• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 1995

To effectively modify tree function with genetic engineering, transgenes must be expressed at the proper level in the appropriate tissues at suitable developmental stages. Toward understanding the spatial and temporal expression of transgenes in woody plants, transgene expression was evaluated in three greenhouse-grown, transgenic lines of Populus alba ${\times}$ P. grandidentata hybrid clone 'Hansen'. All transgenic poplar lines possess constructs containing the bacterial nopaline synthase(nos) promoter linked to a neomycin phosphotransferase II(NPT II) selectable marker gene. In addition, each transgenic poplar line contains one of the following gene constructs : 1) a wound-inducible potato proteinase inhibitor II (pin2) promoter linked to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) reporter gene. 2) a nos promoter linked to a PIN2 structural gene : or 3) a Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35s promoter linked to a PIN2 structural gene. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was used to verify the presence of foreign genes in the poplar genome. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISAs) were used to evaluate organ specific expression of the nos-NPT II construct. NPT II expression was detected in leaves, petioles, stems, and roots of transgenic poplar, thereby indicating that the nos promoter is potentially effective for general constitutive expression of transgenes. NPT expression varied among transgenic poplar lines and among organs for one transgenic line, Tr15. With Tr15, NPT II levels were highest in older leaves and petioles. These results indicate that screening of several transgenic lines may be required to identify lines with optimal transgene expression.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.112-122
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• 2016

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an effective tool for the study of soybean gene function. Successful VIGS depends on the interaction between virus spread and plant growth, which can be influenced by environmental conditions. Recently, we developed a new VIGS system derived from the Soybean yellow common mosaic virus (SYCMV). Here, we investigated several environmental and developmental factors to improve the efficiency of a SYCMV-based VIGS system to optimize the functional analysis of the soybean. Following SYCMV: Glycine max-phytoene desaturase (GmPDS) infiltration, we investigated the effect of photoperiod, inoculation time, concentration of Agrobacterium inoculm, and growth temperature on VIGS efficiency. In addition, the relative expression of GmPDS between non-silenced and silenced plants was measured by qRT-PCR. We found that gene silencing efficiency was highest at a photoperiod of 16/8 h (light/dark) at a growth temperature of approximately $27^{\circ}C$ following syringe infiltration to unrolled unifoliolate leaves in cotyledon stage with a final SYCMV:GmPDS optimal density $(OD)_{600}$ of 2.0. Using this optimized protocol, we achieved high efficiency of GmPDS-silencing in various soybean germplasms including cultivated and wild soybeans. We also confirmed that VIGS occurred in the entire plant, including the root, stem, leaves, and flowers, and could transmit GmPDS to other soybean germplasms via mechanical inoculation. This optimized protocol using a SYCMV-based VIGS system in the soybean should provide a fast and effective method to elucidate gene functions and for use in large-scale screening experiments.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2002

This study was performed during the four seasons for the production of transgenic pigs containing the Cellulase Digest Gene. Purebred Landrace gilts and sows approximately 8∼15 months of age (n=126) were used for the collection of 1-cell zygotes for DNA microinjection and transfer. Retrospectively, estrus synchronization and superovulation schemes were evaluated to assess practicality fur zygote collection. Synchronization and superovulation procedures were used that cyclic gilts were synchronized with 20mg altrenogest (ALT) per day for 9 days after PG600 administration followed by superovulation with 1000 IU pregnant mares serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and 750IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The cellulase digestion gene for microinjection is rat elasterase promoter (rEl) linked to CelD gene. After hormone treatment, 1,422 embryos were collected from 91 donors and 95.6% (1,359/1,422) embryos were in 1-cell stage which can be visualized the pronuclei for DNA microinjection. A total of 725 DNA microinjected embryos transferred into 35 recipients and produced 65 piglets from 13 litters. Pregnancy rate according to the number of transferred embryos to recipients was higher the group which received 21 to 24 embryos (50.0%) than other groups 20.0% in less and 33.3% in more. A tail tissue was collected from 65 piglets for biopsy. PCR screening was performed on each DNA sample using two separate sets of primers specific for the 5'- and 3'-flanking region of the rEl-CelD gene. Five of the 65 piglets (7.69%) were positive for the transgene. This study provide useful information regarding production of transgenic pig for bioreactor research.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2001

Background : The appearance of multiple-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains has been seriously compromising successful control of tuberculosis. Rifampin-resistance, caused by mutations in the rpoB gene, can be indicative of multiple-drug-resistance, and its detection is of great importance. The present study aimed to develop an oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance. Methods : In order to detect point mutations in the rpoB gene, an oligonucleotide chip was prepared by immobilizing specific probe DNA to a microscopic slide glass by a chemical reaction. The probe DNA that was selected from the 81 bp core region of the rpoB gene was designed to have mutation sites at the center. A total of 17 mutant probes related to rifampin-resistance including 8 rifabutin-sensitive mutant probes were used in this study. For accurate determination, wild type probes were prepared for each mutation position with an equal length, which enabled a direct comparison of the hybridization intensities between the mutant and wild type. Results : Mycobacterial genomic DNA from clinical samples was tested with the oligonucleotide chip and the results were compared with those of the drug-susceptibility test in addition to sequencing and INNO-LiPA Rif. TB kit test in some cases. Out of 15 samples, the oligonucleotide chip results of 13 samples showed good agreement with the rifabutin-sensitivity results. The two samples with conflicting result also showed a discrepancy between the other tests, suggesting such possibilities as existence of mixed strains and difference in drug-sensitivity. Further verification of these samples in addition to more case studies are required before the final evaluation of the oligonucleotide chip can be made. Conlcusion : An oligonucleotide chip was developed for the detection of rpoB gene mutations related to drugsusceptibility. The results to date show the potential for using the oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance to provide useful information in antituberculosis drug therapy.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2006

Rapid assay of enzyme is a primary requirement for successful application of directed evolution technology. Halo generation on a turbid plate would be a method of choice for high throughput screening of enzymes in this context. Here we report a new approach to prepare turbid plates, by controlling the crystallization of tyrosine to form needle-like particles. In the presence of tyrosine phenol-lyase (TPL), the needle-like tyrosine crystals were converted to soluble phenol rapidly than the usual rectangular tyrosine crystals. When an error-prone PCR library of Citrobacter freundii TPL was spread on the turbid plate, approximately 10% of the colonies displayed recognizable halos after 24 hours of incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Representative positives from the turbid plates were transferred to LB-medium in 96-wellplates, cultivated overnight, and assayed for the enzyme activity with L-tyrosine as the substrate. The assay results were approximated to be proportional to the halo size on turbid plates, suggesting the screening system is directly applicable to the directed evolution of TPL. Actually, two best mutants on the turbid plates were identified to be $2{\sim}2.5$ and 1.5-fold improved in the activity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2023

Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT-1) is a metabolic disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) gene, which impairs the function of the FAH enzyme, resulting in the accumulation of tyrosine's toxic metabolites in hepatocytes and renal tubular cells. As a consequence, individuals with HT-1 exhibit symptomatic manifestations. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of HT-1 can prevent short-term death and long-term complications. A 15-day-old boy presented to the outpatient department with elevated levels of tyrosine on his newborn screening tests conducted at the age of 3 and 10 days, respectively. Further blood tests revealed increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein and amino acids including tyrosine and threonine. Urine organic acid tests indicated a significant elevation in tyrosine metabolites, as well as the presence of succinylacetone (SA), which led to the diagnosis of HT-1. Two pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants of FAH compatible with HT-1 were also detected. He began a tyrosine-restricted diet at one month old and received nitisinone (NTBC) at two months old. With continued treatment, the patient's initially elevated AFP level, detection of SA in the urine, and mild hepatomegaly showed improvement. During four years and seven months of treatment, there were no exceptional complications apart from an increase in tyrosine levels and a delay in speech. We report a case of tyrosinemia type 1 detected through newborn screening, treated with dietary restriction and NTBC, with a good prognosis.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.121-129
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• 2002

Existing methods for optimization of sequences by random mutagenesis generate libraries with a small number of mostly deleterious mutations, resulting in libraries containing a large fraction of non-functional clones that explore only a small part of sequence space. Large numbers of clones need to be screened to find the rare mutants with improvements. Library display formats are useful to screen very large libraries but impose screening limitations that limit the value of this approach for most commercial applications. By contrast, in both classical breeding and in DNA shuffling, natural diversity is permutated by homologous recombination, generating libraries of very high quality, from which improved clones can be identified with a small number of complex screens. Given that this small number of screens can be performed under the conditions of actual use of the product, commercially relevant improvements can be reliably obtained.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.39-39
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• 2003

Antioxidant enzyme genes play a key role in cell defense against the lethal effects of oxidative stresses in animals and have an essential function which has allowed the evolution of aerobic respiration starting from an ancient form of oxygen-insensitive life. Piscine antioxidant enzymes are also involved in the rapid response to various toxic chemicals as well as many biological stresses, indicating that they could be used as biomarkers for health and aquatic environment. With the purpose for developing fine molecular probing tool to assess the stresses in marine fish, we identified three major antioxidant enzyme genes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase) from Korean rock bream using expressed sequence tag analysis and/or high density filter screening. Here we report the molecular information on these gene transcripts including complete sequence data and expression profiles.

• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2010

Temperature-sensitive yeast mutants were used to screen for cell cycle-related genes from Pleurotus eryngii genomic DNA. A mushroom genomic DNA library was established and each gene was screened for the ability to rescue seven Saccharomyces cerevisiae temperature-sensitive strains. Hundreds of yeast transformants were selected at restrictive temperatures over $30^{\circ}C$. Plasmids from the transformants that survived were isolated and transformed back into their host strains. The temperature sensitivity of the resulting transformants was tested from $30^{\circ}C$ to $37^{\circ}C$. Ten DNA fragments from P. eryngii were able to rescue yeast temperature-sensitive strains, and their DNA sequences were determined.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2006

Bacillus subtilis strain with highly active chitosanase was isolated from the intestine of Sebastiscus marmoratus (scorpion fish). It was named as Bacillus subtilis CH1 by morphological, biochemical and 165 rRNA gene analysis. The optimal conditions for chitosanase production were investigated. The optimum carbon and nitrogen sources for Bacillus stibtilis CH1 were 2% starch and 1% yeast extract respectively. Unlike other chitosanases, the expression of this chitosanase was not induced or slightly induced with chitosan. The chitosanase secreted into the medium were concentrated with ammonium sulfate precipitation and purified by gel permeation chromatography. The molecular weight of purified chitosanase was 30 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature of purified chitosanase were 5.5 and $60^{\circ}C$ respectively. The purified chitosanase was continuously thermostable at $40^{\circ}C$ and showed stable activity between pH 6.0 and 8.0. Chitosanase activity of Bacillus subtilis CH1 under optimum condition was 4.1 units/ml.