• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.147-152
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• 2006

Most plant organs develop from meristems. Rice FON1, which is an ortholog of Clv1, regulates stem cell proliferation and organ initiation. The point mutations, fon1-1 and fon1-2, disrupt meristem balance, resulting in alteration of floral organ numbers and the architecture of primary rachis branches. In this study, we identified two knockout alleles, fon1-3 and fon1-4, generated by T-DNA and Tos17 insertion, respectively. Unlike the previously isolated point mutants, the null mutants have alterations not only of the reproductive organs but also of vegetative tissues, producing fewer tillers and secondary rachis branches. The mutant plants are semi-dwarfs due to delayed leaf emergence, and leaf senescence is delayed. SEM analysis showed that the shoot apical meristems of fon1-3 mutants are enlarged. These results indicate that FON1 controls vegetative as well as reproductive development by regulating meristem size.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.6 s.101
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• pp.485-497
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• 2003

The form and function of the craniofacial structure critically depend on genetic information. With recent advances in the molecular technology, genes that are important for normal growth and morphogenesis of the craniofacial skeleton are being rapidly uncovered, shaping up modem craniofacial biology. One of them is fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2). Specific point mutations in the. FGFR2 gene have been linked to Apert syndrome, which is characterized by premature closure of cranial sutures and craniofacial anomalies as well as limb deformities. To study pathogenic mechanisms underlying craniosynostosis phenotype of Apert syndrome, we used a transgenic approach; an FGFR2 minigene construct containing an Apert mutation (a point mutation that substitute proline at the position 253 to arginine; P253R) was introduced into fertilized mouse germ cells by DNA microinjection. The injected cells were then allowed to develop into transgenic mice. We used a bone-specific promoter (a DNA fragment from the type I collagen gene) to confine the expression of mutant FGFR2 gene to the bone tissue, and asked whether expression of mutant FGFR2 in bone is sufficient to cause the craniosynostosis phenotype in mice. Initial characterization of these mice shows prematurely closed cranial sutures with facial deformities expected from Apert patients. We also demonstrate that the transgene produces mutant FGFR2 protein with increased functional activities. Having this useful mouse model, we now can ask questions regarding the role of FGFR2 in normal and abnormal development of cranial bones and sutures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2001

Background : The appearance of multiple-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains has been seriously compromising successful control of tuberculosis. Rifampin-resistance, caused by mutations in the rpoB gene, can be indicative of multiple-drug-resistance, and its detection is of great importance. The present study aimed to develop an oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance. Methods : In order to detect point mutations in the rpoB gene, an oligonucleotide chip was prepared by immobilizing specific probe DNA to a microscopic slide glass by a chemical reaction. The probe DNA that was selected from the 81 bp core region of the rpoB gene was designed to have mutation sites at the center. A total of 17 mutant probes related to rifampin-resistance including 8 rifabutin-sensitive mutant probes were used in this study. For accurate determination, wild type probes were prepared for each mutation position with an equal length, which enabled a direct comparison of the hybridization intensities between the mutant and wild type. Results : Mycobacterial genomic DNA from clinical samples was tested with the oligonucleotide chip and the results were compared with those of the drug-susceptibility test in addition to sequencing and INNO-LiPA Rif. TB kit test in some cases. Out of 15 samples, the oligonucleotide chip results of 13 samples showed good agreement with the rifabutin-sensitivity results. The two samples with conflicting result also showed a discrepancy between the other tests, suggesting such possibilities as existence of mixed strains and difference in drug-sensitivity. Further verification of these samples in addition to more case studies are required before the final evaluation of the oligonucleotide chip can be made. Conlcusion : An oligonucleotide chip was developed for the detection of rpoB gene mutations related to drugsusceptibility. The results to date show the potential for using the oligonucleotide chip for accurate and convenient screening of drug-resistance to provide useful information in antituberculosis drug therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.496-501
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• 2000

Escherichia cole NZN111, which is known as a pfl ldhA double mutant strin, was metabolically engineered to produce succinic acid by overexpressing malic enzyme into the E. coli controlled by a trc promoter. Fermentation studies were carried out in a LB medium by first growing cells aerobically to an $OD_{600}$ of 5. At this point, 0.01 mM IPTG was added to induce the overexpression of malic enzyme and the agitation speed was gradually lowered. When the culture $OD_{600}$ reached 11, a complete anaerobic condition was achieved by flushing with a $CO_3-H_2$ gas mixture. When NZN111(pTrcML) was cultured at $37^{\circ}C$, the final succinic acid concentration of 2.8 g/l could be obtained after 30 h of anaerobic cultivation. The fermentation results were analyzed by the calculation of metabolic fluxes. Metaolic flux analysis showed that about 85% of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) was converted to pyruvate, and further converted to malic acid by malic enzyme.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2005

N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), which is a toxin and a carcinogen, as well as a mutagen, has a variety of effects on mice. ENU induces point mutation in male germ cell. Number of mutant animals are developed with ENU treatment. However, potentiality ot ENU as a carcinogen is not fully understood, even though, mutagenicity of ENU is broadly studied, In the present study, the gene expression profiling and histopathological investigation of ENU treated mouse's liver and brain were investigated. Also, the expression patterns of cancer related genes in ENU-treated mouse were analyzed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.323-326
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• 2009

SR proteins are essential splicing regulators and also modulate alternative splicing events, which function both as redundant and substrate-specific manner. The Drosophila B52/SRp55, a member of the SR protein family, is essential for the fly development in vivo, as deletion of B52 gene results in lethality of animals at the second instar larval stage. Identification of the splicing target genes of B52 thus should be crucial for the understanding of the specific developmental role of B52 in vivo. In this study, we performed whole-genome DNA microarray experiments with a B52- knock-out animal. Analysis of the microarray data not only provided the B52-dependent gene expression signature, but also revealed a larval-stage specific, alternative splicing target gene of B52. Our result thus provides a starting point to understand the essential function of B52 at the organismal level.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3521-3524
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• 2010

MTH1880 is a hypothetical protein derived from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, thermophilic methanogen. The solution structure determined by NMR spectroscopy showed that it has a novel $\alpha+\beta$-fold with a highly acidic ligand binding pocket. Since MTH1880 maintains its ultra-stable structural characteristics at both high temperature and pressure, it has been considered as an excellent model for studying protein folding. To initiate the structural and folding study of MTH1880 in proving its unusual stability, we performed the site directed mutagenesis and biochemical analysis of MTH1880 mutants. Data from circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy suggest that the point mutations perturbed the structural stability of protein even though the secondary structure is retained. This study will provide the useful information in understanding the role of participating residues during folding-unfolding process and our result will be used in designing further folding experiments for hyper-thermopile proteins like MTH1880.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 1982

Mutants of plasmid pKM101 modified to enhance mutagenesis were induced and characterized in Salmonella typhimurium. The pKM101 mutant plasmid were transferred normally and stably maintained in cells. They had modified in their ability (i) to enhance the reversion of both point and frameshift mutations, (ii) to protect the cell against UV-irradiation and chemical mutagen treatment, (iii) of ampicillin resistance. A similar modification in enhancement of reversion was also observed in a $uvrB^-$ strains. These results indicated that mutator effect of pKM101 was coded by one plasmid gene.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.244-252
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• 2007

Escherichia coli has a PhoR-PhoB two-component regulatory system to detect and respond to the changes of environmental phosphate concentration. For the E. coli W3110 strain growing under phosphate-limiting condition, the changes of global gene expression levels were investigated by using DNA microarray analysis. The expression levels of some genes that are involved in phosphate metabolism were increased as phosphate became limited, whereas those of the genes involved in ribosomal protein or amino acid metabolism were decreased, owing to the stationary phase response. The upregulated genes could be divided into temporarily and permanently inducible genes by phosphate starvation. At the peak point showing the highest expression levels of the phoB and phoR genes under phosphate-limiting condition, the phoB- and/or phoR-dependent regulatory mechanisms were investigated in detail by comparing the gene expression levels among the wild-type and phoB and/or phoR mutant strains. Overall, the phoB mutation was epistatic over the phoR mutation. It was found that PhoBR and PhoB were responsible for the upregulation of the phosphonate or glycerol phosphate metabolism and high-affinity phosphate transport system, respectively. These results show the complex regulation by the PhoR-PhoB two-component regulatory system in E. coli.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2022

Drug resistance is an important problem hindering malaria elimination in tropical areas. Point mutations in Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (Pfdhps) genes confer resistance to antifolate drug, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) while P. falciparum chloroquine-resistant transporter (Pfcrt) genes caused resistance to chloroquine (CQ). Decline in Pfdhfr/Pfdhps and Pfcrt mutations after withdrawal of SP and CQ has been reported. The aim of present study was to investigate the prevalence of Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfcrt mutation from 2 endemic areas of Thailand. All of 200 blood samples collected from western area (Thai-Myanmar) and southern area (Thai-Malaysian) contained multiple mutations in Pfdhfr and Pfdhps genes. The most prevalent haplotypes for Pfdhfr and Pfdhps were quadruple and double mutations, respectively. The quadruple and triple mutations of Pfdhfr and Pfdhps were common in western samples, whereas low frequency of triple and double mutations was found in southern samples, respectively. The Pfcrt 76T mutation was present in all samples examined. Malaria isolated from 2 different endemic regions of Thailand had high mutation rates in the Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and Pfcrt genes. These findings highlighted the fixation of mutant alleles causing resistance of SP and CQ in this area. It is necessary to monitor the re-emergence of SP and CQ sensitive parasites in this area.