• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.385-390
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• 2009

A resveratrol synthase (RS) gene was isolated from peanut (Arachis hypogaea, L. cv. Jinpoong) plants. This gene was placed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (CaMV35S) and introduced into two Korean varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cvs. Jasim and Jowon) plants by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer. Putative transformants were screened by PCR with primers designed from CaMV 35S promoter, NOS terminator and RS gene. Most of selected transgenic potato plants showed the amplification of expected fragments by PCR of genomic DNA with gene-specific primers, while they were absent in untransformed control plants. Expression of the resveratrol synthase gene was also examined by northern blot analysis. The transformants showed a band which was lacking in the control plant, confirming that the introduced gene is transcribed into mRNA in the transformants. The strength of the band, which reflected the level of mRNA expression, differed among the individual transformants. Among the transformants obtained, the highest trans-resveratrol content in the transgenic young leaves of purple-fleshed "Jashim" was $2.11{\mu}gg^{-1}$ fresh weight and that in the microtubers in vitro of purple fleshed "Jashim" was $8.31{\mu}gg^{-1}$ fresh weight. This amount of resveratrol may have a positive biological effect on human health.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2000

The genes involved in riboflavin synthesis (ribI, II, III, and IV) were found immediately downstream of luxG in the lux operon from Photobacterium species. The single stranded DNA containing the intergenic region of lux genes and rib genes from Photobacterium phosphoreum was fully protected by P. phosphoreum mRNA from the S1 nuclease mapping assay suggesting that a transcriptional terminator was not present in the region. In addition, the levels of riboflavin synthase activity in P. phosphoreum was increased during the development of bacterial bioluminescence in the same fashion as the luciferase and fatty acid reductase activities. Insertion of the Photobacterium leiognathi DNA extending from luxB to ribII, between a strong lux promoter and a reporter gene (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, CAT) and transferred by conjugation into P. leiognathi, did not affect expression of reporter gene. Moreover the CAT gene was not expressed in an analogous construct missing the lux promoter indicating that a promoter was not present in this region. Based on the data here, it can be concluded that the lux genes and rib genes in Photobacterium species are under common regulation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.315-318
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• 1994

To obtain transformed plants, we cocultured cotyledonary explants of Codonopsis lanceolata with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404, a disamed strain harboring a binary vector pBI121 carrying the CaMV35S promoter-$\beta$-glucuronidase (GUS) gene fusion used as a reporter gene and NOS promoter-neomycin phosphotransferase gene as a positive selection marker in MS liquid medium with 1mg/L BA. After 48 h of culture, explants were transferred onto MS solid medium with Img/L BA, 250mg/L carbenicillin, and 100mg/L kanamycin sulfate and cultured in the dark. Numerous adventitious buds formed on the cut edges of the explants after 2 weeks of culture. When subjected to GUS histochemical assay buds showed a positive response at a frequency of 15%. Explants formed adventitious shoot at a frequency of 56.7%, after 6 weeks of culture. Upon transfer onto the basal medium, most of the shoots were rooted and subsequently the regenerants were transplanted to potting soil. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the GUS gene was incorporated into the genomic DNA of the GUS-positive regenerants.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2008

Pronuclear DNA microinjection has been the most universal method in transgenic animal production but its success rate of transgenesis in mammals are extremely low. To address this long-standing problem, we used retrovirus- and lentivirus-based vectors carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene under the control of ubiquitously active cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter to deliver transgenes to bovine embryos. The rate of transgenesis was evaluated by counting EGFP positive blastocysts after injection of concentrated virus stock into the perivitelline space of the bovine oocytes in metaphase II. Among two different types of lentivirus vectors derived from FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the former scored the higher gene transfer efficiency; almost 100% of the blastocysts developed from the oocytes infected with FIV-based vector were EGFP positive. As for the vectors derived Com HIV lentivirus, the transgenesis rate of the blastocysts was reduced to 39%.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) gene contains three different isoform transcripts, Dnmt1s, Dnmt1o, and Dnmt1p, are produced by alternative usage of multiple first exons. Dnmt1o is specific to oocytes and preimplantation embryos, whereas Dnmt1s is expressed in somatic cells. Here we determined that porcine Dnmt1o gene had differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in 5'-flanking region, while those were not found in the Dnmt1s promoter region. The methylation patterns of the porcine Dnmt1o/Dnmt1s DMRs were investigated using bisulfite sequencing and pyrosequencing analysis through all preimplantation stages from one cell to blastocyst stage in in vivo or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The Dnmt1o DMRs contained 8 CpG sites, which located in -640 bp to -30 bp upstream region from transcription start site of the Dnmt1o gene. The methylation status of 5 CpGs within the Dnmt1o DMRs were distinctively different at each stage from one-cell to blastocyst stage in the $in$ $vivo$ or SCNT, respectively. 55.62% methylation degree of the Dnmt1o DMRs in the $in$ $vivo$ was increased up to 84.38% in the SCNT embryo, moreover, $de$ $novo$ methylation and demethylation occurred during development of porcine embryos from the one-cell stage to the blastocyst stage. However, the DNA methylation states at CpG sites in the Dnmt1s promoter regions were hypomethylated, and dramatically not changed through one-cell to blastocyst stage in the $in$ $vivo$ or SCNT embryos. In the present study, we demonstrated that the DMRs in the promoter region of the porcine Dnmt1o was well conserved, contributing to establishment and maintenance of genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation in early embryonic development.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.498-502
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• 2004

The current study was conducted to monitor the possibility of the gene transfer among soil bacteria, including the effect of drift due to rain and surface water, in relation to the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment. Four types of bacteria, each with a distinct antibiotic marker, kanamycin-resistant P. fluorescens, rifampicin-resistant P. putida, chloramphenicol-resistant B. subtilis, and spectinomycin-resistant B. subtilis, were plated using a small-scale soil-core device designed to track drifting microorganisms. After three weeks of culture in the device, no Pseudomonas colonies resistant to both kanamycin and rifampicin were found. Likewise, no Bacillus colonies resistant to both chloramphenicol and spectinomycin were found. The gene transfer from glyphosate-tolerant soybeans to soil bacteria, including Rhizobium spp. as a symbiotic bacteria, was examined by hybridization using the DNA extracted from soil taken from pots, in which glyphosate-tolerant soybeans had been growing for 6 months. The results showed that 35S, T-nos, and EPSPS were observed in the positive control, but not in the DNA extracted from the soilborne microorganisms. In addition, no transgenes, such as the 35S promoter, T-nos, and EPSPS introduced into the GMO soybeans were detected in soilborne bacteria, Rhizobium leguminosarum, thereby strongly rejecting the possibility of gene transfer from the GMO soybeans to the bacterium.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2002

The present study was conducted for the production of transgenic cloned cows by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that secrete human prourokinase into milk. To establish an efficient production system for bovine transgenic SCNT embryos, the offset was examined of various conditions of donor cells including cell type, size, and passage number on the developmental competence of transgenic SCNT embryos. An expression plasmid far human prourokinase (pbeta-ProU) was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and a human prourokinase target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Three types of bovine somatic cells including two adult cells (cumulus cells and ear fibroblasts) and fetal fibroblasts were prepared and transfected using a lipid-meidated method. In Experiment 1, developmental competence and rates of GFP expression in bovine transgenic SCNT embryos reconstructed with cumulus cells were significantly higher than those from fetal and ear fibroblasts. In Experiment 2, the effect of cellular senescence in early (2 to 4) and late (8 to 12) passages was investigated. No significant differences in the development of transgenic SCNT embryos were observed. In Experient 3, different sizes of GFP-expressing transfected cumulus cells [large (>30 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) or small cell (<30 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$)] were used for SCNT. A significant improvement in embryo development and GFP expression was observed when small cumulus cells were used for SCNT. Taken together, these results demonstrate that (1) adult somatic cells could serve as donor cells in transgenic SCNT embryo production and cumulus cells with small size at early passage were the optimal cell type, and (2) transgenic SCNT embryos derived from adult somatic cells have embryonic development potential.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.74-74
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• 2002

Production of u 1-antitrypsin ($\alpha$AT) in transgenic cows has a great value in the field of medicine. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of chemically defined KSOM media on in vitro development of bovine transgenic nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. An expression plasmid for human $\alpha$AT was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and a human $\alpha$AT target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Cumulus cells as donor nuclei in NT were collected from a Holstein cow and transfected by lipid-mediated method using FuGene6 (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, USA) as reagent. GFP expressed cumulus cells were introduced into recipient oocytes under DIC microscopy equipped with FITC filter set. After electrical fusion and chemical activation, reconstructed embryos were cultured in 1) SOF + 0.8% BSA, 2) KSOM + 0.8% BSA, 3) KSOM + 10% FBS and 4) KSOM +0.01% PVA for 192 h at 39$^{\circ}C$ with 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$ and 90% $N_2$in humidified condition. The development of the embryos was recorded and the GFP expression in blastocyst was determined under FITC filter. The average fusion rate was 73.8% (251/340; n=8). The development rates to 2-4 cells, morula, blastocysts and expression rates in blastocysts varied from 70.3 to 76.5%, 30.2 to 33.8%, 25.4 to 33.8% and 11.8 to 15.6%, respectively. The difference in development and expression rates of embryos among 4 culture groups was not significant (P>0.05). This study indicates that chemically defined KSOM medium is also able to support development of bovine transgenic NT embryos at similar rate of SOF or KSOM supplemented with BSA or serum.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.383-393
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• 2008

Purpose: Cancer specific killing can be achieved by therapeutic gene activated by cancer specific promotor. Expression of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene causes transportation and concentration of iodide into the cell, therefore radioiodine treatment after NIS gene transfer to cancer cell could be a form of radionuclide gene therapy. luciferase (Luc) gene transfected cancer cell can be monitored by in vivo optical imaging after D-luciferin injection. Aims of the study are to make vector with both therapeutic NIS gene driven by AFP promoter and reporter Luc gene driven by CMV promoter, to perform hepatocellular carcinoma specific radiodiodine gene therapy by the vector, and assessment of the therapy effect by optical imaging using luciferase expression. Materials and Methods: A Vector with AFP promoter driven NIS gene and CMV promoter driven Luc gene (AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc) was constructed. Liver cancer cell (HepG2, Huh-7) and non liver cancer cell (HCT-15) were transfected with the vector using liposome. Expression of the NIS gene at mRNA level was elucidated by RT-PCR. Radioiodide uptake, perchlorate blockade, and washout tests were performed and bioluminescence also measured by luminometer in these cells. In vitro clonogenic assay with 1-131 was performed. In vivo nuclear imaging was obtained with gamma camera after 1-131 intraperitoneal injection. Results: A Vector with AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc was constructed and successfully transfected into HepG2, Huh-7 and HCT-15 cells. HepG2 and Huh-7 cells with AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc gene showed higher iodide uptake than non transfected cells and the higher iodide uptake was totally blocked by addition of perchlorate. HCT-15 cell did not showed any change of iodide uptake by the gene transfection. Transfected cells had higher light output than control cells. In vitro clonogenic assay, transfected HepG2 and Huh-7 cells showed lower colony count than non transfected HepG2 and Huh-7 cells, but transfected HCT-15 cell did not showed any difference than non transfected HCT-15 cell. Number of Huh-7 cells with AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc gene transfection was positively correlated with radioidine accumulation and luciferase activity. In vivo nuclear imaging with 1-131 was successful in AFP-NIS-CMV-Luc gene transfected Huh-7 cell xenograft on nude mouse. Conclusion: A Vector with AFP promoter driven NIS and CMV promoter driven Luc gene was constructed. Transfection of the vector showed liver cancer cell specific enhancement of 1-131 cytotoxicity by AFP promoter, and the effect of the radioiodine therapy can be successfully assessed by non-invasive luminescence measurement.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2008

DNA methylation is one of the reasons for poor survival of clone animals. The OCT-4 gene is essential for maintaining pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells and early embryos. We previously reported that the 5'-promoter region of Oct-4 gene was a target of DNA methylation and the methylation status was changed variously during embryonic development in bovine. The study conducted to examine the expression and methylation pattern of tissue-dependent differentially methylated region (T-DMR) of Oct-4 gene in bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) blastocysts. The Oct-4 gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR and fluorescence immunocytochemistry. The methylation pattern of T-DMR was analyzed using restriction mapping and bisulfite sequencing methods. The Oct-4 transcripts were highly expressed in IVF, while they were not expressed in SCNT. The Oct-4 protein was not detected or expressed at very low level in SCNT, the intensity of Oct-4 protein, however, was strong in IVF. On the other hand, the T-DMR of Oct-4 gene was hypermethylated in SCNT compared to that of IVF. These results suggested that expression and the failure of demethylation of Oct-4 gene was closely associated with incomplete development of SCNT embryos.