension of Reward Dependence, was significantly higher in the subjects having DRD2 less frequent alleles than those without these alleles. Conclusion:This study suggests that the female subjects carrying the less frequent DRD2 alleles exhibited higher reward-dependent personality trait compared to those without these alleles.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the TaqI A polymorphism of dopamine receptor D2 gene(DRD2) is associated with Tourette syndrome(TS) and chronic motor tic disorder(CMT) in Korean population. Methods : DRD2 TaqI A RFLP genotyping was carried out with DNA extracted from blood samples of 75 patients with tic disorders(47 with TS and 28 with CMT) and 90 healthy subjects. Genotype and allelic frequencies for the DRD2 gene polymorphisms of the tic disorder group as a whole were compared to those of the control group. Separating the TS group, thereafter, the frequency of genotypes and alleles were compared to those of the controls. Results : The results demonstrated that genotype and allele distributions for the DRD2 gene polymorphism in the tic disorder as a whole, TS, and control groups were not significantly different. Conclusion : No association was found for DRD2 gene, TS and CMT. The data suggest that DRD2 gene may not be a useful marker for the prediction of the susceptibility of tic disorder.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

Objective : Evidence from recent studies supports the role of genetic factors in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The primary aim of this study is to investigate the association between the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) TaqI A polymorphism and PTSD. The second aim is to examine the association between the DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism and clinical symptoms in patients with PTSD. Methods : We recruited 189 Vietnam veterans for participation in this study, among whom 99 were PTSD patients and 90 were control subjects. The presence of the DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Several standardized research scales were used in the clinical assessment of PTSD, including the Combat Exposure Scale (CES), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Results : There was no significant difference in the distribution of the DRD2 genotype, frequency and prevalence of the A1 allele, or the frequency of heterozygotes between the patients with PTSD and the controls. In the PTSD group, the patients with the A1 allele (A1A1, A1A2) scored higher on the CAPS-total (p=0.044), CAPS-avoidance symptoms (p=0.016) and BDI (p=0.024) than those without the A1 allele (A2A2). Conclusion : We could not find an association between the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) TaqI A polymorphism and PTSD. However, the A1 allele of DRD2 seemsto influence avoidance symptoms in patients with PTSD.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2002

Even though alcoholism is a multi-factorial psychiatric disorder, it is reasonable to suppose that genetic factors play a substantial role in the manifestation of this disorder. Because alcohol is the reinforcing substance which manifests its effects through activation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward pathway of the brain, the gene encoding dopamine receptor subtypes can be a major natural candidate gene. Since 1990, many association studies have identified strong evidence implicating the dopamine D2 receptor(DRD2) gene in alcoholism, specifically TaqI A minor(A1) allele. Association studies have also been conducted on other dopamine receptor(DRD3 & DRD4) polymorphisms but the results have yet to be confirmed. Through a number of other approaches, each dopamine receptor gene has been investigated in association with different phenotypes in alcoholism, but further researches will be needed. In conclusion, studies in the past decade have shown that the TaqI A1 allele of the DRD2 gene is associated with alcoholism in various subject groups. Other dopamine receptor genes have since been added to the list but yet to be identified. Thus, the knowledge of these genes and their functional significance will enhance the understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of alcoholism. Furthermore, it could lead to more helpful prevention and treatment approaches to alcoholism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1296-1300
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• 2012

The feasibility of using Deinococcus showing strong resistance to both desiccation and ionizing radiation as a dose indicator of gamma radiation exposure was evaluated. Three Deinococcus strains having different levels of radiation resistance, Deinococcus radiodurans (DRD), Deinococcus radiopugnans (DRP), and the DRD pprI mutant (DRM), were selected to develop an appropriate dose indicator for a broad range of exposures. DRD, DRP, and DRM cultures with different numbers of cells [${\sim}10^7$ to $10^3$ colony forming units (CFU)/$100{\mu}l$] were lyophilized and subjected to various doses of gamma radiation to determine a critical dose that inhibited bacterial growth completely. Finally, a combination of DRD at ${\sim}10^7$ and ${\sim}10^6$ CFU, DRP at ${\sim}10^5$ CFU, and DRM at ${\sim}10^4$ CFU successfully indicated exposure to 5, 10, 20, and 30 kGy of gamma radiation, respectively. This study shows the possibility of developing a qualitative indicator of radiation exposure using Deinococcus.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.243-247
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• 2003

고혈압은 다양한 유전적 요인과 환경적 요인들이 상호작용하여 발병하는 질환으로, 기존의 연구에서 dopamine D3 receptor(DRD3)와 고혈압과의 관련성에 관한 보고들이 있었다. 이에, 본 연구에서는 DRD3 유전자에 존재하는 Bail제한절편길이 다형성이 한국인 집단에서 고혈압과 어떠한 관련성이 있는 지를 조사하였다. 환자-대조군 연구를 수행한 결과 이 유전자에 존재하는 다형성은 한국인 집단에서 고혈압과 유의한 관련성을 나타내지 않았다. 그러나, 이 다형성을 구성하는 대립 유전자의 빈도를 여러 민족집단의 결과들과 비교했을 때, 흑인 집단과 유의한 차이를 나타내었다. 따라서, 이러한 결과는 DRD3유전자에 존재하는 다형성이 고혈압과의 관련성을 나타내는 지를 정확하게 이해하기 위해서는 혹인 집단을 비롯한 다른 민족집단들을 대상으로 하여 광범위한 연구를 수행할 필요가 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.693-698
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• 2016

In this study, a tissue-specific GAL4/UAS activation tagging system was used for the characterization of genes which could induce lethality when ubiquitously expressed. A dominant mutant exhibiting stunted growth was isolated and named defective root development 1-D (drd1-D). The T-DNA tag was located within the promoter region of AtTX12, which is predicted to encode a truncated nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein, containing a Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain. The transcript levels of AtTX12 and defense-related genes were elevated in drd1-D, and the misexpression of AtTX12 recapitulated the drd1-D phenotypes. In the presence of ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1 (EDS1), a key transducer of signals triggered by TIR-type NLRs, a low-level of AtTX12 misexpression induced strong defective phenotypes including seedling lethality whereas, in the absence of EDS1, a high-level of AtTX12 misexpression induced weak growth defects like dwarfism, suggesting that AtTX12 might function mainly in an EDS1-dependent and partially in an EDS1-independent manner.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.792-799
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• 2022

Dopamine (DA) is known to be a key modulator of animal behaviors. Thus, the plasma concentration of DA might be used as a biomarker for the behavioral characteristics of horses. The behavioral characteristics of horses vary depending on the breed, age, and sex. Moreover, the DA receptor genotypes are also related to horse behaviors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the DA concentration variations of horse plasma by breed, age, sex, or genotype of its receptor. The horses were divided by breed into Thoroughbred (n = 13), Pony (n = 9), Warmblood (n = 4), and Haflinger (n = 5). The age variable was divided into three different groups: post-pubertal (2-5 years, n = 6), adult (6-13 years, n = 19), and aged horses (15-24 years, n = 6). The sex variable was divided into geldings (n = 8) and mares (n = 23). Approximately 10 mL of blood was collected, and an ELISA kit was used to measure the plasma concentration of DA. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to identify the genetic variation in the DA D4 receptor gene (DRD4). SPSS statistical software was used for statistical analysis. The DA concentrations in geldings were significantly lower than those in mares. There was no significant difference in DA concentrations among breed and age groups. Horses with the GG and GA genotypes had significantly higher plasma concentrations of DA compared to horses with the AA genotype for the G292A gene. Briefly, the plasma concentration of DA varied depending on the sex and genotype of G292A. These factors should be considered when the concentration of DA is used as a biomarker for the behavioral characteristics of horses. In conclusion, the DA concentration or DRD4 genotype of horse plasma has the potential to be used as a biomarker that can predict the behavioral characteristics of horses.