• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.1023-1031
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• 2017

The conformational change of cellular prion protein ($PrP^C$) to its misfolded counterpart, termed $PrP^{Sc}$, is mediated by a hypothesized cellular cofactor. This cofactor is believed to interact directly with certain amino acid residues of $PrP^C$. When these are mutated into cationic amino acid residues, $PrP^{Sc}$ formation and prion replication halt in a dominant negative (DN) manner, presumably due to strong binding of the cofactor to mutated $PrP^C$, designated as DN PrP mutants. Previous studies demonstrated that plasminogen and its kringle domains bind to PrP and accelerate $PrP^{Sc}$ generation. In this study, in vitro binding analysis of kringle domains of plasminogen to Q167R DN mutant PrP (PrPQ167R) was performed in parallel with the wild type (WT) and Q218K DN mutant PrP (PrPQ218K). The binding affinity of PrPQ167R was higher than that of WT PrP, but lower than that of PrPQ218K. Scatchard analysis further indicated that, like PrPQ218K and WT PrP, PrPQ167R interaction with plasminogen occurred at multiple sites, suggesting cooperativity in this interaction. Competitive binding analysis using $\small{L}$-lysine or $\small{L}$-arginine confirmed the increase of the specificity and binding affinity of the interaction as PrP acquired DN mutations. Circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated that the recombinant PrPs used in this study retained the ${\alpha}$-helix-rich structure. The ${\alpha}$-helix unfolding study revealed similar conformational stability for WT and DN-mutated PrPs. This study provides an additional piece of biochemical evidence concerning the interaction of plasminogen with DN mutant PrPs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.399-403
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• 2013

Background: Several studies have reported the role of the miR-146a rs2910164 G > C polymorphism as a susceptibility factor for several digestive cancers. However, the results have been controversial. Therefore, we conducted the present meta-analysis to obtain the most reliable estimate of the association. Methods: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled to assess the strength of the association between miR-146a rs2910164 G > C polymorphism and digestive cancer risk. A total of four eligible studies including 3,447 cases and 5,041 controls based on the search criteria were included. Results: We observed that miR-146a rs2910164 G > C polymorphism was not significantly correlated with digestive cancer risks when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis. While we found that miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism was not associated with gastric cancer, it was significantly linked with hepatocellular cancer risk (the homozygote codominant model: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.04-1.87). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, significant associations were observed in Chinese population for the allele contrast model (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.12-1.38), for the homozygote codominant model (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.28-2.04), and for the recessive model (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.16-1.64). However, studies with Asian groups presented no significant association for all genetic models. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that the miR-146a rs2910164 G > C polymorphism is a low-penetrant risk factor for digestive cancers in Chinese.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.263-271
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• 2011

벼는 세계 인구의 60%에 의해 소비되고 있는 주요 식량작물이며 그 종자의 주성분은 탄수화물로 인류의 중요한 에너지원이 된다. 미곡(米穀)은 주식으로 다량 섭취하게 되는데 특히 동물성 단백질의 섭취가 부족한 국가 또는 지역에서는 쌀 단백질이 콩 단백질과 함께 중요한 영양공급원이 되고 있어 벼의 종자단백질은 인류에 매우 중요한 영양성분이라 할 수 있다. 그런데 벼의 종자단백질은 필수아미노산인 라이신이 부족하므로 아미노산 조성 변경에 의한 영양적인 개량이 요구되기도 하는 한편 선진국에서는 혈압조절이나 면역증강 등 생리기능을 가진 건강증진용 기능성 단백질 또는 펩티드로 주목받고 있다. 따라서 벼의 종자단백질의 조성변경과 더불어 이종의 저장단백질의 도입에 의한 벼 종자단백질 개량 연구가 진행되어 왔다. 본 총설에서는 벼의 종자 저장단백질의 생합성과 축적 특징 및 저장단백질 집적의 유전적 제어 기작에 대하여 알아보고 또한 벼 종자 저장단백질 조성 변경, 이종단백질 도입에 의한 벼 종자 저장단백질 개량 연구 현황을 기술하고자 한다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.463-470
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• 2011

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) gene is expressed at the anterior pituitary gland and plays a key role in gonad development. This study aimed to investigate molecular genetic characteristics of the GnRHR gene and elucidate the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GnRHR gene on sex steroid level in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). We used polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing of the GnRHR gene in 75 individuals. We identified three SNPs in the GnRHR gene: P1 locus (C759A and C830T) in the coding region of exon2 which were both linked together and P2 locus (G984T) in the coding region of exon3, which added a new transcript factor (ADR1) and a new methylation site (CG). Only C830T of P1 leads to amino acid changes Thr266Ile. Statistical analysis showed that P1 was significantly associated with $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) level (p<0.01) and gonadosomatic index (GSI) (p<0.05). Individuals with genotype BB of P1 had significantly higher serum $E_2$ levels (p<0.01) and GSI (p<0.05) than those of genotype AA or AB. Another SNP, P2, synonymous mutation, was significantly associated with GSI (p<0.05). Individuals with genotype AB of P2 had significantly higher GSI (p<0.05) than that of genotype AA. In addition, there was a significant association between one diplotype based on three SNPs and reproductive traits. The genetic effects for both serum $E_2$ level and GSI of diplotype D4 were super diplotypes (p<0.05). These results suggest that the SNPs in Japanese Flounder GnRHR are associated with $E_2$ level and GSI.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.263-278
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• 2013

The silkworm extract powder contain 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a potent ${\alpha}$-glycosidase inhibitor, has therapeutic potency against diabetes mellitus. Therefore, natural products containing DNJ from mulberry leaves and silkworm are consumed as health functional food. The present study was performed to evaluate the safety of the silkworm extract powder, a health food which containing the DNJ. The repeated toxicity studies and gentic toxicity studies of the silkworm extract powder were performed to obtain the data for new functional food approval in MFDS. The safety was evaluated by a single-dose oral toxicity study and a 90 day repeated-dose oral toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats. The silkworm extract powder was also evaluated for its mutagenic potential in a battery of genetic toxicity test: in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay, in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. The results of the genetic toxicology assays were negative in all of the assays. The approximate lethal dose in single oral dose toxicity study was considered to be higher than 5000 mg/kg in rats. In the 90 day study, the dose levels were wet at 0, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/day, and 10 animals/sex/dose were treated with oral gavage. The parameters that were monitored were clinical signs, body weights, food and water consumptions, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, and histopathological examination. No adverse effects were observed after the 90 day administration of the silkworm extract powder. The No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) of silkworm extract powder in the 90 day study was 2000 mg/kg/day in both sexes, and no target organ was identified.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.14-19
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• 2016

Purpose: We examined the prevalence and CGG/AGG repeat structure of expanded alleles of the FMR1 gene in preconceptional and pregnant Korean women. Materials and Methods: The CGG repeats in the FMR1 genes of 1,408 women were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. To estimate the prevalence of expansion alleles, the individuals were divided into low risk and high risk group. Results: Within this population, 98.4% had normal alleles and 1.6% had abnormal alleles including intermediate (0.6%), premutation (0.5%), full mutation (0.1%), and hemizygous (0.4%) alleles. There were 2 premutation alleles (1:666, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1:250-1,776) in the low risk group and 5 premutation alleles (1:15, 95% 1:6-36) in the high risk group. There were 8 intermediate alleles (1:167, 95% CI 1:130-213) in the low risk group and 1 intermediate alleles (1:76, 95% CI 1:11-533) in the high group. Six of the 7 premutation alleles did not contain AGG interruptions within the repeats and 1 had a single AGG interruption. Four of the 9 intermediate alleles contained 2-3 AGG, 4 had a single AGG, and 1 had no AGG interruptions. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the prevalence and CGG/AGG structure of expansion alleles in Korean women. The identified premutation prevalence is higher than that of other Asian populations and lower than that of Caucasian populations. Although our study is limited by size and population bias, our findings could prove useful for genetic counseling of preconceptional or pregnant women.

• 한국동물학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.340-347
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• 1995

D. melanogaster를 대상으로 두 종류의 P element construct, 즉 Pc[(ry+)B]와 p[(ry+)$\Delta$SX9]을 사용한 형질전환 실험을 통하여 자율적 및 비자율적인 P element construct간의 vector로써의 효율성을 분석했다. 자율적인 P element 내에 rosy 유전자를 포함하고 있는 Pc[(ry+)B] construct를 진정 M 계통형인 ry506 돌연변이 계통에 주입시켰다. 또한 비자율적인 P element 내에 rosy 유전자를 포함하고 있는 p[(ry+)$\Delta$SX9] construct와 전이효소의 공급원으로써 p-$\Delta$2-3hs$\pi$ helper plasmid를 역시 같은 계통의 ry506 돌연변이 계통에 주입시켰다. Dechorination 방법에 의해 총 1143 embryo를 대상으로 microinjection 한 결과, 모두 35 계통의 형질전환된 정상형의 눈을 가진 계통을 얻었다. P element construct를 주입시킨 전체 1143 embryo 중에서 약 20% 정도가 성체로 부화되었으며, 부화된 개체 가운데 약 40% 정도가 눈 색깔이 거의 정상형과 같은 G0 transformant 로 나타났다. 그러나 생식력을 가진 G0 transformant의 약 40% 만이 G1 transformant로 나타남으로써 모두 35 계통의 transformant를 얻었다. 따라서 G0 단계에서 나타난 형질전환 현상에는 반드시 rosy transformant의 염색체 삽입에 의해서 만이 아니라 세포질내에서도 construct내의 rosy 유전자의 발현이 가능한 것으로 분석되었다. 또한 형질전환율에 있어서는 Pc[(ry+)B]와p[(ry+)$\Delta$SX9] construct 간에 유의한 차가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때, 실험 목적에 따라 자율적인 P element 또는 helper DNA를 이용한 비자율적인 P element를 효과적인 vector 로 선택 이용함으로써 특정 유전자를 곤충집단내로 침투 및 고정시킬 수 있다고 판단된다.

• 한국식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물학회 2002년도 춘계학술발표대회:발표눈문요지록
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• pp.62-72
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• 2002

This study has investigated the biosynthesis and function of the heavy metal binding peptides, the phytochelatins, in plants. PCs are synthesised enzymatically from glutathione by the enzyme PC synthase in the presence of heavy metal ions. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism cadmium-sensitive, phytochelatin-deficient mutants have been isolated and characterised in previous studies. The cadl mutants have wildtype levels of glutathione, are PC deficient and lack PC synthase activity. Thus, the CADl gene has been proposed to encode PC synthase. The CADl gene was isolated by a positional cloning strategy The gene was mapped and a candidate identified. Each of four cadl mutants had a single base pair change in the candidate gene and the cadmium-sensitive, cadl phenotype was complemented by the candidate gene. This demonstrated the CADl gene had been cloned. A homologous gene in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe was identified through database searches. A targeted-deletion mutation of this gene was constructed and the mutant, like cadl mutants of Arabidopsis, was cadmium-sensitive and PC-deficient. A comparison of the redicted amino acid sequences reveals a highly conserved N-terminal region Presumed to be the catalytic domain and a variable C-terminal region containing multiple Cys residues proposed to be involved in activation of the enzyme by metal ions. Similar genes were also identified in animal species. The Arabidopsis CADl/AtPCSl and S. pombe SpbPCS genes were expressed in E. coli and were shown to be sufficient for glutathione-dependent, heavy metal activate PC synthesis in vitro, thus demonstrating these genes encode PC synthase enzymes. Using RT-PCR, AtPCSl expression appeared to be independent of Cd exposure. However, at higher levels of Cd exposure a AtPCSl-CUS reporter gene construct appeared to be more highly expressed. Using the reporter gene construct, AtPCSl was expressed most tissues. Expression appeared to be greater in younger tissues and same higher levels of expression was observed in some regions, including carpels and the base of siliques. AtPCS2 was a functional gene encoding an active PC synthase. However, its Pattern of expression and the phenotype of a mutant (or antisense line) have not been determined. Assuming the gene is functional then it has clearly been maintained through evolution and must provide some selective advantage. This implies that, at least in some cells or tissue, it is likely to be the dominant PC synthase expressed. This remains to be determined

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.38-43
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• 2015

Purpose: Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders with diverse modes of inheritance. There are several subtypes of SCAs. SCA 8, SCA 12, and SCA 17 are the less common forms of SCAs with limited information available on their epidemiological profiles in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17 in Korea. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six unrelated Korean patients were enrolled and showed normal trinucleotide repeats through polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) for the genes ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A, and ATXN7, which correspond to SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, and SCA7, respectively. PCR products from patients were further analyzed by capillary electrophoresis using fluorescence labeled primers for the genes ATXN8OS, PPP2R2B, and TBP, which correspond to SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17. Results: Three patients had 104, 97, and 75 abnormal expanded repeats in the ATXN8OS gene, the causative gene for SCA8. None of the patients exhibited abnormal repeats in SCA12 and SCA17. Normal trinucleotide repeat ranges of the cohort in this study were estimated to be 17-34 copies (average, $24{\pm}4copies$) for SCA8, 7-18 copies (average, $13{\pm}3copies$) for SCA12, and 26-43 copies (average, $35{\pm}2copies$) for SCA17. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17 are rare in Korean patients with SCA, and further genetic studies are warranted to enhance the mutation detection rate in the Korean SCA population.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제33권s01호
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• pp.86-97
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• 1988

Sesame(Sesamum indicum L.) is probably the most ancient oilseed crop known in the world. The seed of sesame is used in a variety of ways as food. The whole seed may be eaten raw, either roasted or parched, or fed to birds and stock. Sesame oil is used as a salad or cooking oil, in shortening, margarine and in the manufacture of soap. Minor uses are as a fixative in the perfume industry and formerly as a carrier for fatsoluble substances in pharmaceuticals such as penicillin. One of the minor constituents of sesame oil, sesamin, is used for its synergistic effect in pyrethrin insecticides, in addition of a small quantity of this substance markedly increases the effectiveness of fly sprays. The meal remaining after oil extraction can be used as and animal feed-stuff or as manure. In general sesame meal is considered to be equal to cottonseed or soybean meal as a protein supplement for livestock and poultry. It is especially high in certain amino-acids such as methionine, which is low in soybean meal, and thus can be combined with it or similar meal to form a more balanced ration. An attempt to summarize the literature review on quality improvement of sesame was made to discuss the accomplishments of the past and perspectives in the future. The reviews on quality improvement of sesame were mainly discussed in connection with the cultural practices and genetic informations in current status. The emphasis focussed on environmental variation of quality in cultural practices, such as harvest time, variety by location, climatic condition, fertilizer application, and growth regulator treatment. On the genetic variation of quality, it was discussed on variety background, mutation breeding, correlations, and inheritance of quality related characteristics. It also was discussed on relationship between quality and plant traits, storage condition or period, and seed coat color. Moreover, current research status were reviewed on some minor elements such as sesamin, oxalic acid, and trypsin inhibitor. As a results of the review, the lack of an effort to quality improvement in each utilization area was indicated as a problem area. More active efforts for the improvement of quality were also insufficient to incorporate the available genes for quality in breeding method or collection and analysis of breeding materials. Therefore, researches in the future would be recommended to emphasize on these problem areas.