• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.289-292
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• 2014

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is widely used to identify the causative mutations underlying diverse human diseases, including cancers, which can be useful for discovering the diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Currently, a number of single-nucleotide variant (SNV)-calling algorithms are available; however, there is no tool for visualizing the recurrent and phenotype-specific mutations for general researchers. In this study, in order to support defining the recurrent mutations or phenotype-specific mutations from NGS data of a group of cancers with diverse phenotypes, we aimed to develop a user-friendly tool, named mutation arranger for defining phenotype-related SNV (MAP). MAP is a user-friendly program with multiple functions that supports the determination of recurrent or phenotype-specific mutations and provides graphic illustration images to the users. Its operation environment, the Microsoft Windows environment, enables more researchers who cannot operate Linux to define clinically meaningful mutations with NGS data from cancer cohorts.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.128-137
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• 2011

Fifty two Macrophomina phaseolina isolates were recovered from 24 host plant species through the 14 Iranian provinces. All isolates were confirmed to species using species-specific primers. The colony characteristics of each isolate were recorded, including chlorate phenotype, relative growth rate at $30^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$, average size of microsclerotia, and time to microsclerotia formation. The feathery colony phenotype was the most common (63.7%) on the chlorate selective medium and represented the chlorate sensitive phenotype of the Iranian Macrophomina phaseolina population. Meantime, inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) Markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of the fungus. Unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic means (UPGMA) clustering of data showed that isolates did not clearly differentiate to the specific group according to the host or geographical origins, however, usually the isolates from the same host or the same geographic origin tend to group nearly. Our results did not show a correlation between the genetic diversity based on the ISSR and phenotypic characteristics. Similar to the M. phaseolina populations in the other countries, the Iranian isolates were highly diverse based on the phenotypic and the genotypic characteristics investigated and needs more studies using neutral molecular tools to get a deeper insight into this complex species.

• BMB Reports
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• 제46권11호
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• pp.550-554
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• 2013

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathway is essential for inducing a dedifferentiated state of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Activation of PDGF inhibits smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific gene expression and increases the rate of proliferation and migration, leading to dedifferentiation of VSMCs. Recently, microRNAs have been shown to play a critical role in the modulation of the VSMC phenotype in response to extracellular signals. However, little is known about microRNAs regulated by PDGF in VSMCs. Herein, we identify microRNA- 15b (miR-15b) as a mediator of VSMC phenotype regulation upon PDGF signaling. We demonstrate that miR-15b is induced by PDGF in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and is critical for PDGF-mediated repression of SMC-specific genes. In addition, we show that miR-15b promotes cell proliferation. These results indicate that PDGF signaling regulates SMC-specific gene expression and cell proliferation by modulating the expression of miR-15b to induce a dedifferentiated state in the VSMCs.

• 원예과학기술지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.80-88
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• 2013

당근(Daucus carota L. var. sativa)은 세계적으로 광범위하게 사용되는 채소 작물 중 하나로 비타민 A 카로티노이드의 전구체로 잘 알려진 베타카로틴이 다량 함유되어 있어 영양학적으로도 중요한 작물이다. 하지만 당근 종자는 종피의 epidermal 세포에서 연장되는 형태로 생성되는 종자모의 캐로톨 등과 같은 다양한 요인들에 의해 종자의 수분흡수와 발아가 억제된다. 따라서 당근 종자를 상품화하기 이전에 기계적인 종자모 제거과정을 거쳐야 하며 이러한 과정 때문에 생산자는 종자의 물리적인 손실은 물론 시간과 노동력, 그리고 자본금과 같은 추가적인 손실을 감수해야만 한다. 그리고 종자의 물리적인 손실은 종자발아율을 불균일하게 한다. 이러한 문제점들을 보완하기 위해서 무모종자 당근품종 개발을 위한 육종이 필요하게 되었으며 이러한 육종과정을 위해 종자모 형질관련 분자표지에 관한 연구가 필요하게 되었다. 이에 따라, 본 연구에서는 단모종자 표현형 CT-SMR 616 OP 659-1 개체와 유모종자 표현형 CT-SMR 616 OP 677-14 개체, 그리고 단모종자 표현형 CT-ATR 615 OP 666-13 개체와 유모종자 표현형 CT-ATR 615 OP 671-9 개체의 cDNA library를 각각 작성하였다. 또한 각각의 개체별로 1,248개의 EST, 합계 4,992개의 EST를 sequencing하였다. 단모종자와 유모종자 개체의 EST sequence들을 2개의 조합에서 각각 비교 분석하여 19개의 SNP site, 14개의 SNP site를 확인하였으며 이를 바탕으로 SNP site에 대한 High Resolution Melting 분석을 위한 프라이머를 작성하였다. 작성된 HRM 프라이머들은 유모종자 표현형 CT-SMR 616 OP 1040 개체군과 무모종자 표현형 CT-SMR 616 OP 1024, 1025, 1026 개체군을 이용하여 확인하였다. 그 중 한세트의 HRM 프라이머에서 유모 및 단모종자 표현형 개체군들의 melting curve간 특이적 다형성을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 유모종자 당근 및 단모종자 당근간의 보다 간편한 선발을 위해 allele-specific PCR 프라이머를 작성하였다. 이러한 HRM 및 AS-PCR 결과는 무모종자 당근육종에 있어 유용한 분자표지로써 사용될 수 있을 것이라 기대된다.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.82-83
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• 2003

In the past it was thought that autoimmunity is mediated by antibodies and immune complexes. It has now become clear that many diseases, especially tissue specific, are T cell mediated or at least T cell dependent. The pathogenesis of cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, uveitis, diabetes, arthritis, and others, is thought to be in a large measure driven by interferon-gamma-producing antigen-specific T cells polarized toward the Th1 phenotype. (omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.371-383
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• 2014

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) offers a unique opportunity for biological and basic medical researches due to its genetic tractability and well-defined developmental lineage. It also provides an exceptional model for genetic, molecular, and cellular analysis of human disease-related genes. Recently, C. elegans has been used as an ideal model for the identification and functional analysis of drugs (or small-molecules) in vivo. In this review, we describe conserved oncogenic signaling pathways (Wnt, Notch, and Ras) and their potential roles in the development of cancer stem cells. During C. elegans germline development, these signaling pathways regulate multiple cellular processes such as germline stem cell niche specification, germline stem cell maintenance, and germ cell fate specification. Therefore, the aberrant regulations of these signaling pathways can cause either loss of germline stem cells or overproliferation of a specific cell type, resulting in sterility. This sterility phenotype allows us to identify drugs that can modulate the oncogenic signaling pathways directly or indirectly through a high-throughput screening. Current in vivo or in vitro screening methods are largely focused on the specific core signaling components. However, this phenotype-based screening will identify drugs that possibly target upstream or downstream of core signaling pathways as well as exclude toxic effects. Although phenotype-based drug screening is ideal, the identification of drug targets is a major challenge. We here introduce a new technique, called Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS). This innovative method is able to identify the target of the identified drug. Importantly, signaling pathways and their regulators in C. elegans are highly conserved in most vertebrates, including humans. Therefore, C. elegans will provide a great opportunity to identify therapeutic drugs and their targets, as well as to understand mechanisms underlying the formation of cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권12호
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• pp.686-692
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• 2012

Phenotypic analysis of gene-specific knockout (KO) mice has revolutionized our understanding of in vivo gene functions. As the use of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is inevitable for conventional gene targeting, the generation of knockout mice remains a very time-consuming and expensive process. To accelerate the large-scale production and phenotype analyses of KO mice, international efforts have organized global consortia such as the International Knockout Mouse Consortium (IKMC) and International Mouse Phenotype Consortium (IMPC), and they are persistently expanding the KO mouse catalogue that is publicly available for the researches studying specific genes of interests in vivo. However, new technologies, adopting zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) or Transcription Activator-Like Effector (TALE) Nucleases (TALENs) to edit the mouse genome, are now emerging as valuable and effective shortcuts alternative for the conventional gene targeting using ES cells. Here, we introduce the recent achievement of IKMC, and evaluate the significance of ZFN/TALEN technology in mouse genetics.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.123-131
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• 1998

The unc-29 region on the chromosome I of Caenorhabditis elegans has been mutagenized in order to obtain lethal mutations. In this screen, the uncoordinated phenotype of unc-29 (e193) mutant was used to identify any lethal mutations closely linked to the unc-29 gene, which encodes a subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. We have isolated six independent mutations (jh1 to jh6) out of approximately 5,200 ethyl methanesulfonate(EMS) treated haploids. Four of the six mutations demonstrated embryonic lethal phenotypes, while the other two showed embryonic and larval lethal phenotypes. Terminal phenotypes observed in two mutations (jh1 and jh2) indicated developmental defects specific to posterior part of embryos which appeared similar to the phenotypes observed in nob (no back end) mutants. Another mutation (jh4) resulted in an interesting phenotype of body-wall muscle degeneration at larval stage. These mutations were mapped by using three-factor crosses and deficiency mutants in this region. Here we report genetic analysis and characterization of these lethal mutations.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제50권9호
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• pp.835-840
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• 2007

Any infant noted to be jaundiced at 2 weeks of age should be evaluated for cholestasis with measurement of total and direct serum bilirubin. With the insight into the clinical phenotype and the genotype-phenotype correlations, it is now possible to evaluate more precisely the neonate who presents with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Testing should be performed for the specific treatable causes of neonatal cholestasis, specifically sepsis, galactosemia, tyrosinemia, citrin deficiency and endocrine disorders. Biliary atresia must be excluded. Low levels of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase in the presence of cholestasis should suggest progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 1, 2, or arthrogryposis- renal dysfunction-cholestasis syndrome. If the serum bile acid level is low, a bile acid synthetic defect should be considered. Molecular genetic testing and molecular-based diagnostic strategies are in evolution.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권11호
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• pp.672-674
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• 2023

Schematic diagram of the interaction between the intestinal muscularis externa (MMΦ) macrophages and the enteric nervous system (ENS) neurons during different developmental periods. At the early postnatal stage, MMΦs play a critical role in ENS maturation and refinement through synaptic pruning and enteric neuron phagocytosis. In addition, during the adult stage, a specific MMΦ subset named neuron-associated (NA)-MMΦ, supports enteric neuronal survival and functions. Conversely, enteric neurons promote the phenotypic MMΦ changes by secreting transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), transitioning them from a phagocytic phenotype in the early postnatal period to a neuroprotective and immune-surveillant phenotype in the young adult period. Disruptions in these interactions could lead to alterations in the enteric neuron numbers, ultimately resulting in reduced gut motility.