• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.215-228
• /
• 1999

To choose one or more appropriate molecular markers or gene regions for resolving a particular systematic question among the organisms at a certain categorical level is still a very difficult process. The primary goal of this review, therefore, is to provide a theoretical information in choosing one or more molecular markers or gene regions by illustrating general properties and phylogenetic utilities of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that have been most commonly used for phylogenetic researches. The highly conserved molecular markers and/or gene regions are useful for investigating phylogenetic relationships at higher categorical levels (deep branches of evolutionary history). On the other hand, the hypervariable molecular markers and/or gene regions are useful for elucidating phylogenetic relationships at lower categorical levels (recently diverged branches). In summary, different selective forces have led to the evolution of various molecular markers or gene regions with varying degrees of sequence conservation. Thus, appropriate molecular markers or gene regions should be chosen with even greater caution to deduce true phylogenetic relationships over a broad taxonomic spectrum.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2011

The SpoU family of proteins catalyzes the methylation of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). We characterized a putative tRNA/rRNA methyltransferase, VaSpoU1 of the SpoU family, from Viscum album (mistletoe). VaSpoU1 and other plant SpoU1s exhibit motifs of the SpoU methylase domain that are conserved with bacterial and yeast SpoU methyltransferases. VaSpoU1 transcripts were detected in the leaves and stems of V. album. VaSpoU1-GFP fusion proteins localized to both chloroplasts and mitochondria in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Sequence analysis similarly predicted that the plant SpoU1 proteins would localize to chloroplasts and mitochondria. Interestingly, mitochondrial localization of VaSpoU1 was inhibited by the deletion of a putative N-terminal presequence in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Therefore, VaSpoU1 may be involved in tRNA and/or rRNA methylation in both chloroplasts and mitochondria.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.94-104
• /
• 2011

Salt stress is a major environmental factor influencing plant growth and development. To identify salt tolerance determinants, we systematically screened salt sensitive rice mutants by use of the Activator/Dissociation (Ac/Ds) transposon tagging system. In this study, we focused on the salt sensitive mutant line, designated SSM-1. A gene encoding a NAC transcription factor homologue was disrupted by the insertion of a Ds transposon into SSM-1 line. The OsNAC075 gene (EU541472) has 7 exons and encodes a protein (486-aa) containing the NAC domain in its N-terminal region. Sequence comparison showed that the OsNAC075 protein had a strikingly conserved region at the N-terminus, which is considered as the characteristic of the NAC protein family. OsNAC075 protein was orthologous to Arabidopsis thaliana ANAC075. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed OsNAC075 belonged to the OsNAC3 subfamily, which plays an important role in response to stress stimuli. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of OsNAC075 gene was rapidly and strongly induced by stresses such as NaCl, ABA and low temperature ($4^{\circ}C$). Our data suggest that OsNAC075 holds promising utility in improving salt tolerance in rice.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2014

Three double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), approximately 1.85, 1.65 and 1.27 kb in size, were detected in an isolate of Cytospora sacchari from Iran. Partial nucleotide sequence revealed a 1,284 bp segment containing one ORF that potentially encodes a 405 aa protein. This protein contains conserved motifs related to RNA dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) that showed similarity to RdRps of partitiviruses. The results indicate that these dsRNAs represent a novel Partitivirus that we tentatively designate Cytospora sacchari partitivirus (CsPV). Treatment of the fungal strain by cyclohexamide and also hyphal tip culture had no effect on removing the putative virus. Phylogenetic analysis of putative RdRp of CsPV and other partitiviruses places CsPV as a member of the genus Partitivirus in the family Partitiviridae, and clustering with Aspergillus ochraceous virus 1.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 1997

The objective of this study was to develop digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled in situ hybridization (ISH) test for diagnosis of Aujeszky's Disease(AD) in infected organs. Specific DNA with well conserved gene sequences encoding gp50 antigen in AD virus (ADV) was obtained by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. A pair of oligonucleotide primers used in PCR allowed amplification of a 217 bp sequence from the gp50 ADV gene. The DNA was then labeled with DIG by primer labeling method for use as probe in ISH test to detect ADV nucleic acids in various tissue. Positive hybridization was demonstrated by dark pigmentation in nuclei and cytoplasm of ADV infected cells particularly in brain tonsillar crypt epithelium and pulmonary alveolar cells. This result suggests that ISH is a valuable sensitive and rapid diagnostic test for AD.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.149-156
• /
• 2014

Termites are wood pests that cause vast economic damage every year. They digest both cellulose and starch, but the enzymes for starch digestion have not been well characterized. We obtained complete amino acid sequence information on the KME1 ${\alpha}$-amylase from Reticulitermes speratus KMT1 through analysis of total mRNA sequences. The KME1 enzyme has two ${\alpha}$-amylase domains and is 68% identical to the ${\alpha}$-amylase from Blattellager manica, its closest relative in the GenBank database. Some unique features of its conserved region and its distant evolutionary relationship to other insect ${\alpha}$-amylases suggest that KME1 is a new type of ${\alpha}$-amylase.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.39 no.12
• /
• pp.888-897
• /
• 2016

Stable expression of Foxp3 is ensured by demethylation of CpG motifs in the Foxp3 intronic element, the conserved non-coding sequence 2 (CNS2), which persists throughout the lifespan of regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, little is known about the mechanisms on how CNS2 demethylation is sustained. In this study, we found that Ten-Eleven-Translocation (Tet) DNA dioxygenase protects the CpG motifs of CNS2 from re-methylation by DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) and prevents Tregs from losing Foxp3 expression under inflammatory conditions. Upon stimulation of Tregs by interleukin-6 (IL6), Dnmt1 was recruited to CNS2 and induced methylation, which was inhibited by Tet2 recruited by IL2. Tet2 prevented CNS2 re-methylation by not only the occupancy of the CNS2 locus but also by its enzymatic activity. These results show that the CNS2 methylation status is dynamically regulated by a balance between Tets and Dnmts which influences the expression of Foxp3 in Tregs.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2000

FtsH is a membrane-bound, ATP-dependent metalloprotease that is involved in a variety of cellular functions including the regulation of responses to heat and stress shock. Previously, we had cloned and sequenced pneumococcal ftsH gene whose deduced amino acid sequence was very similar to those of several gram-positive bacteria and Escherichia coli, except for the N-terminal domain that was responsible for membrane anchoring. In order to better understand the role of Streptococcus pneumoniae FtsH, we expressed pneumococcal ftsH gene in Escherichia coli. When it was expressed from a strong promoter, $P_{tac}$, a considerable amount of the recombinant FtsH was produced, although the prolonged induction resulted in not only accumulation of breakdown products but also ceasing of the further growth of E. coli host. This indicated that the expression of the exogenous ftsH gene was tightly regulated since the excessive FtsH appeared detrimental to bacterial cells. In Western blotting, the pneumococcal FtsH protein, whether native or recombinant, was reactive to anti-E. coli FtsH serum. The observation that FtsH proteins were well conserved throughout the bacterial kingdom and its expression level was fine-tuned suggests an important role for this protein in the stress adaptation which may be related to infecting process by pneumococci.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.331-342
• /
• 1992

The chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the B complex, is beginning to be analyzed at the DNA level. Inbred lines of chickens have been reported to possess 3~5 MHC class II genes. To further analyzed the molecular structure of the chicken MHC class II genes, cDNA clones coding for chicken MHC class II (B-L) ${\beta}$ chain molecules were isolated from chicken spleen and liver. Tissue-specific transcription of B-L ${\beta}$genes was studied by Northern blot analysis. A high level of expression was detected for spleen poly(A)$^+$ RNA whereas a faint signal was detected for liver poly(A)$^+$ RNA. Twenty-nine cDNA clones were isolated from the spleen and eight cDNA clones were isolated from the liver. Based on restriction maps, most clones could be clustered into one family of genes. Four cDNA clones were sequenced (S7, S10 and S19 from the spleen and L1, which was identical to S19, from the liver). Complete amino acid sequences of B-L ${\beta}$ chain molecules were predicated from the nucleotide sequences of the cDNA clones. Although both the nature and the location of the conserved residues were similar in chicken and mammalian sequences, some species-specific differences were found, suggesting that the structures of the B-L molecules are similar, but not identical to their mammalian counterparts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1998.11a
• /
• pp.121-121
• /
• 1998

Artemisia annua, an indigenous plant in Korea, contains a clinically important potent antimalarial principle, artemisinin. Artemisinin is a cadinane-type sesquiterpene endoperoxide. Cadinane synthase catalyzes the first committed step in artemisinin biosynthesis by cyclizing farnesyldiphosphate. In hopes of finding a cadinane synthase gene involved in artemisinin biosynthesis, oligonucleotides were synthesized on. the basis of the consensus nucleotide sequences and Nco I restriction sites for convenience in cloning. Specifically, nucleotide sequences of two highly conserved regions were deduced from the genes of similar function of Hyoscyamus muticus, Nicotiana tabacum, Abies grandis, Lycopersicon esculentum, and Gossypium hirsutum to construct a set of primers for polymerase chain reation (PCR). A 184 bp fragment was found to be amplified by PCR, and subsequently cloned. The gene revealed 62.8% identity in nucleotide and 55.6% in amino acid sequence to correspondent gene of N. tabacum. The gene was different from another sesquiterpene cyclase gene of A. annua, germacranadiene synthase gene, recently reported by Mercke and Bordelius (1998).