• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.448-458
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• 2020

T-DNA insertional mutations in Arabidopsis genes have conferred huge benefits to the research community, greatly facilitating gene function analyses. However, the insertion process can cause chromosomal rearrangements. Here, we show an example of a likely rearrangement following T-DNA insertion in the Anti-Silencing Function 1B (ASF1B) gene locus on Arabidopsis chromosome 5, so that the phenotype was not relevant to the gene of interest, ASF1B. ASF1 is a histone H3/H4 chaperone involved in chromatin remodeling in the sporophyte and during reproduction. Plants that were homozygous for mutant alleles asf1a or asf1b were developmentally normal. However, following self-fertilization of double heterozygotes (ASF1A/asf1a ASF1B/asf1b, hereafter AaBb), defects were visible in both male and female gametes. Half of the AaBb and aaBb ovules displayed arrested embryo sacs with functional megaspore identity. Similarly, half of the AaBb and aaBb pollen grains showed centromere defects, resulting in pollen abortion at the bi-cellular stage of the male gametophyte. However, inheritance of the mutant allele in a given gamete did not solely determine the abortion phenotype. Introducing functional ASF1B failed to rescue the AaBb- and aaBb-mediated abortion, suggesting that heterozygosity in the ASF1B gene causes gametophytic defects, rather than the loss of ASF1. The presence of reproductive defects in heterozygous mutants but not in homozygotes, and the characteristic all-or-nothing pollen viability within tetrads, were both indicative of commonly-observed T-DNA-mediated translocation activity for this allele. Our observations reinforce the importance of complementation tests in assigning gene function using reverse genetics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.764-769
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• 2000

The lipase gene(lip) from Bacillus stearothermophilus was recombined in vitro by utilizing the DNA shuffling technique. After four rounds of shuffling, transformation, and screening based on the initial rate of clear zone formation on a tricaprylin plate, a clone (M10) was isolated, the cell extract of which showed about 2.8-fold increased lipase activity. The DNA sequence of the mutant lipase gene (m10) showed 3 base changes, resulting in two cryptic mutations and one amino acid substitution: S113($AGC{\rightarrow}AGT$), L252 ($TTG{\rightarrow}TTA$), and G275E ($GGA{\rightarrow}GAA$). SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the increased enzyme activity observed in M10 was partly caused by high expression of the m10 lipase gene. The amount of the expressed G275E lipase was estimated to comprise as much as 41% of the total soluble proteins of the cell. The maximum velocity ($V_{max}$) of the purified mutant enzyme for the hydrolysis of olive oil was measured to be 3,200 U/mg, which was 10% higher than that of the parental (WT) lipase (2,900 U/mg). Its optimum temperature for the hydrolysis of olive oil was $68^{\circ}C$ and it showed a typical $Ca^{2+}$-dependent thermostability, properties fo which were the same as those of the WT lipase. However, the mutant enzyme exhibited a high enantiospecificity towards (S)-naproxen compared with the WT lipase. In addition, it showed increased hydrolytic activity towards triolein, tricaprin, tricaprylin, and tricaproin.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2015

Glycogen storage disease type IX (GSD IX) is caused by a defect in phosphorylase b kinase (PhK) that results from mutations in the PHKA2, PHKB, and PHKG2 genes. Patients usually manifest recurrent ketotic hypoglycemia with growth delay, but some may present simple hepatomegaly. Although GSD IX is one of the most common causes of GSDs, its biochemical and genetic diagnosis has been problematic due to its rarity, phenotypic overlap with other types of GSDs, and genetic heterogeneities. In our report, a 22-month-old boy with GSD IX is described. No other manifestations were evident except for hepatomegaly. His growth and development also have been proceeding normally. Diagnosed was made by histologic examination, an enzyme assay, and genetic testing with known c.3210_3212del (p.Arg1070del) mutation in PHKA2 gene.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2004

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a causative agent for lymphoma disease in cattle including cows worldwide. BLV shares similar virion structure and characteristics with other retroviruses. The pol gene of the BLV genome produced reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN) for important roles for BLV genome integration into host cell chromosomes that is known to be coded in the 3' side of the BLV pol gene (one third portion). In this study, we have sequenced 978 bp in the 3' side of the BLV pol gene from BLV 10C3 in order to determine the BLV IN region of it. And we compared it to the nucleotide sequences of an Australian BLV isolate. As a result, nucleotide sequences of the IN region of the Korean-type BLV pol gene were mutated at a rate of 3.7%. We can confirm that the typical mutations are such as Arg (AGG) $\rightarrow$ Lys (AAG), Thr (ACG) $\rightarrow$ Met (ATG), Ile (ATT) $\rightarrow$ Val (GTT), Asn (ACC) $\rightarrow$ His (CAC), Phe (TTT) $\rightarrow$ Leu (TTG) and Asn (ACC) $\rightarrow$ Asp (GAC). From the analysis of the sequencing data, we were able to determine the zinc-finger-like "HHCC" motif in the amino terminus of BLV IN, that was H-$X_3$-H-$X_{25}-C-X_2$-C. It was also found the DD35E motif in the IN catalytic domain as D-$X_{56}$-D-$X_{35}$-E. It fits very well to the consensus sequences of retroviral IN as well as HHCC motif.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 2004

Since the completion of the genome project of the nematode C. elegans in 1998, functional genomic approaches have been applied to elucidate the gene and protein networks in this model organism. The recent completion of the whole genome of C. briggsae, a close sister species of C. elegans, now makes it possible to employ the comparative genomic approaches for identifying regulatory mechanisms that are conserved in these species and to make more precise annotation of the predicted genes. RNA interference (RNAi) screenings in C. elegans have been performed to screen the whole genome for the genes whose mutations give rise to specific phenotypes of interest. RNAi screens can also be used to identify genes that act genetically together with a gene of interest. Microarray experiments have been very useful in identifying genes that exhibit co-regulated expression profiles in given genetic or environmental conditions. Proteomic approaches also can be applied to the nematode, just as in other species whose genomes are known. With all these functional genomic tools, genetics will still remain an important tool for gene function studies in the post genome era. New breakthroughs in C. elegans biology, such as establishing a feasible gene knockout method, immortalized cell lines, or identifying viruses that can be used as vectors for introducing exogenous gene constructs into the worms, will augment the usage of this small organism for genome-wide biology.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.145-155
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• 2001

Cytochrome P4502C19 (CYP2C19) is one of human polymorphic xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. The enzyme has been reported to catalyze more than 70 substrates, involving more than 100 reactions. These include several classes of therapeutic agents (e.g. anti-microbial. cardiovascular, psycho-active, etc.), sex hormones and insecticides. Associations of the CYP2C19 genotype/phenotype with individual differences in drug efficacy (e.g. diazepam, omeprazole, proguanil) and toxicity (e.g. mephenytoin, barbiturates) have been documented by many investigators. At least 11 allelic variants of CYP2C19 gene were reported to date. Most of the mutant alleles found in the poor metabolizer (PM) led to the production of truncated and/or inactive proteins. Except for the exon 6, single-nucleotide mutations were reported in all nine exons of the gene. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 shows marked interethnic variation with the population frequencies of PM phenotype ranging from 1∼2% up to more than 50%. The prevalence of CYP2C19 PM tends to be higher in Asian and certain Pacific Islanders than other race or ethnic specificity. Genotyping results of CYP2C19 also revealed that there are different proportions of individual mutant alleles among ethnic populations. This may, in part, explains the interethnic difference in the metabolism of certain drugs (i.e. diazepam), though they were from the same CYP2C19 phenotype. Recently, our research group has studied the genotype and phenotype of CYP2C19 and found that the PM frequency (7∼8%) in Thais is lower than other Asian populations. Molecular and clinical impacts of this finding warrant to further investigation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.584-590
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• 2003

The xylA gene of Bacillus stearothermophilus No. 236 encoding ${\beta}-xylosidase$, a major xylanolytic enzyme, was previously cloned and sequenced by the present authors. Sequence analysis indicated that translation of the xylA gene was initiated from the noncanonical initiation codon UUG, confirmed by analyzing three different amber (UAG) mutants of the xylA gene. In the present study, the UUG initiation codon was mutated into AUG or GUG, and the effects of the mutations on the XylA synthesis were examined. The AUG initiation codon was found to direct the highest level of ${\beta}-xylosidase$ synthesis; three-fold and fourteen-fold more enzyme activity than the UUG codon in E. coli and B. subtilis cells, respectively. Surprisingly, contrary to other systems reported to date, the UUG start codon was found next to AUG in the relative order of translational efficiency in both organisms. In addition, a greater abundance of the xylA mRNA was detected with the AUG start codon in both of these host cells than with GUG or UUG. Northern blot and Toeprint assays revealed that this was due to enhanced stability of mRNA with the AUG initiation codon. As expected, the ${\beta}-xylosidase$ protein level in the bacterial cells containing mRNA with the AUC start codon was also much higher than the levels with the other two different mRNAs.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.125-130
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• 1999

Congenital myotonia is a hereditary disorder of the skeletal muscle. The most characteristic features of the disease are myotonia and variable muscular hypertrophy. Molecular biologic investigations have revealed that mutations in the gene of the human skeletal muscle chloride ion channel protein are a cause of the disease. The Becker's type congenial myotonia is clinically similar to the autosomal dominantly inherited congenital myotonia (Thomsen's disease). Both disorders are characterized electrophysiologically by increased excitability of muscle fibers. reflected in clinical myotonia. In general, Becker's type congenital myotonia is more severe than Thomsen's disease in muscular hypertrophy and weakness. The authors recently experienced a 25-year-old female patient who has no family-related disease history and who has conspicuous muscular hypertrophy and the stiffness with muscles which occurred from the age of 3 or 4. Clinically she showed the authors a percussion myotonia. On electrophysiological study, exercise and repetitive stimulation of the abductor digiti quinti muscle disclosed a decline in the compound muscle action potential. Biopsy of biceps muscle revealed enlargement of muscle fibers with marked nuclear internalization. After the oral taking the Mexiletine, the patient showed a favorable turn a little with her stiffness of muscles. So we authors are reporting one case of Becker's type congenital myotonia with review of literatures.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.921-926
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• 2012

In order to protect the genetic resource of native horse breeds, the genetic diversity of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop of three native horse breeds in western China were investigated. Forty-three 600 bp mtDNA D-loop sequences were analyzed by PCR and sequencing techniques, 33 unique haplotypes with 70 polymorphic sites were detected in these horses, which account for 11.67% of 600 bp sequence analyzed, showing the abundant genetic diversity of the three native horse breeds in western China. The Neighbour-Joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree based on 247 bp of 43 D-loop sequences demonstrated the presence of seven major lineages (A to G), indicating that the three native horse breeds in western China originated from multiple maternal origins. Consistent with the front, the NJ phylogenetic tree based on 600 bp of mtDNA D-loop sequences of 43 Chinese western native horses and 81 sequences of six horse breeds from GenBank indicated that the three horse breeds had distributed into the seven major lineages (A to G). The structure of the phylogenic tree is often blurred because the variation in a short segment of the mitochondrial genome is often accompanied by high levels of recurrent mutations. Consequently, longer D-loop sequences are helpful in achieving a higher level of molecular resolution in horses.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.148-153
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• 2006

While the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated, recent studies suggest that polar auxin transport is a key controlling factor in triggering differential growth responses to gravity. Identification of regulatory components in auxin-mediated differential cell expansion would improve our understanding of the gravitropic response. In this study, we identify a mutant designated aux1-like(later changed to aux1), an allele of the aux1 mutant that exhibits a severely disrupted root gravitropic response, but no defects in developmental processes. In Arabidopsis, AUX1 encodes an auxin influx carrier. Since in-depth characterization of the gravitropic response caused by mutations in this gene has been performed previously, we focused on identifying the downstream genes that were differentially expressed compared to wild-type plants. Consistent with the mutant phenotype, the transcription of the auxin-responsive genes IAA17 and GH3 were altered in aux1 plants treated with IAA, 2, 4-D and NAA. In addition, we identified two expansin genes EXP10 and EXPL3 that exhibited different expression in wild-type and mutant plants.