Korean Native Pig (KNP) has a uniform black coat color, excellent meat quality, white colored fat, solid fat structure and good marbling. However, its growth performance is low, while the western origin Yorkshire pig has high growth performance. To take advantage of the unique performance of the two pig breeds, we raised crossbreeds (KNP × Yorkshire to make use of the heterotic effect. We then analyzed the liver transcriptome as it plays an important role in fat metabolism. We sampled at two stages: 10 weeks and at 26 weeks. The stages were chosen to correspond to the change in feeding system. A total of 16 pigs (8 from each stage) were sampled and RNA sequencing was performed. The reads were mapped to the reference genome and differential expression analysis was performed with edgeR package. A total of 324 genes were found to be significantly differentially expressed (|log2FC| > 1 & q < 0.01), out of which 180 genes were up-regulated and 144 genes were down-regulated. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the samples clustered according to stages. Functional annotation of significant DEGs (differentially expressed genes) showed that GO terms such as DNA replication, cell division, protein phosphorylation, regulation of signal transduction by p53 class mediator, ribosome, focal adhesion, DNA helicase activity, protein kinase activity etc. were enriched. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the DEGs functioned in cell cycle, Ras signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway etc. Twenty-nine transcripts were also part of the DEGs, these were predominantly Cys2His2-like fold group (C2H2) family of zinc fingers. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis showed that there were three highly interconnected clusters, suggesting an enrichment of genes with similar biological function. This study presents the first report of liver tissue specific gene regulation in a cross-bred Korean pig.

This study is for the consideration of the existence tendency of Kudoa septempunctata in olive flounder. In general, muscle has shown a strong PCR positive reaction in spores containing tissues rather than non-containing tissues. However, blood PCR results showed opposed tendency. In various organs of the tested fish containing spores in muscle tissue, heart had shown positive reaction along with muscle at PCR analysis. Muscle fiber necrosis was observed at the histological observation, and this degeneration was common in both samples. The one sample was the PCR positive muscle containing spore and the other was the PCR positive muscle non-containing spore. Both of muscle tissues indicated a positive reaction at ISH (in-situ hybridization) against K. septempunctata.

Uncovering enzyme (UCE), encoded by the human NAGPA, is a trans-Golgi enzyme that adds the mannose-6- phosphate recognition tag on lysosomal enzymes destined for the lysosome. Mutations in NAGPA are known to cause stuttering, a common speech disorder with unknown etiology. The human NAGPA gene is transcribed into two different forms, probably due to alternative splicing. One of them, known as a brain isoform, is lacking exon 8 (102-bp). We performed quantitative real-time PCR for the NAGPA brain and non-brain isoforms in a cDNA panel originating from 16 human tissues and 24 sub-brain regions. According to our findings, the relative quantity of the NAGPA brain isoform in the brain was 4.7 times more than that in the control cDNA, a pooled mixture of equal amounts of cDNAs from the 16 different tissues. Further analysis using the cDNA panel originating from 24 different sub-brain regions revealed that the cerebral cortex contained the largest amount of NAGPA brain isoform. Relative quantity in the cerebral cortex was 8.6 times more than that in the control cDNA (P=0.00004). The lowest quantity of this isoform was detected in cDNA from the pituitary gland. In conclusion, findings of the current study suggest that the cerebral cortex, expressing the highest quantity of the NAGPA brain isoform, might be the region associated with speech function.

Of many approaches to reduce motion analysis errors, the compensation method of anatomical landmarks estimates the position of anatomical landmarks during motion. The method models the position of anatomical landmarks with joint angle or skin marker displacement using the data of the so-called dynamic calibration in which anatomical landmark positions are calibrated in ad hoc motions. Then the anatomical landmark positions are calibrated in target motions using the model. This study applies the compensation methods with joint angle and skin marker displacement to three lower extremity motions (walking, sit-to-stand/ stand-to-sit, and step up/down) in ten healthy males and compares their performance. To compare the performance of the methods, two sets of kinematic variables were calculated using different two marker clusters, and the difference was obtained. Results showed that the compensation method with skin marker displacement had less differences by 30~60% compared to without compensation. And, it had significantly less difference in some kinematic variables (7 of 18) by 25~40% compared to the compensa- tion method with joint angle. This study supports that compensation with skin marker displacement reduced the motion analysis STA errors more reliably than with joint angle in lower extremity motion analysis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) play important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during ovarian follicular development, oocytes development and ovulation. In an attempt to investigate the effect of MMP activation in development cumulus-oocytes complexes, we examined the localization and expression of MMP, and monitored MMP expression profile. Cumulus-oocytes complexes were collected and matured in vitro for 24 hr, 36 hr and 48 hr. A mRNA expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 was detected in all culture medium regardless of CC, OC and COCs. Activity of MMP-2 in the OC progressively was increased from 24 hr to 48 hr. But MMP-9 was not detected in all culture medium. The localization of MMP-2 was also measured by immunohistochemistry analysis. The MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was detected in cumulus cell and oocyte zone pellucida. Expression of MMP-2 protein in the COCs was progressively increased from 24 hr to 48 hr. However, MMP-9 protein was progressively decreased from 24 hr to 48 hr. And TIMP-2 protein was most highly expressed in the COCs 36 hr. Expression of TIMP-3 protein in the COCs was progressively increased from 24 hr to 48 hr. In conclusion, these results suggest that MMP-2 plays a role in maintaining normal maturation and development by controlling the ECM inhibitor concentration on cumulus cell and oocytes.

The influence of triploidization on histological characteristics of retina, trunk kidney, liver and midgut tissue, and cell cycle of tail fin and gill tissue in far eastern catfish, Silurus asotus were analyzed. In the infertile triploid fish, the nucleus and/or cell size of secondary proximal tubule cells of trunk kidney, hepatocyte and midgut epithelium are much larger than those of the corresponding cells in the diploid fish (P<0.05). However, triploid tissue showed fewer number of outer nuclear layer in retina and nuclei in secondary proximal tubule of trunk kidney than those for diploid tissue. The mean percentages of the Gl-, the S- and the G2+M-phase fractions were 92.5%, 3.2% and 4.3% in tail fin tissue of diploid, and 93.4%, 2.6% and 4.0% in those of triploid, respectively. There were no significant differences in the percentages of each cell cycle fraction between diploid and triploid. The mean percentages of each phase fractions were 75.1%, 11.1% and 13.8% in gill tissue of diploid and 85.2%, 8.9% and 5.9% in those of triploid, respectively. The differences of cell cycle between tail fin tissue and gill tissue were statistically significant in diploid and triploid (P<0.05). Also, the differences between diploid and triploid were statistically significant in tail fin tissue and gill tissue (P<0.05). Cyclin D1 and cyclin E expressions were not significantly difference between gill tissue and tail fin tissue, and protein expressions of induced triploid were higher than those of diploid. Results from this study suggest that some characteristics in the triploid exhibiting larger cell and nucleus size with fewer number of cell than diploid can be used as an indicator in the identification of triploidization and ploidy level in far eastern catfish.

The influence of triploidization on histological characteristics of retina, trunk kidney, liver and midgut tissue, and cell cycle of tail fin and gill tissue in far eastern catfish, Silurus asotus were analyzed. In the infertile triploid fish, the nucleus and/or cell size of secondary proximal tubule cells of trunk kidney, hepatocyte and midgut epithelium are much larger than those of the corresponding cells in the diploid fish (P<0.05). However, triploid tissue showed fewer number of outer nuclear layer in retina and nuclei in secondary proximal tubule of trunk kidney than those for diploid tissue. The mean percentages of the Gl-, the S- and the G2+M-phase fractions were 92.5%, 3.2% and 4.3% in tail fin tissue of diploid, and 93.4%, 2.6% and 4.0% in those of triploid, respectively. There were no significant differences in the percentages of each cell cycle fraction between diploid and triploid. The mean percentages of each phase fractions were 75.1%, 11.1% and 13.8% in gill tissue of diploid and 85.2%, 8.9% and 5.9% in those of triploid, respectively. The differences of cell cycle between tail fin tissue and gill tissue were statistically significant in diploid and triploid (P<0.05). Also, the differences between diploid and triploid were statistically significant in tail fin tissue and gill tissue (P<0.05). Cyclin D1 and cyclin E expressions were not significantly difference between gill tissue and tail fin tissue, and protein expressions of induced triploid were higher than those of diploid. Results from this study suggest that some characteristics in the triploid exhibiting larger cell and nucleus size with fewer number of cell than diploid can be used as an indicator in the identification of triploidization and ploidy level in far eastern catfish.

Lectins belong to the pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) class and play important roles in the recognition and elimination of pathogens via the innate immune system. Recently, it was reported that lily-type lectin-1 is involved when a pathogen attacks in the early immune response of fish. However, this study is limited to information that the lectin is involved in the innate immune response against viral infection. In the present study, the lily-type lectin-2 and -3 of Oplegnathus fasciatus (OfLTL-2 and 3) have been presented to be included B-lectin domain and two D-mannose binding sites in the amino acid sequence that an important feature for the fundamental structure. To investigate the functional properties of OfLTLs, the tissue distribution in the healthy rock bream and temporal expression during early developmental stage analysis are performed using quantitative real-time PCR. OfLTL-2 and 3 are predominantly expressed in the liver and skin, but rarely expressed in other organ. Also, the transcripts of OfLTLs are not expressed during the early developmental stage but its transcripts are increased after immune-related organs which are fully formed. In the challenge experiment with RBIV (rock bream iridovirus), the expression of OfLTLs was increased much more strongly in the late response than the early, unlike previously known. These results suggest that OfLTLs are specifically expressed in the immune-related tissues when those organs are fully formed and it can be inferred that the more intensively involved in the second half to the virus infection.

본 연구에서는 조직배양을 통해 은행나무 잎으로부터 캘러스를 유도하였고, 최대 생장량과 항산화능이 우수한 배양조건을 확립하였다. 즉, 은행잎을 이용하여 조직배양한 결과 암과 광조건에서 모두 NAA 첨가 조건이 2,4-D 첨가 조건에 비교하여 양호한 캘러스 생장을 나타냈다. 가장 우수한 캘러스 생장을 나타낸 배양조건은 광조건의 10 μm NAA와 5 μm kinetin의 조합 처리시였다. 따라서 현탁배양에서 캘러스의 지속적인 유지를 위한 효과적인 생장조절제는 10 μm NAA/0.5 μm BA, 10 μm NAA/0.5 μm kinetin으로 나타났다. 또한 은행잎 유래 캘러스 추출물의 항산화능은 광조건에서 10 μm NAA가 처리된 기본 MS배지에 캘러스를 현탁 배양하였을 때 가장 높게 나타났다. HPLC를 통한 flavonol glycosides를 분석한 결과 10 μm NAA가 처리된 조건에서 현탁 배양된 녹색 캘러스에서 quercetin dehydrate와 keamperol이 각각 0.556, 0.157 μg/20 μl 검출되었다. 잎 추출물에 비해 표적물질을 제외한 불순물이 적어 표적물질의 순수생산이 가능할 것으로 기대되며, 특히 keamperol의 경우 기존의 연구보고에 비해 약 7배 높은 함량이 검출되었다.

As a higher eukaryotic organism, rice is a good model system to study the differences of gene expressions between differentiatedorgans and tissues on various developmental stages. Transcriptome profiling of these organs and tissues might serve as tools to understand basic mechanisms such as morphogenesis and organogenesis and can be exploited to develop organ markers and transcription factors which might be used to improve the agronomic traits in this important organism. To understand tissue- and stage-specific gene expression, microarray experiments using rice 300k- and 60k chips were performed with 7 tissues including seed, root, leaf, flower and callus. All experiments were replicated to get reliable results and were compared between the microarrays. The hierarchical clustering of significantly expressed genes showed that thousands of genes were clustered showing organ specificity thus suggesting different set of genes were expressed in these organs and tissue. Especially, we couldclassify 1,200 genes exclusively expressed in each tissue and confirmed their expression patterns of several genes with semi-quantitative PCR(qPCR). Gus reporter under the control of those organ-specific genes are also being constructed to test the in-vivo gene expression. Furthermore, we found around 140 transcription factors expressed in tissue-specific manner among these organs and tissues. Additional analyses adopting over-expression of the transcription factors to reveal their functions and mechanisms are being in progress. Organ (Tissue)-specific transcriptome may serve as an important tool to understand gene expressions patterns and their relationship of organs at different developmental stages.