• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.77-86
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• 2008

It's been known that overexpression of the oncoprotein Her2 (eu/ErbB2), transmembrane receptor protein, occurs in human breast cancer. Her2-positive breast cancer patients who have Her2 overexpression show less therapeutic efficacy with enhanced metathesis and increased resistance to chemotherapy. So far, a humanized monoclonal antibody against Her2 protein called Herceptin is the only drug approved by Food and Drug Administration for treatment of Her2-overexpressing breast tumors. However, antibody therapy of Herceptin may not be ideal method for therapeutic intervention of Her2 protein expression. The therapeutic intervention of Her2 protein expression may be more efficiently achieved by inhibiting the expression of Her2 gene rather than by down-regulating the Her2 protein already overexpressed. Here, we found that the interaction of two proteins of ESX (an epithelial-restricted transcription factor) and DRIP130/CRSP130/Sur2 (a Ras-linked subunit of human mediator complexes) mediates the expression of Her2 gene. The association of ESX with Sur2 is mediated by a small hydrophobic face of 8-amino acid helix in ESX, suggesting that the ESX-Sur2 interaction can be a new novel target for Her2-positive cancer. The process to develop potent ESX-Sur2 interaction inhibitors targeting for Her2-positive cancer therapeutics will be discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.700-703
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• 2017

Baculovirus vectors were recombined using uroplakin II promoter, polyhedron promoter, vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSVG), enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), protein transduction domain (PTD) gene and so on. These novel recombinant vectors were infected into various cell lines. We performed and analyzed gene transfer and gene expression of these recombinant vectors comparison with other control vectors. From this result, we identified that these recombinant vectors have higher efficient gene transfer and expression of than control vector.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2018

Cyclic AMP-response element binding protein zhangfei (CREBZF), a member of ATF/CREB (activating transcription factor/ cAMP response element binding protein) family, regulates numerous cellular functions and development of cells by interacting transcription factors. This study discovered the expression pattern of CREBZF in seminiferous tubule of testes during the postnatal development of mice. In testis, CREBZF mRNA expression was the highest among other organs. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that the CREBZF was specifically expressed on spermatocyte but not in spermatogonia and Sertoli cells in seminiferous epithelium of mouse testis. Semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that CREBZF transcript level was significantly elevated during postnatal development of mouse testis. Confocal imaging analysis indicated that the protein expression of CREBZF in seminiferous tubule remained low until postnatal day (PD) 14, and was dramatically increased in PD 21. Interestingly, only one type of the spermatocyte expressed CREBZF specifically among SCP3-positive spermatocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that CREBZF may be novel putative marker of the spermatocyte and regulate meiosis during postnatal development of mice.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2013

The novel BrRZFPs genes encoding C3HC4-type RING zinc finger protein were identified from FOX (full length cDNA over-expressing) library of Brassica rapa. Ten full-length cDNAs obtained from the library encode zinc-finger protein containing 346 amino acids, designated BrRZFPs. These genes were classified into four groups by phylogenic analysis showing conserved protein sequences at both termini. The tissue distribution of BrRZFPs transcription was examined by qRT-PCR revealing ubiquitous expression pattern. However, each gene was strongly expressed in the specific tissue. Transcriptional analysis showed that those acquired 10 genes were inducible under abiotic stresses. Likewise, the transcript of BrRZFP3 was strongly induced (~12-folds) by exogenous abscisic acid, whereas the transcripts of BrRZFP1, BrRZFP2 and BrRZFP3 were (> 9-folds) induced by cold. We suggest that these BrRZFPs that function as signal or response to abiotic stress are useful for crop improvement.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 2011

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) cation channel, a member of the TRP vanilloid subfamily, is expressed in a broad range of tissues. Nitric oxide (NO) as a gaseous signal mediator shows a variety of important biological effects. In many instances, NO has been shown to exhibit its activities via a protein S-nitrosylation mechanism in order to regulate its protein functions. With functional assays via site-directed mutagenesis, we demonstrate herein that NO induces the S-nitrosylation of TRPV4 $Ca^{2+}$ channel on the $Cys^{853}$ residue, and the S-nitrosylation of $Cys^{853}$ reduced its channel sensitivity to 4-${\alpha}$ phorbol 12,13-didecanoate and the interaction between TRPV4 and calmodulin. A patch clamp experiment and $Ca^{2+}$ image analysis show that the S-nitrosylation of $Cys^{853}$ modulates the TRPV4 channel as an inhibitor. Thus, our data suggest a novel regulatory mechanism of TRPV4 via NO-mediated S-nitrosylation on its $Cys^{853}$ residue.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.156-164
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• 2021

Spirodela polyrhiza, from the Lemnaceae family, are small aquatic plants that offer an alternative plant-based system for the expression of recombinant proteins. However, no turion transformation protocol has been established in this species. In this study, we exploited a pB7YWG2 vector harboring the eYFP gene that encodes enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP), which has been extensively used as a reporter and marker to visualize recombinant protein localization in plants. We adopted Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated turion transformation via vacuum infiltration to deliver the eYFP gene to turions, special vegetative forms produced by duckweeds to endure harsh conditions. Transgenic turions regenerated several duckweed fronds that exhibited yellow fluorescent emissions under a fluorescence microscope. Western blotting verified the expression of the eYFP protein. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an efficient protocol for generating transgenic S. polyrhiza expressing eYFP via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated turion transformation. The ability of turions to withstand harsh conditions increases the portability and versatility of transgenic duckweeds, favoring their use in the further development of therapeutic compounds in plants.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.14.1-14.6
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• 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an on-going pandemic disease infecting millions of people across the globe. Recent reports of reduction in antibody levels and the re-emergence of the disease in recovered patients necessitated the understanding of the pandemic at the core level. The cases of multiple organ failures emphasized the consideration of different organ systems while managing the disease. The present study employed RNA sequencing data to determine the disease associated differentially regulated genes and their related protein interactions in several organ systems. It signified the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. A map of protein interactions of multiple organ systems was built and uncovered CAV1 and CTNNB1 as the top degree nodes. A core interactions sub-network was analyzed to identify different modules of functional significance. AR, CTNNB1, CAV1, and PIK3R1 proteins were unfolded as bridging nodes interconnecting different modules for the information flow across several pathways. The present study also highlighted some of the druggable targets to analyze in drug re-purposing strategies against the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the protein interactions map and the modular interactions of the differentially regulated genes in the multiple organ systems would incline the scientists and researchers to investigate in novel therapeutics for the COVID-19 pandemic expeditiously.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2019

Ubiquitin-specific protease 44 (USP44) has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis across various tumors. However, the function of USP44 in prostate cancers and regulatory mechanism of histone-modifying enzymes by USP44 in tumors is not well-understood. Here, we found that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase, is regulated by USP44. We showed that EZH2 is a novel target of USP44 and that the protein stability of EZH2 is upregulated by USP44-mediated deubiquitination. In USP44 knockdown prostate cancer cells, the EZH2 protein level and its gene silencing activity were decreased. Furthermore, USP44 knockdown inhibited the tumorigenic characteristics and cancer stem cell-like behaviors of prostate cancer cells. Inhibition of tumorigenesis caused by USP44 knockdown was recovered by ectopic introduction of EZH2. Additionally, USP44 regulates the protein stability of oncogenic EZH2 mutants. Taken together, our results suggest that USP44 promotes the tumorigenesis of prostate cancer cells partly by stabilizing EZH2 and that USP44 is a viable therapeutic target for treating EZH2-dependent cancers.

• Oncology Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.283-290
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• 2019

Wnt3a is a glycosylated ligand that activates the β-catenin-dependent signaling pathway. Wnt signaling is also important in the prostate tumor microenvironment, and Wnt proteins secreted by the tumor stroma promote resistance to therapy. Bioactive Wnt3a production requires a number of dedicated factors in the secretory cell, but their coordinated functions are not fully understood. We previously reported transmembrane protein 64 (Tmem64) as a novel regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is correlated with β-catenin regulation. In the present study, the role of Tmem64 in prostate cancer cells was investigated by modulating Wnt3a secretion. Overexpression of Tmem64 inhibited Wnt3a secretion and Lef/Tcf-sensitive transcription. By contrast, a Tmem64 mutation deleting the protein's transmembrane region restored Wnt3a secretion. Notably, Tmem64 protein and mRNA in PC3 cells were significantly overexpressed compared with that observed in LNCaP and DU145 cells. In a mouse metastasis model intracardially injected with PC3 cells, Tmem64 expression was downregulated in the metastatic spine and mandible lesions compared with in the primary injection regions. However, Wnt3a was strongly expressed in the metastatic spine and mandible lesions. Collectively, these findings suggest that Tmem64 is involved in the metastatic progression of prostate cancer cells by regulating Wnt3a secretion.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2003

An increased understanding of apoptosis makes anti-apoptosis engineering possible, which is an approach used to inhibit apoptosis for the purpose of therapeutic, or industrial applications in the treatment of the diseases associated with increased apoptosis, or to improve the productivity of animal cell cultures, respectively. Some known anti-apoptosis proteins are the Bcl-2 family, IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) and Hsps (heat shock proteins), with which anti-apoptosis engineering has progressed. This article reviews anti-apoptosis engineering using known anti-apoptosis compounds, and introduces a 30 K protein, isolated from silkworm hemolymph, as a novel anti-apoptotic protein, that Shows no homology with other known anti-apoptotic proteins. The regulation of apoptosis, using anti-apoptotic proteins and genes originating from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, may provide a new strategy in this field.