• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

Xenotransplantation involves multiple steps of immune rejection. The present study was designed to produce nuclear transfer embryos, prior to the production of transgenic pigs, using fibroblasts carrying transgenes human complement regulatory protein hCD59 and interleukin-18 binding protein (hIL-18BP) to reduce hyperacute rejection (HAR) and cellular rejection in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. In addition to the hCD59-mediated reduction of HAR, hIL-18BP may prevent cellular rejection by inhibiting the activation of natural killer cells, activated T-cell proliferation, and induction of $IFN-{\gamma}$. Transgene construct including hCD59 and ILI-18BP was introduced into miniature pig fetal fibroblasts. After antibiotic selection of double transgenic fibroblasts, integration of the transgene was screened by PCR, and the transgene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. Treatment of human serum did not affect the survival of double-transgenic fibroblasts, whereas the treatment significantly reduced the survival of non-transgenic fibroblasts (p<0.01), suggesting alleviation of HAR. Among 337 reconstituted oocytes produced by nuclear transfer using the double transgenic fibroblasts, 28 (15.3%) developed to the blastocyst stage. Analysis of individual embryos indicated that 53.6% (15/28) of embryos contained the transgene. The result of the present study demonstrates the resistance of hCD59 and IL-18BP double-transgenic fibroblasts against HAR, and the usefulness of the transgenic approach may be predicted by RT-PCR and cytolytic assessment prior to actual production of transgenic pigs. Further study on the transfer of these embryos to surrogates may produce transgenic clone miniature pigs expressing hCD59 and hIL-18BP for xenotransplantation.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2015

Most tumors are believed to overexpress several receptors, and small peptides targeting these receptors were developed for diagnosis and tumor therapy during past decade. Here we report that fibroadenoma can be visualized by bladder cancer specific peptide. A 9-mer bladder cancer specific peptide, which was discovered from the phage display method, was synthesized by peptide synthesizer, and additional tyrosine was conjugated at the N-terminal for radioiodination (Y-BP). Y-BP was radiolabeled with $^{131/124}I$ using Iodogen tube. The rat treated with N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine for 8 weeks was allowed to grow until large size tumor was developed under axilla. The tumor model was microPET imaged sequentially using [$^{18}F$]FDG and radioiodinated $^{124}I-Y-BP$. The tumor was excised and examined by immunostaining studies. Radioiodinated $^{124}I-Y-BP$ was purified using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) in > 90% radiochemical purity. The whole tumor was well visualized by [$^{18}F$]FDG with several intense focal uptake within tumor. The tumor was also clearly seen with $^{124}I-Y-BP$ at 4 h post-injection, and to our surprise the tumor uptake of $^{124}I-Y-BP$ lasted up to three days. The tumor was diagnosed histologically as a fibroadenoma derived from mammary gland. In conclusion, the bladder cancer specific peptide showed the good potential as a new radiotracer for the detection of breast fibroadenoma.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.435-440
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• 2008

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to identify the genetic diversities among and within varieties and landraces of Rehmannia glutinosa. Polymorphic and reproducible bands were produced by 10 primers out of total 20 primers used in the experiment. In RAPD analysis of the 11 genotypes, 64 fragments out of 73 amplified genomic DNA fragments were polymorphic which represented an average 6.4 polymorphic fragments per primer. Number of amplified fragments with random primers ranged from 2 (OPA-1) to 13 (OPA-11) and varied in size from 200 bp to 1,400 bp. Especially, OPA-10, OPA-11 and OPA-19 primers showed specific bands for varieties of Korea Jiwhang and Jiwhang il ho, which could be useful for discriminating from other varieties and landraces of R. glutinosa. Percentage polymorphism ranged from a minimum of 50% (OPA-1) to a maximum of 100% (OPA-11), with an average of 87.7%. Similarity coefficients were higher in the genotypes of Korea Jiwhang and Jiwhang il ho than in other populations. In cluster analysis, genotypes of Korea Jiwhang, Jiwhang il ho, and Japanese accession were separated from those of other varieties and landraces. Average of genetic diversity within the population $(H_S)$ was 0.110, while average of total genetic diversity $(H_T)$ was 0.229. Across all RAPD makers the $G_{ST}$ value was 0.517, indicating that about 52% of the total genetic variation could be explained by RAPDs differences while the remaining 48% might be attributable to differences among samples. Consequently, RAPD analysis was useful method to discriminate different populations such as domestic varieties and other landraces. The results of the present study will be used to understand the population and evolutionary genetics of R. gllutinosa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2007

A gene encoding inulin fructotransferase (di-D-fructofuranose 1,2': 2,3' dianhydride [DFA III]-producing IFTase, EC 4.2.2.18) from Bacillus sp. snu-7 was cloned. This gene was composed of a single, 1,353-bp open reading frame encoding a protein composed of a 40-amino acid signal peptide and a 410-amino acid mature protein. The deduced amino acid sequence was 98% identical to Arthrobacter globiformis C11-1 IFTase (DFA III-producing). The enzyme was successfully expressed in E. coli as a functionally active, His-tagged protein, and it was purified in a single step using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme showed much higher specific activity (1,276 units/mg protein) than other DFA III-producing IFTases. The recombinant and native enzymes were optimally active in very similar pH and temperature conditions. With a 103-min half-life at $60^{\circ}C$, the recombinant enzyme was as stable as the native enzyme. Acidic residues and cysteines potentially involved in the catalytic mechanism are proposed based on an alignment with other IFTases and a DFA IIIase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1507-1512
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• 2008

In spite of long research period for Salmonella typhi, little information is known about the pathogenesis mechanism of human typhoid fever caused by S. typhi due to lack of infection model in animals. A wild-type of S. typhi Ty2 strain requires cysteine to grow on minimal media. We hypothesized that this cysteine requirement may restrict colonization of S. typhi in animals during infection process. Among the S. typhi strains carrying Salmonella typhimurium genomic library, we have isolated three S. typhi transformants growing on minimal media without cysteine. Although there were three ORFs in DNA of pBP71, the STM1490 ORF complemented cysteine auxotrophy of S. typhi. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the STM1490 homolog in S. typhi revealed that there are differences in two amino acids. Plasmids containing amino acid substitutions in STM1490 supported S. typhi growth on minimal media without cysteine, indicating irrelevance of these two amino acids to STM1490 function. These results tells us that there are other factors or systems involved in cysteine requirement of S. typhi.