• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2023

In Dictyostelium , there are 15 Ras subfamilies, including 11 Ras, 3 Rap, 1 Rheb. The Ras proteins are involved in regulating various cell processes as switch proteins. The functions of many Ras proteins have been identified, but some of Ras proteins have not yet been identified. Here, we focused on identifying the roles of RasW among them. To investigate the functions of RasW in cell morphology, cell migration, and development in Dictyostelium , we compared the phenotypes of wild-type cells and rasW null cells. rasW null cells showed a larger, more spread-out morphology and reduced cell motility compared to wild-type cells. There was no significant difference between wild-type cells and rasW null cells during multicellular developmental process. These results suggest that RasW is involved in regulating cell morphology and cell migration in Dictyostelium.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.113-122
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• 2006

Among the effector molecules connected with the group of cell surface receptors, Ras proteins have essential roles in transducing extracellular signals to diverse intracellular events, by controlling the activities of multiple signaling pathways. For over 20 years since the discovery of Ras proteins, an enormous amount of knowledge has been accumulated as to how the proteins function in overlapping or distinct fashions. The signaling networks they regulate are very complex due to their multiple functions and cross-talks. Much attention has been paid to the pathological role of Ras in tumorigenesis. In particular, human tumors very frequently express Ras proteins constitutively activated by point mutations. Up to date, three members of the Ras family have been identified, namely H-Ras, K-Ras (A and B), and N-Ras. Although these Ras isoforms function in similar ways, many evidences also support the distinct molecular function of each Ras protein. This review summarizes differential functions of Ras and highlights the current view of the distinct signaling network regulated by each Ras for its contribution to the malignant phenotypic conversion of breast epithelial cells. Four issues are addressed in this review: (1) Ras proteins, (2) membrane localization of Ras, (3) effector molecules downstream of Ras, (4) Ras signaling in invasion. In spite of the accumulation of information on the differential functions of Ras, much more remains to be elucidated to understand the Ras-mediated molecular events of malignant phenotypic conversion of cells in a greater detail.

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.47-51
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• 2023

Ras small GTPases are involved in regulating various cellular signaling pathways including cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Ras GTPase subfamily is comprised of 15 proteins; 11 Ras, 3 Rap, and one Rheb related protein. Some Ras proteins, such as RasC and RasG, have been identified for their major functions, but there are proteins whose functions have not been studied yet, such as RasU and RasX. Here, we investigated the roles of RasU in cell motility and development. RasU shows the highest homology with RasX. To investigate the functions of RasU, rasU null cells were used to observe the phenotype. Cells lacking RasU were larger and more spread than wild-type cells. These results indicate that RasU plays a negative role in cell spreading. In addition, we investigated the roles of RasU in cell motility and development of Dictyostelium cells and found that rasU null cells exhibited decreased random migration speed and delayed developmental process. These results suggest that RasU plays an important role in cell motility and development.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.378-384
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• 1998

The processing pathway of G-proteins and Ras family proteins includes the isoprenylation of the cysteine residue, followed by proteolysis of three terminal residues and .alpha.-carboxyl methyl esterification of the cysteine residue. Farnesylcysteine methyltransferase (FCMT) activity is responsible for the methylation reaction which play a role in the membrane attachment of a variety of cellular proteins. Four kinds of Ras protein (c-Ha-ras, c-N-Ras, c-Ki-Ras, pan-Ras) expression were detected in adenocarcinoma of human tissue by immunohistochemical method, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The level of Ras protein in human stomach tumor tissues was much higher than in normal and peritumoral regions of the same biopsy samples. The FCMT activities of each cellular fractions were high in mitochondrial fraction followed by microsomal fraction, whole homogenate and cytosolic fraction. The inhibitory effect on FCMT activity on stomach tumor tissue was determined after treatment with 0.25 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of S-adenosyl-$_L$-homocysteine. S-adenosyl-$_L$-homocysteine inhibited FCMT activity from 11.2% to 30.5%. These results suggested that FCMT might be involved in Ras proteins activity.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.1100-1117
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• 2018

Ras superfamily에 속하는 monomeric small GTPase는 현재까지 170여 종이 알려져 있으며 이들은 세포 신호전달에 있어서 분자 스위치(molecular switch)로 작용하고 있다. Ras GTPase는 guanosine diphosphate (GDP)와 결합하여 불활성화 되거나 혹은 guanosine triphosphate (GTP)와 결합하여 활성화되는 guanosine nucleotide 결합단백질로서 세포내의 수많은 생리작용을 조절하고 있다. 즉, 쉬고 있던 불활성화 상태의 Ras-GDP는 외부 신호에 반응하여 활성화 된 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)에 의하여 활성형인 Ras-GTP상태로 전환되어 그 하류로 신호를 전달하는 효과기로 작용하게 된다. 신호전달을 마친 Ras-GTP는 다시 불활성형인 Ras-GDP로 전환되어야 하는데 Ras 자체의 GTPase 활성이 미약하여 RasGTPase activating protein (RasGAP)의 도움을 받아야만 한다. 이와 같이 Ras GTPase는 GEF와 GAP의 활성으로 세포 안의 스위치를 켜고 끄게 된다. 현재까지 알려진 인간 암(cancer)의 30% 이상이 돌연변이를 포함하는 Ras switch의 비정상적인 작동에 기인한다는 점이 밝혀져 있으므로 Ras GTPase의 구조와 생리적 기능에 대한 최근의 연구결과들을 요약하였다. 나아가 GTPase activating protein으로서의 기능을 상실한 RasGAP분자의 돌연변이는 세포 안의 Ras 스위치를 계속 켜 두는 상태인 Ras-GTP 상태를 유발함으로서 종국에는 암의 발생을 촉발하게 된다. 이에, 본고에서는 최근에 와서 tumor suppressor로서 알려지면서 암의 치료 표적단백질로 떠오르게 된 RasGAP의 인체생리학적 기능을 고찰하였다. 인간 게놈 안에는 RASA1, NF1, GAP1 family 및 SynGAP family 등에 속하는 14종의 RasGAP 분자들이 존재하는데 이들 GAP분자들의 이상과 인간 질병의 연관성에 대한 최근의 연구결과들에 대해 고찰하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.196-200
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• 2005

The neurofibromatosis type2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene product, merlin, is structurally related to the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family of proteins that anchor the actin cytoskeleton to specific membrane proteins and participate in cell signaling. However, the basis of the tumor suppressing activity of merlin is not well understood. Previously, we identified a role of merlin as an inhibitor of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway. Recent studies have suggested that phosphorylation of merlin, as of other ERM proteins, may regulate its function. To determine whether phosphorylation of merlin affects its suppression of Ras-ERK signaling, we generated plasmids expressing full-length merlin with substitutions of serine 518, a potential phosphorylation site. A substitution that mimics constitutive phosphorylation (S518D) abrogated the ability of merlin to suppress effects of the Ras-ERK signaling pathway such as Ras-induced SRE transactivation, Elk-mediated SRE transactivation, Ras-induced ERK phosphorylation and Ras-induced focus formation. On the other hand, an S518A mutant, which mimics nonphosphorylated merlin, acted like wild type merlin. These observations show that mimicking merlin phosphorylation impairs not only growth suppression by merlin but also its inhibitory action on the Ras-ERK signaling pathway.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권6호
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• pp.1024-1034
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• 2022

Identifying effective biomarkers for the diagnosis of male fertility is crucial for improving animal production and treating male infertility in humans. Ras-related proteins (Rab) are associated with morphological and motion kinematic functions in spermatozoa. Moreover, Rab2A, a Rab protein, is a possible male fertility-related biomarker. The present study was designed to identify additional fertility-related biomarkers among the various Rab proteins. First, the expression of Rab proteins (Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, 14, 25, 27A, and 34A) from 31 duroc boar spermatozoa was measured before and after capacitation; correlation between Rab protein expression and litter size was evaluated by statistical analysis. The results showed that the expression of Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, and 25 before capacitation and Rab3A, 4, 5, 8A, 9, and 14 after capacitation were negatively correlated with litter size. Moreover, depending on the cutoff values calculated by receiver operating curves, an increase in litter size was observed when evaluating the ability of the Rab proteins to forecast litter size. Therefore, we suggest that Rab proteins may be potential fertility-related biomarkers that could help select superior sires in the livestock industry.

• 생약학회지
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• 제34권1호통권132호
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• pp.91-99
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• 2003

Ras proteins play an important role in intracellular signal transduction pathways involved in cell growth and the mutated twas genes have been found in thirty percent of human cancers. Ras proteins (H-, K- and N-Ras) are small guanine nucleotide binding proteins that undergo a series of posttranslational modifications including the farnesylation onto cysteine 186 at C-terminal of Ras by farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase). This is a mandatory process for retention of transforming ability. Therefore, inhibitors of FPTase have a promising to be effective antitumor agents. In our screening program for FPTase inhibitors, the methanol extracts of 193 plants were screened for the inhibitory activity against FPTase partially purified from the rat brain. Extracts of 7species plants including Areca catechu, Saururus chinensis, Curcuma longa, Artemisa princeps, Paeonia suffruticosa, Spatholobus suberectus, Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum japonicum inhibited more than 60% of FPTase activity at a concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.327-333
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• 2009

Heterotrimeric GTP binding proteins, G-proteins, mediate signal transduction generated by neurotransmitters and hormones. Among G-proteins, Go proteins are the most abundant in brain and classified as a member of Gi family. Ras-like protein in all tissues (Rit), one of the small GTPases, is a member of a Ras superfamily and identified as an important regulator of neuronal differentiation and cell transformation. Recently, we have reported that Rit functioned as a candidate downstream effector for alpha subunit of Go proteins ($Go{\alpha}$) and regulated neurite outgrowth triggered by $Go{\alpha}$ activation. In this study, we showed that the GTPase domain of $Go{\alpha}$ contributed to the direct interaction with Rit. We also demonstrated that $Go{\alpha}$ could lead to an increase of Rit activity suggesting that Rit play a role as a downstream effector of $Go{\alpha}$.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.201-210
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• 2001

연구배경 : 환경, 작업성노출, 바이러스감염, 유전적소인, 면역학적 이상 등 다양한 원인들이 특발성폐섬유화증(Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, IPF)의 원인인자들로 추정되어지고 있으나 아직 그 원인 및 병태생려는 분명하지 않다. 그런데, IPF환자의 10-13%는 폐암으로 사망하며, IPF에서 7배정도 폐암의 발생위험도 IPF 환자의 기관지 폐포상피세포가 p53과 p21단백을 과발현하고 있음이 보고되고 있고, 만성적인 유전자 손상의 결과로 이 두가지 단백의 발현이 증가되어 있을 것으로 추정된다. 방 법 : 연구자는 간질성 폐질환조직에서 p53과 K-ras단백의 발현정도와 임상양상을 관찰하고자 폐생검(개흉 폐생검 : 15예, 경기관지 폐생검 : 23예)조직에서 간질성 폐질환으로 진단된 38예를 대상으로 p53과 K-ras단백의 발현여부를 면역조직화학염색을 이용하여 관찰하였다. 결 과 : 간질성 폐질환 조직에서 p53은 21.1%에서, K-ras는 65.8%에서 암표지자단백 발현이 관찰되었다. 대조군으로 시행한 10예의 정상 기관지점막 표피세포는 전 예에서 두가지 p53, K-ras단백들이 발현되지 않았다. 간질성 폐질환의 조직형에 따라 암표지자 발현율이 차이를 보였는데, p53은 NSIP의 경우 36.4%로 양성율이 높았고, BOOP, AIP, DIP, UIP의 순이었다. K-ras는 전반적으로 p53에 비해 양성율이 높게 나타나서 UIP와 AIP가 75.0%로 가장 높았고, BOOP, DIP, NSIP의 순으로 나타났다. 이환기간과 암표지자 발현율과의 관계는 p53의 경우 증상이 오래 지속될수록 양성율이 높은 경향을 보였으며, K-ras의 경우는 증상의 기간과 관계없이 58-68%의 일정한 발현율을 보였고 전반적으로 p53보다 높은 양성율을 보였다. 결 론 : 본 연구의 결과 정상인의 상피세포에서는 관찰되지 않았으나 간질성 폐질환의 상피세포에서 p53과 K-ras단백의 발현이 증가되었음을 관찰할 수 있었고, 이러한 세포성장 또는 세포고사 조절인자들의 발현이 간질성 폐질환의 병태생리에 어떠한 역할을 하며 폐암의 발생과는 어떠한 관계에 있는지는 아직 분명하지 않으며 계속적인 연구가 요구된다.