• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.69-79
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• 2017

Viruses continue to evolve a new strategy to take advantage of every aspect of host cells in order to maximize their survival. Due to their central roles in transducing a variety of transmembrane signals, GPCRs seem to be a prime target for viruses to pirate for their own use. Incorporation of GPCR functionality into the genome of herpesviruses has been demonstrated to be essential for pathogenesis of many herpesviruses-induced diseases. Here, we introduce US28 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as the best-studied example of virally-encoded GPCRs to manipulate host GPCR signaling. In this review, we wish to summarize a number of US28-related topics including its regulation of host signaling pathways, its constitutive internalization, its structural and functional analysis, its roles in HCMV biology and pathogenesis, its proliferative activities and role in oncogenesis, and pharmacological modulation of its biological activities. This review will aid in our understanding of how pathogenic viruses usurp the host GPCR signaling for successful viral infection. This kind of knowledge will enable us to build a better strategy to control viral infection by normalizing the virally-dysregulated host GPCR signaling.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.16-24
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• 2016

A new strain of Pseudomonas sp. was isolated from mercury (Hg)-contaminated sites in Taiwan. This bacterium removed more than 80% of Hg present in the culture medium at 12 h incubation and was chosen for further analysis of the molecular mechanisms of Hg tolerance/removal abilities in this Pseudomonas sp. We used RNA-seq, one of the next-generation sequencing methods, to investigate the transcriptomic responses of the Pseudomonas sp. exposed to 60 mg/L of Hg²⁺. We de novo assembled 4,963 contigs, of which 10,533 up-regulated genes and 5,451 down-regulated genes were found to be regulated by Hg. The 40 genes most altered in expression levels were associated with tolerance to Hg stress and metabolism. Functional analysis showed that some Hg-tolerant genes were related to the mer operon, sulfate uptake and assimilation, the enzymatic antioxidant system, the HSP gene family, chaperones, and metal transporters. The transcriptome were analyzed further with Gene Ontology (GO) and Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COGs) of proteins and showed diverse biological functions and metabolic pathways under Hg stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.946-954
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• 2020

Platycodon grandiflorum root (Platycodi radix) saponins, platycosides, have been used as health supplements and food items for the treatment of respiratory disorders and pulmonary diseases. Deglycosylated saponins have been known to exert stronger biological effects than their glycosylated forms. In the present study, glycosylated platycosides in Platycodi radix extract were biotransformed into deglycosylated 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides, including 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycodigenin, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl polygalacic acid, and 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platyconic acid, by pectinase from Aspergillus aculeatus. This is the first report on the quantitative enzymatic production of 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides. The chemical structures of 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides were identified with LC/MS. Moreover, the biotransformation pathways of the three types of platycosides in Platycodi radix into 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides were established.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.377-386
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• 2007

Mechanical loading to bone cells using simple sine wave or constant wave fluid flow has been widely used for in vitro experiments. Human gait is characterized by a complex loading to bones of lower extremities which results from a series of events consisting of heel strike, foot flat and push-off during the stance phase of the gait cycle. Telemetric force analyses have shown that human femora are subject to multiphasic loading. Therefore, it would be ideal if the physiologic loading conditions during human walking can be used for in vitro mechanotransduction studies. Here, for a mechanotransduction study, we develop it fluid flow system (FFS) in order to simulate human physiologic mechanicalloading on bone cells. The development methods of the FFS including the COR (Center for Orthopedic Research), monitor program are presented. The FFS could generate various multiphasic loading conditions of human gaits with output flow. Wall shear distribution was very uniform, with 81 % of the effective loading area of the culture on a glass slide. Our results demonstrated that the FFS, provide a new translational approach for unveiling molecular mechanotransduction pathways in bone cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권22호
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• pp.9557-9565
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• 2014

MiRNAs are endogenous, single stranded ~22-nucleotide non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) which are transcribed by RNA polymerase II and mediate negative post-transcriptional gene regulation through binding to 3'untranslated regions (UTR), possibly open reading frames (ORFs) or 5'UTRs of target mRNAs. MiRNAs are involved in the normal physiology of eukaryotic cells, so dysregulation may be associated with diseases like cancer, and neurodegenerative, heart and other disorders. Among all cancers, lung cancer, with high incidence and mortality worldwide, is classified into two main groups: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Recent promising studies suggest that gene expression profiles and miRNA signatures could be a useful step in a noninvasive, low-cost and repeatable screening process of lung cancer. Similarly, every stage of lung development during fetal life is associated with specific miRNAs. Since lung development and lung cancer phenomena share the same physiological, biological and molecular processes like cell proliferation, development and shared mRNA or expression regulation pathways, and according to data adopted from various studies, they may have partially shared miRNA signature. Thus, focusing on lung cancer in relation to lung development in miRNA studies might provide clues for lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

• Journal of Computing Science and Engineering
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2017

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play substantial roles in the gene regulation of cell physiological functions and in the generation of major diseases. However, the majority of existing studies only explored a certain PTM of proteins, while very few have investigated the PTMs of two or more domains and the effects of their interactions. In this study, after collecting data regarding a large number of breast cancer-related and validated PTMs, a sequence and domain analysis of breast cancer proteins was carried out using bioinformatics methods. Then, protein-protein interaction network-related tools were applied in order to determine the crosstalks between the PTMs of the proteins. Finally, statistical and functional analyses were conducted to identify more modification sites of domains and proteins that may interact with at least two or more PTMs. In addition to exploring the associations between the interactive effects of PTMs, the present study also provides important information that would allow biologists to further explore the regulatory pathways of biological functions and related diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.47-51
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• 2018

Acupuncture is a complex intervention that manifests varied theories, treatment methods, diagnostic methods and diagnostic patterns. Traditionally based systems of acupuncture (TBSAs) often have their own diagnostic approaches and patterns. Despite the wide variety that can be found amongst TBSAs, is it possible that they share a common background in clinical observation and practice? Research has shown that multiple physiological pathways and mechanisms can be triggered by different acupuncture techniques and methods. It is highly likely that clinicians will have observed some of the effects of these responses and used those observations as feedback to help construct the patterns of diagnosis and their associated treatments. This review briefly examines this possibility. Pattern identification will have developed out of a complex interaction of factors that include; theories current at the time of their development, historical theories, personal choices and beliefs, training, practice methods, clinical observations and the natural feedback that comes from observing how things change once the treatment is applied. Researchers investigating TBSAs and pattern identification need to be more explicit about the systems they have investigated in order to understand the biological basis of pattern identification and their treatments.

• BMB Reports
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.127-133
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• 2002

Nitrosative stress can prevent or induce apoptosis. It occurs via S-nitrosylation by the interaction of nitric oxide (NO) with the biological thiols of proteins. Cellular redox potential and non-heme iron content determine S-nitrosylation. Apoptotic cell death is inhibited by S-nitrosylation of the redox-sensitive thiol in the catalytic site of caspase family proteases, which play an essential role in the apoptotic signal cascade. Nitrosative stress can also promote apoptosis by the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, such as the release of cytochrome c, an apoptosis-inducing factor, and endonuclease G from mitochondria, as well as the suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity. In this article we reviewed the mechanisms whereby S-nitrosylation and nitrosative stress regulate the apoptotic signal cascade.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.115-120
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• 2004

Molecular imaging is a rapidly growing field due to the advances in molecular biology and imaging technologies. With the introduction of imaging reporter genes into the cell, diverse cellular processes can be monitored, quantified and imaged non-invasively in vivo. These precesses include the gene expression, protein-protein interactions, signal transduction pathways, and monitoring of cells such as cancer cells, immune cells, and stem cells. In the near future, molecular imaging analysis will allow us to observe the incipience and progression of the disease. These will make us easier to give a diagnosis in the early stage of intractable diseases such as canter, neuro-degenerative disease, and immunological disorders. Additionally, molecular imaging method will be a valuable tool for the real-time evaluation of cells in molecular biology and the basic biological studies. As newer and more powerful molecular imaging tools become available, it will be necessary to corporate clinicians, molecular biologists and biochemists for the planning, interpretation, and application of these techniques to their fullest potential. in order for such a multidisciplinary team to be effective, it is essential that a common understanding of basic biochemical and molecular biologic techniques is achieved. Basic molecular techniques for molecular imaging methods are presented in this paper.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.158-165
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• 2015

Marbling is an important trait regarding the quality of beef. Analysis of beef cattle transcriptome and its expression profile data are essential to extend the genetic information resources and would support further studies on beef cattle. RNA sequencing was performed in beef cattle using the Illumina High-Seq2000 platform. Approximately 251.58 million clean reads were generated from a high marbling (H) group and low marbling (L) group. Approximately 80.12% of the 19,994 bovine genes (protein coding) were detected in all samples, and 749 genes exhibited differential expression between the H and L groups based on fold change (>1.5-fold, p<0.05). Multiple gene ontology terms and biological pathways were found significantly enriched among the differentially expressed genes. The transcriptome data will facilitate future functional studies on marbling formation in beef cattle and may be applied to improve breeding programs for cattle and closely related mammals.