• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.195-207
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• 2021

Species A rotaviruses (RVAs) replicate and assemble their immature particles within electron dense compartments known as viroplasms, where lipid droplets (LDs) interact with the viroplasm and facilitate viral replication. Despite the importance of LD formation in the life cycle of RVAs, the upstream molecules modulating LD formation remain unclear. This study aimed to find out the role of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) in reprogramming of LD formation after RVA infection. Here, we demonstrate that RVA infection reprograms the sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs)-dependent lipogenic pathways in virus-infected cells, and that both SREBP-1 and -2 transactivated genes, which are involved in fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis, are essential for LD formation. Our results showed that pharmacological inhibition of SREBPs using AM580 and betulin and inhibition of their downstream cholesterol biosynthesis (simvastatin for HMG-CoA reductase) and fatty acid enzymes (TOFA) negatively modulated the intracellular triacylglycerides and cholesterol levels and their resulting LD and viroplasm formations. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of SREBPs significantly reduced RVA protein synthesis, genome replication and progeny production. This study identified SREBPs-mediated lipogenic reprogramming in RVA-infected host cells, which facilitates virus replication through LD formation and its interaction with viroplasms, suggesting that SREBPs can be a potential target for the development of efficient and affordable therapeutics against RVA infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.384-394
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• 2024

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), known to latently infect the host's trigeminal ganglion, can lead to severe herpes encephalitis or asymptomatic infection, potentially contributing to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The virus generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that significantly impact viral replication and induce chronic inflammation through NF-κB activation. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an oxidative stress regulator, can prevent and treat HSV-1 infection by activating the passive defense response in the early stages of infection. Methods and results: Our study investigated the antiviral effects of ginsenoside Rg5, an Nrf2 activator, on HSV-1 replication and several host cell signaling pathways. We found that HSV-1 infection inhibited Nrf2 activity in host cells, induced ROS/NF-κB signaling, and triggered inflammatory cytokines. However, treatment with ginsenoside Rg5 inhibited ROS/NF-κB signaling and reduced inflammatory cytokines through NRF2 induction. Interestingly, the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 suppressed the expression of NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) and enhanced the expression of KEAP1 in HSV-1 infected cells. This led to the reversal of VP16 expression inhibition, a protein factor associated with HSV-1 infection, thereby promoting HSV-1 replication. Conclusion: These findings suggest for the first time that ginsenoside Rg5 may serve as an antiviral against HSV-1 infection and could be a novel therapeutic agent for HSV-1-induced neuroinflammation.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2016

Argonaute 2 (AtAGO2) is a well characterized effector protein in Arabidopsis for its functionalities associated with DNA double-strand break (DSB)-induced small RNAs (diRNAs) and for its inducible expression upon ${\gamma}$-irradiation. However, its transcriptional regulation depending on the recovery time after the irradiation and on the specific response to DSBs has been poorly understood. We analyzed the 1,313 bp promoter sequence of the AtAGO2 gene ($1.3kb_{pro}$) to characterize the transcriptional regulation of AtAGO2 at various recovery times after ${\gamma}$-irradiation. A stable transformant harboring $1.3kb_{pro}$ fused with GUS gene showed that the AtAGO2 is highly expressed in response to ${\gamma}$-irradiation, after which the expression of the gene is gradually decreased until 5 days of DNA damage recovery. We also confirm that the AtAGO2 expression patterns are similar to that of ${\gamma}$-irradiation after the treatments of radiomimetic genotoxins (bleomycin and zeocin). However, methyl methanesulfonate and mitomycin C, which are associated with the inhibition of DNA replication, do not induce the expression of the AtAGO2, suggesting that the expression of the AtAGO2 is closely related with DNA DSBs rather than DNA replication.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.161-172
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• 2011

Angiogenesis is regulated by a large number of molecules and complex signaling mechanisms. The G protein $G{\alpha}_{13}$ is a part of this signaling mechanism as an endothelial cell movement regulator. Gene expression analysis of $G{\alpha}_{13}$ knockout mouse embryos was carried out to identify the role of $G{\alpha}_{13}$ in angiogenesis signaling during embryonic development. Hypoxia-inducible response factors including those acting as regulators of angiogenesis were over expressed, while genes related to the cell cycle, DNA replication, protein modification and cell-cell dissociation were under expressed. Functional annotation and network analysis indicate that $G{\alpha}_{13}{^{-/-}}$ embryonic mice were exposed to hypoxic conditions. The present analysis of the time course highlighted the significantly high levels of disorder in the development of the cardiovascular system. The data suggested that hypoxia-inducible factors including those associated with angiogenesis and abnormalities related to endothelial cell division contributed to the developmental failure of $G{\alpha}_{13}$ knockout mouse embryos.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2018

The genome sequences of two novel monopartite RNA viruses were identified in a common eelgrass (Zostera marina) transcriptome dataset. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses revealed that these two novel viruses belong to the genus Amalgavirus in the family Amalgaviridae. They were named Zostera marina amalgavirus 1 (ZmAV1) and Zostera marina amalgavirus 2 (ZmAV2). Genomes of both ZmAV1 and ZmAV2 contain two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a putative replication factory matrix-like protein, while ORF2 encodes a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. The fusion protein (ORF1+2) of ORF1 and ORF2, which mediates RNA replication, was produced using the +1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) mechanism. The +1 PRF motif sequence, UUU_CGN, which is highly conserved among known amalgaviruses, was also found in ZmAV1 and ZmAV2. Multiple sequence alignment of the ORF1+2 fusion proteins from 24 amalgaviruses revealed that +1 PRF occurred only at three different positions within the 13-amino acid-long segment, which was surrounded by highly conserved regions on both sides. This suggested that the +1 PRF may be constrained by the structure of fusion proteins. Genome sequences of ZmAV1 and ZmAV2, which are the first viruses to be identified in common eelgrass, will serve as useful resources for studying evolution and diversity of amalgaviruses.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.489-495
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• 2001

DNA damage by UV and environmental agents are the major cause of genomic instability that needs to be repaired, otherwise it give rise to cancer. Accordingly, mammalian cells operate several DNA repair pathways that are not only responsible for identifying various types of DNA damage but also involved in removing DNA damage. In mammals, nucleotide excision repair (NER) machinery is responsible for most, if not all, of the bulky adducts caused by UV and chemical agents. Although most of the proteins involved in NER pathway have been identified, only recently have we begun to gain some insight into the mechanism by which proteins recognize damaged DNA. Binding of Xeroderma pigmentosum group C protein (XPC)-hHR23B complex to damaged DNA is the initial damage recognition step in NER, which leads to the recruitment of XPA and RPA to form a damage recognition complex. Formation of damage recognition complex not only stabilizes low affinity binding of XPA to the damaged DNA, but also induces structural distortion, both of which are likely necessary for the recruitment of TFIIH and two structure-specific endonucleases for dual incision.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.457-462
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• 2003

The complete nucleotide sequence of a plasmid, pMG1, isolated from Bifidobacterium longum MG1 has been determined. This plasmid, composed of 3,862 base pairs with 65.1% of G+C content. harbors two major open reading frames (ORF) encoding putative proteins of 29 kDa (ORF I) and 71 kDa (ORF II). ORF I showed relatively high amino acid sequence homology with replication proteins of other plasmids from Gr Im-positive and -negative bacteria. Upstream of ORF I, four sets of tandem repeat sequences resembling the iteron structure of related plasmids were found. S1 endonuclease treatment and Southern blot analysis revealed that pMG1 accumulates single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) intermediate, which indicate i the rolling circle replication (RCR) mechanism of this plasmid. Homology search indicated that ORF II encodes plasmid mobilization protein, and the presence of highly conserved oriT sequence in the upstream of this gene supported this assumption. RT-PCR showed that only ORF I is expressed in vivo. Based on these results, pMG 1 was exploited to construct a shuttle vector, pBES2. It was successfully transformed into Bifidobacterium and maintained stably.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2013

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is responsible for the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV core protein plays not only a structural role in the virion morphogenesis by encapsidating a virus RNA genome but also a non-structural role in HCV-induced pathogenesis by blocking innate immunity. Especially, it has been shown to regulate JAK-STAT signaling pathway through its direct interaction with Janus kinase (JAK) via its proline-rich JAK-binding motif ($^{79}{\underline{P}}GY{\underline{P}}WP^{84}$). However, little is known about the physiological significance of this HCV core-JAK association in the context of the virus life cycle. In order to gain an insight, a mutant HCV genome (J6/JFH1-79A82A) was constructed to express the mutant core with a defective JAK-binding motif ($^{79}{\underline{A}}GY{\underline{A}}WP^{84}$) using an HCV genotype 2a infectious clone (J6/JFH1). When this mutant HCV genome was introduced into hepatocarcinoma cells, it was found to be severely impaired in its ability to produce infectious viruses in spite of its robust RNA genome replication. Taken together, all these results suggest an essential requirement of HCV core-JAK protein interaction for efficient production of infectious viruses and the potential of using core-JAK blockers as a new anti-HCV therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2006

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 5A protein (NS5A), which consists of three functional domains, is involved in regulating viral replication, interferon resistance, and apoptosis. Recently, the three-dimensional structure of the domain 1 was determined. However, currently the molecular basis for the domains 2 and 3 of HCV NS5A is yet to be defined. Toward this end, we expressed, purified the domain 2 of the NS5A (NS5A-D2), and then performed biochemical and structural studies. The purified domain 2 was active and was able to bind NS5B and PKR, biological partners of NS5A. The results from gel filtration, CD analysis, 1D $^1H$ NMR and 2D $^1H-^{15}N$ heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) spectroscopy indicate that the domain 2 of NS5A appears to be flexible and disordered.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2003

Fragmentation of purine imidazole ring and production of formamidopyrimidines in deoxynucleosides (Fapy lesions) occurs upon DNA oxidation as well as upon spontaneous or alkali-triggered rearrangement of certain alkylated bases. Many chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide or thiotepa produce such lesions in DNA. Unsubstituted FapyA and FapyG, formed upon DNA oxidation cause moderate inhibition of DNA synthesis, which is DNA polymerase and sequence dependent. Fapy-7MeG, a methylated counterpart of FapyG-, a efficiently inhibits DNA replication in vitro and in E.coli, however its mutagenic potency is low. This is probably due to preferential incorporation of cytosine opposite Fapy-7MeG and preferential extension of Fapy-7MeG:C pair. In contrast, FapyA and Fapy-7MeA possess miscoding potential. Both lesions in SOS induced E.coli preferentially mispair with cytosine giving rise to A$\rightarrow$G transitions. Fapy lesions substituted with longer chain alkyl groups also show simult aneous lethal and mutagenic properties. Fapy lesions are actively eliminated from DNA by repair glycosylases specific for oxidized purines and pyrimidines both in bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Bacterial enzymes include E.coli formamidopyrimidine-DNA-glycosylase (Fpg protein), endonuclease III (Nth protein) and endonuclease VIII (Nei protein).