• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2024

Purpose : Skin is the primary barrier to protect the body from various exogenous factors. Among them, UVB exposure can cause the induction of not only excessive inflammatory responses but also the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), including collagen and elastin. This study tried to investigate the ameliorative effect of Persicaria perfoliata ethanol extract (PPEE) on UVB-irradiated photodamage through the regulation of activator protein (AP)-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules in HaCaT cells. Methods : The cytotoxicity of PPEE on HaCaT cells was evaluated by the WST-1 assay. The 80 mJ/cm² of UVB (312 nm) was irradiated on HaCaT cells to induce the photodamage. Western blot analysis was conducted to investigate the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 for ameliorative status by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. In addition, the activated status of the inflammatory transcription factor, AP-1, as well as upstream signaling molecules, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK, were also evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results : Any cytotoxic effect was not induced at the concentration up to 200 ㎍/ml by PPEE treatment. Protein expression levels of COX-2 and MMP-9 were significantly down- and up-regulated by PPEE treatment. The inflammatory transcription factor AP-1, stimulated by UVB irradiation, was also significantly attenuated by PPEE treatment. The phosphorylated status of PI3K/Akt and MAPK were mitigated by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. Moreover, PPEE treatment potently accelerated the expression of HO-1 and its transcription factor, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)2, which is known for its anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion : Consequently, PPEE treatment significantly regulated COX-2 and MMP-9 expressions in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. The inflammatory transcription factor AP-1, along with upstream signaling molecules PI3K/Akt and MAPKs, were also attenuated by PPEE treatment in UVB-exposed HaCaT cells. Additionally, PPEE treatment exaggerated HO-1 expression and Nrf2 activation, which might have contributed to the anti-inflammatory activity of PPEE. These results indicate that PPEE could be a candidate for attenuating UVB-induced photodamage in human skin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7221-7227
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• 2013

Background: Fascin, an actin-bundling protein forming actin bundles including filopodia and stress fibers, is overexpressed in multiple human epithelial cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Previously we conducted a microarray experiment to analyze fascin knockdown by RNAi in ESCC. Method: In this study, the differentially expressed genes from mRNA expression profilomg of fascin knockdown were analyzed by multiple bioinformatics methods for a comprehensive understanding of the role of fascin. Results: Gene Ontology enrichment found terms associated with cytoskeleton organization, including cell adhesion, actin filament binding and actin cytoskeleton, which might be related to fascin function. Except GO categories, the differentially expressed genes were annotated by 45 functional categories from the Functional Annotation Chart of DAVID. Subpathway analysis showed thirty-nine pathways were disturbed by the differentially expressed genes, providing more detailed information than traditional pathway enrichment analysis. Two subpathways derivated from regulation of the actin cytoskeleton were shown. Promoter analysis results indicated distinguishing sequence patterns and transcription factors in response to the co-expression of downregulated or upregulated differentially expressed genes. MNB1A, c-ETS, GATA2 and Prrx2 potentially regulate the transcription of the downregulated gene set, while Arnt-Ahr, ZNF42, Ubx and TCF11-MafG might co-regulate the upregulated genes. Conclusions: This multiple bioinformatic analysis helps provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of fascin after its knockdown in ESCC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.41-44
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• 2000

With the advent of DNA microarray and "chip" technologies, gene expression in an organism can be monitored on a genomic scale, allowing the transcription levels of many genes to be measured simultaneously. Functional interpretation of massive expression data and linking such data to DNA sequences have become the new challenges to bioinformatics. I will us yeast cell cycle expression data analysis as an example to demonstrate how special database and computational methods may be used for extracting functional information, I will also briefly describe a novel clustering algorithm which has been applied to the cell cycle data.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.19.1-19.15
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• 2022

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important food and feed crop which rich in mineral sources. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) gene family plays important roles in plant development and identification of putative gene families, their structure, and potential functions is a primary step for not only understanding the genetic mechanisms behind various biological process but also for genetic improvement. A variety of computational tools, including MAFFT, HMMER, hidden Markov models, Pfam, SMART, MEGA, ProtTest, BLASTn, and BRAD, among others, were used. We identified 34 MsWOX genes based on a systematic analysis of the alfalfa plant genome spread in eight chromosomes. This is an expansion of the gene family which we attribute to observed chromosomal duplications. Sequence alignment analysis revealed 61 conserved proteins containing a homeodomain. Phylogenetic study sung reveal five evolutionary clades with 15 motif distributions. Gene structure analysis reveals various exon, intron, and untranslated structures which are consistent in genes from similar clades. Functional analysis prediction of promoter regions reveals various transcription binding sites containing key growth, development, and stress-responsive transcription factor families such as MYB, ERF, AP2, and NAC which are spread across the genes. Most of the genes are predicted to be in the nucleus. Also, there are duplication events in some genes which explain the expansion of the family. The present research provides a clue on the potential roles of MsWOX family genes that will be useful for further understanding their functional roles in alfalfa plants.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.567-572
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• 2010

In this study, we cloned the ERF-B3 subfamily transcription factor gene BnaERF-B3-hy15 from Brassica napus L. Huyou15. This 600 bp gene encodes a 199 amino acid classic ethylene responsive factor (ERF), which shown no binding or very weak binding GCC box-binding activity by the yeast one-hybrid assay. We used gene shuffling and the yeast one-hybrid system to obtain three mutated sequences that can bind to the GCC box. Sequence analysis indicated that two residues, Gly156 in the AP2 domain and Phe62 at the N-terminal domain were mutated to arginine and serine, respectively. Changes of Gly156 to arginine and Phe62 to serine increased the GCC-binding activity of BnaERF-B3-hy15 and the alter of Gly156 to arginine changed the AP2-domain structure of BnaERF-B3-hy15.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2009

In this study, we have shown the transcriptional regulation of the human GD3 synthase (hST8Sia I) induced by valproic acid (VPA) in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the regulation of hST8Sia I gene expression in VPA-stimulated SK-N-BE(2)-C cells, we characterized the promoter region of the hST8Sia I gene. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST8Sia I gene by the transient expression method showed that the -1146 to -646 region, which contains putative binding sites for transcription factors c-Ets-1, CREB, AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$, functions as the VPA-inducible promoter of hST8Sia I in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. Site-directed mutagenesis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that the NF-${\kappa}B$ binding site at -731 to -722 was crucial for the VPA-induced expression of hST8Sia I in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. In addition, the transcriptional activity of hST8Sia I induced by VPA in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells was strongly inhibited by SP600125, which is a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, and $G{\ddot{O}}6976$, which is a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, as determined by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) and luciferase assays. These results suggest that VPA markedly modulated transcriptional regulation of hST8Sia I gene expression through PKC/JNK signal pathways in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2007

Pituitary-specific transcription factor (PIT1) 유전자는 동물의 성장을 조절하고 근육 형성에 관여하는 유전자로서 최근에는 단일염기다형성 변이가 한우를 비롯한 동물에서 관찰되었으며, 한우의 경제 형질과 연관성이 보고되었다. 본 연구는 PIT1 유전자의 단일염기다형성 변이가 한우에서 성장 인자에 미치는 영향과 경제 형질에 대한 유전자형간 육종가와의 상관성에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 도체 성적을 보유하고 있는 한우 후보종모우 집단 268두를 대상으로 PIT1 유전자 A1256G 다형성을 조사하여 유전자형의 빈도를 분석하였고 각각의 유전형에 따른 기본적인 검정 성적을 바탕으로 경제 형질과의 연관성을 비교 분석하였다. 268두의 한우에서 PIT1 유전자의 A1256G 유전자형 빈도는 MseI 제한 효소를 사용했을 때 A 유전자 빈도(0.37)보다 G 유전자 빈도(0.62)가 높게 나타났다. 통계적 분석을 통하여 각 유전자형에 대한 경제 형질과의 관련성을 분석한 결과, 각 유전자형 간에 12개월령 체중 (body weight 12, BW12)에서 유의한 차이를 보였고, 등지방 두께 육종가 (Backfat thickness-estimated breeding value, BF-EBV)와도 유의한 차이가 있었지만 (p<0.05), marbling score (MS), carcass weight (CW), M. longissimus dorsi area (LDA) 등 다른 경제 형질과는 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. PIT1 유전자의 A1256G 다형성은 한우의 성장과 도체체중에 관여하는 인자로 작용하는 것으로 보여진다.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2009

Hemibarbus mylodon (Cypriniformes) is an endemic freshwater fish species in the Korean peninsula, for which urgent conservation efforts are needed. To understand their stress responses in relation to metal toxicity and thermal elevation, we performed a real-time RT-PCR-based expression assay of hepatic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), a key antioxidant enzyme, in response to experimental heavy metal exposure or heat treatment. The transcription of hepatic Cu/Zn-SOD was differentially modulated by acute exposure to Cu, cadmium (Cd), or Zn. Exposure to each metal at $5{\mu}M$ for 24 h revealed that Cu stimulated the mRNA expression of Cu/Zn-SOD to a greater extent than the other two heavy metals. The elevation in Cu/Zn-SOD transcripts in response to Cu exposure was dose-dependent (0.5 to $5{\mu}M$). Time course analysis of Cu/Zn-SOD expression in response to Cd exposure ($5{\mu}M$) revealed a transient pattern up to day 7. Exposure to thermal stress (an increase from 22 to $30^{\circ}C$ at a rate of $1^{\circ}C/h$ followed by $30^{\circ}C$ for 18 h) did not significantly alter SOD transcription, although heat shock protein 90 kDa (HSP90) transcription was positively correlated with an increase in temperature.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

Analysis of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence implicated treatment of 40 mM NaCl decreased maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv/Fm), actual quantum yield of PSII (${\Phi}_{PSII}$), and photochemical quenching (qP) in rice, but increased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Decreases in Fv/Fm, ${\Phi}_{PSII}$, and qP were significantly alleviated by $30\;{\mu}M$ jasmonic acid (JA), while NPQ increase was enhanced. Transcription levels of antioxidant isoenzyme genes were differentially modulated by NaCl treatment. Expression of cCuZn-SOD2 gene increased, while those of cAPXb, CATb, and CATc genes decreased. JA prevented salt-induced decrease of pCuZn-SOD gene expression, but caused greater decrease in mRNA levels of cAPXa and Chl_tAPX genes. Investigation of vacuolar $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger (NHX2) and 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) gene expressions revealed transcription level of NHX2 gene was increased by JA, regardless of NaCl presence, while that of P5CS gene slightly increased only in co-presence of JA and NaCl. Unlike JA, ${\gamma}$-radiation rarely affected expressions of antioxidant isoenzyme, NHX2, and P5CS genes, except for increase in mRNA level of Chl_tAPX and decrease in that of pCuZn-SOD. These results demonstrate enhanced salt-tolerance in JA-treated rice seedlings may be partly due to high transcription levels of pCuZn-SOD, NHX2, and P5CS genes under salt stress.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2017

Ephrin-A5 has been implicated in the regulation of brain morphogenesis and axon pathfinding. In this study, we used bacterial homologous recombination to express a LacZ reporter in various ephrin-A5 BAC clones to identify elements that regulate ephrin-A5 gene expression during mesencephalon development. We found that there is mesencephalon-specific enhancer activity localized to a specific +25.0 kb to +30.5 kb genomic region in the first intron of ephrin-A5. Further comparative genomic analysis indicated that two evolutionary conserved regions, ECR1 and ECR2, were present within this 5.5 kb region. Deletion of ECR1 from the enhancer resulted in disrupted mesencephalon-specific enhancer activity in transgenic embryos. We also found a consensus binding site for basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) in a highly conserved region at the 3'-end of ECR1. We further demonstrated that specific deletion of the bHLH TF binding site abrogated the mesencephalon-specific enhancer activity in transgenic embryos. Finally, both electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase-based transactivation assay revealed that the transcription factor Ascl1 bound the bHLH consensus binding site in the mesencephalon-specific ephrin-A5 enhancer in vitro. Together, these results suggest that the bHLH TF binding site in ECR1 is involved in the positive regulation of ephrin-A5 gene expression during the development of the mesencephalon.