• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권13호
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• pp.5463-5468
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• 2014

MicroRNAs might act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in cancer. Recent studies have shown that miR-421 is up-regulated in human gastric cancer. Here, we found that miR-421 was over-expressed in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the caspase-3 gene was a target of miR-421. Caspase-3 was negatively regulated by miR-421 at the post-transcriptional level. Bax and Bcl-2 were also regulated by miR-421. Moreover, tumor necrosis factor receptor-I and -II, death receptors in the apoptosis pathway, were up-regulated by miR-421. The over-expression of miR-421 promoted gastric cancer cell growth and inhibited apoptosis of the BGC-823 gastric cancer cell line. These observations indicate that miR-421 acts as a tumor promoter by targeting the caspase-3 gene and preventing apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through inhibition of caspase-3 expression. These findings contribute to our understanding of the functions of miR-421 in gastric cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.1043-1048
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• 2012

The COPS3 gene has stimulating effect on cell proliferation and progression of osteosarcomas and related cells. However, the features of COPS3 and its potential application as a therapeutic target in other cancers has not yet been studied. In this study, therefore, the effect of COPS3 silencing via COPS3 siRNA on lung cancer cell proliferation was examined. Expression levels of COPS3 gene in COPS3 siRNA infected cells and control siRNA infected cells were compared with real time PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell proliferation levels were comprehensively analyzed by MTT, BrdU incorporationy, and colony formation assays. For mechanistic assessment the effects of COPS3 silencing on cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results showed that successful silencing of the COPS3 gene at both translational and transcriptional levels significantly reduced the proliferation and colony formation by lung cancer cells (p<0.01). Flow cytometry showed cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase after COPS3 silencing, and more importantly, apoptosis was induced as a result of COPS3 knockdown, which negatively affected cell survival. Therefore, these results provide another piece of important evidence that the COPS3 gene expressed in lung cancer cells may play a critical role in stimulating proliferation. Down-regulation of COPS3 could significantly inhibit lung cancer cell growth, which was most likely mediated via induction of cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and apoptosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권12호
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• pp.1679-1683
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to study the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 5'-untranslated regions (5'-UTR) of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) genes and the serum eCG levels. Methods: SNPs in 5'-UTR of eCG genes were screened across 10 horse breeds, including 7 Chinese indigenous breeds and 3 imported breeds using iPLEX chemistry, and the association between the serum eCG levels of 174 pregnant Da'an mares and their serum eCG levels (determined with ELISA) was analyzed. Results: Four SNPs were identified in the 5'-UTR of the $eCG{\alpha}$ gene, and one of them was unique in the indigenous breeds. There were 2 SNPs detected at the 5' end of the $eCG{\beta}$ subunit gene, and one of them was only found in the Chinese breeds. The SNP g.39948246T>C at the 5'-UTR of $eCG{\alpha}$ was associated significantly with eCG levels of 75-day pregnant mare serum (p<0.05) in Da'an mares. Prediction analysis on binding sites of transcription factors showed that the g.39948246T>C mutation causes appearance of the specific binding site of hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 forkhead homolog 2 (HFH-2), which is a transcriptional repressor belonging to the forkhead protein family of transcription factors. Conclusion: The SNP g.39948246T>C at the 5'-UTR of $eCG{\alpha}$ is associated with eCG levels of 75-day pregnant mare serum (p<0.05).

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2016

Objectives : Adipogenesis was defined as a differentiation process of preadipocytes into the adipocytes. Thus, to control of this process can be one of the most important strategies to prevent obesity. Korean ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs. Although multiple biological activities of Korean ginseng, particularly ginsenosides, have been known, the anti-adipogenic role and function of polysaccharides from Korean ginseng are still unclear. In this study, we examined anti-adipogenic activity of polysaccharides and its molecular basis mechanisms are further investigated.Methods : The cytotoxicity of KGP in 3T3-L1 was evaluated by MTT assay. Anti-adipogenic effect of KGP was examined by Oil Red O (ORO) staining and microscopy observation in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes. The mRNA expression levels of adipogenic transcriptional factors were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR). To elucidate the adipogenic molecular mechanism of KGT, SB431542 (TGF-β specific inhibitor) was used.Results : We found that polysaccharides showed no effect on the viability of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Dose dependent inhibitory effect of polysaccharides on 3T3-L1 adipogenesis was observed as judged by ORO staining and microscopic image analysis. To obtain further mechanistic insight into anti-adipogenic function of polysaccharides, we then tested the effect of polysaccharides treatment on the adipogenic marker genes. The mRNA expressions level of C/EBPα, PPARγ, C/EBPβ, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were dose-dependently inhibited by KGP treatment in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes.Conclusions : In conclusion, these findings suggest that the KGP could be used in treatment of obesity and overweight related diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.700-708
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• 2004

The genes located within the p74 gene region of the Choristoneura fumiferana granulovirus (ChfuGV) were identified by sequencing an 8.9 kb BamHI restriction fragment on the ChfuGV genome. The global guanine-cytosine (GC) content of this region of the genome was 33.02%. This paper presents the ORFs within the p74 gene region along with their transcriptional orientations. This region contains a total of 15 open reading frames (ORFs). Among those, 8 ORFs were found to be homologues to the baculoviral ORFs: Cf-i-p , Cf-vi, Cf-vii, Cf-viii (ubiquitin), Cf-xi (pp31), Cf-xii (lef-11), Cf-xiii (sod) and Cf-xv-p (p74). To date, no specific function has been assigned to the ORFs: Cf-i, Cf-ii, Cf-iii, Cf-iv, Cf-v, Cf-vi, Cf-vii, Cf-ix and Cf-x. The most noticeable ORFs located in this region of the ChfuGV genome were ubiquitin, lef-11, sod, fibrillin and p74. The phylogenetic trees (constructed using conceptual products of major conserved ORFs) and gene arrangement in this region were used to further examine the classification of the members of the granulovirus genus. Comparative studies demonstrated that ChfuGV along with the Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV), Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus (PhopGV), Adoxophyes orana granulovirus (AoGV) and Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (ClGV) share a high degree of amino acids sequence and gene arrangement preservation within the studied region. These results support a previous report, which classified a granuloviruses into 2 distinct groups: Group I: ChfuGV, CpGV, PhopGV and AoGV and Group II: Xestia c-nigrum granulovirus (XcGV) and Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PxGV). The phylogenetic and gene arrangement studies also placed ClGV as a novel member of the Group I granuloviruses.

• BMB Reports
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• 제41권10호
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• pp.693-698
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• 2008

The full-length cDNA of LebZIP2 (Lycopersicon esculentum bZIP2) encodes a protein of 164 amino acids and contains a N-terminal basic-region leucine zipper domain. Analysis of the deduced tomato LebZIP2 amino acid sequence revealed that it shares 85% sequence identity with both tobacco bZIP and pepper CcbZIP. LebZIP2 mRNA is expressed at a high level exclusively in flowers. Presently, LebZIP2 was strongly increased also following NaCl and mannitol treatments. No significant LebZIP2 expression was evident following cold treatment. Transient LebZIP2 overexpression resulted in increased NbNOA1 and NbNR transcript levels in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Our results indicate that LebZIP2 might play roles as an abiotic stress-signaling pathway and as a transcriptional regulator of the NbNOA1 or NbNR genes.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2002년도 생물공학의 동향 (X)
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• pp.293-296
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• 2002

Hyperosmotic pressure increased specific antibody productivity ($q_{Ab}$) of recombinant CHO cells (SH2-0.32) while it depressed cell growth. Thus, the use of hyperosmolar medium did not increase the maximum antibody concentration substantially. To overcome this drawback, the feasibility of biphasic culture strategy was investigated. In the biphasic culture, cells were first cultivated in the standard medium with physiological osmolality(294 mOsm/kg) for cell growth. When cells reached the late exponential phase of growth, the spent standard medium was replaced with the fresh hyperosmolar medium (522 mOsm/kg) for antibody production. The ($q_{Ab}$) in growth phase with the standard medium was 2.1 ${\mu}g/10^6cell/day$ while the ($q_{Ab}$) in antibody production phase with the hyperosmolar medium (522 mOsm/kg) was 11.1 ${\mu}g/10^6cell/day$. Northern blot analysis showed a positive relationship between the relative contenet of Ig mRNA and ($q_{Ab}$), indicating that transcriptional regulation was involved in the response of rCHO cells to hyperosmotic pressure. Due to the enhanced ($q_{Ab}$) and increased cell concentration in biphasic culture, the maximum antibody concentration obtained in biphasic culture with 522 mOsm/kg medium exchange was 161% higher than that obtained in batch culture with the standard medium. Taken together, simple biphasic culture strategy based on hyperosmotic culture for improved foreign protein production from rCHO cells is effective in improving antibody production of rCHO cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권10호
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• pp.1604-1613
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• 2018

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a probiotic commonly used in fermented dairy products. In this study, RNA-sequencing was performed to unravel the effects of acid stress on LGG. The transcriptomic data revealed that the exposure of LGG to acid at pH 4.5 (resembling the final pH of fermented dairy products) for 1 h or 24 h provoked a stringent-type transcriptomic response wherein stress response- and glycolysis-related genes were upregulated, whereas genes involved in gluconeogenesis, amino acid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism were suppressed. Notably, the pilus-specific adhesion genes, spaC, and spaF were significantly upregulated upon exposure to acid-stress. The transcriptomic results were further confirmed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Moreover, acid-stressed LGG demonstrated an enhanced mucin-binding ability in vitro, with 1 log more LGG cells (p < 0.05) bound to a mucin layer in a 96-well culture plate as compared to the control. The enhanced intestinal binding ability of acid-stressed LGG was confirmed in an animal study, wherein significantly more viable LGG cells (${\geq}2log\;CFU/g$) were observed in the ileum, caecum, and colon of acid-stressed LGG-treated mice as compared with a non-acid-stressed LGG-treated control group. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that acid stress enhanced the intestine-binding ability of LGG through the induction of pili-related genes.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제60권1호
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• pp.97-106
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• 2015

Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji in Korea, has a wide range of pharmacologic properties, such as reducing adiposity and hyperlipidemia, and antiatherosclerotic effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In order to profile proteins from the nodal segment, callus, root and shoot, high throughput proteome approach was executed in the present study. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 84 differential expressed proteins were confirmed out of 839 protein spots using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 58 differential expressed protein spots (${\geq}$ 2-fold) were analyzed using MASCOT search engine according to the similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins along with the UniProt database. Out of 58 differential expressed protein, 32 protein spots were up-regulated such as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, endoplasmic oxidoreductin-1, heat stress transcription factor A3, RNA pseudourine synthase 4, cysteine proteinase, GntR family transcriptional regulator, E3 xyloglucan 6-xylosyltransferase, while 26 differential protein spots were down-regulated such as L-ascorbate oxidase precursor, late embryogenesis abundant protein D-34, putative SCO1 protein, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 3. However, frequency distribution of identified proteins using iProClass databases, and assignment by function based on gene ontology revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleic acid binding (17%), transferase activity (14%) and ion binding (12%). In that way, the exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.28-35
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• 2018

Pulegone is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from essential oils from a variety of plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects through the inhibitory mechanism of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways and the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/ heme oxygenase (HO)-1 pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Results revealed that pulegone significantly inhibited NO production as well as iNOS and COX-2 expressions. Meanwhile, western blot analysis showed that pulegone down-regulated LPS-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPKs activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the selected compound suppressed LPS-induced intracellular ROS production in RAW 264.7 cells, while the expression of stress response gene, HO-1, and its transcriptional activator, Nrf-2 was upregulated upon pulegone treatment. Taking together, these findings provided that pulegone inhibited the LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators via the down-regulation iNOS, COX-2, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and MAPKs signaling pathways as well as up-regulation of Nrf-2/HO-1 indicating that pulegone has a potential therapeutic and preventive application in various inflammatory diseases.