• 미생물학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2004

eIF5B는 단백질합성의 개시 인자로서 Met-$tRNA^{Met}$을 AUG 개시코돈에 전달하고, 리보솜의 두 소단위체 결합을 유도한다. 이 인자의 기능을 연구할 목적으로 eIF5B를 코딩하는 FUN12 유전자의 5'말단 부위를 삭제하는 연구를 수행하였다. 프로모터의 대부분을 삭제한 FUN12를 함유한 pRS효모벡터를 FUN12가 삭제되어 천천히 자라는 돌연변이주 ($fun12{\Delta}g$)에 전달하였을 때 그 표현형을 부분적으로 상보하였다. 위와 같이 제조된 벡터에서 N-말단이 상실된 eIF5B 단백질이 발현되었고, 그 양이 정상 균주에서 발현되는 eIF5B 양의 약 5%에 불과하였다. 이와 같이 부분적으로 성장을 상보한 균주에서 발현된 적은 양의 단백질합성개시 인자 eIF5B는 직접적으로 그 성장을 제한하는 요소로 작용한다. 이러한 균주에서 성장의 제한인자인 eIF5B는 in vitro 에서도 역시 전체 단백질 합성의 활성을 조절하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.51-57
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• 2014

NOG1 is a nucleolar GTPase that is critical for 60S ribosome biogenesis. Recently, NOG1 was identified as one of the downstream regulators of target of rapamycin (TOR) in yeast. It is reported that TOR is involved in regulating lifespan and fat storage in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we show that the nog1 ortholog (T07A9.9: nog-1) in C. elegans regulates growth, development, lifespan, and fat metabolism. A green fluorescence protein (GFP) promoter assay revealed ubiquitous expression of C. elegans nog-1 from the early embryonic to the adult stage. Furthermore, the GFP-tagged NOG-1 protein is localized to the nucleus, whereas the aberrant NOG-1 protein is concentrated in the nucleolus. Functional studies of NOG-1 in C. elegans further revealed that nog-1 knockdown resulted in smaller broodsize, slower growth, increased life span, and more fat storage. Moreover, nog-1 over-expression resulted in decreased life span. Taken together, our data suggest that nog-1 in C. elegans may be an important player in regulating life span and fat storage via the insulin/IGF pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.24-30
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• 2014

Inductive expression of early growth response 1 (Egr-1) in neurons is associated with many forms of neuronal activity. However, only a few Egr-1 target genes are known in the brain. The results of this study demonstrate that Egr-1 knockout (KO) mice display impaired contextual extinction learning and normal fear acquisition relative to wild-type (WT) control animals. Genome-wide microarray experiments revealed 368 differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of Egr-1 WT exposed to different phases of a fear conditioning paradigm compared to gene expression profiles in the hippocampus of KO mice. Some of genes, such as serotonin receptor 2C (Htr2c), neuropeptide B (Npb), neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (Npas4), NPY receptor Y1 (Npy1r), fatty acid binding protein 7 (Fabp7), and neuropeptide Y (Npy) are known to regulate processing of fearful memories, and promoter analyses demonstrated that several of these genes contained Egr-1 binding sites. This study provides a useful list of potential Egr-1 target genes which may be regulated during fear memory processing.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• 제50권11호
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• pp.10.1-10.11
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• 2018

Although early studies suggested that bladder cancer (BCa) is more prevalent in men than in women, muscle-invasive rates are higher in women than in men, suggesting that sex hormones might play important roles in different stages of BCa progression. In this work, we found that estrogen receptor beta ($ER{\beta}$) could increase BCa cell proliferation and invasion via alteration of miR-92a-mediated DAB2IP (DOC-2/DAB2 interacting protein) signals and that blocking miR-92a expression with an inhibitor could partially reverse $ER{\beta}$-enhanced BCa cell growth and invasion. Further mechanism dissection found that $ER{\beta}$ could increase miR-92a expression at the transcriptional level via binding to the estrogen-response-element (ERE) on the 5' promoter region of its host gene C13orf25. The $ER{\beta}$ up-regulated miR-92a could decrease DAB2IP tumor suppressor expression via binding to the miR-92a binding site located on the DAB2IP 3' UTR. Preclinical studies using an in vivo mouse model also confirmed that targeting this newly identified $ER{\beta}$/miR-92a/DAB2IP signal pathway with small molecules could suppress BCa progression. Together, these results might aid in the development of new therapies via targeting of this $ER{\beta}$-mediated signal pathway to better suppress BCa progression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.734-743
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• 2021

Background: The underlying mechanisms of the potential tumor-suppressive effects of ginsenoside Rh2 are complex. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is usually dysregulated in cancer. This study explored the regulatory effect of ginsenoside Rh2 on m6A RNA methylation in cancer. Methods: m6A RNA quantification and gene-specific m6A RIP-qPCR assays were applied to assess total and gene-specific m6A RNA levels. Co-immunoprecipitation, fractionation western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect protein interactions and distribution. QRT-PCR, dual-luciferase, and ChIP-qPCR assays were conducted to check the transcriptional regulation. Results: Ginsenoside Rh2 reduces m6A RNA methylation and KIF26B expression in a dose-dependent manner in some cancers. KIF26B interacts with ZC3H13 and CBLL1 in the cytoplasm of cancer cells and enhances their nuclear distribution. KIF26B inhibition reduces m6A RNA methylation level in cancer cells. SRF bound to the KIF26B promoter and activated its transcription. SRF mRNA m6A abundance significantly decreased upon KIF26B silencing. SRF knockdown suppressed cancer cell proliferation and growth both in vitro and in vivo, the effect of which was partly rescued by KIF26B overexpression. Conclusion: ginsenoside Rh2 reduces m6A RNA methylation via downregulating KIF26B expression in some cancer cells. KIF26B elevates m6A RNA methylation via enhancing ZC3H13/CBLL1 nuclear localization. KIF26B-SRF forms a positive feedback loop facilitating tumor growth.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.650-657
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• 2021

Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug and has anticancer effects on various cancers. Several studies have suggested that metformin reduces cell proliferation and stimulates cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, the definitive molecular mechanism of metformin in the pathophysiological signaling in endometrial tumorigenesis and metastasis is not clearly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of metformin on the cell viability and apoptosis of human cervical HeLa and endometrial HEC-1-A and KLE cancer cells. Metformin suppressed cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and dramatically evoked apoptosis in HeLa cervical cancer cells, while apoptotic cell death and growth inhibition were not observed in endometrial (HEC-1-A, KLE) cell lines. Accordingly, the p27 and p21 promoter activities were enhanced while Bcl-2 and IL-6 activities were significantly reduced by metformin treatment. Metformin diminished the phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6K and 4E-BP1 by accelerating adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) in HeLa cancer cells, but it did not affect other cell lines. To determine why the anti-proliferative effects are observed only in HeLa cells, we examined the expression level of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) since metformin and LKB1 share the same signalling system, and we found that the LKB1 gene is not expressed only in HeLa cancer cells. Consistently, the overexpression of LKB1 in HeLa cancer cells prevented metformin-triggered apoptosis while LKB1 knockdown significantly increased apoptosis in HEC-1-A and KLE cancer cells. Taken together, these findings indicate an underlying biological/physiological molecular function specifically for metformin-triggered apoptosis dependent on the presence of the LKB1 gene in tumorigenesis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권12호
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• pp.1072-1080
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• 2018

A plant-specific B3 domain and AP2 domain-containing transcription factor, RAV1 acts as a negative regulator of growth in many plant species and its transcription was down-regulated by BR and ABA. In this study, we found that RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants showed abnormally developed ovules, resulting in reduced seed size, weight, and number in a silique. Interestingly, the endogenous expression of RAV1 fluctuated during seed development; it remained low during the early stage of seed development and sharply increased in the seed maturation stage. In plants, seed development is a complex process that requires coordinated growth of the embryo, endosperm, and maternal integuments. Among many genes that are associated with endosperm proliferation and embryo development, three genes consisting of SHB1, MINI3, and IKU2 form a small unit positively regulating this process, and their expression was regulated by BR and ABA. Using the floral stage-specific RNAs, we found that the expression of MINI3 and IKU2, the two downstream genes of the SHB1-MINI3-IKU2 cascade in the seed development pathway, were particularly reduced in the RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants. We further determined that RAV1 directly binds to the promoter of MINI3 and IKU2, resulting in their repression. Direct treatment with brassinolide (BL) improved seed development of RAV1-overexpressing plants, but treatment with ABA severely worsened it. Overall, these results suggest that RAV1 is an additional negative player in the early stages of seed development, during which ABA and BR signaling are coordinated.

• Mycobiology
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2019

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT), as a simple and versatile method, achieves successful transformation in the yeast-like cells (YLCs) of Tremella fuciformis with lower efficiency. Establishment of a more efficient transformation system of YLCs is important for functional genomics research and biotechnological application. In this study, an enzymolysis-assisted ATMT method was developed. The degradation degree of YLCs depends on the concentration and digestion time of Lywallzyme. Lower concentration (${\leq}0.1%$) of Lywallzyme was capable of formation of limited wounds on the surface of YLCs and has less influence on their growth. In addition, there is no significant difference of YLCs growth among groups treated with 0.1% Lywallzyme for different time. The binary vector pGEH under the control of T. fuciformis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpd) promoter was utilized to transform the enzymolytic wounded YLCs with different concentrations and digestion time. The results of PCR, Southern blot, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and fluorescence microscopy revealed that the T-DNA was integrated into the YLCs genome, suggesting an efficient enzymolysis-assisted ATMT method of YLCs was established. The highest transformation frequency reached 1200 transformants per $10^6$ YLCs by 0.05% (w/v) Lywallzyme digestion for 15 min, and the transformants were genetically stable. Compared with the mechanical wounding methods, enzymolytic wounding is thought to be a tender, safer and more effective method.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.347-355
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• 2022

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disorder worldwide. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was shown to display a high level in the plasma of patients with AAA; however, its detailed functions underlying AAA pathogenesis are unclear. An in vitro AAA model was established in human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) by angiotensin II (Ang-II) stimulation. Cell counting kit-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays were utilized for measuring cell proliferation and migration. RT-qPCR was used for detecting mRNA expression of FGF21 and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Western blotting was utilized for assessing protein levels of FGF21, ATF4, and markers for the contractile phenotype of HASMCs. ChIP and luciferase reporter assays were implemented for identifying the binding relation between AFT4 and FGF21 promoters. FGF21 and ATF4 were both upregulated in Ang-II-treated HASMCs. Knocking down FGF21 attenuated Ang-II-induced proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch of HASMCs. ATF4 activated FGF21 transcription by binding to its promoter. FGF21 overexpression reversed AFT4 silencing-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch. ATF4 transcriptionally upregulates FGF21 to promote the proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch of Ang-II-treated HASMCs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제58권4호
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• pp.359-366
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• 2005

인슐린양 성장 인자 결합 단백-3(Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3))는 혈액 내에서 IGF와 결합하여 복합체 혹은 저장소로 작용함으로써, IGF가 수용체에 결합하는 것을 방해하여 IGF의 항세포사멸(antiapoptosis) 및 세포분열 촉진의 기능을 억제한다. 하지만, 특정 상황에서는 도리어 IGFBP-3가 IGF의 파괴를 억제하여 IGF에 의한 암세포의 분화 및 성장을 촉진할 수도 있다는 것이 알려져 있다. 대부분의 환자에서 혈액내 IGFBP-3 수치는 IGFBP-3 유전자의 -202 좌위(locus)의 다형성(polymorphism)에 의해 크게 영향을 받는다. 따라서, 저자 등은 제한 효소(restriction enzyme)를 이용하여 비소세포폐암 환자의 IGFBP-3 유전자 -202 좌위의 다형성을 분석함으로써, 이 좌위의 다형성이 비소세포폐암의 위험도와 연관되어 있는지 조사하였다. 본 연구는 104명의 비소세포폐암 환자군과, 연령, 성별, 흡연력이 비슷한 104명의 대조군을 비교 분석하였다. 대조군에서 -202 좌위 유전자 다형성의 빈도는 AA형 48명 (46.2%), AC형 45명 (43.3%), CC형 11명 (10.5%)이었고, 비소세포폐암 환자군에서 -202 좌위 유전자 다형성의 빈도는 AA형 67명(64.4%), AC형 35명 (33.7%), CC형 2명 (1.9%)이었다. -202 좌위의 유전자 다형성에 있어서 대조군과 비소세포폐암 환자군 사이에 유의한 빈도 차이가 있었으며 (p < 0.05, Pearson's ${\chi}^2-test$), 비소세포폐암의 위험도는 -202 좌위의 AA형에서 가장 높고 CC형에서 가장 낮았다. CC형을 기준으로 하면 AC형의 비교 위험도는 2.60 (95% 신뢰구간: 0.89 - 8.60)이었으며 AA형의 비교 위험도는 5.89 (95% 신뢰구간: 1.92 - 21.16)이었다. 본 연구 결과는, IGFBP-3 유전자의 -202 좌위(locus)의 다형성(polymorphism)이 비소세포폐암의 위험인자 중의 하나일 가능성을 제시하며, 따라서 비소세포폐암에 대한 항암치료 개발에 있어서 새로운 표적이 될 가능성을 시사한다.