During a survey of marine fungi from the waters surrounding Jeju Island, Korea, several Penicillium strains were isolated from seawater and marine sponges. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer and RNA polymerase subunit II, four strains were identified as Penicillium antarcticum, a fungus that, to the best of our knowledge, had not been previously reported in Korea. Here, we provide detailed descriptions of the morphological characteristics and extracellular enzyme activities of the four strains.
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Fungi ; Korea ; Penicillium* ; Porifera ; Seawater ; Water

Rifampicin is an acknowledged inhibitor of bacterial RNA polymerase. We observed that there exists a substantial variation in the basal-level tolerance to rifampicin across microbial species. A number of mechanisms have come to light which depict the molecular aspects of the behavior of an individual bacterial cell towards rifampicin. This review assesses the current knowledge about rifampicin and conjectures about the probable aspects of rifampicin which remain unexplored.
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Light ; Rifampin ; RNA, Bacterial

Conventional tests for the identification of mycobacteria may frequently result in erroneous identification and underestimate the diversity within the genus Mycobacterium. However, this problem can be overcome by molecular approach like as 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) or RNA polymerase gene (rpoB) sequence analysis. In this study, a molecular approach analyzing partial sequence of 16S rDNA and rpoB gene was applied to mycobacteria other than M tuberculosis (MOTT) isolates that had not been definitely identified by conventional physical and biochemical tests. Among the eighteen isolates included in this study, twelve isolates could be identified to the species level and six were identified to the complex level. Compared with the results by 16S rDNA analysis, the rpoB analysis could di6erentiate some of the strains into the subspecies level.
DNA, Ribosomal* ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Genes, rRNA ; Mycobacterium ; Sequence Analysis* ; Tuberculosis*

OBJECTIVETo synthesize highly pure HBV post-transcriptional regulatory element (HPRE) via transcription in vitro by T7 RNA polymerase.

METHODSHPRE gene was amplified by PCR from a template containing HBV complete genomic DNA and cloned into plasmid pGEM-11zf. The cloned DNA sequence was transcribed by T7 RNA polymerase.

RESULTSThe construction of HPRE gene recombinant plasmid and production of HPRE via transcription in vitro was successful.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro transcription by T7 RNA polymerase can be used to synthesize highly pure HPRE.

DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; RNA Splicing ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; physiology ; Transcription, Genetic ; Viral Proteins

BACKGROUND: Oligonucleotide chip technology has proven to be a very useful tool in the rapid diagnosis of infectious disease. Rifampin resistance is considered as a useful marker of multidrug-resistance in tuberculosis. Mutations in the rpoB gene coding β subunit of RNA polymerase represent the main mechanism of rifampin resistance. The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnosis kit using oligonucleotide chip for the rapid and accurate detection of rifampin-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHOD: Tle sequence specific probes for mutations in the rpoB gene were designed and spotted onto the glass slide, oligonucleotide chip. 38 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium were tested. A part of rpoB was amplified, labelled, and hybridized on the oligonucleotide chip with probes. Results were analyzed with a laser scanner. Direct sequencing was done to verify the results. RESULT: The low-density oligonucleotide chip designed to determine the specific mutations in the rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis accurately detected rifampin resistance associated with mutations in 28 clinical isolates. Mutations at codons 531, 526, and 513 were confirmed by direct sequencing analysis. CONCLUSION: Mutant detection using oligonucleotide chip technology is a reliable and useful diagnostic tool for the detection of multidrug-resistance in M. tuberculosis.
Clinical Coding ; Codon ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Glass ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Rifampin ; Tuberculosis*

Hormone-dependent cancers including prostatic cancer respond to endocrine therapy in initial phase, but gradually loss responsiveness and eventually show autonomous growth despite of continuation or the treatment At present it is difficult to predict on an individual basis who will respond to hormonal therapy and for how long. If unresponsive patient could be identified. they could be treated by alternative forms of therapy (e.g., chemotherapy). Thus there is a great need to predict the quality and duration of response to endocrine manipulation. Recently androgen receptor assay and other methods to predict the responsiveness of prostatic cancer to androgen ablation therapy have been developed. We studied androgen receptor, RNA polymerase activity and chromosome analysis on the androgen-responsive Shionogi Carcinoma 115 (SC115} cells and established a pure androgen-dependent cancer cell line from this tumor.
Cell Line ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Receptors, Androgen

Treacher Collins syndrome is a congenital craniofacial malformation with autosomal dominant inheritance as the main genetic pattern. In this condition, the biosynthesis of ribosomes in neural crest cells and neuroepithelial cells is blocked and the number of neural crest cells that migrate to the craniofacial region decreases, causing first and second branchial arch dysplasia. Definite causative genes include treacle ribosome biogenesis factor 1 (tcof1), RNA polymerase Ⅰ and Ⅲ subunit C (polr1c), and RNA polymerase Ⅰ and Ⅲ subunit D (polr1d). This paper provides a review of research of three major patho-genic genes, pathogenesis, phenotypic research, prevention, and treatment of the syndrome.
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; genetics ; Humans ; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis ; genetics ; Neural Crest ; Nuclear Proteins ; Phosphoproteins

PURPOSE: The CD5 molecules are pan-T cell antigens and are found on a minor subpopulation of B cells. CD5 antigens are involed in an intracellular signal transduction as well as in an intercellular signal transduction between CDS+ T cell/CD72+ B cell by CD5/CD72 interaction. CD5 antigens are known to be participated in classic immune reactions and in this study CDS mRNA expressions by lymphocytes were examined in allergic patients controls, acute febrile infectious disease controls and normal controls to elucidate the possibility of CDS involvement in allergic immune reactions. METHODS: Fifteen allergic patients, ten patients of acute febrile infectious disease patients and ten normal controls were studied. Venous blood was drawn and mononuclear cells were separated. T cells and B cells were separated using immunomagnetic beads. Total RNA was extracted and RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction) was done to detect CDS antigen mRNA expression. RESULTS: 1) CDS mRNA overexpressions were detected in allergic patient controls as compared to that in acute febrile infectious controls. CDS mRNA was not detected in normal controls. Semiquantitative CD5 mRNA expressions were measured as relative expressions of CD5 to GAPDH. Relative quantities of CD5 mRNA expressions were 90.656.24% in allergic patient controls and 23.76+3.58% in acute febrile infectious patients. CONCLUSIONS: CDS mRNA overexpression is a characteristic phenomenon in allergic immune reactions. From these result, CD5/CD72 pathway might be the preference immune mechanism in allergic immune reaction and the further study for the exact mechanism of CDS involvement in allergic immune reactions may be necessary
Antigens, CD5 ; B-Lymphocytes ; Communicable Diseases ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lymphocytes* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes

Mitis group streptococci (MGS) were classified based on the nucleotide sequences 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) and comprised 13 Streptococcus species. However, 16S rDNA homogeneity among MGS was too high to discriminate between clinical strains at the species level, notably between Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae. The purpose of this study was to discriminate between 37 strains of MGS isolated from Korean oral cavities using phylogenetic analysis of the DNA-dependant RNA polymerase beta-subunit gene (rpoB). 16S rDNA and rpoB from clinical strains of MGS were sequenced using the dideoxy chain termination method and analyzed using MEGA version 5 software. The resulting phylogenetic data showed that the rpoB sequences could delineate clinical strains of MGS at the species level. Phylogenetic analysis of rpoB is therefore a useful approach for identifying MGS at the species level.
Base Sequence ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; DNA, Ribosomal ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Genes, rRNA ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus mitis ; Streptococcus oralis ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

rpoB, which encodes the B subunit of RNA polymerase, is related to rifampin resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Escherichia coli. We determined the nucleotide sequences (346 bp) of rpoB gene from 25 Korean isolates of Helicobacter pylori. These nucleotide sequences were aligned and compared with H. pylori 26695 strain. No insertions or deletions were observed in all H. pylori strains. In the phylogenetic tree constructed by UPGMA method, 26 strains of H. pylori were separated into four clusters. Deduced amino acid sequences of amplified rpoB DNA comprised 115 amino acid residues. Twenty six H. pylori strains could be divided into 5 groups by the signature amino acid sequences. Two strains isolated from the same patient showed different nucleotide sequences. These results suggest that the sequences of rpoB are also highly divergent in H. pylori isolates and are useful for the epidemiologic study.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; DNA ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; Escherichia coli ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Rifampin