• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.805-812
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• 2010

DNA damage including base modifications, loss of base and breaks in DNA strands can occur by exposure to irradiation, smoking and several components of food. Unrepaired DNA damage is known to lead to cellular dysfunction, cell death, cancer, and other diseases such as arteriosclerosis and diabetes. The protective effect of garlic on oxidative stress induced DNA damage has been reported recently. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of garlic extracts prepared by different processing methods (raw garlic extracts, RGE; grilled garlic extracts, GGE; pickled garlic extracts, PGE) on leukocytic DNA damage using comet assay. Human leukocytes were incubated with ethanol and methanol extract of garlic at various concentrations (1, 5, 10, 50 ${\mu}g$/mL), followed by oxidative stimuli (200 ${\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ or 200 ${\mu}M$ 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)). The methanol and ethanol extracts of RGE, GGE, and PGE showed inhibitory activities of DNA damage induced by $H_2O_2$ or HNE. Especially methanol extract of RGE ($ED_{50}$; 13.3 ${\mu}g$/mL) had a higher antigenotoxic effect on $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage than those of GGE (23.5 ${\mu}g$/mL) or PGE (24.5 ${\mu}g$/mL). HNE induced DNA damage tended to be effectively inhibited by the lower concentration of all garlic extracts. Therefore, garlic might have protective effects against oxidative DNA damage regardless of processing methods (raw, grilled, pickled) which are the general consumed forms of garlic in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.345-349
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• 2004

Heat shock ($43^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes) is sufficient to induce apoptosis in a wide number of cell lines. In this study, we asked whether DNA strand breaks are responsible for this phenomenon. Using the highly sensitive comet assay for DNA damage detection, we were unable to demonstrate DNA breaks immediately after heat shock in Raji human Iymphoid cells. It showed that DNA breaks were not necessary for hyperthermic apoptosis, since its activity is indicative of DNA lesions. Here, we present a suggestion that a protein(s) is the major target for heat shock apoptosis. We firstly found glycerol, which reportedly stabilizes protein structure, showed a protective effect in Raji cells against hyperthermic apoptosis. In addition, quercetin, which modulates transcription of the heat shock protein family members, enhanced apoptotic death induced by hyperthermia. Furthermore, Raji cells are protected by a pre-mild heat treatment prior to the killing dose of heat shock.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2010

During normal early embryonic development in mammals, the global pattern of genomic DNA methylation undergoes marked. changes. The level of methylation is high in male and female gametes. Thus, we cloned the cDNA of the porcine DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) gene to promote the efficiency of the generation of porcine clones. In this study, porcine Dnmt1 cDNA was sequenced, and Dnmt1 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) in porcine tissues during embryonic development. The porcine Dnmt1 cDNA sequence showed more homology with that of bovine than human, mouse, and rat. The complete sequence of porcine Dnmt1 cDNA was 4,774-bp long and consisted of an open reading frame encoding a protein of 1611 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of porcine DNMT1 showed significant homology with those of bovine (91%), human (88%), rat (76%), and mouse (75%) Dnmt1. The expression of porcine Dnmt1 mRNA was detected during porcine embryogenesis. The mRNA was detected at stages of porcine preimplantation development (1-cell, 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages). It was also abundantly expressed in tissues (lung, ovary, kidney and somatic cells). Further investigations are necessary to understand the complex links between methyltransferase 1 and the transcriptional activity in cloned porcine tissues.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.159-168
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• 1977

In order to evaluate the mutagenic potentential in mammalian system for those pesticides which were proved to be mutagenic in Salmonella microsome assay system, we have studied drug-resistant mutagenesis in cultured L5178Y cells and unscheduled DNA synthesis in human lymphocytes in vitro. We have tested five pesticides: insecticides DDVP and trichlorfon, fungicide TMTD and herbicides MO and NIP. Of these pesticides, TMTD induced weak mutation to MTX-resistance in L5178Y cells in vitro and gave positive responses in DNA repair assay system. Therefore, its potential genetic risks in human beings should be re-evaluated. DDVP and trichlorfon gave negative response in L5178Y mutagenesis test system but stimulated incorporation of $^{3}H$-TdR in DNA repar assay. MO and NIP gave also negative responses both in L5178Y mutagenesis test systemand in DNA repair assay system.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.397-402
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• 1992

The cDNA of RNA segment coding for VP7 of human rotavirus isolated from patient's stool at Seoul area was synthesized, amplified by polymerase chain reaction, field in with Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I and cloned into pUC19. The cDNA sequence was determined and compared with that of VP7 coding RNA segments of group A rotaviruses isolates in foreign country. Over 90% sequence homology was found with serotyppe I sepcific WA1 and RE9 strains. Comparative analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences within the two variable regions (amino acid residue 87 through 101 and 208 through 221) with WA1 and RE9 strains also showed high degree of sequence similarity with each other.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2010

We have performed analyses using ancient DNA extracted from 25 excavated human bones, estimating around the 1st century B.C. Ancient human bones were obtained from Nukdo Island, which is located off of the Korean peninsula of East Asia. We made concerted efforts to extract ancient DNA of high quality and to obtain reproducible PCR products, as this was a primary consideration for this extensive kind of undertaking. We performed PCR amplifications for several regions of the mitochondrial DNA, and could determine mitochondrial haplogroups for 21 ancient DNA samples. Genetic information from mitochondrial DNA belonged to super-haplogroup M, haplogroup D or its sub-haplogroups (D4 or D4b), which are distinctively found in East Asians, including Koreans or Japanese. The dendrogram and principal component analysis based on haplogroup frequencies revealed that the Nukdo population was close to those of the East Asians and clearly distinguished from populations shown in the other regions. Considering that Nukdo is geologically isolated in the southern part of the Korean peninsula and is a site of commercial importance with neighboring countries, these results may reflect genetic continuity for the habitation and migration of ethnic groups who had lived in a particular area in the past. Therefore, we suggest that phylogenetic analyses of ancient DNA have significant advantages for clarifying the origins and migrations of ethnic groups, or human races.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1023-1032
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• 2009

Despite the fact that many cancer cells are sensitive to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis, some cancer cells show either partial or complete resistance to TRAIL. Human leukemic K562 and CEM cells also show resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Novel molecular target and treatment strategies are required to overcome TRAIL resistance of human leukemia cells. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to target key anti-apoptotic molecules deciding TRAIL resistance for sensitization of TRAIL-resistant K562 and CEM cells, and to evaluate the effect of quercetin as a TRAIL sensitizer on these TRAIL-resistant cells. We found that quercetin acted in synergy with TRAIL to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in K562 cells by inhibition of the DNA-PK/Akt signaling pathway, which leads to enhancement of TRAIL-mediated activation of caspases and concurrent cleavage of PARP and up-regulation of Bax. The findings suggest that the DNA-PK/Akt signaling pathway plays an essential role in regulating cells to escape from TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and quercetin could act in synergy with TRAIL to increase apoptosis by inhibition of the DNA-PK/Akt signaling pathway, which overcomes TRAIL-resistance of K562 and CEM cells. This study suggests that DNA-PK might interfere with TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human leukemic cells through activation of the Akt signaling pathway.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Epigenetic changes represented by promoter CpG island hypermethylation and histone modification are an important carcinogenetic mechanism, which is found in virtually all histologic types of human cancer. About 60-70% of human genes harbor CpG islands in their promoters and 5' exonal sequences, and some of them undergo aberrant promoter CpG island hypermethylation and subsequent downregulation of gene expression. The loss of expression in tumor suppressor or tumor-related genes results in acceleration of tumorigenic processes. In addition to regional CpG island hypermethylation, diffuse genomic hypomethylation represents an important aspect of DNA methylation changes occurring in human cancer cells and contributes to chromosomal instability. These apparently contrasting methylation changes occur not only in human cancer cells, but also in premalignant cells. CpG island hypermethylation has gained attention for not only the tumorigenic mechanistic process, but also its potential utilization as a tumor biomarker. DNA methylation markers are actively investigated for their potential uses as tumor biomarkers for diagnosis of tumors in body fluids, prognostication of cancer patients, or prediction of chemotherapeutic drug response. In this review, these aspects will be discussed in detail.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.101-105
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• 1999

N-Methylpurine-DNA glycosylase (MPG) removes N-methylpurine and other damaged purines in DNA. RT-PCR analysis revealed MPG mRNA expression at various tissues of fetal development from day 8 to day 18 fetus and day 400 mature adult. The MPG transcripts were abundant during fetal development in mice. In placenta, the MPG mRNA was continuously decreased from day 8 post coitum (p.c) to day 18 p.c. fetus. The high level of mRNA in fetal brain and liver was drastically declined in day 400 mature adult. The expression of MPG, originally characterized by its highest level of expression in the epididymis of adult mouse, was detected with high level in several other reproductive organ, including the ovary, oviduct, testis, vas deference, uterus, and seminal vesicles. These results demonstrate developmental stage- and tissue-specific variation of MPG gene expression.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2009

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion is a well-known marker for oxidative stress and aging and also contributes to their unfavorable effects in cultured cells and animal tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ionizing radiation (IR) on mtDNA deletion and the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this process in human lung fibroblast (IMR-90) cells. Young IMR-90 cells at population doubling (PD) 39 were irradiated with $^{137}Cs$ $\gamma$-rays and the intracellular ROS level was determined by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and mtDNA common deletion (4977bp) was detected by nested PCR. Old cells at PD 55 and $H_2O_2$-treated young cells were compared as the positive control. IR increased the intracellular ROS level and mtDNA 4977 bp deletion in IMR-90 cells dose-dependently. The increases of ROS level and mtDNA deletion were also observed in old cells and $H_2O_2$-treated young cells. To confirm the increased ROS level is essential for mtDNA deletion in irradiated cells, the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on IRinduced ROS and mtDNA deletion were examined. 5 mM NAC significantly attenuated the IR-induced ROS increase and mtDNA deletion. These results suggest that IR induces the mtDNA deletion and this process is mediated by ROS in IMR-90 cells.