• BMB Reports
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2018

Chromatin is an intelligent building block that can express either external or internal needs through structural changes. To date, three methods to change chromatin structure and regulate gene expression have been well-documented: histone modification, histone exchange, and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling. Recently, a growing body of literature has suggested that histone tail cleavage is related to various cellular processes including stem cell differentiation, osteoclast differentiation, granulocyte differentiation, mammary gland differentiation, viral infection, aging, and yeast sporulation. Although the underlying mechanisms suggesting how histone cleavage affects gene expression in view of chromatin structure are only beginning to be understood, it is clear that this process is a novel transcriptional epigenetic mechanism involving chromatin dynamics. In this review, we describe the functional properties of the known histone tail cleavage with its proteolytic enzymes, discuss how histone cleavage impacts gene expression, and present future directions for this area of study.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.222-227
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• 1995

We have examined DNase I sensitivity of .betha.-tubulin and flagellar calmodulin genes which are transiently and coordinately activated differentiation of Naegleria gruberi amebae into flagellates. The DNase I sensitivity of .betha.-tubulin and flagellar calmodulin genes changed in parallel with the changes in transcriptional activity of the respective genes during differentiation. The two genes were resistant to DNase I inamebae stage when transcription of the two genes was inactive. Forthy minutes after initiation of differentiation, when the two genes were most actively being transcribed, the two genes showed the highest sensitsivity to DNase I. One hundred and twenty minutes after initiation, the differentiation was completed and transcriptional activity of the two genes decreased to a low level. At this stage, the two genes were resistant to DNase I treatment like the ones at the amebae stage. This change in the DNase I sensitivity of the two genes was not observed when transcription of the two genes was blocked by adding cycloheximide at the beginning of differentiation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.539-543
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• 1998

Hrp1, of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, is a new member of the SW12/SNF2 protein family that contains a chromodomain and a DNA binding domain as well as ATPase/7 helicase domains. This configuration suggests that Hrp1 could be a homolog of mouse CHD1, which is thought to function in altering the chromatin structure to facilitate gene expression. To understand the enzymatic nature of Hrp1 we purified the 6-Histidine-tagged Hrp1 protein (6$\times$His-Hrp1) to homogeneity from a S. pombe Hrp1-overexpressing strain and hen examined its biochemical properties. We demonstrate that the purified 6$\times$His-Hrp1 protein exhibited a DNA-binding activity with a moderate preference to the (A＋T)-rich tract in double-stranded NA via a minor groove interaction. However, we failed to detect any intrinsic DNA helicase activity from the purified Hrp1 like other SW12/SNF2 proteins. These observations suggest that the DNA binding activities of Hrp1 may be involved in the remodeling of the chromatin structure with DNA-dependent ATPase. We propose that Hrp1 may function in heterochromatins as other proteins with a chromo- or ATPase/helicase domain and play an important role in the determination of chromatin architecture.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.273-280
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• 2012

Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet composed of carbon atoms only. It has a two-dimensional honeycomb structure with $sp^2$ orbital bonding, which presents some unique properties. Due to large Young's modulus, good electrical conductivity, ability to immobilize several kinds of small molecules and proteins, and biocompatibility of graphene, it has attracted interests inits ability to enhance cell growth and differentiation, followed by recent several studies. We reviewed about the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, and neurogenic differentiation of neuron stem cells, and the ectodermal and mesodermal differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells using graphene. Graphene has not only enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells, but also led to the faster differentiation even without any other exogenous signals. Nonetheless, graphene has some cytotoxicities in its amount-response manner, which is critical to regenerative medicine. The cytotoxicities of graphene were compared with those of grapheneoxide and carbon nanotubes.

• Genes and Genomics
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• 제40권12호
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• pp.1301-1308
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• 2018

Background Adipocyte differentiation is completed by changing gene expression. Chromatin is closely related to gene expression. Therefore, its structure might be changed for adipocyte differentiation. Mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes have been used as a cell model to study molecular mechanisms of adipogenesis. Objective To examine changes of chromatin modification and expression of histone modifying enzymes during adipocyte differentiation. Methods Microscopic analysis and Oil Red O staining were performed to determine distinct phenotype of adipocyte differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to examine expression levels of histone modifying enzymes during adipocyte differentiation. Histone modifications were examined by immunostaining analysis. Results Expression levels of P300 and cbp were increased during adipocyte differentiation. However, acetylation of histones was not quantitatively changed postdifferentiation of 3T3-L1 cells compared to that at pre-differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that expression levels of hdac2 and hdac3 were increased during adipocyte differentiation, suggesting histone acetylation at chromatin level was homeostatically controlled by increased expression of both HATs and HDACs. Tri-methylation level of H3K9 (H3K9me3), but not that of H3K27me3, was significantly decreased during adipocyte differentiation. Decreased expression of setdb1 was consistent with reduced pattern of H3K9me3. Knock-down of setdb1 induced adipocyte differentiation. This suggests that setdb1 is a key chromatin modifier that modulates repressive chromatin. Conclusion These results suggest that there exist extensive mechanisms of chromatin modifications for homeostatic balance of chromatin acetylation and deconstruction of repressive chromatin during adipocyte differentiation.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제86권2호
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• pp.158-166
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• 1997

본 연구에서는 임분구조의 다양성 또는 동질성을 계량화시키는 방법을 제시하였다. 우선 인접목과의 직경비율에 의해 임분구조를 파악할 수 있는 Gadow의 직경차이율을 소개하였고, 직경급별 본수비율과 단면적 또는 재적비율에 의해 형성되는 Lorenz곡선형태로 부터 임분구조의 다양성지수를 유도하는 새로운 방법을 제시하였다. 본 연구에서 제시한 Lorenz곡선원리에 의한 횡적 임분구조지수는 Gadow의 직경차이율과 마찬가지로 0에서 1사이의 값을 가지며, 임분구조가 다양할수록 1에 접근하는 특정을 지니고 있다. 이러한 Lorenz곡선원리에 의한 횡적 임분구조지수를 Gadow의 직경차이율과 비교한 결과, 본 연구에서 제시한 새로운 형적 임분구조지수는 Gadow의 직경차이율과 비슷하게 임분구조를 설명하는 것으로 나타났다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.32-40
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• 2013

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have enormous potential in the biomedical sciences because they can grow continuously and differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. However, for future application in regenerative medicine, it is still a challenge to control the differentiation of PSCs without using genetic materials. To control the differentiation of PSCs, small molecules might be the best substitute for genetic materials considering the following advantages: small size, which enables penetration of plasma membrane; easy-to-modify structure; and low chance of genetic recombination in treated cells. Herein, we introduce small molecules that induce the neuroectodermal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The small molecules were identified via ESC-based consecutive screenings of small-molecule libraries composed of 324 natural compounds or 93 selected drugs. The natural compounds discovered in the first screening were used to select 93 structurally similar drugs out of 1,200 approved drugs. In the second screening, among the 93 compounds, we found 4 drugs that induced the neuroectodermal differentiation of ESCs. These drugs were progesteroneor corticoid-derivatives. Our results suggest that small molecules targeting the progesterone receptor or glucocorticoid receptor could be used as chemical tools to induce the differentiation of PSCs into a specific germ lineage.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 1993년도 학술대회지
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• pp.127-131
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• 1993

The effects of total ginseng saponin. extracts of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, on the differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells were studied. F9 stem cells cultured in the presence of ginseng saponin together with dibutyric cAMP became parietal endoderm - like cells. Moreover, the expressions of differentiation marker genes. laminin. type IV collagen. and retinoic acid $receptor-{\beta}(RAR{\beta})$ were increased after treatment of ginseng saponin. Among various ginsenosides purified from crude ginseng saponin, $Rh_1\;and\;Rh_2$ caused the differentiation of F9 cells most effectively. Since ginsenosides and steroid hormone show resemblance in chemical structure. we studied the possibility of the involvement of a steroid receptor in the differentiation process induced by ginsenosides. According to Southwestern blot analysis, a 94 kDa protein regarding as a steroid receptor was detected in F9 cells cultured in the medium containing ginseng saponin. Based on these data, we suggest that ginseng saponin, especially ginsenosides $Rh_1\;and\;Rh_2$ cause the differentiation of F9 cells and the effects of ginsenosides might be exerted via binding with a steroid receptor or its analogous nuclear receptor.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.127-132
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• 2003

Effects of genotype, settlement density and irradiane on the growth, mortality and population structure of Fucus serratus germlings were examined in the laboratory. The growth of F. serratus germlings was influenced by genotype of parent plants, which is likely to occur by microclimatic differentiation of substrata. The growth of germlings were greater at lower densities than higher densities indicating that intraspecific competition between germlings occurred within three weeks. Also, the growth of F. serratus germlings was better at $120\mumol\;m^-2/s^-1$ than at $60\mumol\;m^-2/s^-1$. However, mortality of germlings was determined by settlement density rather than irradiance. In population structure, skewness was increased at low irradiance and high density indicating that population structure could be changed by intraspecific competition. Thus, it is concluded that genotypic differentiation of F. serratus germlings occurred in a microgeographic scale, and the experimental density and irradiance level affected the growth of germlings.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.7-10
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• 1971

Haploid cell obta-ined from microspores of Solanum nigrum were cultured on two kinds of medium, "Callus-inducing medium" and "Differentiation medium", in order to conduct histological studies of callus and examine differentiation of plantlets. On the callus-inducing medium the calli grew rapidly. The bulk of callus mass was light brown colored "Wet callus" covered on the surface with thin layers of rough and gleaming "White callus". The wet callus was consisted of parenchyma and meristematic tissues, while the white callus had no meristematic tissues. Large parenchyma cells, by successive divisions, became multicellular or poly nucleate cells which developed later to be meristematic tissues. The calli embedded on the differentiation medium quickly turned to dark brown color. Plantlets, however, came out later from these blackened callus mass. In the callus sectioned about ten weeks after imbedding on the differentiation medium, radially elongated tissue, concentric tissue, epidermis, tracheid-like structure, and plant jprimordia were observed.ure, and plant jprimordia were observed.