• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2021

Chromatin dynamics is essential for maintaining genomic integrity and regulating gene expression. Conserved bromodomain-containing AAA+ ATPases play important roles in nucleosome organization as histone chaperones. Recently, the high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Abo1 revealed that it forms a hexameric ring and undergoes a conformational change upon ATP hydrolysis. In addition, single-molecule imaging demonstrated that Abo1 loads H3-H4 histones onto DNA in an ATP hydrolysis-dependent manner. However, the molecular mechanism by which Abo1 loads histones remains unknown. Here, we investigated the details concerning Abo1-mediated histone loading onto DNA and the Abo1-DNA interaction using single-molecule imaging techniques and biochemical assays. We show that Abo1 does not load H2A-H2B histones. Interestingly, Abo1 deposits multiple copies of H3-H4 histones as the DNA length increases and requires at least 80 bp DNA. Unexpectedly, Abo1 weakly binds DNA regardless of ATP, and neither histone nor DNA stimulates the ATP hydrolysis activity of Abo1. Based on our results, we propose an allosteric communication model in which the ATP hydrolysis of Abo1 changes the configuration of histones to facilitate their deposition onto DNA.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.158-161
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• 2002

UV-B radiation gives harmful effects on plants, such as production of several types of DNA lesions, and growth inhibition. On the other hand, plants have some protective mechanisms, including filtering effect due to accumulation of phenolic compounds in epidermal cells and reactivation of DNA lesions, which are enhanced by UV-B irradiation. We have investigated the mechanism of UV-B effects on plants using cucumber seedlings as plant materials. Cucumber plants were cultivated in an artificially lit growth chamber. Supplemental UV-B irradiation, of which intensity was almost equal to the level of natural sunlight, retarded the growth of first leaves. The growth retardation must result trom the inhibition of cell division and/or cell growth. Microscopical observation of leaf epidermis suggested that the growth retardation might be mainly caused by cell growth inhibition. The retardation was, however, restored within 2 or 3 days after the termination of UV-B irradiation. It is known that UV-B irradiation lowers the activity of photo system II (PS II). In the present experimental conditions, however, UV-B irradiation has little effect on PS II activity as estimated by chlorophyll fluorescence. The stomatal conductance, a major factor determining photosynthetic rate, of first leaves increased during the growth. The increase of stomatal conductance was suppressed by UV-B irradiation and restored by termination of the irradiation. It has not been clear, however, what mechanisms are involved in the suppression of increase of stomatal conductance.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2007

We determined the sequences of the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA and gyrB for 21 clinical strains of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and levofloxacin. The clinical strains were isolated from the specimens of three general hospitals in Busan. In the present study, we found mutations in type II topoisomerase (DNA gyrase) genes for all strains. We confirmed that some genera of Enterobacteriaceae of clinical specimen exhibited decreased sensitivity to fluroquinolone due to changes in Ser-83$\rightarrow$Leu and Asp-87$\rightarrow$Asn types on gyrA and alterations in Glu-465$\rightarrow$Arg and Ser-492$\rightarrow$Asn type on gyrB. All the twenty-one strains had a missense mutation in gyrA (codon 83 and 87). Three of them had an additional mutation in gyrB (codon 465 or 492), but one of them had an additional mutation in gyrB (codon 426, 427, 491, 495 and 496). The strains which had two mutations in type II topoisomerase genes (gyrA and gyrB) were significantly more resistant to fluoroquinolones than those with a single mutation in gyrA (mean MICs of ciprofloxacin: $\geq8\mu$g/ml, mean MICs of levofloxacin: $\geq16\mu$g/ml). Interestingly, the examination of silent nucleotide changes n the gyrA and gyrB genes revealed six different patterns of DNA polymorphism, respectively. Fifteen strains of the twenty-one strains bearing the gyrase A mutation shared the same polymorphism and eleven strains of the twenty-one strains bearing the gyrase B mutation shared the same polymorphism.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.264-269
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• 1997

Four strains of Bacillus thuringiensis were isolated froin the dead larvae of mulberry longicorn beetle (Apriong germari) and dung beetle (Aphodius apicalis). One nf four B. thuringiensis isolates turned out to be subspecies darinstadiensis but the remains were not identified using 33 B. thuringiensts flgellar ( H ) antibodies. Furthermore. bioassays of spore-parasporal inclusion protein mixture conducted against third instar larvae of A. gerrntrri or A. apicalis, second instar larvae of Bombyx mori, and third instar larvae of Cu1ex pipiens pullens showed that the isolates were non-toxic. To further confirm, four isolates were characterized and analysed by SDS-PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis. The results revealed that parasporal protein and plasmid DNA patterns of four isolates are different from those of darmstadiensis and 20 known non-toxic B. thuringiensis strains, suggesting that the four isolates are novel non-toxic B. thuringiensis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.227-231
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• 2014

Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract (CHE) was investigated for its effects on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and at the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in mouse macrophages. We found that C. heracleifolia elicited a dose-dependent increase in NO production and the level of iNOS mRNA. Since, iNOS transcription has been shown to be under the control of the transcription factor $NF-{\kappa}B$, the effects of CHE on $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation were examined. Transient expression assays with $NF-{\kappa}B$ binding sites linked to the luciferase gene revealed that the increased level of iNOS mRNA, induced by CHE, was mediated by the $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcription factor complex. By using DNA fragments containing the $NF-{\kappa}B$ binding sequence, CHE was shown to activate the protein/DNA binding of $NF-{\kappa}B$ to its cognate site, as measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. These results demonstrate that C. heracleifolia stimulates NO production and is able to up-regulate iNOS expression through $NF-{\kappa}B$ transactivation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.840-846
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• 2004

A study for expression of Korean Mistletoe (KM) lectin gene (A,B) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was done using transforming system of yeast. In order to overexpress the genes efficiently in yeast, two lectin genes (A,B) were re-cloned and modified including Kozak translation initiation sequence using PCR amplification. The constructed plasmids containing modified lectin A and B genes were transformed to S. cerevisea INVSc (MAT G, his3 $\Delta$1, leu2, trpl-289, ura3-52). The transformed cells were identified by DNA sequencing with ABI3700 system and induced with 2% of galactose for recombinant KM lectin (rKM lectin) protein. The rKM lectin A and B proteins were determinated about 29kDa size of protein by SOS-P AGE and western blotting analysis. The expressed recombinant lectin was determinated 1.24∼1.75 $\mu\textrm{g}$ per 1 mg of cytosolic soluble protein by sandwich ELISA method. Moreover the lectin genes were expressed as maximum level at 36 h after galactose induction and lectin A gene was were repressed after 48 h.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1999

Nucleotide sequences of a 501 base-pair (bp) fragment in the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene were analyzed for 12 populations of Rana rugosa from Korea and Japan using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct silver sequencing. Two genetically distinct groups (type-A and type-B) were found in Korea. Type-A was found throughout most of South Korea and type-B was restricted to the mid-southeastern regions (Samchok, Yongdok, Chongsong and Pohang). But in the Tonghae population, both types were found. The level of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence differences ranged from 0% to .0.8% among six populations of type-A, and 0 to 1.0% among 4 populations of type-B. However, sequence differences between type-A and type-B ranged from 5.4% to 6.6%, Using Kimura's two-parameter distance, the level of genetic sequence divergence between type-A and type-B was 6.7%. The Japanese R. rugosa was clustered very far from the Korean R. rugosa with 14.7%. In the neighbor-joining and UPGMA tree, all Korean samples were grouped, but subdivided into two types in 99% of the bootstrap iteration.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1784-1788
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• 2011

The typical miRNA and its nearby host gene are co-expressed by sharing the same promoter. We assumed that miR-7b and its host gene FICT might use an identical promoter for their brain specific gene expression. Sequence comparison of the genomic DNA of mouse miR-7b, human miR-7-3 and their host genes by using the bioinformatic tools revealed high sequence homology and several putative transcription factor-binding sites on the promoter region. In order to probe the hypothesis we used a luciferase vector system into which we cloned the 5' upstream conserved region of miR-7b and FICT. The putative promoter region showed decreased luciferase activity, suggesting that the 5' upstream of miR-7b and FICT contain a negative regulator for gene expression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.190-201
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• 2024

Background: Deposition of immune complexes drives podocyte injury acting in the initial phase of lupus nephritis (LN), a process mediated by B cell involvement. Accordingly, targeting B cell subsets represents a potential therapeutic approach for LN. Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a bioavailable component of ginseng, possesses nephritis benefits in lupus-prone mice; however, the underlying mechanisms involving B cell subpopulations remain elusive. Methods: Female MRL/lpr mice were administered CK (40 mg/kg) intragastrically for 10 weeks, followed by measurements of anti-dsDNA antibodies, inflammatory chemokines, and metabolite profiles on renal samples. Podocyte function and ultrastructure were detected. Publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data and flow cytometry analysis were employed to investigate B cell subpopulations. Metabolomics analysis was adopted. SIRT1 and AMPK expression were analyzed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays. Results: CK reduced proteinuria and protected podocyte ultrastructure in MRL/lpr mice by suppressing circulating anti-dsDNA antibodies and mitigating systemic inflammation. It activated B cell-specific SIRT1 and AMPK with Rhamnose accumulation, hindering the conversion of renal B cells into plasma cells. This cascade facilitated the resolution of local renal inflammation. CK facilitated the clearance of deposited immune complexes, thus reinstating podocyte morphology and mobility by normalizing the expression of nephrin and SYNPO. Conclusions: Our study reveals the synergistic interplay between SIRT1 and AMPK, orchestrating the restoration of renal B cell subsets. This process effectively mitigates immune complex deposition and preserves podocyte function. Accordingly, CK emerges as a promising therapeutic agent, potentially alleviating the hyperactivity of renal B cell subsets during LN.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.737-742
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• 2009

Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}/{\beta}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}/{\beta}$) is a heterodimeric transcriptional activator that mediates gene expression in response to hypoxia. HIF-$1{\alpha}$ has been noted as an effective therapeutic target for ischemic diseases such as myocardiac infarction, stroke and cancer. By using a yeast two-hybrid system and a random peptide library, we found a 16-mer peptide named F29 that directly interacts with the bHLH-PAS domain of HIF-$1{\alpha}$. We found that F29 facilitates the interaction of the HIF-$1{\alpha/\beta}$ heterodimer with its target DNA sequence, hypoxia-responsive element (HRE). The transient transfection of an F29-expressing plasmid increases the expression of both an HRE-driven luciferase gene and the endogenous HIF-1 target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Taken together, we conclude that F29 increases the DNA-binding ability of HIF-$1{\alpha}$, leading to increased expression of its target gene VEGF. Our results suggest that F29 can be a lead compound that directly targets HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and increases its activity.