Biomedical subjects

Jin-Soo Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Jin-Soo Kim.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Phenotypic alteration of eukaryotic cells using randomized libraries of artificial transcription factors.

We have developed a method in which randomized libraries of zinc finger-containing artificial transcription factors are used to induce phenotypic variations in yeast and mammalian cells. By linking multiple zinc-finger domains together, we constructed more than 100,000 zinc-finger proteins with diverse DNA-binding specificities and fused each of them to either a transcription activation or repression domain. The resulting transcriptional regulatory proteins were expressed individually in cells, and the transfected cells were screened for various phenotypic changes, such as drug resistance, thermotolerance or osmotolerance in yeast, and differentiation in mammalian cells. Genes associated with the selected phenotypes were also identified. Our results show that randomized libraries of artificial transcription factors are useful tools for functional genomics and phenotypic engineering.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Caveolin-3 expression during early chicken development.

Caveolin-3, a protein that is correlated with caveolae, is found in muscle cells, especially during their differentiation. Although the distribution of caveolin-3 has been studied in cases such as adult and late embryonic mammalians, the expression of caveolin-3 has not been clearly defined during chicken development. In this study, we detected intense caveolin-3 immunoreactivity (IR) as early as embryonic day 4 (E4), most of the signals were localized within the neural tube and myotome. While IRs in the brain occurred in radial glia at E6, these intensities were reduced to an almost undetectable level at E8. In the case of muscle cells, the exclusive localization of caveolin-3 in the cytoplasmic membrane was detected even at E11, much earlier than in mammalian muscle tissues. Although the caveolin-3 IR pattern was similar to that reported by previous studies, we found some interesting mismatches in the case of avian tissues. Although we are unable to explain caveolin-3 expression patterns in the early embryonic stages, this study could provide a basis for further study on the function of caveolin-3 in avian embryogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Human zinc fingers as building blocks in the construction of artificial transcription factors.

We describe methods for generating artificial transcription factors capable of up- or downregulating the expression of genes whose promoter regions contain the target DNA sequences. To accomplish this, we screened zinc fingers derived from sequences in the human genome and isolated 56 zinc fingers with diverse DNA-binding specificities. We used these zinc fingers as modular building blocks in the construction of novel, sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. Fusion of these zinc-finger proteins with either a transcriptional activation or repression domain yielded potent transcriptional activators or repressors, respectively. These results show that the human genome encodes zinc fingers with diverse DNA-binding specificities and that these domains can be used to design sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins and artificial transcription factors.

DNA↗

PubMed2003

Characteristics of salt-fermented sauces from shrimp processing byproducts.

A salt-fermented sauce from shrimp processing byproducts (heads, shells, and tails) was prepared and characterized. Three types of sauces were prepared; sauce C, with 30 g of salt/100 g of byproduct (high salt); sauce E, with 30 g of salt and 0.2 g of sodium erythorbate (high salt); and sauce L, with 20 g of salt, 0.2 g of sodium erythorbate, 6 g of sorbitol, 0.5 mL of lactic acid, and 5 mL of ethanol (low salt). Sauces C and E showed higher exopeptidase activities than sauce L, whereas sauce L showed the highest endopeptidase activity. After 3 months of fermentation, the amino N content of sauce increased from 150-200 to 500-600 mg/100 g and the nonprotein nitrogen content increased from 300 to 950-1050 mg/100 g. Volatile basic nitrogen content increased significantly from 18 to 60 mg/100 g. The total carotenoids retained in sauces C, E, and L were 26.3, 76.2, and 73%, respectively, thus indicating that the addition of sodium erythorbate to sauces E and L retarded oxidation. Water activities of sauces C, E, and L were 0.753, 0.751, and 0.773, respectively. According to the omission test, the taste of sauces was influenced by the content of free amino acids, mainly glutamic acid and aspartic acid. All three sauces examined showed a 35% higher total amino acid content than commercial salt-fermented shrimp sauces. Therefore, shrimp processing byproducts may lend themselves to the preparation of high-quality salt-fermented sauces.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2003

Current status of Parkinson's disease treatment in Korea.

The health insurance system in Korea has been under governmental control, and has covered whole population since 1989. About 97% of Korean people have benefits from this system, while 3% are covered by a Medical Aid system for poor people. According to the statistical yearbook of Health Insurance Review in Korea, the number of claims under Parkinson's Disease, in whole country increased steeply from 44619 in 1995 to 96229 in 2000. If each patient were to take medication for the full duration of their insurance coverage, the average number of visits per year would be 11 in 2000. Thus the number of PD patients calculated using these statistics is about 8600. The prevalence is 19/100000, which is much lower than that in Japan. Considering the significant increase in the number of claims in last few years, however, there are still many PD patients who do not receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The other factor influencing these statistics is the fact that patients were able to buy their medications in drug stores without prescription, i.e. without visiting a hospital (since 2001 this has no longer been allowed). Almost all PD medications are available in Korea. There are several forms of levodopa drugs. Dopamine agonists include bromocriptine, pergolide, dihydroergocriptine, ropinirol, and pramipexole. Other parkinsonian medications are amantadine, benztropin, trihexyphenydil, deprenyl, and entacapone. Recently multicentre clinical trials were performed using ropinirol and entacapone, which showed reliable results. Currently deep brain stimulation is available in a number of medical institutes.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed2003

Custom DNA-binding proteins and artificial transcription factors.

Expression of the genome is primarily regulated at the level of transcription by gene-specific transcription factors, which recognize specific DNA sequences to activate or inhibit transcription. The ability to control gene expression at will would provide scientists with a powerful tool for biotechnology and drug-discovery research. Over the last decade or so, researchers have made great strides in our understanding of the structures and mechanisms of action of naturally occurring transcription factors. Such research has revealed that members of the Cys2-His2 zinc finger family of transcription factors consist of functional modules that recognize a wide variety of DNA sequences. This review describes recent advances in the development of novel methods to design and construct artificial transcription factors to control gene expression at will. The applications of artificial transcription factors in the areas of medicine and biotechnology are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of the effect of aging on the response to hypoxia by cDNA microarray.

Little is known about the detail of hypoxia-responsive gene expression patterns in advanced age, even though aging is thought to be partially associated with a decreased response to hypoxia. In the present study, we identified several hypoxia-inducible genes and investigated the effect of aging on hypoxic gene expression profiles using cDNA microarray analysis of young/old human diploid fibroblasts. Of 7458 genes in the microarray, we found that genes involved in angiogenesis, defense against oxidative stress, and transcription regulation are severely impaired in senescent cell, which is consistent with the fact that aged cells have attenuated responses to various stimuli.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Distance to the adult cervical epidural space.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cervical epidural block is useful in the management of a variety of acute, chronic, and cancer-related pain syndromes involving the head, face, neck, and upper extremities. Knowledge of the depth from the skin to the cervical epidural space (DSES) may be helpful when performing cervical epidural block and may reduce the possibility of complications. We studied DSES in adults and its relationship with patient age, height, weight, and neck circumference. METHODS: The study included 816 patients. Cervical epidural block was performed at the C5-6, C6-7, and C7-T1 intervertebral space by a midline approach under fluoroscopic guidance. The depth to the epidural space from the skin was measured. RESULTS: DSES at C5-6, C6-7, and C7-T1 was 4.7 +/- 0.6 cm, 5.1 +/- 0.6 cm, 5.6 +/- 0.8 cm in males and 4.0 +/- 0.6 cm, 4.6 +/- 0.6 cm, 5.0 +/- 0.6 cm in females (mean +/- SD). Linear regression analysis revealed significant correlations between DSES and weight, neck circumference, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: DSES varies with cervical intervertebral space. DSES increases as one moves caudally. The greatest DSES was noted at C7-T1 in men, and the least was at C5-6 in women. DSES had a significant relationship with weight, neck circumference, and body mass index in both genders.

Adult↗