• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2008

Since the birth of Dolly using fully differentiated somatic cells as a nuclear donor, viable clones were generated successfully in many mammalian species. These achievements in animal cloning demonstrate developmental potential of terminally differentiated somatic cells. At the same time, the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique provides the opportunities to study basic and applied biosciences. However, the efficiency generating viable offsprings by SCNT remains extremely low. There are several explanations why cloned embryos cannot fully develop into viable animals and what factors affect developmental potency of reconstructed embryos by the SCNT technique. The most critical and persuasive explanation for inefficiency in SCNT cloning is incomplete genomic reprogramming, such as DNA methylation and histone modification. Numerous studies on genomic reprogramming demonstrated that incorrect DNA methylation and aberrant epigenetic reprogramming are considerably correlated with abnormal development of SCNT cloned embryos even though its mechanism is not fully understood. The SCNT technique is useful in cloning farm animals because pluripotent stem cells are not established in farm animal species. Therapeutic cloning combined with genetic manipulation will help to control various human diseases. Also, the SCNT technique provides a chance to overcome excessive demand for the organs by production of transgenic animals as xenotransplantation resources. Here, we describe the factors affecting the efficiency of generating cloned farm animals by the SCNT technique and discuss future directions of animal cloning by SCNT to improve the cloning efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2000

Unfortunately, there is no technique which is stable and repetitive to produce transgenic chicken, although various ways of gene transfer including PGC-and embryonic cell-mediated gene transfer, DNA microinjection, virus inoculation and sperm cells have been employed. The aims of this study were 세 develop and establish such a stable, repetitive and efficient way of gene transfer giving a faithful gene expression during development after the reconstruction of embryo in an UV-irradiated egg. A dual reporter plasmid (pJJ9), a fusion gene containing lacZ and GFP driven by a CMV promoter was used to exploit either merits of both reporting markers. lacZ with strong signal or GFP with vital marking. Electroporated embryonic blastodermal cells (EBCs) in the presence of the pJJ9 DNA faithfully showed 377 bp PCR product and lacZ or GFP expressions in the identical cells in vitro of in vivo. Furthermore, analyses of expression pattern of the foreign DNA demonstrated that microinjected EBCs cells into the UV-irradiated recipient egg should participate in normal developmental process, for example, proliferation and differentiation into various tissues. Thirty percentages of the manipulated eggs showed lacZ expression in their tissues. These results together with the specific procedures used in this study should facilitate avian transgenesis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.245-254
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• 2018

Pigs are considered as optimal donor animal for the successful xenotransplantation. To increase the possibility of clinical application, genetic modification to increase compatibility with human is an important and essential process. Genetic modification technique has been developed and improved to produce genetically modified pigs rapidly. CRISPR/Cas9 system is widely used in various fields including the production of transgenic animals and also can be enable multiple gene modifications. In this study, we developed new gene targeting vector and enrichment system for the rapid and efficient selection of genetically modified cells. We conducted co-transfection with two targeting vectors for simultaneous inactivation of two genes and enrichment of the genetically modified cells using MACS. After this efficient enrichment, genotypic analysis of each colony showed that colonies which have genetic modifications on both genes were confirmed with high efficiency. Somatic cell nuclear transfer was conducted with established donor cells and genetically modified pigs were successfully produced. Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of generated pigs showed identical genotypes with donor cells and no surface expression of ${\alpha}$-Gal and HD antigens. Furthermore, functional analysis using pooled human serum revealed dramatically reduction of human natural antibody (IgG and IgM) binding level and natural antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. In conclusion, the constructed vector and enrichment system using MACS used in this study is efficient and useful to generate genetically modified donor cells with multiple genetic alterations and lead to an efficient production of genetically modified pigs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2009

Multipotent spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs), derived from uni-potent SSC, are a type of reprogrammed cells with similar characteristics to embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for transgenesis of mSSC derived from outbred mice and the production of transgenic animal by the mSSC-insertion into embryo. mSSCs, established from outbred mice (ICR strain) in the previous study, were maintained and then transfected with a lenti-viral vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), CS-CDF-CG-PRE. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) were derived from inbred transgenic mice (C57BL/6-Tg (CAG-EGFP)) and were used as an experimental control. Transfected mSSCs were well proliferated in vitro and maintained their characteristics and normal karyotype. Ten to twelve mSSCs and ESCs were collected and inserted into perivitelline space of 8-cell mouse embryos, and then transferred them into uteri of poster mothers after an additional 2-days of culture. Percentage of mSSC-derived offsprings was 4.8% (47/980) and which was lower than those (11.7% (67/572)) of ESC-derived ones (P<0.05). However, even though different genetic background of mSSC and ESC origin, the production efficiency of coat-colored chimeric offspring in mSSC group was not different when compared it with ESC (6.4% (3/47) vs. 7.5% (5/67)). From these results, we confirmed that mSSC derived from outbred mice has a pluripotency and a potential to produce chimeric embryos or mice when reaggregatation with mSSC is performed.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.511-516
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• 2010

The process to acquire intron-GUS gene-expressed transformants from somatic embryos (including embryogenic calli) of Rosa hybrida cv. 'Sweet Yellow' using Agrobacterium-meditated transformation method was reported in this study. Somatic embryos including embryogenic calluses were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens AGL1 strain (O.D = 0.7~1.6) including intron-GUS gene for 30 min, and were co-cultured for 3 days. After co-cultivation, they were cultured on embryo germination medium (EGM) supplemented with $250\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ cefotaxim at $4^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. Then, transient GUS gene expression was observed. Shoots were regenerated from the shoot primodia induced from the intron-GUS gene-transferred either somatic embryos or embryogenic calli cultured on EGM supplemented with both cefotaxim $250\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and ppt $2\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. Before induction of rooting from shoots cultured on shoot growing medium supplemented with both cefotaxim $250\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and ppt $2\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, the shoots were cultured on multi-shoot induction medium supplemented with both cefotaxim $250\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and ppt $2\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ to induce multi-shoots. When expression of the gene from a part of the multi-shoots was identified by GUS transient assay, the putative transgenic multishoots were transferred to rooting medium supplemented with cefotaxim $250\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. After the formation of healthy roots, transgenic plantlets were transferred to the greenhouse after acclimatization. The expression rate of the intron-GUS gene in the multi-shoots was 100%.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.305-315
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• 2001

In this study, the production of transgenic embryo was attempted by microinjection or round spermatid cultured with foreign DNA. At first, the expression of haploid spermatids specific gene, mTP1 in mouse and hPrm2 in hamster spermatids were investigated by RT-PCR method in testes of young mice and hamster testis. The specific gene expression first appeared at 18 days post partum (dpp) in mice spermatid and 20 dpp in hamster spermatid. Therefore, the round spermatids isolated from 17 dpp mice and 19 dpp hamster were used for the introduction of foreign EGFP gene into haploid round spermatids. For the introduction of EGFP gene haploid round spermatids suspended in medium including EGFP gene were treated with a different electric field strength at 0.11, 0.18 and 0.44 ㎸/cm. After electrical stimulation, viability of testicular sperm cells and 67.6%, 66.4% and 49.9%, in mice and 62.6%, 57.9% and 27% in hamster, respectively. These values were significantly lower than those of non-treated control groups 80.5% in mouse and 69.1% in hamster After 72 hrs culture, the highest expression rate of EGFP gene, 28.5% in mice and 32.1% in hamster were obtained from tile spermatogenic cells electroporated by the field strength or 0.18 ㎸/cm. Then, the ability of fertilization and embryonic development of haploid spermatids transfected with foreign EGFP gene were estimated by the microinjection of spermatids into hamster oocytes. The Irate pronuclear formation rate (77.5%) was lower than non-treated control (80%), and the cleavage rate of the treated group (58.8%) was lower than control (65%). To prove the foreign EGFP integration in hamster embryos, 2-cell stage hamster embryos were subjected to the observation under the fluorescence microscope, and the PCR analysis. As a result, about 44% of 2-cell embryos were showed the integration of EFGP gene into their genome. Therefore, These results suggest the possibility to produce transgenic hamsters by microinjection of haploid spermatid transfected with foreign DNA.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 1997

Transformants of White Clover(Trifolium repens L.) were efficiently produced from immature seed derived callus cocultivated with Agrobacterium twnefaciens LBA4404 harboring plant binary vector. pBI121, using acetosyringone. The mean frequencies of transformants on the two kanamycin-containing media were 16 to 19% when the immature seed-derived calli were infected with bacteria cultured in the presence of 100$\mu$M acetosyringone compared with 7% in media without acetosyringone. Transgenic white clover was subject to molecular analysis for integration into plant nuclear genome and expression of $\beta$-glucuronidase(GUS) gene. PCR and Northern blot analyses demonstrated that GUS gene was integrated into white clover nuclear genome and expressed into its mRNA. The expression of GUS gene into its protein was confirmed by spectrophotometric assay of GUS activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.115-115
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• 2017

Zinc finger proteins constitute a large family which has been studied to have various functions in different organisms. Tandem CCCH zinc finger proteins (TZFs), members of the zinc finger protein family, are known to participate as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in eukaryotes. Here, we showed that the OsZn15, a gene for tandem CCCH zinc finger protein, is induced by abiotic stress and its overexpression in transgenic rice plants (PGD1:OsZn15) gains higher drought tolerance. Gene expression analysis of promoter:GFP plants revealed that OsZn15 is specifically expressed in anther and embryo, but not in vegetative organs. In-field evaluation, grain yield was higher in the PGD1:OsZn15 than nontransgenic plants under drought conditions. Interestingly, OsZn15 is shown to not only localize at nucleus but also co-localize with both processing bodies (PB) and stress granules (SG), two messenger ribo-nucleoprotein complexes which are known to activate by forming cytoplasmic foci under stress conditions. In sum, these results suggest that OsZn15 increases drought stress tolerance of rice probably by participating in RNA turnover in PB and SG.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2021

In this study, the potential toxicity of isoprocarb was demonstrated using zebrafish embryos. We treated isoprocarb (0, 29, and 58 mg/L) to the zebrafish embryos for 72 h then, we estimated morphological changes and apoptotic cell numbers. The increasing extent of apoptosis from the anterior to posterior region of developing zebrafish larvae was correlated with toxicity in the overall development process, including growth and normal organ formation. The appearance of abnormalities in the isoprocarb-treated groups in comparison to normal developing zebrafish larvae was verified using quantitative image analysis based on ImageJ software program. The vascular system comprising a complex interconnection of blood vessels was visualized in vessel-fluorescent transgenic zebrafish (fli1:eGFP). The main vasculature was malformed on isoprocarb treatment, and this was also related to cardiac defects. Taken together, normal embryonic development in zebrafish was interrupted owing to the acute toxicity of isoprocarb.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.176-182
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• 2022

Norflurazon is widely used on agricultural lands and has a high potential to pollute water sources. However, its effects on fish have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of our study was to determine whether norflurazon adversely affects the developmental stage of zebrafish, which are frequently used as a model system to evaluate the environmental impact of pollutants. Norflurazon interfered with the hatching of zebrafish embryos and induced several sublethal deformities including body length reduction, increased yolk sac volume, and enlargement of the pericardial region. We further examined the cardiotoxicity of norflurazon in the flk1:eGFP transgenic zebrafish line. The vascular network, mainly in the brain region, was significantly disrupted in norflurazon-exposed zebrafish. In addition, due to the failure of cardiac looping, norflurazon-exposed zebrafish had an abnormal cardiac structure. These developmental abnormalities were related to the apoptotic process triggered by norflurazon. Overall, the present study demonstrated the non-target toxicity of norflurazon by analyzing the hazardous effects of norflurazon on developing zebrafish.