• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.208-213
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• 2004

In this study, we examined the effects of dietary 1,3-diacylglycerol (DG) compared to conventional triacylglycerol (TG) oil on the postprandial response of total and chylomicron TG, glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid (FFA). This study was conducted using a cross-over design. Ninety subjects participated in the high-fat meal tolerance test where they were randomly assigned to consume two experimental sandwiches containing mayonnaise with TG or DG oil with a seven-day interval. Blood samples were collected before ingestion and at 2, 3, 4 and 6 hr time point after ingestion and analyzed for total and chylomicron TG, glucose, insulin, FFA and phospholipid fatty acid composition. Both TG and DG ingestion had similar effects on postprandial TG response, but a different response from chylomicron TG. Compared with the TG group, TG levels were significantly lower only at 6 hr time point in the DG group. On the other hand, chylomicron TG rose steeply at 2 hr time point and decreased faster in this group. Also, the adjusted value to fasting levels was the same as the unadjusted level. Fasting levels and net differences in insulin were significantly lower at 3 hr time point where chylomicron TG levels were significantly lower in the DG group. But those of glucose and FFA in the TG and DG groups did not differ significantly. Fasting and postprandial levels of fatty acid composition in serum phospholipids in the two groups did not differ significantly. In conclusion, this study indicated that one could reduce the magnitude of postprandial lipemia without influencing glucose metabolism by consumning DG oil as a substitute for TG oil. Based on the correlation of coronary artery disease and postprandial lipemia, dietary DG ingestion might have a beneficial effect in treating such a disease. Further studies are required to clarify the long-tenn effects of dietary DG on blood lipid levels in humans.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.691-699
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• 2004

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by exaggerated loss of bone mass, with as much as 50 to 85% of the variation in bone mineral density (BMD) commonly accepted as being genetically determined. Although intensive studies have attempted to elucidate the genetic effects of polymorphisms on BMD and/or osteoporosis in several genes, the genes involved are still largely unknown. The possible associations of genetic variants in five-candidate genes (IL10, CCR3, MCP1, MCP2 and GC) with spinal BMD were investigated in Korean postmenopausal women (n = 370). Fourteen SNPs in five candidate genes were genotyped, and the haplotypes of each gene constructed. The associations of adjusted spinal BMD by age, year since menopause (YSM) and body mass index (BMI), with genetic polymorphisms, were analyzed using multiple regression models. Genetic association analysis of Korean postmenopausal women revealed that IL10 -592A > C and/or IL10 ht2 were associated with decreased bone mass, whereas no significant associations were observed with all polymorphisms in other genes. The levels of spinal BMD in individuals bearing the IL10 -592CC genotype were lower ($0.78{\pm}0.16$) than those in others ($0.85{\pm}0.17$) (P = 0.02), and the BMD of IL10 ht2 bearing individuals were also lower ($0.82{\pm}0.15$) than those in others ($0.85{\pm}0.17$) (P = 0.04). Our results suggest that variants of IL10 might play a role in the decreased BMD, although additional study might need to be followed-up in a more powerful cohort.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.162-172
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• 2002

Schizosaccharomyces pombe is suited for the study of cytokinesis as it divides by forming a septum in the middle of the cell at the end of mitosis. To enhance our understanding of the cytokinesis, we have carried out a genetic screen for temperature-sensitive S. pombe mutants that show defects in septum formation and cell division. Here we present the isolation and characterization of a new temperature-sensitive mutant, sun1(septum uncontrolled), which undergoes uncontrolled septation during cell division cycle at restrictive temperature $(37^{\circ}C)$. In sun1 mutant, actin ring and septum are positioned at random locations and angles, and nuclear division cycle continues. These observations suggest that the sun] gene product is required for the proper placement of the actin ring as well as precise septation. The sun] mutant is monogenic recessive mutation unlinked to previously known various cdc genes of S. pombe. In a screen for $sunl^+$ gene to complement the sun] mutant, we have cloned a gene, $susl^+$(suppressor of sun1 mutant), that encodes a protein of 689 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence of $susl^+$ gene is similar to the human hMadlp and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mad1p, a component of the spindle checkpoint in eukaryotic cells. The null mutant of $susl^+$ gene grows normally at various temperatures and has the increased sensitivity to anti-microtubule drug, while $susl^+$ mutant shows no sensitivity to microtubule destabilizing drugs. The putative S. pombe Sus1p directly interacts with S. pombe Mad2p in yeast two-hybrid assays. These data suggest that the newly isolated susr gene encodes S. pombe Mad1p and suppresses sun] mutant defective in controlled septation in a cell division cycle.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

In this study, a DNA-launched reverse genetics system was developed from a type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) strain, KNU-12. The complete genome of 15,412 nucleotides was assembled as a single cDNA clone and placed under the eukaryotic CMV promoter. Upon transfection of BHK-tailless pCD163 cells with a full-length cDNA clone, viable and infectious type 2 progeny PRRSV were rescued. The reconstituted virus was found to maintain growth properties similar to those of the parental virus in porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) cells. With the availability of this type 2 PRRSV infectious clone, we first explored the biological relevance of ORF5a in the PRRSV replication cycle. Therefore, we used a PRRSV reverse genetics system to generate an ORF5a knockout mutant clone by changing the ORF5a translation start codon and introducing a stop codon at the 7^th codon of ORF5a. The ORF5a knockout mutant was found to exhibit a lack of infectivity in both BHK-tailless pCD163 and PAM-pCD163 cells, suggesting that inactivation of ORF5a expression is lethal for infectious virus production. In order to restore the ORF5a gene-deleted PRRSV, complementing cell lines were established to stably express the ORF5a protein of PRRSV. ORF5a-expressing cells were capable of supporting the production of the replicationdefective virus, indicating complementation of the impaired ORF5a gene function of PRRSV in trans.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2007

Environmental stress is the major limiting factor in plant productivity. As an effort to solve the global food and environmental problems using the plant biotechnology, we have developed transgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants via Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer method. To develop transgenic tall fescue plants with enhanced tolerance to the environmental stresses, both CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) genes were incorporated in a pIG121 binary vector and the both of the genes were controlled separately by an oxidative stress-inducible sweet potato peroxidase 2 (SWPA2) premoter expressed in chloroplasts. Leaf discs of transgenic plants showed 10-30% less damage compared to the wild-type when they exposed to a wide range of environmental stresses including methyl viologen (MV), $H_2O_2$ and heavy metals. In addition, when $200{\mu}M$ MV was sprayed onto the whole plants, transgenic plants showed a significant reduction of visible damage compared to wild-type plants that were almost damaged. These results suggest that over expression of CuZnSOD and APX genes in transgenic plants might be a useful strategy to protect the crops against a wide range of environmental stresses.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.490-496
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• 2002

In order to detect the DNA heteropolymorphism of chum salmon, selected essential genes were examined in different regional chum salmons, i.e., Korean, Japanese and American by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and real time PCR methods. From the promoter regions and introns of growth hormone, mtDNA NDI region, D-loop region, IGF-I, histone H3 and MCH2 several representative primer pairs were obtained and employed for the DGGE with the PCR products from the genomic DNAs of the different regional chum salmons. mtDNA NDI, D-loop region and IGE-I genes showed marked heteropolymorphism between Korean and American chum salmons. Intron C of growth hormone also showed a heteropolymorphism between Korean and Japanese chum salmons. Whereas heteropolnnorphism of histone liH and MCH2 genes was detected among in Korean, Japanese and Asnerican chum salmons in the examined region. The real time PCR disclosed the characteristic incremental production of target DNAs dependent on the heteropolymorphic conditions of genomic DNAa of chum salmons, thus the different regional chum salmons could be grouped by the variable incremental curies. Although the DGGE and real time PCR did not produce the identical results in this study, we suggest that the DGGE and real time PCR could be used for the primary screening of the DNA heteropolymorphism of different animal genome.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2006

Induced androgenesis, a form of artificial parthenogenesis is an important tool for the generation and use of genetically isogenic or clonal fish strain. An optimized protocol for the genetic inactivation of mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) oocytes (i.e. production of androgenetic haploid) was developed using UV-irradiation. Various dose levels of UV significantly affected the fertilizing capacity of the eggs, hatchability of embryos and incidence of haploidy. Based on the extensive examinations of treatment conditions on embryo viability and haploid incidence, the optimum dose level of UV irradiation was turned out to be $10,800ergs/mm^2$ with 56.9% of hatching success and 94.6% of haploidy. The overall yield of putative androgen under optimized treatment condition was more than 50% out of total eggs inseminated. The success of androgenetic reproduction of haploid genome was verified by flow cytometry and PCR amplification of transgene that is exclusive to either one of parental sexes. However, a small portion $(8\sim11%)$ of presumed androgenetic haploid larvae was proven to contain residual DNA fragment(s) from maternal parent.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.407-416
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• 2008

Thirteen near-isogenic lines (NILs) of japonica rice were developed via a backcross method using the recurrent parent Chucheong, which is of good eating quality but is susceptible to Magnaporthe grisea, and three blast resistant japonica donors, Seolak, Daeseong and Bongkwang. The agro-morphological traits of these NILs, such as heading date, culm length, and panicle length, were similar to those of Chucheong. In a genome-wide scan using 158 SSR markers, chromosome segments of Chucheong were identified in most polymorphic regions of the 13 NIL plants, and only a few chromosome segments were found to have been substituted by donor alleles. The genetic similarities of the 13 NILs to the recurrent parent Chucheong averaged 0.961, with a range of 0.932-0.984. Analysis of 13 major blast resistance (R) genes in these lines using specific DNA markers showed that each NIL appeared to contain some combination of the four R genes, Pib, Pii, Pik-m and Pita-2, with the first three genes being present in each line. Screening of nine M. grisea isolates revealed that one NIL M7 was resistant to all nine isolates; the remaining NILs were each resistant to between three and seven isolates, except for NIL M106, which was resistant to only two isolates. In a blast nursery experiment, all the NILs proved to be more resistant than Chucheong. These newly developed NILs have potential as commercial rice varieties because of their increased resistance to M. grisea combined with the desirable agronomic traits of Chucheong. They also provide material for studying the genetic basis of blast resistance.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.810-820
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• 2016

This study is focused on the investigation of the genes which are induced by various stresses of the halophyte Salicornia herbacea. One of the factors influencing in the germination of Salicornia herbacea is salt stress. The highest germination rate was found in the condition without NaCl, and the upper limit of the NaCl concentration for the germination of Salicornia herbacea was 7%. The optimal temperature of $20^{\circ}C$showed a germination rate of 98%. Among genes induced by stress the 2CysPrx gene was cloned and analyzed for this study. The 2CysPrx gene has two cysteine conserved residues and is composed of 275 amino acids with molecular weight of 30.1kDa. The 2CysPrx gene appeared to be one copy in the genome and consists of 6 introns and 7 exons. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the highest transcription rate induced by NaCl and $H_2O_2$ appeared to be at the concentration of 3.5% NaCl and 40mM $H_2O_2$, respectively. The amount of transcript induced by high temperature($40^{\circ}C$) and $75{\mu}M$ of ABA was respectively highest. The gene at low temperature ($4^{\circ}C$) appeared not to be expressed. We are conducting to clone other peroxyredoxin genes induced by various environmental stresses.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.390-400
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• 2018

Studies have revealed that miR-103a-3p contributes to tumor growth in several human cancers, and high miR-103a-3p expression is associated with poor prognosis in advanced gastric cancer (GC) patients. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis has shown that miR-103a-3p is upregulated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) stomach cancer cohort. These results suggest that miR-103a-3p may function as an oncogene in GC. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-103a-3p in human GC. miR-103a-3p expression levels were increased in 33 clinical GC specimens compared with adjacent nontumor stomach tissues. Gain- and loss-of-function studies were performed to identify the correlation between miR-103a-3p and tumorigenesis in human GC. Inhibiting miR-103a-3p suppressed GC cell proliferation and blocked the S-G2/M transition in MKN-45/SGC-7901 cells, whereas miR-103a-3p overexpression improved GC cell proliferation and promoted the S-G2/M transition in vitro. Bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that ATF7 is a direct target of miR-103a-3p. Analysis of the TCGA stomach cancer cohort further revealed that miR-103a-3p expression was inversely correlated with ATF7 expression. Notably, silencing ATF7 showed similar cellular and molecular effects as miR-103a-3p overexpression, namely, increased GC cell proliferation, improved CDK2 expression and decreased P27 expression. ATF7 overexpression eliminated the effects of miR-103a-3p expression. These findings indicate that miR-103a-3p promotes the proliferation of GC cell by targeting and suppressing ATF7 in vitro.