^*Author for Correspondence.
Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Kelantan.
Tel: 609-7664139; Fax: 609-7653370.
E.mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Key words: acute myeloid leukaemia, AML1/ETO, RT-PCR

Abstract.
The translocation (8;21)(q22;22) is one of the most common chromosomal aberrations seen in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), occuring in the frequency of 7 to 12 % of cases . The t(8; 21) results in the formation of a chimeric AML1/ETO transcript. The aim of this study was to detect AML1/ETO fusion transcript in patients with AML diagnosed in Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital. RNA from 24 whole blood samples were extracted from these patients and subjected to RT-PCR using specific primers for AML1 and ETO genes. Four of these patients (16.7%) were found to have AML1/ETO fusion transcript. Morphologically 3 of them were classified as AML-M2 (FAB classification) and 1 was classified as AML-M1. Only one of those positive samples was sent for cytogenetic analysis and was found to have t(8;21). All 3 patients with AMLM2 had aberrant expression of CD19. Thus, RT-PCR detection of AML1/ETO may identify a subgroup of AML patients who carry a better prognosis.

^*Author for Correspondence.
Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ankara, 06110 Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey.
Tel: +90-312-3179815; Fax: +90-312-3179815;
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Key words: Ludwigia repens, micropropagation, thidiazuron (TDZ), 6-benzylaminopurine, and carry over effect

Abstract.
Apical meristems, first, second and third-fourth axillary buds of Ludwigia repens were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), thidiazuron (TDZ) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for micropropagation. Micropropagation was best achieved from apical meristem on MS medium containing 0.05 mg dm^-3 TDZ and 0.1 mg dm^-3 NAA. It was noted that TDZ or BAP had inhibitory effect on shoot elongation, which was overcome by subculturing shoots on half-strength MS media without growth regulators after 4 weeks of culture. This also served as rooting media. Rooted plantlets were finally transferred to aquariums containing fresh water with 100% adaptation.

¹ Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Food Science & Biotechnology, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSLA
² Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2 1 Yamadaoka,
Suita, Osaka 565, JAPAN

Received 31 October 2000 / Accepted 8 December 2001

Abstract.
The production of ethanol from sago starch was investigated using three genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, which are YKU 107 (expressing (a amylase), YKU 131 (expressing glucoamylase) and YKU 132 strains (expressing (a amylase and glucoamylase). Substrate utilization, biomass formation, and ethanol production were studied in media containing sago starch and glucose as carbon sources. For all the strains, the mmax in media containing glucose was much higher than that in media containing sago starch. The YKU 107, YKU 131 and YKU 132 strain could hydrolyzed 83.45%, 67.2% and 71.9% of sago starch, respectively. However, only the YKU 131 strain could produced significant amount of ethanol (2.16 gl^-1) from sago starch. The superiority of the YKU 131 strain as compared to YKU 107 and YKU 132 strains was found to be correlated with its glucoamylase secretion. The YKU 132 strain did not produce ethanol due to its negligible secretion of glucoamylase. The YKU 107 strain was superior in SCP production from sago starch, with the yield of 0.414 g/g.

Keywords: Sago starch, recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ethanol fermentation, a amylase, glucoamylase

^*Author for Correspondence.
Dept. of Food Science and Technology,
Sejong University, 98 Kunja-dong,
Kwangjin-ku, Seoul 143-747, Korea.
Tel : 822-3408-3229
Fax : 822-3408-3569
E-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Key words: Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, adventitious root, saponin, culture condition, elicitor

Abstract.
Root growth and saponin production in the root culture of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer were investigated under various pH values, concentrations of sucrose, nitrogen and phosphate and elicitors. The pH of a medium did not have a significant effect on root growth, but apparently affected the saponin content. The maximum saponin content of 0.26 % was obtained at pH 6.0. The optimal concentrations of sucrose, nitrogen and phosphate on root growth and saponin production were 30 g/l, 382.7 mg/l and 40.40 mg/l, respectively. Saponin biosynthesis was stimulated by the addition of panaxatriol saponin (PTS) and total saponin (TS). However, fresh weight in PTS was so low that the theoretical total saponin in TS treatment was higher than that in PTS treatment. Thus, it appears that TS is a better elicitor than PTS in the ginseng root culture. The saponin content in TS treated ginseng root was 0.38 % and approximately 1.5-fold higher than the control. This work will be helpful for efficient large-scale bioprecessing of the ginseng root culture in a bioreactor.