• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2003

Purpose : Surfactant protein A(SP-A) is involved in surfactant physiology and structure, and plays a major role in innate host defense and inflammatory processes in the lung. Steroid therapy is widely used for mothers who threaten to deliver prematurely and also used commonly in the management of preterm infants with chronic lung disease. Two SP-A genes(SP-A1, SP-A2) and several alleles have been characterized for each SP-A gene in human. Preliminary evidence indicates that differences may exist among alleles in response to Dexamethasone(Dexa) and that the SP-A 3'UTR plays a role in this process. We studied whether 3'UTR-mediated differences exist among the most frequently found SP-A alleles in response to Dexa. Methods : Constructs containing the 3'UTR from eight different SP-A alleles were made using luciferase as a the reporter gene. These constructs were driven by the SV40 promotor and were transfected along with a transfection control vector in H441 cells that express SP-A. The activity of the reporter gene in the presence or absence of Dexa(100 nM) treatment was measured. All the experiments for the eight SP-A alleles studied, were performed in triplicate and repeated five times. The results were normalized to the transfection control. Results : Expression of alleles of 6A3, 6A, 1A were significantly decreased in response to Dexa. Conclusion : Three UTR mediated differences exist among human SP-A variants both in the basal expression and in response to Dexa. These genotype-dependent differences may point to a need for a careful consideration of individual use of steroid treatment in the prematurely born infant.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1497-1502
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• 2002

Purpose : We evaluated allele frequencies and distribution of surfactant protein A1(SP-A1) in Korean neonates in order to estimate prevalence of RDS to find out new SP-A alleles, and to establish new steroid therapy. Methods : Genomic DNA was extracted from 100 neonates and served as a template in PCR for genotype analysis. SP-A gene-specific amplications and gene-specific allele determinations were performed using PCR-RFLP methods. Results : The distribution for the alleles of the SP-A1 gene in the study population were 6A, $6A^2$, $6A^3$, $6A^4$, $6A^8$, $6A^9$, $6A^{10}$, $6A^{11}$, $6A^{12}$, $6A^{13}$, $6A^{14}$, $6A^{15}$, $6A^{16}$, $6A^{17}$, $6A^{18}$, $6A^{20}$. The specific frequencies for the alleles of the SP-A1 gene in the study population were : $6A^2=21%$, $6A^3=45%$, $6A^4=11%$, $6A^8=9%$, $6A^{14}=8%$. Conclusion : The frequency of $6A^3$ was higher than the other SP-A1 alleles in Korean neonates. This finding suggests that the prevalence of RDS in Korea may be low compared with other countries. However, this finding also suggests that Korean neonates have a high risk of infection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.638-644
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• 2006

Backgrounds: This study investigated whether or not a polymorphism in the gene encoding the surfactant protein A(SP-A) has any bearing on the individual susceptibility to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in a genetically homogenous Korean population. Methods: The genotypes of 19 COPD patients and 20 healthy neonates as controls were tested using a polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for the SP-A gene. Results: The specific frequencies of the 6A2 and 6A18 alleles of SP-A1 and the 1A2 allele of SP-A2 were much higher in the COPD group than control group (p<0.05). However, the frequencies of the 6A3 and 6A4 alleles of SP-A1 and the 1A0 allele of SP-A2 in the COPD group were significantly lower than the control group. In the COPD group, the frequencies of the +50 locus genotypes GG of SP-A1 and the +9 locus genotypes CC of SP-A2 were 85.0% and 60.6%, respectively, and 19.7% and 24.8% in the control group, respectively. The frequencies of the polymorphic genotypes or alleles showed a statistically significant difference between the COPD group and the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: A genetic polymorphism in SP-A is associated with the development of COPD in the Korean population.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.340-344
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• 2003

Purpose : We evaluated allele frequencies and distribution of surfactant protein A2(SP-A2) in Korean neonates in order to estimate the prevalence of RDS, to find out new SP-A alleles, and to establish new steroid therapy. Methods : Genomic DNA was extracted from 71 neonates and served as a template in PCR for genotype analysis. SP-A gene-specific amplications and gene-specific allele determinations were performed using PCR-cRFLP methods. Results : The distribution for the alleles of the SP-A2 gene in the study population was 1A, $1A^0$, $1A^1$, $1A^2$, $1A^3$, $1A^5$, $1A^6$, $1A^7$, $1A^8$, $1A^9$, $1A^{11}$, $1A^{12}$. The specific frequencies for the alleles of the SP-A2 gene in the study population were : 1A=11.3%, $1A^0=38%$, $1A^1=12.7%$, $1A^2=9.2%$, $1A^5=15.5%$, $1A^7=2.9%$, $1A^8=4.9%$, $1A^9=2.2%$, others=3.3%. Conclusion : The frequency of $1A^0$ was higher than the other SP-A2 alleles in Korean neonates. This finding suggests that the prevalence of RDS in Korea may be low compared with other countries. However, this finding also suggests that Korean neonates have a high risk of infection.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.186-195
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• 2010

In most self-incompatible plant species, recognition of self-pollen is controlled by a single locus, termed the S-locus. The self-incompatibility (SI) system in Brassica is controlled sporophytically by multiple alleles at a single locus, designated as S, and involves cell-cell communication between male and female. Two highly polymorphic S locus genes, SLG (S locus glycoprotein) and SRK (S receptor kinase), have been identified, both of which are expressed predominantly in the stigmatic papillar cell. Gain-of-function experiments have demonstrated that SRK solely determines S haplotype-specificity of the stigma, while SLG enhances the recognition reaction of SI. The sequence analysis of the S locus genomic region of B. campestris (syn. rapa) has led to the identification of an anther-specific gene, designated as SP11/SCR, which is the male S determinant. Molecular analysis has demonstrated that the dominance relationships between S alleles in the stigma were determined by SRK itself, but not by the relative expression level. In contrast, the expression of SP11/SCR from the recessive S allele was specifically suppressed in the S heterozygote, suggesting that the dominance relationships in pollen were determined by the expression level of SP11/SCR. Furthermore, recent studies on recessive allele-specific DNA methylation of Brassica self-incompatibility alleles demonstrate that DNA methylation patterns in plants can vary temporally and spatially in each generation. In this review, we firstly present overview of self incompatibility system in Brassica and then describe dominance relationships in Brassica self- incompatibility regulated by allele-specific DNA methylation.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.465-470
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• 2002

This study presents results of electro-phoretically detectable isozyme variation in Crossing Block (CB) lines of two-rowed barley maintained by the National Crop Experiment Station. The specific objectives were to determine allelic frequencies at the four Est loci(Est1, Est2, Est4, and Est5) and their distribution over 380CB lines of two-rowed barley. A total of 17 alleles were detected over the four Est loci in these lines. There were 4 alleles (Pr, Al, Ca, and Af at the Est1 locus and their frequencies were 69.7, 1.1, 28.4, and 0.8%, respectively. At the Est2 locus, 5 different alleles (Dr, Fr, Sp, Un and a recessive null allele) were detected and their frequencies were 2.9,84.5,0.5,2.1, and 10%, respectively. four alleles (Nz, Su, At, and null were detected at the Est4 locus and the allelic frequency of Su was about 84%. Four alleles(Mi, Pi, Te, and a null allele(od)) were detected at the Est5 locus and their frequencies were 34.2, 61.0, 2.4, and 2.4%, respectively. Based on the allelic frequencies over the four Est loci, 380 CB lines were classified into 25 genotypes. The most frequent genotypes were G1(Pr-Fr-Su-Mi) and G2(Pr-Fr-Su-Pi), and their frequencies were 28.1 and 39.5%, respectively. The frequencies of other genotypes were less than 10%.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2007

A study was made of the haemolymph protein spectrum of mulberry silkworm (Bomhyx mori L.) from the first larval instar to imago. Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis was used. Sixteen races and eight F1 interracial hybrids, raised in Bulgaria, were analyzed. During the ontogenesis, a total of 17 protein bands (15 cathodic and 2 anodic) were detected. Distinct dynamics in the haemolymph protein spectrum was observed, in result of different expression during the individual development associated with the processes of growth, histolysis and histogenesis. Based on the ontogenetic dynamics found, a correspondence was assumed between some proteins detected by us using the starch gel electrophoresis and major haemolymph proteins (SP1, SP2, MHPs and Vg) detected by other authors using the polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis. Intraracial and interracial polymorphism was observed in four protein zones. The effect of four polymorphic loci with codominant and null alleles was suggested.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.336-346
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• 2013

Amaranth (Amaranthus sp. L.) is an important group of plants that includes grain, vegetable, and ornamental types. Centers of diversity for Amaranths are Central and South America, India, and South East Asia, with secondary centers of diversity in West and East Africa. The present study was performed to determine the genetic diversity and population structure of 75 amaranth accessions: 65 from South America and 10 from South Asia as controls using 14 SSR markers. Ninety-nine alleles were detected at an average of seven alleles per SSR locus. Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of two subpopulations and 3 admixtures, which was consistent with clustering based on the genetic distance. The average major allele frequency and polymorphic information content (PIC) were 0.42 and 0.39, respectively. According to the model-based structure analysis based on genetic distance, 75 accessions (96%) were classified into two clusters, and only three accessions (4%) were admixtures. Cluster 1 had a higher allele number and PIC values than Cluster 2. Model-based structure analysis revealed the presence of two subpopulations and three admixtures in the 75 accessions. The results of this study provide effective information for future germplasm conservation and improvement programs in Amaranthus.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.376-379
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• 2005

Purpose : Mycoplasama pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and exacerbates other respiratory conditions such as asthma. Surfactant protein A(SP-A) is involved in surfactant physiology and surfactant structure, and plays a major role in innate host defense and inflammatory processes in the lung. In this study, SP-A mediated mycoplasma cidal activity. The candidate-gene approach was used to study the association between the SP-A gene locus and Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in the genetically homogeneous Korean population. Methods : PCR-cRFLP-based methodology was used to detect SP-A genotype. The forty nine children with Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia were matched to 50 nomal neonates. Results : The specific frequencies for the alleles of the SP-A1 and SP-A2 gene in the study population were : $6A^2=21$ percent, $6A^3=45$ percent, $6A^4=11$ percent, $6A^8=9$ percent, $6A^{14}=8$ percent, 1A=11.3 percent, $1A^0=38$ percent, $1A^1=12.7$ percent, $1A^2=9.2$ percent, $1A^5=15.5$ percent, $1A^7=2.9$ percent, $1A^8=4.9$ percent, $1A^9=2.2$ percent, others=3.3 percent. The frequencies of specific genotypes such as $1A^2$ was higher than control group, significantly. Conclusion : $1A^2$ are susceptible factors for Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia. We conclude that the SP-A gene locus($1A^2$) is an important determinant for predisposition to Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 2011

The objective of the present research was to map QTLs associated with agronomic traits such as days from sowing to flowering, plant height, yield and leaf-related traits in a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Two field experiments were conducted with well-irrigated and partially irrigated conditions in randomized complete block design with three replications. A map with 304 AFLP and 191 SSR markers with a mean density of 1 marker per 3.7 cM was used to identify QTLs related to the studied traits. The difference among RILs was significant for all studied traits in both conditions. Three to seven QTLs were found for each studied trait in both conditions. The percentage of phenotypic variance ($R^2$) explained by QTLs ranged from 4 to 49%. Three to six QTLs were found for each yield-related trait in both conditions. The most important QTL for grain yield per plant on linkage group 13 (GYP-P-13-1) under partial-irrigated condition controls 49% of phenotypic variance ($R^2$). The most important QTL for 1,000-grain weight (TGW-P-11-1) was identified on linkage group 11. Favorable alleles for this QTL come from RHA266. The major QTL for days from sowing to flowering (DSF-P-14-1) were observed on linkage group 14 and explained 38% of the phenotypic variance. The positive alleles for this QTL come from RHA266. The major QTL for HD (HD-P-13-1) was also identified on linkage group 13 and explained 37% of the phenotypic variance. Both parents (PAC2 and RHA266) contributed to QTLs controlling leaf-related traits in both conditions. Common QTL for leaf area at flowering (LAF-P-12-1, LAF-W-12-1) was detected in linkage group 12. The results emphasise the importance of the role of linkage groups 2, 10 and 13 for studied traits. Genomic regions on the linkage groups 9 and 12 are specific for QTLs of leaf-related traits in sunflower.