• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.125-131
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• 2011

The use of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine (SP) for treatment of vivax malaria is uncommon in most malarious areas, but Plasmodium vivax isolates are exposed to SP because of mixed infections with other Plasmodium species. As P. vivax is the most prevalent species of human malaria parasites in Iran, monitoring of resistance of the parasite against the drug is necessary. In the present study, 50 blood samples of symptomatic patients were collected from 4 separated geographical regions of south-east Iran. Point mutations at residues 57, 58, 61, and 117 were detected by the PCR-RFLP method. Polymorphism at positions 58R, 117N, and 117T of P. vivax dihydrofolate reductase (Pvdhfr) gene has been found in 12%, 34%, and 2% of isolates, respectively. Mutation at residues F57 and T61 was not detected. Five distinct haplotypes of the Pvdhfr gene were demonstrated. The 2 most prevalent haplotypes were F57S58T61S117 (62%) and F57S58T61N117 (24%). Haplotypes with 3 and 4 point mutations were not found. The present study suggested that P. vivax in Iran is under the pressure of SP and the sensitivity level of the parasite to SP is diminishing and this fact must be considered in development of malaria control programs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.1030-1036
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• 2018

Bacillus strains produce various types of antibiotics, and random mutagenesis has traditionally been used to overproduce these natural metabolites. However, this method leads to the accumulation of unwanted mutations in the genome. Here, we rationally designed a single nucleotide substitution in the degU gene to generate a B. subtilis strain displaying increased plipastatin production in a foreign DNA-free manner. The mutant strain (BS1028u) showed improved antifungal activity against Pythium ultimum. Notably, pps operon deletion in BS1028u resulted in complete loss of antifungal activity, suggesting that the antifungal activity strongly depends on the expression of the pps operon. Quantitative real-time PCR and lacZ assays showed that the point mutation resulted in 2-fold increased pps operon expression, which caused the increase in antifungal activity. Likewise, commercial Bacillus strains can be improved to display higher antifungal activity by rationally designed simple modifications of their genome, rendering them more efficient biocontrol agents.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.265-271
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• 2017

In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanism of silymarin by which silymarin may inhibits cell proliferation in human colorectal cancer cells in order to search the new potential anti-cancer target associated with the cell growth arrest. Silymarin reduced the level of c-Myc protein but not mRNA level indicating that silymarin-mediated downregulation of c-Myc may result from the proteasomal degradation. In the confirmation of silymarin-mediated c-Myc degradation, MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor attenuated c-Myc degradation by silymarin. In addition, silymarin phosphorylated the threonine-58 (Thr58) of c-Myc and the point mutation of Thr58 to alanine blocked its degradation by silymarin, which indicates that Thr58 phosphorylation may be an important modification for silymarin-mediated c-Myc degradation. We observed that the inhibition of ERK1/2, p38 and $GSK3{\beta}$ blocked the Thr58 phosphorylation and subsequent c-Myc degradation by silymarin. Finally, the point mutation of Thr58 to alanine attenuated silymarin-mediated inhibition of the cell growth. The results suggest that silymarin induces the cell growth arrest through c-Myc proteasomal degradation via ERK1/2, p38 and $GSK3{\beta}-dependent$ Thr58 phosphorylation.

• 식품기술
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.98-106
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• 2004

Two mutant enzymes of $\gamma$-glutamylcysteine synthetase ($\gamma$-GCS) which catalyzed the synthesis of $\gamma$-glutamylcysteine from L-glutamic acid and L-cysteine in the presence of ATP, were prepared bypoint mutation of $\gamma$-GCS gene with site-directed mutagensis in E. coli. Conformational structuresand catalytic reaction kinetics of mutant enzymes were compared with wild type $\gamma$-GCS afterpurification. The S495F mutant enzyme (serine at 495 residue was substituted with phenylalanine),which had no catalytic activity for $\gamma$-glutamylcysteine synthesis, rarely folded even in neutral pH.However, the mutant A494V (alanine of 494 residue was replaced by valnine) which showed 50 %increase of activity, had a high folding structure. The folding structure of A494V also more stable athigh temperature and extreme pH compared to wild type and S495F. Reaction kinetics of wild typeand A494V were also investigated, Km value of A494V was smaller than that of wild type, while itshowed a little difference at Vmax values. This result evolved that alanine at 494 may be involved inbinding site of substrate rather than catalytic site. In addition, change of catalytic activity by onepoint mutation was highly correlated with the folding structure of enzyme.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.15-18
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• 2022

Hemophilia A is a rare X-linked congenital deficiency of clotting factor VIII (FVIII) that is traditionally diagnosed by measuring FVIII activity. Various mutations of the FVIII gene have been reported and they influence on the FVIII protein structure. A deficiency of or reduction in FVIII protein manifests as spontaneous or induced bleeding depending on the disease severity. Mutations of the FVIII gene provide important information on the severity of disease and inhibitor development. FVIII mutations also affect the discrepant activities found using different FVIII assays. FVIII activity is affected differently depending on the mutation site. Long-range PCR is commonly used to detect intron 22 inversion, the most common mutation in severe hemophilia. However, point mutations are also common in patients with hemophilia, and direct Sanger sequencing and copy number variant analysis are being used to screen for full mutations in the FVIII gene. Advances in molecular genetic methods, such as next-generation sequencing, may enable accurate analysis of mutations in the factor VIII gene, which may be useful in the diagnosis of mild to moderate hemophilia. Genetic analysis is also useful in diagnosing carriers and managing bleeding control. This review discusses the current knowledge about mutations in hemophilia and focuses on the clinical aspects associated with these mutations and the importance of genetic analysis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권2호
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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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5489-5494
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• 2013

In the current study we aimed to show the common YMDD motif mutations in viral polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients during lamivudine and adefovir therapy. Forty-one serum samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients (24 male, 17 female; age range: 34-68 years) were included in the study. HBV-DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients using an extraction kit (Invisorb, Instant Spin DNA/RNA Virus Mini Kit, Germany). A line probe assay and direct sequencing analyses (INNO-LIPA HBV DR v2; INNOGENETICS N.V, Ghent, Belgium) were applied to determine target mutations of the viral polymerase gene in positive HBV-DNA samples. A total of 41 mutations located in 21 different codons were detected in the current results. In 17 (41.5%) patients various point mutations were detected leading to lamivudin, adefovir and/or combined drug resistance. Wild polymerase gene profiles were detected in 24 (58.5%) HBV positive patients of the current cohort. Eight of the 17 samples (19.5%) having rtM204V/I/A missense transition and/or transversion point mutations and resistance to lamivudin. Six of the the mutated samples (14.6%) having rtL180M missense transversion mutation and resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having rtG215H by the double base substituation and resistance to adefovir. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having codon rtL181W due to the missense transversion point mutations and showed resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Unreported novel point mutations were detected in the different codons of polymerase gene region in the current HBV positive cohort fromTurkish population. The current results provide evidence that rtL180M and rtM204V/I/A mutations of HBV-DNA may be associated with a poor antiviral response and HBV chronicity during conventional therapy in Turkish patients.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.240-246
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• 2014

Mutation in HNF1B, the hepatocyte nuclear factor-$1{\beta}$ (HNF-$1{\beta}$) gene, results in maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) 5, which is characterized by gradual impairment of insulin secretion. However, the functional role of HNF-$1{\beta}$ in insulin secretion and glucose metabolism is not fully understood. We identified a family with early-onset diabetes that fulfilled the criteria of MODY. Sanger sequencing revealed that a heterozygous P159L (CCT to CTT in codon 159 in the DNA-binding domain) mutation in HNF1B was segregated according to the affected status. To investigate the functional consequences of this HNF1B mutation, we generated a P159L HNF1B construct. The wild-type and mutant HNF1B constructs were transfected into COS-7 cells in the presence of the promoter sequence of human glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2). The luciferase reporter assay revealed that P159L HNF1B had decreased transcriptional activity compared to wild-type (p < 0.05). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed reduced DNA binding activity of P159L HNF1B. In the MIN6 pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell line, overexpression of the P159L mutant was significantly associated with decreased mRNA levels of GLUT2 compared to wild-type (p < 0.05). However, INS expression was not different between the wild-type and mutant HNF1B constructs. These findings suggests that the impaired insulin secretion in this family with the P159L HNF1B mutation may be related to altered GLUT2 expression in ${\beta}$-cells rather than decreased insulin gene expression. In conclusion, we have identified a Korean family with an HNF1B mutation and characterized its effect on the pathogenesis of diabetes.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.207-211
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• 2012

It has been known that streptomycin resistance in bacteria can occur as a results of chromosomal mutation or through gene acquisition or both. Chromosomal mutations for resistances are point mutations in the rpsL gene, which alter ribosomal protein S12. Acquired resistance has occurred when an $Sm^R$ plasmid carrying transposon Tn5393 with tandem strA-strB gene is transferred by conjugation. A total of 686 isolates of Xanthomonas smithii subsp. citri causal agent of citrus canker disease were collected from 26 citrus orchards in Jeju Island in 2003 and 2004 seasons. Forty-nine of 111 isolates from streptomycin non-sprayed orchards in 2003 season were resistant to streptomycin. Of 107 isolates from orchards sprayed one time with streptomycin, 58 isolates were resistant, and 166 of 221 isolates from orchards sprayed two times with streptomycin were resistant. In 12 orchards sprayed three or more times with streptomycin, 219 of 247 isolates were resistant to streptomycin. Twenty-five isolates of X. smithii subsp. citri were surveyed to identify the mechanisms of streptomycin resistance in this study. Twenty-one of these 25 isolates were resistant to streptomycin, and it was proven by PCR assay that 18 of the 21 streptomycin resistant isolates have the strB gene. In sixteen of the 21 streptomycin resistant isolates, it was occurred a point mutation altered codon lysine (AAG)-41 of rpsL gene to arginine (AGG). The streptomycin-sensitive isolates easily acquired the resistance by mixed culture with resistant isolates. The strB gene was amplified from the isolates that acquired the resistance by mixed culture, and one isolate of them was also point-mutated in codon 41 of rpsL gene to be resistant. In this study, most of the streptomycin-resistant isolates of X. smithii sub sp. citri in Jeju island expressed the resistance by both chromosomal point mutation and gene acquisition, and the resistance was easily acquired through conjugation by culture mixed with streptomycin resistant and sensitive strains.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.27-30
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• 2017

Adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) is a rare cause of adrenal insufficiency during neonatal period. Mutations in the gene coding for DAX1 cause X-linked adrenal hypoplasia. Most affected patients are shown to have salt wasting and hyperpigmentation on the skin during the neonatal period and require intensive medical care. In addition, it is usually associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in adolescence. The DAX1 gene is expressed in the adrenal cortex, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, testis, and ovary. We report on a patient with genetically confirmed AHC whose initial clinical presentations were consistent with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. A point mutation in the DAX1 gene identified in this report resulted in a truncated DAX1 protein. Our patient was diagnosed with AHC.