• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.219-224
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• 2018

During the screening for cytotoxic compounds from plants grown in Korea, Betula platyphylla (BP) showed potent activity against the adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cell line. To identify the cytotoxic components from BP, the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction with the most significant cytotoxic effect was applied to the column chromatographies. Seven compounds were isolated: lupeol (1), betulinic acid (2), (-)-rhododendrol (3), platyphyllenone (4), platyphyllone (5), (-)-centrolobol (6), and oleanolic acid (7). Among them, three diarylheptanoids (4 - 6) exhibited cytotoxicity toward A549 cells. Especially, $50{\mu}M$ of 4 reduced A549 cell viability to $18.93{\pm}0.82%$ compared to control ($100.00{\pm}21.48%$). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were also induced by $50{\mu}M$ 4. This is the first report on the cytotoxic effect of BP-derived diarylheptanoids 4-6 against A549 cells. The compound 4 may be useful for the development of early hit compounds for non-small cell lung carcinoma, but the consideration about selectivity of 4 is required since 4 also showed the cytotoxicity in the human normal lung epithelial BEAS-2B cell line.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권7호
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• pp.1137-1143
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• 2019

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) accounts for 20 million infections in humans worldwide. In most cases, the infections are self-limiting while HEV genotype 1 infection cases may lead to lethal infections in pregnant women (~ 20% fatality). The lack of small animal models has hampered detailed analysis of virus-host interactions and HEV-induced pathology. Here, by employing a recently developed culture-adapted HEV, we demonstrated that methyltransferase, a non-structural protein, strongly inhibits melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5)-mediated activation of type I interferon responses. Compared to uninfected controls, HEV-infected cells display significantly lower levels of $IFN-{\beta}$ promoter activation when assessed by luciferase assay and RT-PCR. HEV genome-wide screening showed that HEV-encoded methyltransferase (MeT) strongly inhibits MDA5-mediated transcriptional activation of $IFN-{\beta}$ and $NF-{\kappa}B$ in a dose-responsive manner whether or not it is expressed in the presence/absence of a tag fused to it. Taken together, current studies clearly demonstrated that HEV MeT is a novel antagonist of MDA5-mediated induction of $IFN-{\beta}$ signaling.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.31-37
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• 2021

Purpose: To summarize the results of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for copy number variants (CNVs) detection and clinical utility in a single tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: We performed CMA in 46 patients over the course of two years. Detected CNVs were classified into five categories according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines and correlated with clinical manifestations. Results: A total of 31 CNVs were detected in 19 patients, with a median CNV number per patient of two CNVs. Among these, 16 CNVs were classified as pathogenic (n=3) or likely pathogenic (LP) (n=11) or variant of uncertain significance (n=4). The 16p11.2 deletion and 16p13.11 deletion classified as LP were most often detected in 6.5% (3/46), retrospectively. CMA diagnostic yield was 24.3% (9/37 patients) for symptomatic patients. The CNVs results of the commercial newborn screening test using next generation sequencing platforms showed high concordance with CMA results. Conclusion: CMA seems useful as a first-tier test for developmental delay with or without congenital anomalies. However, the classification and interpretation of CMA still remained a challenge. Further research is needed for evidence-based interpretation.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.79-82
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• 2020

In epilepsy-aphasia spectrum (EAS) disorders, mutations in the glutamate receptor ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate type subunit 2A (GRIN2A) have become important for screening the disease. Research into the phenotypic variability of several types of neurologic impairment involving these mutations is in progress. However, the non-neurological problems related to these mutations are poorly understood. EAS disorders usually have epileptic, cognitive, or behavioral manifestations. In this case report, we present a female patient with epilepsy, delay in expressive language and social development, and intellectual disability with low intelligence quotient and memory quotient, but normal motor development. Through genetic analysis, she was found to have a missense and a nonsense mutation in GRIN2A (c.1770A>C; p.Lys509Asn and c.3187G>T; p.Glu1063∗, respectively) and we consider the nonsense mutation as 'pathogenic variant'. She was also discovered to have congenital hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency and Rathke's cleft cyst in the brain, which were previously unknown features of GRIN2A mutation. Our findings should widen understanding of the spectrum of GRIN2A phenotypes, and emphasize the need for more research into the association between GRIN2A mutations and non-neurologic clinical presentations.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.137-141
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• 2021

Genetic causes of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) have been rapidly uncovered from mid-2010s. The mutations of gene enconding calcium channel, voltage-dependent, P/Q type, alpha 1A subunit (CACNA1A) are recently detected in DEE, which gene is already known well in familial hemiplegic migrine type 1 or episodic ataxia type 2. Ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) is effective in some DEE, which data is short in CACNA1A encephalopathy. A 3-month-old male with global developmental delay and multidrug-resistant focal seizures was diagnosed as epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS). Brain magnetic resonance imaging and metabolic screening were all normal. Whole exome sequencing revealed two variants of CACNA1A: c.899A>C, and c.2808del that is from his mother. His seizures disappeared within 3 days whenever on KDT, which recurred without it. To our knowledge, this rare case of EIMFS with novel mutations of CACNA1A, is the first report in CACNA1A encephalopathy becoming seizure-free on KDT.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.19-22
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• 2023

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is a rare disease that can be accompanied by various clinical symptoms in addition to basal cell carcinoma. Cancers usually occur at an earlier age or later in multiple areas. According to a recent study, genetic mutations are highly suspected as the cause of the syndrome. Since this gene mutation is inherited as an autosomal dominant, it must be accompanied by a screening test for the patient's family along with the patient's treatment. In this study, we was experienced a patient diagnosed with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome after genetic mutation was confirmed, so it is reported along with a review of the literature.

• BMB Reports
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.30-39
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• 2024

Directed evolution (DE) of desired locus by targeted random mutagenesis (TRM) tools is a powerful approach for generating genetic variations with novel or improved functions, particularly in complex genomes. TRM-based DE involves developing a mutant library of targeted DNA sequences and screening the variants for the desired properties. However, DE methods have for a long time been confined to bacteria and yeasts. Lately, CRISPR/Cas and DNA deaminase-based tools that circumvent enduring barriers such as longer life cycle, small library sizes, and low mutation rates have been developed to facilitate DE in native genetic environments of multicellular organisms. Notably, deaminase-based base editing-TRM (BE-TRM) tools have greatly expanded the scope and efficiency of DE schemes by enabling base substitutions and randomization of targeted DNA sequences. BE-TRM tools provide a robust platform for the continuous molecular evolution of desired proteins, metabolic pathway engineering, creation of a mutant library of desired locus to evolve novel functions, and other applications, such as predicting mutants conferring antibiotic resistance. This review provides timely updates on the recent advances in BE-TRM tools for DE, their applications in biology, and future directions for further improvements.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.144-150
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• 2006

본 연구는 메타게놈 유전자 특성과 E. coli에서 정상적으로 발현되는 유전자 특성을 생물정보학 기법으로 비교 분석하고 그 결과를 메타게놈 선별 연구에 활용하고자 하는데 그 목적을 두었다. 이를 위하여 메타게놈 유래의 URF 와 숙주세포로 이용되는 E. coli이 ORF에 대한 염기구조, 발현되는 단백질의 크기 및 분자량, 아미노산의 구성 및 코돈사용은 물론 전사와 번역에 관여하는 프로모터 부위와 리보솜 결합부위의 보존서열 특성을 비교 분석하였다. 메타게놈과 E. coli가 합성하는 단백질의 크기와 분자량은 매우 비슷한 경향을 보였으나, 아미노산의 조성비, G+C 함량 및 코돈사용에서는 매우 다른 경향을 나타내었다. 특히 전사와 번역에 직접적으로 관여하는 프로모터와 RBS 영역에서의 DNA 보존서열이 상당부분 부합되지 않아 E. coli에서 메타게놈의 발현율이 현저히 낮을 것으로 예측할 수 있었다. RBS와 같이 유전자 발현에 필수적인 조절인자가 메타게놈과 E. coli에서 큰 차이를 나타내는 문제점은 메타게놈으로부터 유용한 유전자원을 탐색하는 연구에서 심도있게 개선하여야 할 사항이다. 부분적으로는 라이브러리 구축에 사용되는 벡터 및 숙주의 개량을 통하여 위의 문제를 극복할 수도 있을 것이다.

• 한국육종학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.233-240
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• 2011

식물 피노믹스 분야에서 초고속 대량선발이 가능하도록 만든 화상기술(imaging technology)을 온실자동화 기술, 이미지 촬영 및 분석기술 등으로 분류하여 개념을 정리하고, 화상기술을 개발 및 응용하고 있는 주요 연구기관의 현황을 소개하였다. 연구동향 파악을 위해 작물의 내재해성 검정, 병해충진단, 종자활력 검정, 수확후 관리, 생체리듬 연구 등 다양한 분야에서 응용되고 있는 사례들을 살펴보았다. 향후 열 화상, 형광 화상 기술을 UV-induced blue green fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging 등과 상호 보완해서 multi-sensor 개념으로 발전시켜 나간다면, 식물의 생산량 증대를 위한 스트레스 내성자원 선발의 효율성을 극대화할 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 다양한 파장대의 영상정보로부터 각 스트레스의 특징을 catalogue화하는 것이 가능하여 다양한 스트레스를 정확히 진단하고 정량화할 수 있을 것으로 보이며, 나아가 각종 스트레스에 대한 조기 경보시스템으로도 활용할 수 있을 것이다. 호주 Plant Phenomics Centre에서는 온실과 포장을 포함한 Phenomics 기술의 종합적 개념도를 그림 4와 같이 제시하고 각 부문별 필요기술을 개발 중에 있는데, 종합기술로 완성된다면 현재의 작물 품종개량 속도를 획기적으로 향상시킬 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 호주는 그 동안 분자생물학, 식물생리학 분야에서는 기술력을 확보해 왔지만 BT, IT 등 융복합농업기술분야에서는 다른 나라에 비해 역량을 결집하지 못하고 뒤쳐져 있었다고 볼 수 있는데, 연구개발의 궁극적인 목표인 실용화 단계에서의 기술우위를 선점함으로써 그간의 약세를 만회하고자 Phenomics 연구시설을 설치하였다고 한다. 이점은 BT 후발주자이면서 국제적 경쟁력을 확보하려는 우리에게 시사하는 바가 크다. Phenomics 연구는 생명공학기술을 통해 창출된 GM 식물체, 전통육종을 통해 육성된 육종재료 등 모든 유용 유전자원을 평가, 검정할 수 있는 신품종 육성의 기본 기술로 부상하고 있다. 지난 수년간 정체되어 있는 국내 종자시장을 고부가 수출산업으로 육성하기 위해서는 유용 유전자원, 농업생명공학산물의 실용화를 가속화하여야 하며, 이를 위해 피노믹스 기술 확보 및 시설 인프라 구축을 전략적으로 신중히 검토해봐야 할 시점이다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.479-484
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• 2013

Given the CYP3A4 and CYP3A5's impact on the efficacy of drugs, the genetic backgrounds of individuals and populations are regarded as an important factor to be considered in the prescription of personalized medicine. However, genetic studies with Korean population are relatively scarce compared to those with other populations. In this study, we aimed to identify CYP3A4/5 polymorphisms and compare the genotype distributions among five ethnicities. To identify CYP3A4/5 SNPs, we first performed direct sequencing with 288 DNA samples which consisted of 96 Koreans, 48 European-Americans, 48 African-Americans, 48 Han Chinese, and 48 Japanese. The direct sequencing identified 15 novel SNPs, as well as 42 known polymorphisms. We defined the genotype distributions, and compared the allele frequencies among five ethnicities. The results showed that minor allele frequencies of Korean population were similar with those of the Japanese and Han Chinese populations, whereas there were distinct differences from European-Americans or African-Americans. Among the pharmacogenetic markers, frequencies of $CYP3A4^*1B$ (rs2740574) and $CYP3A5^*3C$ (rs776742) in Asian groups were different from those in other populations. In addition, minor allele frequency of $CYP3A4^*18$ (rs28371759) was the highest in Korean population. Additional in silico analysis predicted that two novel non-synonymous SNPs in CYP3A5 (+27256C>T, P389S and +31546T>G, I488S) could alter protein structure. The frequency distributions of the identified polymorphisms in the present study may contribute to the expansion of pharmacogenetic knowledge.