• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.444-447
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• 2007

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful technique in molecular biology and is widely used in various fields. By amplifying DNA fragments, PCR has facilitated gene cloning procedures, as well as molecular genotyping. However, the extraction of DNA from samples often acts as a limiting step of these reactions. In particular, the extraction of PCR-compatible genomic DNA from higher plants requires complicated processes and tedious work because plant cells have rigid cell walls and contain various endogenous PCR inhibitors, including polyphenolic compounds. We recently developed a novel solution, referred to as AnyDirect, which can amplify target DNA fragments directly from whole blood without the need for DNA extraction. Here, we developed a simple lysis system that could produce an appropriate template for direct PCR with AnyDirect PCR buffer, making possible the direct amplification of DNA fragments from plant leaves. Thus, our experimental procedure provides a simple, convenient, non-hazardous, inexpensive, and rapid process for the amplification of DNA from plant tissue.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.78-86
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• 2005

Dioxins, especially 2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin), are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. TCDD is known that it has toxic effects in animals and humans, including chloracne, immune, reproductive and developmental toxicities, carcinogenicity, wasting syndrome and death. TCDD induces a broad spectrum of biological responses, including disruption of normal hormone signaling pathways, reproductive and developmental defects, immunotoxicity, liver damage, wasting syndrome and cancer. Many researches showed that TCDD induces gene expression of transcriptional factors related cell proliferation, signal transduction, immune system and cell cycle arrest at molecular and cellular levels. These toxic actions of TCDD are usually mediated with AhR (receptor, resulted from cell culture, animal and clinical studies). cDNA microarray can be used as a highly sensitive and informative marker for toxicity. Additionally, microarray analysis of dioxin-toxicity is able to provide an opportunity for the development of candidate bridging biomarkers of dioxin-toxicity. Through microarray technology, it is possible to understand the therapeutic effects of agonists within the context of toxic effects, classify new chemicals as to their complete effects on biological systems, and identify environmental factors that may influence safety.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.260-264
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• 2009

Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) exhibits cytotoxicity towards various tumor cells in vitro and induces apoptotic necrosis in transplanted tumors in vivo. It also shows severe toxicity when used systemically for the treatment of cancer patients, hampering the development of TNF-$\alpha$ as a potential anticancer drug. In order to understand the structure-function relation of TNF-$\alpha$ with respect to receptor binding, we selected four regions on the bottom of the TNF-$\alpha$ trimer that are in close contact with the receptor and carried out mutagenesis studies and computational modeling. From the study, various TNF-$\alpha$ muteins with a high therapeutic index were identified. These results will provide a structural basis for the design of highly potent TNF-$\alpha$ for therapeutic purposes. By conjugating TNF-$\alpha$ muteins with a high therapeutic index to a fusion partner, which targets a marker of angiogenesis, it could be possible to develop TNF-$\alpha$ based anticancer drugs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.158-164
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• 2014

Substance P and neuropeptide Y were discovered as early diagnostic biomarkers of acute myocardial infarction in Korean patients and confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We screened 12 peptides from the sera of Korean acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and detected 3 peptides (neuropeptide Y, substance P, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) to be elevated from patients' sera by liquid chromatography mass/mass spectrometry. The elevated concentration of 3 peptides was confirmed by ELISA. The screening results revealed the substance P, neuropeptide Y, and pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (47-76) concentrations were higher in patients' sera than in healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of substance P for AMI diagnostic marker were 80% and 83%, respectively, and those of neuropeptide Y were 87% and 90%, respectively compared to healthy controls. These results suggest that substance P and neuropeptide Y could be used as early diagnostic biomarkers in patients with AMI.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

Taenia solium, T. saginata, and T. asiatica are taeniid tapeworms that cause taeniasis in humans and cysticercosis in intermediate host animals. Taeniases remain an important public health concerns in the world. Molecular diagnostic methods using PCR assays have been developed for rapid and accurate detection of human infecting taeniid tapeworms, including the use of sequence-specific DNA probes, PCR-RFLP, and multiplex PCR. More recently, DNA diagnosis using PCR based on histopathological specimens such as 10% formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and stained sections mounted on slides has been applied to cestode infections. The mitochondrial gene sequence is believed to be a very useful molecular marker for not only studying evolutionary relationships among distantly related taxa, but also for investigating the phylo-biogeography of closely related species. The complete sequence of the human Taenia tapeworms mitochondrial genomes were determined, and its organization and structure were compared to other human-tropic Taenia tapeworms for which complete mitochondrial sequence data were available. The multiplex PCR assay with the Ta4978F, Ts5058F, Tso7421F, and Rev7915 primers will be useful for differential diagnosis, molecular characterization, and epidemiological surveys of human Taenia tapeworms.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.2 s.89
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• pp.132-137
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• 1999

This study was carried out to develop the molecular marker for the detection of Pseudomonas tolaasii, a causative agent of bacterial brown blotch disease of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). When several primers designed from repetitive sequences and pectin lyase genes of bacteria were used to produce DNA polymorphism from different Pseudomonas spp. isolated from edible mushrooms, PEU1 primer derived from pectin lyase gene produced polymorphic bands differentiating P. tolaasii strains from other Pseudomonas species. Two bands, 1.0kb and 0.4kb, found commonly in 6 isolates of P. tolaasii were cloned into pGEM-T vector which were designated as pPTOP1 and pPTOP2, respectively, to use as probe. The 0.4 kb insert of pPTOP2 hybridized to only 6 isolates of P. tolaasii, but did not to the other Pseudomonas species. As few as $1.5{\times}10^3$ colony forming unit (cfu) of P. tolaasii could be detected by dot blot hybridization with the cloned 0.4kb DNA in pPTOP2.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2008

Purpose: To date, anatomical imaging modalities of the pelvis and tumor markers have been the mainstay of surveillance for recurrent ovary cancer. This study aimed to assess the role of $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT in evaluation of ovary cancer recurrences, especially in comparison with enhanced a and tumor marker CA 125. Materials and methods: 73 patients who had PET/CT scan for restaging of confirmed ovary cancer, and additional imaging with enhanced a of the pelvis within one month were included. CA 125 level was available in all patients. From the PET/CT images, maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) of suspected recurrence sites were recorded. Confirmation was available through re-operation or biopsy in 26 cases, and clinical assessment with series of follow-up images in 47. Results: PET/CT had 93% sensitivity and 88% specificity for detecting recurrent ovary cancer. Enhanced a of pelvis had sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 88%, and CA 125 50% and 95%. Conclusion: PET/CT has higher sensitivity for detecting recurrent ovary cancer compared to enhanced a though the differences were not significant. PET/CT has significantly higher sensitivity than CA 125. However, the three tests all agreed in only 43% of the recurrence cases, and recurrence should be suspected when any of the tests, especially PET/CT, show positive findings.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.722-729
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• 2015

Powdery mildew (PM) caused by Podosphaera aphanis is a major disease that can result in significant yield losses in strawberry (Fragaria ${\times}$ ananassa Duchesne). For preventing PM, pesticides are usually applied in strawberry. In this study, molecular markers were developed to increase breeding efficiency of PM-resistance cultivars by marker-assisted selection (MAS). An $F_2$ population derived from a cross between PM-resistance 'Seolhyang' and PM-susceptibility 'Akihime' was evaluated for disease resistance to PM and RAPD (random amplification of polymorphic DNA)-BSA (bulked segregant analysis). Among 200 RAPD primers tested, OPE10 primer amplified a 311bp-band present in with 331bp. Sequence alignment performed for searching polymorphisms and six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were found in amplified regions. To develop polymorphic marker for distinguishing between resistant and susceptible, RAPD was converted to cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker. Among restriction enzymes associated with six SNPs, Eae I (Y/GGCCR) was successfully digested to 231bp in susceptible. The results suggest that the selected CAPS marker could be used for increasing efficiency of selecting powdery mildew resistant strawberry in breeding system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8441-8445
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• 2014

Background: Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) is another new marker in breast carcinoma since hypermethylation at P2 promoter of this gene was noted to be associated with poor prognosis. We investigated the expression of PITX2 protein using immunohistochemistry in invasive ductal carcinoma and its association with the established growth receptors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2). Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study using 100 samples of archived formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of invasive ductal carcinoma and stained them with immunohistochemistry for PITX2, ER, PR and HER2. All HER2 with scoring of 2+ were confirmed with chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH). Results: PITX2 protein was expressed in 53% of invasive ductal carcinoma and lack of PITX2 expression in 47%. Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between PITX2 expression with PR (p=0.001), ER (p=0.006), gland formation (p=0.044) and marginal association with molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma (p=0.051). Combined ER and PR expression with PITX2 was also significantly associated (p=0.003) especially in double positive cases. Multivariate analysis showed the most significant association between PITX2 and PR (RR 4.105, 95% CI 1.765-9.547, p=0.001). Conclusion: PITX2 is another potential prognostic marker in breast carcinoma adding significant information to established prognostic factors of ER and PR. The expression of PITX2 together with PR may carry a very good prognosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2017

Ran-binding protein family member, RanBP9 has been reported in various basic cellular mechanisms and neuropathological conditions including schizophrenia. Previous studies have reported that RanBP9 is highly expressed in the mammalian brain and retina; however, the role of RanBP9 in retinal development is largely unknown. Here, we present the novel and regulatory roles of RanBP9 in retinal development of a vertebrate animal model, zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos exhibited abundant expression of ranbp9 in developing brain tissues as well as in the developing retina. Yeast two-hybrid screening demonstrated the interaction of RanBP9 with Mind bomb, a component of Notch signaling involved in both neurogenesis and neural disease autism. The interaction is further substantiated by co-localization studies in cultured cells. Knockdown of ranbp9 resulted in retinal dysplasia with defective proliferation of retinal cells, downregulation of neuronal differentiation marker huC, elevation of neural proliferation marker her4, and alteration of cell cycle marker p57kip2. Expression of the $M{\ddot{u}}ller$ glial cell marker glutamine synthase was also affected in knockdown morphants. Our results suggest that Mind bomb-binding partner RanBP9 plays a role during retinal cell development of zebrafish embryogenesis.