• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.587-597
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• 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential small RNA molecules that regulate the expression of target mRNAs in plants and animals. Here, we aimed to identify miRNAs and their putative targets in Hibiscus syriacus, the national flower of South Korea. We employed high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs obtained from four different tissues (i.e., leaf, root, flower, and ovary) and identified 33 conserved and 30 novel miRNA families, many of which showed differential tissuespecific expressions. In addition, we computationally predicted novel targets of miRNAs and validated some of them using 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis. One of the validated novel targets of miR477 was a terpene synthase, the primary gene involved in the formation of disease-resistant terpene metabolites such as sterols and phytoalexins. In addition, a predicted target of conserved miRNAs, miR396, is SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE, which is involved in flower initiation and is duplicated in H. syriacus. Collectively, this study provides the first reliable draft of the H. syriacus miRNA transcriptome that should constitute a basis for understanding the biological roles of miRNAs in H. syriacus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1791-1801
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• 2013

Diketopiperazine is produced by various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and animals, and has been suggested as a novel signal molecule involved in the modulation of genes with various biological functions. Vibrio vulnificus, which causes septicemia in humans, produces cyclo($\small{L}$-phenylalanine-$\small{L}$-proline) (cFP). To understand the biological roles of cFP, the effect of the compound on the expression of the total mRNA in V. vulnificus was assessed by next-generation sequencing. Based on the transcriptomic analysis, we classified the cFP-regulated genes into functional categories and clustered them according to the expression patterns resulted from treatment with cFP. From a total of 4,673 genes, excepting the genes encoding tRNA in V. vulnificus, 356 genes were up-regulated and 602 genes were down-regulated with an RPKM (reads per kilobase per million) value above 3. The genes most highly induced by cFP comprised those associated with the transport and metabolism of inorganic molecules, particularly iron. The genes negatively regulated by cFP included those associated with energy production and conversion, as well as carbohydrate metabolism. Noticeably, numerous genes related with biofilm formation were modulated by cFP. We demonstrated that cFP interferes significantly with the biofilm formation of V. vulnificus.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.508-520
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• 2019

Interplay between Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV)/Odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV) and its host plant Phalaenopsis equestris remain largely unknown, which led to deficiency of effective measures to control disease of P. equestris caused by infecting viruses. In this study, for the first time, we characterized viral small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) profiles in P. equestris co-infected with CymMV and ORSV through small RNA sequencing technology. CymMV and ORSV small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) demonstrated several general and specific/new characteristics. vsiRNAs, with A/U bias at the first nucleotide, were predominantly 21-nt long and they were derived predominantly (90%) from viral positive-strand RNA. 21-nt siRNA duplexes with 0-nt overhangs were the most abundant 21-nt duplexes, followed by 2-nt overhangs and then 1-nt overhangs 21-nt duplexes in infected P. equestris. Continuous but heterogeneous distribution and secondary structures prediction implied that vsiRNAs originate predominantly by direct Dicer-like enzymes cleavage of imperfect duplexes in the most folded regions of the positive strand of both viruses RNA molecular. Furthermore, we totally predicted 54 target genes by vsiRNAs with psRNATarget server, including disease/stress response-related genes, RNA interference core components, cytoskeleton-related genes, photosynthesis or energy supply related genes. Gene Ontology classification showed that a majority of the predicted targets were related to cellular components and cellular processes and performed a certain function. All target genes were down-regulated with different degree by vsiRNAs as shown by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Taken together, CymMV and ORSV siRNAs played important roles in interplay with P. equestris by down modulating the expression levels of endogenous genes in host plant.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.635-641
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• 2010

Piwi proteins and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have been implicated in transposon control in germline from Drosophila to mammals. To examine the profile of small RNA expression in human cancer cells and explore difference in small RNA transcriptome, small RNA libraries prepared from wildtype, HILI overexpressed and HILI knockdowned Hela cells were sequenced using Solexa technology. piRNAs and other repeat-associated small RNAs were observed in Hela cells. By using in situ hybridization, piR-49322 was localized in the nucleolus and around the periphery of nuclear membrane in Hela cells. Following the overexpression of HILI, the retrotransposon elements LINE1 was significantly repressed, while LINE1-associated small RNAs decreased in abundance. The present study demonstrated that HILI along with piRNAs plays a role in LINE1 suppression in Hela cancer cell line.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.909-917
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• 1998

Six different sequences types(A through E and H) and a subtype(Bl) of the small subunit ribosomal RNA(SSUrRNA) gene were found in bovine Theileria isolates from different areas of Korea and Japan. The sequences were aligned and three hypervariable regions were observed in the nucleotide position ranges 212~231, 261~270 and 632~690. Five of the Theileria isolates yielded sequence type A; these were the field isolates KCB, KCN, and KCJ, and the laboratory stock KLS, all from Korea, and a single isolate from Japan (JHS). This sequence type is identical to the SSUrRNA gene sequence listed for Theileria buffeli (GenBank Accession No. Z15106) from Marula, Kenya. The Korean field isolate KKB yielded only a single sequence type (B), but multiple sequence types were found in some isolates. For example, KCB and JHS isolates yielded both types A and B ; isolate KKW showed types B and H; isolate KCN showed types A, C, and D ; and isolate KCJ showed types A, B, E, and a subtype B1. Finding of the multiple sequences SSUrRNA gene sequences suggests that bovine Theileria isolates from both Korea and Japan may consist of mixed populations.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2014

Shortfin eel (Anguilla bicolor pacifica) is a species of commercial importance and its production is greatly affected due to the infection by Heterosporis anguillarum. In this study, we evaluated the effect of H. anguillarum infection on the growth of Shortfin eel. A disease that trunk muscle of cultured shortfin eel, Anguilla bicolor pacifica, were irregular and resulted in death, breakout of the commercial eel culture farm. We observed that the trunk muscle of infected eels were irregular and represented white or yellowish externally. Histopathologically, a great numbers of large or small spores and sporophorocysts were also observed in degenerated muscle layer. The cloning of specific gene of H. anguillarum, encoding small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) from the muscle lesion of diseased eel. The size of clone gene is well matched with the size of small subunit ribosomal RNA of H. anguillarum and thus confirming the infection by H. anguillarum.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.854-863
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• 2021

Weaning induces physiological changes in intestinal development that affect pigs' growth performance and susceptibility to disease. As a posttranscriptional regulator, microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate cellular homeostasis during intestinal development. We performed small RNA expression profiling in the small intestine of piglets before weaning (BW), 1 week after weaning (1W), and 2 weeks after weaning (2W) to identify weaning-associated differentially expressed miRNAs. We identified 38 differentially expressed miRNAs with varying expression levels among BW, 1W, and 2W. Then, we classified expression patterns of the identified miRNAs into four types. ssc-miR-196a and ssc-miR-451 represent pattern 1, which had an increased expression at 1W and a decreased expression at 2W. ssc-miR-499-5p represents pattern 2, which had an increased expression at 1W and a stable expression at 2W. ssc-miR-7135-3p and ssc-miR-144 represent pattern 3, which had a stable expression at 1W and a decreased expression at 2W. Eleven miRNAs (ssc-miR-542-3p, ssc-miR-214, ssc-miR-758, ssc-miR-4331, ssc-miR-105-1, ssc-miR-1285, ssc-miR-10a-5p, ssc-miR-4332, ssc-miR-503, ssc-miR-6782-3p, and ssc-miR-424-5p) represent pattern 4, which had a decreased expression at 1W and a stable expression at 2W. Moreover, we identified 133 candidate targets for miR-196a using a target prediction database. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses revealed that the target genes were associated with 19 biological processes, 4 cellular components, 8 molecular functions, and 7 KEGG pathways, including anterior/posterior pattern specification as well as the cancer, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, GnRH, and neurotrophin signaling pathways. These findings suggest that miRNAs regulate the development of the small intestine during the weaning process in piglets by anterior/posterior pattern specification as well as the cancer, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, GnRH, and neurotrophin signaling pathways.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.757-766
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• 2019

Objective: MicroRNAs are a class of endogenous small regulatory RNAs that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Recent studies on miRNAs are mainly focused on mice, human and pig. However, the studies on miRNAs in skeletal muscle of sheep are not comprehensive. Methods: RNA-seq technology was used to perform genomic analysis of miRNAs in prenatal and postnatal skeletal muscle of sheep. Targeted genes were predicted using miRanda software and miRNA-mRNA interactions were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. To further investigate the function of miRNAs, candidate targeted genes were enriched for analysis using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment. Results: The results showed total of 1,086 known miRNAs and 40 new candidate miRNAs were detected in prenatal and postnatal skeletal muscle of sheep. In addition, 345 miRNAs (151 up-regulated, 94 down-regulated) were differentially expressed. Moreover, miRanda software was performed to predict targeted genes of miRNAs, resulting in a total of 2,833 predicted targets, especially miR-381 which targeted multiple muscle-related mRNAs. Furthermore, GO and KEGG pathway analysis confirmed that targeted genes of miRNAs were involved in development of skeletal muscles. Conclusion: This study supplements the miRNA database of sheep, which provides valuable information for further study of the biological function of miRNAs in sheep skeletal muscle.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.312-329
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• 2022

Feed cost is the main factor affecting the economic benefits of pig industry. Improving the feed efficiency (FE) can reduce the feed cost and improve the economic benefits of pig breeding enterprises. Liver is a complex metabolic organ which affects the distribution of nutrients and regulates the efficiency of energy conversion from nutrients to muscle or fat, thereby affecting feed efficiency. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that can regulate feed efficiency through the modulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, we analyzed miRNA profiling of liver tissues in High-FE and Low-FE pigs for the purpose of identifying key miRNAs related to feed efficiency. A total 212~221 annotated porcine miRNAs and 136~281 novel miRNAs were identified in the pig liver. Among them, 188 annotated miRNAs were co-expressed in High-FE and Low-FE pigs. The 14 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (DE) in the livers of high-FE pigs and low-FE pigs, of which 5 were downregulated and 9 were upregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of liver DE miRNAs in high-FE pigs and low-FE pigs indicated that the target genes of DE miRNAs were significantly enriched in insulin signaling pathway, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathway, and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. To verify the reliability of sequencing results, 5 DE miRNAs were randomly selected for quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR results of miRNAs were confirmed to be consistent with sequencing data. DE miRNA data indicated that liver-specific miRNAs synergistically acted with mRNAs to improve feed efficiency. The liver miRNAs expression analysis revealed the metabolic pathways by which the liver miRNAs regulate pig feed efficiency.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.657-662
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• 2006

Identification of accessible sites in targeted RNAs is a major limitation to the effectiveness of antisense oligonucleotides. A class of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, known as the “10-23” DNA enzyme or DNAzyme, which is a small catalytic DNA, has been shown to efficiently cleave target RNA at purine-pyrimidine junctions in vitro. We have designed a strategy to identify accessible cleavage sites in the target RNA, which is hepatitis C virus nonstructural gene 3 (HCV NS3) RNA that encodes viral helicase and protease, from a pool of random DNAzyme library. A pool of DNAzymes of 58 nucleotides-length that possess randomized annealing arms, catalytic core sequence, and fixed 5'/3'-end flanking sequences was designed and screened for their ability to cleave the target RNA. The screening procedure, which includes binding of DNAzyme pool to the target RNA under inactive condition, selection and amplification of active DNAzymes, incubation of the selected DNAzymes with the target RNA, and target site identification on sequencing gels, identified 16 potential cleavage sites in the target RNA. Corresponding DNAzymes were constructed for the selected target sites and were tested for RNA-cleavage in terms of kinetics and accessibility. These selected DNAzymes were effective in cleaving the target RNA in the presence of $Mg^{2+}$. This strategy can be applicable to identify accessible sites in any target RNA for antisense oligonucleotides-based gene inactivation methods.