• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.128-137
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• 2011

Fifty two Macrophomina phaseolina isolates were recovered from 24 host plant species through the 14 Iranian provinces. All isolates were confirmed to species using species-specific primers. The colony characteristics of each isolate were recorded, including chlorate phenotype, relative growth rate at $30^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$, average size of microsclerotia, and time to microsclerotia formation. The feathery colony phenotype was the most common (63.7%) on the chlorate selective medium and represented the chlorate sensitive phenotype of the Iranian Macrophomina phaseolina population. Meantime, inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) Markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of the fungus. Unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic means (UPGMA) clustering of data showed that isolates did not clearly differentiate to the specific group according to the host or geographical origins, however, usually the isolates from the same host or the same geographic origin tend to group nearly. Our results did not show a correlation between the genetic diversity based on the ISSR and phenotypic characteristics. Similar to the M. phaseolina populations in the other countries, the Iranian isolates were highly diverse based on the phenotypic and the genotypic characteristics investigated and needs more studies using neutral molecular tools to get a deeper insight into this complex species.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.1304-1309
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• 2005

The production of therapeutic proteins for human diseases in plants results in many economic benefits, including reduced risk of animal virus contamination, high yields, and reduced production and storage costs. Human cytokines, interleukin-11 (hlL-11) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF), cDNAs were introduced into rice or tobacco, using either the maize ubiquitin promoter or the 35S promoter. The primary hIL-11 transgenic rice plants exhibited stunted growth and a sterile phenotype, whereas the hIL-11 transgenic tobacco plants did not. This suggests that hIL-11 expression in rice disrupts the normal growth and development of the plant. The regeneration efficiency of rice calli transformed with hGM-CSF was found to be approximately a quarter of that seen with the hIL-11, suggesting that hGM-CSF expression is more deleterious to the regeneration of rice calli than is hIL-11. However, the surviving hGM-CSF transgenic rice plants exhibited a normal phenotype of growth. Therefore, it appears that only those transgenic rice lines that expressed the human cytokines in small quantities were able to survive the selection process.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.492-498
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• 2007

GacS and GacA proteins form a two component signal transduction system in bacteria. Here, Tn5 transposon gacS and gacA (Gac) mutants of Pseudomonas sp. KL28, an alkylphenol degrader, were isolated by selecting for smooth colonies of strain KL28. The mutants exhibited reduced ability to migrate on a solid surface. This surface motility does not require the action of flagella unlike the well-studied swarming motility of other Pseudomonas sp. The Gac mutants also showed reduced levels of biofilm and pellicle formation in liquid culture. In addition, compared to the wild type KL28 strain, these mutants were more resistant to high concentrations of m-cresol but were more sensitive to $H_2O_2$, which are characteristics that they share with an rpoS mutant. These results indicate that the Gac regulatory cascade in strain KL28 positively controls wrinkling morphology, biofilm formation, surface translocation and $H_2O_2$ resistance, which are important traits for its capacity to survive in particular niches.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.4807-4814
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• 2012

Purpose: The chemoresistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to cytotoxic drugs, especially intrinsic or acquired multidrug resistance (MDR), still remains a major challenge in the management of HCC. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in MDR of HCC were identified using a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human HCC cell line. Methods: BEL-7402/5-FU cells were established through continuous culturing parental BEL-7402 cells, imitating the pattern of chemotherapy clinically. Growth curves and chemosensitivity to cytotoxic drugs were determined by MTT assay. Doubling times, colony formation and adherence rates were calculated after cell counting. Morphological alteration, karyotype morphology, and untrastructure were assessed under optical and electron microscopes. The distribution in the cell cycle and drug efflux pump activity were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, expression of potential genes involved in MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU cells were detected by immunocytochemistry. Results: Compared to its parental cells, BEL-7402/5-FU cells had a prolonged doubling time, a lower mitotic index, colony efficiency and adhesive ability, and a decreased drug efflux pump activity. The resistant cells tended to grow in clusters and apparent changes of ultrastructures occurred. BEL-7402/5-FU cells presented with an increased proportion in S and G2/M phases with a concomitant decrease in G0/G1 phase. The MDR phenotype of BEL-7402/5-FU might be partly attributed to increased drug efflux pump activity via multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), overexpression of thymidylate synthase (TS), resistance to apoptosis by augmentation of the Bcl-xl/Bax ratio, and intracellular adhesion medicated by E-cadherin (E-cad). P-glycoprotein (P-gp) might play a limited role in the MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU. Conclusion: Increased activity or expression of MRP1, Bcl-xl, TS, and E-cad appear to be involved in the MDR mechanism of BEL-7402/5-FU.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2018

microRNA (miR)-612 shows anticancer activity in several types of cancers, yet its function in melanoma is still unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of miR-612 and its biological relevance in melanoma cell growth, invasion, and tumorigenesis. The expression and prognostic significance of miR-612 in melanoma were examined. The effects of miR-612 overexpression on cell proliferation, colony formation, tumorigenesis, and invasion were determined. Rescue experiments were conducted to identify the functional target gene(s) of miR-612. miR-612 was significantly downregulated in melanoma tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Low miR-612 expression was significantly associated with melanoma thickness, lymph node metastasis, and shorter overall, and disease-free survival of patients. Overexpression of miR-612 significantly decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of SK-MEL-28 and A375 melanoma cells. In vivo tumorigenic studies confirmed that miR-612 overexpression retarded the growth of A375 xenograft tumors, which was coupled with a decline in the percentage of Ki-67-positive proliferating cells. Mechanistically, miR-612 targeted Espin in melanoma cells. Overexpression of Espin counteracted the suppressive effects of miR-612 on melanoma cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis. A significant inverse correlation (r = -0.376, P = 0.018) was observed between miR-612 and Espin protein expression in melanoma tissues. In addition, overexpression of miR-612 and knockdown of Espin significantly increased the sensitivity of melanoma cells to doxorubicin. Collectively, miR-612 suppresses the aggressive phenotype of melanoma cells through downregulation of Espin. Delivery of miR-612 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy against melanoma.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2001년도 추계학술발표대회
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• pp.89-92
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• 2001

Aspergillus niger has been used as a host system to express many heterologous proteins. It has various advantages over other expression systems in that it is a small eukaryotic GRAS (Generally Recognized aS Safe) organism with a capacity of secreting large amount of foreign proteins. However, it has been known that the presence of an abundant protease is a limiting factor to express a heterologous protein. The proteases deficient mutants of A. niger were obtained using UV -mutagenesis. A total of 1 ${\times}$ $10^5$ spores were irradiated with 10-20% survival dose of UV, 600J/M2 at 280nm, and the resulting spores were screened on the casein -gelatin plates. Ten putative protease deficient mutants were further analyzed on the starch plates to differentiate the pro from the secretory mutant. An endogenous extracellular enzyme, glucose oxidase, was also examined to confirm that the mutant phenotype was due to the proteases deficiency rather than the mutation in the secretory pathway. The reduced proteolytic activity was measured using SDS-fibrin zymography gel, casein degradation assay, and bio-activity of a supplemented hGM -CSF (human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor). Comparing with the wild type strain, less than 30 % of proteolytic activity was observed in the culture filtrate of the protease deficient mutant (pro -20) without any notable changes in cell growth and secretion.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.161-168
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• 2000

Plasmid pLEX3 isolated from the recombinant cosmid library of Zoogloea ramigera 115 was found to be responsible for the restoration of the rugose colony phenotype. To confirm the essential region responsible for the complementation, subclones were constructed from plasmid pLEX3 and transformed into mutant strain Z. ramigera 115SLR. The recombinant plasmids pLEX10 and pLEX11 were shown to complement the slime-forming property of Z. ramigera 115SLR. In a compositional analysis of the exopolysaccharides from Z. ramigera 115, Z. ramigera 115SLR, and Z. ramigera 115SLR harboring plasmid pLEX11, the exopolysaccharides showed a similar composition with glucose, galactose, and side chain groups. The complete nucleotide sequence of the 3.25kb genocim DNA insert in plasmid pLEX11 was determined and its analysis identified two open reading frames which could encode two proteins. The gene products derived form the two open reading frames were confirmed by and in vivo transcription using a T7-RNA polymerase. The ORF1 produced a 30 kDa protein, whereas the ORF2 was found responsible for the complementation of the morphological mutation and produced a 14 kDa protein. An in vivo gene expression of plasmid pTEX10 showed another open reading frame encoding a 50 kDa protein. The gene products form ORF1 and ORF2 are regarded as novel proteins which do not show any homology with other proteins.

• BMB Reports
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.294-299
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• 2008

Elevated expression of SMYD3 is a frequent genetic abnormality in several malignancies. Few studies knocking down SMYD3 expression in cervical carcinoma cells have been performed to date. In this paper, we established an inducible short hairpin RNA expression system to examine its role in maintaining the malignant phenotype of HeLa cells. After being induced by doxycycline, SMYD3 mRNA and protein expression were both reduced, and significant reductions in cell proliferation, colony formation and migration/invasion activity were observed in the SMYD3-silenced HeLa cells. The percentage of cells in sub-G1 was elevated and DNA ladder formation could be detected, indicating potent induction of apoptosis by SMYD3 knockdown. These findings imply that SMYD3 plays crucial roles in HeLa cell proliferation and migration/invasion, and that it may be a useful therapeutic target in human cervical carcinomas.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제23권2호통권73호
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• pp.129-138
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• 1995

비허용온도인 $37^{\circ}C$에서 삼투감수성을 보이며 베타-1,3-글루칸 합성능이 현저히 손상된 Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant(LP353)를 YCp50으로 제조한 yeast genomic library로 형질전환시킨 후, 콜로니 자기방사법으로 형질전환체의 선별을 시도한 결과, LP353의 베타-1,3-글루칸 합성능을 부분적으로 회복시켜 주는 약 8.5-kb 크기의 DNA 절편을 클로닝하는데 성공하였다. 클로닝된 8.5-kb의 DNA 절편은 copy 수에 무관하게 LP353의 또 다른 표현형질인 온도의존적 삼투감수성은 회복시켜 주지 못하였으나, 세포벽의 베타-1,3-글루칸 함량과 베타-1,3-글루칸 분해효소인 ${\beta}-glucanase$에 대한 내성은 copy수에 무관하게 증가시켜 주었다. 한편, 8.5-kb의 DNA 절편은 $37^{\circ}C$의 삼투안정제가 첨가된 액체배지에서 잘 자라지 못하는 LP353의 돌연변이 형질을 회복시켜 야생형의 수준에 근접하는 생장양상을 보여 주었다. 이상의 결과로 클로닝된 8.5-kb 크기의 DNA 절편은 S. cerevisiae의 베타-1,3-글루칸 생합성에 관여하는 유전자의 하나인 BGS2를 포함하고 있는 것으로 보여지며, subcloning을 통한 기능부위 분석 결과, 4.8-kb 크기의 BglII-KpnI DNA 절편에 BGS2가 존재하는 것으로 추정되었다.

• 생태와환경
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.360-366
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• 2013

본 연구는 하수 및 가축분뇨 처리장 방류수, 하천수를 이용하여 반코마이신 내성 장구균(Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci, VRE)의 검출여부를 확인하고 검출된 장구균의 표현형을 분석함으로써 하천에 대한 공공처리시설의 방류수에 포함되어있는 엔테로코커스의 영향을 파악하여 항생제 내성균이 환경에 미치는 영향 및 항생제 내성 연구에 기초 자료가 되고자 하였다. 엔테로코커스의 동정시험 결과 모두 32균주가 검출되었고 이는 모두 E. faecium으로 동정되었다. Multiplex PCR 시행한 결과 32균주 모두 Van A 표현형에 해당하는 반코마이신 내성 장구균으로 확인되었다. 조사지점별 세균의 E. faecium 집락수의 측정 결과 하수처리장 지역에서 평균적으로 가장 높게 나타났고, 하천 지역의 경우 상류지점에서 하류 지점으로 갈수록 세균의 colony 숫자도 늘어나는 것으로 조사되었다. 하수처리장 방류수 시료 26균주에 대한 최소억제농도 검사 결과, 19개의 항생제 중 내성, 감수성을 보인항생제 수는 각각 14, 5종으로 내성을 보이는 항생제의 수가 약 70% 이상으로 대부분을 차지하였다. 하천 시료 6균주에 대한 최소억제농도 검사 결과, 19개의 항생제 중 내성, 감수성을 보인 항생제 수는 각각 14, 5종으로 내성을 보이는 항생제의 수가 약 70% 이상으로 대부분을 차지하여 하수처리장 방류수 시료의 검사 결과와 동일하였다.