• 한국식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물학회 1998년도 The 12th Symposium on Plant Biotechnology Vol.12
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• pp.83-96
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• 1998

The plant pigment proteins phytochromes are a molecular light sensor or switch for photomorphogenesis involving a variety of growth and developmental responses of plants to red and far-red wavelength light. Underscoring the photomorphogenesis mediated by phytochromes is the light signal transduction at molecular and cellular levels. For example, a number of genes activated by the phytochrome-mediated signal transduction cascade have been identified and characterized, especially in Arabidopsis thaliana. The light sensor/switch function of phytochromes are based on photochromism of the covalently linked tetrapyrrole chromophore between the two photoreversible forms, Pr and Pfr. The photochromism of phytochromes involves photoisomerization of the tetrapyrrole chromophore. The "photosensor" Pr-form ("switch off" conformation) of phytochromes strongly absorbs 660 nm red light, whereas the "switch on" Pfr-conformation preferentially absorbs 730 nm far-red light. The latter is generally considered to be responsible for eliciting transduction cascades of the red light signal for various responses of plants to red light including positive or negative expression of light-responsive genes in plant nuclei and chloroplasts. In this paper, we discuss the structure-function of phytochromes in plant growth and development, with a few examples of biotechnological implications.

• 셀메드
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.5.1-5.3
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• 2011

Molecular events that cause tumor formation enhance a number of HOX genes, called switch genes, coding for RNApolymeraseII transcription factors. Thus, in tumor cells, RNApolymeraseII is more active than in other somatic cells. Amanita phalloides contains amanitin which inhibits RNApolymeraseII. Partial inhibition with amanitin influences tumor cell - but not normal cell - activity. To widen the treatment spectrum, dilutions of Amanita phalloides, containing amanitin, are applied to a patient with mammary duct cancer. For monitoring tumormarkers, different doses of amanitin are applied. The former duplication time of tumor growth represented three months; however within a period of 18 months the patient can be stabilized without further growth of the tumor. There are also no severe symptoms, no liver damage and no continuous erythrocyte deprivation. This new principle of tumor therapy shows high potential to provide a medical treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권8호
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• pp.1095-1103
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• 2019

Objective: Among stress responses, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is a well-known mechanism related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress is induced by a variety of external and environmental factors such as starvation, ischemia, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and heat stress. Inositol requiring enzyme $1{\alpha}$ ($IRE1{\alpha}$)-X-box protein 1 (XBP1) is the most conserved pathway involved in the UPR and is the main component that mediates $IRE1{\alpha}$ signalling to downstream ER-associated degradation (ERAD)- or UPR-related genes. XBP1 is a transcription factor synthesised via a novel mechanism called 'frame switch splicing', and this process has not yet been studied in the horse XBP1 gene. Therefore, the aim of this study was to confirm the frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and characterise its dynamics using Thoroughbred muscle cells exposed to heat stress. Methods: Primary horse muscle cells were used to investigate heat stress-induced frame switch splicing of horse XBP1. Frame switch splicing was confirmed by sequencing analysis. XBP1 amino acid sequences and promoter sequences of various species were aligned to confirm the sequence homology and to find conserved cis-acting elements, respectively. The expression of the potential XBP1 downstream genes were analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: We confirmed that splicing of horse XBP1 mRNA was affected by the duration of thermal stress. Twenty-six nucleotides in the mRNA of XBP1 were deleted after heat stress. The protein sequence and the cis-regulatory elements on the promoter of horse XBP1 are highly conserved among the mammals. Induction of putative downstream genes of horse XBP1 was dependent on the duration of heat stress. We confirmed that both the mechanisms of XBP1 frame switch splicing and various binding elements found in downstream gene promoters are highly evolutionarily conserved. Conclusion: The frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and its dynamics were highly conserved among species. These results facilitate studies of ER-stress in horse.

• 한국광과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국광과학회 2006년도 정기총회 및 제13회 학술대회 논문 초록
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• pp.64-64
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• 2006

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.1146-1151
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• 2005

The yeast Candida albicans has a distinguishing feature, dimorphism, which is the ability to switch between two morphological forms: a budding yeast form and a multicellular invasive filamentous form. This ability has been postulated to contribute to the virulence of this organism. Previously, we reported that the yeast-to-hypha transition in this organism is suppressed by farnesoic acid, a morphogenic autoregulatory substance that accumulates in the medium as the cells proliferate. In this study, using a differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) technique, we have identified several genes induced in C. albicans by farnesoic acid treatment. These observations indicate that farnesoic acid can alter the expressivity of multiple genes, including the DNA replication machinery and cell-cycle-control proteins.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.117-122
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• 2023

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) that binds to the coreceptor CCR5 (R5 viruses) can evolve into viruses that bind to the coreceptor CXCR4 (X4 viruses), with high viral replication rates governing this coreceptor switch. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) treatment of HIV-1 infected patients has been found to slow the depletion of CD4+ T cells. This study assessed whether the KRG-associated slow depletion of CD4+ T cells was associated with coreceptor switching. Methods: This study included 146 HIV-1-infected patients naïve to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and seven patients receiving ART. A total of 540 blood samples were obtained from these patients over 122 ± 129 months. Their env genes were amplified by nested PCR or RT-PCR and subjected to direct sequencing. Tropism was determined with a 10% false positive rate (FPR) cutoff. Results: Of the 146 patients naïve to ART, 102 were KRG-naïve, and 44 had been treated with KRG. Evaluation of initial samples showed that coreceptor switch had occurred in 19 patients, later occurring in 38 additional patients. There was a significant correlation between the amount of KRG and FPR. Based on initial samples, the R5 maintenance period was extended 2.35-fold, with the coreceptor switch being delayed 2.42-fold in KRG-treated compared with KRG-naïve patients. The coreceptor switch occurred in 85% of a homogeneous cohort. The proportion of patients who maintained R5 for ≥10 years was significantly higher in long-term slow progressors than in typical progressors. Conclusion: KRG therapy extends R5 maintenance period by increasing FPR, thereby slowing the coreceptor switch.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.82-88
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• 2006

The global pattern of growth-dependent gene expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains was evaluated using a high-density DNA microarray. Total RNAs obtained from an avirulent S. pneumoniae strain R6 and a virulent strain AMC96-6 were used to compare the expression patterns at seven time points (2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 8.0 h). The expression profile of strain R6 changed between log and stationary growth (the Log-Stat switch). There were clear differences between the growth-dependent gene expression profiles of the virulent and avirulent pneumococcal strains in 367 of 1,112 genes. Transcripts of genes associated with bacterial competence and capsular polysaccharide formation, as well as clpP and cbpA, were higher in the virulent strain. Our data suggest that late log or early stationary phase may be the most virulent phase of S. pneumoniae.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.556-561
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• 2006

The HOX genes coding homeodomain proteins have been suggested as a candidate molecular switch that determines the fates of cells during embryonic development and patterning. It is believed that a set of differentiation-specific HOX genes enter into a turn-on state during tissue differentiation, in contrast to stem cell-specific HOX genes that enter into a turn-off state. However, comprehensive data of expression profiles of HOX genes in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and differentiated embryonic tissues are not available. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of all 39 HOX genes in hESC and human fetal tissues and analyzed the relationships between hESC and each tissue. Of the 39 genes, 18 HOX genes were expressed in stem cells, and diverse expression patterning was observed in human fetal tissues when compared with stem cells. These results indicate that HOX genes could be main targets for switching of stem cell differentiation into tissues.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.591-602
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• 2019

Human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, is highly invasive and aggressive, compared to less invasive cell line, MCF-7. To explore the genes that might influence the malignancy of MDA-MB-231, DNA microarray analysis was performed. The results showed that G0/G1 switch 2 (G0S2) was one of the most highly expressed genes among the genes upregulated in MDA-MB-231. Although G0S2 acts as a direct inhibitor of adipose triglyceride lipase, action of G0S2 in cancer progression is not yet understood. To investigate whether G0S2 affects invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells, G0S2 expression was inhibited using siRNA, which led to decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Consequently, G0S2 inhibition inactivated integrin-regulated FAK-Src signaling, which promoted Hippo signaling and inactivated ERK1/2 signaling. In addition, G0S2 downregulation decreased ${\beta}$-catenin expression, while E-cadherin expression was increased. It was demonstrated for the first time that G0S2 mediates the Hippo pathway and induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Taken together, our results suggest that G0S2 is a major factor contributing to cell survival and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.121-128
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• 2003

The identification of genes involved in true hypha formation is important in the study of mechanisms underlying the morphogenetic switch in yeast. We isolated a gene responsible for the morphogenetic switch in Yarrowia lipolytica, which forms true hyphae in response to serum or N-acetylglucosamine. The isolated gene, encoding 847 amino acids, had sequence identities of 27% and 25% with the Bud6 (Aip3) proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, respectively. Disruption of this gene, designated YIBUD6, in haploid and diploid strains significantly reduced the ability of Y. lipolytica to switch from the yeast form to the hyphal form in hypha-inducing media. It was also found that YIBud6$\Delta$ mutants were rounder than the wild type when grown in the yeast form. These results indicate that the YIBud6 protein is necessary for hyphal growth and cell polarity in both haploid and diploid Y. lipolytica cells.