• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.2807-2811
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• 2015

Scorpion venom peptides recently have attracted attention as alternative chemotherapeutic agents that may overcome the limitations of current drugs, providing specific cytotoxicity for cancer cells with an ability to bypass multidrug-resistance mechanisms, additive effects in combination therapy and safety. In the present study, BmKn-2 scorpion venom peptide and its derivatives were chosen for assessment of anticancer activities. BmKn-2 was identified as the most effective against human oral squamous cells carcinoma cell line (HSC-4) by screening assays with an $IC_{50}$ value of $29{\mu}g/ml$. The BmKn-2 peptide killed HSC-4 cells through induction of apoptosis, as confirmed by phase contrast microscopy and RT-PCR techniques. Typical morphological features of apoptosis including cell shrinkage and rounding characteristics were observed in treated HSC-4 cells. The results were further confirmed by increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes such as caspase-3, -7, and -9 but decrease mRNA level of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 in BmKn-2 treated cells, as determined by RT-PCR assay. In summary, the BmKn-2 scorpion venom peptide demonstrates specific membrane binding, growth inhibition and apoptogenic activity against human oral cancer cells.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.149-156
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• 2020

We developed a simple and rapid method for detecting vancomycin resistance genes, such as vanA and vanB, using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). To identify not only vancomycin resistance genes, but also the genus Enterococcus, primers were designed for vanA, vanB, and 16S rRNA. Screening for vancomycin susceptibility in Enterococcus was performed using Etest (bioMérieux Inc). The results of the LAMP assay were compared to those of real-time RT-PCR. The optimal conditions for the LAMP assay were 65℃ for 60 min. The detection limits of the LAMP assay for vanA, and vanB were 2 × 10² copies/reaction. Compared to RT-PCR, the sensitivities and specificities of LAMP for 16S rRNA, vanA, and vanB were 100/100%, 100/100%, and 100/100%, respectively. The vanA genotype-vanB phenotype accounted for 57.5% (46/80) of the vancomycin-resistant Enterococci samples collected from 2016 to 2019. In conclusion, the LAMP assay developed in this study showed high sensitivity and specificity for vancomycin-resistant genes. Moreover, due to the simplicity and rapidity of the LAMP assay, its use can be very useful in clinical microbiology laboratories.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제8권3_4호
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• pp.93-97
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• 2001

Heterosigma akashiwo has been reported as red-tide causing phytoplankton in the Korean coastal area during summer when they are exposed to high light. It also shows photosynthetic adaptability to strong light during culture in the laboratory. On the basis of these observations, we tried to find out some genes specifically expressed in Heterosimga akashiwo during exposure to high light, assuming that they might have some resistant mechanisms associated with light adaptation. For this purpose, we carried out DD-PCR to detect differentially expressed mRNAs from cells that had been illuminated under high light for 3 days. We found eight cDNA clones that had been expressed specificically for high light. When they were further screened by reverse Northern hybridization, three of them were identified to be positive cDNA clones. When these cDNA fragments were subjected to DNA sequencing and then their base sequences were compared to GenBank database, one of them showed sequence homology 86% identical to the partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene of eubacterium CRO-18.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.1725-1727
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• 2016

Breast cancer contributes to approximately 23% of the cancer cases identified and 14% of cancer related deaths worldwide. Including a strong association between genetic and environmental factors, breast cancer is a complex and multi factorial disorder. Two high penetration breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) have been identified, and germ line mutations in these are thought to account for between 5% and 10% of all breast cancer cases. The human BRCA1 gene, located on 17q, is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation by aiding in DNA repair, transcriptional responses to DNA damage and cell cycle check points. Mutations in this gene enhance cell proliferation and facilitate formation of tumors. Two mutations, the 185 deletion of AG and the 4627 substitution from C to A, are founder mutations in the BRCA1 gene for breast cancer in Asian populations. Allele specific PCR was performed to detect these selected mutations in 120 samples. No mutation of 4627 C to A was detected in the samples and only one of the patients had the 185 del AG mutation in the heterozygous condition. Our collected samples had lower consanguinity and family history indicating the greater involvement of environmental as compared to genetic factors.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.202-210
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• 2007

A total of 45 bacterial strains were isolated from the traditional Korean soybean-fermented food, Chungkookjang. Among these strains, seven strains were selected and identified based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, as well as phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequences. All strains were Gram-positive, aerobic, motile, oxidase-positive, rod-shaped, and endospore-forming bacteria, and produced extracellular enzymes such as amylase, cellulase, lipase, protease, and xylanase. The isolates were grown in the presence of 0-11% (w/v) NaCl. Growth was optimal at pH 6-9 and at temperatures of $30-45^{\circ}C$. According to VITEK automicrobic system tests and supplementary tests, the isolates were similar to several species of the genus Bacillus. The phylogenetic analysis of seven bacterial strains based on comparisons of 16S rDNA sequences, revealed that the strains were closely related to Bacillus species. The identification of strains that produced surfactin was also carried out, based on PCR screening of the sfp gene. Among the seven isolated strains, six yielded a surfactin-positive result with PCR.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2007

Escherichia coli is a clonal species, and occurs as both commensal and pathogenic strains, which are normally classified on the basis of their O, H, and K antigens. The O-antigen (O-specific polysaccharide), which consists of a series of oligosaccharide (O-unit) repeats, contributes major antigenic variability to the cell surface. The O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O66 was sequenced in this study. The genes putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of dTDP-6-deoxy-L-talose and GDP-mannose, as well as those responsible for the transfer of sugars and for O-unit processing were identified based on their homology. The function of the wzy gene was confirmed by the results of a mutation test. Genes specific for E. coli O66 were identified via PCR screening against representatives of 186 E. coli and Shigella O type strains. The comparison of intergenic sequences located between galF and the O-antigen gene cluster in a range of E. coli and Shigella showed that this region may perform an important function in the homologous recombination of the O-antigen gene clusters.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.593-598
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• 2008

사람의 혈액 내의 단핵구 U937을 모델시스템으로 이용하여 옻추출물 처리에 의해 발현이 조절되는 특정 유전자를 탐색하였다. DDRT-PCR을 이용하여 옻 추출물 처리 시 발현이 감소되는 클론을 하나 얻을 수 있었으며 이를 클로닝하고 염기서열 분석을 실시하였다. 그 결과 얻어진 유전자는 H2A histone family의 member Z와 100% 유사성이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이 단백질은 특정 조건 하에서 특정한 유전자 발현을 증가시키는 역할을 하는 것으로 보고되고 있으나, 보다 정확한 작용기작을 알아내기 위해서는 유전자 관계 파악을 위하여 향후 계속적인 연구가 필요함을 알 수 있었다.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.199-204
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• 2003

Among 59 Korean isolated, 20 were confirmed as members of the genus Bifidobaferium species based on gram staining, microscopic examination of cell morphology and the TLC method, The oxygen tolerance and antioxidative activities of these 20 Bifidobacterium strains and 5 standard Bifidobaferium strains were tested. All the strains demonstrated antioxidative activities as regards inhibiting linoleic acid peroxidation. The antioxidative activities of isolated and standard strains were found to range from 10.7-46.4% and from 10.7-22.2%, respectively. In addition, all tested strains exhibited a Scavenging ability on DPPH free radicals, range from 15-41% for the isolated strains and 8.3-22% for the standard strain. Accordingly. the isolated Bifidobarterium strains demonstrated higher antioxidative artivities than the 5 standa rd Bifidobarterium strains. On the base of grades for each test, HJL 7511 was identified 35 the best strain, followed by HJL 7501. 2 strains were identified with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay using group-specific primers designed from the nucleotide Sequences of the 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the Bifidobacteria. Based on the Sequencing results, HJL 7511 and HJL 7501 were identified as Bifidobacterium infantis.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.8-13
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• 2020

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with approximately 528,000 new cases and 266,000 women dying of it per year in the world. MicroRNAs have recently been in the spotlight as potential biomarkers that regulate gene expression and are involved in tumorigenesis. In the present study, we evaluated miR-1260b as a potential biomarker for screening of cervical cancer by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. We profiled the TCGA data of miR-1260b in 307 cervical cancer tissues. Then, miR-1260b expression levels in 10 cervical cancer tissues and 10 noncancerous tissues were investigated in a pilot study. miR-1260b was found to be significantly up-regulated in cervical cancer FFPE tissues as compared to those in cervical normal FFPE tissues (P = 0.006). The mean expression level of miR-1260b in late-stage (IIB-IVB) was higher than in those with early-stage (IA-IIA). Furthermore, high miR-1260b was found to be associated with high hTERT and Ki-67 mRNA expression, which are representative of tumor prognosis. The results of the pilot study suggest that miR-1260b may be used as a novel biomarker for improving the diagnosis of cervical cancer.

• 한국수정란이식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국수정란이식학회 1998년도 춘계학술대회 및 워크숍
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• pp.12-28
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• 1998

The technology of creating transgenic animals has a potential value in improving productivity and disease resistance of animals, gene therapy, drug pharming and production of model animals for certain diseases. Up to date, fairly low success rate of production of transgenic animals and a pronounced variability with respect to the expression of transgenes have been much observed. The mechanisms how to integrate the injected genes with a certain part of the genomes are unknown yet. Many techniques in gene transfer, beside microinjection, have been introduced and explored thus to improve the production efficiency of transgenic animals. In this article, the methods and efficiency of gene-transfer techniques, the detection and preselection of transgenes in embryos by PCR- and GFP-screenings and cloning of preselected transgenic embryos by nuclear transplantation are described and discussed. Some experimental results showed that the early screening and selection of integration of the injected gene with embryonic genome by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and green fluorecence protein(GFP) were promising methods. Further, the application of nuclear transplantation technology to cloning and multiplication of the positively integrated genes in the cleaving embryos and embryonic cells will be beneficially used for the mass production of transgenic embryos and consequently improving the production efficiency in transgenic animals.