• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

By screening C. elegans mutants for severe defects in germline proliferation, we isolated a new loss-of-function allele of cdc-25.1, bn115. bn115 and another previously identified loss-of-function allele nr2036 do not exhibit noticeable cell division defects in the somatic tissues but have reduced numbers of germ cells and are sterile, indicating that cdc-25.1 functions predominantly in the germ line during postembryonic development, and that cdc-25.1 activity is probably not required in somatic lineages during larval development. We analyzed cell division of germ cells and somatic tissues in bn115 homozygotes with germline-specific anti-PGL-1 immunofluorescence and GFP transgenes that express in intestinal cells, in distal tip cells, and in gonadal sheath cells, respectively. We also analyzed the expression pattern of cdc-25.1 with conventional and quantitative RT-PCR. In the presence of three other family members of cdc-25.1 in C. elegans, defects are observed only in the germ line but not in the somatic tissues in cdc-25.1 single mutants, and cdc-25.1 is expressed predominantly, if not exclusively, in the germ line during postembryonic stages. Our findings indicate that the function of cdc-25.1 is unique in the germ line but likely redundant with other members in the soma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2002

The present study was conducted for the production of transgenic cloned cows by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that secrete human prourokinase into milk. To establish an efficient production system for bovine transgenic SCNT embryos, the offset was examined of various conditions of donor cells including cell type, size, and passage number on the developmental competence of transgenic SCNT embryos. An expression plasmid far human prourokinase (pbeta-ProU) was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and a human prourokinase target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Three types of bovine somatic cells including two adult cells (cumulus cells and ear fibroblasts) and fetal fibroblasts were prepared and transfected using a lipid-meidated method. In Experiment 1, developmental competence and rates of GFP expression in bovine transgenic SCNT embryos reconstructed with cumulus cells were significantly higher than those from fetal and ear fibroblasts. In Experiment 2, the effect of cellular senescence in early (2 to 4) and late (8 to 12) passages was investigated. No significant differences in the development of transgenic SCNT embryos were observed. In Experient 3, different sizes of GFP-expressing transfected cumulus cells [large (>30 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) or small cell (<30 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$)] were used for SCNT. A significant improvement in embryo development and GFP expression was observed when small cumulus cells were used for SCNT. Taken together, these results demonstrate that (1) adult somatic cells could serve as donor cells in transgenic SCNT embryo production and cumulus cells with small size at early passage were the optimal cell type, and (2) transgenic SCNT embryos derived from adult somatic cells have embryonic development potential.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.393-398
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• 1999

Somatic cell nuclear transfer is an efficient technique for the multiplication of elite livestock, engineering of transgenic animals, cell therapy and xenotransplantation, and analyzing the interactions between nucleus and cytoplasm, for various agricultural, biomedical and research purposes. Since the first somatic cell clone lamb was born, tremendous progress has been made toward developing technology for animal cloning. Viable farm animals and mice have now been produced by nuclear transfer using various fetal and adult somatic cells as nuclei donors. Transgenic clones were also produced from nuclear transfer of transfected somatic cells. In the future, somatic cell nuclear transfer will provide more numerous opportunities, both in basic and appled research as well as immediate uses in the generations of superior clone and transgenic animals. However, further technology refinement and improved understanding of the process are essential for commercial and basic research applications.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between udder and teat characteristics and somatic cell count (SCC). A total of 749 (73.1%) milk samples from 1,024 quarters of 259 Holstein cows contained less than 200,000 somatic cells/ml, while 132 (12.9%) quarters contained more than 500,000 somatic cells/ml. Prior to data analysis, somatic cell counts were transformed to natural logarithm. The mean SCS {$log_e(SCS/10^3)$} of milk samples from the front quarters was lower than milk samples from the rear quarters. The highest SCS was observed from cows with the step-shaped udder and the pear-shaped teats, respectively. Increased SCS was observed from cows with large teat diameter, short teat length, short distance between the teat tip to floor (p<0.05) and with increase in parity, respectively.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2008

Recent studies on nuclear transfer and induced pluripotent stem cells have demonstrated that differentiated somatic cells can be returned to the undifferentiated state by reversing their developmental process. These epigenetically reprogrammed somatic cells may again be differentiated into various cell types, and used for cell replacement therapies through autologous transplantation to treat many degenerative diseases. To date, however, reprogramming of somatic cells into undifferentiated cells has been extremely inefficient. Hence, reliable markers to identify the event of reprogramming would assist effective selection of reprogrammed cells. In this study, a transgene construct encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the regulation of human Oct4 promoter was developed as a reporter for the reprogramming of somatic cells. Microinjection of the transgene construct into pronuclei of fertilized mouse eggs resulted in the emission of green fluorescence, suggesting that the undifferentiated cytoplasmic environment provided by fertilized eggs induces the expression of EGFP. Next, the transgene construct was introduced into human embryonic fibroblasts, and the nuclei from these cells were transferred into enucleated porcine oocytes. Along with their in vitro development, nuclear transfer embryos emitted green fluorescence, suggesting the reprogramming of donor nuclei in nuclear transfer embryos. The results of the present study demonstrate that expression of the transgene under the regulation of human Oct4 promoter coincides with epigenetic reprogramming, and may be used as a convenient marker that non-invasively reflects reprogramming of somatic cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 1998

Certain types of somatic cells, as well as follicular cumulus cells associating with mammalian oocytes, are known to produce beneficial effects on in vitro fertilization and pre implantation development of mammalian eggs when they are present in oocyte culture medium. To investigate the nature of the effects of somatic cells, the resistance of mouse oocytes against chymotrypsin treatment was examined after culture within various cell conditioned media. When mouse oocytes matured for 17-18 hr in the presence of cumulus cells were treated with 1 % chymotrypsin, half of them remained still alive even after 240 min $(t_{50}>240.0)$. In contrast half of mouse oocytes cultured without cumulus cells underwent degeneration within 65.0 min $(t_{50}=65.0{\pm}13.2min)$ of the same treatment. To see if the effects were duc to the secretory products of cumulus cells, mouse cumulus cells were cultured for 20 hr in medium containing 0.4% BSA and the supernatant of culture medium (conditioned medium) was taken. After maturation in the cumulus cell conditioned medium, mouse oocytes exhibited $t_{50}=190.0{\pm}10.8$ min upon chymotrypsin treatment whereas half of oocytes cultured without conditioned medium degenerated within 25.5 min. Human granulosa cell conditioned medium gave similar effects such that oocytes matured in conditioned medium exhibited $t_{50}=183.3{\pm}19.1$ min while $t_50$ of control group oocytes was $60.0{\pm}6.8$ min, Oocytes matured in vero cell conditioned medium exhibited $t_{50}=196.7{\pm}8.8$ min. On the other hand, amniotic cell conditioned medium resulted in the chymotrypsin resistance of $t_{50}=80.0{\pm}8.4$ min which was not statistically different from the control value of $t_{50}=48.0{\pm}13.2$ min. Based upon these results, it is suggested that certain somatic cell types including cumulus cells might change the biochemical properties of mouse oocyte membrane during meiotic maturation as revealed by the enhanced resistance against chymotrypsin treatment. Such effects of somatic cells appear to be mediated via the secretory products rather than direct communication between somatic cells and oocytes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

Recent 2 decades, including in vitro maturation (IVM), assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) achieved noteworthy development. However the efficiency of ARTs with in vitro matured oocytes is still lower than that with in vivo oocytes. To overcome those limitations, many researchers attempted to adapt co-culture system during IVM and consequently maturation efficiency has been increased. The beneficial effects of applying co-culture system is contemplated base on communication and interaction between various somatic cells and oocytes, achievement of paracrine factors, and spatial effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) from somatic cell surface. The understanding of co-culture system can provide some information to narrow the gap between in vitro and in vivo. Here we will review current studies about issues for understanding cu-culture system with various somatic cells to improve in vitro maturation microenvironment and provide bird view and strategies for further studies.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.245-258
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• 2000

Somatic embryogenesis has become a major tool in the study of plant embryology, as it is possible in culture to manipulate cells of many plant species to produce somatic embryos in a process that is remarkably similar to zygotic embryogenesis. Traditionally, the process has been studied by an examination of the ex vitro factors which influence embryo formation. Later structural, physiological and biochemical approaches have been applied. Host recently, molecular tools are being used. Together, these various approaches are giving valuable information on the process. This article gives an overview of somatic embryogenesis by reviewing information on the morphogenesis, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of the process. Topics covered include a brief description of the factors involved in the production of embryogenic cells. Carrot cell suspension is most commonly used, and the development of a high frequency and synchronous system is outlined. At the physiological and biochemical lev-els various topics, including the reactivation of the cell cycle, changes in endogenous growth regulators, amino acid, polyamine, DNA, RNA and protein metabolism, and embryogenic factors in conditioned medium are all discussed. Lastly, recent information on genes and molecular markers of the embryogenic process are outlined. Somatic embryogenesis, the best example of totipotency in plant cells, is not only an important tool in studies in basic biology, but is potentially of equal significance in the micropropagation of economically important plants.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 1992

The physiological changes of somatic embryogenesis in cultured pepper cells (Capsicum annuum L. cv Shinhong) were investigated. The somatic embryogenesis was induced by cultivating the callus in hormone-free MS medium. The peroxidase patterns in the somatic embryogenic cells and the culture medium was revealed three and two of cathodic and anodic bands by isoelectric focusing respectively. Activity of peroxidase released into culture medium was 4 times higher than that of 12th day cultured cells. At the heart stage, the isozyme patterns of the MDH and esterase were found to be changed, which were showed by starch gel electrophoresis. It means these isozymes can be used as markers for studying somatic embryogenesis and differentiation.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2000

Somatic hybrids were produced by electrofusion between embryogenic callus protoplasts of 'Syougun' mandarin and leaf protoplasts of grapefruit. Hybridity of the two plants was confirmed by leaf morphological characteristics and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The cpDNA analysis using PCR-RFLP could not distinguish those of both parents. These plants showed normal growth and had chromosome number of 27. These unexpected triploid somatic hybrids might be derived from fused cells between diaploid protoplast of embryogenic calli and diploid protoplast of leaf, because polysomaty, a mixture of haploid cells and diploid cells was observed in the lactose medium-pretreated embryogenic calli of 'Syougun' by flow cytomehy analysis.