• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2009

We have previously isolated a CCCH type zinc-finger protein gene, OsZF2 (Oryza sativa Zinc Finger 2), from the cold-treated rice cDNA library. To investigate the potential role of OsZF2, transgenic rice lines over-expressing OsZF2 under the control of CaMV 35S promoter have been developed through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Elevated level of OsZF2 transcripts was confirmed by RNA gel blot analysis in transgenic rice. Under the 100 mM NaCl condition, the transgenic rice showed significantly enhanced growth rate in terms of shoot length and fresh weight, implicating that OsZF2 is likely to be involved in salt response of rice. In the field condition, however, the transgenic rice showed a dwarf phenotype and flowering time was delayed. Genome expression profiling analysis of transgenic plants using the 20K NSF rice oligonucleotide array revealed many up-regulated genes related to stress responses and signaling pathways such as chaperone protein dnaJ 72, salt stress-induced protein, PR protein, disease resistance proteins RPM1 and Cf2/Cf5 disease resistance protein, carbohydrate/ sugar transporter, OsWAK kinase, brassinosteroid LRR receptor kinase, and jasmonate O-methyltransferase. These data suggest that the CCCH type zinc-finger protein OsZF2 is a upstream transcriptional factor regulating growth and stress responsiveness of rice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.501-512
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• 2020

Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai leaf has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer, dipsosis, and hematemesis based on its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic characteristics. We have previously reported the procedure for deriving a phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) from S. quelpaertensis and how PRE and its ethyl acetate fraction (EPRE) exhibits an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in various gastric cancer cells. To explore the molecular targets involved in this apoptosis, we investigated the mRNA and microRNA profiles of EPRE-treated SNU-16 human gastric cancer cells. In total, 2,875 differentially expressed genes were identified by RNA sequencing, and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses indicated that the EPRE-modulated genes are associated with apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinase, inflammatory response, tumor necrosis factor signaling, and cancer pathways. Subsequently, protein-protein interaction network analysis confirmed interactions among genes associated with cell death and apoptosis, and 27 differentially expressed microRNAs were identified by further sequencing. Here, GO and KEGG pathway analysis revealed that EPRE modified the expression of microRNAs associated with the cell cycle and cell death, as well as signaling of tropomyosin-receptor-kinase receptor, transforming growth factor-b, nuclear factor kB, and cancer pathways. Taken together, these results provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of EPRE.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3723-3727
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• 2015

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is a principal mediator of growth arrest, senescence, and apoptosis in response to a broad array of cellular damage. p53 is a substrate for the ubiquitin-proteasome system, however, the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) involved in p53 ubiquitination have not been well studied. UBE2Q1 is a novel E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme gene. Here, we investigated the effect of UBE2Q1 overexpression on the level of p53 in the MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell line as well as the interaction between UBE2Q1 and p53. By using a lipofection method, the p53 mutated breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-468, was transfected with the vector pCMV6-AN-GFP, containing UBE2Q1 ORF. Western blot analysis was employed to verify the overexpression of UBE2Q1 in MDA-MB-468 cells and to evaluate the expression level of p53 before and after cell transfection. Immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down protocols were used to investigate the binding of UBE2Q1 to p53. We established MDA-MB-468 cells that transiently expressed a GFP fusion proteins containing UBE2Q1 (GFP-UBE2Q1). Western blot analysis revealed that levels of p53 were markedly lower in UBE2Q1 transfected MDA-MB-468 cells as compared with control MDA-MB-468 cells. Both in vivo and in vitro data showed that UBE2Q1 co-precipitated with p53 protein. Our data for the first time showed that overexpression of UBE2Q1can lead to the repression of p53 in MDA-MB-468 cells. This repression of p53 may be due to its UBE2Q1 mediated ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome degradation, a process that may involve direct interaction of UBE2Q1with p53.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7959-7965
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• 2015

Background: Identification of predictive markers for the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy is necessary to improve the quality of the life of cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We detected proteins recognized by autoantibodies in pretreated sera from patients with lung adenocarcinoma (AC) evaluated as showing progressive disease (PD) or a partial response (PR) after cisplatin-based chemotherapy by proteomic analysis. Then, the levels of the candidate autoantibodies in the pretreated serum were validated by dot-blot analysis for 22 AC patients who received platinum-based chemotherapy, and the expression of identified proteins was immunohistochemically analyzed in 40 AC biopsy specimens. Results: An autoantibody against galectin-3 (Gal-3) was detected in pretreated sera from an AC patient with PD. Serum IgG levels of anti-Gal-3 autoantibody were significantly higher in patients evaluated with PD than in those with PR and stable disease (SD) (p = 0.0084). Furthermore, pretreated biopsy specimens taken from patients evaluated as showing PD following platinumbased chemotherapy showed a tendency to have a higher positive rate of Gal-3 than those with PR and SD (p = 0.0601). Conclusions: These results suggest that serum IgG levels of anti-Gal-3 autoantibody may be useful to predict the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with lung AC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1197-1201
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• 2012

Objective: To study the relationship between clinical pathologic characteristics, treatment modalities and prognostic factors in HER-2 (Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor-2) overexpressed breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Major clinico-pathological factors including therapeutic modalities and survival status of 371 breast cancer patients with HER2 over-expression, teated at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from March of 2002 to December of 2010 were retrospectively studied, with special attention focused on survival-related factors. Results: The median age of the total 371 patients in this study was 48 years at time of diagnosis, among which, the leading pathological type was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (92.5%); 62.8% presented with a primary tomor larger than 2 cm in diameter at diagnosis, 51.0% had axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases; ER (Estrogen receptor)/PR (Progesterone receptor) double negative occured in 52.8% of cases, and PCNA (proliferation cell nuclear antigen) (+++) was found in 55.1%. HER-2 overexpressed patients were usually in advanced stage when the diagnosis was made (72.8% at stages IIA~IIIC). The prognosis and survival were assessed in 259 patients with complete follow-up data. 5-year DFS (disease-free survival) and OS (overall survival) rate was 68.0% and 78.0% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that age, tumor size, ALN metastases, LVSI (lymph-vascular space involvement), PCNA status, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy cycles, and HER-2 overexpression, correlated closely with the prognosis. ALN metastases, LVSI, PCNA status and chemotherapy cycles were independent predictors of survival. Conclusions: HER-2 overexpressed breast cancer has special clinical and pathological characteristics, with advanced clinical stages and high rate of ER/PR double negative. Lymph node metastases, LVSI, PCNA and chemotherapy cycles are independent predictors of prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3757-3761
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• 2012

Objective: Crocin has been proposed as a promising candidate for cancer chemoprevention. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the chemopreventive action and the possible mechanisms of crocin against human colon cancer cells in vitro. Methods: Cell proliferation was examined using MTT assay and the cell cycle distribution fractions were analyzed using fow cytometric analysis after propidium iodide staining. Apoptosis was detected using theTUNEL Apoptosis Detection Kit with laser scanning confocal microscope. DNA damage was assessed using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis assay, while expression levels of p53, cdk2, cyclinA and P21 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: Treatment of SW480 cells with crocetin (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mmol/L) for 48 h signifcantly inhibited their proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Crocetin (0.8 mmol/L) signifcantly induced cell cycle arrest through p53-independent mechanisms accompanied by P21 induction. Crocetin (0.8 mmol/L) caused cytotoxicity in the SW480 cells by enhancing apoptosis and decreasing DNA repair capacity in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: This report provides evidence that crocetin is a potential anticancer agent, which may be used as a chemotherapeutic drug.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.65-77
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• 2006

Gene transcripts potentially responsive to the heat stress were surveyed by cDNA microarray analysis in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis). Transcriptional profiles of hepatic tissue in the fish exposed to either $23^{\circ}C$ or $32^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks were compared each other by 3 replicated hybridization assays using 1,124 unigene clones selected from mud loach liver expressed sequence tags (ESTs). A total of 93 clones showed the substantially increased mRNA levels (>2-fold) in $32^{\circ}C$-exposed group when compared in $23^{\circ}C$control group. It includes various enzymes and proteins involved in energy pathway, protease/protein metabolisms, immune/antioxidant functions, cytoskeleton/cell structure, transport and/or signal transduction. Maximum level of increase was up to 15-fold relative to $23^{\circ}C$ treatment. Heat exposure also resulted in the significant decrease (less than 50% relative to $23^{\circ}C$-exposed fish) of the transcriptional activities in 85 genes. Besides the above categories, yolk protein (vitellogenin) and ribosomal proteins were notably down regulated in the fish exposed to heat stress. A number of novel gene transcripts were also detected in both up-regulated and down-regulated groups.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.77-84
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• 2012

Face classification has wide applications in intelligent video surveillance, content retrieval, robot vision, and human-machine interface. Pose and expression changes, and arbitrary illumination are typical problems for face recognition. When the face is captured at a distance, the image quality is often degraded by blurring and noise corruption. This paper investigates the efficacy of multi-classifier decision level fusion for face classification based on the photon-counting linear discriminant analysis with two different cost functions: Euclidean distance and negative normalized correlation. Decision level fusion comprises three stages: cost normalization, cost validation, and fusion rules. First, the costs are normalized into the uniform range and then, candidate costs are selected during validation. Three fusion rules are employed: minimum, average, and majority-voting rules. In the experiments, unfocusing and motion blurs are rendered to simulate the effects of the long distance environments. It will be shown that the decision-level fusion scheme provides better results than the single classifier.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 1992

The induction of hepatic cytochromes P450 and metabolic effects have been examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats following treatment with either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene. Hepatic cytochrome P450 levels were higher in males than in females by ~40%. Treatment of male and female rats with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in an ~1.6 and 2-fold increase, respectively, in heptic microsomal cytochrome P450 levels in both sexes, relative to untreated animals. Immunoblot analyses were performed to compare sex-related changes in P450 levels. Hepatic P45IIB1 levels in males were greater than those in females following phenobarbital treatment. 3-Methylcholanthrene-induced male hepatic microsomes exhibited greater levels of P450 females failed to exhibit a band. Mab PCN 2-13-1 against P-45-IIIA recognized an intense in uninduced microsomes from female rats. The levels of P450IIIA in males were increased 2 to 3-fold following treatment with phenobarbital, while the increase of IIIA levels in females by phenobarbital was minimal, as monitored by immunoblot analysis. Solid phase radiommunoassay using monoclonal antibodies supported the results of immunoblot analysis. Phenobarbital treatment caused a 6.5-fold increase in the monoclonal iantibody binding to IIBI in males, whereas treatment of females with phenobarbital resulted of IA levels by 3-methylcholanthrene was also greater in females than in males (10-vs. 8-fold) although the levels of induced IA were comparable inboth sexes, as assessed by radiommunoassay. Radioimmunoassay also showed that hepatic IIEI level was 1.5-fold higher in males than in females and that either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene treatment caused 80% to 40% decrease in IIEL levels, relative to control, in both sexes. Sex-related metabolic activities were examined in hepatic microsomes. Hexobarbital hydroxylase activity was 2-to 3-fold higher in uninduced microsomes from males than that from females. This hydroxylase activity was increased 2-and 3-fold in males and females, respectively, following phenobarbital treatment, as compared to controls. Addition females produced 64% and 84% inhibition of hexobarbital oxidation, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was increased -12 and 26-fold in males and females respectively. Following phenobarbital treatment, as compared to controls. Addition of anti-P450IIB1 antibody to phenobarbital-induced hepatic microsomes from males and females produced 64% and 84% inhibition of hexobarbital oxidation, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was increased -12 and 26 fold in males and females, respectively, following 3-methylcholanthrene treatment relative to controls. The anti-P-450IA antibody inhibitable rate of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was comparable in both sexes following 3-methylcholanthrene treatment relative to controls. The anti-P450LA antibody inhibitable rate of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was comparable in both sexes following 3-methylcholanthrene treatment (-70%). These results demonstrate that levels of hepatic P450IIB1 or P450IA are greater in male than in female for untreated, phenobarbital-or-3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative for untreated phenobarbital-or 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative increase of phenobarbital-or 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative increase of phenobarbital-or 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats. In addition, the relative increase of P450IIB1 or IA phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene is more significant in females.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2006

[ $17\;{\alpha}-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase(P450_{C17})$ ] is the key enzyme mediating the conversion of progesterone to $17\;{\alpha}-hydroxyprogesterone$, ultimately to androstenedione during steroidogenesis. R. dybowskii's ovarian $P450_{C17}$ cDNA was cloned to understand the regulatory mechanism of ovarian steroidogenic pathway at the molecular level in amphibian. A 2.5kb cDNA clone encoding a single open-reading frame with a 519 deduced amino acid was isolated with the screening of ovarian cDNA library. This sequence contained the three highly conserved domains as seen in $P450_{C17}$ of other species. The comparison of amino acid sequence of Rana $P450_{C17}$ with other animal's $P450_{C17}$ showed relatively high identity with 76% in Xenopus, 63% in chicken, 60% in rainbow trout, and 45% in human. Phylogenic analysis also indicated that Rana $P450_{C17}$ gene was evolutionary well conserved among vertebrate. Northern analysis indicated that the two different sizes of $P450_{C17}$ transcripts with approximately 2.5 and 3.6kb were detected in ovary tissue, but not in other tissues. The expression vector of Rana $P450_{C17}$ clearly showed the $17\;{\alpha}-hydroxylase$ activity converting the exogenous progesterone into $17\;{\alpha}-hydroxyprogesterone$ in the nonsteroidogenic COS-1 cells. Therefore, Rana $P450_{C17}$ cDNA is very useful to investigate the molecular mechanism of the ovarian steroidogenesis in amphibian.