• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.265-271
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• 2008

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common form of human genetic variation. Non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) change an amino acid. Organic anion transporters (OATs) play an important role in eliminating or reabsorbing endogenous and exogenous organic anionic compounds. Among OATs, hOAT4 mediates high affinity transport of estrone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The rapid bone loss that occurs in post-menopausal women is mainly due to a net decrease of estrogen. In the present study we searched for SNPs within the exon regions of hOAT4 in Korean women osteoporosis patients. Fifty healthy subjects and 50 subjects with osteoporosis were screened for genetic polymorphism in the coding region of SLC22A11 (hOAT4) using GC-clamp PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). We found three SNPs in the hOAT4 gene. Two were in the osteoporosis group (C483A and G832A) and one in the normal group (C847T). One of the SNPs, G832A, is an nsSNP that changes the $278^{th}$ amino acid from glutamic acid to lysine (E278K). Uptake of [$3^H$] estrone sulfate by oocytes injected with the hOAT4 E278K mutant was reduced compared with wild-type hOAT4. Km values for wild type and E278K were $0.7{\mu}M$ and $1.2{\mu}M$, and Vmax values were 1.8 and 0.47 pmol/oocyte/h, respectively. The present study demonstrates that hOAT4 variants can causing inter-individual variation in anionic drug uptake and, therefore, could be used as markers for certain diseases including osteoporosis.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.107-115
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• 2012

In developing a useful tool to detect parasitic dynamics in an estuarine ecosystem, a denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) assay was optimized by cloning plasmid DNA from the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio, and its two parasites, the trematode Microphallus turgidus and bopyrid isopod Probopyrus pandalicola. The optimal separation condition was an oven temperature of $57.9^{\circ}C$ and 62-68% of buffer B gradient at a flow rate of 0.45 mL/min. A peptide nucleic acid blocking probe was designed to clamp the amplification of the host gene, which increased the amplification efficiency of genes with low copy numbers. Using the DHPLC assay with wild-type genomic, the assay could detect GC Gram positive bacteria and the bopyrid isopod (P. pandalicola). Therefore, the DHPLC assay is an effective tool for surveying parasitic dynamics in an estuarine ecosystem.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.170-176
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• 2009

제주도에 서식하는 2종의 해양 해면, Dictyonella sp.와 Spirastrella abata의 공생세균 군집구조를 16S rDNA-DGGE(denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) 방법에 의해 분석하였다. 해면으로부터 total genomic DNA를 추출하여 GC clamp가 추가된 세균에 특이적인 341f primer와 518r primer를 이용하여 16S rRNA gene의 V3 부위를 증폭한 후 DGGE 전기 영동하고 재증폭하여 염기서열을 분석하였다. 그 결과 Dictyonella sp.에서 8개, Spirastrella abata에서 7개의 band를 확인할 수 있었다. 공통된 주요 band가 없는 패턴을 나타내었으며, DGGE band로부터 DNA를 추출하여 부분 염기서열을 분석한 결과, NCBI에 등록된 서열들과 93%~98%의 유사도를 나타내었다. Dictyonella sp.의 주요 해면 공생세균은 uncultured Gammaproteobacteria, Spirastrella abata의 경우 uncultured Alphaproteobacteria, Firmicutes에 각각 포함되어 해면 종에 따른 숙주 특이적 분포를 보이는 것으로 나타났다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.319-325
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• 2015

Among solute carrier proteins, the organic anion transporters (OATs) play an important role for the elimination or reabsorption of endogenous and exogenous negatively charged anionic compounds. Among OATs, SLC22A9 (hOAT7) transports estrone sulfate with high affinity. The net decrease of estrogen, especially in post-menopausal women induces rapid bone loss. The present study was performed to search the SNP within exon regions of SLC22A9 in Korean females with osteoporosis. Fifty healthy controls and 50 osteoporosis patients were screened for the genetic polymorphism in the coding region of SLC22A9 using GC-clamped PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Six SNPs were found on the SLC22A9 gene from Korean women with/without osteoporosis. The SNPs were located as follows: two SNPs in the osteoporosis group (A645G and T1277C), three SNPs in the control group (G1449T, C1467T and C1487T) and one SNP in both the osteoporosis and control groups (G767A). The G767A, T1277C and C1487T SNPs result in an amino acid substitution, from synonymous vs nonsynonymous substitution arginine to glutamine (R256Q), phenylalanine to serine (F426S) and proline to leucine (P496L), respectively. The Km values and Vmax of the wild type, R256Q, P496L and F426S were 8.84, 8.87, 9.83 and $12.74{\mu}M$, and 1.97, 1.96, 2.06 and 1.55 pmol/oocyte/h, respectively. The present study demonstrates that the SLC22A9 variant F426S is causing inter-individual variation that is leading to the differences in transport of the steroid sulfate conjugate (estrone sulfate) and, therefore this could be used as a marker for certain disease including osteoporosis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.313-322
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• 2007

Extract of Japanese red pine needles has been used in Asia pacific regions since long periods believing its valuable properties as tonic and ability of curing diseases of unidentified symptoms. Some selective compounds present in the extract and their effects were analyzed. Carbohydrates and vitamin c were identified using HPLC; terpenoid compounds by GC-MS; anti-bacterial analysis by paper discs, plates count and gastrointestinal motility by whole cell patch clamp. The extract is a mixture of compounds therefore its diverse effect was expected. Self-fermentation in extract proceeds after spontaneous appearance of yeast strains without inoculation. Effects and composition of the extract vary with varying period of self-fermentation. Extract inhibits the growth of bacteria dose dependently exhibiting its antibacterial properties however effectiveness increases with increase in fermentation period. The extract also can modulate gastrointestinal motility in murine small intestine by modulating pace maker currents in ICC mediated through ATP sensitive potassium channel.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제4권6호
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• pp.479-486
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• 2000

The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of the inhibitory action of carbon monoxide (CO) on contraction, by measuring cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ level $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ and ionic currents in guinea-pig ileum. CO (10%) inhibited 40 mM KCl-induced contraction and this effect was blocked by ODQ $(1\;{\mu}M),$ a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor. CO inhibited the 40 mM KCl-induced contraction without changing $[Ca^{2+}]_i.$ Cumulative addition of KCl induced a graded increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and muscle tension. In the presence of CO, cumulative addition of KCl induced smaller contraction than in the absence of CO. On the other hand, the increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ induced by cumulative addition of KCl was only slightly decreased in the presence of CO, and the $[Ca^{2+}]_i-tension$ relationship shifted downwards. Using the patch clamp technique with a holding potential of -60 mV, we found that CO had little effect on the peak Ba currents $(I_{Ba})$ when voltage was stepped from -60 mV to 0 mV. In addition, CO showed no effect on the depolarization-activated outward $K^+$ currents in the all potential ranges. We conclude that CO inhibits smooth muscle contraction mainly by decreasing the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile elements via a cGMP-dependent pathway, not by involving L-type $Ca^{2+}$ and outward-potassium currents in guinea-pig ileum.