• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.185-191
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• 2010

Mast cell-mediated allergic disease is involved in many diseases such as anaphylaxis, asthma and atopic dermatitis. The discovery of drugs for the treatment of allergic disease is an important subject in human health. In the present study, the effect of water extract of Gleditsiae Spina (WGS) (Leguminosae), on compound 48/80-induced systemic allergic reaction, anti-DNP IgE antibody-induced local allergic reaction, and histamine release from human mast cell line (HMC-1) cells were studied. In addition, the effect of WGS on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 (A23187)-induced gene expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines were investigated using HMC-1 cells. WGS was anally administered to mice for high and fast absorption. WGS inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic allergic reaction. WGS dose-dependently decreased the IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. WGS reduced histamine release from HMC-1 cells. In addition, WGS decreased the gene expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in PMA plus A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells. These findings provide evidence that WGS could be a candidate as an antiallergic agent.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.19-24
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• 2015

Speech and language are uniquely human-specific traits, which contributed to humans becoming the predominant species on earth. Disruptions in the human speech and language function may result in diverse disorders. These include stuttering, aphasia, articulation disorder, spasmodic dysphonia, verbal dyspraxia, dyslexia and specific language impairment. Among these disorders, stuttering is the most common speech disorder characterized by disruptions in the normal flow of speech. Twin, adoption, and family studies have suggested that genetic factors are involved in susceptibility to stuttering. For several decades, multiple genetic studies including linkage analysis were performed to connect causative gene to stuttering, and several genetic studies have revealed the association of specific gene mutation with stuttering. One notable genetic discovery came from the genetic studies in the consanguineous Pakistani families. These studies suggested that mutations in the lysosomal enzyme-targeting pathway genes (GNPTAB, GNPTG and NAPGA) are associated with non-syndromic persistent stuttering. Although these studies have revealed some clues in understanding the genetic causes of stuttering, only a small fraction of patients are affected by these genes. In this study, we summarize recent advances and future challenges in an effort to understand genetic causes underlying stuttering.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제30권12호
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• pp.2984-2988
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• 2009

A gene (PH0311) encoding a hypothetical protein from the genome sequence data of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 was cloned and over-expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant protein was found to possess FAD-dependent NADH oxidase activity, although it lacked sequence homology to any other known general NADH oxidase family. The product of the PH0311 gene was thus designated PhNOX (NADH oxidase from Pyrococcus horikoshii), with an estimated molecular weight of 84 kDa by gel filtration and 22 kDa by SDS-PAGE, indicating it to be a homotetramer of 22 kDa subunits. PhNOX catalyzed the oxidation of reduced ${\beta}$-NADH with subsequent formation of $H_2O_2$ in the presence of FAD as a cofactor, but not ${\alpha}$-NADH, ${\alpha}$-NADPH, or ${\beta}$-NADPH. PhNOX showed high affinity for ${\beta}$-NADH with a Km value of 3.70 ${\mu}$M and exhibited optimum activity at pH 8.0 and 95$^{\circ}C$ as it is highly stable against high temperature.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 1999

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was originally isolated as a hypothalamic peptide that regulates reproduction by stimulating the release of gonadotropins. Using comparative animal models has led to the discovery that GnRH has a more ancient evolutionary origin. Durinq evolution GnRH peptide underwent gene duplication and structural changes to give rise to multiple molecular forms of GnRHs. Mammalian GnRH initially considered to be the sole molecular form, is now grouped as a family of peptides along with GnRH variants determined from representatives in all classes of vertebrates. Vertebrate species including primates and humanshave more than one GnRH variant in individual brains; a unique GnRH form in the forebrain and chicken IIGnRH in the midbrain. Furthermore, several species of bony fish have three molecular variants of GnRH: salmon GnRH sea-bream GnRH and chicken II GnRH. Also, it has been shown that in addition to the olfactory placodes and the midbrain, there is a third embryonic source of GnRH neurons from the basal diencephalon in birds and fish, which might be true for other vertebrates. Therefore, comparative animal models like fish with discrete sites of expression of three molecular variants of GnRH in individual brains, could provide insight into novel functions of GnRH variants, conservation of gene regulation, and mechanisms governing reproduction in vertebrates.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.225-235
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• 2009

Antibody phage display provides a powerful and efficient tool for the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic and other applications. Antibody clones from synthetic libraries with optimized design features have several distinct advantages that include high stability, high levels of expression, and ease of downstream optimization and engineering. In this study, a fully synthetic human scFv library with six diversified CDRs was constructed by polymerase chain reaction assembly of overlapping oligonucleotides. In order to maximize the functional diversity of the library, a ${\beta}$-lactamase selection strategy was employed in which the assembled scFv gene repertoire was fused to the 5'-end of the ${\beta}$-lactamase gene, and in-frame scFv clones were enriched by carbenicillin selection. A final library with an estimated total diversity of $7.6{\times}10^9$, greater than 70% functional diversity, and diversification of all six CDRs was obtained after insertion of fully randomized CDR-H3 sequences into this proofread repertoire. The performance of the library was validated using a number of target antigens, against which multiple unique scFv sequences with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range were isolated.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회 2004년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.27-29
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• 2004

Drug transporters play an essential role in the absorption, distribution and elimination of clinical drugs, nutrients and toxicants. The importance of the transporters is exampled by therapeutic failure in cancer chemotherapy that is mainly caused by the overexpression of multidrug resistance (MDR)-related transporters. In addition, the transporters may involve in drug-drug interactions that lead to serious adverse drug responses and some transporters also contribute to inter-individual variation in drug responses. As an effort to understand the mechanism underlying the inter-individual variation of transporters activity, genetic and environmental factors influencing the expression or function of the transporters have extensively explored through last decade. Among them, genetic polymorphism of drug transporter encoding genes has generated much interest since the discovery of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of MDR1 gene. Besides drug transporters, xenobiotic receptors also modulate drug disposition by regulating the transcription of drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters. Among many xenobiotic receptors, pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) are two most well characterized since these receptors show wide substrate specificities and regulate the expression of various enzymes involved in drug disposition. Recently, several functional genetic polymorphisms were reported in PXR coding gene. In the present study, genetic polymorphisms of two drug transporters, MDR1 and BCRP, and two xenobiotic receptors, PXR and CAR, were investigated in Korean population.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2004년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.27-29
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• 2004

Drug transporters play an essential role in the absorption, distribution and elimination of clinical drugs, nutrients and toxicants. The importance of the transporters is exampled by therapeutic failure in cancer chemotherapy that is mainly caused by the overexpression of multidrug resistance (MDR)-related transporters. In addition, the transporters may involve in drug-drug interactions that lead to serious adverse drug responses and some transporters also contribute to inter-individual variation in drug responses. As an effort to understand the mechanism underlying the inter-individual variation of transporters activity, genetic and environmental factors influencing the expression or function of the transporters have extensively explored through last decade. Among them, genetic polymorphism of drug transporter encoding genes has generated much interest since the discovery of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of MDRl gene. Besides drug transporters, xenobiotic receptors also modulate drug disposition by regulating the transcription of drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters. Among many xenobiotic receptors, pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) are two most well characterized since these receptors show wide substrate specificities and regulate the expression of various enzymes involved in drug disposition. Recently, several functional genetic polymorphisms were reported in PXR coding gene. In the present study, genetic polymorph isms of two drug transporters, MDR1 and BCRP, and two xenobiotic receptors, PXR and CAR, were investigated in Korean population.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.24.1-24.8
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• 2022

Hypomyelinating leukodystrophy type 2 (HLD2), is an inherited genetic disease of the central nervous system caused by recessive mutations in the gap junction protein gamma 2 (GJC2/GJA12). HLD2 is characterized by nystagmus, developmental delay, motor impairments, ataxia, severe speech problem, and hypomyelination in the brain. The GJC2 sequence encodes connexin 47 protein (Cx47). Connexins are a group of membrane proteins that oligomerize to construct gap junctions protein. In the present study, a novel missense mutation gene c.760G>A (p.Val254Met) was identified in a patient with HLD2 by performing whole exome sequencing. Following the discovery of the new mutation in the proband, we used Sanger sequencing to analyze his affected sibling and parents. Sanger sequencing verified homozygosity of the mutation in the proband and his affected sibling. The autosomal recessive inheritance pattern was confirmed since Sanger sequencing revealed both healthy parents were heterozygous for the mutation. PolyPhen2, SIFT, PROVEAN, and CADD were used to evaluate the function prediction scores of detected mutations. Cx47 is essential for oligodendrocyte function, including adequate myelination and myelin maintenance in humans. Novel mutation p.Val254Met is located in the second extracellular domain of Cx47, both extracellular loops are highly conserved and probably induce intramolecular disulfide interactions. This novel mutation in the Cx47 gene causes oligodendrocyte dysfunction and HLD2 disorder.

• 한국작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국작물학회 2022년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.280-280
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• 2022

Tiller angle, defined as the angle between the main stem and its side tillers, is one of the main target traits selected inbreeding to achieve the ideal plant type and increase rice yield. Therefore, the discovery and identification of tiller angle-related genes can provide architecture and yield. In the present work, using QTL analysis hence a total of 8 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected based on the phenotype data of tiller angle and tiller crown width in two years. Among them, four QTLs (qTA9, qCW9, qTA9-1, qCW9-1) were overlapped at marker interval RM6235-RM24288 on chromosome 9 with a large effect value regarded as stable major QTL. Twenty tiller angle-related genes were selected from the target region and the relative gene expression levels were checked in five compact type lines, five spreading type lines, and their parental lines. Finally, OsSA URq9 which belongs auxin-responsive SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) protein family was selected as a target gene. Overall, this work will help broaden our understanding of the genetic control of tiller angle and tiller crown width, and this study provides both a good theoretical basis and a new genetic resource for the breeding of ideal-type rice.

• 한국생물정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물정보시스템생물학회 2001년도 제2회 생물정보학 국제심포지엄
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• pp.129-137
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• 2001

We used cDNA microarrays to assess gene expression profiles in 60 human cancer used in a drug discovery screen by the National Cancer Institute. Using these data, we linked bioinformatics and chemoinformatics by correlating gene expression and drug activity pattens in the NCI60 lines. Clustering the cell lines on the basis of gene expression yielded relationships very different from those obtained by clustering the cell lines on the basis of their response to drugs. Gene-drug relationships for the clinical agents 5-fluorouracil and L-asparaginase exemplify how variations in the transcript levels of particular genes relate to mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance. This is the first study to intergrate large databases on gene expression and molecular pharmacology.