• Journal of Plant Biology
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.237-245
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• 1992

감자 (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Superior)에서 cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter의 발현 양상 및 외래 유전자의 발현에 미치는 intron fragment의 효과를 조사하기 위하여 옥수수의 alcohol dehydrogenase 1-S (Adh1-S) intron 1의 249 base pairs 와 ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ (GUS) 유전자를 결합한, CaMV 35S/deleted Adh1 intron-GUS 구조의 유전자 전달벡터를 제조하고 이를 Agrobacterium tumefaciens를 매개로 형질전환을 유도하였다. 유전자 전달벡터인 pLS201는 17.7 kilobase pairs로서 형질전환의 초기 선별에 용이한 kanamycin 저항성 유전자와 GUS 유전자를 갖는 구조로 제조되었다. 형질전환된 개체의 조직화학적 분석 결과 CaMV 35S promoter에 의한 GUS 유전자는 모든 기관에서 발현되었고, 줄기 및 뿌리에서는 세포분열이 활발한 유관속 형성층을 중심으로 강한 발현을 나타내었다. GUS 유전자의 발현에 미치는 intron fragment의 효과를 조사하기 위하여 CaMV 35S/GUS 구조의 plasmid (pBI121)를 형질전환된 개체를 대조구하여 GUS 활성을 조사한 결과 pLS201의 잎, 줄기, 뿌리에서 각각 30, 34, 42배 높은 활성을 보여, 옥수수 탈수소 효소 유전자의 절단된 인트론이 GUS 유전자의 발현을 증가시킴을 알 수 있었다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.605-612
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• 2000

Green tea polyphenols (GTP) have been demonstrated to suppress tumorigenesis in several chemical-induced animal carcinogenesis models, and predicted as promising chemopreventive agents in human. Recent studies of GTP extracts showed the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the regulation of Phase II enzymes gene expression and induction of apoptosis. In the current work we compared the biological actions of five green tea catechins: (1) induction of ARE reporter gene, (2) activation of MAP kinases, (3) cytotoxicity in human hepatoma HepG2-C8 cells, and (4) caspase activation in human cervical squamous carcinoma HeLa cells. For the induction of phase IIgene assay, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) potently induced antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated luciferase activity, with induction observed at 25 $\mu\textrm{m}$with EGCG. The induction of ARE reporter gene appears to be structurally related to the 3-gallate group. Comparing the activation of MAPK by the five polyphenols, only EGCG showed potent activation of all three MAPKs (ERK, JNK and p38) in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas EGC activated ERK and p38. In the concentration range of 25 $\mu\textrm{m}$ to 1 mM, EGCG and ECG strongly suppressed HepG2-ARE-C8 cell-growth. To elucidate the mechanisms of green tea polyphenol-induced apoptosis, we measured the activation of an important cell death protein, caspase-3 induced by EGCG, and found that caspase-3 was activated in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, the activation of caspase-3 was a relatively late event (peaked at 16 h), whereas activation of MAPKs was much earlier (peaked at 2 h). It is possible, that at low concentrations of EGCG, activation of MAPK leads to ARE-mediated gene expression including phase II detoxifying enzymes. Whereas at higher concentrations of EGCG, sustained activation of MAPKs such as JNK leads to apoptosis. These mechanisms are currently under investigation in our laboratory. As the most abundant catechin in GTP extract, we found that EGCG potently induced ARE-mediated gene expression, activated MAP kinase pathway, stimulated caspase-3 activity, and induced apoptosis. These mechanisms together with others, may contribute to the overall chemopreventive function of EGCG itself as well as the GTP.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.275-280
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• 2008

Agrobacterium공동배양법으로 오이의 기관발생을 통한 형질전환에서 가장 문제점 중 하나는 chimeric 형질전환체의 발생빈도이다. 이러한 문제점을 극복하기 위하여 항생제로서 paromomycin이 첨가된 선발배지에서 "은성" 품종의 배축절편으로부터 체세포배발생을 통한 형질전환시스템을 개발하였다. 배축절편을 pPPTN290발현벡터가 도입된 Agrobacterium 균주 (EHA101)에 30분간 접종한 후 2일간 공동배양 하였고, 선발배지에서 2주 간격으로 5회 계대 배양하면서 항생제 저항성 캘러스 선발, 체세포배발생 및 식물체를 유도하였다. pPPTN290발현벡터의 T-DNA는 reporter유전자로서 Ubi 프로모터에 의해 gus유전자가 발현조절 되도록 그리고 항생제로서 paromomycin에 저항성을 갖는 nptII유전자가 35S 프로모터에 의해 발현되도록 제조하였다. 안정적 형질전환과 빈도는 캘러스의 paromomycin항생제 저항성과 GUS유전자의 발현 여부에 의해 조사하였다. Agrobacterium과 공동배양한 928개의 배축절편에서 paromomycin에 저항성을 갖는 56개의 캘러스 클론을 얻었고, 이중 48개 캘러스 클론 (5.2%)에서 GUS유전자가 안정적으로 발현되고 있음을 확인하였다. 48개의 캘러스 클론중에서 오직 5개의 캘러스 클론으로부터 식물체를 얻어 낮은 빈도 (0.5%)를 나타냈다. 수확한 $T_1$종자에서 GUS양성반응은 gus유전자가 오이 게놈에 안정적으로 도입 및 발현되고 있음을 확인하였다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제42권5호
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• pp.434-441
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• 2009

본 연구는 J774 대식세포에서 FPN 유전자 발현 조절에 구리가 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 수행되었으며 그 결과는 다음과 같다. J774 대식 세포에 구리를 처리하였을 때, iron exporter FPN의 mRNA 수준이 농도 의존적으로 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 반면, iron importer DMT1의 mRNA 수준은 구리 처리에 의해 영향을 받지 않았다. Actinomycin D를 이용하여 mRNA 합성을 억제한 상태에서 FPN mRNA 분해 정도를 시간별로 추적한 결과, acitnomycin D 처리 후 9시간 경과시 FPN mRNA 수준이 처음 수준의 약 60% 정도로 감소하였다. 배양액에 구리를 첨가한 경우에도 FPN mRNA의 분해 정도는 아무것도 처리하지 않은 대조군과 유의적인 차이가 없었으며, 이로 볼 때 구리는 FPN mRNA의 안정성에 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 생각된다. 한편, reporter assay 실험 결과 구리의 첨가는 FPN 프로모터 활성을 유의적으로 증가시키는 것으로 나타나, 구리가 FPN mRNA의 전사 과정을 직접적으로 촉진함을 알 수 있었다. 또한, FPN 5'-UTR에 위치하는 IRE (iron response element)의 존재 여부는 구리에 의한 FPN 전사 개시 활성에 영향을 주지 않는 것으로 나타났으며, 이로 볼 때 구리는 철분과는 독립적인 작용 기작에 의해 FPN 유전자 발현을 조절하는 것으로 사료된다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 볼 때, 구리는 대식 세포에서 전사개시 과정을 활성화함으로써 농도 의존적으로 FPN 유전자 발현을 촉진하는 것으로 생각되며, 이는 구리가 철분의 대사에 미치는 새로운 작용 기작을 제시한다. 앞으로, 구리와 철 분의 상호 작용이 FPN의 철분 및 다른 무기질 이온의 세포내 외 수송 (transport)에 어떤 영향을 미치는지에 대한 기능적 연구가 계속적으로 이루어져야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권11호
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• pp.1563-1570
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• 2010

To construct a highly sensitive detection system for endocrine disruptors (EDs), we have compared the activity of promoters with the n-alkane-inducible cytochrome P450 gene (ALK1), isocitrate lyase gene (ICL1), ribosomal protein S7 gene (RPS7), and the translation elongation factor-1${\alpha}$ gene (TEF1) for the heterologous gene in Yarrowia lipolytica. The promoters were introduced into the upstream of the lacZ or hERa reporter genes, respectively, and the activity was evaluated by ${\beta}$-galactosidase assay for lacZ and Western blot analysis for hER${\alpha}$. The expression analysis revealed that the ALK1 and ICL1 promoters were induced by n-decane and by EtOH, respectively. The constitutive promoter of RPS7 and TEF1 showed mostly a high level of expression in the presence of glucose and glycerol, respectively. In particular, the TEF1 promoter showed the highest ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity and a significant signal by Western blotting with the anti-estrogen receptor, compared with the other promoters. Moreover, the detection system was constructed with promoters linked to the upstream of the expression vector for the hER${\alpha}$ gene transformed into the Y. lipolytica with a chromosome-integrated lacZ reporter gene under the control of estrogen response elements (EREs). It was indicated that a combination of pTEF1p-hER${\alpha}$ and CXAU1-2XERE was the most effective system for the $E_2$-dependent induction of the ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity. This system showed the highest ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity at $10^{-6}\;M\;E_2$, and the activity could be detected at even the concentration of $10^{-10}\;M\;E_2$. As a result, we have constructed a strongly sensitive detection system with Y. lipolitica to evaluate recognized/suspected ED chemicals, such as natural/synthetic hormones, pesticides, and commercial chemicals. The results demonstrate the utility, sensitivity, and reproducibility of the system for identifying and characterizing environmental estrogens.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.50-56
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• 2007

Barley S-adenosylmethionine synthetase1 gene, which was differentially expressed in seed development of extra early barley, was regulated by the phytohormones and abiotic stresses. In order to identify the regulation regions which were involved in transcriptional control of the phytohormones and abiotic stresses, we isolated 1459 bp fragment of HvSAMS1 gene promoter using genome walking strategy and deletion series were constructed. Deleted upstream fragments(-1459, -1223, -999, -766, -545, -301 bp) were fused to the GUS reporter gene and evaluated via Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assay. Increased GUS activity of HvSMAS1 promoter -301/GUS construct under each of NaCl, $GA_3$, ABA and ethylene application was found. However, GUS activity was negligible in the leaves transformed with the HvSMAS1 promoter(-1459, -1223, -999, -766 and -545)/GUS constructs. No significant induction of GUS activity was observed for the ethionine and spermidine treatments. In order to locate promoter sequence of the HvSAMS1 gene that was critical for the activation of gene expression, deletion and addition promoter derivatives(+, includes 43 bp of 5' ORF) of the HvSAMS1 gene fused to the GUS reporter gene were applied. The tobacco leaves which harbored the additional HvSAMS1 promoter(-1459+, -1459 to -546, -545+ and -301+)/GUS construct did not significantly induce GUS activity as compared to the HvSAMS1 promoter(-1459, -545 and -301)/GUS constructs under each of NaCl, ABA and $GA_3$ treatment. However, the GUS activity was high in the tobacco leaves which harboring the -211 to -141 regions of the HvSAMS1 promoter. This result suggested that HvSAMS1 gene expression might be regulated by this region(from -211 to -141).

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.101-110
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• 2015

Purpose: Sclerostin, an inhibitor of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling, exerts negative effects on bone formation and contributes to periodontitis-induced alveolar bone loss. Recent studies have demonstrated that serum sclerostin levels are increased in diabetic patients and that sclerostin expression in alveolar bone is enhanced in a diabetic periodontitis model. However, the molecular mechanism of how sclerostin expression is enhanced in diabetic patients remains elusive. Therefore, in this study, the effect of hyperglycemia on the expression of sclerostin in osteoblast lineage cells was examined. Methods: C2C12 and MLO-Y4 cells were used in this study. In order to examine the effect of hyperglycemia, the glucose concentration in the culture medium was adjusted to a range of levels between 40 and 100 mM. Gene expression levels were examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays. Top-Flash reporter was used to examine the transcriptional activity of the ${\beta}$-catenin/lymphoid enhanced factor/T-cell factor complex. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF{\alpha}$) protein levels were examined with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of reactive oxygen species on sclerostin expression was examined by treating cells with 1 mM $H_2O_2$ or 20 mM N-acetylcysteine. Results: The high glucose treatment increased the mRNA and protein levels of sclerostin. High glucose suppressed Wnt3a-induced Top-Flash reporter activity and the expression levels of osteoblast marker genes. High glucose increased reactive oxygen species production and $TNF{\alpha}$ expression levels. Treatment of cells with $H_2O_2$ also enhanced the expression levels of $TNF{\alpha}$ and sclerostin. In addition, N-acetylcysteine treatment or knockdown of $TNF{\alpha}$ attenuated high glucose-induced sclerostin expression. Conclusions: These results suggest that hyperglycemia increases sclerostin expression via the enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and $TNF{\alpha}$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.43-51
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• 2017

Background: BIOGF1K, a compound K-rich fraction prepared from the root of Panax ginseng, is widely used for cosmetic purposes in Korea. We investigated the functional mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities of BIOGF1K by discovering target enzymes through various molecular studies. Methods: We explored the inhibitory mechanisms of BIOGF1K using lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammatory responses, reporter gene assays involving overexpression of toll-like receptor adaptor molecules, and immunoblotting analysis. We used the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay to measure the antioxidative activity. We cotransfected adaptor molecules, including the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and Toll/interleukin-receptor domain containing adaptor molecule-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF), to measure the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Results: BIOGF1K suppressed lipopolysaccharide-triggered NO release in macrophages as well as DPPH-induced electron-donating activity. It also blocked lipopolysaccharide-induced mRNA levels of interferon-${\beta}$ and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Moreover, BIOGF1K diminished the translocation and activation of IRF3 and NF-${\kappa}B$ (p50 and p65). This extract inhibited the upregulation of NF-${\kappa}B$-linked luciferase activity provoked by phorbal-12-myristate-13 acetate as well as MyD88, TRIF, and inhibitor of ${\kappa}B$ ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$) kinase ($IKK{\beta}$), and IRF3-mediated luciferase activity induced by TRIF and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1). Finally, BIOGF1K downregulated the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway by blocking $IKK{\beta}$ and the IRF3 pathway by inhibiting TBK1, according to reporter gene assays, immunoblotting analysis, and an AKT/$IKK{\beta}$/TBK1 overexpression strategy. Conclusion: Overall, our data suggest that the suppression of $IKK{\beta}$ and TBK1, which mediate transcriptional regulation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and IRF3, respectively, may contribute to the broad-spectrum inhibitory activity of BIOGF1K.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.202-210
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• 2017

The nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) encoded by the human hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome is a multifunctional phosphoprotein. To analyse the influence of NS5A on apoptosis, we established an Hep-NS5A cell line (HepG2 cells that stably express NS5A) and induced apoptosis using tumour necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. We utilised the MTT assay to detect cell viability, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to analyse gene and protein expression, and a luciferase reporter gene experiment to investigate the targeted regulatory relationship. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to identify the combination of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and miR-503. We found that overexpression of NS5A inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced hepatocellular apoptosis via regulating miR-503 expression. The cell viability of the $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced Hep-mock cells was significantly less than the viability of the $TNF-{\alpha}$ induced Hep-NS5A cells, which demonstrates that NS5A inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis. Under $TNF-{\alpha}$ treatment, miR-503 expression was decreased and cell viability and B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2) expression were increased in the Hep-NS5A cells. Moreover, the luciferase reporter gene experiment verified that bcl-2 was a direct target of miR-503, NS5A inhibited $TNF{\alpha}$-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and $NF-{\kappa}B$ regulated miR-503 transcription by combining with the miR-503 promoter. After the Hep-NS5A cells were transfected with miR-503 mimics, the data indicated that the mimics could reverse $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced cell apoptosis and blc-2 expression. Collectively, our findings suggest a possible molecular mechanism that may contribute to HCV treatment in which NS5A inhibits $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation to decrease miR-503 expression and increase bcl-2 expression, which leads to a decrease in hepatocellular apoptosis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권9호
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• pp.1336-1349
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• 2023

Objective: The study was conducted to screen differentially expressed miRNAs in sows at early pregnancy by high-throughput sequencing and explore its mechanism of action on embryo implantation. Methods: The blood serum of pregnant and non-pregnant Landrace×Yorkshire sows were collected 14 days after artificial insemination, and exosomal miRNAs were purified for high throughput miRNA sequencing. The expression patterns of 10 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR quantified the abundance of serum exosomal miR-192 in pregnant and control sows, and the diagnostic power was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The target genes of DE miRNAs were predicted with bioinformatics software, and the functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed on gene ontology and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes terms. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter system was used to identify the target relation between miR-192 and integrin alpha 4 (ITGA4), a gene influencing embryo implantation in pigs. Finally, the expression levels of miRNAs and the target gene ITGA4 were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and western blot, with the proliferation of BeWo cells detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Results: A total of 221 known miRNAs were detected in the libraries of the pregnant and non-pregnant sows, of which 55 were up-regulated and 67 were down-regulated in the pregnant individuals compared with the non-pregnant controls. From these, the expression patterns of 10 DE miRNAs were validated. The qRT-PCR analysis further confirmed a significantly higher expression of miR-192 in the serum exosomes extracted from pregnant sows, when compared to controls. The ROC analysis revealed that miR-192 provided excellent diagnostic accuracy for pregnancy (area under the ROC curve [AUC]=0.843; p>0.001). The dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-192 directly targeted ITGA4. The protein expression of ITGA4 was reduced in cells that overexpressed miR-192. Overexpression of miR-192 resulted in the decreased proliferation of BeWo cells and regulated the expression of cell cycle-related genes. Conclusion: Serum exosomal miR-192 could serve as a potential biomarker for early pregnancy in pigs. miR-192 targeted ITGA4 gene directly, and miR-192 can regulate cellular proliferation.