This study was conducted to examine the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related and imprinted genes and methylation pattern of the differentially methylated region (DMR) of H19 gene in day 35 of SCNT pig fetuses. The day 35 of natural mating (control) or cloned (clone) pig fetuses were recovered from uterus. Endometrium from dam and liver from fetus were obtained, respectively. mRNA expression was evaluated by real-time PCR and methylation pattern was analyzed by bisulfite sequencing method. The Bcl-2 mRNA expression in clone was significantly lower than that of control (p<0.05). The mRNA expression of H19 gene in both endometrium and liver was significantly higher in clone than that of control, respectively (p<0.05). The level of IGF-2 mRNA in liver of clone was significantly lower than that of control (p<0.05), whereas the mRNA expression of IGF2-R gene in liver of clone was significantly higher than that of control (p<0.05). The DMR of H19 was lower methylation pattern in clone than that of control. These results suggest that the aberrant mRNA expression of apoptosis-related and imprinted genes and the lower DMR methylation pattern of imprinted gene may be closely related to the inadequate fetal development of cloned fetus.

Legume and rhizobia symbiosis plays an important role in conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia. On a global scale, this interaction represents a key entry point for reduced nitrogen into the biosphere, and as a consequence this symbiosis is important in both natural and agricultural systems. Symbiotic development of nodule organ is triggered by chito-oligosaccharide signals (Nod factors) from the bacterium which are perceived by the legume root. Understanding the molecular and cellular processes that underlie Nod factor perception is one focus of legume biology. Although forward genetics has proved to be an important tool to identify key players in Nod factor perception, we still know relatively little regarding the functional networks of genes and proteins that connect the earliest steps of Nod factor perception to immediate downstream outcomes. To elucidate genes and proteins that link Nod factor perception to cellular and physiological responses we are taking a discovery-based strategy based on whole transcriptome profiling using RNA-seq analysis in the roots of Medicago truncatula in response to Sinorhizobium meliloti. Functional characterization of a number of candidate genes is currently in progress to further examine their role in nodulation such as generating transgenic plants

The next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology is being used for more effective genetic mapping and genome analysis. In this study, we performed whole-genome sequencing on the genomic DNA of Milyang23 and Gihobyeo using NGS and developed new cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers based on the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding sequence between these varieties. Approximately, sequences of 60x coverage of the Nipponbare reference genome on average were obtained following Illumina sequencing. Totally, 1,726,798 SNPs between Milyang23 and Gihobyeo were detected. Among them, 149 SNP were selected for CAPS markers and located on genetic map with previously reported 219 PCR-based DNA markers. This map was applied to the detection of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for stem internode diameters, culm length and panicle length in rice with MGRIL population. Newly 6 QTLs were detected for culm length (CL) and stem diameter (ID) traits including the first internode diameter (I1D), third internode diameter (I3D), and fourth internode diameter (I4D). Among those QTLs, qI1D5 and qCL5 had relatively higher LOD score and explained 8.99% and 4.24% of total variation. This study showed that the NGS allowed the rapid discovery of a large number of SNPs for CAPS marker. Only very small portion of SNPs through re-sequencing were used in this study. Furthermore, the results of QTL analysis described above shows relevance of molecular markers in mapping genes for useful traits.

Legume and rhizobia symbiosis plays an important role in conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia. On a global scale, thin interaction represent a key entry point for reduced nitrogen into the biosphere, and as a consequence this symbiosis in important in both natural and agricultural systems. Symbiotic development of nodule organ in triggered by chito-oligosaccharide signals(Nod factors) from the bacterium which are perceived by the legume root. Understanding the molecular and cellular processes that underlie Nod factor perception is one focus of legume biology. Although forward genetics has proved to be an important tool to elucidate key players in Nod factor perception, we still know relatively little regarding the functional networks of genes and proteins that connect the earliest steps of Nod factor perception to immediate downstream outcomes. To identify genes and proteins that link Nod factor perception to cellular and physiological responses we are taking a discovery-based strategy on large-scale transcriptome profiling using RNA sequencing in the roots of Medicago truncatula in response to Sinorhizobium meliloti. Functional characterization of a number of candidate genes is currently in progress to further examine their role in nodulation.