• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.168-173
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• 2007

In previous nuclear genomic association studies, Random Forests (RF), one of several up-to-date machine learning methods, has been used successfully to generate evidence of association of genetic polymorphisms with diseases or other phenotypes. Compared with traditional statistical analytic methods, such as chi-square tests or logistic regression models, the RF method has advantages in handling large numbers of predictor variables and examining gene-gene interactions without a specific model. Here, we applied the RF method to find the association between mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms (mtSNPs) and diabetes risk. The results from a chi-square test validated the usage of RF for association studies using mtDNA. Indexes of important variables such as the Gini index and mean decrease in accuracy index performed well compared with chi-square tests in favor of finding mtSNPs associated with a real disease example, type 2 diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

Gene and promoter structures of metallothionein(MT) from Miho spine loach (Cobitis choii; Cypriniformes) were characterized, and the transcriptional responses to experimental exposures to heavy metals and heat stress were examined. The C. choii metallothionein displayed well-conserved features of teleostean metallothioneins at gDNA, mRNA and amino acid levels. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that the C. choii MT regulatory region potentially possessed various motifs or elements targeted by various transcription factors associated with metal-coordinating regulation (e.g., metal transcription factor-1), immune responses (e.g., nuclear factor kappa B), and thermal modulations (e.g., heat shock factor). Acute heavy-metal exposures to 0.5 or $1.0\;{\mu}M$ of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) or zinc (Zn) showed that MT transcription was significantly stimulated by Cd (9.6-fold relative to non-exposed control) and Cu (10.4-fold), only moderately by Mn (2.4-fold), but hardly by Ni and Zn. Elevation of water temperature from $25^{\circ}C$ to $31^{\circ}C$ caused a rapid modulation of MT mRNAs toward upregulation to 9.5-fold; however, afterward the elevated mRNA level slightly decreased during further incubation at $31^{\circ}C$ for 6 h. Results from this study suggest that MT-based expression assay could be a useful basis for better understanding the metal- and/or heat-caused stresses in this endangered fish species.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 1997

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphi는 (RFLPs) of five populations were analyzed to delineate the stocks of Penaeus chinensis (Osbeck) in the Yellow Sea. Comparison of P. chinensis with P. japonicus to clarify the nucleotide divergence between two species was also carried out. Based on the fragment patterns, three composite haplotypes were analyzed in P. chinensis mtDNA as four naplotypes were in P. japonicus. Most individuals of each P. chinensis population are shared by one dominant haplotype. Another two haplotypes haying variations at the C/a I and hull sites were also distributed evenly in the Korean and Chinese populations. It is suggested that the gene exchange occurring between populations in the Yellow Sea is frequent. Average length of the mtDNA molecule was estimated to be about 16.44 kb in P. chinensis and 16.31 kb in P. japonicus, Sequence divergence (p) of mtDNA between two species estimated by using Upholt's (1977) fomula was $13.7\%$.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 2021

Purpose: Muscle mitochondria play a key role in regulating fatty acid and glucose metabolism. Dysfunction of muscle mitochondria is associated with metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Isorhamnetin (ISOR), also known as 3-O-methylquercetin, a quercetin metabolite, is a naturally occurring flavonoid in many plants. This study evaluated the effects of ISOR on the regulation of the mitochondrial function of C2C12 muscle cells. Methods: C2C12 muscle cells were differentiated for 5 days, and then treated in various concentrations of ISOR. Cytotoxicity was determined by assessing cell viability using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt-8 assay principle at different concentrations of ISOR and time points. Levels of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and gene expression were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The citrate synthase (CS) activity was quantified by the enzymatic method. Results: ISOR at a concentration of 10 µM did not show any cytotoxic effects. ISOR increased the mtDNA copy number in a time- or dose-dependent manner. The messenger RNA levels of genes involved in mitochondrial function, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α, and uncoupling protein 3 were significantly stimulated by the ISOR treatment. The CS activity was also significantly increased in a time- or dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results suggest that ISOR enhances the regulation of mitochondrial function, which was at least partially mediated via the stimulation of the mtDNA replication, mitochondrial gene expression, and CS activity in C2C12 muscle cells. Therefore, ISOR may be useful as a potential food ingredient to prevent metabolic diseases-associated muscle mitochondrial dysfunction.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2001

The partial sequences of mtDNA cytochrome b gene in two subspecies of striped field mouse(Apodemus agrarius coreae and A. agrarius manchuricus) from Korea and northeast China were analyzed to determine the degree of genetic diversity in ech subspecies and to confirm their subspecific difference. In 18 specimens of A. agrarius coreae, ten haplotypes were resulted, and in two specimens of A. agrarius manchuricus. one haplotype was revealed. Tamura-Nei nucleotide distance among ten haplotypes in subspecies coreae ranged 0.36 to 1.86%. and nucleotide distance between two subspecies (coreae and manchuricus) was 0.37 to 1.47%: maximum infrasubspecific divergence in coreae was greater than maximum intersubspecific difference between two subspecies. Moreover, no major subgroup was resulted when 11 haplotypes in two subspecies were compared. Our sequence result was not cancordant with the morphological data studied so far, and it is concluded that cytochrome b gene sequence is not a good genetic marker to distinguish two subspecies of A. agrarius. In futurem, mtDNA control region analyses seemded to be necessary to reveal genetic relationship between these two subspecies of A. agrarius.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.268-273
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• 2020

A spionid polychaete, Boccardiella hamata (Webster, 1879) has been found from mud in crevices between the shells of oysters and adherent substrates in South Korea. The sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), 16S ribosomal DNA (16S), and the nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA (18S) from Korean individuals of Boccardiella hamata were determined in the present study. The molecular analysis based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences showed clear separation among the spionid polychaete species, and the sequences of Korean and Japanese individuals are completely identical. The morphological diagnosis and photographs of B. hamata are also provided.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 1998

The pronuclear injection of metallothionein-human growth hormone (MT-hGH) gene into rabbit zygotes was performed to establish in vitro developmental system and to detect the presence of the injected gene by nested PCR. Mature female New Zealand White rabbits were superovulated by eGG and hCG treatments. The rabbits were mated and the zygotes were collected from the oviducts 18-22 h after hCG injection by flushing with D-PBS. Two to three picoliters of MT-hGH gene was microinjected into male pronuclei. The foreign gene-injected zygotes were cultured in TCM-199 or RD mediurn containing 10% FCS with a monolayer of rabbit oviductal epithelial cefls in a 5% $CO_2$ incubator. The presence of injected DNA in rabbit embryos or blastomeres at different developmental stages .vas detected by a nested PCR analysis. The results are summarized as follows ; 1.The developmental rate of the MT-hGH gene-injected zygotes to blastocyst was significantly higher in TCM-199 medium (68.1%) than in RD medium (42.9%). 2.The gene injection into pronuclei at 18 or 22 hours post hCG treatment during pronuclear stage did not much affect on the in vitro development of the rabbit embryos. 3.The rate of gene-positive embryos detected by the nested PCR analysis was significantly decreased when they developed to blastocysts. The results indicate that the screening of transgene in rabbit embryos by nested PCR analysis could be a prornisible method for the preselection of transgenic embryos. Furthermore, the preselection of transgenic embryos would greatly reduce hoth the cost and effort of production of transgenic animals.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.375-379
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• 2006

Food labeling regulations require that the meat species in various meat products are accurately declared to the consumer. Substitution or adulteration of costly meat with a cheaper one is one of the most common problems in the meat industry. In this study, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) method of the mitochondrial cytochrome b(mt cyt b) gene has been applied for identification of the origin of six mammalian meat species(beef, port horse, goat, mutton and deer) and three poultry meat species(chicken, turkey and duck) as raw materials for meat products. PCR was used to amplify a variable region of mt cyt b gene. Meat species differentiation was determined by digestion of the amplified products with a 359 bp fragment using HaeIII and HinfI restriction enzymes, which generated species-specific RFLP patterns. This PCR-RFLP DNA marker of mt cyt b gene could be very useful for the accurate and reliable identification and discrimination of animal meat species in routine analysis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.917-924
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• 2004

Using PCR-RFLP haplotyping for the mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) fragment containing the NADH dehydrogenase 2 gene(ND2) and three tRNA genes(tRNA-Met, tRNA-Trp and tRNA-Ala), we characterized the genetic diversity of five pig breeds including Jeju native pigs. mtDNA polymorphisms showing distinct cleavage patterns were found in the pig breeds. Two digestion patterns were detected when HaeIII- and Hinfl-RFLP, and four in the Tsp5091-RFLP analyses. Combining the three restriction enzyme digestion patterns found in five different pig breeds, four mtDNA haplotypes were observed and the haplotype frequencies were significantly different by the pig breeds. A monomorphic haplotype, mtWB, was observed in both Korean wild boars and Large White pigs. Both Duroc and Landrace pigs contained two haplotypes suggesting their multiple maternal lineages. Jeju native pig has two haplotypes(mtJN and mtJD). Of these, mtJN is identified as a Jeju native pig specific haplotype. This study suggested that more than two progenitor populations have been taken part in the domestication process of the Jeju native pig population, and/or probably subsequent crossing with other pig breeds from near east Asia. Unlike with our prediction, there was no direct evidence under molecular levels on the maternal introgression of Korean wild boar in the domestication of Jeju native pigs. In conclusion, specificity of mtDNA haplotypes related to pig breeds win be useful for identifying the maternal lineage as wen as constructing the genealogical pedigree in pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.501-507
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• 2019

Objective: The Agu is the only native pig breed in Japan, which is reared in Okinawa prefecture, the southernmost region in Japan. Its origins are considered to be of Asian lineage; however, the genetic background of the Agu is still unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate the maternal lineage of the Okinawa indigenous Agu pig with the use of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. Methods: The mtDNA control regions of Agu pigs were sequenced and the phylogenetic relationship among Agu, East Asian and European pigs was investigated with the use of 78 Agu individuals. Results: Twenty-seven polymorphic sites and five different haplotypes (type 1 to type 5) were identified within the Agu population. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that types 1 and 2 were included in East Asian lineages; however, the remaining types 3, 4, and 5 were of European lineages, which showed a gene flow from European pigs in the 20th century. Sixty-seven out of 78 Agu individuals (85.9%) possessed mtDNA haplotypes 1 and 2 of the East Asian lineage, which were identical to two haplotypes of ancient mtDNA (7,200 to 1,700 years before the present) excavated at archaeological sites in Okinawa. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the East Asian lineage is dominant in the maternal genetic background of the Agu population, supporting the hypothesis that the ancestors of the Agu pig were introduced from the Asian continent.