• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2014

Subolesin (4D8), the ortholog of insect akirins, is a highly conserved protective antigen and thus has the potential for development of a broad-spectrum vaccine against ticks and mosquitoes. To date, no protective antigens have been characterized nor tested as candidate vaccines against Dermacentor silvarum bites and transmission of associated pathogens. In this study, we cloned the open reading frame (ORF) of D. silvarum 4D8 cDNA (Ds4D8), which consisted of 498 bp encoding 165 amino acid residues. The results of sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that D. silvarum 4D8 (Ds4D8) is highly conserved showing more than 81% identity of amino acid sequences with those of other hard ticks. Additionally, Ds4D8 containing restriction sites was ligated into the pET-32(a+) expression vector and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli rosetta. The recombinant Ds4D8 (rDs4D8) was induced by isopropyl ${\beta}$-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) and purified using Ni affinity chromatography. The SDS-PAGE results showed that the molecular weight of rDs4D8 was 40 kDa, which was consistent with the expected molecular mass considering 22 kDa histidine-tagged thioredoxin (TRX) protein from the expression vector. Western blot results showed that rabbit anti-D. silvarum serum recognized the expressed rDs4D8, suggesting an immune response against rDs4D8. These results provided the basis for developing a candidate vaccine against D. silvarum ticks and transmission of associated pathogens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.909-916
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• 2004

CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins(C/EBP) are a group of transcription factors expressed during preadipocyte differentiation. In the C/EBPs, C/EBPa plays an important role in lipid deposition and adipocyte differentiation. In this studies, we report the identification, characterization, and expression of a Hanwoo CIEBP$\alpha$ The Hanwoo C/EBP$\alpha$DNA includes a 1059 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 353 amino acids. The CIEBPa amino acid sequences of the Hanwoo show strong conservation with the corresponding sequences reported in other species. The distribution of C/EBP$\alpha$ mRNA in various tissues of Hanwoo aged 12 months were investigated using Northern blotting analysis. The highest expression was detected in adipose tissue and more lower expression was detected in colon and lung. We also identified expression of C/EBPa mRNA in Hanwoo sirloin and adipose tissue aged 12, 26, and 30 months by real-time RT-PCR. The higest expression were detected at 26 months in the sirloin and at 12 and 26 months in the adipose tissue.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.40.1-40.13
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• 2022

Background: Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is used widely in cloning, stem cell research, and regenerative medicine. The type of donor cells is a key factor affecting the SCNT efficiency. Objectives: This study examined whether urine-derived somatic cells could be used as donors for SCNT in pigs. Methods: The viability of cells isolated from urine was assessed using trypan blue and propidium iodide staining. The H3K9me3/H3K27me3 level of the cells was analyzed by immunofluorescence. The in vitro developmental ability of SCNT embryos was evaluated by the blastocyst rate and the expression levels of the core pluripotency factor. Blastocyst cell apoptosis was examined using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling assay. The in vivo developmental ability of SCNT embryos was evaluated after embryo transfer. Results: Most sow urine-derived cells were viable and could be cultured and propagated easily. On the other hand, most of the somatic cells isolated from the boar urine exhibited poor cellular activity. The in vitro development efficiency between the embryos produced by SCNT using porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEFs) and urine-derived cells were similar. Moreover, The H3K9me3 in SCNT embryos produced from sow urine-derived cells and PEFs at the four-cell stage showed similar intensity. The levels of Oct4, Nanog, and Sox2 expression in blastocysts were similar in the two groups. Furthermore, there is a similar apoptotic level of cloned embryos produced by the two types of cells. Finally, the full-term development ability of the cloned embryos was evaluated, and the cloned fetuses from the urine-derived cells showed absorption. Conclusions: Sow urine-derived cells could be used to produce SCNT embryos.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.226-235
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• 2017

Carotenoids such as phytoene, lycopene, and ${\beta}-carotene$ are used as food colorants, animal feed supplements, and for human nutrition and cosmetic purposes. Previously, we reported the isolation of a novel marine bacterium, Kocuria gwangalliensis, which produces a pink-orange pigment. Phytoene desaturase (CrtI), encoded by the gene crtI, catalyzes lycopene formation from phytoene and is an essential enzyme in the early steps of carotenoid biosynthesis. CrtI is one of the key enzymes regulating carotenoid biosynthesis and has been implicated as a rate-limiting enzyme of the pathway in various carotenoid synthesizing organisms. Here, we report the cloning of the crtI gene responsible for lycopene biosynthesis from K. gwangalliensis. The gene consisted of 1,584 bases encoding 527 amino acid residues. The nucleotide sequence of the crtI gene was compared with that of other species, including Kocuria rhizophila and Myxococcus xanthus, and was found to be well conserved during evolution. An expression plasmid containing the crtI gene was constructed (pCcrt1), and Escherichia coli cells were transformed with this plasmid to produce a recombinant protein of approximately 57 kDa, corresponding to the molecular weight of phytoene desaturase. Lycopene biosynthesis was confirmed when the plasmid pCcrtI was co-transformed into E. coli containing the plasmid pRScrtEB carrying the crtE and crtB genes required for lycopene biosynthesis. The results from this study will provide valuable information on the primary structure of K. gwangalliensis CrtI at the molecular level.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.216-222
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• 2020

Tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 4 (TRAF4) is found to be overexpressed in human breast cancer. It plays a role in cancer metastasis, production of reactive oxygen species, and cell polarity at membranes. The characteristics and functions of TRAF4 in pigs have not yet been identified. As the first step of research, the mRNA sequence of TRAF4 in porcine cells has been determined. To obtain the full-length sequence, rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) has been carried out. Upon cloning, 2,030 bp of nucleotides were found to encode 470 amino acids, and 8 and 12 amino acids were different from those of the human and mouse TRAF4, respectively. The coding region of porcine TRAF4 was shown to be 93% and 90% homologous to human and mouse TRAF4, respectively. qPCR was conducted to determine the relative expression level of TRAF4. TRAF4 expression in pK15 was enhanced by cell-cell contacts. The mRNA levels of CLDN4, OCLN, and TJP1 at 60% and 80% confluency were significantly higher than at 40% confluency. Further, TRAF4 and tight junction-related genes were down-regulated upon treatment with TRAF4 siRNA. Thus, TRAF4 may affect the function of tight junctions in pig.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.736-742
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• 2017

Objective: Experiments were conducted to clone the sequence of Wild Argali short palate, lung and nasal epithelium clone 1 (SPLUNC1) cDNA, and to lay the foundation for further study the biological function of Wild Argali SPLUNC1. Methods: The complete sequence of Wild Argali SPLUNC1 cDNA was generated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The entire coding sequence was inserted into the pPIC9K vector and expressed in Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) GS115. The recombinant SPLUNC1 protein was detected by Western blot and purified by $Ni^{2+}$ chelate affinity chromatography. The test of effect of the protein on Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (MO) was performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The Wild Argali SPLUNC1 cDNA was 1,076 bp with an open reading frame of 768 bp, which encoded a 26.49 kDa protein composed of 255 amino acids. Its amino acid sequence shared 98.4%, 96.9%, 94.5%, 90.2%, 80.8%, 78.4%, 78.3%, 72.5%, 72.3%, 68.8% identity with those of SPLUNC1 cDNA from Ovis aries (accession no. NP_001288334.1), Capra hircus (accession no. XP_005688516.1), Pantholops hodgsonii (accession no. XP_005979709.1), Bos taurus (accession no. NP_776851.1), Felis catus (accession no. XP_006929910.1), Homo sapiens (accession no. NP_001230122.1), Sus scrofa (accession no. NP_001005727.1), Chinchilla lanigera (accession no. NP_001269294.1), Mus musculus (accession no. NP_035256.2), and Rattus norvegicus (accession no. NP_742028.1), respectively. The recombinant protein corresponded to the expected molecular mass of 25.47 kDa as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and it was detected in the supernatant of P. pastoris, and it could be purified. The results from the test of inhibition effect of argali recombinant SPLUNC1 protein on MO showed that the product could inhibit MO very well (p<0.01). Conclusion: The amino acid sequence of Wild Argali SPLUNC1 was different from other organisms. The recombinant SPLUNC1 protein has good biological activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.423-428
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• 2000

In 1997 when cloned sheep Dolly and soon after Polly were born, it had become head-line news because in the former the nucleus that gave rise to the lamb came from cells of six-year-old adult sheep and in the latter case a foreign gene was inserted into the donor nucleus to make the cloned sheep produce human protein, factor IX, in e milk. In the last few years, once the realm of science fiction, cloned mammals especially in livestock have become almost commonplace. What the press accounts often fail to convey, however, is that behind every success lie hundreds of failures. Many of the nuclear-transferred egg cells fail to undergo normal cell divisions. Even when an embryo does successfully implant in the womb, pregnancy often ends in miscarriage. A significant fraction of the animals that are born die shortly after birth and some of those that survived have serious developmental abnormalities. Efficiency remains at less than one % out of some hundred attempts to clone an animal. These facts show that something is fundamentally wrong and enormous hurdles must be overcome before cloning becomes practical. Cloning researchers now tent to put aside their effort to create live animals in order to probe the fundamental questions on cell biology including stem cells, the questions of whether the hereditary material in the nucleus of each cell remains intact throughout development, and how transferred nucleus is reprogrammed exactly like the zygotic nucleus. Stem cells are defined as those cells which can divide to produce a daughter cell like themselves (self-renewal) as well as a daughter cell that will give rise to specific differentiated cells (cell-differentiation). Multicellular organisms are formed from a single totipotent stem cell commonly called fertilized egg or zygote. As this cell and its progeny undergo cell divisions the potency of the stem cells in each tissue and organ become gradually restricted in the order of totipotent, pluripotent, and multipotent. The differentiation potential of multipotent stem cells in each tissue has been thought to be limited to cell lineages present in the organ from which they were derived. Recent studies, however, revealed that multipotent stem cells derived from adult tissues have much wider differentiation potential than was previously thought. These cells can differentiate into developmentally unrelated cell types, such as nerve stem cell into blood cells or muscle stem cell into brain cells. Neural stem cells isolated from the adult forebrain were recently shown to be capable of repopulating the hematopoietic system and produce blood cells in irradiated condition. In plants although the term$\boxDr$ stem cell$\boxUl$is not used, some cells in the second layer of tunica at the apical meristem of shoot, some nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac, and initial cells of adventive buds are considered to be equivalent to the totipotent stem cells of mammals. The telomere ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes cannot be replicated because the RNA primer at the end of a completed lagging strand cannot be replaced with DNA, causing 5' end gap. A chromosome would be shortened by the length of RNA primer with every cycle of DNA replication and cell division. Essential genes located near the ends of chromosomes would inevitably be deleted by end-shortening, thereby killing the descendants of the original cells. Telomeric DNA has an unusual sequence consisting of up to 1,000 or more tandem repeat of a simple sequence. For example, chromosome of mammal including human has the repeating telomeric sequence of TTAGGG and that of higher plant is TTTAGGG. This non-genic tandem repeat prevents the death of cell despite the continued shortening of chromosome length. In contrast with the somatic cells germ line cells have the mechanism to fill-up the 5' end gap of telomere, thus maintaining the original length of chromosome. Cem line cells exhibit active enzyme telomerase which functions to maintain the stable length of telomere. Some of the cloned animals are reported prematurely getting old. It has to be ascertained whether the multipotent stem cells in the tissues of adult mammals have the original telomeres or shortened telomeres.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2001

We have developed four chicken hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies to induce a protective immune response against the chicken disease avian coccidiosis, caused by the intestinal parasite Eimeria acervulina. Huwever, since the amount of antibodies secreted from these hybridomas is too low or sometimes they lost their ability to produce antibodies, the hybridoma method is not satisfactory in the production of large amounts of chicken monoclonal antibodies. To bypass these problems, we applied the antibody engineering technology using polymerase chain reaction. We cloned and determined the sequences of variable domains of the four chicken monoclonal antibodies, namely, 2-1, 5D11, 13C8 and 8C3. The sequences comparison to germline sequences skewed that the gene con version mechanism might contribute to developing diversification of heavy and λ-light chains in chicken antibodies. Several pseudogene families regarded as donors in gene conversion were identified at each framework region and the complementarily determining region of λ-light chains. In addition, as expected, numerous changes of nucleotide sequences such as nucleotide substitution, insertion and deletion were found predominantly in complementarity determining regions, which are likely to be somatic hypermutations as a result of affinity maturation in antibody-producing cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.521-524
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• 2004

This experiment was carried out to analyze genetic characteristics and to develop the breed specific DNA marker for Cheju-native horse. If this marker contains high repetitive sequences, it is possible to convert a RAPD marker of interest into a single-locus PCR marker called a sequence characterized amplified region(SCAR). Twenty six Cheju-native horse and Fifty thoroughbred genomic DNA were pooled and PCR. were accomplished using 800 random primers. Comparing the pooled DNA from Cheju-native horse and thoroughbred, we found 9 primers which identified markers present in the pooled DNA from breed but absent in the other breed. Among 9 random primers, 6 primers were thoroughbred specific and 3 primers were Cheju-native horse specific. Testing individual horse revealed that 5 marker showed the similar band pattern between Cheju-native horse and Thoroughbred. However, 4 marker were wholly absent in breed while present in the other breed. UBC $126_{3500bp}$, UBC $162_{500bp}$, and UBC $244_{1200bp}$ was detected only Thoroughbred and UBC $562_{560bp}$was detected Cheju-native horse, respectively. After determining of the cloned breed-specific fragment sequence, we designed the SCAR-primers and carried out PCR. Compared to random primer, RAPD-SCAR primer didn't show significantly higher specific band. However, RAPD analysis is useful for genetic characterization of Cheju-native horse.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2008

Species-specific polymorphisms in chicken, pheasant, turkey, and quail were identified by cloning and sequencing of the immunoglobulin constant domain (IgLC). A set of species-specific primers were then designed on the basis of polymorphisms in the IgLC between species, as well as two additional sets of primers for the cytochrome b and tapasin genes, for the purpose of species identification. Together, the primers successfully distinguished specific species from chicken by species-specific PCR. This simple but unambiguous method may be used to screen avian inter-species germline chimeras, which are valuable models for the conservation of endangered species.