• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2011

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a member of the Avibirnavirus genus of the Birnaviridae family which genome consists of two segments (A and B) of double stranded RNA. Segment A gene of KNU08010 isolate, which was isolated from a 15-day-old chicken flock in 2008, was sequenced and compared with other IBDV isolates including SH/92 strain, the first Korean very virulent (vv) IBDV isolate. The amino acid sequences of segment A gene showed that KNU08010 had 99.2% homology with SH92 strain. KNU08010 isolate had specific amino acids A222, I242, I256, I294 and S299 which are highly conserved among vvIBDV strains. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of variable region of the VP2 gene of 18 IBDV strains revealed that KNU08010 was grouped with vvIBDVs and was closely related to Korean vvIBDVs isolated from wild birds.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 2021

Eukaryotic translation is initiated by either cap-dependent or cap-independent way, and the cap-independent translation can be initiated by the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). In this study, to know whether the 5'UTR leader sequence of marine birnavirus (MABV) segment A and segment B can act as IRES, bicistronic vectors harboring a CMV promoter-driven red fluorescent gene (mCherry) and poliovirus IRES- or MABV's leader sequence-driven green fluorescent gene (eGFP) were constructed, then, transfected into a mammalian cell line (BHK-21 cells) and a fish cell line (CHSE-214 cells). The results showed that the poliovirus IRES worked well in BHK-21 cells, but did not work in CHSE-214 cells. In the evaluation of MABV's leader sequences, the reporter eGFP gene under the 5'UTR leader sequence of MABV's segment A was well-translated in CHSE-214 cells, indicating 5'UTR of MABV's segment A initiates translation in the cap-independent way and can be used as a fish-specific IRES system. However, the 5'UTR leader sequence of MABV's segment B did not initiate translation in CHSE-214 cells. As the precise mechanism of birnavirid IRES-mediated translation is not known, more elaborate investigations are needed to uncover why the leader sequence of segment B could not initiate translation in the present study. In addition, further studies on the host species range of MABV's segment A IRES and on the screening of other fish-specific IRESs are needed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.264-269
• /
• 1994

To determine the nucleotide sequence of the ds RNA segment B containing the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of the DRT strain of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (lPNV), the cDNA of the ds RNA segment B of the DRT strain of IPNV was synthesized using the reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its cDNA nucleotide sequence was determined. The DRT segment B was 2, 783 bp long and contained only a single long open reading frame (ORF) of 2, 535 bp in length. This ORF nucleotides encoded the VPl protein, the putative RdRp of IPNV. The VPl protein comsisted of 845 amino acids. The molecular weight of the RdRp, as deduced from the nucleotide sequence, is 94, 426. The nucleotide sequence of the ORF of the DRT showed 89.7% homology to the Jasper strain, but 80.8% to the Sp strain. The amino acid sequence of the ORF of the DRT sho.wed 97.6% homology to the Jasper strain, but 88.7% to the Sp strain. The conserved GTP-binding motif was detected in VPl protein.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.293-300
• /
• 2014

Direct cell-cell communication through connexin (Cx) complexes is a way to achieve functional accordance of cells within a tissue or an organ. The initial segment (IS), a part of the epididymis, plays important roles in sperm maturation. Steroid hormones influence on expression of a number of genes in the IS of adult animals. However, developmental effect of sex hormones on the gene expression in the IS has not been examined. In this study, estradiol benzoate (EB, an estrogen agonist) or flutamide (Flu, an androgen antagonist) was exogenously administrated at 1 week of postnatal age, and expressional changes of Cx genes in the IS were determined at 4 months of age by a quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Treatment of EB at $0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (BW) increased expression of Cx30.3, 31.1, and 43 genes. However, treatment of 1.5 mg EB/kg BW resulted in expressional decreases of Cx31, 32, and 45 genes and caused increases of Cx30.3 and 43 gene expression. Significant decreases of Cx31, 31.1, 32, 37, and 45 gene expression were detected with a treatment of $500{\mu}g\;Flu/kg$ BW, while expression of Cx43 gene was significantly increased with a treatment of $500{\mu}g\;Flu/kg$ BW. A treatment of $50{\mu}g\;Flu/kg$ BW led to significant increases of Cx30.3, 32, 37, 40, and 43 gene expression. These findings imply that exogenous exposure of steroidal hormones during the early developmental period would result in aberrant expression of Cx genes in the adult IS.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.43-51
• /
• 2015

Connexin (Cx) is a complex which allows direct communication between neighboring cells via exchange of signaling molecules and eventually leads to functional harmony of cells in a tissue. The initial segment (IS) is an excurrent duct of male reproductive tract and expression of numerous genes in the IS are controlled by androgens and estrogens. The effects of these steroid hormones on gene expression in the IS during postnatal development have not extensively examined. The present research investigated expressional modulation of Cx isoforms in the IS by exogenous exposure to estrogen agonist, estradiol benzoate (EB), or androgen antagonist, flutamide (Flu), at weaning age. Two different doses of EB or Flu were subcutaneously administrated in 21-day old of male rats, and expressional changes of Cx isoforms in the adult IS were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment of a low-dose EB ($0.015{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) resulted in an increased expression of Cx31 gene and a decreased expression of Cx37 gene. A high-dose EB ($1.5{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) treatment caused an increase of Cx31 gene expression. Increased levels of Cx30.3 and Cx40 transcripts were observed with a low-dose Flu ($500{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) treatment. Treatment of high-dose Flu (50 mg/kg body weight) led to expressional increases of Cx30.3, 40, and 43 genes. Our previous and present findings suggest differential responsiveness on gene expression of Cx isoforms in the IS by androgens and estrogens at different postnatal ages.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.103-109
• /
• 2010

Functional regulation of a specific tissue or organ is controlled by a number of ways, including local cell-cell interaction. Of several forms of cell-cell junctional complexes, gap junctions are caught a great attention due to a formation of direct linkage between neighboring cells. Gap junctions are consisted of connexin (Cx) isoforms. In the present study, we evaluated expressional profiling of Cx isoforms in the rat initial segment (IS) of the male reproductive tract at different postnatal ages. The presence and expression of 13 Cx isoform mRNAs were determined by semi-quantitative real-time PCR analyses. A total of 8 Cx isoform mRNAs were detected in the IS of the male rats during postnatal development. The highest level of Cx30.3 mRNA was found at 5 months of age, while abundance of Cx31 mRNA was the highest at 1 year of age. Expression of Cx31.1 gene was relatively consistent during the postnatal development. Fluctuation of Cx32 and 37 gene expression was observed during the postnatal period. Significant elevation of Cx40 mRNA abundance was detected at 25 days of age and older ages. Expression patterns of Cx43 and 45 genes were similar with the highest level at 2 weeks of age, followed by gradual decreases at older ages. These results indicate differential regulation on expression of Cx isoforms in the rat IS during postnatal development. A complicated regulation of gene expression of Cx isoforms in the IS at different postnatal ages is suggested.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.289-297
• /
• 2013

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic endocrine disrupter. However, depending on a way of treatment, the harmful effects of BPA have not been confirmed. Also, trans-generational effects of BPA on male reproduction are still controversial. Because the reabsorption of testicular fluid in the efferent ductules (ED) and initial segment (IS) is important for sperm maturation, the present study was designed to determine trans-generational effect of BPA administrated orally on expression of water transport-related molecules in the mouse ED and IS. Ethanol-dissolved BPA was diluted in water to be 100 ng (low), $10{\mu}g$ (medium), and $1mg/m{\ell}$ water (high). BPA-containing water was provided for two generations. Expression of ion transporters and water channels in the ED and IS were measured by relative real-time PCR analysis. In the ED, BPA treatment caused expressional increases of carbonic anhydrase II, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase ${\alpha}1$ subunit, and aquaporin (AQP) 1. No change of $Na^+/H^+$ exchange (NHE) 3 expression was detected. BPA treatment at medium dose resulted in an increase of AQP9 expression. In the IS, the highest expressional levels of all molecules tested were observed in medium-dose BPA treatment. Generally, high-dose BPA treatment resulted in a decrease or no change of gene expression. Fluctuation of NHE3 gene expression by BPA treatment at different concentrations was detected. These findings suggest that trans-generational exposure to BPA, even at low dose, could affect gene expression of water-transport related molecules. However, such effects of BPA would be differentially occurred in the ED and IS.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.261-267
• /
• 2008

The human chromosomes 2, 7, 12 and 17 show genomic homology around Hox gene clusters, is taken as evidence that these paralogous gene families might have arisen from a ancestral chromosomal segment through genome duplication events. We have examined protein data from vertebrate and invertebrate genomes to analyze the phylogenetic history of multi-gene families with three or more of their representatives linked to human Hox clusters. Topology comparison based upon statistical significance and information of chromosome location for these genes examined have revealed many of linked genes coduplicated with Hox gene clusters. Most linked genes to Hox clusters share the same evolutionary history and are duplicated in concert with each other. We conclude that gene families linked to Hox clusters may be suggestion of ancient genome duplications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.610-615
• /
• 2009

As a provirus, polydnavirus has a segmented DNA genome on chromosome(s) of host wasp. It contains several genes in each segment that presumably play critical roles in regulating physiological processes of target insect parasitized by the wasp. A cysteine-rich protein 1 (CRP1) is present in the polydnavirus Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV) genome, but its expression and physiological function in Plutella xylostella parasitized by the viral host C. plutellae is not known. This CpBV-CRP1 encoding 189 amino acids with a putative signal peptide (20 residues) was persistently expressed in parasitized P. xylostella with gradual decrease at the late parasitization period. Expression of CpBV-CRP1 was tissue-specific in the fat body/epidermis and hemocyte, but not in the gut. Its physiological function was analyzed by inducing transient expression of a CpBV segment containing CpBV-CRP1 and its promoter, which caused significant reduction in hemocyte -spreading and delayed larval development. When the treated larvae were co-injected with double-stranded RNA of CpBV-CRP1, the expression of CpBV-CRP1 disappeared, whereas other genes encoded in the CpBV segment was expressed. These co-injected larvae significantly recovered the hemocyte-spreading capacity and larval development rate. This study reports that CpBV-CRP1 is expressed in P. xylostella parasitized by C. plutellae and its physiological function is to alter the host immune and developmental processes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.830-839
• /
• 2007

Pradimicins are potent antifungal antibiotics having an unusual dihydrobenzo[$\alpha$]naphthacenequinone aglycone substituted with D-alanine and sugars. Pradimicins are polyketide antibiotics produced by Actinomadura hibisca P157-2. The gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of pradimicins was cloned and sequenced. The pradimicin gene cluster was localized to a 39-kb DNA segment and its involvement in the biosynthesis of pradimicin was proven by gene inactivation of prmA and prmB(ketosynthases $\alpha\;and\;\beta$). The pradimicin gene cluster consists of 28 open reading frames(ORFs), encoding a type II polyketide synthase(PKS), the enzymes involved in sugar biosynthesis and tailoring enzymes as well as two resistance proteins. The deduced proteins showed strong similarities to the previously validated gene clusters of angucyclic polyketides such as rubromycin, griseorhodin, and fredericamycin. From the pradimicin gene cluster, prmP3 encoding a component of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase complex was disrupted. The production levels of pradimicins of the resulting mutants decreased to 62% of the level produced by the wild-type strain, which indicate that the acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene would have a significant role in the production of pradimicins through supplying the extender unit precursor, malonyl-CoA.