• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.880-884
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• 2001

Rumen microbiology research has undergone several evolutionary steps: the isolation and nutritional characterization of readily cultivated microbes; followed by the cloning and sequence analysis of individual genes relevant to key digestive processes; through to the use of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) sequences for a cultivation-independent examination of microbial diversity. Our knowledge of rumen microbiology has expanded as a result, but the translation of this information into productive alterations of ruminal function has been rather limited. For instance, the cloning and characterization of cellulase genes in Escherichia coli has yielded some valuable information about this complex enzyme system in ruminal bacteria. SSU rRNA analyses have also confirmed that a considerable amount of the microbial diversity in the rumen is not represented in existing culture collections. However, we still have little idea of whether the key, and potentially rate-limiting, gene products and (or) microbial interactions have been identified. Technologies allowing high throughput nucleotide and protein sequence analysis have led to the emergence of two new fields of investigation, genomics and proteomics. Both disciplines can be further subdivided into functional and comparative lines of investigation. The massive accumulation of microbial DNA and protein sequence data, including complete genome sequences, is revolutionizing the way we examine microbial physiology and diversity. We describe here some examples of our use of genomics- and proteomics-based methods, to analyze the cellulase system of Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1 and explore the genome of Ruminococcus albus 8. At Illinois, we are using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors to create libraries containing large (>75 kbases), contiguous segments of DNA from R. flavefaciens FD-1. Considering that every bacterium is not a candidate for whole genome sequencing, BAC libraries offer an attractive, alternative method to perform physical and functional analyses of a bacterium's genome. Our first plan is to use these BAC clones to determine whether or not cellulases and accessory genes in R. flavefaciens exist in clusters of orthologous genes (COGs). Proteomics is also being used to complement the BAC library/DNA sequencing approach. Proteins differentially expressed in response to carbon source are being identified by 2-D SDS-PAGE, followed by in-gel-digests and peptide mass mapping by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry, as well as peptide sequencing by Edman degradation. At Ohio State, we have used a combination of functional proteomics, mutational analysis and differential display RT-PCR to obtain evidence suggesting that in addition to a cellulosome-like mechanism, R. albus 8 possesses other mechanisms for adhesion to plant surfaces. Genome walking on either side of these differentially expressed transcripts has also resulted in two interesting observations: i) a relatively large number of genes with no matches in the current databases and; ii) the identification of genes with a high level of sequence identity to those identified, until now, in the archaebacteria. Genomics and proteomics will also accelerate our understanding of microbial interactions, and allow a greater degree of in situ analyses in the future. The challenge is to utilize genomics and proteomics to improve our fundamental understanding of microbial physiology, diversity and ecology, and overcome constraints to ruminal function.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.391-399
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• 2016

Melithiazol은 점액세균 Melitangium lichenicola, Archangium gephyra, Myxococcus stipitatus에 의해 생산되는 항진균 물질이다. M. lichenicola의 melithiazol 생합성 유전자는 이미 알려져 있지만, A. gephyra와 M. stipitatus의 melithiazol 생합성 유전자들은 아직까지 밝혀져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 유전체 서열 분석과 돌연변이 분석을 통해 M. stipitatus DSM 14675 균주로부터 37.3 kb 크기의 melithiazol 생합성 유전자군을 발견하였다. 이 유전자군은 9개(MYSTI_04973−MYSTI_04965)의 유전자로 구성되어 있는데, 4개의 polyketide synthase 모듈과 3개의 non-ribosomal peptide synthase 모듈, 그리고 fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase, S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase, nitrilase를 암호화하는 것으로 분석되었다. 플라스미드 삽입 돌연변이를 통해 MYSTI_04972 유전자 또는 MYSTI_04973를 불활성화시켰을 때 melithiazol 생산능이 상실되었다. MYSTI_04972부터 MYSTI_04965까지의 8개 유전자가 암호화하는 melithiazol 생합성 모듈의 구성은 M. lichenicola Me l46에서와 유사하였다. 하지만 첫 번째 유전자(MYSTI_04973)에 의해 암호화되는 로딩 모듈의 구성은 M. lichenicola Me l46과 달랐는데, 이러한 차이는 M. stipitatus 균주들이 어떻게 M. lichenicola Me l46과는 다른 구조의 melithiazol 유도체들을 생산하는지 설명해준다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.287-294
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• 2008

Three amino acid residues (His119, Glu164, and Glu338) in the active site of Thermus caldophilus GK24 ${\beta}$-glycosidase (Tca ${\beta}$-glycosidase), a family 1 glycosyl hydrolase, were mutated by site-directed mutagenesis. To verify the key catalytic residues, Glu164 and Glu338 were changed to Gly and Gln, respectively. The E164G mutation resulted in drastic reductions of both ${\beta}$-galactosidase and ${\beta}$-glucosidase activities, and the E338Q mutation caused complete loss of activity, confirming that the two residues are essential for the reaction process of glycosidic linkage hydrolysis. To investigate the role of His119 in substrate binding and enzyme activity, the residue was substituted with Gly. The H119G mutant showed 53-fold reduced activity on 5mM p-nitrophenyl ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside, when compared with the wild type; however, both the wild-type and mutant enzymes showed similar activity on 5mM p-nitrophenyl ${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside at $75^{\circ}C$. Kinetic analysis with p-nitrophenyl ${\beta}$-D-galactopyranoside revealed that the $k_{cat}$ value of the H119G mutant was 76.3-fold lower than that of the wild type, but the $K_m$ of the mutant was 15.3-fold higher than that of the wild type owing to the much lower affinity of the mutant. Thus, the catalytic efficiency $(k_{cat}/K_m)$ of the mutant decreased to 0.08% to that of the wild type. The $k_{cat}$ value of the H119G mutant for p-nitrophenyl ${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside was 5.l-fold higher than that of the wild type, but the catalytic efficiency of the mutant was 2.5% of that of the wild type. The H119G mutation gave rise to changes in optima pH (from 5.5-6.5 to 5.5) and temperature (from $90^{\circ}C\;to\;80-85^{\circ}C$). This difference of temperature optima originated in the decrease of H119G's thermostability. These results indicate that His119 is a crucial residue in ${\beta}$-galactosidase and ${\beta}$-glucosidase activities and also influences the enzyme's substrate binding affinity and thermostability.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.105-112
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• 2023

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)는 파킨슨병과 같은 신경퇴행성 질환의 병태생리학적인 측면에서 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있고 주로 뇌뿐만 아니라 폐에서도 발현된다. 그러나 LRRK2 발현이 폐 편평세포암(lung squamous cell carcinoma, LUSC)과 같은 일반적인 폐암의 아형과 병인성이 있는지는 불분명하다. 본 연구에서는 Kaplan Meier 플로터 생물정보학 온라인 도구를 사용하여 폐 편평세포암종 내에서 LRRK2와의 예후 진단가치를 분석하였다. 폐 편평세포암종 환자는 LRRK2의 발현이 높아지면 더 나쁜 예후를 나타낸다고 알려져 왔다. LRRK2 발현이 높은 환자의 경우 종양 돌연변이 부담, 높은 신항원부하, 더 나쁜 생존율, 성별과 상관관계를 보였다. 더욱이, gene expression profiling interactive analysis 데이터분석에서 높은 LRRK2 발현을 가진 환자에서의 심각한 증상은 항염증성 사이토카인(예, IL-4, IL-10)의 높은 발현에 양의 상관관계를 보였지만 염증성 사이토카인은 상관성이 없었다. 이러한 결과에서 IL-10관련 유전자의 높은 발현은 더 나쁜 예후를 보이는 LRRK2-high 환자들에서 유의미하게 연관성을 보였다. 또한, tumor immunity estimation resource 데이터는 큰포식세포가 LRRK2-high LUSC환자에서 IL-10의 기원세포 중 하나임을 보여주었다. 본 연구를 통해 결과적으로 LRRK2-IL10 축의 가설이 LUSC 환자의 잠재적이 치료 표적과 예후 바이오 마커일 수 있음을 보여주었다.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.239-247
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• 2003

The LRV1-4 capsid protein possesses an endoribonuclease activity that is responsible for the single site-specific cleavage in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of its own viral RNA genome and the formation of a conserved stem-loop structure (stem-loop IV) in the UTR is essential for the accurate RNA cleavage by the capsid protein. To delineate the nucleotide sequences, which are essential for the correct formation of the stem-loop structure for the accurate RNA cleavage by the viral capsid protein, a wildtype minimal RNA transcript (RNA 5' 249-342) and several synthetic RNA transcripts encoding point-mutations in the stem-loop region were generated in an in vitro transcription system, and used as substrates for the RNA cleavage assay and RNase mapping studies. When the RNA 5' 249-342 transcript was subjected to RNase T1 and A mapping studies, the results showed that the predicted RNA secondary structure in the stem-loop region using FOLD analysis only existed in the presence of Mg$\^$2＋/ ions, suggesting that the metal ion stabilizes the stem-loop structure of the substrate RNA in solution. When point-mutated RNA substrates were used in the RNA cleavage assay and RNase T1 mapping study, the specific nucleotide sequences in the stem-loop region were not required for the accurate RNA cleavage by the viral capsid protein, but the formation of a stem-loop like structure in a region (nucleotides from 267 to 287) stabilized by Mg$\^$2＋/ ions was critical for the accurate RNA cleavage. The RNase T1 mapping and EMSA studies revealed that the Ca$\^$2＋/ and Mn$\^$2＋/ ions, among the reagents tested, could change the mobility of the substrate RNA 5' 249-342 on a gel similarly to that of Mg$\^$2＋/ ions, but only Ca$\^$2＋/ ions identically showed the stabilizing effect of Mg$\^$2＋/ ions on the stem-loop structure, suggesting that binding of the metal ions (Mg$\^$2＋/ or Ca$\^$2＋/) onto the RNA substrate in solution causes change and stabilization of the RNA stem-loop structure, and only the substrate RNA with a rigid stem-loop structure in the essential region can be accurately cleaved by the LRV1-4 viral capsid protein.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.30-42
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• 2008

The disease-specific (dsp) region and the hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (hrp) genes, including the hrpW, $hrpN_{Ep}$, and hrpC operons have previously been sequenced in Erwinia pyrifoliae WT3 [Shrestha et al. (2005a)]. In this study, the remaining hrp genes, including the hrpC, hrpA, hrpS, hrpXY, hrpL and hrpJ operons, were determined. The hrp genes cluster (ca. 38 kb) was comprised of eight transcriptional units and contained nine hrc (hrp conserved) genes. The genetic organization of the hrp/hrc genes and their orientation for the transcriptions were also similar to and collinear with those of E. amylovora, showing ${\geq}80%$ homologies. However, ORFU1 and ORFU2 of unknown functions, present between the hrpA and hrpS operons of E. amylovora, were absent in E. pyrifoliae. To determine the HR active domains, several proteins were prepared from truncated fragments of the N-terminal and the C-terminal regions of $HrpN_{Ep}$ protein of E. pyrifoliae. The proteins prepared from the N-terminal region elicited HR, but not from those of the C-terminal region indicating that HR active domains are located in only N-terminal region of the $HrpN_{Ep}$ protein. Two synthetic oligopeptides produced HR on tobacco confirming presence of two HR active domains in the $HrpN_{Ep}$. The HR positive N-terminal fragment ($HN{\Delta}C187$) was further narrowed down by deleting C-terminal amino acids and internal amino acids to investigate whether amino acid insertion region have role in faster and stronger HR activity in $HrpN_{Ep}$ than $HrpN_{Ea}$. The $HrpN_{Ep}$ mutant proteins $HN{\Delta}C187$ (D1AIR), $HN{\Delta}C187$ (D2AIR) and $HN{\Delta}C187$ (DM41) retained similar HR activation to that of wild-type $HrpN_{Ep}$. However, the $HrpN_{Ep}$ mutant protein $HN{\Delta}C187$ (D3AIR) lacking third amino acid insertion region (102 to 113 aa) reduced HR when compared to that of wild-type $HrpN_{Ep}$. Reduction in HR elicitation could not be observed when single amino acids at different positions were substituted at third amino acids insertion region. But, substitution of amino acids at L103R, L106K and L110R showed reduction in HR activity on tobacco suggesting their importance in activation of HR faster in the $HrpN_{Ep}$ although it requires further detailed analysis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.603-608
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• 2016

Background: The investigation of mutation patterns in oncogenes potentially can make available a reliable mechanism for management and treatment decisions for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study concerns the rate of KRAS and BRAF genes mutations in Iranian metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, as well as associations of genotypes with clinicopathological features. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,000 mCRC specimens collected from 2008 to 2012 that referred to the Mehr Hospital and Partolab center, Tehran, Iran enrolled in this cross sectional study. Using HRM, Dxs Therascreen and Pyrosequencing methods, we analyzed the mutational status of KRAS and BRAF genes in these. Results: KRAS mutations were present in 33.6% cases (n=336). Of KRAS mutation positive cases, 85.1% were in codon 12 and 14.9% were in codon 13. The most frequent mutation at KRAS codon 12 was Gly12Asp; BRAF mutations were not found in any mCRC patients (n=242). In addition, we observed a strong correlation of KRAS mutations with some clinicopathological characteristics. Conclusions: KRAS mutations are frequent in mCRCs while presence of BRAF mutations in these patients is rare. Moreover, associations of KRAS genotypes with non-mucinous adenocarcinoma and depth of invasion (pT3) were remarkable.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.76-82
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• 2003

Alcaligenes faecalis T1의 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)(PHB) depolymerase활성 증진을 위해 DNA shuffling방법을 이용하였다. 제조된 A. faecalis T1의 PHB depolymerase 돌연변이 유전자의 library를 Pseudomonas syringae의 icenucleation protein유전자를 포함하는 발현벡터 pJHCll에 클로닝하여 약 7,000개의 형질전환체를 얻었다. 탄소원으로 PHB또는 poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)를 포함하는 M9최소배지를 이용하여 형질전환체들로부터 활성이 서로 다른 돌연변이주들을 선별하였다. 이들의 PHB depolymease 활성은 평판배지에서의 halo형성 및 배양 상등액을 이용한 탁도 감소 실험으로 확인하였으며,형질전환체들 중에서 shuffling전의 대조군에 비하여 사용된 기질에 따라 효소활성이 1.8-3.2배 증진된 II-4 돌연변이주를 얻었다. DNA 염기서열의 분석을 통하여 II-4의 PHB depolymease에는 3개의 아미노산 치환(A1a209Va1, Leu258Phe, Asp263Thr)이 이루어졌음을 확인하였다. 여러 가지 돌연변이주의 아미노산 서열의 변화를 분석한 결과, PHB depolymerase의 catalytictriad주위에 기존 아미노산에 비하여 보다 소수성인 아미노산으로의 치환이 소수성 기질인 PHB에 대한분해 활성 중진에 기여하는 것으로 추정되었다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.2743-2746
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• 2013

Background: Dilantin sodium (phenytoin) is an antiepileptic drug, which is routinely used to control generalized tonic clonic seizure and partial seizure episodes. A few case reports of oral squamous cell carcinomas arising from regions of phenytoin induced gingival overgrowth (GO), and overexpression of mitogenic factors and p53 have presented this condition as a pathology with potential to transform into malignancy. We recently investigated the genetic status of p53 and H-ras, which are known to be frequently mutated in Indian oral carcinomas in GO tissues and found them to only contain wild type sequences, which suggested a non-neoplastic nature of phenytoin induced GO. However, besides p53 and H-ras, other oncogenes and tumor suppressors such as PIK3CA, p14ARF, p16INK4a and $p21^{Waf1/Cip1}$, are frequently altered in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and hence are required to be analyzed in phenytoin induced GO tissues to be affirmative of its non-neoplastic nature. Methods: 100ng of chromosomal DNA isolated from twenty gingival overgrowth tissues were amplified with primers for exons 9 and 20 of PIK3CA, exons $1{\alpha}$, $1{\beta}$ and 2 of p16INK4a and p14ARF, and exon 2 of $p21^{Waf1/Cip1}$, in independent reactions. PCR amplicons were subsequently gel purified and eluted products were sequenced. Results: Sequencing analysis of the twenty samples of phenytoin induced gingival growth showed no mutations in the analyzed exons of PIK3CA, p14ARF, p16INK4a and $p21^{Waf1/Cip1}$. Conclusion: The present data indicate that the mutational alterations of genes, PIK3CA, p14ARF, p16INK4a and $p21^{Waf1/Cip1}$ that are frequently mutated in oral squamous cell carcinomas are rare in phenytoin induced gingival growth. Thus the findings provide further evidence that phenytoin induced gingival overgrowth as a non-neoplastic lesion, which may be considered as clinically significant given the fact that the epileptic patients are routinely administered with phenytoin for the rest of their lives to control seizure episodes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권sup1호
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• pp.49-52
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• 2016

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a hereditary humoral immunodeficiency that results from Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK ) gene mutations. These mutations cause defects in B-cell development, resulting in the virtual absence of these lymphocytes from the peripheral circulation. Consequently, this absence leads to a profound deficiency of lg all isotypes, and an increased susceptibility to encapsulated bacterial infections. A 15-month-old Korean boy presented with recurrent sinusitis and otitis media after 6 months of age, and had a family history of 2 maternal uncles with XLA. Laboratory tests revealed a profound deficiency of Ig isotypes, and a decreased count of $CD19^+$ B cells in the peripheral circulation. Based on his family history and our laboratory test results, he was diagnosed with XLA. We performed BTK gene analysis of peripheral blood samples obtained from family members to confirm the diagnosis. Mutational analysis revealed a novel hemizygous frameshift mutation (c.82delC, p.Arg28Alafs*5), in the BTK gene. His mother and maternal grandmother were heterozygous carriers of this mutation and his two maternal uncles were hemizygous at the same position. After XLA diagnosis, intravenous immunoglobulin (400 mg/kg, monthly) treatment was initiated; recurrent sinusitis and otitis media were subsequently brought under control. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a Korean pedigree with a novel mutation in the BTK gene.