• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.57-58
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• 2018

An accurate diagnostic marker for detecting early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (eHCC) is clinically important, since early detection of HCC remarkably improves patient survival. From the integrative analysis of the transcriptome and clinicopathologic data of human multi-stage HCC tissues, we were able to identify barrier-to-autointegration factor 1 (BANF1), procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 3 (PLOD3) and splicing factor 3b subunit 4 (SF3B4) as early HCC biomarkers which could be detected in precancerous lesions of HCC, with superior capabilities to diagnose eHCC compared to the currently popular HCC diagnostic biomarkers: GPC3, GS, and HSP70. We then showed that SF3B4 knockdown caused G1/S cell cycle arrest by recovering $p27^{kip1}$ and simultaneously suppressing cyclins, and CDKs in liver cancer cells. Notably, we demonstrated that aberrant SF3B4 overexpression altered the progress of splicing progress of the tumor suppressor gene, kruppel like factor 4 (KLF4), and resulted in non-functional skipped exon transcripts. This contributes to liver tumorigenesis via transcriptional inactivation of $p27^{kip1}$ and simultaneous activation of Slug genes. Our results suggest that SF3B4 indicates early-stage HCC in precancerous lesions, and also functions as an early-stage driver in the development of liver cancer.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2011

The principal objective of this study was to estimate the availability of morphological data on the basis of the guidelines of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) with regard to the identification of the rose germplasm. The correlation of morphological traits and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker data among 44 rose cultivars was assessed via a mantel test. Thirty eight phenotypes were employed for morphological analysis. Sixteen primers were utilized for RAPD analysis, and these generated 225 polymorphic bands. The dendrogram based on the RAPD markersgrouped 44 rose cultivars according to their horticultural types. No significant correlation was observed between the morphological and RAPD marker data. We concluded that current UPOV traits could not be applied to study genetic variation. Further studies on morphological traits are required for the analysis of genetic variation among cultivars.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2005

We have constructed an AFLP-based linkage map of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zucc.) using haploid DNA samples of 96 megagametophytes from a single maternal tree, selection clone Kyungbuk 4. Twenty-eight primer pairs generated a total of 5,780 AFLP fragments. Five hundreds and thirteen fragments were verified as genetic markers with two alleles by their Mendelian segregation. At the linkage criteria LOD 4.0 and maximum recombination fraction 0.25(${\theta}$), a total of 152 markers constituted 25 framework maps for 19 major linkage groups. The maps spanned a total length of 2,341 cM with an average framework marker spacing of 18.4 cM. The estimated genome size was 2,662 cM. With an assumption of equal marker density, 82.2% of the estimated genome would be within 10 cM of one of the 230 linked markers, and 68.1% would be within 10 cM of one of the 152 framework markers. We evaluated map completeness in terms of LOD value, marker density, genome length, and map coverage. The resulting map will provide crucial information for future genomic studies of the Japanese red pine, in particular for QTL mapping of economically important breeding target traits.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-50
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• 2010

The common DNA extraction methods are indispensable for genotyping by molecular marker analysis. However, genotyping a large number of plants is painstaking. A modified 'NaOH-Tris' method used in this study reduces the extraction time while keeping the cost low and avoiding the use of hazardous chemicals. The endpoint analysis by realtime PCR tends to be fast and effective for the development of SNP markers linked to the 'Chunpoong' cultivar of Panax ginseng. The 'Chunpoong' marker was developed by a major latex-like protein gene sequence. From our results, we suggest that this method is successful in distinguishing 'Chunpoong' from a large number of ginseng cultivars.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2020

The identification of adult stem cells is challenging because of the heterogeneity and plasticity of stem cells in different organs. Within the same tissue, stem cells may be highly proliferative, or maintained in a quiescent state and only to be activated after tissue damage. Although various stem cell markers have been successfully identified, there is no universal stem cell marker, which is exclusively expressed in all stem cells. Here, we discuss the roles of master developmental regulator RUNX1 in stem cells and the development of a 270 base pair fragment of the Runx1 enhancer (eR1) for use as stem cell marker. Using eR1 to identify stem cells offers a distinct advantage over gene promoters, which might not be expressed exclusively in stem cells. Moreover, RUNX1 has been strongly implicated in various cancer types, such as leukemia, breast, esophageal, prostate, oral, skin, and ovarian cancers-it has been suggested that RUNX1 dysfunction promotes stem cell dysfunction and proliferation. As tissue stem cells are potential candidates for cancer cells-of-origin and cancer stem cells, we will also discuss the use of eR1 to target oncogenic gene manipulations in stem cells and to track subsequent neoplastic changes.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.305-312
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• 2011

Bacillus anthracis(Ba) is a Gram-positive spore-forming bacterium that causes the disease anthrax. The feature of Ba is the presence of two large virulence plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2. Molecular genotyping of Ba has been difficult to the lack of polymorphic DNA marker. Ba isolated from Korea has been genotyped using various nucleotide analysis methods, such as 16s rDNA sequencing and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat (MLVA) analysis. We identified genotypes that represent a genetic lineage in the B1 cluster. This study emphasized the need to perform molecular genotyping when attempting to verify a strain-specific Ba.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.168-170
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• 2016

We previously found that the antibacterial activity of silver phosphate crystals on Escherichia coli depends on their structure. We here show that the cubic form of silver phosphate crystal (SPC) can also be applied to inhibit the growth of a plant-pathogenic Pseudomonas syringae bacterium. SPC pretreatment resulted in reduced in planta multiplication of P. syringae. Induced expression of a plant defense marker gene PR1 by SPC alone is suggestive of its additional plant immunity-stimulating activity. Since SPC can simultaneously inhibit P. syringae growth and induce plant defense responses, it might be used as a more effective plant disease-controlling agent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.654-658
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• 2012

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common rheumatic pathology. One of the major objectives of OA research is the development of early diagnostic strategies such as those using proteomic technology. Synovial fluid (SF) in OA patients is a potential source of biomarkers for OA. The efficient and reliable preparation of SF proteomes is a critical step towards biomarker discovery. In this study, we have optimized a pretreatment method for twodimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) separation of the SF proteome, by enriching low-abundance proteins and simultaneously removing hyaluronic acid, albumin, and IgG. SF samples pretreated using this optimized method were then evaluated by 1DE and 2DE separation followed by immunodetection of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a known OA biomarker, and by the identification of 3 proteins (apolipoprotein, haptoglobin precursor, and fibrinogen D fragment) that are related to joint diseases.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.207-222
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• 2021

Coffee is the most frequently consumed functional beverage world wide. The average daily coffee consumption is increasing. This crop, which plays an important role in the global economy is under great threat from climate change. To with stand the current climate change, farmers have to learn crop cultivation techniques, strategies to protect crops from diseases, and understand which type of seed varieties to use to avoid crop loss. The present review briefly discusses the coffee cultivation techniques, impact of climate changes on coffee production, processing techniques of coffee, and the importance of coffee in our society, including its chemical composition and prevention against, major diseases. Furthermore, the importance and role of advanced nanotechnology along with molecular approaches for coffee crop improvement and facing challenges are explained.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.4
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• 2019

Intratumor heterogeneity within a single tumor mass is one of the hallmarks of malignancy and has been reported in various tumor types. The molecular characterization of intratumor heterogeneity in breast cancer is a significant challenge for effective treatment. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from a public resource, an ERBB pathway activated triple-negative cell population was identified. The differential expression of three subtyping marker genes (ERBB2, ESR1, and PGR) was not changed in the bulk RNA-seq data, but the single-cell transcriptomes showed intratumor heterogeneity. This result shows that ERBB signaling is activated using an indirect route and that the molecular subtype is changed on a single-cell level. Our data propose a different view on breast cancer subtypes, clarifying much confusion in this field and contributing to precision medicine.