• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.669-674
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• 2005

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a disorder in which the secretion of antidiuretic hormone is normal, but the response of the renal collecting tubules to vasopressin is impaired. Compared with acquired NDI (a-NDI), which is secondary to chronic bilateral incomplete urinary tract obstruction with hydronephrosis, congenital NDI (c-NDI) is a very rare heritable disorder that usually follows the X- linked recessive pattern. Clinical symptoms of c-NDI can be non specific, and often the disease ultimately results in failure to thrive, or mental retardation. Recently, the diagnosis can be confirmed by direct sequencing analysis of the peripheral blood specimens. The long-term results of treatment for c-NDI are not satisfactory. Reports on the follow up of c-NDI cases are rare and there is no report on the cases treated with combinations of three drugs. We report herein a case of severe c-NDI in an 8 year-old-boy with a severely dysconfigurated urinary tract system. The patient and his mother showed a frameshift mutation on the AVPR2 gene on chromosome Xq28:.847_851delTGCTG (p.C283fsX90). The patient showed normal growth and development by treatment with combinations of hydrochlorothiazide ($65mg/m^2$), amiloride (0.3 mg/kg/d) and indomethacin ($100mg/m^2$), yet after five years he needed adjuvant cystostomy to relieve him from the residual symptoms of urgency with polyuria.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.880-884
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• 2001

Rumen microbiology research has undergone several evolutionary steps: the isolation and nutritional characterization of readily cultivated microbes; followed by the cloning and sequence analysis of individual genes relevant to key digestive processes; through to the use of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) sequences for a cultivation-independent examination of microbial diversity. Our knowledge of rumen microbiology has expanded as a result, but the translation of this information into productive alterations of ruminal function has been rather limited. For instance, the cloning and characterization of cellulase genes in Escherichia coli has yielded some valuable information about this complex enzyme system in ruminal bacteria. SSU rRNA analyses have also confirmed that a considerable amount of the microbial diversity in the rumen is not represented in existing culture collections. However, we still have little idea of whether the key, and potentially rate-limiting, gene products and (or) microbial interactions have been identified. Technologies allowing high throughput nucleotide and protein sequence analysis have led to the emergence of two new fields of investigation, genomics and proteomics. Both disciplines can be further subdivided into functional and comparative lines of investigation. The massive accumulation of microbial DNA and protein sequence data, including complete genome sequences, is revolutionizing the way we examine microbial physiology and diversity. We describe here some examples of our use of genomics- and proteomics-based methods, to analyze the cellulase system of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 and explore the genome of Ruminococcus albus 8. At Illinois, we are using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors to create libraries containing large (>75 kbases), contiguous segments of DNA from R. flavefaciens FD-1. Considering that every bacterium is not a candidate for whole genome sequencing, BAC libraries offer an attractive, alternative method to perform physical and functional analyses of a bacterium's genome. Our first plan is to use these BAC clones to determine whether or not cellulases and accessory genes in R. flavefaciens exist in clusters of orthologous genes (COGs). Proteomics is also being used to complement the BAC library/DNA sequencing approach. Proteins differentially expressed in response to carbon source are being identified by 2-D SDS-PAGE, followed by in-gel-digests and peptide mass mapping by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry, as well as peptide sequencing by Edman degradation. At Ohio State, we have used a combination of functional proteomics, mutational analysis and differential display RT-PCR to obtain evidence suggesting that in addition to a cellulosome-like mechanism, R. albus 8 possesses other mechanisms for adhesion to plant surfaces. Genome walking on either side of these differentially expressed transcripts has also resulted in two interesting observations: i) a relatively large number of genes with no matches in the current databases and; ii) the identification of genes with a high level of sequence identity to those identified, until now, in the archaebacteria. Genomics and proteomics will also accelerate our understanding of microbial interactions, and allow a greater degree of in situ analyses in the future. The challenge is to utilize genomics and proteomics to improve our fundamental understanding of microbial physiology, diversity and ecology, and overcome constraints to ruminal function.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1389-1394
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• 2008

Abdominal fat characters are complex and economically important in the poultry industry. Their selection may benefit from the implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS). The objective of this study was to identify the markers linked to QTL responsible for fatness traits. The Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF) were used in the study. A total of 596 individuals from the divergent tails from the 6th to the 10th generations were genotyped at 23 microsatellite markers on chromosome 1. The differences of allele frequencies of all marker alleles between the divergent tails across the five generations were recorded. The allele frequencies of five markers, including LEI0209, LEI0146, MCW0036, ADL328 and MCW0115, had significant differences between the two tails in all five generations. The resulting p-values using Fisher's exact test on eleven markers, containing MCW248, MCW0010, MCW0106, LEI0252, LEI0068, MCW0018, MCW0061, LEI0088, MCW200, MCW283 and ROS0025, had a decreasing tendency from the 6th to the 10th generation. Statistical analysis showed that polymorphisms of the eight markers, including LEI0209, LEI0146, ROS0025, MCW0115, MCW0010, MCW0036, MCW283, ADL328, were significantly (p<0.0011) or suggestively (p<0.05) associated with abdominal fat content (AFW and AFP) across generations. It is concluded that the eight markers could be associated with the QTL affecting the deposition of abdominal fat in broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1537-1544
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• 2015

Meat and carcass quality attributes are of crucial importance influencing consumer preference and profitability in the pork industry. A set of 400 Berkshire pigs were collected from Dasan breeding farm, Namwon, Chonbuk province, Korea that were born between 2012 and 2013. To perform genome wide association studies (GWAS), eleven meat and carcass quality traits were considered, including carcass weight, backfat thickness, pH value after 24 hours (pH24), Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage lightness in meat color (CIE L), redness in meat color (CIE a), yellowness in meat color (CIE b), filtering, drip loss, heat loss, shear force and marbling score. All of the 400 animals were genotyped with the Porcine 62K SNP BeadChips (Illumina Inc., USA). A SAS general linear model procedure (SAS version 9.2) was used to pre-adjust the animal phenotypes before GWAS with sire and sex effects as fixed effects and slaughter age as a covariate. After fitting the fixed and covariate factors in the model, the residuals of the phenotype regressed on additive effects of each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) under a linear regression model (PLINK version 1.07). The significant SNPs after permutation testing at a chromosome-wise level were subjected to stepwise regression analysis to determine the best set of SNP markers. A total of 55 significant (p<0.05) SNPs or quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected on various chromosomes. The QTLs explained from 5.06% to 8.28% of the total phenotypic variation of the traits. Some QTLs with pleiotropic effect were also identified. A pair of significant QTL for pH24 was also found to affect both CIE L and drip loss percentage. The significant QTL after characterization of the functional candidate genes on the QTL or around the QTL region may be effectively and efficiently used in marker assisted selection to achieve enhanced genetic improvement of the trait considered.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.212-220
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• 2001

Rare mating was used to select a respiratory deficient mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae HDC52 strain. Glucoamylase gene of S. diastaticus K114 was developed into the RD mutant which could uptake maximum amount of non-fermentable sugars through the expression of glu- coamplyase gene and the fermentation characteristics of the developed strain HCS were investigated. The size of HCS yeast and HBD52 yeast strain were 13 $\mu\textrm{m}$ and 10$\mu\textrm{m}$ respectively. HCS strain which can uptake maximum amount of non-fermentable sugar through the expression of glucoamylase gene was developed. By karyotype anal- ysis. HCS stain but not RD mutant HBC52 showed a band of 1150 kb chromosome DNA This band should include glcoamylase gene from Saccharomyces diataticus K114 THis strain has glucoamylase which can degrade starch By transduction and contrnuance of glucoamylase gene HCS strain gegraded strach and formed halo. Also, HCS strain maintained the character after 50 generations. Glucoamylase activities of Saccharomyces diastaticus K114 and HCS yeast strains are 9.5 and 2.7~3.4(unit/ml) HCS and HBC52 strain showed similar sugar fermentation patterns and low flocculation In spore and film forming test, HCS and HBC52 strain formed neither spores nor films. In the limit fermentation test, HBC52 strain showed fermentation level of 68% and HCS strain showed 76~78% As the limit attenuation of HBC52 and HCS were ($2.00^{\circ}$P) and ($0.7~0.93^{\circ}$P) This study demon- strates and HCS strain may be used for low carbohydrate beer fermentation.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2011

Korean bennudagrass collections showed diverse genetic variations in their morphology, growth habit, and cytological aspects. Chromosome number and nuclear DNA content of the bennudagrasses indicated a ploidy level ranging from triploid (2n=3x) to hexaploid (2n=6x). In this study, we investigated the different responses of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase) and cell membrane stability of those bennudagrass cytotypes to lower temperature and shorter day length, which meets a dormant induction in Korea. All the antioxidant enzymes were found to be higher during dormant stage, while the heme-containing catalase which converts hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) to water and oxygen molecules was activated before dormant initiation in the three cytotypes except for hexaploid bennudagrass. The triploid and tetraploid which exhibited relatively finer leaves and a rapid establishment speed were found to show increased activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzyme. The malondialdehyde(MDA) which is a product of lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane damaged by the hydroxyl radical was increased in all cytotypes as temperature declined, and tri- and tetraploids which had more protective antioxidant enzymes demonstrated a significantly lower MDA production. Similarly electrolyte leakage was higher in penta- and hexaploidy, seemingly more damage to cell membrane when low temperature was implemented. Results indicated that antioxidant responses of different cytotypes were genetically specific, which needs to be investigated the relevance with the low temperature tolerance in the bermudagrass further at the molecular level.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have reported an association of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) 3123Cytosine/Adenine (3123C/A) polymorphism with essential hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism affects blood pressure for free-living hypertensive men during a 5-month intervention period. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were free-living hypertensive Japanese men aged 40 to 75 years who agreed to intervention in the period from 2004 to 2011. Detection of the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The dietary intervention was designed to decrease salt level and to increase potassium level through cooking instructions and self-monitoring of the diet. The exercise session consisted of activities such as stretching, resistance training, and walking. Blood pressure, urinary sodium and potassium excretion, dietary and lifestyle data, and non-fasting venous blood sample were collected at baseline and after the intervention period. RESULTS: Thirty nine subjects were eligible for participation and the follow-up rate was 97.4%. The C allele proportion was 57.9%. AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was X-chromosome-linked, therefore we analyzed the C and A genotypes. At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the genotype groups. After the intervention, there were no significant differences in lifestyle habit between the groups. Nevertheless, the estimated salt excretion (g/day) was significantly decreased only in the C genotype (13.0-10.3, P = 0.031). No significant change was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) in the A genotype, but a significant decrease was observed in the C genotype (150.0-141.5, P = 0.024). CONCLUSTIONS: In the C genotype, it might be easy to improve SBP through lifestyle intervention in free-living hypertensive Japanese men, however generalization could not be achieved by the small sample size.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.67-82
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• 2006

We propose the HBEM(Hybrid Behavior Evolution Model) composed of rule classification and evolutionary neural network using rule descriptor and link descriptor for evolutionary behavior of virtual robots. In our model, two levels of the knowledge of behaviors were represented. In the upper level, the representation was improved using rule and link descriptors together. And then in the lower level, behavior knowledge was represented in form of bit string and learned adapting their chromosomes by the genetic operators. A virtual robot was composed by the learned chromosome which had the best fitness. The composed virtual robot perceives the surrounding situations and they were classifying the pattern through rules and processing the result in neural network and behaving. To evaluate our proposed model, we developed HBES(Hybrid Behavior Evolution System) and adapted the problem of gathering food of the virtual robots. In the results of testing our system, the learning time was fewer than the evolution neural network of the condition which was same. And then, to evaluate the effect improving the fitness by the rules we respectively measured the fitness adapted or not about the chromosomes where the learning was completed. In the results of evaluating, if the rules were not adapted the fitness was lowered. It showed that our proposed model was better in the learning performance and more regular than the evolutionary neural network in the behavior evolution of the virtual robots.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.157-161
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• 2002

A lactic acid bacteria with ${\beta}$-gal activity was isolated from Kimchi, a traditional fermented vegetable food in Korea. The isolate was identified as a Lactococcus lactis strain and named L. lactis A2. The gene encoding ${\beta}$-gal of L. lactis A2 was cloned as a 5.8 kb PstI fragment. DNA sequencing identified the complete lacA (galactoside acetyltransferase)-lacZ (${\beta}$-galactosidase) genes together with the 3' part of upstream galT (galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase), and the 5'region of downstream galE (UDP-galactose-4-epimerase) genes. L. lactis A2 had the same gal/lac operon structure as in L. lactis subsp. lactis 7962. Other genes of the Leloir pathway are most likely to be located in the 5'upstream of the 5.8 kb fragment on the A2 chromosome. Sequences downstream of galE were different from those of L. lactis subsp. lactis 7962.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.301-310
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• 2010

Bacillus subtilis strains produce a broad spectrum of bioactive peptides. The lipopeptide surfactin belongs to one well-known class, which includes amphiphilic membrane-active biosurfactants and peptide antibiotics. Both the srfA promoter and the ComP-ComA signal transduction system are an important part of the factor that results in the production of surfactin. Bs-M49, obtained by means of low-energy ion implantation in wild-type Bs-916, produced significantly lower levels of surfactin, and had no obvious effects against R. solani. Occasionally, we found strain Bs-M49 decreased spore formation and the development of competence. Blast comparison of the sequences from Bs-916 and M49 indicate that there is no difference in the srfA operon promoter PsrfA, but there are differences in the coding sequence of the comA gene. These differences result in three missense mutations within the M49 ComA protein. RT-PCR analyses results showed that the expression levels of selected genes involved in competence and sporulation in both the wild-type Bs-916 and mutant M49 strains were significantly different. When we integrated the comA ORF into the chromosome of M49 at the amyE locus, M49 restored hemolytic activity and antifungal activity. Then, HPLC analyses results also showed the comA-complemented strain had a similar ability to produce surf actin with wild-type strain Bs-916. These data suggested that the mutation of three key amino acids in ComA greatly affected the biological activity of Bacillus subtilis. ComA protein 3D structure prediction and motif search prediction indicated that ComA has two obvious motifs common to response regulator proteins, which are the N-terminal response regulator receiver motif and the C-terminal helix-turn-helix motif. The three residues in the ComA N-terminal portion may be involved in phosphorylation activation mechanism. These structural prediction results implicate that three mutated residues in the ComA protein may play an important role in the formation of a salt-bridge to the phosphoryl group keeping active conformation to subsequent regulation of the expression of downstream genes.