• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

A prokaryotic cell has various histone-like proteins also known as nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs). These proteins bind AT-rich sequence at DNA, which induce DNA wrapping, bending, and bridging, and subsequently regulate the gene expression in bacteria. Because NAPs function in transcriptional silencing of virulence genes, it is important to study their roles in gene silencing and specific mechanisms of these proteins. In this review, we discussed two well-known NAPs, H-NS, and HU, and summarized their roles for gene expression in Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. Through the oligomerization and filamentation of H-NS, it represses the expression of virulence genes in human pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella Typhimurium, and it works with other NAPs positively or negatively. Recently, H-NS also regulates typhoid toxin expression, which causes typhoid fever and systemic disease in human. Additionally, HU regulates the expression of genes related to both virulence and physiology of Salmonella. Therefore, we suggest that NAPs like H-NS and HU are crucial factors to reveal the molecular mechanisms of virulence gene expression in bacteria.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 1995

Cold acclimation involves changes in gene expression. BN28 and BN115 are two genes which are regulated by cold temperature and assumed having roles in cold acclimation. The objectives of this experiment was to explore the expression of BN28 and BN115 under field conditions. Six winter cultivars were planted at three different dates during the fall. The expression of the genes was determined by northern blot analysis of total RNA taken from leaves 15 to 30 day-intervals after planting. The expression of the two genes was detected within 15 days after planting well before onset of freezing tolerance in plants. This suggestes either their expression was a prerequisite of the freezing tolerance or their expression was regulated by other environmental factors as well as temperature. Two genes showed a different expression pattern suggesting they had a different regulatory system. Although timecourse increase in expression of the cold-regulated genes was matched with increase in freezing tolerance, the difference of expression in cultivar level at specific times of measurement was not correlated with freezing tolerance at the moment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.23-27
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• 1995

세포내에서의 유전자 발현의 다양성은 여러 종류의 외부자극에 의해 항상 조절되어 지고 있다. 유전자 발현의 조절기전과정에서 여러 transcription factor들이 중심적 역할을 하는 것이 알려져 있다. Transcription factor의 활성도는 원핵 생물과 진핵 생물 공히 protein phosphorylation과정을 통하여 조절되어지는 공통의 경로를 거치게 된다. 이러한 protein 인산화과정은 상창에 따른 post-translational modification과정으로서 세포표면에 위치한 각각의 수용체(receptor)들이 신호를 인지하여 그 반응으로서 신속하게 transcription factor의 활성을 조절하기 위한 것이다.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.168-172
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• 2002

Budding yeasts maintain an effective system to regulate intracellular pH in response to environmental pH fluctuation. In a previous study we reported that SHC1 plays a role in cell growth at alkaline condition, not at acid pH. We constructed a null mutant deleted an entire open reading frame for SHC1. To test whether the retardation in cell growth was caused by the absence of intracellular pH buffering capacity, we measured intracellular pH with a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, C.SNARE. The intracellular pH of the mutant cell was much higher than that of wild-type cells, indicating that the mutant cells lack some types of buffering capacity. We also investigated the level of $Na^＋ and K^＋$ content with atomic mass spectroscopy after alkali shock. Wild-type cell showed a higher level of intracellular K^＋$ content, whereas there was no difference in $Na^＋$ level. The result suggested that K^＋$ is more important in the regulation of intracellular pH in yeasts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.2-10
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• 1992

cAMP-CRP complex에 의해 전사조절을 받는 관련유전자의 구조, 특징, 조절양상, 기작과 CRP의 생화학적 및 분자생물학적이해 등을 살폈다. 그러나 대장균의 전체유전자의 구조해석이 연구사업으로 실행되어지고 있는 현실에서 볼 때 CRP의 조절하에 있는 유전자군이 보다 더 복잡 다양한 system으로 생각되어져서 CRP조절계의 전체적인 양상으로 해명하기 위한 연구도 이루어질 것으로 생각되어진다. 즉, cAMP-CRP의 조절하에 있는 조절영역의 전체를 파악함은 operon의 발현조절의 해명에 중요한 기틀이 될 뿐만 아니라 개별유전자의 이해를 위한 것보다 복잡한 세포 전체의 제어계를 분자적수준에서 해결하는데 중요한 과제라고 사료되어진다. 몇 가지 연구 결과에서는 cAMP-CRP가 결합은 하면서도 발현조절에는 관여하지 않는다든지, cAMP가 결합하지 않으면서도 전사조절을 받을 수 있는 유전자들이 밝혀지고 있다.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2008

The fsrA gene in Bacillus subtilis has an analogous role of ryhB in E. coli and is controlled under fur, the iron regulator gene. At high concentration of iron the transcription of ryhB is repressed by fur and ryhB is transcribed under low concentration of iron. To spare iron produced ryhB small RNA represses the expression of sdhCDAB (succinate dehydrogenase). This study shows the growth rate of Bacillus subtilis strain of fur and fur/fsrA deletion mutants using organic acids of TCA cycle as carbon source. Mutant strain of fur does not grow well with succinate carbon source, but further deletion of fsrA regain to the growth of wild type strain. Also, nearly same results were observed with citrate and fumarate. These results are consistent to those of E. coli system. But fur and fur/fsrA deletion mutants grow well as much as the growth of wild type with malate carbon source. These results showed that upstream genes of succinate of TCA cycle are repressed by fsrA, but downstream of succinate are not repressed by fsrA.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2011

Epigenetic regulation is a phenomenon that changes the gene function without changing the underlying DNA sequences. Epigenetic status of chromosome is regulated by mechanisms such as histone modification, DNA modification, and RNAi silencing. In this review, we focused on histone methylation for epigenetic regulation in ES cells. Two antagonizing multiprotein complexes regulate methylation of histones to guide expression of genes in ES cells. The Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), including EED, EZH2, and SUZ12 as core factors, contributes to gene repression by increasing trimethylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3). In contrast, the Trithorax group (TrxG) complex including MLL is related to gene activation by making H3K4me3. PRC2 and TrxG accompany a variety of accessory proteins. Most prominent feature of epigenetic regulation in ES cells is a bivalent state in which H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 appear simultaneously. Concerted regulation of PRC2, TrxG complex, and H3K4- or H3K27-specific demethylases activate expression of pluripotency-related genes and suppress development-related genes in ES cells. Modified balance of the regulators also enables ES cells to efficiently differentiate to a variety of cells upon differentiating signals. More detailed insights on the epigenetic regulators and their action will lead us to better understanding and use of ES cells for future application.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.956-965
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• 2023

In plants, there are many CCCH zinc finger proteins consisting of three cysteine residues and one histidine residue, which bind to zinc ions with finger configuration. CCCH-type zinc finger proteins are divided into tandem CCCH-type zinc finger (TZF) and non-TZF proteins: TZF proteins contain exactly two tandem CCCH-type zinc finger motifs whereas non-TZF proteins have fewer or greater than two CCCH-type zinc finger motifs. The functions of TZF genes, especially plant-specific RR-TZF genes, have been well studied in several plants, whereas the functional roles of non-TZF genes have not been adequately researched compared to TZF genes. Many non-TZF genes have been identified as being involved in the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, such as pathogen, high salt, drought, cold, heat, and oxidative stresses. Some non-TZF proteins bind to RNA and are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of stress-responsive genes in the cytoplasm. In addition, other non-TZF proteins act as transcriptional activators or repressors that regulate the expression of stress-responsive genes in the nucleus. Despite these studies, stress signal transduction and upstream and downstream genes of non-TZF genes have not been sufficiently researched, suggesting that additional studies of the functions of non-TZF genes' functions in plants' stress responses are needed. In this review, we describe non-TZF genes involved in biotic abiotic stress responses in plants and their molecular functions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.866-870
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• 2009

Fascin, a cytoskeleton actin binding protein, functions in cell adhesion and cell migration. Fascin is also known as a candidate biomarker for various cancers, however, regulatory mechanisms of fascin expression remains little understood. In this study, we found an abnormal bristle phenotype, which is similar to that of the Drosophila fascin mutant, in Drafmutant flies. Hence, we investigated whether fascin expression is regulated by Raf signaling. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that Drosophila fascin expression was down-regulated in Draf mutant flies and the level was increased in larvae expressing the oncogenic form of Draf (Draf$^{got}$) under the GAL4-UAS system. Immunostaining analysis showed increased fascin in the hemocytes over-expressing Draf$^{got}$. Our results indicate that fascin expression is regulated by Raf signaling and suggest that Raf signaling may play an important role in the actin cytoskeleton-associated developmental process and tumor progression via regulation of fascin gene.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2024

Cytochrome P450s (CYP) enzymes play a central role in the metabolism of both endogenous and xenobiotic chemical compounds. In particular, therapeutic drugs, natural products and environmental toxicants regulate expression of the tissue-specific CYP enzymes, This can cause CYP-mediated interactions among the chemical compounds such as the ingested drugs and toxicants, resulting in changes in their metabolism. This can lead to the modifications of their therapeutic and toxic effects. Intense investigations in this field throughout the last several decades have resulted in considerable progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms mediating the regulation of CYP gene expression. Now, it is well established that xenobiotic chemicals regulate the expression of specific CYP genes, and the corresponding xenobiotic-sensing receptors that mediate the expression control of specific CYP genes and their signal transduction pathways are involved in this process. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms by which the well-known major xenobiotic-sensing receptors and other regulators affect the induction of CYP gene expression in response to exposure to various chemicals.