• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.249-255
• /
• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the characterization of infectious BLV env gene isolated form Korean Holstein Cattle and to determine its incoming origin. Gp51 region of BLV env gene known as having important role in immunological function was characterized using PCR-RFLP sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. BLV env gene was grouped into PCR-RFLP patterns with three restriction endonucleases including Pvu II, BamHI and Hae III, and we identified two new RFLP patterns from nucleotide sequences of each group. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 80% of the Korean Holstein was included in the USA and Japanese group. These results here can provide a valuable information about the character of the BLV env gene and research on infection route of BLV.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.53-56
• /
• 2015

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis. This study was conducted to clarify the molecular characteristics of BLVs obtained from a specific region in Korea. Proviral BLVs were detected in anti-BLV antibody-positive blood samples by PCR. Env and gag fragments were sequenced and compared to previously published reference sequences. Analysis of the env gene sequence revealed that the YI strain was highly similar to genotype 1, including United States and Japanese strains. The gag gene sequence had the highest degree of similarity with a Japanese strain.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.99-103
• /
• 2009

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases as multi-copy members in the human genome. Their gene expression profiling could provide us with important insights into the pathogenic relationship between HERVs and cancer. In this study, we have evaluated the genomic structure and quantitatively determined the expression patterns in the env gene of a variety of HERV family members located on six specific loci by the RetroTector 10 program, as well as real-time RT-PCR amplification. The env gene transcripts evidenced significant differences in the human tumor/normal adjacent tissues (colon, liver, uterus, lung and testis). As compared to the adjacent normal tissues, high levels of expression were noted in testis tumor tissues for HERV-K, in liver and lung tumor tissues for HERV-R, in liver, lung, and testis tumor tissues for HERV-H, and in colon and liver tumor tissues for HERV-P. These data warrant further studies with larger groups of patients to develop biomarkers for specific human cancers.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 1999.04a
• /
• pp.16-16
• /
• 1999

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.133-141
• /
• 2005

Most of the endogenous retroviral genes integrated into the primate genome after the split of New World monkeys in the Oligocene era, approximately 33 million years ago. Because they can change the structure of adjacent genes and move between and within chromosomes they may play important roles in evolutionas well as in many kinds of disease and the creation of genetic polymorphism. Comparative analysis of HERVs (human endogenous retroviruses) and their LTR (long terminal repeat) elements in the primate genomes will help us to understand the possible impact of HERV elements in the evolution and phylogeny of primates. For example, HERV-K LTR and SINE-R elements have been identified that have been subject to recent change in the course of primate evolution. They are specific elements to the human genome and could be related to biological function. The HERV-M element is related to the superfamily of HERV-K and is integrated into the periphilin gene as the truncated form, 5'LTR-gag-pol-3'LTR. PCR and RT-PCR approaches indicated that the insertion of various retrotransposable elements in a common ancestor genome may make different transcript variants in different primate species. Examination of the HERV-W elementrevealed that env fragments were detected on human chromosomes 1, 3-7, 12, 14, 17, 20, and X, whilst the pol fragments were detected on human chromosomes 2-8, 10-15, 20, 21, X, and Y. Bioinformatic blast search showed that almost full-length of the HERV-W family was identified on human chromosomes 1-8, 11-15, 17, 18, 21, and X. Expression analysis of HERV-W genes (gag, pol, and env) in human tissues by RT-PCR indicated that gag and pol were expressed in specific tissues, whilst env was constituitively expressed in all tissues examined. DNA sequence based phylogenetic analysis indicated that the gag, pol and env genes have evolved independently during primate evolution. It will thus be of considerable interest to expand the current HERV gene information of various primates and disease tissues.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.61-70
• /
• 1983

Synchronized cat kidney cells chronically infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) were used to study virus production, the synthesis of group specific antigen (gag) and envelope (env) proteins, the expression of env protein on the cell surface during the cell cycle, and the stability of viral RNA. As detecting method, we developed the radioimmunoassay (RIA) system using beta-emission of $^{131}I$ and demonstrated the validity of this system by comparison with routine RIA system using gamma-emission of $^{125}I$. The produced virus was analysed by developed RIA interval was determined by measuring reverse transcriptase activity. The results show that infected cells produce the complete virus particle containing products of gag, env and pol genes of FeLV, and maximum virus production occurs during mitosis of synchronized cells. Labeling of the cell surface of synchronized cells with $^{131}I$ shows that the amount of $gp70^{env}$ on the cell surface parallels cellular gorwth. Therefore, the cell cycle-dependent release of virus is not petition RIA of synchronized cells with $^{131}I$ labeled viral proteins synthesis during the cell cycle. The rate of synthesis of gag protein shows three peaks, corresponding to the $G_1,\;late\;S\;and\;late\;G_2$ phases of cell cycle. But the rate of synthesis of env protein dose not change, suggesting that in these cells the synthesis of these two gene products in controlled seperately. In Actionomycin D treated cells, the synthesis of viral proteins decreased sharply from 8 hours after treatment, and the late S and $G_2$ peaks of gag protein synthesis were disappeared. This shows the stability of viral RNA for about 6 hours in the absence of continuing viral RNA synthesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.1735-1740
• /
• 2008

Clone PERV-C (A3) env was isolated from the genomic DNA of domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) in Korea to investigate the molecular properties of PERV-C. The nucleic acid homologies between the PERV-MSL (type C) reference and the PERV-C(A3) clone was 99% for env, but a single base pair deletion was found in the transmembrane (TM) region of the env open reading frame. To examine the functional characteristics of truncated PERV-C env, we constructed a replication-incompetent retroviral vector by replacing the env gene of the pCL-Eco retrovirus vector with PERV-C env. A retroviral vector bearing PERV-C/A chimeric envelopes was also created to complement the TM defect. Our results indicated that truncated PERV-C env was not infectious in human cells as expected. Interestingly, however, the vector with the PERV-C/A envelope was able to infect 293 cells. This observation suggests that recombination within PERV-C TM could render PERV-C infectious in humans. To further characterize PERV-C/A envelopes, we constructed an infectious molecular clone by using a PCR-based technique. This infectious molecular clone will be useful to examine more specific regions that are critical for human cell tropism.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2007

For the detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), multiple and ultra-rapid real-time PCR methods were developed. The target DNA sequences were deduced from HIV-1 specific 495bp partial env gene (gi_1184090) and from HIV-2 specific 294 bp partial env gene (gi_1332355), and were synthesized by using PCR-based gene synthesis on the reason of safety. Ultra-rapid real-time PCR was performed by $Genspector^{TM}$ using microchip-based, $1\;{\mu}l$ of reaction volume with extremely short time in each 3 step in PCR. The detection including DNA-amplification and melting temperature analysis was completed inner 15 minutes. The HIV-1 specific 117 bp-long and HIV-2 specific 119 bp-long PCR products were successfully amplified from minimum of template,2.3 molecules of each env gene. This kind of real-time PCR was designated as ultra-rapid real-time PCR in this study and it could be applied not only an alternative detection method against HIV, but also other pathogens using PCR-based detection.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.264-272
• /
• 2007

For the detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), ultra-rapid real-time PCR methods were developed. The target DNA sequences were used 495 bp HIV-1-specific env gene (gi_1184090) and 294 bp HIV-2-specific env gene (gi_1332355). Ultra-rapid real-time PCR was peformed by $Genspector^{TM}$ (Samsung, Korea) using microchip-based, $6\;{\mu}l$ of reaction volume with extremely short running time in only 2 steps (denaturation, annealing/extension) in each cycle of PCR. Total reaction for 30 cycled ultra-rapid PCR detection including melting temperature analysis was completed in 7 min and 30 sec. The HIV-1-specific 117 bp-long or HIV-2-spe-cific 119 bp-long PCR products were successfully amplified from the minimum of template, $2.3{\times}10^3$ copies of each euv gene using 30 cycled two-steps ultra-rapid PCR. This kind of ultra-rapid real-time PCR method would be useful not only for the rapid-detection of HIV, but also rapid-detection of other pathogens.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.2945-2948
• /
• 2013

Background: Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is the major cause of mammary tumors in mice. There is limited controversial evidence about the probable etiologic role of MMTV- like virus in human breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 Formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples with diagnosis of breast cancer were collected in a period of 3 years from cancer institute of Iran. We selected both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal patients with different histologic grades and different ethnic groups. We evaluated presence of MMTV-like virus env gene through real time PCR method. Results: Forty patients (20 pre and 20 postmenopausal women) were evaluated with the mean age of 49.67. The average tumor size was 39 mm. None of the studied samples were positive for MMTV-like virus env gene target sequences. Conclusions: We found no evidence on the potential role of MMTV-like virus in the carcinogenicity of breast cancer among Iranian women.