• BMB Reports
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• 제55권9호
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• pp.459-464
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• 2022

Various mechanisms have been suggested to explain the chemopreventive and tumor-inhibitory effects of melatonin. Despite the growing evidence supporting melatonin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, it remains largely unknown how this phenomenon modulates metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. The aim of our study was to identify the mechanism underlying the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of melatonin, which is known to inhibit glycolysis. We analyzed the time-dependent effects of melatonin on mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in liver cancer cells. The results showed that from a cell bioenergetic point of view, melatonin caused an acute reduction in mitochondrial respiration, however, increased reactive oxygen species production, thereby inhibiting mTORC1 activity from an early stage post-treatment without affecting glycolysis. Nevertheless, administration of melatonin for a longer time reduced expression of c-Myc protein, thereby suppressing glycolysis via downregulation of HK2 and LDHA. The data presented herein suggest that melatonin suppresses mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis simultaneously in HCC cells, leading to anti-cancer effects. Thus, melatonin can be used as an adjuvant agent for therapy of liver cancer.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.2.1-2.10
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• 2021

BRAF inhibitors (e.g., vemurafenib) are widely used to treat metastatic melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation. The initial response is often dramatic, but treatment resistance leads to disease progression in the majority of cases. Although secondary mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway are known to be responsible for this phenomenon, the molecular mechanisms governing acquired resistance are not known in more than half of patients. Here we report a genome- and transcriptome-wide study investigating the molecular mechanisms of acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors. A microfluidic chip with a concentration gradient of vemurafenib was utilized to rapidly obtain therapy-resistant clones from two melanoma cell lines with the BRAF V600E mutation (A375 and SK-MEL-28). Exome and transcriptome data were produced from 13 resistant clones and analyzed to identify secondary mutations and gene expression changes. Various mechanisms, including phenotype switching and metabolic reprogramming, have been determined to contribute to resistance development differently for each clone. The roles of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, the master transcription factor in melanocyte differentiation/dedifferentiation, were highlighted in terms of phenotype switching. Our study provides an omics-based comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms governing acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitor therapy.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.29-48
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• 2003

It is remarkable that nuclear transfer using differentiated donor cells can produce physiologically normal cloned animals, but the process is inefficient and highly prone to epigenetic errors. Aberrant patterns of gene expression in clones contribute to the cumulative losses and abnormal phenotypes observed throughout development. Any long lasting effects from cloning, as revealed in some mouse studies, need to be comprehensively evaluated in cloned livestock. These issues raise animal welfare concerns that currently limit the acceptability and applicability of the technology. It is expected that improved reprogramming of the donor genome will increase cloning efficiencies realising a wide range of new agricultural and medical opportunities. Efficient cloning potentially enables rapid dissemination of elite genotypes from nucleus herds to commercial producers. Initial commercialization will, however, focus on producing small numbers of high value animals for natural breeding especially clones of progeny-tested sires, The continual advances in animal genomics towards the identification of genes that influence livestock production traits and human health increase the ability to genetically modify animals to enhance agricultural efficiency and produce superior quality food and biomedical products for niche markets. The potential opportunities in animal agriculture are more challenging than those in biomedicine as they require greater biological efficiency at reduced cost to be economically viable and because of the more difficult consumer acceptance issues. Nevertheless, cloning and transgenesis are being used together to increase the genetic merit of livestock; however, the integration of this technology into farming systems remains some distance in the future.

• 한국수정란이식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국수정란이식학회 2003년도 제3회 발생공학 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.29-48
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• 2003

It is remarkable that nuclear transfer using differentiated donor cells can produce physiologically normal cloned animals, but the process is inefficient and highly prone to epigenetic errors. Aberrant patterns of gene expression in clones contribute to the cumulative losses and abnormal phenotypes observed throughout development. Any long lasting effects from cloning, as revealed in some mouse studies, need to be comprehensively evaluated in cloned livestock. These issues raise animal welfare concerns that currently limit the acceptability and applicability of the technology. It is expected that improved reprogramming of the donor genome will increase cloning efficiencies realising a wide range of new agricultural and medical opportunities. Efficient cloning potentially enables rapid dissemination of elite genotypes from nucleus herds to commercial producers. Initial commercialisation will, however, focus on producing small numbers of high value animals for natural breeding especially clones of progeny-tested sires. The continual advances in animal genomics towards the identification of genes that influence livestock production traits and human health increase the ability to genetically modify animals to enhance agricultural efficiency and produce superior quality food and biomedical products for niche markets. The potential opportunities inanimal agriculture are more challenging than those in biomedicine as they require greater biological efficiency at reduced cost to be economically viable and because of the more difficult consumer acceptance issues. Nevertheless, cloning and transgenesis are being used together to increase the genetic merit of livestock; however, the integration of this technology into farming systems remains some distance in the future.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권11호
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• pp.710-724
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• 2023

The plant defense responses to microbial infection are tightly regulated and integrated with the developmental program for optimal resources allocation. Notably, the defense-associated hormone salicylic acid (SA) acts as a promoter of flowering while several plant pathogens actively target the flowering signaling pathway to promote their virulence or dissemination. Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum inject tens of effectors in the host cells that collectively promote bacterial proliferation in plant tissues. Here, we characterized the function of the broadly conserved R. pseudosolanacearum effector RipL, through heterologous expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. RipL-expressing transgenic lines presented a delayed flowering, which correlated with a low expression of flowering regulator genes. Delayed flowering was also observed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants transiently expressing RipL. In parallel, RipL promoted plant susceptibility to virulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae in the effector-expressing lines or when delivered by the type III secretion system. Unexpectedly, SA accumulation and SA-dependent immune signaling were not significantly affected by RipL expression. Rather, the RNA-seq analysis of infected RipL-expressing lines revealed that the overall amplitude of the transcriptional response was dampened, suggesting that RipL could promote plant susceptibility in an SA-independent manner. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning RipL effect on flowering and immunity may reveal novel effector functions in host cells.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.237-241
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• 2012

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is the first major transition that occurs after fertilization, and entails a dramatic reprogramming of gene expression that is essential for continued development. Although it has been suggested that EGA in porcine embryos starts at the four-cell stage, recent evidence indicates that EGA may commence even earlier; however, the molecular details of EGA remain incompletely understood. The RNA polymerase II of eukaryotes transcribes mRNAs and most small nuclear RNAs. The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II can become phosphorylated in the C-terminal domain. The unphosphorylated form of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit C-terminal domain (IIa) plays a role in initiation of transcription, and the phosphorylated form (IIo) is required for transcriptional elongation and mRNA splicing. In the present study, we explored the nuclear translocation, nuclear localization, and phosphorylation dynamics of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain in immature pig oocytes, mature oocytes, two-, four-, and eight-cell embryos, and the morula and blastocyst. To this end, we used antibodies specific for the IIa and IIo forms of RNA polymerase II to stain the proteins. Unphosphorylated RNA polymerase II stained strongly in the nuclei of germinal vesicle oocytes, whereas the phosphorylated form of the enzyme was confined to the chromatin of prophase I oocytes. After fertilization, both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated RNA polymerase II began to accumulate in the nuclei of early stage one-cell embryos, and this pattern was maintained through to the blastocyst stage. The results suggest that both porcine oocytes and early embryos are transcriptionally competent, and that transcription of embryonic genes during the first three cell cycles parallels expression of phosphorylated RNA polymerase II.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.87-87
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• 2003

난자성숙 중 MPF활성은 MI 과 MII에서 최대로, MII로의 성숙 직후 난자를 핵이식에 이용하는 것은 핵과 세포질 사이의 reprogramming에의 효율을 높일 수 있을 것이다. 일반적으로 돼지의 IVF나 핵이식은 체외성숙후 44h에 이뤄지고 있다. 이는 aging을 낳을 수 있고 aging은 또한 발달능을 떨어뜨릴 수 있다. 따라서, 본 실험은 돼지의 체외성숙시간에 따른 체외성숙율과 단위발생후 체외발달율을 비교하여 최적의 체외성숙시간을 찾고자 실시하였다. 돼지 난포란을 10% pFF, 0.1mg/ml cysteine, 10IU/ml PMSG, 10IU/ml hCG, 10ng/ml EGF가 첨가된 TCM-199배양액에서 22, 30, 44시간 동안 배양하여 성숙을 유도하였다. 체외성숙이 야기된 난자는 난구세포를 제거한 후 전기자극(2.0kv/cm, $30 \mu s$) 후 5분 동안 TCM-199에서 세정하고 다시 4시간 동안 6-DMAP에서 배양된 후 4mg/ml BSA가 첨가된 NCSU-23에 넣어 $39^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$배양기에서 각각 6-7일 동안 배양을 실시하였다. 체외성숙 22시간 성숙난자는 M I 44.3%(35/79)와 A I -T I 36.7%(29/79)로 81%가 M II로의 성숙에는 아직 미치지 못했다. 30시간 성숙난자는 46.3%(56/121)가 M II로 성숙하였고, M I과 A I -T I 은 각각 25.6%(31/121), 27 3%(33/121)이었다. 44시간 성숙난자는 78%(71/91)가 M II로 성숙하였고, M I 과 A I -T I 은 각각 12.1%(31/121), 7 7%(33/121)이었다. 단위발생율은 22시간에 난할율은 35.4%(75/137)이었고, 배반포 발달은 없었다. 30시간에 난할율은 51.8%(145/280)이었고, 배반포 발달율은 5.5%(8/145)이었다. 44시간에 난할율은 80.0%(244/306)이었고, 배반포 발달율은 14.3%(35/144)이었다. 본 연구결과 핵 및 세포질의 완전한 성숙은 44h에 이루어지고, 이에 따른 배발달율도 뒤따름을 알 수 있었다. 난자가 핵성숙의 완성에도 불구하고 완전한 활성을 위한 발달능은 갖지 못함을 알 수 있었으며, 질 좋은 배반포 생산을 위해 핵과 세포질 성숙의 synchronous가 중요하다 사료된다. 체외성숙을 위한 배양기술의 진전과 더불어 체외성숙 시간에 따른 세포질적인 기전에 대한 연구가 필요하다.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.90-90
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• 2003

체세포 핵이식에 의한 복제기술은 매우 낮은 성공률 나타내고 있어 실용화에 지장을 초래하고 있다. 이것은 후생적인 유전현상인 reprogramming이 불완전하게 이루어지기 때문인 것으로 추측되어지고 있다(Reik et al., Theriogenology 2003, 59: 21-32; Han et al, Theriogenology 2003, 59: 33-44). 체세포 핵이식 후에 태아사망의 원인이 태반의 비정상적인 기능과 관계가 있는 것으로 추정되는데 복제시 태아사망의 원인을 찾기 위해 본 연구를 시행하였다. 한우에서 체세포 복제 후 임신 말기에 태아가 사망한 태반조직 3개와 IVF 수정란 이식 후 동일한 시기에 제왕절개술을 실시한 태반조직 2개를 실험에 이용하였다. 태반 protein을 Two-Dimensional electrophoresis와 Mass spectrometer를 이용하여 분석 비교하였다. IPG-system을 이용하여 pH 4~7, pH 6~9에서 1차 전기영동을 한 후, 8~l6%의 SDS-PAGE gel에 2차 전기영동을 실시하였고 G-250 Coomassie로 염색하였다. gel 이미지는 Malanie III program을 이용하여 분석하였다. 전체 gel에서 약 1800개의 구분 가능한 protein spot이 나타났다. pH 4~7 범위에서 양적으로 차이나는 것 15개 중 복제한우 태반에서 증가되는 protein spot 5개와 감소하는 protein spot 10개를 골라 protein identification을 실시하였다. MALDI-TOF-MS를 이용하여 동정한 결과 phosphatidylinositol transfer protein-$\alpha$와 interleukin-18 등의 protein이 복제태반에서 발현이 증가되었고, 복제한우에서 발현이 감소되는 것으로는 vimentin, Rho-GDI-$\beta$, TRAST $\beta$-chain, ovarian sterol carrier protein 2, triosephosphate isomerase, tropemyosin beta chain, Aldose reductase 등으로 나타났다. 이러한 protein들은 inositol 지질 신호전달과 면역시스템, 세포분열, 산소 운반, steroidogenic 세포에서의 콜레스테롤 이동, 촉매 작용, 대사 작용 등에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 체세포 복제에 의한 태아사망 원인은 태반에서 이러한 protein들의 비정상적인 발현에 기인된 것으로 추정된다.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.40-43
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• 2012

Recent genomewide association studies of large samples have identified genes that are associated with blood pressure. The Global Blood Pressure Genetics (Global BPgen) and Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genome Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortiums identified 14 loci that govern blood pressure on a genomewide significance level, one of which is $CASZ1$ confirmed in both Europeans and Asians. $CASZ1$ is a zinc finger transcription factor that controls apoptosis and cell fate and suppresses neuroblastoma tumor growth by reprogramming gene expression, like a tumor suppressor. To validate the function of $CASZ1$ in blood pressure, we decreased $Casz1$ mRNA levels in mice by siRNA. $Casz1$ siRNA reduced mRNA levels by 59% in a mouse cell line. A polyethylenimine-mixed siRNA complex was injected into mouse tail veins, reducing $Casz1$ mRNA expression to 45% in the kidney. However, blood pressure in the treated mice was unaffected, despite a 55% reduction in $Casz1$ mRNA levels in the kidney on multiple siRNA injections daily. Even though $Casz1$ siRNA-treated mice did not experience any significant change in blood pressure, our study demonstrates the value of $in$ $vivo$ siRNA injection in analyzing the function of candidate genes identified by genomewide association studies.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2000

수정에 의한 배 발생은 정자가 난자 내로 침입하여 정자와 난자의 반수체 핵질이 융합되고 이어 유사분열로 이어지는 과정에서 시작된다. 하지만 수정 및 초기 배 발생 동안 자웅 핵질과 난 세포질 구성 요소 상호간의 작용기전에 관해서는 명확히 알려져 있지 않은 부분이 많다. 수정보조기법인 세포질 내 정자 직접 주입법의 개발은 남성불임치료에 혁신적인 기술로 자리잡고 있을 뿐만 아니라 포유동물의 수정과정을 이해하는데 많은 도움을 주고 있다. 핵치환에 의한 복제동물 생산기법도 분화된 핵이 난 세포질 내에서 재 분화 (reprogramming)하여 발생하는 유일한 과정으로 세포질 구성요소들의 상호작용과 발생 조절 기능을 이해하는데 도움을 준다. 최근 몇 년간 돼지 난자 세포질에 정자 및 원형정자 직접주입, 세포질 이식, 세포질 융합 및 핵치환 한 후 난자의 발생과정을 간접 면역형광 분석법과 주사 전자현미경으로 조사하였다. 이러한 연구를 통해 체외수정, 세포질 이식 및 정자직접 주입법 등과 같은 임상치료기술 과 핵치환에 의한 복제동물생산 기법의 개선에 필요한 기초자료를 얻을 수 있었고, 포유동물 난자의 후생적 발생과정 (epigenesis)에 관해 공부할 수 있었다.