• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권8호
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• pp.902-908
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• 2005

An oriental herbal combination (BDX-1) was isolated from Achyranthes bidentata and Atractylodes japonica. We previously tested the clinical effectiveness of BDX-1 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and found that it has a beneficial therapeutic effect. Here, we provide experimental evidence for the effectiveness of BDX-1 on RA in murine models. The oral administration of BDX-1 was found to markedly inhibit collagen-induced arthritis, adjuvant-induced arthritis, and zymosan-induced inflammation. It also inhibited carrageenan-induced acute edema and acetic acid-induced writhing response. In addition, the biological activity of BDX-1 was found to be strongly increased by fermentation. Our results suggest that BDX-1 could be useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.77-79
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• 2006

In order to identify novel proapoptotic genes, we screened approximately 1,000 hypothetical genes whose functions are completely unknown. After these genes were transiently expressed in HeLa cells, their nuclei images were captured using automated high-speed fluorescence microscope, through which the ratio of apoptotic nuclei was estimated. We selected genes that induce greater than 3-fold increase in apoptotic nuclei compared to that of the vector control. The candidate proapoptotic genes were sequenced and their effects on cell death were further confirmed by the additional assay, DNA fragmentation ELISA. Finally, we were able to identify 4 full-length hypo-thetical genes with proapoptotic activity.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2002년도 Molecular and Cellular Response to Toxic Substances
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• pp.181-181
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• 2002

The herbal combination allergina has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in South Korea. In this study, we investigated the immunosuppressive activities of allergina in more detail. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.(omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권9호
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• pp.716-718
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• 2003

In the course of our search for Acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitors from natural sources, a new type of ACAT inhibitor was isolated from a methanol extract of Diospyros kaki. On the basis of spectral and structural evidence, the compound was identified as pheophorbide A-methyl ester. Pheophorbide A-methyl ester inhibited ACAT activity in a dose dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ value of 1.85 $\mu$ g/mL.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권11호
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• pp.950-958
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• 2015

BCS1L gene encodes mitochondrial protein and is a member of conserved AAA protein family. This gene is involved in the incorporation of Rieske FeS and Qcr10p into complex III of respiratory chain. In our previous study, AluYRa2-derived alternative transcript in rhesus monkey genome was identified. However, this transcript has not been reported in human genome. In present study, we conducted evolutionary analysis of AluYRa2-exonized transcript with various primate genomic DNAs and cDNAs from humans, rhesus monkeys, and crabeating monkeys. Remarkably, our results show that AluYRa2 element has only been integrated into genomes of Macaca species. This Macaca lineage-specific integration of AluYRa2 element led to exonization event in the first intron region of BCS1L gene by producing a conserved 3' splice site. Intriguingly, in rhesus and crabeating monkeys, more diverse transcript variants by alternative splicing (AS) events, including exon skipping and different 5' splice sites from humans, were identified. Alignment of amino acid sequences revealed that AluYRa2-exonized transcript has short N-terminal peptides. Therefore, AS events play a major role in the generation of various transcripts and proteins during primate evolution. In particular, lineage-specific integration of Alu elements and species-specific Alu-derived exonization events could be important sources of gene diversification in primates.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.1.1-1.14
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• 2019

Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) mediates tumor cell adaptation to hypoxic conditions and is a potentially important anticancer therapeutic target. We previously developed a method for synthesizing a benzofuran-based natural product, (R)-(-)-moracin-O, and obtained a novel potent analog, MO-460 that suppresses the accumulation of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ in Hep3B cells. However, the molecular target and underlying mechanism of action of MO-460 remained unclear. In the current study, we identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1) as a molecular target of MO-460. MO-460 inhibits the initiation of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ translation by binding to the C-terminal glycinerich domain of hnRNPA2B1 and inhibiting its subsequent binding to the 3'-untranslated region of $HIF-1{\alpha}$ mRNA. Moreover, MO-460 suppresses $HIF-1{\alpha}$ protein synthesis under hypoxic conditions and induces the accumulation of stress granules. The data provided here suggest that hnRNPA2B1 serves as a crucial molecular target in hypoxiainduced tumor survival and thus offer an avenue for the development of novel anticancer therapies.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.296-299
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• 2019

Bacteroides 속 균주들은 척추동물의 분변 등에서 분리된 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 건강한 한국인 분변으로부터 Bacteroides sp. KGMB 02408 균주를 분리하였으며 PacBio Sequel 플랫폼을 이용하여 Bacteroides sp. KGMB 02408 균주의 유전체서열을 분석하였다. 유전체는 G + C 구성 비율이 39.5%이고, 5,005개의 유전자와 rRNA 18개 tRNA 74개로 구성되었으며, 염색체의 크기는 5,771,427 bp였다. 또한, 유전체 분석 결과를 통해 산화-환원 효소와 메나퀴논 생합성 및 그와 관련된 다양한 유전자를 발견하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권10호
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• pp.742-746
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• 2014

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM, also known as CD326) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is specifically detected in most adenocarcinomas and cancer stem cells. In this study, we performed a Cell systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) experiment to isolate the aptamers against EpCAM. After seven round of Cell SELEX, we identified several aptamer candidates. Among the selected aptamers, EP166 specifically binds to cells expressing EpCAM with an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) in a micromolar range. On the other hand, it did not bind to negative control cells. Moreover, EP166 binds to J1ES cells, a mouse embryonic stem cell line. Therefore, the isolated aptamers against EpCAM could be used as a stem cell marker or in other applications in both stem cell and cancer studies.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.184-190
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• 2004

The influences of impeller types on morphology and protein expression were investigated in a submerged culture of Aspergillus oryzae. The impeller types strongly affected mycelial morphology and protein production in batch and fed-batch fermentations. Cells that were cultured by propeller agitation grew in the form of a pellet, whereas cells that were cultured by turbine agitation grew in a freely dispersed-hyphal manner and in a clumped form. Pellet-grown cells showed high levels of protein production for both the intracellularly heterologous protein (${\beta}$-glucuronidase) and the extracellularly homologous protein (${\alpha}$-amylase). The feeding mode of the carbon source also influenced the morphological distribution and protein expression in fed-batch fermentation of A. oryzae. Pulsed-feeding mainly showed high protein expression and homogeneous distribution of pellet whereas continuous feeding resulted in less protein expression and heterogeneous distribution with pellet and dispersed-hyphae. The pellet growth with propeller agitation paralleling with the pulsed-feeding of carbon source showed a high level of protein production in the submerged fed-batch fermentation of recombinant A. oryzae.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.342-347
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• 2019

Methylation is a primary epigenetic mechanism regulating gene expression. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine is an FDA-approved drug prescribed for treatment of cancer by inhibiting DNA-Methyl-Transferase 1 (DNMT1). Results of this study suggest that prolonged treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine could induce centrosome abnormalities in cancer cells and that CEP131, a centrosome protein, is regulated by DNMT1. Interestingly, cancer cell growth was attenuated in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the expression of Cep131. Finally, Cep131-deficient cells were more sensitive to treatment with DNMT1 inhibitors. These findings suggest that Cep131 is a potential novel anti-cancer target. Agents that can inhibit this protein may be useful alone or in combination with DNMT1 inhibitors to treat cancer.