• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.822-828
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• 2004

Nopaline-type Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 cannot utilize octopine (Oct) as the sole carbon and nitrogen sources. This strain harbors two plasmids; a virulent plasmid, pTiC58, and a megaplasmid, pAtC58. From strain NT1, which is a derivative of C58 harboring only pAtC58, we isolated spontaneous mutants that utilize Oct as the sole nitrogen source. These Oct-catabolizing mutants, however, could not utilize the opine as the sole carbon source. In contrast, strain UIA5, a plasmid-free derivative of C58, could not give rise to such mutants. The mutations isolated from NT1 were mapped to socR in pAtC58, which is a negative regulator of the soc operon responsible for the uptake and catabolism of an Amadori opine, deoxyfructosyl glutamine (Dfg). A derivative of UIA5 carrying a clone of the soc operon with a transposon inserted in socR also utilizes Oct as the sole nitrogen source. However, UIA5 harboring the operon with mutations in each of the structural genes in the soc operon, socA, B, C, and D, lost the ability to generate spontaneous Oct-utilizing mutants, suggesting that soc genes in pAtC58 are required for the utilization of Oct as a nitrogen source, and that derepressed expression of these genes allows cells to utilize Oct. In contrast, Oct-catabolizing mutants derived from C58, which grew using Oct as the sole nitrogen source, could also utilize the opine as the sole carbon source. These mutants did not carry any detectable mutations in socR or the region upstream to the gene in pAtC58, suggesting that mutations occurring elsewhere in the genome, most likely in pTiC58, allow the uptake and catabolism of the opine.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 2008

A cell is the product of a long period of evolution and can be represented as an optimized system (homeostasis). Stimuli from the outside environment are received by sensory apparatus on the surface of the cell and transferred through complicated pathways and eventually regulate gene expression. These signals affect cell physiology, growth, and development, and the interaction among genes in the signal transduction pathway is a critical part of the regulation. In this study, the interactions of deletion mutants and overexpression of the extracopies of the genes were used to understand their relationships to each other. Also, green fluorescent protein (GFP reporter gene) was fused to the regulatory genes to elucidate their interactions. Cooverexpression of the two genes in extracopy plasmids suggested that patS acts at the downstream of hetR in the regulatory network. The experiments using gfp fusion in different genetic background cells also indicated the epistasis relationships between the two genes. A model describing the regulatory network that controls cell development is presented.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.213-217
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• 2011

Agrobacterium rhizogenes, a gram-negative soil bacterium, is one of the most widely studied among them. A, rhizogenes can transfer T-DNA, excised from Ri (root inducing)-plasmids from the bacterial to the plant cell. It is the causal agent of 'hairy root' diseases in plants, and has been used for the production of hairy root cultures from a multitude of species. Five different strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes differed in their ability to induce Scutellaria baicalensis hairy roots and also showed varying effects on the growth in hairy root cultures. A. rhizogenes R 1000 is the most effective strain for the induction (57.3%) and growth (11.9 g $L^{-1}$) in hairy root of Scutellaria baicalensis. Our results demonstrate that use of suitable strains of A. rhizogenes may allow study of the regulation of flavone biosynthesis in hairy root cultures of Scutellaria baicalensis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.660-665
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• 2003

High-level expression of Thermus caldophilus GK24 alkaline phosphatase (Tca APase) was achieved in Escherichia coli using the pET-based expression plasmids, pEAP1 and pEAP2. In the case of plasmid pEAP2, the signal peptide region of Tca APase was replaced by the PelB leader peptide of expression vector pET-22b(+). Furthermore, the expression level was somewhat higher than that of plasmid pEAPl. A rapid purification procedure of Tca APase overproduced in E. coli was developed which involved heating to denature E. coli proteins followed by HiTrap Heparin HP column chromatography. Optimal temperature and pH and $Mg^{2+}$ dependence of the recombinant Tca APase were similar to those of native enzyme isolated from T. caldophilus GK24.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2003

Eight numerically dominant 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) butyric acid (2,4-DB)-degrading bacteria and three pairs of bacteria showing syntrophic metabolism of 2,4-DB were isolated from soils, and their phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics were investigated. The isolates were able to utilize 2,4-DB as a sole source of carbon and energy, and their 2.4-DB degradative enzymes were induced by the presence of 2.4-DB. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the isolates were related to members of the genera, Variovorax, Sphingomonas, Bradyrhizobium, and Pseudomonas. The chromosomal DNA patterns of the isolates obtained by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) amplification of repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) sequences were distinct from each other. Four of the isolates had plasmids, but only one strain, DB 1, rad a transmissible 2,4-D degradative plasmid. When analyzed with PCR using primers targeted to the tfdA, B, and C genes, only strains DB2 and DB9a produced DNA bands of the expected sizes with the tfdA and C primers, respectively. All of the isolates were able to degrade 2,4-D as well as 2,4-DB, suggesting that the degradation pathways of these compounds were closely related to each other, but respiratory activities of many isolates adapted to 2,4-DB metabolism were quite low with 2,4-D.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2014

Aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic environmental pollutants that are detrimental to the ecosystem and human health. Among them, chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene are toxic to hydrobios and irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory organs of humans. We herein report the development of recombinant microbial biosensors for cheap and rapid monitoring of chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene compounds. Plasmids were constructed by inserting the xylR regulatory gene for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) degradation into upstream of Po' (the DmpR activator promoter Po with the deletion of its own upstream activating sequences) or Pu (the cognate promoter of XylR)::lacZ (the ${\beta}$-galactosidase gene) and transformed into Escherichia coli $DH5{\alpha}$. In the presence of inducers, the biosensor cells immobilized in agarose developed a red color in 1-2 h due to the hydrolysis of chlorophenol red ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG), a substrate of ${\beta}$-galactosidase that was expressed by the inducers. Among BTEX, high responses were specifically observed with o-, m-, p-chlorotoluene ($0.1{\mu}M-100 mM$) and o-, m-, p-nitrotoluene (0.1 mM-100 mM). Po' demonstrated higher responses than those with Pu. The biosensors immobilized in agarose showed good stability after 21 days' storage at $4^{\circ}C$, and responses in untreated wastewater spiked with chlorotoluene and nitrotoluene, suggesting they can be used to detect compounds in wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.229-235
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• 1986

1984년 5월부터 1985년 5월까지 대구(大邱), 경북(慶北), 경남(慶南) 및 충남지역(忠南地域) 7개(個) 양돈장(養豚場)의 자돈(仔豚) 및 성돈(成豚)의 분변(糞便) 및 양돈장(養豚場)의 흙, 하수(下水), 사료(飼料), 추비(推肥), 쥐 등 7,440예(例)와 대구시(大邱市) 도축장(屠畜場)의 도축돈(屠畜豚) 장간막임파절(腸間膜淋巴節) 및 직장내용물(直腸內容物) 555예(例)로부터 분리(分離)한 319주(株)의 Salmonelia속균(屬菌)을 대상으로 항균제(抗菌劑)에 대한 내성(耐性) 및 전달성(傳達性) R plasmid의 분포상황(分布狀況)을 조사(詞査)하였던 바 그 결과(結果)는 다음과 같다. 1. 공시균(供試菌) 319주(株) 중(中) 250주(株)(78.4%)가 ampicillin(An), chloramphenicol(Cm), gentamicin(Gm), kanamycin(Km), nalidixic acid(Na), rifampicin(Rf), streptomycin(Sm), sulfadimethoxine(Su), 또는 tetracycline(Tc)에 내성(耐性)을 나타내었으며, 약제별(藥劑別)로는 Su(74.9%), Sm(53.0%) 및 Tc(28.5%)에 높은 내성(耐性)이 인정(認定)되었다. 2. 내성균(耐性菌) 250주(株)의 전달성(傳達性) R plasmid 보유율(保有率)은 51.2%(128주(株))였으며, 약제별(藥劑別)로는 Am경우 100%, Tc 92. 3% 및 Cm 75.0% 순으로 보유율(保有率)이 높았다. 3. 내성균(耐性菌) 250주(株)의 내성양상(耐性樣相)은 SmSu(91주(株)), Su(59주(株)) 및 TcSmSu(50주(株))내성형(耐性型)이 대부분이었고 R plasmid 전달후(傳達後)의 내성양상(耐性樣相)은 TcSmSu(40주(株)) 및 TcSu(28주(株)) 내성형(耐性型)이 많았다. 4. 양돈장별(養豚場別) 내성균(耐性菌) 출현빈도(出現頻度)는 48.0~93.6%로 다양(多樣)하였고, 전달성(傳達性) R plasmid 보유율(保有率)은 0~77.8%로 내성균(耐性菌) 출현빈도(出現頻度)와 일치(一致)되지 않았다. 5. 공시균(供試菌) 319주(株) 중(中) 각각(各各) 2주(株)는 Rf 및 Gm에 대해 내성(耐性)을 나타내었고, 내성균(耐性菌) 250주(株) 중(中) 73.2%(183주(株))가 다제내성(多劑耐性)이었으므로 Salmonella의 다제내성화(多劑耐性化) 경향(傾向)이 있었다. 6. 내성균(耐性菌) 250주(株) 중(中) R plasmid 전달후(傳達後) 5주(株)는 TcAmCmSmSu내성형(耐性型), 1주(株)는 TcAmKmSmSu내성형(耐性型)임이 확인되었다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.553-561
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• 2018

Icariside II (ICA II) is used in erectile dysfunction treatment. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are efficient at improving erectile function. This study aimed to explore the action mechanism of ADSCs in improving erectile function. ADSCs were isolated from the adipose tissues of rats. Cell proliferation was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The expressions of mRNA and protein were determined separately through qRT-PCR and western blot. The endogenous expressions of related genes were regulated using recombinant plasmids and cell transfection. A Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay was performed to determine the interaction between miR-34a and STAT3. Rat models with bilateral cavernous nerve injuries (BCNIs) were used to assess erectile function through the detection of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracavernosal pressure (ICP). ICA II promoted ADSCs' proliferation and differentiation to Schwann cells (SCs) through the inhibition of miR-34a. Suppressed miR-34a promoted the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs by upregulating STAT3. ICA II promoted the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs through the miR-34a/STAT3 pathway. The combination of ICA II and ADSCs preserved the erectile function of the BCNI model rats. ADSCs treated with ICA II markedly preserved the erectile function of the BCNI model rats, which was reversed through miR-34a overexpression. ICA II promotes the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs through the miR34a/STAT3 pathway, contributing to erectile function preservation after the occurrence of a cavernous nerve injury.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1395-1399
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• 2008

We have recently reported the PRC1 promoter as a promoter candidate to control expression of transcriptionally targeted genes for breast cancer gene therapy. We tested whether the PRC1 promoter could be also applied for the lung cancer gene therapy. In the transient transfection assay with naked plasmids containing the luciferase fused to the PRC1 promoter, the promoter showed little activity in the normal lung cell line, MRC5. However, in the lung cancer A549 cells, PRC1 showed approximately 30-fold activation which was similar to the survivin promoter, the gene whose promoter has been already reportedas a candidate for the gene therapy of lung cancer. In viral systems, the PRC1 promoter showed approximately 75% and 66% of transcriptional activity compared to the CMV promoter in the adeno-associated virus (AAV) and the adenovirus (AV) systems, respectively. However, the PRC1 promoter in either AAV or AV showed approximately 20% activity compared to the CMV promoter in the normal lung cells. In addition, human lung tumor xenograft mice showed that the PRC1 promoter activity was as strong as the CMV activity in vivo. Taken together, these results suggested that PRC1 might be a potential promoter candidate for transcriptionally targeted lung cancer gene therapy.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 1984

Shigella remains to be an important enteric pathogen in this country for the present. Moreover, most of the isolates have become multiple resistant to various antibiotics which used to be drugs of choice for shigellosis. This study was made as an attempt to assess the present stage of antibiotic resistance and the incidence and transferability of R factors of Shigella. A total of one hundred and seventeen strains of Shigella isolated from patients in Seoul and provincial area between 1982 and 1983 were tested for their resistant to antimicrobial agents and transmission of R-plasmid. Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined by an agar dilution method. Muller hinton agar were used for the assay of drug resistance and tryptic soy broth were used for propagating medium for conjugation. Shigella isolated found to be one or more antibiotics were considered potential donor of R-plasmid. The following results were obtained. 1. Among 117 strains of Shigella isolated, 111 strains(94.9%) were found to be resistant to one or more drugs tested and 97.3% of these resistant strains were multiply resistant, indicating the multiply resistant strains were more than the single resistant strains. Only six strains were susceptible to all drugs tested. 2. Among 117 strains of Shigella isolated, 107 strains(91.5%) were resistant to Tetracyclin(Tc), 106 strains(90.6%) to Chloramphenicol(Cp) and Streptomycin(Sm), 97 strains(82.9%) to Ampicillin(Ap), 68 strains(58.1%) to Cephaloridine(Cr), 10 strains(8.5%) to Nalidixic acid(Na), 5 strains(4.3%) to Kanamycin(Km) and 2 strains(1.7%) to Rifampicin. No strain was resisfant to Amikacin(Ak) and Gentamicin(Gm). 3. All drug-resistant Shigella strains, except three, were multiply resistant to two or more drugs. Fifty eight strains were resistant to five drugs, followed by 26 strains resistant to dour drugs, 12 strains resistant to three drugs and 11 strains resistant to six drugs. 4. The 73% of multiply drug-resistant Shigella transferred their resistance to E. coli by conjugation and the resistance was considered to be mediated by R-plasmid. Resistance to Nalidixic acid and Rifampicin were not transferred by conjugation to recipient. As for the transferability of resistance to each seperate drug, Ap resistance was transferred with 73.2% frequence and Cm and Tc resistance were transferred with approximately 50-60% frequence whereas Sm and Cr resistance were transferred in 19.1-21.4% The other four drugs resistant failed to transfer their resistance to recipient. 5. As for the incidence and transferability of resistance to each seperate drug, the strains resistant to Tc and Cm were encountered most frequently with the rate of 91-92%, whereas transfer of Tc and Cm were low, 51-52%. The incidence of Sm resistance was very high(90.6%) but transferability of drugs resistance was much lower(25.4%). Though the incidence of Km reristance was much lower(4.3%) transferability of Km resistance was considerably higher(60%). 6. The greater the multiplicity of resistance, the greater was the likelihood that part of all of the resistance markers would be transferable.