• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2016

A small and inexpensive thermal cycler (PCR machine), known as the MiniPCR^TM Mini8 Thermal Cycler (Amplyus, Cambridge, MA, USA), was developed. In this study, the performance of this PCR machine was compared with the GeneAmp^® PCR system 9700 (Applied Biosystems) using four autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) kits, a Y-chromosome STR kit, and a mitochondrial DNA HV1/HV2 sequence analysis. The sensitivity and stochastic effects of the STR multiplex kits and the quality of the DNA sequence analysis were similar between the two PCR machines. The MiniPCR^TM Mini8 Thermal Cycler could be used for analyses at forensic DNA laboratories and crime scenes. The cost of the PCR is so economical that school laboratories and individuals could use the machines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1563-1570
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• 2010

To construct a highly sensitive detection system for endocrine disruptors (EDs), we have compared the activity of promoters with the n-alkane-inducible cytochrome P450 gene (ALK1), isocitrate lyase gene (ICL1), ribosomal protein S7 gene (RPS7), and the translation elongation factor-1${\alpha}$ gene (TEF1) for the heterologous gene in Yarrowia lipolytica. The promoters were introduced into the upstream of the lacZ or hERa reporter genes, respectively, and the activity was evaluated by ${\beta}$-galactosidase assay for lacZ and Western blot analysis for hER${\alpha}$. The expression analysis revealed that the ALK1 and ICL1 promoters were induced by n-decane and by EtOH, respectively. The constitutive promoter of RPS7 and TEF1 showed mostly a high level of expression in the presence of glucose and glycerol, respectively. In particular, the TEF1 promoter showed the highest ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity and a significant signal by Western blotting with the anti-estrogen receptor, compared with the other promoters. Moreover, the detection system was constructed with promoters linked to the upstream of the expression vector for the hER${\alpha}$ gene transformed into the Y. lipolytica with a chromosome-integrated lacZ reporter gene under the control of estrogen response elements (EREs). It was indicated that a combination of pTEF1p-hER${\alpha}$ and CXAU1-2XERE was the most effective system for the $E_2$-dependent induction of the ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity. This system showed the highest ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity at $10^{-6}\;M\;E_2$, and the activity could be detected at even the concentration of $10^{-10}\;M\;E_2$. As a result, we have constructed a strongly sensitive detection system with Y. lipolitica to evaluate recognized/suspected ED chemicals, such as natural/synthetic hormones, pesticides, and commercial chemicals. The results demonstrate the utility, sensitivity, and reproducibility of the system for identifying and characterizing environmental estrogens.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 1991

The results ok feeding experiments to the mice with ginseng extract, ginseng Powder, and ADAPTAGEN, for 30 days before X-ray irradiation and for 40 days after the X-ray irradiation at 750 rads were as follow: 1. The 50% lethals days (LD50, ) by the X-ray irradiation were 9 days at 1, 000 rads. 10 days at 900 rads, 11 days at 800 rads, 14 days at 760 rads, and 19 darts at 750 rads. Therefore, the standard radiation dose was set at 750 radb/8 min. 2. The 80% of the control group mice exposed to the X-ray radiation without ginseng feeding died in periods ranging from 14 to 24 days and the 20~30% of the ginseng extract and ginseng powder feeding groups died. But the 100% of the mice fed with ADAPTAGEN survived. 3. Testicles of the control group became smaller in weight than the nomad group by 26.5 to 29.0% and those of the ginseng extract and ginseng powder feeding group reduced by 44.6 to 60.4%. However, testicles of the ADAPTiIGEN feeding group increased in size by 77.4% to 87.1% and in weight by 61%, showing a recovery phenomenon approarhing to those of the ordinary mice. The ADAPTAGEN feeding group mice were also as active in color as the ordinary ones. 4. An electron micrograph(X8, 000X2.2) of the liver cells of the mice which had been 40 days after X-ray irradiation showed as follows; The control group appeared that is physiological action stopped due to the frequent occurrence of morphological change of the nucleus and diffusion of chromosome, reduction in microspores and expansion of microsomts, and endoplasmic change of mitochondria. The liver cells or the ADAPTAGEN feeding group were in a state similar to those of the ordinary mice restoring to normalcy In contrast, the liver cells of the ginseng extract and ginseng powder feeding groups were still far from being normal. 5. A serological analysis showed that the control group sharply decreased in albumin, Y-g1obu1in, and IgG so far as to cause dystrophy and to weaken antibody resistance but that ginseng extract and ginseng powder feeding groups, though in a little more restoring state than the control group, were still far from the normal group. The ADAPTAGEN feeding group restored to a state as comparable to the normal group in the contents of albumin ${\gamma}$-globulin, IgG and serum protein. In order words, it is noteworthy that ADAPTAGEN feeding was effective in revitalizing the destroyed cells of a living body and that it has the function of normalizing antibody components.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.500-506
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• 2005

HOX11 encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor which directs the development of the spleen during embryogenesis. While HOX11 expression is normally silenced through an unknown mechanism in all tissues by adulthood, the deregulation of HOX11 expression is associated with leukemia, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The elucidation of regulatory elements contributing to the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of HOX11 gene expression is of great importance. Previous reports of HOX11 regulatory elements mainly focused on the 5'-flanking region of HOX11 on the chromosome related to transcriptional control. To expand the search of putative cis-elements involved in HOX11 regulation at the post-transcriptional level, we analyzed HOX11 mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) and found an AU-rich region. To characterize this AU-rich region, in vitro analysis of HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR was performed with human RNA-binding protein HuR, which interacts with AU-rich element (ARE) existing in the 3'UTR of many growth factors' and cytokines' mRNAs. Our results showed that the HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR can specifically bind with human HuR protein in vitro. This specific binding could be competed effectively by typical ARE containing RNA. After the deletion of the AU-rich region present in the HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR, the interaction of HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR with HuR protein was abolished. These findings suggest that HOX11 mRNA 3'UTR contains cis-acting element which shares similarity in the action pattern with RE-HuR interactions and may involve in the post-transcriptional regulation of the HOX11 gene.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2008

Purpose: Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hATSCs) can be differentiated into multiple mesenchymal lineages, including bone, cartilage, and muscle. And growth hormone play important roles in the normal growth and development of the CNS. In this study, we explored whether the transplanted hATSCs and growth hormones could improve functional recoveries from rats with contusive spinal cord injury. Methods: We divided 30 female rats, which were subjected to a weight driven implant spinal cord injury, into 3 groups with 10 rats each; Group A as a control group, group B with hATSCs transplantation on injured region, and group C with hATSCs transplantation and GH administration for 7 days. Then, we researched their neurologic functional recoveries before and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after transplantation using Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. And we checked Y-chromosome positive cells by FISH(Fluorescent in situ hybridization) to identify the survival of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells. Results: After 4 weeks of transplantation, the group B and group C showed significant improvement of neurologic function on BBB locomotor rating scale in comparison with the group A(Group A: $13.1{\pm}0.58$, Group B: $14.6{\pm}0.69$, Group C: $14.9{\pm}0.56$). Moreover, the group C displayed meaningful recovery of neurologic function after 8 weeks in comparison with group B (Group B: $15.7{\pm}0.63$, Group C: $16.5{\pm}1.14$). The group A, the control one, improved for 5 weeks after injury, and had no more recovery. On the other hand, Group B and C showed the improvement of neurologic function continuously for 9 weeks after injury. Conclusion: In this study, we found out that hATSCs transplantation have an effect on neurologic functional recovery of spinal cord injured rat and GH injection seems to bring the synergistic results on this good tendency.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.309-312
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• 2019

Comamonas sp. NLF-7-7 was isolated from biofilter of wastewater treatment plant. The whole-genome sequence of Comamonas sp. NLF-7-7 was analyzed using the PacBio RS II and Illumina HiSeqXten platform. The genome comprises a 3,333,437 bp chromosome with a G + C content of 68.04%, 3,197 total genes, 9 rRNA genes, and 49 tRNA genes. This genome contained pollutants degradation and floc forming genes such as sulfur oxidization pathway (SoxY, SoxZ, SoxA, and SoxB) and floc forming pathway (EpsG, EpsE, EpsF, EpsG, EpsL, and glycosyltransferase), respectively. The Comamonas sp. NLF-7-7 can be used to the purification of wastewater.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.46-46
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• 2003

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a homodimeric protein with a wide spectrum of anti-inflammatory and immune activities. It inhibits cytokine production and expression of immune surface molecules in various cell types. The transgenic mice carrying the human IL-10 gene in conjunction with the bovine $\beta$-casein promoter produced the human IL-10 in milk during lactation. Transgenic mice were generated using a standard method as described previously. To screen transgenic mice, PCR was carried out using chromosomal DNA extracted from tail or toe tissues with a primer set. In this study, stability of germ line transmission and expression of IL-10 gene integrated into host chromosome were monitored up to generation F15 of a transgenic line. When female mouse of generation F9 was crossbred with normal male, generation F9 to F15 mice showed similar transmission rates (66.0$\pm$20.13%, 61.5$\pm$16.66%, 41.1$\pm$8.40%, 40.7$\pm$20.34%, 61.3$\pm$10.75%, 49.2$\pm$18.82%, and 43.8$\pm$25.91%, respectively), implying that the IL-10 gene can be transmitted stably up to long term generation in the transgenic mice. For ELISA analysis, IL-10 expression levels were determined with an hIL-10 ELISA and a mIL-10 ELISA kit in accordance with the supplier's protocol. Expression levels of human IL-10 from milk of generation F9 to F13 mice were 3.6$\pm$1.20 mg/ml, 4.2$\pm$0.93 mg/ml, 5.7$\pm$1.46 mg/ml, 6.3$\pm$3.46 mg/ml, and 6.8$\pm$4.52 mg/ml, respectively. These expression levels are higher than in generation F1 (1.6 mg/ml) mice. We concluded that transgenic mice faithfully passed the transgene on their progeny and successively secreted target proteins into their milk through several generations, although there was a little fluctuation in the transmission frequency and expression level between the generations.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.161-174
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• 2005

In order to presume the relationships between two species of P. ternata and P. tripartia, and their populations of the Korean Pinellia, RAPD analysis was performed. The length of the amplified DNA fragments ranged from 300 to 2,500bp. Seventy scorable RAPD makers were found from the PCR reactions with 7 random oligoprimers and were analyzed by Nei-Li's genetic coefficient. Also, some regional groups instead of same taxa were clustered from the phenogram of UPGMA analysis and NJ tree. Populations within each species were clustered at low genetic distance, there had the closed relationship. According to the regional individuals, Pinellia ternata was showed the variation pattern of morphological (leaf shape and flower color) and cytological characters(somatic chromosome numbers). So we suggested to difference of characteristic variety based on variety of habitat. According to this study, new species (Pinellia sp.) was affiliated with Pinellia and had the closest relationship with Hallasan and Japan population. The RAPD data was very useful to define the genetic variation and to discuss the relationships among the intraspecific taxa and their populations of the Korean Pinellia.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.749-756
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• 2007

Phosphorylation on serine/threonine or tyrosine residues of target proteins is an essential and significant regulatory mechanism in signal transduction during many cellular and life processes, including spermatogenesis, oogenesis and fertilization. In the present work, we reported the isolation and characterization of mouse testis-specific serine/threonine kinase 5 (Tssk5), which contains four alternatively spliced variants including, Tssk5$\alpha$, Tssk5$\beta$, Tssk5$\gamma$ and Tssk5$\delta$. Moreover, the locus of Tssk5 is on chromosome 14qC3 and the four variants had a similar high expression in the testis and the heart; however, had a low expression in other tissues, except for Tssk5$\alpha$ which also had comparably high expression in the spleen. Each variant of Tssk5 expression began in the testis 16 days after birth. Aside from TSSK5$\alpha$, the other isoforms have an insertion of ten amino acid residues (RLTPSLSAAG) in region VIb (HRD domain) (His-Arg-Asp). Moreover, only TSSK5$\alpha$ exhibited kinase activity and consistently, a further Luciferase Reporter Assay demonstrated that TSSK5$\beta$, TSSK5$\gamma$ and TSSK5$\delta$ cannot be stimulated at the CREB/CRE responsive pathway in comparison to TSSK5$\alpha$. These findings suggest that TSSK5$\beta$, TSSK5$\gamma$, TSSK5$\delta$ may be pseudokinases due to the insertion, which may damage the structure responsible for active kinase activity. Pull-down assay experiments indicated that TSSK5$\beta$, TSSK5 $\gamma$ and TSSK5$\delta$ can directly interact with TSSK5$\alpha$. In summary, these four isoforms with similar expression patterns may be involved in spermatogenesis through a coordinative way in testis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.302-309
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• 2008

Epigenetic is usually referring to heritable traits that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence. DNA methylation is known to serve as cellular memory. and is one of the most important mechanism of epigenetic. DNA methylation is a covalent modification in which the target molecules for methylation in mammalian DNA are cytosine bases in CpG dinucleotides. The 5' position of cytosine is methylated in a reaction catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases; DNMTl, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b. There are two different regions in the context of DNA methylation: CpG poor regions and CpG islands. The intergenic and the intronic region is considered to be CpG poor, and CpG islands are discrete CpG-rich regions which are often found in promoter regions. Normally, CpG poor regions are usually methylated whereas CpG islands are generally hypomethylated. DNA methylation is involved in various biological processes such as tissue-specific gene expression, genomic imprinting, and X chromosome inactivation. In general. cancer cells are characterized by global genomic hypomethylation and focal hypermethylation of CpG islands, which are generally unmethylated in normal cells. Gene silencing by CpG hypermethylation at the promotors of tumor suppressor genes is probably the most common mechanism of tumor suppressor inactivation in cancer.