• 대한한방종양학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.1-18
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• 2001

Objective: This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Saussurea Radix and Plantaginis Herba on cellular viability, proliferation, apoptosis and expression of the cell cycle-related genes in cultured gastric cancer cells. Method :MTT assay for analysis of cellular toxicity and the effect on suppression of cellular viability, $[^{3}H]$ thymidine incorporation assay for evaluation of the effect on suppression of DNA replication, tryphan blue exclusion assay for measurement of induction of apoptosis and Quantitative RT-PCR for analysis of the effects on expression of cell cycle or apoptosis-related genes were performed. Results: Antitumor activity of Saussurea Radix associated with inhibition of cell cycle progression and promotion of apoptosis caused by transcriptional regulation of p53, p21/Wafl and the other related genes was observed.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권11호
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• pp.576-581
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• 2020

Dimethylation of the histone H3 protein at lysine residue 9 (H3K9) is mediated by euchromatin histone methyltransferase II (EHMT2) and results in transcriptional repression of target genes. Recently, chemical inhibition of EHMT2 was shown to induce various physiological outcomes, including endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated genes transcription in cancer cells. To identify genes that are transcriptionally repressed by EHMT2 during apoptosis, and cell stress responses, we screened genes that are upregulated by BIX-01294, a chemical inhibitor of EHMT2. RNA sequencing analyses revealed 77 genes that were upregulated by BIX-01294 in all four hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. These included genes that have been implicated in apoptosis, the unfolded protein response (UPR), and others. Among these genes, the one encoding the stress-response protein Ras-related GTPase C (RRAGC) was upregulated in all BIX-01294-treated HCC cell lines. We confirmed the regulatory roles of EHMT2 in RRAGC expression in HCC cell lines using proteomic analyses, chromatin immune precipitation (ChIP) assay, and small guide RNA-mediated loss-of-function experiments. Upregulation of RRAGC was limited by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), suggesting that ROS are involved in EHMT2-mediated transcriptional regulation of stress-response genes in HCC cells. Finally, combined treatment of cells with BIX-01294 and 5-Aza-cytidine induced greater upregulation of RRAGC protein expression. These findings suggest that EHMT2 suppresses expression of the RRAGC gene in a ROS-dependent manner and imply that EHMT2 is a key regulator of stress-responsive gene expression in liver cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.581-590
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• 2000

Alterations in the cellular genome affecting the expression or function of genes controlling cell growth and differentiation are considered to be the main cause of cancer. Over 30 oncogenes can be activated by insertional mutagenesis, single point mutations, chromosomal translocations and gene amplification. The ras oncogenes have been detected in $15{\sim}20%$ of human tumors that include some of the most common forms of human neoplasia and are known to acquire their transforming properties by single point mutations in two domains of their coding sequences, most commonly in codons 12 and 61. The ras gene family consists of three functional genes, N-ras, K-ras and H-ras which encode highly similar proteins of 188 or 189 amino acid residues generically known as P21. ras proteins have been shown to bind GTP and GTP, and possess intrinsic GTPase activity. Experimental study was performed to observe the mutational change of the ras gene family and apply the results to the clinical activity. 36 Golden Syrian Hamster each weighing $60{\sim}80g$ were used and painted with 0.5% DMBA by 3 times weekly on the right buccal cheek(experimental side) for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks. Left buccal cheek (control side) was treated with mineral oil as the same manner of the right side. The hamsters were sacrificed on the 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 weeks. Normal and tumor tissues from paraffin block were completely dissected by microdissection and DNA from both tissue were isolated by proteinase K/phenol/chloroform extraction. Segments of the K-ras and H-ras gene were amplified by PCR using the oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the homologous region (codon 12 and 61) of the hamster gene, and then confirmational change of ras genes was observed by SSCP and autosequencing analysis. The results were as follows : 1. Malignant lesion could be found in the experimental side from the experimental six weeks. 2. One hamster among six showed point mutation of the H-ras codon 12($G{\rightarrow}A$ transition) at the experimental 10 and 14 weeks. 3. One of six at 6 weeks, two of six at 8 weeks and one of six at 12 weeks revealed the confirmational change of the H-ras codon 61($A{\rightarrow}T$ transversion). 4. The incidence of point mutation of H-ras codon 12 and 61 were 5.5%(2 of 36) and 11%(4 of 36) respectively. 5. Point mutation of the K-ras could not be seen during the whole experimental period. Form the above results, these findings strongly support the concept that H-ras oncogenes may have the influence of the DMBA induced carcinoma of hamster buccal pouch.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권10호
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• pp.1709-1713
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• 2015

Sepiapterin is a precursor for the synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), which is a wellknown cofactor for aromatic amino acid hydroxylation and nitric oxide synthesis in higher mammals. In this study, a recombinant Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain harboring cyanobacterial guanosine 5’-triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) and human 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) genes was constructed to produce sepiapterin. The optimum conditions for T₇ promoter–driven expression of GCH1 and PTPS were 30℃ and 0.1 mM isopropyl-β-D-thioglucopyranoside (IPTG). The maximum sepiapterin concentration of 88.1 ± 2.4 mg/l was obtained in a batch cultivation of the recombinant E. coli, corresponding to an 18-fold increase in sepiapterin production compared with the control condition (37℃ and 1 mM IPTG).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.2699-2701
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• 2013

The RAS family genes encode small GTP-binding cytoplasmic proteins. Activated KRAS engages multiple effector pathways, notably the RAF-mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and RalGDS pathways. In the clinical field, K-ras oncogene activation is frequently found in human cancers and thus may serve as a potential diagnostic marker for cancer cells in circulation. This mini-review aims to summarise information on Ras-induced oncogenesis and the clinical significance of K-ras.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6261-6265
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• 2013

Background: Recent studies have suggested that expression of the RAS protein activator like-1 gene (RASAL1) is decreased in gastric carcinoma tissues and cell lines, indicated a role in tumorigenesis and development of gastric cancer. Reduced expression of RASAL1 could result in aberrant increase of activity of RAS signaling pathways in cancer cells. However, the exact mechanism which induces down-regulation of the RASAL1 gene remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the methylation status and regulation of RASAL1 in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Using the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), the methylation status of CpG islands in the RASAL1 promoter in gastric cancers and paired adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 40 patients was assessed and its clinicopathological significance was analyzed. The methylation status of RASAL1 in gastric cancer lines MKN-28, SGC-790l, BGC-823, as well as in normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-l was also determined after treatment with a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-doexycytidine (5-Aza-CdR). RAS activity (GAS-GTP) was assessed through a pull-down method, while protein levels of ERK1/2, a downstream molecule of RAS signaling pathways, were determined by Western blotting. Results: The frequencies of RASAL1 promoter methylation in gastric cancer and paired adjacent non-cancerous tissues were 70% (28/40) and 30% (12/40) respectively (P<0.05). There were significantly correlations between RASAL1 promoter methylation with tumor differentiation, tumor size, invasive depth and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer (all P<0.05), but no correlation was found for age or gender. Promoter hypermethylation of the RASAL1 gene was detected in MKN-28, SGC-790l and BGC-823 cancer cells, but not in the normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1. Elevated expression of the RASAL1 protein, a decreased RAS-GTP and p-ERK1/2 protein were detected in three gastric cancer cell lines after treatment with 5-Aza-CdR. Conclusions: Aberrant hypermethylation of the RASAL1 gene promoter frequently occurs in gastric cancer tissues and cells. In addition, the demethylating agent 5-Aza-CdR can reverse the hypermethylation of RASAL1 gene and up-regulate the expression of RASAL1 significantly in gastric cancer cells in vivo. Our study suggests that RASAL1 promoter methylation may have a certain relationship with the reduced RASAL1 expression in gastric cancer.

• 한국식물병리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물병리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 추계학술발표회
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• pp.90.1-90
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• 2003

Colonization of Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6, a nonpathogenic rhizobacterium, on the roots induced systemic resistance in cucumber plants against tai-get leaf spot, a foliar disease caused by Corynespora cassiicola. A cDNA library was constructed using mRNA extracted from the cucumber leaves 12 h after inoculation with C. cassiicola, which roots had been previously treated with O6. To identify the genes involved in the O6-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR), we employed a subtractive hybridization method using mRNAs extracted from C cassiicola-inoculated cucumber leaves with and without previous O6 treatment on the plant roots. Differential screening of the cDNA library led to the isolation of 5 distinct genesencoding a GTP-binding protein, a putative senescence-associated protein, a galactinol synthase, a hypersensitive-induced reaction protein, and a putative aquaporin. Expressions of these genes are not induced by O6 colonization alone. Before challenge inoculation, no increase in the gene transcriptions could be detected in previously O6-treated and untreated plants but, upon subsequent inoculation with the pathogenic fungus, transcription levels in O6-treated plants rose significantly faster and stronger than in untreated plants. Therefore, the O6-mediated ISR may be associated with an enhanced capacity for the rapid and effective activation of cellular defense responses which becomes apparent only after challenge inoculation on the distal, untreated plant parts, as suggested by Conrath et al. (2002). This work was supported by a grant R11-2001-092-02006-0 from the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation through the Agricultural Plant Stress Research Center at Chonnam National University.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2005

The role of residue C323 in catalysis by human glutamate dehydrogenase isozymes (hGDH1 and hGDH2) was examined by substituting Arg, Gly, Leu, Met, or Tyr at C323 by cassette mutagenesis using synthetic human GDH isozyme genes. As a result, the $K_m$ of the enzyme for NADH and ${\alpha}-ketoglutarate$ increased up to 1.6-fold and 1.1-fold, respectively. It seems likely that C323 is not responsible for substrate-binding or coenzyme-binding. The efficiency ($k_{cat}/K_m$) of the mutant enzymes was only 11-14% of that of the wild-type isozymes, mainly due to a decrease in $k_{cat}$ values. There was a linear relationship between incorporation of [$^{14}C$]p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and loss of enzyme activity that extrapolated to a stoichiometry of one mol of [$^{14}C$] incorporated per mol of monomer for wild type hGDHs. No incorporation of [$^{14}C$]p-chloromercuribenzoic acid was observed with the C323 mutants. ADP and GTP had no effect on the binding of p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, suggesting that C323 is not directly involved in allosteric regulation. There were no differences between the two hGDH isozymes in sensitivities to mutagenesis at C323. Our results suggest that C323 plays an important role in catalysis by human GDH isozymes.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

Background: It is generally accepted that skeletal muscle contraction is triggered by nerve impulse and intracellular $Ca^{2+}\;([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ released from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores such as sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Specifically, this process, called excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling, takes place at intracellular junctions between the plasma membrane, the transverse (T) tubule L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel (dihydropyridine-sensitive L-rype $Ca^{2+}$ channel, DHPR, also called tetrads), and the SR $Ca^{2+}$ release channel (ryanodine-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ release channel, RyR, also called feet) of internal $Ca^{2+}$ stores in skeletal muscle cells. Furthermore, it has been reported that the $Ca^{2+-}$ dependent and -independent contraction determine the expression of skeletal muscle genes, thus providing a mechanism for tightly coupling the extent of muscle contraction to regulation of muscle plasticity-related excitation-transcription (E-T) coupling. Purpose: Expression and activity of plasticity-associated enzymes in gastrocnemius muscle strips have not been well studied, however. Methods: Therefore, in this study the expression and phosphorylation of E-C and E-T coupling-related mediators such as protein kinases, ROS(reactive oxygen species)- and apoptosis-related substances, and others in gastrocnemius muscles from rats was examined. Results: I found that expression and activity of MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and SAPK/JNK), apoptotic proteins (cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome c, Ref-1, Bad), small GTP-binding proteins (RhoA and Cdc42), actin-binding protein (cofilin), PKC (protein kinase C) and $Ca^{2+}$ channel (transient receptor potential channel 6, TRPC6) was observed in rat gastrocnemius muscle strips. Conclusion: These results suggest that MAPKs, ROS- and apoptosis-related enzymes, cytoskeleton-regulated proteins, and $Ca^{2+}$ channel may in part functionally import in E-C and E-T coupling from rat skeletal muscles.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.607-618
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• 2021

The pepper anthracnose fungus, Colletotrichum scovillei, causes severe losses of pepper fruit production in the tropical and temperate zones. RAC1 is a highly conserved small GTP-binding protein in the Rho GT-Pase family. This protein has been demonstrated to play a role in fungal development, and pathogenicity in several plant pathogenic fungi. However, the functional roles of RAC1 are not characterized in C. scovillei causing anthracnose on pepper fruits. Here, we generated a deletion mutant (𝜟Csrac1) via homologous recombination to investigate the functional roles of CsRAC1. The 𝜟Csrac1 showed pleiotropic defects in fungal growth and developments, including vegetative growth, conidiogenesis, conidial germination and appressorium formation, compared to wild-type. Although 𝜟Csrac1 was able to develop appressoria, it failed to differentiate appressorium pegs. However, 𝜟Csrac1 still caused anthracnose disease with significantly reduced rate on wounded pepper fruits. Further analyses revealed that 𝜟Csrac1 was defective in tolerance to oxidative stress and suppression of host-defense genes. Taken together, our results suggest that CsRAC1 plays essential roles in fungal development and pathogenicity in C. scovilleipepper fruit pathosystem.