• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2011

A bacterial artificial chromosome library of Pectobacterium carotovorum 35 was constructed to characterize the genome and to sequence its hrp region. The hrp cluster of P. carotovorum 35 consisted of 26 open reading frames in five operons. A promoter-based green fluorescent protein technology was used to identify the genes regulated by the alternative sigma factor, HrpL, in P. carotovorum 35. The majority of the selected clones contained the hrpJ operon promoter sequence, which harbors a hrp box, but no putative hrp boxes were detected within the promoter sequences of two other hrpL-regulated genes encoding for pectate lyase and large repetitive protein. Although the promoters of five other hrp operons also contained hrp boxes, their expression was not HrpL-dependent in the promoter-based selection in E. coli. However, transcriptional analysis showed that expression from all operons harboring hrp boxes, except for the hrpN operon, was reduced significantly in the hrpL mutant. The severity of soft-rot symptoms when the hrpL mutant was applied to the surface of tobacco leaves, mimicking natural infection, was greatly attenuated. These results indicate that the hrpL gene of P. carotovorum 35 may be involved in the development of soft-rot symptoms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 1996

By both in vitro hydroxylamine mutagenesis of the wild type 3-phosphoglycerate kinase gene (PGK) promoter DNA and insertion of the leu2-d gene, we have created yeast expression vectors potentially useful for production of eukaryotic genes in yeast. The guanine (G) to adenine (A) change at the -3 position from the ATG start codon of the PGK promoter-based vector rendered a 6~7 times elevated expression of the adjacent eukaryotic gene, and insertion of the leu2-d gene in the vector containing the mutated PGK promoter further enhanced the expression of the gene. When expression of the AIDS virus HIV1-gagP17 gene in a lacZ fusion form was examined with this new vector, a 15 times higher level of expression than that from the original PGK promoter was observed. Northern and Southern analysis showed that this elevated expression is due to the production of a high copy number of mRNA by leu2-d gene functioning and by efficient translation of the produced mRNA. Thus, the vector that contained the A at the -3 position from the ATG start codon in the promoter region and the leu2-d gene shows increased expression capability and will be potentially useful for production of eukaryotic genes in yeast.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2011

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can self-renew maintaining the undifferentiated state. Self renewal requires many factors such as Oct4, Sox2, FoxD3, and Nanog. NF-${\kappa}B$ is a transcription factor involved in many biological activities. Expression and activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ increase upon differentiation of ES cells. Reportedly, Nanog protein directly binds to NF-${\kappa}B$ protein and inhibits its activity in ES cells. Here, we found a potential binding site of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the human Nanog promoter and postulated that NF-${\kappa}B$ protein may regulate expression of the Nanog gene. We used human embryonic carcinoma (EC) cells as a model system of ES cells and confirmed decrease of Nanog and increase of NF-${\kappa}B$ upon differentiation induced by retinoic acid. Although deletion analysis on the DNA fragment including NF-${\kappa}B$ binding site suggested involvement of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the negative regulation of the promoter, site-directed mutation of NF-${\kappa}B$ binding site had no effect on the Nanog promoter activity. Furthermore, no direct association of NF-${\kappa}B$ with the Nanog promoter was detected during differentiation. Therefore, we conclude that NF-${\kappa}B$ protein may not be involved in transcriptional regulation of Nanog gene expression in EC cells and possibly in ES cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 1999

STATs activated by various cytokine and growth factors trigger a quick response in the nucleus and induce changes in gene expression. We have found the sequences homologous to STAT binding site in the 5'-flanking region of the D-raf gene. In this study, we examined role of the STAT binding site in D-raf gene promoter activity in vivo by using transgenic flies. The reporter plasmid pDraf-STATmut-lacZ was constructed by fusing D-raf promoter fragment having the base-substituted STAT binding site with the lacZ gene in a P-element vector. Transgenic flies bearing the Draf-STATmut-lacZ fusion genes were established by P-element mediated transformation. The expression of lacZ in transgenic flies bearing Draf-STATmut-lacZ fusion genes carrying base substitution in STAT site throughout various developmental stages was extensively reduced in comparison with that in transgenic flies bearing wild type Draf-lacZ fusion gene. These results show that the STAT binding site plays an important role in regulation of the D-raf gene.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.673-680
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to identify the polymorphism on fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) gene promoter region and its association with carcass traits in Hanwoo. We performed PCR-direct sequencing of FABP4 promoter region to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) using unrelated 24 Hanwoo bulls. Four SNPs (-298A>G, -472A>G, -887A>G, -862A>G) were detected in the promoter region and genotyped on 583 Hanwoo steers. A linear mixed model revealed an association of three SNPs (-298A>G, -472A>G and -862A>G) with carcass weight and marbling score in dominance model (P<0.05). The animals with AA genotypes for the three SNPs were heavier carcass weight (5 kg) than animals with GG genotypes in the statistical analysis. For the marbling score, the AA genotype was lower effect of marbling score (0.21) than GG genotypes. In conclusion, this study indicates an important role for three SNPs detected in promoter region of FABP4 in determining carcass weight and marbling score in Hanwoo.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.287-295
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• 1998

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae MGMT gene encodes a O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase that protects cells from mutation or death by DNA alkylating agents. Using an in vitro transcription system, we analyzed its promoter region to find regulatory elements for transcription initiation. DNase I footprinting and a transcription assay showed that a functional TATA box, 5'-TGATATAGCA-3', is located in the region spanning from -25 to -34. We also found one upstream repressing sequence (URS), -333 to -213, by promoter deletion and competition analysis. Gel mobility shift assays and Southwestern blot analysis using URS region indicate specific complex formations. These results indicate that several cis-acting and trans-acting elements might be involved in the transcriptional regulation of the S. cerevisiae MGMT gene.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8451-8454
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• 2014

Objectives: Epidemiological studies have shown that molecular mechanisms underlying the development of lung cancers differ between smokers and unsmokers. Aberrant promoter methylation in some tumor suppressor genes is frequent in lung tumors from smokers but rare in those from non-smokers. Recently, many studies have investigated the association between cigarette smoking and RASSF1A gene promoter hypermethylation in lung cancer patients, but a unanimous conclusion could not be reached. We therefore performed this meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of any association. Study Design: An electronic search of PubMed and Chinese Biomedicine databases was conducted to select studies. A total of 19 case-control studies were chosen, and odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations. Results: The case-control studies covered 2, 287 lung cancer patients: 63.4%(1449) of the patients were smokers, 36.6% (838) were unsmokers. The overall results suggested that smokers with lung cancer had a 1.297-fold (95% CI: 1.066~1.580, p=0.010, p=0.087) higher risk for RASSF1A gene hypermethylation than the non-smokers. In the stratified analysis, an increased risk of RASSF1A gene hypermethylation in smokers than in non-smokers was found in Asian (OR=1.481, 95%CI: 1.179~1.861, p=0.001, p=0.186). Conclusions: This meta-analysis supports the idea that RASSF1A gene hypermethylation is associated with cigarette smoking-induced lung cancer.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2015

In order to study genetic engineering in trees, the characterization of genes and promoters from trees is necessary. We isolated the promoter region (867 bp) of Pagns-LTP from poplar (P. alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa) and characterized its activity in transgenic poplar plants using a ${\beta}$-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. High-level expression of the Pagns-LTP transcript was found in poplar roots, while comparatively low-level expression was found in the young leaves. Pagns-LTP mRNA was not detected in other poplar tissues. Additionally, transgenic poplar plants that contained a Pagns-LTP promoter fused to a GUS reporter gene, displayed tissue-specific GUS enzyme activity localized in root tissue. In silico analysis of the Pagns-LTP promoter sequence reveals the presence of several cis-regulatory elements responsive to phytohormones, biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as those regulating tissue-specific expression. These results demonstrate that the Pagns-LTP promoter has tissue-specific expression activity in poplar roots and leaves that may be involved in organ development and plant resistance to various stresses. Therefore, we anticipate that the Pagns-LTP promoter would be a useful tool to genetically optimize woody plants for functional genomics.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2014

We isolated highly-expressed genes in the posterior silk glands of silkworm on a previously study, which one of these was identified as RNA binding protein-1 homologue (RBP-1) gene. In this study, we investigated gene expressional characteristics of the RBP-1 depending on silkworm development stages and several tissues of the larvae, respectively. Northern blot hybridization analysis showed that the RBP-1 gene was expressed high in larval and pupal periods, and highly expressed than endogenous internal control gene (BmA3) on all tested larval tissues. In addition, we isolated and analyzed a phage DNA having 1,660 bp-long promoter region of the RBP-1 gene from a genomic DNA library. To study the RBP-1 gene promoter activity, RBP-1 (-740/+ 30) was amplified by PCR and subcloned into a pGL3 basic vector to generate pGL-RBP1. A luciferase report vector carrying RBP-1 gene promoter (770 bp) was tested by luciferase assay in Sf9 cells. In the result, the RBP-1 gene promoter was more efficient than constitutive promoter (BmA3) by approximately ten percent.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1689-1695
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• 2008

Leptin, the hormone product of the obese gene, is secreted predominately from white adipose tissue and regulates feed intake, energy metabolism and body composition. It has been considered a candidate gene for performance, carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle. The objective of this study was to identify SNPs in the promoter region of the leptin gene and to evaluate the possible association of the SNP genotypes with carcass and meat quality traits in Korean cattle. We identified a total of 25 SNPs in the promoter region (1,208-3,049 bp upstream from the transcription start site) of the leptin gene, eleven (g.1508C>G, g.1540G>A, g.1545G>A, g.1551C>T, g.1746T>G, g.1798ins(G), g.1932del(T), g.1933del(T), g.1934del(T), g.1993C>T and g.2033C>T) of which have not been reported previously. Their sequences were deposited in GenBank database with accession number DQ202319. Genotyping of the SNPs located at positions g.2418C>G and g.2423G>A within the promoter region was performed by direct sequencing and PCR-SSCP method to investigate the effects of SNP genotypes on carcass and meat quality traits in Korean cattle. The SNP and SSCP genotypes from the two mutations of the leptin promoter were shown to be associated with the BF trait. The average BF value of animals with heterozygous SNP genotype was significantly greater than that of animals with the homozygous SNP genotypes for the g.2418C>G and g.2423G>A SNPs (p<0.05). Analysis of the combined genotype effect in both SNPs showed that animals with the AC SSCP genotype had higher BF value than animals with BB or AA SSCP genotypes (p<0.05). These results suggest that SNP of the leptin promoter region may be useful markers for selection of economic traits in Korean cattle.