• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.201-211
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• 2010

We present a highly effective T-DNA inserted gene screening method as part of a reverse genetics model system using the Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. spp. pekinensis). Three-step two-dimensional (2D) matrix strategies are potentially accurate and useful for the identification of specific T-DNA inserted mutants from a large population. To construct our Chinese cabbage model, we utilized a forward genetics screening approach for the abnormal phenotypes that were obtained from transgenic plants of Brassica rapa generated with Agrobacteria tumefaciens containing the pRCV2 vector. From one transgenic plant with an abnormal phenotype, we observed that the st1 gene (which is related to senescence-associated process proteins) contained a T-DNA fragment, and that its expression level was decreased. This T-DNA insert was then used as a control to construct an effective screening pool. As a result, the optimum template concentration was found to be 0.1-1 ng in our PCR strategy. For other conditions, positive changes to the Gibbs free energy prevented the formation of oligo dimers and hairpin loop structures, and autosegment extension gave better results for long fragment amplification. Using this effective reverse genetics screening method, only 23 PCR reactions were necessary to select a target gene from a pool of 100 individual DNAs. Finally, we also confirmed that the sequence we obtained from the above method was identical to the flanking sequence isolated by rescue cloning.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.139-144
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• 2001

Chewing betel quid is associated with an increased risk of oral cancer. The betel quid chewed in Taiwan includes the inflorescence of Piper betle, which contains high concentrations of safrole (15 mg/fresh weight). Piper betle leaf is also used in betel quid; however, the concentration of safrole in betel leaf has not been documented. Chewing betel quid may contribute to safrole exposure in man (420 mm in saliva). Using $a^{32}$P-postlabeling method, we have recently demonstrated the presence of stable safrole-like DNA adducts in human oral tissues following betel quid chewing. Safrole is a rodent hepatocar-cinogen, and the real nature of safrole-DNA adducts in human tissues beside oral has not been elucidated. In this paper, we tested the safrole DNA adducts forming potential in human hepatic and oral derived cells by the ${32}^P$-postlabeling technique. The results suggest that oral cancer derived cell OC-2 alone is not able to form safrole-DNA adduct. However, safrole DNA adducts can be detected following I'-hydroxysafrole, a proximate safrole metabolite, treatment. In addition, pretreament of cytochrome P450 inducers also enhanced the formation of previously undetectable safrole DNA adducts. This finding couples with our previous results suggest that oral may serve as a target tissue for safrole, and safrole may be involved in oral carcinogenesis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2010

We developed a novel dicistronic system for the expression of target cDNA sequences in the milk of transgenic animals using goat beta-casein/hGH fusion construct, pGbc5.5hGH (Lee, 2006) and internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequences of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) cDNA was linked to 3' untranslated region of hGH gene in the pGbc5.5hGH via EMCV IRES sequences. Transgenic mice were generated by microinjection and transgene expression was examined in the milk and mammary gland of transgenic mice at 10 days of lactation. Northern blot analysis showed that hGH gene and hG-CSF cDNA were transcribed as a single dicistronic mRNA. The hG-CSF and hGH proteins were independently translated from the dicistronic mRNA and secreted into the milk of transgenic mice. The highest concentration of hG-CSF and hGH in the milk of transgenic mice were $237{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $8,990{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, respectively. In contrast, another hG-CSF expression cassette, in which hG-CSF genomic sequences were inserted into a commercial milk-specific expression vector (pBC1), generated a lower level ($91{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) of hG-CSF expression in the milk of transgenic mice. These results demonstrated that the novel pGbc5.5hGH-based dicistronic construct could be useful for an efficient cDNA expression in the milk of transgenic animals.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.735-742
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• 2013

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) that bind to complementary nucleic acid sequences with extraordinarily high affinity and sequence specificity can be used as antisense oligonucleotides against microRNAs, namely antagomir PNAs. However, methods for efficient cellular delivery must be developed for effective use of PNAs as therapeutic agents. Here, we demonstrate that antagomir PNAs can be delivered to hepatic cells by complementary DNA oligonucleotide and cationic liposomes containing galactosylated ceramide and a novel cationic lipid, DMKE (O,O'-dimyristyl-N-lysyl glutamate), through glycoprotein-mediated endocytosis. An antagomir PNA was designed to target miR-122, which is required for translation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome in hepatocytes, and was hybridized to a DNA oligonucleotide for complexation with cationic liposome. The PNA-DNA hybrid molecules were efficiently internalized into hepatic cells by complexing with the galactosylated cationic liposome in vitro. Galactosylation of liposome significantly enhanced both lipoplex cell binding and PNA delivery to the hepatic cells. After 4-h incubation with galactosylated lipoplexes, PNAs were efficiently delivered into hepatic cells and HCV genome translation was suppressed more than 70% through sequestration of miR-122 in cytoplasm. PNAs were readily released from the PNA-DNA hybrid in the low pH environment of the endosome. The present study indicates that transfection of PNA-DNA hybrid molecules using galactosylated cationic liposomes can be used as an efficient non-viral carrier for antagomir PNAs targeted to hepatocytes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10647-10652
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• 2015

Background: The aim of our study was to establish COLD-PCR combined with an unlabeled-probe HRM approach for detecting KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutations in plasma-circulating DNA of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) cases as a novel and effective diagnostic technique. Materials and Methods: We tested the sensitivity and specificity of this approach with dilutions of known mutated cell lines. We screened 36 plasma-circulating DNA samples, 24 from the disease control group and 25 of a healthy group, to be subsequently sequenced to confirm mutations. Simultaneously, we tested the specimens using conventional PCR followed by HRM and then used target-DNA cloning and sequencing for verification. The ROC and respective AUC were calculated for KRAS mutations and/or serum CA 19-9. Results: It was found that the sensitivity of Sanger reached 0.5% with COLD-PCR, whereas that obtained after conventional PCR did 20%; that of COLD-PCR based on unlabeled-probe HRM, 0.1%. KRAS mutations were identified in 26 of 36 PA cases (72.2%), while none were detected in the disease control and/or healthy group. KRAS mutations were identified both in 26 PA tissues and plasma samples. The AUC of COLD-PCR based unlabeled probe HRM turned out to be 0.861, which when combined with CA 19-9 increased to 0.934. Conclusions: It was concluded that COLD-PCR with unlabeled-probe HRM can be a sensitive and accurate screening technique to detect KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutations in plasma-circulating DNA for diagnosing and treating PA.

• Journal of KIISE
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.200-210
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• 2018

Given a set of DNA read sequences, de novo sequence assembly reconstructs a target sequence without a reference sequence. For reconstruction, the assembly needs the overlap phase, which computes all overlaps between every pair of reads. Since the overlap phase is the most time-consuming part of the whole assembly, the performance of the assembly depends on that of the overlap phase. There have been extensive studies on the overlap phase in various fields. Among them, three state-of-the-art results for the overlap phase are Readjoiner, SOF, and Lim-Park algorithm. Recently, a rapid development of sequencing technology has made it possible to produce a large read dataset at a low cost, and many platforms for generating a DNA read dataset have been developed. Since the platforms produce datasets with different statistical characteristics, a performance evaluation for the overlap phase should consider datasets with these characteristics. In this paper, we compare and analyze the performances of the three algorithms with various large datasets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.28-30
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• 2005

Because of high population diversity in soil microbial communities, it is difficult to accurately assess the capability of biodegradation of toxicant by microbes in soil and sediment. Identifying biodegradative microorganisms is an important step in designing and analyzing soil bioremediation. To remove non-important noise information, it is necessary to selectively enrich genomes of biodegradative microorganisms fromnon-biodegradative populations. For this purpose, a stable isotope probing (SIP) technique was applied in selectively harvesting the genomes of biphenyl-utilizing bacteria from soil microbial communities. Since many biphenyl-using microorganisms are responsible for aerobic PCB degradation In soil and sediments, biphenyl-utilizing bacteria were chosen as the target organisms. In soil microcosms, 13C-biphenyl was added as a selective carbon source for biphenyl users, According to $13C-CO_2$ analysis by GC-MS, 13C-biphenyl mineralization was detected after a 7-day of incubation. The heavy portion of DNA(13C-DNA) was separated from the light portion of DNA (12C-DNA) using equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifuge. Bacterial community structure in the 13C-DNAsample was analyzed by t-RFLP (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) method. The t-RFLP result demonstates that the use of SIP efficiently and selectively enriched the genomes of biphenyl degrading bacteria from non-degradative microbes. Furthermore, the bacterial diversity of biphenyl degrading populations was small enough for environmental genomes tools (metagenomics and DNA microarrays) to be used to detect functional (biphenyl degradation) genes from soil microbial communities, which may provide a significant progress in assessing microbial capability of PCB bioremediation in soil and groundwater.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2019

Background: The development of lung cancer results from the interaction between genetic mutations and dynamic epigenetic alterations, although the exact mechanisms are not completely understood. Changes in DNA methylation may be a promising biomarker for early detection and prognosis of lung cancer. We evaluated the serial changes in genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in blood samples of lung cancer patients. Methods: Blood samples were obtained for three consecutive years from three patients (2 years before, 1 year before, and after lung cancer detection) and from three control subjects (without lung cancer). We used the MethylationEPIC BeadChip method, which covers the 850,000 bp cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) site, to conduct an epigenome-wide analysis. Significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using p-values <0.05 in a correlation test identifying serial methylation changes and serial increase or decrease in ${\beta}$ value above 0.1 for three consecutive years. Results: We found three significant CpG sites with differentially methylated ${\beta}$ values and 7,105 CpG sites with significant correlation from control patients without lung cancer. However, there were no significant DMRs. In contrast, we found 11 significant CpG sites with differentially methylated ${\beta}$ values and 10,562 CpG sites with significant correlation from patients with lung cancer. There were two significant DMRs: cg21126229 (RNF212) and cg27098574 (BCAR1). Conclusion: This study revealed DNA methylation changes that might be implicated in lung cancer development. The DNA methylation changes may be the possible candidate target regions for the early detection and prevention of lung cancer.

• Entomological Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.384-389
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• 2018

Aphis gossypii Glover is an important insect pest that functions as a viral vector and mediates approximately 45 different viral diseases. As part of a strategy for control of A. gossypii, we investigated the functions of genes using RNAi. To this end, a cDNA library was constructed for various genes and for selecting appropriate targets for RNAi mediated silencing. The cDNA library was constructed using the Gateway cloning system with site-specific recombination of bacteriophage ${\lambda}$. It was used to carry out single step cloning of A. gossypii cDNAs. As a result, a cDNA library with a titer of $8.4{\times}10^6$ was constructed. Since the sequences in this library carry att sites, they can be cloned into various binary vectors. This library will be of value for various studies. For later screening of selected genes, it is planned to clone the library into virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) vectors, which makes it possible to analyze gene function and allow subsequent transfection of plants. Such transfection experiments will allow testing of RNAi-induced insecticidal activity or repellent activity to A. gossypii, and result in the identification of target genes. It is also expected that the constructed cDNA library will be useful for analysis of gene functions in A. gossypii.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.77-88
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• 2022

This study aims to understand the relationship between the distribution of fish species in the two water ecosystems and the habitat factors according to the survey period targeting Gwanggyo Lake Park in the city. There are studies on the appearance and distribution of species by applying eDNA to freshwater ecosystems. However, in the domestic, streams are the target, and studies on the relationship between species distribution and habitat environment in two water environments are lacking. We conducted to analyze the species list and relationship with habitat factors using eDNA research in May and October at 21 points in Gwanggyo Lake Park, Suwon City, which were connected to lakes and streams. As a result, there was no species difference in the water environment according to the survey period. However, the total number of reads during the spawning season(May) was 3,126,482, which was more than double that after the spawning season(October). Tolerant species appeared in Woncheon Lake with a slow or stagnant flow, but there was no significant correlation between species and habitat factors depending on the survey period. On the other hand, intermediate and sensitive species appeared in the Woncheon stream with high flow. There was a significant correlation between the low temperature during the spawning season and the high dissolved oxygen content after the spawning season(P<0.001, Tem.: 20.7±2.6℃, DO: 8.6±1.7). It is expected that environmental DNA will be used to survey species and suggest monitoring methods according to the survey period.