Targeted mutagenesis and high-throughput screening of diversified gene and promoter libraries for isolating gain-of-function mutations.

Targeted mutagenesis of a promoter or gene is essential for attaining new functions in microbial and protein engineering efforts. In the burgeoning field of synthetic biology, heterologous genes are expressed in new host organisms. Similarly, natural or designed proteins are mutagenized at targeted positions and screened for gain-of-function mutations.

Exploring the Influence of Growth-Associated Host Genetics on the Initial Gut Microbiota in Horses.

The influences of diet and environmental factors on gut microbial profiles have been widely acknowledged; however, the specific roles of host genetics remain uncertain. To unravel host genetic effects, we raised 47 Jeju crossbred (Jeju × Thoroughbred) foals that exhibited higher genetic diversity. Foals were raised under identical environmental conditions and diets.

Tackling the Catch-22 Situation of Optimizing a Sensor and a Transporter System in a Whole-Cell Microbial Biosensor Design for an Anthropogenic Small Molecule.

Whole-cell biosensors provide a convenient detection tool for the high-throughput screening of genetically engineered biocatalytic activity. But establishing a biosensor for an anthropogenic molecule requires both a custom transporter and a transcription factor. This results in an unavoidable "Catch-22" situation in which transporter activity cannot be easily confirmed without a biosensor and a biosensor cannot be established without a functional transporter in a host organism.

Engineered pH-Sensitive Protein G/IgG Interaction.

While natural protein-protein interactions have evolved to be induced by complex stimuli, rational design of interactions that can be switched-on-demand still remain challenging in the protein design world. Here, we demonstrate that a computationally redesigned natural interface for improved binding affinity could further be mutated to adopt a pH switchable interaction. The redesigned interface of Protein G/human IgG Fc domain (referred to as PrG/hIgG), when incorporated with histidine and glutamic acid on PrG (PrG-EHHE), showed a switch in binding affinity by 50-fold when the pH was altered from mild acidic to mild basic.

Relationship between the maxillofacial skeletal pattern and the morphology of the mandibular symphysis: Structural equation modeling.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the facial skeletal patterns and the shape of the mandibular symphysis in adults with malocclusion by using a structural equation model (SEM).

Methods: Ninety adults who had malocclusion and had records of facial skeletal measurements performed using cone-beam computed tomography were selected for this study. The skeletal measurements were classified into three groups (vertical, anteroposterior, and transverse).

Analysis of the relationship between the morphology of the palate and facial skeletal patterns in Class III malocclusion using structural equation modelling.

Introduction: The present study investigated the relationship between facial skeletal patterns and morphology of the palate in adult patients with Class III malocclusion using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Setting And Sample Population: One hundred cone beam computed tomography images of Class III adults were evaluated for skeletal measurements.

Materials And Methods: The skeletal measurements were classified into the vertical, anteroposterior and transverse group based on factor analysis.

Comparison of temporomandibular joint shape and size in patients with facial asymmetry.

Objective: To examine the morphologic similarities and differences in mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa between the deviated and non-deviated sides in patients with facial asymmetry using statistical analysis.

Methods: One hundred eighty-four patients (95 men, 89 women; mean age, 22.30 ± 3.

Antioxidant and skin-whitening effects of aerial part of Euphorbia supina Raf. Extract.

Background: Euphorbia supina (ES) has been widely used in folk medicine owing to its antibacterial, hemostatic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and skin-whitening effects of a 70% ethanol extract of ES.

Methods: The aerial parts of ES plant were extracted with 70% ethanol.

Genome-wide analyses of the Jeju, Thoroughbred, and Jeju crossbred horse populations using the high density SNP array.

The Jeju horse is an indigenous Korean horse breed that is currently registered with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. However, there is severe lack of genomic studies on Jeju horse. This study was conducted to investigate genetic characteristics of horses including Jeju horse, Thoroughbred and Jeju crossbred (Jeju × Thoroughbred) populations.

Correlation between the cross-sectional morphology of the mandible and the three-dimensional facial skeletal pattern: A structural equation modeling approach.

Objective: To clarify the relationship between the cross-sectional morphology of the mandible and vertical, transverse, and anteroposterior facial skeletal patterns using statistical shape analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Materials And Methods: We used 150 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to obtain three-dimensional (3D) facial landmarks and cross-sectional images of the mandible. The morphology of the inner and outer cortices of the mandible was analyzed using statistical shape analysis, including generalized Procrustes analysis and principal component analysis (PCA).

Estimation of genetic parameters for temperament in Jeju crossbred horses.

Objective: Temperament can be defined as a type of behavioral tendency that appears in a relatively stable manner in responses to various external stimuli over time. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for the records of temperament testing that are used to improve the temperament of Jeju crossbred (Jeju×Thoroughbred) horses.

Methods: This study was conducted using 205 horses (101 females and 104 males) produced between 2010 and 2015.

Morphometric analysis for evaluating the relation between incisal guidance angle, occlusal plane angle, and functional temporomandibular joint shape variation.

Objective: The correlations between morphology of the temporomandibular joint structure, the anterior guidance angle, and occlusal plane were investigated.

Materials And Methods: A cone beam computed tomography analysis was performed in 158 patients (86 women and 72 men). 3D software was employed to obtain the coordinates of the shape of the incisal guidance angle, occlusal guidance angle, articular fossa, and mandibular condyle.

Methylglyoxal synthase regulates cell elongation via alterations of cellular methylglyoxal and spermidine content in Bacillus subtilis.

Methylglyoxal regulates cell division and differentiation through its interaction with polyamines. Loss of their biosynthesizing enzyme causes physiological impairment and cell elongation in eukaryotes. However, the reciprocal effects of methylglyoxal and polyamine production and its regulatory metabolic switches on morphological changes in prokaryotes have not been addressed.

Qualitative correlation between postoperatively increased vertical dimension and mandibular position in skeletal class III using partial-least-square path modeling.

Background: This study constructed a partial-least-square path-modeling (PLS-PM) model and found the pathway by which the postsurgical vertical dimension (VD) affects the extent of the final mandibular setback on the B point at the posttreatment stage for the skeletal class III surgery-first approach (SFA).

Methods: This study re-analyzed the data from the retrospective study by Lee et al. on 40 patients with skeletal class III bimaxillary SFA.

The estimation of skeletal maturity of patients with cleft lip and palate using statistical shape analysis: a preliminary study.

Objectives: To propose a skeletal maturity assessment method by developing a statistical regression analysis model through the integration of lateral and axial images of the cervical vertebrae of patients with cleft lip and palate obtained through CBCT.

Methods: 49 patients with cleft lip and palate (28 females, 21 males; age range, 4-16 years) underwent CBCT examination, and the hand-wrist radiographic data were selected. With coordinates of landmarks from lateral and axial images of the cervical vertebrae, Procrustes analysis and principal component (PC) analysis yielded PC scores of each cervical vertebra, with the centroid size as the size factor.

Genome scan linkage analysis identifies a major quantitative trait loci for fatty acid composition in muscle in an F intercross between Landrace and Korean native pigs.

Objective: This study was conducted to locate quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing fatty acid (FA) composition in a large F intercross between Landrace and Korean native pigs.

Methods: Eighteen FA composition traits were measured in more than 960 F progeny. All experimental animals were genotyped with 165 microsatellite markers located throughout the pig autosomes.

Preliminary Study to Determine the Reference Plane of Patients With a Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the three-dimensional midsagittal reference planes for unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients that can be easily applied in a clinical setting.

Design: This was a retrospective analysis.

Patients: There were 35 UCLP patients (25 men, 10 women; 28.

Statistical shape analysis-based determination of optimal midsagittal reference plane for evaluation of facial asymmetry.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine, by statistical shape analysis of original and mirrored skeletal landmarks, the optimal landmark-based midsagittal reference plane for evaluation of facial asymmetry.

Methods: The study sample comprised 69 patients with facial asymmetry (36 men, 33 women; mean age, 23.0 ± 4.

Polyamines regulate cell growth and cellular methylglyoxal in high-glucose medium independently of intracellular glutathione.

Polyamines can presumably inhibit protein glycation, when associated with the methylglyoxal inevitably produced during glycolysis. Herein, we hypothesized a nonenzymatic interaction between putrescine and methylglyoxal in putrescine-deficient or -overexpressing Dictyostelium cells in high-glucose medium, which can control methylglyoxal production. Putrescine was essentially required for growth rescue accompanying methylglyoxal detoxification when cells underwent growth defect and cell cycle G1-arrest when supplemented with high glucose.

Application of statistical shape analysis for the estimation of bone and forensic age using the shapes of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cervical vertebrae in a young Japanese population.

Objective: From computed tomographic images, the dentocentral synchondrosis can be identified in the second cervical vertebra. This can demarcate the border between the odontoid process and the body of the 2nd cervical vertebra and serve as a good model for the prediction of bone and forensic age. Nevertheless, until now, there has been no application of the 2nd cervical vertebra based on the dentocentral synchondrosis.

IGF-I improves mitochondrial membrane potential during hypothermic storage of canine spermatozoa.

The aim of study was to evaluate the effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on canine sperm function during cooled and freeze-thaw storage. Extenders supplemented with different IGF-I concentrations (0, 100 and 200 ng/ml) were added to canine spermatozoa, and the sperm samples were stored at 4°C for 48 hr or freeze-thawed. Sperm motility, morphology, plasma-membrane integrity (PMI) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were evaluated.

The first outbreak of Chorioptes texanus (Acari: Psoroptidae) infestation in a cattle farm in Korea.

Mites in the genus Chorioptes cause a mild form of skin disease in both domestic and wild ruminants. In July 2006, dermatitis characterized by alopecia, marked lichenification, accumulation of crust, and fissuring was recognized in 14 out of 200 Holstein dairy cattle raised in the cattle farm of the National Institute of Animal Science in Cheonan, Republic of Korea. Skin lesions were distributed mainly over the tail base, and sacral and perineal regions.

Impaired generation of reactive oxygen species in leprechaunism through downregulation of Nox4.

Leprechaunism features a clinical constellation characterized by extreme insulin resistance, growth retardation, and several distinct developmental abnormalities. One puzzling observation about leprechaunism is that mutations in the insulin receptor gene frequently associated with this syndrome cannot account for the aberrant responses of cultured cells to other growth factors. Here we report that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is impaired in cells from leprechaunism patients, thus shedding new light on this issue.