• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1999

The mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase (tk+/-) gene assay (MOLY) using L5178Y tk+/- mouse lymphoma cell line is one of the mammalian forward mutation assays. It is well known that MOLY has many advantages and more sensitive than the other mammalian forward mutation assays such as x-linked hyposanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene assay. The target gene of MOLY is a heterozygous tk+/- gene located in 11 chromosome of L5178Y tk+/- cell, so it is able to detect the wide range of genetic changes like point mutation, deletion, rearrangement, and mitotic recombination within tk gene or deletion of entire chromosome 11. MOLY has relatively short expression time (2-3 days) compared to 1 week of hprt gene assay. MOLY can also induce relatively high mutant frequency so a large number of events can be recorded. The bimodal distribution of colony size which may indicate gene mutation and chromosome breakage potential of chemicals according to mutation scale such as large normal-growing mutants and small slow-growing mutants can be observed in this assay. The statistical analysis of data can be performed using the MUTANT program developed by York Electronic Research in association with Hazelton as recommended by the UKEMS (United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society) guidelines. This report reviewed MOLY using the microtiter cloning technique (microwell assay).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.479-494
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• 2022

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have been intensively studied as therapeutic tools for a variety of disorders. To enhance the efficacy of MSCs, therapeutic genes are introduced using retroviral and lentiviral vectors. However, serious adverse events (SAEs) such as tumorigenesis can be induced by insertional mutagenesis. We generated lentiviral vectors encoding the wild-type herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene and a gene containing a point mutation that results in an alanine to histidine substitution at residue 168 (TK(A168H)) and transduced expression in MSCs (MSC-TK and MSC-TK(A168H)). Transduction of lentiviral vectors encoding the TK(A168H) mutant did not alter the proliferation capacity, mesodermal differentiation potential, or surface antigenicity of MSCs. The MSC-TK(A168H) cells were genetically stable, as shown by karyotyping. MSC-TK(A168H) responded to ganciclovir (GCV) with an half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value 10-fold less than that of MSC-TK. Because MSC-TK(A168H) cells were found to be non-tumorigenic, a U87-TK(A168H) subcutaneous tumor was used as a SAE-like condition and we evaluated the effect of valganciclovir (vGCV), an oral prodrug for GCV. U87-TK(A168H) tumors were more efficiently ablated by 200 mg/kg vGCV than U87-TK tumors. These results indicate that MSC-TK(A168H) cells appear to be pre-clinically safe for therapeutic use. We propose that genetic modification with HSV-TK(A168H) makes allogeneic MSC-based ex vivo therapy safer by eliminating transplanted cells during SAEs such as uncontrolled cell proliferation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.9-15
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• 1995

When quiescent cells ate stimulated to enter the cell cycle, the thymidine kinase(TK) gene is transcriptionally activated at the border of Gl and 5. In this report we show that the human TK promoter contains multiple protein-binding sites. By site-directed mutagenesis, we identified a protein-binding site on the human TK promoter requited for conferring Gl-S-regulated transcription to a heterologous promoter and dissociated it functionally from an adjacent protein-binding domain containing an inverted CCAAT motif requited for high basal level expression. Substitution-mutation of this site results in constitutive expression of the neo reporter gene in serum-stimulated fibroblasts, as well as in cells arrested in mid-Gl by a temperature-sensitive mutation. The regulatory domains for the human TK promoter exhibit interesting symmetrical features, including a set of CCAAT motifs and sites similar to the novel Yi protein-binding site recently discovered in the mouse TK promoter. Thus, components of the hTK complex is important for hTK gene regulation.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 1998

Cloning, sequencing and expressing in E. coli of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) strain F was investigated. The TK gene, located in the BamHI 3.74 kb DNA fragment of the plasmid pHLA-12, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The 1,131 kb PCR product was cloned into the BamHI and EcoRI sites of pBacPAK9 plasmid and then named pBac-TK recombinant. The TK gene was subcloned into the BamHI and BglII sites of pQE-30, and named pQE-TK recombinant. The nucleotide sequence of the 1,131 kb TK gene was determined, and the GC content was 65.13%. There were deduced 367 amino acid residues with a total molecular weight of 43 kDa. The weight was confirmed by the protein produced by E. coli M15/pQE-TK on the SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The production of the TK protein in the IPTG induced cells was measured over 4 h. At the end of 1, 2 and 3 h the level increased by 146, 204 and 242%, respectively. The amount of the protein at the highest fraction purified with Ni-NTA resin chromatography was $0.68\;{\mu}g$ per ml. The soluble state TK protein was present in the cytoplasm. In these results the F strain was different in base sequence and amino acid sequence from that of the CL101 strain, which caused difference in their strains.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 1987

An expression vector in a mammalian cell was constructed using the origin of replication (OR) and the promoters of SV40. The plasmid pSVOE was constructed by inserting SV40 DNA fragment (1, 118bp) containing SV40 OR and promoters into pBR322-1, and then a multiple cloning sequence was inserted at the immediate downstream of the late promoter of SV40 in the pSVOE vector. The plasmid was named pSVML. As a selection marker, thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus with its promoter was inserted into EcoRI site of pSVML and the recombinant was named pSVML-TKp. To test the expression capacity of foreigen gene inserted at the multiple cloning site of pSVML, the thymidine kinase gene without its own promoter was inserted at the BamHI site of pSVML. The recombinant was named pSVML-TK. These plasmids, pSVML-TKp and pSVML-TK, were transfected into COS cells with calcium phosphate precipitation method. The thymidine kinase activity was significantly increased in both transfected cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.541-547
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• 1999

Constructions of a transfer vector and a recombinant baculovirus using the thymidine kinase gene of the Herpes simplex virus type 1 strain F (HSV -1) were carried out. Newly cloned transfer vector, pHcgXIIIB, was constructed by insertion of the glycoprotein gX gene signal peptide sequence of Pseudorabies virus into the baculovirus vector pHcEV-IV. The gX sequence was inserted just downstream from the promoter for the polyhedrin gene of the Hyphantria cunea nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HcNPV). HSV-1 thymidine kinase(tk) gene (1.131 kb) was used as a candidate gene for transferring into the baculovirus expression system. The tk gene was inserted into a BamHI site downstream from the gX sequence-promoter for the polyhedrin gene in the pHcgXIIIB transfer vector and was transferred into the infectious lacZ-HcNPV expression vector. Recombinant virus was isolated and was named gX-TK-HcNPV. The recombinant virus produced a 45 kDa gX-TK fusion protein in Spodoptera frugiperda cells, which was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Microscopic examination of gX-TK-HcNPV-infected cells revealed normal multiplication. Fluorescent antibody staining indicated that the gX-TK fusion protein was present in the cytoplasm. These results indicated that the transfer vector successfully transferred the gX-tk gene into the baculovirus expression system.

• Laboratory Medicine Online
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2016

Background: The cell cycle-dependent enzyme thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is known to increase during cancer cell proliferation and has been reported as a prognostic marker for various hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. This study aimed to determine the reference interval in Korean healthy controls and to evaluate the usefulness of TK1 as a biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients. Methods: We enrolled 72 previously untreated patients with B-cell lymphoma and 143 healthy controls. Serum TK1 levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay ($Liaison^{(R)}$, DiaSorin, USA). We established the reference intervals in healthy controls. The diagnostic performance of serum TK1 was studied using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and the correlation between the cutoff level for serum TK1 and clinical characteristics of B-cell lymphoma was evaluated. Results: The reference range (95th percentile) of serum TK1 in healthy controls was 5.4-21.8 U/L. There was a clear difference in TK1 levels between patients with B-cell lymphoma and healthy controls ($40.6{\pm}68.5$ vs. $11.8{\pm}4.4U/L$, P <0.001). The area under the curve of serum TK1 for the diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma was 0.73 (cutoff, 15.2 U/L; sensitivity, 59.7%; specificity, 83.2%). An increased TK1 level (${\geq}15.2U/L$) correlated with the advanced clinical stage (P <0.001), bone marrow involvement (P =0.013), international prognostic index score (P =0.001), lactate dehydrogenase level (P =0.001), low Hb level (<12 g/dL) (P =0.028), and lymphocyte count (P =0.023). Conclusions: The serum TK1 level could serve as a useful biomarker for aggressive clinical behavior in B-cell lymphoma patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2001

Objective : We investigated the feasibility of a double suicide gene/prodrug therapy, involving direct introduction of the herpes simplex virus Type 1 thymidine kinase(TK) gene and the Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase(CD) gene, via a recombinant adenoviral vector and ganciclovir(GCV) and/or 5-fluorocytosine(5-FC) treatment, in C6 glioma cells. Methods : Efficient gene transfer and transduction of C6 glioma cells via a recombinant adenovirus were evaluated by infecting cells with adenovirus bearing the ${\beta}$-galactosidase gene and then staining cells with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-13-D-galactoside. CD/TK expression in cells infected with adenovirus bearing the CD/TK gene(ad-CD/TK) was examined by immunoblotting analysis. For in vitro cytotoxicity experiments, the cells were infected with ad-CD/TK or ad-${\Delta}E1$(as a control). After addition of a variety of concentrations of GCV and 5-FU, either separately or in combination, cell viability was determined by staining the cells with crystal violet solution 6 days after infection. Result : C6 glioma cells were efficiently transduced with recombinant adenoviral vector at multiplicities of infection of 200 or more. In vitro cytotoxicity of GCV and/or 5-FC, either alone or in combination, was exclusively observed in the cells transduced with ad-CD/TK. Obvious cytotoxicity(>50% inhibition) was observed in the presence of 5-FC at concentrations greater than 30ug/ml or GCV at concentrations greater than 0.3ug/ml at a multiplicity of infection of 100. Additionally, cytotoxicity in the presence of both GCV and 5-FC was greater than that after sinlge-prodrug treatments, indicating additive effects of the prodrug treatments. Conclusion : The administration of a double-suicide gene/prodrug therapy might have great potential in the treatment of brain tumors.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2004

Purpose: The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene(HSV1-tk) is an attractive candidate as a reporter gene in noninvasive reporter gene monitoring system. The HSV1-tk gene was chosen as a reporter gene, because it has been extensively studied, and there are appropriate reporter probes, substrates of HSV1-tk gene product, to apply for HSV1-tk gene imaging. We used radiolabeled 5-iodovinyl-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) and 5-iodovinyl-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (IVFRU) as reporter probes for HSV1-tk gene monitoring system. Materials and Methods: We prepared HSV1-tk gene transduced Morris hepatoma cell line using retroviral vector, MOLTEN containing HSV1-tk gene. And we confirmed the HSV1-tk gene expression by Northern blotting and Western blotting. We compared in vitro uptakes of radioiodinated IVDU and IVFRU to monitor HSV1-tk gene expression in Morris hepatoma cell line (MCA) and HSV1-tk gene tranduced MCA (MCA-tk) cells until 480 minutes. We also peformed correlation analysis between percentage of HSV1-tk gene tranduced MCA cell % (MCA-tk%) and uptakes of radiolabeled IVDU or IVFRU. Results: MCA-tk cell expressed HSV1-tk mRNA and HSV1-TK protein. Two compounds showed minimal uptake in MCA, but increased uptake was observed in MCA-tk. IVDU showed 4-fold higher accumulation than IVFRU at 480 min in MCA-tk (p<0.01). Both IVDU and IVFRU uptake were linearly correlated ($R^2>0.96$) with increasing MCA-tk%. Conclusion: The radiolabeld IVDU and IVFRU showed higher specific accumulation in retrovirally HSV1-tk gene transfected Morris hepatoma cell line. Both IVDU and IVFRU could be used as good substrates for evaluation of HSV1-tk gene expression.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 1996

Multiplication of Herpes simplex virus type-1 was observed by electronmicroscopy, a gene library of the genome was constructed and thymidine kinase gene was cloned. Vero cells infected with the virus were lysed 48 h p.j. and multinucleated giant cells were observed approximately at 72 h p.i. The nucleocapsids were observed in nuclei and cytoplasm, and the assembled nucleocapsids were budded out through the vacuole and cytoplasmic membranes, and then virions were released from the cells. HSV-1 genome DNA was digested with BamHI and BglII enzymes and then the gene library of the genome fragments were constructed. The BamHI cleaved the genome DNA into twenty-seven fragments in the range of 1.1 - 14 kb, and BglII cleaved the genome DNA into sixteen fragments in the range of $4.5{\sim}20.1\;kb$. The pHLA-12 and pHLB-4 recombinant plasmids were contained TK gene by Southern blot analysis. The molecular sizes of the fragments which contained the TK gene were 3.74 in pHLA-12 and 6.41kb in pHLB-4 recombinant plasmid, respectively.