• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4391-4394
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• 2016

Background: Platinum-based regimens are effective treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the five-year survival rate is still less than 20%. One possible factor appears to be resistance involving polymorphisms in the CTR1 gene which plays an importance role in accumulation of platinum in the cytoplasm. Purpose: To establish both prevalence of CTR1 polymorphism and its impact on treatment related toxicity in Thai advanced NSCLC patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two advanced NSCLC participants received carboplatin and gemcitabine during January to June 2016 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) were recruited for analysis of the CTR1 rs12686377 genotype. These participants were planning to be treated with platinum-based chemotherapy for at least two cycles. Results: Allele frequency of CTR1 polymorphism $G{\rightarrow}T$ was found to be 25%. The results showed that genetic polymorphism at CTR1 rs12686377 was associated with emesis side effects (P = 0.020) and neuropathic symptoms (P = 0.010). In addition, hematologic side effects in terms of anemia also tended to be related to this polymorphism. Conclusions: This is the first study suggesting that polymorphism at CTR1 rs12686377 may be associated with toxicity from platinum-based regimens. Therefore, it could be a factor to aid in treatment decision-making.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.29-31
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• 2016

Glucose transport 1 (GLUT-1) deficiency is a rare syndrome caused by mutations in the glucose transporter 1 gene (SLC2A1) and is characterized by early-onset intractable epilepsy, delayed development, and movement disorder. De novo mutations and several hot spots in N34, G91, R126, R153, and R333 of exons 2, 3, 4, and 8 of SLC2A1 are associated with this condition. Seizures, one of the main clinical features of GLUT-1 deficiency, usually develop during infancy. Most patients experience brief and subtle myoclonic jerk and focal seizures that evolve into a mixture of different types of seizures, such as generalized tonic-clonic, absence, myoclonic, and complex partial seizures. Here, we describe the case of a patient with GLUT-1 deficiency who developed infantile spasms and showed delayed development at 6 months of age. She had intractable epilepsy despite receiving aggressive antiepileptic drug therapy, and underwent a metabolic workup. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed CSF-glucose-to-blood-glucose ratio of 0.38, with a normal lactate level. Bidirectional sequencing of SLC2A1 identified a missense mutation (c.1198C>T) at codon 400 (p.Arg400Cys) of exon 9.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2127-2137
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• 2016

A mangrove microbial community was analyzed at the gene and protein levels using metagenomic and proteomic methods with the green macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera as the substrate. Total DNA was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 PE-100 platform. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in combination with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for proteomic analysis. The metagenomic data revealed that the orders Pseudomonadales, Rhizobiales, and Sphingomonadales were the most prevalent in the mangrove microbial community. By monitoring changes at the functional level, proteomic analyses detected ATP synthase and transporter proteins, which were expressed mainly by members of the phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Members of the phylum Proteobacteria expressed a high number of sugar transporters and demonstrated specialized and efficient digestion of various glycans. A few glycoside hydrolases were detected in members of the phylum Firmicutes, which appeared to be the main cellulose-degrading bacteria. This is the first report of multiple "omics" analysis of E. prolifera degradation. These results support the fact that key enzymes of glycoside hydrolase family were expressed in large quantities, indicating the high metabolic activity of the community.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.697-705
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• 2017

The maintenance of inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is essential for plant growth and yield. Plants have evolved strategies to cope with Pi starvation at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels, which maximizes its availability. Many transcription factors, miRNAs, and transporters participate in the Pi starvation signaling pathway where their activities are modulated by sugar and phytohormone signaling. Environmental stresses significantly affect the uptake and utilization of nutrients by plants, but their effects on the Pi starvation response remain unclear. Recently, we reported that Pi starvation signaling is affected by abiotic stresses such as salt, abscisic acid, and drought. In this review, we identified transcription factors, such as MYB, WRKY, and zinc finger transcription factors with functions in Pi starvation and other environmental stress signaling. In silico analysis of the promoter regions of Pi starvation-responsive genes, including phosphate transporters, microRNAs, and phosphate starvation-induced genes, suggest that their expression may be regulated by other environmental stresses, such as hormones, drought, cold, heat, and pathogens as well as by Pi starvation. Thus, we suggest the possibility of cross-talk between Pi starvation signaling and other environmental stress signaling pathways.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.212-217
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• 2007

Fucoidan (fucan sulfate) is a fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae such as Fucus vesiculosus, Ecklonia kurome, and Cladosiphon okamuranus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fucoidan on the expression of diabetes-related genes in mouse cell line 3T3-L1. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were cultured for 48 hr with or without fucoidan (10, 100, and 500 ppm) on a 60 mm dish. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for measurement of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor ${\gamma}\;(PPAR{\gamma})$, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}\;(C/EBP{\gamma})$, and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) RT-PCR analysis revealed that expression level of GLUT4, $PPAR{\gamma}$, and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ mRNAs increased with fucoidan treatment from 10 to 500 ppm in a dose-dependent manner. Fucoidan appears to enhance insulin sensitivity by increasing the expression level of diabetes-related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Therefore, fucoidan is potentially useful as a natural therapeutic material for hyperglycemia in type II diabetes patients.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

Fermented ginseng (FG) is an ethanol extract of ginseng radix processed with $\beta$-galactosidase. It was hypothesized that FG may exert anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic activities through modulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. In this study, we showed that AMPK phosphorylation was stimulated by FG. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with an AMPK inhibitor, compound C. In addition, FG regulated the expression of genes associated with lipogenesis and lipolysis, thus causing suppression of hepatic triglyceride accumulation. In vivo study using db/db mice, FG reduced fasting plasma glucose, HbAlc, and insulin resistance index, when compared to diabetic control. FG also increased the phospho-AMPK and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expressions in liver and skeletal muscle, respectively. In liver, expressions of lipogenic gene were decreased whereas expressions of lipolytic genes were induced, when compared to diabetic control. Taken together, we may suggest that FG ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through activation of AMPK and could be developed as a health functional food or therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetic patients.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2007

Our heterologous expression system of the human ferritin H-chain gene (hfH) allowed us to characterize the cellular effects of ferritin in yeasts. The recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YGH2) evidenced impaired growth as compared to the control, which was correlated with ferritin expression and with the formation of core minerals. Growth was recovered via the administration of iron supplements. The modification of cellular iron metabolism, which involved the increased expression of high-affinity iron transport genes (FET3 and FTR1), was detected via Northern blot analysis. The findings may provide some evidence of cytosolic iron deficiency, as the genes were expressed transcriptionally under iron-deficient conditions. According to our results examining reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via the fluorescence method, the ROS levels in YGH2 were decreased compared to the control. It suggests that the expression of active H-ferritins reduced the content of free iron in yeast. Therefore, present results may provide new insights into the regulatory network and pathways inherent to iron depletion conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.398-405
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• 2005

Polyamines such as putrescine are small, ubiquitous polycationic molecules that are required for optimal growth of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. These molecules have diverse effects on cell physiology and their intracellular content is regulated by de novo synthesis and uptake from the environment. The studies presented here examined the structure of a putative polyamine transporter (Pot) operon in Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) and growth of pneumococci in medium containing putrescine substituted for choline. RT-PCR experiments demonstrated that the four genes encoding the Pot system are co-transcribed with murB, a gene involved in an intermediary step of peptidoglycan synthesis. Pneumococci grown in chemically-defined media (CDM) containing putrescine without choline enter logarithmic phase growth after 36-48 hs. However, culture density at stationary phase eventually reaches that of choline-containing medium. Cells grown in CDM-putrescine formed abnormally elongated chains in which the daughter cells failed to separate and the choline-binding protein PspA was no longer cell-associated. Experiments with CDM containing radiolabeled putrescine demonstrated that pneumococci concentrate this polyamine in cell walls. These data suggest that pneumococci can replicate without choline if putrescine is available and this polyamine may substitute for aminoalcohols in the cell wall teichoic acids.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.45-51
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• 2021

High blood cholesterol levels and oxidized cholesterol are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which displays high annual incidence. Although studies on sericulture products, including pupae, silk protein, and blood lymph, as hypocholesterolemic substances have been reported, insufficient research in this field has been focused on silkworm larvae. Six larval extracts (Low temperature distilled water, LW; hot temperature distilled water, HW; and 30-100% ethanol, E30-E100) were prepared, and their effects on cholesterol metabolism were examined. LW most potently reduced the risk of cholesterol-related disorders. Polyphenols were highly represented in LW, corresponding with its increased antioxidant potency. The cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) was strongly inhibited by LW. Hepatocytes over-expressed LDL receptor (LDLR) after LW stimulation, promoting cholesterol elimination from plasma. LW also increased ATP binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) gene expression, upregulating HDL biogenesis. In conclusion, LW exhibited strong antioxidant activity, suppressed cholesterol biosynthesis, improved LDL uptake from plasma, and upregulated HDL biosynthesis. In aggregate, these activities could reduce blood cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2022

The precise homeostatic regulation of local auxin accumulation in xylem precursors of cambium stem cell tissues is one of the most important mechanisms for plant vascular patterning and radial secondary growth. Walls are thin (WAT1), a novel intracellular auxin transporter, contributes directly to the auxin accumulation maxima in xylem precursors. According to recent research, the auxin signaling activated pathway-related gene network was significantly enriched during the secondary growth of Panax ginseng storage roots. These imply that during P. ginseng root secondary growth, specific signaling mechanisms for local auxin maxima in the vascular cambial cells are probably triggered. This study identified four WAT1-like genes, PgWAT1-1/-2 and PgWAT2-1/-2, in the P. ginseng genome. Their expression levels were greatly increased in nitratetreated storage roots stimulated for secondary root growth. PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 were similar to WAT1 from Arabidopsis and tomato plants in terms of their subcellular localization at a tonoplast and predicted transmembrane topology. We discovered that overexpression of PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 was sufficient to compensate for the secondary growth defects observed in slwat1-copi loss of function tomato mutants. This critical information from the PgWAT1-1 and PgWAT2-1 genes can potentially be used in future P. ginseng genetic engineering and breeding for increased crop yield.