• 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.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2008

A Pn10 DNA probe was introduced as a Prevotella nigrescens ATCC $33563^T$-specific DNA probe. In that study, the specificity of the Pn10 was tested with only type or reference strains of 5 oral bacterial species. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the specificity of the Pn10 using the wild type strains of P. nigrescens and is to develop the P. nigrescens ATCC $33563^T$-specific PCR primers based on the nucleotide sequence of the Pn10. The specificity of the Pn10 DNA probe was determined by Southern blot analysis. The nucleotide sequence of Pn10 DNA probes was determined by chain termination method. The PCR primers were designed based on the nucleotide sequence of cloned DNA fragment. The data showed that Pn10 DNA probe were hybridized with the genomic DNAs from P. nigrescens ATCC $33563^T$ and KB6. The Pn10 homologous region, KB6-Pn10, of P. nigrescens KB6 was cloned by PCR and sequenced. The Pn10 and KB6-Pn10 DNA fragments were consisted of 1,875 bp and 1,873 bp, respectively. The percent identity of the two was 98.8% and the divergence of them was 0.6%. The two primer sets (Pn10-F-AC/ Pn10-R-AC and Pn10-F-A/ Pn10-R-A), designed base on the nucleotide sequences of Pn10 DNA probe, were specific to the P. nigrescens ATCC $33563^T$. The two PCR primer sets could detect as little as 4 pg of genomic DNA of P. nigrescens ATCC $33563^T$. These results indicate that the two PCR primer sets have proven useful for the identification of P. nigrescens ATCC $33563^T$, especially with regard to the maintenance of the strain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.917-922
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• 2008

A disintegrin-like and metalloprotease (reprolysin type) with thrombospondin type 1 motif (ADAMTS1) plays a critical role in follicular rupture and represents a major advance in the proteolytic events that control ovulation. In this study, a 9,026-bp DNA sequence containing the full coding region, all 8 introns and part of the 5'and 3' untranslated region of the porcine ADAMTS1 gene was obtained. Analysis of the ADAMTS1 gene using the porcine radiation hybrid panel indicated that pig ADAMTS1 is closely linkage with microsatellite marker S0215, located on SSC13q49. The open reading frame of its cDNA covered 2,844 bp and encoded 947 amino acids. The coding region of porcine ADAMTS1 as determined by sequence alignments shared 85% and 81% identity with human and mouse cDNAs, respectively. The deduced protein contained 947 amino acids showing 85% sequence similarity both to the human and mouse proteins, respectively. Comparative sequencing of three pig breeds revealed one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within exon 7 of which a G-C substitution at position 6006 changes a codon for arginine into a codon for proline. The substitution was situated within a PvuII recognition site and developed as a PCR-RFLP marker for further use in population variation investigations and association analysis with litter size. Allele frequencies of this SNP were investigated in seven pig breeds/lines. An association analysis in a new Qingping female line suggested that different ADAMTS1 genotypes have significant differences in litter size (p<0.01).

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2018

A mcyB-specific Ultra-Rapid quantitative PCR was developed for the quantitative detection of Microcystis aeruginosa, which is often a dominant species in green tide. McyB-specific UR-qPCR was optimized under extremely short times of each step in thermal cycles, based on the specific primers deduced from the mcyB in microcystin synthetase of M. aeruginosa. The M. aeruginosa strain KG07 was used as a standard for quantification, after the microscopic counting and calculation by mcyB-specific UR-qPCR. The water samples from the river water with the Microcystis outbreak were also measured by using both methods. The $1.0{\times}10^8$ molecules of mcyB-specific DNA was recognized inner 4 minutes after beginning of UR-qPCR, while $1.0{\times}10^4$ molecules of mcyB-specific templates was detected inner 7 minutes with quantitative manner. From the range of $1.0{\times}10^2$ to $1.0{\times}10^8$ initial molecules, quantification was well established based on $C_T$ using mcyB-specific UR-qPCR (Regression coefficiency, $R^2=0.9977$). Between the numbers of M. aeruginosa cell counting under microscope and calculated numbers using mcyB-specific UR-qPCR, some differences were often found. The reasons for these differences were discussed; therefore, easy compensation method was proposed that was dependent on the numbers of the cell counting. Additionally, to easily extract the genomic DNA (gDNA) from the samples, a freeze-fracturing of water-sample using liquid nitrogen was tested, by excluding the conventional gDNA extraction method. It was also verified that there were no significant differences using the UR-qPCR with both gDNAs. In conclusion, the mcyB-specific UR-qPCR that we proposed would be expected to be a useful tool for rapid quantification and easy monitoring of M. aeruginosa in environmental water.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2007

The release of genetically modified organisms ($GMO_{s}$) into the environment has the potential risks regarding the possibility of gene transfer from $GMO_{s}$ to natural organisms and this needs to be evaluated. This study was conducted to monitor the possible horizontal gene transfer from herbicide-resistant zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) to indigenous microorganisms. We have first examined the effect of field-released GM zoysiagrass on the microbial flora in the gut of locust (Locusts mlgratoria). The microbial flora was analyzed through determining the 165 rDHA sequences of microorganisms. The comparison of the microbial flora in the gut of locusts that were captured at the field of GM zoysiagrass and of wild-type revealed that there is no noticeable difference between these two groups. This result indicates that the GM zoysiagrass does not have negative impact on microbial flora in the gut of locust. We then investigated whether the horizontal gene transfer occurred from GM zoysiagrass to microbes in soil, rhizosphere and faecal pellets from locusts by utilizing molecular tools such as Southern hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). When the total DNAs isolated from microbes in GM zoysiagrass and in wild-type zoysiagrass fields were hybridized with probes for bar or hpt gene, no hybridization signal was detected from both field isolates, while the probes were hybridized with DNA from the positive control. Absence of these genes in the FNAs of soil microorganisms as well as microbes in the gut of locust was further confirmed by PCR. Taken together, our data showed that horizontal gene transfer did not occur in this system. These results further indicate that frequencies of transfer of engineered plant DNA to bacteria are likely to be negligible.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.383-388
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• 2010

Alkaline protease-overproducing strains of Vibrio metschnikovii were developed by using the molecular evolution from the classical mutants V. metschnikovii L12-23, N4-8, and KS1. Each vapK (Vibrio alkaline protease K) was obtained from the genomic DNAs of mutants by PCR to carry out the DNA shuffling. The modified vapK-1 obtained by DNA shuffling was used again as a template for the error-prone PCR to make the vapK-2. Both genes were cloned in the plasmid pKF3 to construct the recombinant plasmids which have one or two copies of the modified genes. The recombinant plasmids were back-transformed to V. metschnikovii KS1 to construct recombinant V. metschnikovii that expresses the alkaline protease. About 3.9-fold more protease activity was measured in the strain which has the plasmid containing two copies of vapK-2 when compared to strain KS1. When compared to wild type V. metschnikovii RH530, 43-fold more activity was achieved. Comparison of amino acids among vapK, vapK-1, and vapK-2 revealed that the active sites was highly conserved and not changed. However, many amino acids except the active sites were changed. These results suggested that the changes in amino acids might play an important role in the increase of protease activity by allowing the easy access of substrate to active sites of the protease. The fermentation of alkaline protease from the V. metschnikovii KS1 harboring the plasmid that contains two copies of vapK-1 showed the possibility of this strain to be used as industrial producer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.287-295
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• 2005

In order to compare bacteria] community structure and diversity in activated sludges, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of PCR-amplified 16s rDNAs was analyzed for 31 domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants (WTPs). Regardless of the characteristics of the wastewaters, the bacteria] community structures of activated sludges appeared diverse and complex. In particular, activated sludges in domestic WTPs contained higher bacterial diversity than those in industrial WTPs. It was also found that terminal restriction fragment (T-RF) profiles derived from domestic WTPs were very similar with each other, although activated sludges were collected from different plants at different locations. Interestingly, activated sludges of a WTP where restaurant and toilet sewages of a company were managed showed a bacterial community structure similar to that of domestic WTPs. Activated sludges in leather industria] WTPs also showed a high similarity. However, other wastewaters possessed different bacterial communities, so that overall similarity was as low as about $30\%$. Since activated sludges from WTPs for domestic wastewaters and a company sewage appeared to hold similar bacterial communities, it was necessary to confirm if similar wastewaters induce a similar bacterial community. To answer this question, analysis of T-RFs for activated sludges, taken from another 12 domestic WTPs, was conducted by using a 6­FAM$^{TM}$-Iabeled primer and an automated DNA sequencer for higher sensitivity. Among 12 samples, it was again found that T-RF profiles of activated sludges from Yongin, Sungnam, Suwon, and Tancheon domestic WTPs in Kyonggi-do were very similar with each other. On the other hand, T-RF profiles of activated sludges from Shihwa and Ansan WTPs were quite different from each other. It was thought that this deviation was caused by wastewaters, since Ansan and Shihwa WTPs receive both domestic and industrial wastewaters. From these results, it was tentatively concluded that similar bacterial communities might be developed in activated sludges, if WTPs treat similar wastewaters.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.330-338
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) is a ginseng saponin that is widely investigated because of its remarkable antitumor activity. However, the molecular mechanism by which (20S) G-Rh2 triggers its functions and how target animals avoid its cytotoxic action remains largely unknown. Methods: Phage display was used to screen the human targets of (20S) G-Rh2. Fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy were used to confirm the interaction of candidate target proteins and (20S) G-Rh2. Molecular docking was utilized to calculate the estimated free energy of binding and to structurally visualize their interactions. MTT assay and immunoblotting were used to assess whether human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and bovine serum can reduce the cytotoxic activity of (20S) G-Rh2 in HepG2 cells. Results: In phage display, (20S) G-Rh2-beads and (20R) G-Rh2-beads were combined with numerous kinds of phages, and a total of 111 different human complementary DNAs (cDNA) were identified, including HSA which had the highest rate. The binding constant and number of binding site in the interaction between (20S)-Rh2 and HSA were $3.5{\times}10^5M^{-1}$ and 1, and those in the interaction between (20S) G-Rh2 and BSA were $1.4{\times}10^5M^{-1}$ and 1. The quenching mechanism is static quenching. HSA, BSA and bovine serum significantly reduced the proapoptotic effect of (20S) G-Rh2. Conclusion: HSA and BSA interact with (20S) G-Rh2. Serum inhibited the activity of (20S) G-Rh2 mainly due to the interaction between (20S) G-Rh2 and serum albumin (SA). This study proposes that HSA may enhance (20S) G-Rh2 water solubility, and thus might be used as nanoparticles in the (20S) G-Rh2 delivery process.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.645-654
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• 1995

Porphyromonas endodontalis is a black-pigmented anaerobic Gram negative rod which is associated with endodontal infections. It has been isolated from infected dental root canals and submucous abscesses of endodontal origin. DNA probe is an available alternative, offering the direct detection of a specific microorganism. Nucleic-acid probes can be off different types: whole different: whole-genomic, cloned or oligonucleotide probes. Wholegenomic probes are the most sensitive because the entire genome is used for possible hybridization sites. However, as genetically similar species of bacteria are likely to be present in specimences, cross-reactions need to be considered. Cloned probes are isolated sequences of DNA that do not show cross-reactivity and are produced in quantity by cloning in a plasmid vector. Cloned probes can approach the sensitivity found with whole-genomic probes while avoiding known cross-reacting species. Porphyromonas endodontalis ATCC 35406 (serotype $O_1K_1$) was selected in this experiment to develop specific cloned DNA probes. EcoR I-digested genomic DNA fragments of P. endodontalis ATCC 35406 were cloned into pUC18 plasmid vector. From the E. coli transformed with the recombinant plasmid 4 clones were selected to be tested as specific DNA probes. Restriction-digested whole-genomic DNAs prepared from P. gingivalis 38(serotype a), W50(serotype b), A7A1-28(serotype C), P. intermedia 9336(serotype b), G8-9K-3(serotype C), P. endodontalis ATCC 35406(serotype $O_1K_1$), A. a Y4(serotype b), 75(serotype a), 67(serotype c), were each seperated on agarose gel electrophoresis, blotted on nylon membranes, and were hybridized with digoxigenin-dUTP labeled probe. The results were as follows: 1. Three clones of 1.6kb(probe e), 1.6kb(probe f), and 0.9kb(probe h) in size, were obtained. These clones were identified to be a part of the genomic DNA of P. endodontalis ATCC 35406 judging from their specific hybridization to the genomic DNA fragments of their own size on Southern blot. 2. The clones of 4.9kb(probe i) was identified to be a part of the genomic DNA of P. endodontalis ATCC 35406. but not to specific for itself. It was hybridized to P. gingivalis A7A1-28, P. intermedia G89K-3.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2005

Purpose: To understand genetic differences and similarities between mucolipidosis and control. Methods: Using the fibroblast of the mucolipidosis II and control, forward and reverse subtracted libraries were constructed. Among these clones, we investigated mutations in the GNPTA (MGC4170) gene, which codes for the ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ subunits of phosphotransferase, and in the GNPTAG gene, which codes for the ${\gamma}$ subunits in 5 Korean patients with mucolipidosis type II or IIIA. Result: Several differentially expressed cDNAs were cloned and their sequences were determined. Mutation analysis of the interested gene, GNPTA was performed and we identified 7 mutations in the GNPTA gene, but none in the GNPTAG gene. The mutations in type II patients included p.Q104X(c.310C>T), p.R1189X(c.3565C>T), p.S1058X(c.3173C>G), p.W894X(c.2681G>A) and p.H1158fsX15(c.3474_3475delTA), all of which are non-sense or frame shift mutations. However, a splicing site mutation, IVS13+1G>A (c.2715+1G>A) was detected along with a non-sense or a frame shift mutation (p.R1189X or p.E858fsX3(c.2574_2575delGA)) in two mucolipidosis type IIIA patients. Conclusion: This report shows that mutations in the GNPTA gene coding for the ${\alpha}{\beta}$subunits of phosphotransferase, and not mutations in the GNPTAG gene, account for most of mutations found in Korean patients with mucolipidosis type II or IIIA.