• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.298-305
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• 2016

Previously our laboratory showed that Pseudomonas alkylphenolica KL28 possesses two different lap and pcu gene clusters for p-cresol catabolism. In this study, additional gene cluster (pchACXF-pcaHG-orf4-pcaBC) has been identified to encode enzymes necessary for catabolism of p-cresol to ${\beta}$-carboxy-cis,cis-muconate. This gene cluster showed almost identical nucleotide sequence homologies to those in the plasmid of Pseudomonas putida NCIMB 9866 and 9869, British origins, indicating the possibility of a horizontal gene transfer. Through mutagenesis of each gene cluster and gfp-based promoter reporter assays, it has been shown that the three gene clusters are functionally operated and pch genes are induced by p-cresol. Furthermore, the pcu gene cluster of the three was shown to be dominantly expressed in utilization of p-cresol. Mutation of the pcu gene was defective in aerial structure formation under p-cresol vapor, indicating the utilization rate of carbon source is one of key elements for the multicellular development of this strain.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2003

A Gene content phylogenetic tree and a 16s rRNA based phylogenetic tree were compared for 33 whole-genome sequenced procaryotes, neighbor joining and bootstrap methods (n=1,000). Ratio of conserved COG (clusters of orthologous groups of proteins) to orthologs revealed that they were within the range of 4.60% (Mezorhizobium loti) or 56.57% (Mycopiasma genitalium). This meant that the ratio was diverse among analyzed procaryotes and indicated the possibility of searching for useful genes. Over 20% of orthologs were independent among the same species. The gene content tree and the 16s rDNA tree showed coincidence and discordance in Archaeabacteria, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. This might have resulted from non-conservative genes in the gene content phylogenetic tree and horizontal gene transfer. The COG based gene content tree could be regarded as a midway phylogeny based on biochemical tests and nucleotide sequences.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2014

Genetic engineering is being used to enhance disease resistance and nutritional value of crops including rice plant. Considering the fast-growing agricultural biotechnology and rapidly increasing global area of transgenic crops, the risk evaluation on environment is necessary. In this study, we surveyed the difference of disease occurrence between transgenic rice variety, Iksan526 transformed with peanut stilbene synthase gene and non-transgenic rice varieties, Dongjin and Nampyeong in the field. Moreover, the possibility of gene transfer from transgenic rice to bacterial and fungal pathogens was investigated. The results of this study indicated that there was no significant difference in the occurrence and severity of the diseases between Iksan526 and Dongjin or Nampyeong. In addition, the results suggested that rice pathogen, such as Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani and Magnaporthe grisea did not take up stilbene synthase and bar genes under natural conditions. Moreover the transformed DNA was not transferred to the pathogens even in repetitive contacts.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2016

Pseudomonas fluorescens pc78 is an effective biocontrol agent for soil-borne fungal diseases. We previously constructed a P43-gfp tagged biocontrol bacteria P. fluorescens pc78-48 to investigate bacterial traits in natural ecosystem and the environmental risk of genetically modified biocontrol bacteria in tomato rhizosphere. Fluctuation of culturable bacteria profile, microbial community structure, and potential horizontal gene transfer was investigated over time after the bacteria treatment to the tomato rhizosphere. Tagged gene transfer to other organisms such as tomato plants and bacteria cultured on various media was examined by polymerase chain reaction, using gene specific primers. Transfer of chromosomally integrated P43-gfp from pc78 to other organisms was not apparent. Population and colony types of culturable bacteria were not significantly affected by the introduction of P. fluorescens pc78 or pc78-48 into tomato rhizosphere. Additionally, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles were investigated to estimate the influence on the microbial community structure in tomato rhizosphere between non-treated and pc78-48-treated samples. Interestingly, rhizosphere soil treated with strain pc78-48 exhibited a significantly different bacterial community structure compared to that of non-treated rhizosphere soil. Our results suggest that biocontrol bacteria treatment influences microbial community in tomato rhizosphere, while the chromosomally modified biocontrol bacteria may not pose any specific environmental risk in terms of gene transfer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.676-679
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• 2009

In order to produce a new antibiotic material against Jurkat T cells using horizontal gene transfer among microbes, co-cultures between soil bacteria AY2000 and the multiple antibiotic producer S. griseus was carried out. It showed that the highest active substance against Jurkat T cells was produced at 48 hr of co-culture time with MTT assay. Moreover, a morphological change of nuclear of Jurkat T cells treated with co-cultured substance was observed in DAPI staining. This result suggests that a new material was produced with co-culture supernatant, and that co-culture between microboes can develop new antibiotic materials.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1490-1494
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• 2014

To probe the genomic properties of microbes thriving in desert lakes, we sequenced the full genome of a betaproteobacterial strain (SL110) belonging to the understudied genus Caenimonas of the family Comamonadaceae. This strain was isolated from a freshwater lake in the western Gobi Desert, Northern China. Its genome contains genes encoding carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, nitric oxide reductase, and sulfur oxidation enzymes, highlighting the potentially important contribution of this group of bacteria to the cycling of inorganic elements in nature. Unexpectedly, a coenzyme $F_{420}$ biosynthesis gene cluster was identified. A further search for $F_{420}$ biosynthesis gene homologs in genomic databases suggests the possible widespread presence of $F_{420}$ biosynthesis gene clusters in proteobacterial genomes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2011

Herbicide-tolerant Zoysia grass has been previously developed through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We investigated the effects of genetically modified (GM) Zoysia grass and the associated herbicide application on bacterial community structure by using culture-independent approaches. To assess the possible horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of transgenic DNA to soil microorganisms, total soil DNAs were amplified by PCR with two primer sets for the bar and hpt genes, which were introduced into the GM Zoysia grass by a callus-type transformation. The transgenic genes were not detected from the total genomic DNAs extracted from 1.5 g of each rhizosphere soils of GM and non-GM Zoysia grasses. The structures and diversities of the bacterial communities in rhizosphere soils of GM and non-GM Zoysia grasses were investigated by constructing 16S rDNA clone libraries. Classifier, provided in the RDP II, assigned 100 clones in the 16S rRNA gene sequences library into 11 bacterial phyla. The most abundant phyla in both clone libraries were Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria. The bacterial diversity of the GM clone library was lower than that of the non- GM library. The former contained four phyla, whereas the latter had seven phyla. Phylogenetic trees were constructed to confirm these results. Phylogenetic analyses of the two clone libraries revealed considerable difference from each other. The significance of difference between clone libraries was examined with LIBSHUFF statistics. LIBSHUFF analysis revealed that the two clone libraries differed significantly (P<0.025), suggesting alterations in the composition of the microbial community associated with GM Zoysia grass.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2000

Laboratory studies have revealed that naturally transformable bacteria develop competence under in situ conditions. Thus, the occurrence of competent bacteria in the environment can be considered as a certainty The persistence of free DNA in natural habitats is influenced by nucleolytic degradation and protection from degradation by adsorption to minerals. Although DNA seeded into natural environment was hydrolysed at substantial rates, but was still detectable at low levels after even several weeks. Compared to the number of laboratory based studies, only a few data have been published dealing with transformation of bacteria in the field. Recently, the potential transfer of recombinant DNA (rDNA) from deliberately or accidentally released bacteria to indigenous microbes has raised biosafety issues, since the persistence of rDNA becomes independent of the survival of its original host and leads to unpredictable, long-term ecological effects. The aim of the present review is to summarise recent literature on horizontal gene transfer (HGT) by transformation among bacteria in both soil and aquatic habitat and special emphasis is placed on recent reports which have addressed HGT among bacteria in the field. [Transformation, Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), recombinant DNA (rDNA), Genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), Biosafety]

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2019

Over the past few decades, microalgae-based biotechnology conjugated with innovative CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering has been attracted much attention for the cost-effective and eco-friendly value-added compounds production. However, the discharge of reproducible living modified organism (LMO) into environmental condition potentially causes serious problem in aquatic environment, and thus it is essential to assess potential environmental risk for human health. Accordingly, in this study, we monitored discharged genetically modified microalgae (GMM) near the research complex which is located in Daejeon, South Korea. After testing samples obtained from 6 points of near streams, several green-colored microalgal colonies were detected under hygromicin-containing agar plate. By identification of selection marker genes, the GMM was not detected from all the samples. For the lab-scale environmental risk assessment of GMM, acute toxicity test using rotifer Brachionus calcyflorus was performed by feeding GMM. After feeding, there was no significant difference in mortality between WT and transformant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. According to further analysis of horizontal transfer of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-coding gene after 24 h of incubation in synthetic freshwater, we concluded that the GFP-expressed gene not transferred into predator. However, further risk assessments and construction of standard methods including prolonged toxicity test are required for the accurate ecological risk assessment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2004

The nucleotide sequence of 8.6-kb EcoRI fragment containing sucrose phosphorylase gene isolated from Bifidobacterium longum SJ32 was determined. It was found that the fragment contained five open reading frames including the gene cluster for sucrose utilization such as a sucrose phosphorylase (ScrP), a sucrose transporter (ScrT), and a GalR-LacI-type transcriptional regulator (ScrR) identified by amino acid homology. Each gene showed over 94% amino acid homology among various B. longum strains. Genomic organization of the gene cluster is the same as those of other strains of B. longum but different from that of B. lactis. In spite of high homology of each gene among B. longum strains, the difference of flanking sequences of the gene cluster between strains SJ32 and NCC2705 insinuates the horizontal transfer of scrPTR between B. longum strains. The increase of sucrose phosphorylase activity in heterologous E. coli system by the co-expression of scrT with scrP against the single expression of scrP was measured. It seems to be the result of sucrose uptake increment by scrT in the host and is an indirect evidence that scrT is the gene for sucrose transport. The existence of multiple sucrose uptake systems in B. longum is supposed from the findings of several genes besides scrPTR involved in sucrose uptake in the genome of B. longum NCC2705.