• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-40
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• 2013

Objectives: The object of this study was to observe the in vitro antibacterial effects of five single(Pulsatillae Radix, Patrinae Radix, Sanguisorbae Radix, Sophorae Flos, and Sophorae Radix) aqueous herbal extracts, traditionally used for treating various gynecological diseases including mastitis in Korea, against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus of aqueous extracts of Pulsatillae Radix, PatrinaeRadix, Sanguisorbae Radix, Sophorae Flos, and Sophorae Radix were detected using standard agar microdilution methods. In addition, the effects on the bacterial growth curve were also monitored at Minimal Incubation Concentration(MIC) and $MIC{\times}2$ levels. The effects on the intracellular killing and bacterial invasion of individual test materials were also observed using murine macrophage(Raw 264.7) and human mammary gland carcinoma cell(MCF-7). Results: MIC of aqueous extracts of Pulsatillae Radix, Patrinae Radix, Sanguisorbae Radix, Sophorae Flos, and Sophorae Radix against Staphylococcus aureus were detected as $0.215{\pm}0.107$ mg/ml, $0.273{\pm}0.107$ mg/ml, $0.469{\pm}0.297$ mg/ml, $11.850{\pm}8.406$ mg/ml, and $0.664{\pm}0.546$ mg/ml, respectively. MIC of Ciprofloxacin was detected as $0.469{\pm}0.297{\mu}g/ml$ at same conditions. In addition, all five single aqueous herbal extracts were also showed marked dosage-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth. The effects of intracellular killing with Raw 264.7 and inhibition of bacterial invasion with MCF-7 cells were detected, in the order of Sophorae Flos, Pulsatillae Radix, Patrinae Radix, Sanguisorbae Radix and Sophorae Radix aqueous extracts in the present study. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study suggest that all five single aqueous herbal extracts showed antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and they also showed dosage-dependent inhibitory effects on the bacterial growth. They showed the significant intracellular killing and inhibition of bacterial invasion effects. It means, all five single aqueous herbal extracts may show potent anti-infectious effects against Staphylococcus aureus for mastitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3213-3222
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• 2016

Background: Methyl donor status influences DNA stability and DNA methylation although little is known about effects on DNA methyltransferases. The aim of this study was to determine whether methyl-donor status influences DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) gene expression in cervical cancer cells, and if so, whether there are associated effects on global DNA methylation. Materials and Methods: The human cervical cancer cell line, C4-II, was grown in complete medium and medium depleted of folate (F-M+) and folate and methionine (F-M-). Growth rate, intracellular folate, intracellular methionine and homocysteine in the extracellular medium were measured to validate the cancer cell model of methyl donor depletion. Dnmt expression was measured by qRT-PCR using relative quantification and global DNA methylation was measured using a flow cytometric method. Results: Intracellular folate and methionine concentrations were significantly reduced after growth in depleted media. Growth rate was also reduced in response to methyl donor depletion. Extracellular homocysteine was raised compared with controls, indicating disturbance to the methyl cycle. Combined folate and methionine depletion led to a significant down-regulation of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b; this was associated with an 18% reduction in global DNA methylation compared with controls. Effects of folate and methionine depletion on Dnmt3a and 3b expression were reversed by transferring depleted cells to complete medium. Conclusions: Methyl donor status can evidently influence expression of Dnmts in cervical cancer cells, which is associated with DNA global hypomethylation. Effects on Dnmt expression are reversible, suggesting reversible modulating effects of dietary methyl donor intake on gene expression, which may be relevant for cancer progression.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.389-394
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• 1997

We examined the effect of modulation of PKA isozymes on the growth of human ovarian cancer cells. Three ovarian cancer cell lines, 2774, SK-OV-3, and OVCAR-3, were examined in this study. The treatment of 5 uM 8-CI-cAMP, which has been known to down-regulate RI (or type 1 PKA) and up-regulate RII (or type II PKA), markedly inhibited the growth of all cell lines (50-80% at day 6). To test whether alteration in PKA regulatory subunits level can change the growth characteristics of ovarian cancer cells, we introduced RIIB- expression construct and Rla antisense-expression construct into 2774 cells. The overexpression of RIIB down-regulated Rla protein, and the antisense-expression of Rla up-regulated RIIB protein, showing that the intracellular levels of RI and RII are reciprocally regulated. In both cases, cell growth was reduced by 30% at day 2. These results indicate that the growth of ovarian cancer cells is controlled by the signals from PKA isozymes, and the modulation of PKA isozymes can be employed for the human ovarian cancer therapy.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.444-450
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• 2005

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates many intracellular effector molecules, which subsequently influence the expression levels of many genes involved in cell growth, apoptosis and signal transduction, etc. In this study, the early response of gene expressions due to EGF treatment was monitored using oligonucleotide DNA microarrays in rat schwannoma cell lines. An immunoblotting experiment showed the successful activation of EGF receptors and an effector protein, STAT5, due to EGF treatment. The microarray study showed that 35 genes were significantly induced and 2 were repressed within 60 min after the treatment. The list of induced genes included early growth response 1, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, c-fos, interferon regulatory factor 1 and early growth response 2, etc. According to the microarray data, six of these were induced by more than 10-fold, and showed at least two different induction patterns, indicating complicated regulatory mechanisms in the EGF signal transduction.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.37-41
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• 2015

The oocyte undergoes various events during maturation and requires many substances for the maturation process. Various intracellular organelles are also involved in maturation of the oocyte. During the process glucose is essential for nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, and adenosine triphosphate is needed for reorganization of the organelles and cytoskeleton. If mitochondrial function is lost, several developmental defects in meiotic chromosome segregation and maturation cause fertilization failure. The endoplasmic reticulum, a store for $Ca^{2+}$, releases $Ca^{2+}$ into the cytoplasm in response to various cellular signaling molecules. This event stimulates secretion of hormones, growth factors and antioxidants in oocyte during maturation. Also, oocyte nuclear maturation is stimulated by growth factors such as epidermal growth factor. This review summarizes roles of organelles with focus on the Golgi apparatus during maturation in oocyte.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.393-405
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• 2019

Survival factor 1 (Svf1) is a protein involved in cell survival pathways. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Svf1 is required for the diauxic growth shift and survival under stress conditions. In this study, we characterized the role of FgSvf1, the Svf1 homolog in the homothallic ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum. In the FgSvf1 deletion mutant, conidial germination was delayed, vegetative growth was reduced, and pathogenicity was completely abolished. Although the FgSvf1 deletion mutant produced perithecia, the normal maturation of ascospore was dismissed in deletion mutant. The FgSvf1 deletion mutant also showed reduced resistance to osmotic, fungicide, and cold stress and reduced sensitivity to oxidative stress when compared to the wild-type strain. In addition, we showed that FgSvf1 affects glycolysis, which results in the abnormal vegetative growth in the FgSvf1 deletion mutant. Further, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in the FgSvf1 deletion mutant, and this accumulated ROS might be related to the reduced sensitivity to oxidative stress and the reduced resistance to cold stress and fungicide stress. Overall, understanding the role of FgSvf1 in F. graminearum provides a new target to control F. graminearum infections in fields.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.406-420
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• 1995

Polyhydroxyalkanoates[PHAs] are the polyester of hydroxyalkanoates(HAs) synthesized by numerous bacteria as an intracellular carbon and energy storage compound and accumulated as granules in the cytoplasm of the cells under unbalanced growth condition in the presence of excess carbon source. Even though PHAs have been recognized as good candidates for biodegradable plastics, their high price compared with conventional plastics has limited their use in a wide mange of applications. To reduce the high production cost of PHAs, many group of scientists have devoted much efforts to improve productivity by employing various microorganisms and by developing efficient culture techniques. The strategies of producing PHAs to a high concentration with high productivity and their potential applications are reviewed.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.207.2-207.2
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• 2003

cAMP acts as a second messenger in the functional responses of various cells to hormones, cytokines and other agents. In turn, this nucleotide also modulates the signal transduction processes regulated by a range of cytokines and growth factors. The intracellular level of cAMP is regulated by a G protein coupled adenylyl cyclase and degradation is mediated by the phosphodiesterases (PDEs), a superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cAMP. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.159.3-160
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• 2003

It has been known that quercetin is one of bioflavonid compounds and has anti-tumor effect by suppressing tumor growth in vitro and in vivo, including multiple biological effects by antioxidant and effective anti-inflammatory agent. The present study investigated whether quercetin can enhance antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione proxidase: GPX, superoxide dismutase: SOD, catalase: CAT) and regulate the intracellular reactive oxygen intermediate levels on the B16F10 murine melanoma cells in the presensece of vitamin E, L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and reduced glutathione (GSH). (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.315.2-315.2
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• 2002

The translationally controlled tumor-associated proteins (TCTPs) are a highly conserved and abundantly expressed family of eukaryotic proteins that are implicated in both cell growth and human acute allergic response but whose intracellular biochemical function has remained elusive. There are reports that antimalarial drug, artemisinin. binds to Plasmodium falciparum TCTP. however, its 3D structure has not been known. (omitted)