• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2009

Multipotent spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs), derived from uni-potent SSC, are a type of reprogrammed cells with similar characteristics to embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for transgenesis of mSSC derived from outbred mice and the production of transgenic animal by the mSSC-insertion into embryo. mSSCs, established from outbred mice (ICR strain) in the previous study, were maintained and then transfected with a lenti-viral vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), CS-CDF-CG-PRE. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were derived from inbred transgenic mice (C57BL/6-Tg (CAG-EGFP)) and were used as an experimental control. Transfected mSSCs were well proliferated in vitro and maintained their characteristics and normal karyotype. Ten to twelve mSSCs and ESCs were collected and inserted into perivitelline space of 8-cell mouse embryos, and then transferred them into uteri of poster mothers after an additional 2-days of culture. Percentage of mSSC-derived offsprings was 4.8% (47/980) and which was lower than those (11.7% (67/572)) of ESC-derived ones (P<0.05). However, even though different genetic background of mSSC and ESC origin, the production efficiency of coat-colored chimeric offspring in mSSC group was not different when compared it with ESC (6.4% (3/47) vs. 7.5% (5/67)). From these results, we confirmed that mSSC derived from outbred mice has a pluripotency and a potential to produce chimeric embryos or mice when reaggregatation with mSSC is performed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.20-21
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• 2003

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are mitogenic peptide hormones that regulate embryonic development, postnatal growth and cellular differentiation in vertebrates IGFs are initially translated as pre-pro-peptides and then proteolytically processed to yield the mature IGFs and E-peptides. Like the C-peptide of pro-insulin, the E-peptides of pro-IGFs are generally believed to possess little or no biological activity other than their potential roles in the biosynthesis of the mature IGFs. Like human IGF-1, previous studies in our laboratory showed that the recombinant trout Ea4-peptide of pro-IGF-1 exhibited a dose-dependent mitegenic activity in cultured BALB/3T3 fibroblasts and other non-oncogenic transformed cells (Tian et al., 1999) We have also shown by in vitro and in vivo studies that Ea4-peptide possessed novel anti-tumor activities (Chen et al., 2002, Kuo and Chen, 2002; Kuo and Chen 2003). Recent results of studies conducted in chorionicallantoic membrane of developing chicken embryos revealed that Ea4-peptide of trout pro-IGF-1 also possesses a dose-dependent antiangiogenic activity. Together these results raised the question whether Ea4-peptide of trout pro-IGF-1 may affect heart and blood vessel development and hematopoiesis in fish embryos. (중략)

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.122-132
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• 2004

The rapid development and characterization of the mouse genome sequence, coupled with comparative sequence analysis of human, has been paralleled by a reinforced enthusiasm for mouse functional genomics. The way to uncover the in vivo function of genes is to analyze the phenotypes of the mutant animals. From this standpoint, the mouse is a suitable and valuable model organism in the studies of functional genomics. Therefore, there have been enormous efforts to enrich the list of the mutant mice. Such a trend emphasizes the random mutagenesis, including ENU mutagenesis and gene-trap mutagenesis, to obtain a large stock of mutant mice. However, since various mutant alleles are needed to precisely characterize the role of a gene in vivo, mutations should be designed. The simplicity and utility of transgenic technology can satisfy this demand. The combination of RNA interference with transgenic technology will provide more opportunities for researchers. Nevertheless, gene targeting can solely define the in vivo function of a gene without a doubt. Thus, transgenesis and gene targeting will be the major strategies in the field of functional genomics.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2001

To examine the effect of copy number-dependent transgenic genotype on the expression of foreign gene, stable hemizygous and homozygous transgenic breeding line was established using artificial parthenogenesis. For this purpose, induced diploid gynogenetic transgenesis was optimized in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) using UV-irradiated cyprinid loach (M. anguillicaudatus) sperm and thermal shocks. Optimum UV range for inactivation of cyprinid loach sperm was between 3,150 to $4,050\;ergs/mm^2$ The UV-irradiated sperm were inseminated into eggs from recessive color strain (yellow) or heterozygous transgenic mud loach containing CAT gene. Cold shock at $2^{\circ}C$ for 60 min, 5 min post fertilization successfully restored the diploidy of eggs inseminated with UV-irradiated sperm. Restoration to diploidy was confirmed by flow cytometry and gynogenetic status was verified by examining maternal exclusive inheritance of multi-locus DNA fingerprints, body color and transgenic marker. Putative isogenic transgenic fish clearly showed homozygous status at trans gene locus based on Southern blot hybridization and progeny testing. Further, such homozygous gynogenetic diploids revealed the increased levels of transgene expression, when compared to those of heterozygous (hemizygous) transgenic fish.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2014

To evaluate their potential utility as an ornamental organism, novel transgenic marine medaka Oryzias dancena strains with a highly vivid fluorescent phenotype were established through transgenesis of a cyan fluorescent protein gene (cfp) driven by the endogenous fast skeletal myosin light chain 2 gene (mlc2f) promoter. The transgenic marine medaka strains possessed multiple copies of transgene integrants and passed their fluorescent transgenes successfully to subsequent generations. Transgenic expression in skeletal muscles at both the mRNA and phenotypic levels was, overall, dependent upon transgene copy numbers. In the external phenotype, an authentic fluorescent color was dominant in the skeletal muscles of the transgenic fish and clearly visible to the unaided eye. The phenotypic fluorescent color presented differentially in response to different light-irradiation sources; the transgenics displayed a yellow-green color under normal daylight or white room light conditions, a strong green-glowing fluorescence under ultraviolet light, and a cyan-like fluorescence under blue light from a light-emitting diode.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2010

Yield productivity of staple crops must be increased at least 50% by 2050, in order to feed the world population which is expected to reach 90 billions. Photosynthetic carbon assimilation and carbohydrate metabolism leading to the production of starch would be the final frontier to quest for new sources of technology enabling such a drastic increase of crop productivity. In this review, attempts to genetically engineer plant photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle and metabolic pathways to increase starch production are introduced.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2003

The first Indian transgenic fish was generated in 1991 using borrowed constructs from foreign sources. To construct transformation vectors for the indigenous fishes, growth hormone genes of rohu (r-CH), Labeo rohita and catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis were isolated, cloned and sequenced; their fidelity was confirmed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. A vector was constructed with grass carp b-actin promoter driving the expression of r-GH. Rohu eggs are large. fragile and swell 2~3 times. when fertilized. Hence they were amenable only for electroporated sperm-mediated gene transfer. Accordingly, the sperm electroporation technique was standardized to ensure 25% hatchling survival and 37% Presumptive transgenics without suffering any deformity. Southern analysis confirmed genomic integration in 15% of the tested individuals (Ti) belonging to family lines 2 and 3: another 25% of the Juveniles (Te) were also proved transgenic but with the transgene persisting extrachromosomally for longer than 1 to 2 years. perhaps due to the presence of replicon in the vector. Transgenics belonging to different family lines grew 6~8 times faster than the respective controls. Difference in growth trends of Ti and Te within a family line was not significant. In the Ti family 3 remarkable growth acceleration was sustained for a period longer than 36 weeks but in those of family 2, it gradually decreased. All transgenic fishes including the rohu converted the food at a significantly higher efficiency. Barring the transgenic mudloach, all the other transgenic fishes consumed food at significantly reduced rate.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2012

Autotransgenic manipulation with a growth hormone (GH)-construct is a potential approach to improving the growth rates of farmed fish. Here, we present the generation of GH-autotransgenic common carp Cyprinus carpio carrying a transgene comprised of the carp homologous GH gene and a ${\beta}$-actin regulator. Autotransgenic carp showed similar viability to their non-transgenic siblings. Early growth characteristics of founder autotransgenic carp up to 50 days postfertilization were highly variable among individuals; i.e., some fish exhibited significant growth depression, while others showed dramatic acceleration of growth, achieving greater than sixfold increases in body weight relative to their non-transgenic counterparts. Stimulated growth performance became more notable with age and many transgenic individuals of the largest class reached 5 kg within 8 or 9 months, which is at least 10 times heavier than the average body weight of communally grown non-transgenics. Four of six founder transgenic males were successful in passing the transgene to their $F_1$ offspring with frequencies ranging from 19 to 36%. Growth stimulations were also persistent in all $F_1$ progeny groups examined.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.29-48
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• 2003

It is remarkable that nuclear transfer using differentiated donor cells can produce physiologically normal cloned animals, but the process is inefficient and highly prone to epigenetic errors. Aberrant patterns of gene expression in clones contribute to the cumulative losses and abnormal phenotypes observed throughout development. Any long lasting effects from cloning, as revealed in some mouse studies, need to be comprehensively evaluated in cloned livestock. These issues raise animal welfare concerns that currently limit the acceptability and applicability of the technology. It is expected that improved reprogramming of the donor genome will increase cloning efficiencies realising a wide range of new agricultural and medical opportunities. Efficient cloning potentially enables rapid dissemination of elite genotypes from nucleus herds to commercial producers. Initial commercialization will, however, focus on producing small numbers of high value animals for natural breeding especially clones of progeny-tested sires, The continual advances in animal genomics towards the identification of genes that influence livestock production traits and human health increase the ability to genetically modify animals to enhance agricultural efficiency and produce superior quality food and biomedical products for niche markets. The potential opportunities in animal agriculture are more challenging than those in biomedicine as they require greater biological efficiency at reduced cost to be economically viable and because of the more difficult consumer acceptance issues. Nevertheless, cloning and transgenesis are being used together to increase the genetic merit of livestock; however, the integration of this technology into farming systems remains some distance in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.29-48
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• 2003

It is remarkable that nuclear transfer using differentiated donor cells can produce physiologically normal cloned animals, but the process is inefficient and highly prone to epigenetic errors. Aberrant patterns of gene expression in clones contribute to the cumulative losses and abnormal phenotypes observed throughout development. Any long lasting effects from cloning, as revealed in some mouse studies, need to be comprehensively evaluated in cloned livestock. These issues raise animal welfare concerns that currently limit the acceptability and applicability of the technology. It is expected that improved reprogramming of the donor genome will increase cloning efficiencies realising a wide range of new agricultural and medical opportunities. Efficient cloning potentially enables rapid dissemination of elite genotypes from nucleus herds to commercial producers. Initial commercialisation will, however, focus on producing small numbers of high value animals for natural breeding especially clones of progeny-tested sires. The continual advances in animal genomics towards the identification of genes that influence livestock production traits and human health increase the ability to genetically modify animals to enhance agricultural efficiency and produce superior quality food and biomedical products for niche markets. The potential opportunities inanimal agriculture are more challenging than those in biomedicine as they require greater biological efficiency at reduced cost to be economically viable and because of the more difficult consumer acceptance issues. Nevertheless, cloning and transgenesis are being used together to increase the genetic merit of livestock; however, the integration of this technology into farming systems remains some distance in the future.