• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6475-6479
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• 2013

Objectives: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes play important roles in resistance to cell apoptosis and carcinogenesis. We aimed to establish the relationship between GST expression and the prognosis of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTT-UC) in Taiwan. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 46 patients with pathologically confirmed UUT-UC at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. In each patient, expression of GSTT1 and GSTP1 was compared between urothelial carcinoma and normal urothelial cells by Western blotting. Results: GSTP1 expression in the UUT-UC cells was significantly higher than that in normal urothelial cells (1.6 fold, p<0.001). Expression of GSTT1 was significantly associated with the invasiveness of the carcinoma (p=0.006). Conclusions: In UUT-UC, GSTP1 might be a potential tumor marker, whereas high GSTT1 expression could be used as an indicator of cancer progression. This study is the first to demonstrate potential applications of different GST isoenzymes for biomolecular analysis of UUT-UCs in Taiwan.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.154-154
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• 2017

In accordance with the opening of the Korean rice market, this study was focused on establishment of database for discriminating the Korean rice varieties and imported brand rices using DNA markers. In this study, the SNP markers were developed using single nucleotide polymorphisms between the reference sequences of japonica and them of 40 brand rices which collected in Australia, China, Thailand, United States and Vietnam. The developed SNP markers were screened to a total of 360 rices including 320 Korean rice varieties and 40 imported brand rices. We selected polymorphic markers among Korean bred rive varieties and imported brand rices. The selected markers were classified into 3 grades. The markers of A grade produced DNA band in 360 rices of 30~40%, B grades produced in 40~60%, and C grades produced bands over 60% rices. First, we tried to set-up the discriminating system using the minimum SNP markers of A grade. Especially, a set of sixteen SNP markers could identify among Korean bred rice varieties and imported brand rices. Additionally, some SNP markers like NSb for Pib gene, JJ80-T for Pi5 and YL155/YL87 for Pita which linked to resistance genes to blast were used to fingerprinting system. These markers were set-up as multiplex set for enhancing the identification efficiency among rice varieties. Finally, the selected SNP markers would be used to the fluidigm assay to construct the database for elaborate discrimination of rice varieties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.113-113
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• 2017

Downy mildew (DM), caused by several species in the Peronosclerospora and Scleropthora genera, is a major maize (Zea mays L.) disease in tropical or subtropical regions. DM is an obligate parasite species in the higher plants and spreads by oospores, wind, and mycelium in seed surface, soil, and living hosts. Owing to its geographical distribution and destructive yield reduction, DM is one of the most severe maize diseases among the maize pathogens. Positional cloning in combination with phenotyping is a general approach to identify disease resistant gene candidates in plants; however, it requires several time-consuming steps including population or fine mapping. Therefore, in the present study, we suggest a new combination strategy to improve the identification of disease resistant gene candidates. Downy mildew (DM) resistant maize was selected from five cultivars using the spreader row technique. Positional cloning and bioinformatics tools identified the DM resistant QTL marker (bnlg1702) and 47 protein coding genes annotations. Eventually, 5 DM resistant gene candidates, including bZIP34, Bak1, and Ppr, were identified by quantitative RT-PCR without fine mapping of the bnlg1702 locus. Specifically, we provided DM resistant gene candidates with our new strategy, including field selection by the spreader row technique without population preparation, the DM resistance region identification by positional cloning using bioinformatics tools, and expression level profiling by quantitative RT-PCR without fine mapping. As whole genome information is available for other crops, we propose applying our novel protocol to other crops or for other diseases with suitable adjustment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1268-1275
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• 2010

Post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and oedema disease (ED) caused by E. coli F18 always result in economic losses to pig producers, and no effective methods of controlling PWD and ED are presently available. FUT1 has been identified as a candidate gene controlling the expression of E. coli F18 receptor. This study examined the correlation between F18ab and F18ac adhesion phenotypes and the polymorphism at position M307 of the FUT1 gene in three pig breeds (231 Large White, 107 Landrace and 109 Songliao Black). The results showed: i) Both the susceptible genotypes (GG and GA) and the adhesion phenotypes (adhesive or weekly adhesive) were dominant in all three breeds with frequencies over 95%. ii) Three adhesion patterns of the two F18 variants F18ab and F18ac, i.e., ($ab^+$, $ac^+$), ($ab^+$, $ac^-$) and ($ab^-$, $ac^-$), were found in all three breeds, and there was no significant difference in the distribution of adhesion phenotypes of the two variants (separately or jointly) among the three breeds (p>0.05). iii) The FUT1 M307 genotypes were completely associated with the F18ab adhesion phenotypes and very strongly associated with the F18ac adhesion phenotypes. All individuals of genotype AA were non-adhesive to both F18ab and F18ac. All individuals of genotype GG or GA were adhesive to F18ab, whereas 11% of them were non-adhesive to F18ac. These results suggest that the polymorphism at FUT1 M307 can be used for marker-assisted selection of PWD and ED resistant pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.564-570
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• 2016

The Sal-like 1 gene (Sall1) is essential for kidney development, and mutations in this gene result in abnormalities in the kidneys. Mice lacking Sall1 show agenesis or severe dysgenesis of the kidneys. In a recent study, blastocyst complementation was used to develop mice and pigs with exogenic organs. In the present study, transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN)-mediated homologous recombination was used to produce Sall1-knockout porcine fibroblasts for developing knockout pigs. The vector targeting the Sall1 locus included a 5.5-kb 5' arm, 1.8-kb 3' arm, and a neomycin resistance gene as a positive selection marker. The knockout vector and TALEN were introduced into porcine fibroblasts by electroporation. Antibiotic selection was performed over 11 days by using $300{\mu}g/mL$ G418. DNA of cells from G418-resistant colonies was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm the presence of fragments corresponding to the 3' and 5' arms of Sall1. Further, mono- and bi-allelic knockout cells were isolated and analyzed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The results of our study indicated that TALEN-mediated homologous recombination induced bi-allelic knockout of the endogenous gene.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5361-5365
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a genetic variant in the multidrug resistance 1 gene (MDR1) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. This case-control study was conducted in a Chinese population of 645 HCC cases and 658 cancer-free controls. The genotype of the c.3751G>A genetic variant in the MDR1 gene was investigated by created restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (CRS-PCR) and DNA sequencing methods. Our data demonstrated significantly differences detected in the allelic and genotypic frequencies between HCC cases and those of cancer-free controls. Association analyses indicated that there were statistically increased risk of HCC in the homozygote comparison (AA versus (vs.) GG: OR=2.22, 95% CI 1.51-3.27, ${\chi}^2$=16.90, P<0.001), dominant model (AA/GA vs. GG: OR=1.25, 95% CI 1.00-1.55, ${\chi}^2$=3.98, P=0.046), recessive model (AA vs. GA/GG: OR=2.14, 95% CI 1.47-3.09, ${\chi}^2$=16.68, P<0.001) and allele comparison (A vs. G: OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.13-1.57, ${\chi}^2$=11.66, P=0.001). The allele-A and genotype-AA may contribute to HCC susceptibility. These preliminary findings suggest that the c.3751G>A genetic variant in the MDR1 gene is potentially related to HCC susceptibility in a Chinese Han population, and might be used as a molecular marker for evaluating HCC susceptibility.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.92-106
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• 2006

Purpose : To address the ability of Olibanum to induce cell death, we investigated the effect of olibanum on cell apoptosis. Twenty-four hours later, apoptosis occurred following olibanum exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Methods : We culture HeLa cell which is human metrocarcinoma cell in D-MEM included 10% fetal bovine serum(Hyclone Laboratories) below $37^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2. Then we observed apoptosis of log phage cell which is changed cultivation liquid 24 Hours periodically. Results : The treatment of BAPTA-AM regulated olibanum-induced apoptosis in HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells. The 24 hr-earlier -thapsigargin-pretreated cell showed the resistance against olibanum-induced apoptosis and the Ru360-mitochondrial uniporter-inhibited olibanum-induced apoptosis, too. It means that olibanum leads to the accumulation of calcium and the resultant apoptosis in HeLa cells. Immunoblotting data also shows that the expression of GRP78, ER stress marker protein, was induced by the olibanum. Bcl-2, anti-apototic protein, was decreased and that the expression of Bax, pro-apoptotic protein, was increased by the addition of olibanum. Interestingly, the olibanum increased the activity of caspase-8 as well as calpain cysteine pretense in HeLa cervical carcinoma cells. Calpain inhibitor-calpastatin as well as caspase-8C/A expression abrogated olibanum-induced apoptosis in the carcinoma cells. The inhibition of caspase-8 regulated olibanum-induced calpain activation but the inhibition of calpain did not have any effect on the caspase-8 activation in HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells. Conclusion : We conclude that olibanum induces the accumulation of calcium and the resultant apoptosis in which caspase-8 and calpain are involved.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.186-192
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• 2014

Purpose: The prevalence of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMP) has increased worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of MRMP in a tertiary hospital in Korea, and to find potential laboratory markers that could be used to predict the efficacy of macrolides in children with MRMP pneumonia. Methods: A total of 95 patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia were enrolled in this study. Detection of MRMP was based on the results of specific point mutations in domain V of the 23S rRNA gene. The medical records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively and the clinical course and laboratory data were compared. Results: The proportion of patients with MRMP was 51.6% and all MRMP isolates had the A2063G point mutation. The MRMP group had longer hospital stay and febrile period after initiation of macrolides. The levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-18 in nasopharyngeal aspirate were significantly higher in patients who did not respond to macrolide treatment. CRP was the only significant factor in predicting the efficacy of macrolides in patients with MRMP pneumonia. The area under the curve for CRP was 0.69 in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, indicating reasonable discriminative power, and the optimal cutoff value was 40.7 mg/L. Conclusion: The proportion of patients with MRMP was high, suggesting that the prevalence of MRMP is rising rapidly in Korea. Serum CRP could be a useful marker for predicting the efficacy of macrolides and helping clinicians make better clinical decisions in children with MRMP pneumonia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.283-291
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• 2012

Bioremediation efforts often rely on the application of surfactants to enhance hydrocarbon bioavailability. However, synthetic surfactants can sometimes be toxic to degrading microorganisms, thus reducing the clearance rate of the pollutant. Therefore, surfactant-resistant bacteria can be an important tool for bioremediation efforts of hydrophobic pollutants, circumventing the toxicity of synthetic surfactants that often delay microbial bioremediation of these contaminants. In this study, we screened a natural surfactant-rich compartment, the estuarine surface microlayer (SML), for cultivable surfactant-resistant bacteria using selective cultures of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Resistance to surfactants was evaluated by colony counts in solid media amended with critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of either surfactants, in comparison with non-amended controls. Selective cultures for surfactant-resistant bacteria were prepared in mineral medium also containing CMC concentrations of either CTAB or SDS. The surfactantresistant isolates obtained were tested by PCR for the Pseudomonas genus marker gacA gene and for the naphthalene-dioxygenase-encoding gene ndo. Isolates were also screened for biosurfactant production by the atomized oil assay. A high proportion of culturable bacterioneuston was tolerant to CMC concentrations of SDS or CTAB. The gacA-targeted PCR revealed that 64% of the isolates were Pseudomonads. Biosurfactant production in solid medium was detected in 9.4% of tested isolates, all affiliated with genus Pseudomonas. This study shows that the SML is a potential source of surfactant-resistant and biosurfactant-producing bacteria in which Pseudomonads emerge as a relevant group.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2015

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, overwinters in some protected areas in Korea. Using a sex pheromone trap, the adults were monitored since the occurrence of the overwintering populations. In Andong, P. xylostella exhibited four adult peaks in a year. Biological characters, such as cold tolerance, insecticide susceptibility, and developmental rate, were analyzed and showed a significant variation among different local overwintering populations. Population genetic variation was assessed with molecular markers, in which the initial high genetic variation among the overwintering populations decreased with the progress of seasons. These results suggests that there may be a significant migration of P. xylostella to decrease the genetic variation among the different local populations that are different in biological characters.