• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2015

The correction of disease-causing mutations by single-strand oligonucleotide-templated DNA repair (ssOR) is an attractive approach to gene therapy, but major improvements in ssOR efficiency and consistency are needed. The mechanism of ssOR is poorly understood but may involve annealing of oligonucleotides to transiently exposed single-stranded regions in the target duplex. In bacteria and yeast it has been shown that ssOR is promoted by expression of $Red{\beta}$, a single-strand DNA annealing protein from bacteriophage lambda. Here we show that $Red{\beta}$ expression is well tolerated in a human cell line where it consistently promotes ssOR. By use of short interfering RNA, we also show that ssOR is stimulated by the transient depletion of the endogenous DNA mismatch repair protein MSH2. Furthermore, we find that the effects of $Red{\beta}$ expression and MSH2 depletion on ssOR can be combined with a degree of cooperativity. These results suggest that oligonucleotide annealing and mismatch recognition are distinct but interdependent events in ssOR that can be usefully modulated in gene correction strategies.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

The effects of Korean solar salt on an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon cancer C57BL/6 mouse model were studied. Korean solar salt samples (SS-S, solar salt from S salt field; SS-Yb, solar salt from Yb salt field), nine-time-baked bamboo salt (BS-9x, made from SS-Yb), purified salt (PS), and SS-G (solar salt from $Gu\acute{e}rande$, France) were orally administered at a concentration of 1% during AOM/DSS colon cancer induction, and compared for their protective effects during colon carcinogenesis in C57BL/6 mice. SS-S and SS-Yb suppressed colon length shortening and tumor counts in mouse colons. Histological evaluation by hematoxylin and eosin staining also revealed suppression of tumorigenesis by SS-S. Conversely, PS and SS-G did not show a similar suppressive efficacy as Korean solar salt. SS-S and SS-Yb promoted colon mRNA expression of an apoptosis-related factor and cell-cycle-related gene and suppressed pro-inflammatory factor. SS-Yb baked into BS-9x further promoted these anti-carcinogenic efficacies. Taken together, the results indicate that Korean solar salt, especially SS-S and SS-Yb, exhibited anti-cancer activity by modulating apoptosis- and inflammation-related gene expression during colon carcinogenesis in mice, and bamboo salt baked from SS-Yb showed enhanced anti-cancer functionality.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2008

Sopungsan (SS) is a traditional Korean decoction used for the treatment of dermatitis. The aim of this study is to confirm whether or not SS has a preventive effect on the development of atopic dermatitis in dinitrochlorobenzene-applied Nc/Nga mice. SS was administered orally to Nc/Nga mice, which led to the remarkable suppression of the development of dermatitis, as determined by a histological examination and the serum IgE levels. Moreover, SS inhibited the production of thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and its mRNA expression in a keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, which had been stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$). Activation of the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) or activator protein-1 (AP-1) is one of key steps in the signaling pathways mediating induction of TARC. In this study, SS selectively suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ activation which may be essential for TARC expression in $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}$ treated keratinocytes. The inhibitory effect of SS on NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and TARC production might be associated with the anti-dermatitic effects of SS.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2011

HP0827 has two RNP motif which is a very common protein domain involved in recognition of a wide range of ssRNA/DNA.We acquired 3D NMR spectra of HP0827 which shows well dispersed and homogeneous signals which allows us to assign 98% of all $^1H_N$, $^{15}N$, $^{13}C_{\alpha}$, $^{13}C_{\beta}$ and $^{13}C$=O resonances and 90% of all sidechain resonances. The sequence-specific backbone resonance assignment of HP0827 can be used to gain deeper insights into the nucleic acids binding specificity of HP0827 in the future study. Here, we report secondary structure prediction of HP0827 derived from NMR data. Additionally, ssRNA/DNA binding assay studies was also conducted. This study might provide a clue for exact function of HP0827 based on structure and sequence.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2016

The seed of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) has been reported to suppress human cancer cell proliferation. However, the mechanisms by which safflower seed inhibits cancer cell proliferation have remained nuclear. In this study, the inhibitory effect of the safflower seed (SS) on the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and the potential mechanism of action were examined. SS inhibited markedly the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, SW480, LoVo and HT-29). In addition, SS suppressed the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). SS treatment decreased cyclin D1 protein level in human colorectal cancer cells and breast cancer cells. But, SS-mediated downregulated mRNA level of cyclin D1 was not observed. Inhibition of proteasomal degradation by MG132 attenuated cyclin D1 downregulation by SS and the half-life of cyclin D1 was decreased in SS-treated cells. In addition, SS increased cyclin D1 phosphorylation at threonine-286 and a point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated SS-mediated cyclin D1 degradation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by PD98059 suppressed cyclin D1 phosphorylation and downregulation of cyclin D1 by SS. In conclusion, SS has anti-proliferative activity by inducing cyclin D1 proteasomal degradation through ERK1/2-dependent threonine-286 phosphorylation of cyclin D1. These findings suggest that possibly its extract could be used for treating colorectal cancer.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2016

Among 116 bacterial strains isolated from Korean fermented foods, one strain (SS-76) was selected for producing new oligosaccharides in a basal medium containing maltose as the sole source of carbon. Upon morphological characterization using scanning electron microscopy, the cells of strain SS-76 appeared rod-shaped; subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain SS-76 was phylogenetically close to Bacillus subtilis. The main oligosaccharide fraction B extracted from the culture supernatant of B. subtilis SS-76 was purified by high performance liquid chromatography. Subsequent structural analysis revealed that this oligosaccharide consisted only of glucose, and methylation analysis indicated similar proportions of glucopyranosides in the 6-linkage, 4-linkage, and non-reducing terminal positions. Matrix-assisted laser-induced/ionization time-of-flight/mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization-based liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analyses suggested that this oligosaccharide consisted of a trisaccharide unit with 1,6- and 1,4-glycosidic linkages. The anomeric signals in the $^1H$-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum corresponded to ${\alpha}$-anomeric configurations, and the trisaccharide was finally identified as panose (${\alpha}$-D-glucopyranosyl-1,6-${\alpha}$-D-glucopyranosyl-1,4-D-glucose). These results suggest that B. subtilis SS-76 converts maltose into panose; strain SS-76 may thus find industrial application in the production of panose.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.291-296
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• 2011

In order to detect quarantine plant viruses, we developed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) primer pairs for five single-stranded (ss) plant RNA viruses that are not currently reported in Korea but could be potential harmful plant viral pathogens. Three viruses such as Chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV), Colombian datura virus (CDV), and Tobacco etch virus (TEV) belong to the genus Potyvirus while Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV) and Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) are members of the genus Tospovirus. To design RT-PCR primers, we used reported gene sequences corresponding to the capsid protein and polyprotein for ChiVMV, CDV, and TEV while using nucleocapsid protein regions for CSNV and IYSV. At least two different primer pairs were designed for each virus. Fifteen out of 16 primer pairs were successfully applied in detection of individual quarantine virus with high specificity and efficiency. Taken together, this study provides a rapid and useful protocol for detection of five quarantine viruses.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 1995

From a cluster of structural rRNA genes which has previsouly been cloned (Hwang and Kim, in submission; J. Microbiol. Biotechnol.), a 1.0-kb Eco RI fragment of DNA which shows significant homology to the 25S and rRNA s of Tricholoma matsutake was used for sequence analysis. Nucleotide sequence was bidirectionally determined using delection series of the DNA fragment. Comparing the resultant 1016-base sequence with sequences in the database, both the 3'end of 25S-rRNA gene and 5S rRNA gene were searched. The 5S rRNA gene is 118-bp in length and is located 158-bp downstream of 3'end of the 25S rRNA gene. IGSI and IGS2 (partial) sequences are also contained in the fragment. Multiple alignment of the 5S rRNA sequences was carried out with 5S rRNA sequences from some members of the subdivision Basidiomycotina obtained from the database. Polygenetic analysis with distance matrix established by Kimura's 2-parameter method and phylogenetic tree by UPGMA method proposed that T. matsutake is closely related to efibulobasidium allbescens. Secondary structure of 5S rRNA was also hypothesized to show similar topology with its generally accepted eukaryotic counterpart.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 1997

Although extensively characterized in human cells, no heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein(hnRNP) has been found in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe which is amenable to genetic studies and more similar to mammals than Saccharomyces cerevisiae is in terms of RNA processing. As a first step to characterize hnRNPs from S. pombe, attempt was made to find human hnRNP A1 homologs from S. pombe. The RNA molecule (A1 winner) containing the consensus high-affinity hnRNP A1 binding site (UAGGGA/U) was synthesized in vitro and used in an ultraviolet(UV) light-induced protein-RNA cross-linking assay. A number of S, pombe proteins bound to the A1 winner RNA. An approximately 50-kDa protein(p50) cross-linked more efficiently to the A1 winner RNA than other proteins. The p50 protein did not cross-link to a nonspecific RNA, but rather to the A1-5’ SS RNA in which the consensus 5’ splice junction sites of S. pombe introns were abolished. This suggests that the p50 protein, however, did not bind to the single-stranded DNA to shich the human hnRNP A1 could bind and be eluted with 0.5M NaCl. Further analysis should reveal more features of this RNA-binding protein.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.17.1-17.8
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• 2017

Somatostatin (SS) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) are primary factors regulating growth hormone (GH) secretion in the pituitary. To date, it remains unknown how this rhythm is controlled endogenously, although there must be coordination of circadian manners. Melatonin was the main regulator in biological rhythms, and its secretion has fluctuation by photic information. But relationship between melatonin and growth-related genes (ghrh and ss) is unclear. We investigated circadian rhythms of melatonin secretion, ghrh and ss expressions, and correlation between melatonin with growth-related genes in tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes. The melatonin secretion showed nocturnal rhythms under light and dark (LD) conditions. In constant light (LL) condition, melatonin secretion has similar patterns with LD conditions. ss1 mRNA was high during scotophase under LD conditions. But ss1 rhythms disappeared in LL conditions. Ghrh appeared opposite expression compared with melatonin levels or ss1 expression under LD and LL. In the results of the melatonin injection, ghrh and ss1 showed no significant expression compared with control groups. These results suggested that melatonin and growth-related genes have daily or circadian rhythms in the tiger puffer. Further, we need to know mechanisms of each ss and ghrh gene regulation.