• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.1249-1255
• /
• 2004

This study has developed Corynebacterium ammoniagenes (c. ammoniagenes) purine gene transcriptional reporters (purF-lacZ and purE-lacZ) that function in Escherichia coli (E. coli) DH5a. After transformation of a C. ammoniagenes gDNA library into E. coli cells harboring either purF-lacZ or purE-lacZ, C. ammoniagenes clones were obtained that repress purF-lacZ and purE-lacZ gene expression. The potential purE and purF regulatory genes are homologous to the genes encoding transcription regulators, the regulatory subunit of RNA polymerase, and genes for purine nucleotide biosynthesis of various bacteria. The C. ammoniagenes purE-lacZ and purF-lacZ reporters were repressed by adenine and guanine within E. coli, indicating similarity in the regulatory mechanism of purine biosynthesis in C. ammoniagenes and E. coli. Gene regulation of pur-lacZ by adenine and guanine was partly abolished in cells expressing potential purine regulatory genes, indicating functionality of the purine gene regulators in repression of purE-lacZ and purF-lacZ. The purE-lacZ and purF-lacZ reporters can be used for the screening of genes involved in the regulation of the de novo synthesis of the purine nucleotides.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.1054-1059
• /
• 2005

An extracellular protease was identified from Bacillus subtilis KCCM 10257 by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectral analysis. The molecular mass of the extracellular protease was estimated to be 28 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Sequencing of the N-terminal of the protease revealed the sequence of A(G,S,R)QXVPYG(A)V(P,L)SQ. The N-terminal sequence exhibited close similarity to the sequence of other proteases from Bacillus sp. A mass list of the monoisotopic peaks in the MALDI-TOF spectrum was searched after peptide fragmentation of the protease. Six peptide sequences exhibiting monoisotopic masses of 1,276.61, 1,513.67, 1,652.81, 1,661.83, 1,252.61, and 1,033.46 were observed from the fragmented protease. These monisotopic masses corresponded to the lytic enzyme L27 from Bacillus subtilis 168, and the Mowse score was found to be 75. A doubly charged Top product (MS) at a m/z of 517.3 exhibiting a molecular mass of 1034.6 was further analyzed by de novo sequencing using a PE Sciex QSTAR Hybrid Quadropole-TOF (MS/MS) mass spectrometer. MS/MS spectra of the Top product (MS) at a m/z of 517.3 obtained from the fragmented peptide mixture of protease with Q-star contained the b-ion series of 114.2, 171.2, 286.2, 357.2, 504.2, 667.4, 830.1, and 887.1 and y-ion series of 147.5, 204.2, 367.2, 530.3, 677.4, 748.4, 863.4, and 920.5. The sequence of analyzed peptide ion was identified as LGDAFYYG from the b- and y-ion series by de novo sequencing and corresponded to the results from the MALDI-TOF spectrum. From these results the extracellular protease from Bacillus subtilis KCCM 10257 was successfully identified with the lytic enzyme L27 from Bacillus subtilis 168.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.8
• /
• pp.3989-3995
• /
• 2016

Background: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous genetic disease and its etiology remains poorly understood. Recent genome wide association and replication studies have highlighted specific polymorphisms contributing to childhood ALL predispositions mostly in European populations. It is unclear if these observations generalize to other populations with a lower incidence of ALL. The current case-control study evaluated variants in ARID5B (rs7089424, rs10821936), IKZF1 (rs4132601) and CEBPE (rs2239633) genes, which appear most significantly associated with risk of developing childhood B-lineage ALL. Materials and Methods: Using TaqMan assays, genotyping was conducted for 162 de novo B-lineage ALL cases and 150 unrelated healthy controls in India. Appropriate statistical methods were applied. Results: Genotypic and allelic frequencies differed significantly between cases and controls at IKZF1-rs4132601 (p=0.039, p=0.015) and ARID5B-rs10821936 (p=0.028, p=0.026). Both rs10821936 (p=0.019; OR 0.67; 95% CI=0.47-0.94) and rs4132601 (p=0.018; OR 0.67; 95%CI 0.48-0.94) were associated with reduced disease risk. Moreover, gender-analysis revealed male-specific risk associations for rs10821936 (p=0.041 CT+CC) and rs4132601 (p=0.005 G allele). Further, ARID5B-rs7089424 and CEBPE-rs2239633 showed a trend towards decreased disease risk but without significance (p=0.073; p=0.73). Conclusions: Our findings provide the first evidence that SNPs ARID5B-rs10821936 and IKZF1-rs4132601 are associated with decreased B-lineage ALL susceptibility in Indian children. Understanding the effects of these variants in different ethnic groups is crucial as they may confer different risk of ALL within different populations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.1049-1052
• /
• 2016

Background: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a clonal disorder of hemopoeitic stem cells, characterized by infective hematopoiesis, peripheral cytopenias along with hypercellularity of marrow and marked dysplastic features. Our aim was to study the spectrum of the WHO classification in adult Pakistani patients with MDS at disease presentation. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, extending from January 2010 to December 2014. Patient data were retrieved from the maintained archives. Results: Overall, 45 patients were diagnosed at our institution with de novo MDS during the study period. There were 28 males and 17 females. Age ranged between 18 and 95 years with a mean of $57.6{\pm}17.4years$. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1. According to the WHO classification, 53.3% had refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia, 22.2% had refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia, 4.4% each had refractory anemia with excess of blasts-1 and II and 15.5% had MDS unclassified. The main presenting complaints were generalized fatigue (60%), fever (33.3%), dyspnea (15.5%), bleeding (13.3%) and weight loss (11.1%). Physical examination revealed pallor in 37.7%, followed by petechial and purpuric rashes in 20% of patients. Hemoglobin was <10 g/dl in 41 (91.1%). Pancytopenia and bicytopenia were noted in 18 (40%) and 14 (31.1%) respectively. Conclusions: MDS in our patients presents at a relatively young age. Refractory c ytopenia with multilineage dysplasia was the dominant disease variant in our setting.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 2018

A great progress in genetic selection, nutrition and management practices has contributed to the improved growth rate of broilers and egg production in laying hens. For the increased productivity of modern poultry, a healthy chicken liver needs to cope with the increased metabolic demands. The liver is the major site of de novo fatty acid synthesis; therefore, hepatic lipogenesis is crucial for producing better quality meat and eggs. When de novo lipogenesis exceeds the capacity of lipid metabolism and secretion, large amounts of lipids accumulate in the liver of broilers, leading to a fatty liver. Upon onset of egg-laying in hens, lipids including free fatty acids, triglycerides, and phospholipids are dramatically increased in blood plasma for the synthesis of yolk precursors in oocytes. Productive hens with fatty liver often have hemorrhagic syndrome and sudden death due to the heavy demands of yolk synthesis, which burdens the liver. Understanding the lipid metabolism and hepatic lipid disorders is a key point in the improvement of the growth and production of chickens. This review focuses on the recent studies on lipid metabolism, the hepatic lipid disorders, and the prevention or reduction of fatty liver in poultry.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.431-437
• /
• 2016

In this investigation, global DNA methylation patterns and the specific methylation status of 5 genes were studied in DNA from peripheral blood (PB) and impact on progression free survival (PFS) and overall-survival (OS) in patients with de novo or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with decitabine-based regimens waas assessed. DNA was isolated from PB samples at the time of -1, 1, and 7 days of chemotherapy. Global methylation was determined by ELISA, and the CpG island DNA methylation profile of 5 genes using a DNA methylation PCR system. Our data demonstrated that patients with a high level of 5-mC had a poor prognosis after demethylation therapy and those who have low levels of 5-mC in PB achieved higher CR and better SO, but there was no significant correlation found between the 5-mC levels and other clinical features before treatment except the disease status. Higher methylation status of Sox2 and Oct4 genes was associated with differential response to demethylation therapy. A relatively low methylation percentage in one or both of these two genes was also associated with longer OS after decitabine based chemotherapy. We also suggest that global DNA and Oct-4/Sox2 methylation might impact on the pathogenesis of leukemia and play an important role in the initiation and progression. Moreover, dynamic analysis of 5-mC and Oct-4/Sox2 in peripheral blood nucleated cells of leukemia patients may provide clues to important molecular diagnostic and prognostic targets.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.895-898
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the cytogenetic and genetic mutation features of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly Chinese patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of cytogenetics and genetic mutations was performed in 113 cases (age range 50-82 years) with de novo AML. Results: The most frequent cytogenetic abnormality was t (15;17) (q22;q21), detected in 10.0% (n = 9) of successfully analyzed cases, followed by t (8;21) (q22;q22) in 8.89% (n = 8), and complex karyotypes in 5.56% (n = 5). Those with complex karyotypes included 4 cases (4.44%) of monosomal karyotypes. The frequencies of NPM1, FLT3-ITD, c-kit, and CEBPA mutations were 27.4% (31/113), 14.5% (16/110), 5.88% (6/102), and 23.3% (7/30), respectively. The complete remission rates of patients in low, intermediate, and high risk groups were 37.5%, 48.6%, and 33.3%, respectively (${\chi}^2$ = 0.704, P = 0.703) based on risk stratification. Conclusion: Cytogenetics and genetic mutations alone may not be sufficient to evaluate the prognoses of elderly AML patients. The search for a novel model that would enable a more comprehensive evaluation of this population is therefore imperative.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.603-606
• /
• 2009

The Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is the nonrandom association of micrognathia, cleft palate, and glossoptosis, leading to respiratory and feeding difficulties that appear neurogenic rather than mechanical in causation. Genetic determinants are thought to underlie this functional and morphological entity, based on the existence of Mendelian syndromes with PRS. Here, we demonstrate the association of PRS with trisomy 8p due to duplication of a segment as the karyotype 46,XX,dup(8)(p21.3p23.1) and confirm the additional materials as chromosome 8 via whole chromosome paint probes. Our observation supports the hypothesis regarding a genetic basis for nonsyndromic PRS, strengthens the possible genetic association with isolated cleft palate, and provides a candidate PRS locus in chromosomal region 8(p21.3p23.1).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.59 no.sup1
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2016

Constitutional interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 (5q) are quite rare, and the corresponding phenotype is not yet clearly delineated. Severe mental retardation has been described in most patients who present 5q deletions. Specifically, the interstitial deletion of chromosome 5q33.3q35.1, an extremely rare chromosomal aberration, is characterized by mental retardation, developmental delay, and facial dysmorphism. Although the severity of mental retardation varies across cases, it is the most common feature described in patients who present the 5q33.3q35.1 deletion. Here, we report a case of a de novo deletion of 5q33.3q35.1, 46,XY,del(5)(q33.3q35.1) in an 11-year-old boy with mental retardation; to the best of our knowledge this is the first case in Korea to be reported. He was diagnosed with severe mental retardation, developmental delay, facial dysmorphisms, dental anomalies, and epilepsy. Chromosomal microarray analysis using the comparative genomic hybridization array method revealed a 16-Mb-long deletion of 5q33. 3q35.1(156,409,412-172,584,708)x1. Understanding this deletion may help draw a rough phenotypic map of 5q and correlate the phenotypes with specific chromosomal regions. The 5q33.3q35.1 deletion is a rare condition; however, accurate diagnosis of the associated mental retardation is important to ensure proper genetic counseling and to guide patients as part of long-term management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.356-360
• /
• 2014

The coexistence of moyamoya disease (MMD) with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is exceedingly rare. We report two cases of AVM associated with MMD. The first case was an incidental AVM diagnosed simultaneously with MMD. This AVM was managed expectantly after encephalo-duro-arterio-synangiosis (EDAS) as the main feeders stemmed from the internal carotid artery, which we believed would be obliterated with the progression of MMD. However, the AVM persisted with replacement of the internal carotid artery feeders by new external carotid artery feeders from the EDAS site. The AVM was eventually treated with gamma knife radiosurgery considering an increasing steal effect. The second case was a de novo AVM case. The patient was initially diagnosed with MMD, and acquired an AVM eight years later that was slowly fed by the reconstituted anterior cerebral artery. Because the patient remained asymptomatic, the AVM is currently being closely followed for more than 2 years without further surgical intervention. Possible differences in the pathogenesis and the radiologic presentation of these AVMs are discussed with a literature review. No solid consensus exists on the optimal treatment of MMD-associated AVMs. Gamma knife radiosurgery appears to be an effective treatment option for an incidental AVM. However, a de novo AVM may be managed expectantly considering the possible risks of damaging established collaterals, low flow characteristics, and probably low risks of rupture.