• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 1992

A photosynthetic bacterium strain KUP-74 producing high amount of S-amino-levulinic acid(ALA) was isolated from soils, which was identified as Rhodocyclus gelatinosus. After 10 days cultivation under anaerobic-light condition at $30^{\circ}C$, 4 Klux and pH 6.8, 5 mg/l of ALA was formed extracellularly. ALA productions were increased up to 8 mg/l and 12 mg/l in cell cultivations either by the addition of 0.5% glycerol (v/v) or 10 mM of glycine and succinic acid, respectively, using Lascelles basal medium eliminated L-glutamic acid. By cultivation in the presence of 30 mM each D,L-glutamic acids and D,L-glutamines the yield of ALA showing a late induction phenomenon was reached the maximum value of 21 mg/l. Different culture times were needed to generate maximum ALA yields by the addition of initial precursors of $C_4$ and $C_5$ pathways in basal medium, as being 107 h and 262 h, respectively. 40 mg/l yield of ALA was observed by cell cultivation with the basal medium containing each 10 mM levulinic acid(LA) and glycine simultaneously.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.457-465
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• 2017

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced murine models of type 1 diabetes have been used to examine ER stress during pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis, as this ER stress plays important roles in the pathogenesis and development of the disease. However, the mechanisms linking type 1 diabetes to the ER stress-modulating anti-diabetic signaling pathway remain to be addressed, though it was recently established that ERK5 (Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 5) contributes to the pathogeneses of diabetic complications. This study was undertaken to explore the mechanism whereby ERK5 inhibition instigates pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis via an ER stress-dependent signaling pathway. STZ-induced diabetic WT and CHOP deficient mice were i.p. injected every 2 days for 6 days under BIX02189 (a specific ERK5 inhibitor) treatment in order to evaluate the role of ERK5. Hyperglycemia was exacerbated by co-treating C57BL/6J mice with STZ and BIX02189 as compared with mice administered with STZ alone. In addition, immunoblotting data revealed that ERK5 inhibition activated the unfolded protein response pathway accompanying apoptotic events, such as, PARP-1 and caspase-3 cleavage. Interestingly, ERK5 inhibition-induced exacerbation of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis was inhibited in CHOP deficient mice. Moreover, transduction of adenovirus encoding an active mutant form of $MEK5{\alpha}$, an upstream kinase of ERK5, inhibited STZ-induced unfolded protein responses and ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis. These results suggest that ERK5 protects against STZ-induced pancreatic ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis and hyperglycemia by interrupting the ER stress-mediated apoptotic pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 2019

Post-transcriptional regulation underlies the circadian control of gene expression and animal behaviors. However, the role of mRNA surveillance via the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway in circadian rhythms remains elusive. Here, we report that Drosophila NMD pathway acts in a subset of circadian pacemaker neurons to maintain robust 24 h rhythms of free-running locomotor activity. RNA interference-mediated depletion of key NMD factors in timeless-expressing clock cells decreased the amplitude of circadian locomotor behaviors. Transgenic manipulation of the NMD pathway in clock neurons expressing a neuropeptide PIGMENT-DISPERSING FACTOR (PDF) was sufficient to dampen or lengthen free-running locomotor rhythms. Confocal imaging of a transgenic NMD reporter revealed that arrhythmic Clock mutants exhibited stronger NMD activity in PDF-expressing neurons than wild-type. We further found that hypomorphic mutations in Suppressor with morphogenetic effect on genitalia 5 (Smg5) or Smg6 impaired circadian behaviors. These NMD mutants normally developed PDF-expressing clock neurons and displayed daily oscillations in the transcript levels of core clock genes. By contrast, the loss of Smg5 or Smg6 function affected the relative transcript levels of cAMP response element-binding protein B (CrebB) in an isoform-specific manner. Moreover, the overexpression of a transcriptional repressor form of CrebB rescued free-running locomotor rhythms in Smg5-depleted flies. These data demonstrate that CrebB is a rate-limiting substrate of the genetic NMD pathway important for the behavioral output of circadian clocks in Drosophila.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.629-637
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• 1997

Tumor necrosis factor-${alpha}$ (TNF) induced a cytotoxic response in ME-180 cervical carcinoma cells in vitro. This cytotoxic response was accompanied by a temporal series of mitogenic stimuli : increased c-fos, c-jun and jun-B expression. Depletion of protein kinase C (PKC) by exposure of ME-180 cells to 100ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 24hours almost completely abolished TNF-mediated increase in these signals, indicating that a PKC-dependent pathway is involved in TNF-mediated increases in the expression of c-fos, c-jun and jun-B. Characteristics of TNF receptors after exposure to 100ng/ml PMA or 24hours were not altered, suggesting that diminished induction of these oncogenes by TNF after PMA treatment is not due to any changes at the receptor level. To examine whether a PKC-dependent pathway is involved in TNF-mediated cytotoxicity in ME-180 cells, cytotoxicity was measured after depletion of PKC. No apparent changes in cytototoxicity after PKC depletion suggest that a PKC-dependent pathway is not involved in TNF-mediated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, results from cytotoxicity tests after exposure to staurosporine (PKC inhibitor) did not show any changes in the TNF-mediated cytotoxicity, confirming that a PKC-dependent pathway is not involved in this process. These data indicate that 1) TNF induces expression of c-fos, c-jun and jun-B oncogenes via a PKC-dependent pathway and 2) PKC-dependent expression of these three oncogenes by TNF may not be involved in TNF-mediated cytotoxicity in ME-180 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.447-452
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• 2022

Neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1) is an essential transcription factor for neuronal differentiation, maturation, and survival, and is associated with inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced glial cells; however, the concrete mechanisms are still ambiguous. Therefore, we investigated whether NeuroD1-targeting miRNAs affect inflammation and neuronal apoptosis, as well as the underlying mechanism. First, we confirmed that miR-30a-5p and miR-153-3p, which target NeuroD1, reduced NeuroD1 expression in microglia and astrocytes. In LPS-induced microglia, miR-30a-5p and miR-153-3p suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38, and the expression of cyclooxygenase and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) via the NF-κB pathway. Moreover, miR-30a-5p and miR-153-3p inhibited the expression of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-1β, which are involved in the innate immune response. In LPS-induced astrocytes, miR-30a-5p and miR-153-3p reduced ERK phosphorylation and iNOS expression via the STAT-3 pathway. Notably, miR-30a-5p exerted greater anti-inflammatory effects than miR-153-3p. Together, these results indicate that miR-30a-5p and miR-153-3p inhibit MAPK/NF-κB pathway in microglia as well as ERK/STAT-3 pathway in astrocytes to reduce LPS-induced neuronal apoptosis. This study highlights the importance of NeuroD1 in microglia and astrocytes neuroinflammation and suggests that it can be regulated by miR-30a-5p and miR-153-3p.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.964-974
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• 2022

Objective: The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is a threat to the poultry industry and economy and remains a potential source of pandemic infection in humans. Antiviral genes are considered a potential factor for studies on HPAIV resistance. Therefore, in this study, we investigated gene expression related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway by comparing non-infected, HPAI-infected resistant, and susceptible Ri chicken lines. Methods: Resistant (Mx/A; BF2/B21) and susceptible Ri chickens (Mx/G; BF2/B13) were selected by genotyping the Mx and BF2 genes. Then, the tracheal tissues of non-infected and HPAIV H5N1 infected chickens were collected for RNA sequencing. Results: A gene set overlapping test between the analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functionally categorized genes was performed, including biological processes of the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. A total of 1,794 DEGs were observed between control and H5N1-infected resistant Ri chickens, 432 DEGs between control and infected susceptible Ri chickens, and 1,202 DEGs between infected susceptible and infected resistant Ri chickens. The expression levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related genes (including MyD88, NF-κB, AP-1, c-fos, Jun, JunD, MAX, c-Myc), cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8), type I interferons (IFN-α, IFN-β), and IFN-stimulated genes (Mx1, CCL19, OASL, and PRK) were higher in H5N1-infected than in non-infected resistant Ri chickens. MyD88, Jun, JunD, MAX, cytokines, chemokines, IFNs, and IFN-stimulated expressed genes were higher in resistant-infected than in susceptible-infected Ri chickens. Conclusion: Resistant Ri chickens showed higher antiviral activity compared to susceptible Ri chickens, and H5N1-infected resistant Ri chickens had immune responses and antiviral activity (cytokines, chemokines, interferons, and IFN-stimulated genes), which may have been induced through the MAPK signaling pathway in response to H5N1 infection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.967-974
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• 2016

Zearalenone (ZEA) is an estrogenic mycotoxin that is produced by several Fusarium species, including Fusarium graminearum. One of the ZEA biosynthetic genes, ZEB2, encodes two isoforms of Zeb2 by alternative transcription, forming an activator (Zeb2L-Zeb2L homooligomer) and an inhibitor (Zeb2L-Zeb2S heterodimer) that directly regulate the ZEA biosynthetic genes in F. graminearum. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling regulates secondary metabolic processes in several filamentous fungi. In this study, we investigated the effects of the PKA signaling pathway on ZEA biosynthesis. Through functional analyses of PKA catalytic and regulatory subunits (CPKs and PKR), we found that the PKA pathway negatively regulates ZEA production. Genetic and biochemical evidence further demonstrated that the PKA pathway specifically represses ZEB2L transcription and also takes part in posttranscriptional regulation of ZEB2L during ZEA production. Our findings reveal the intriguing mechanism that the PKA pathway regulates secondary metabolite production by reprograming alternative transcription.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.387-392
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• 1998

Brevibacterium lactofermentum, a gram-positive bacteria, has both the diaminopimelate (DAP) pathway and meso-DAP-dehydrogenase (DDH) pathway for L-lysine biosynthesis. To investigate importance of DDH pathway and the related ddh gene in lysine production, we introduced site-specific mutagenesis technique. A 300 bp DNA fragment central to the meso-DAP-dehydrogenase gene (ddh) of B. lactofermentum was used to inactive chromosomal ddh gene via homologous recombination. Southern hybridization analysis confirmed that the chromosomal ddh gene was disrupted by the vector sequence. The B. lactofementum ddh mutant obtained have an inactive DDH pathway. The results reveal that inactivation of the ddh gene in B. lactofermentum leads to dramatic reduction of lysine production as well as decrease of the growth rate, indicating that the DDH pathway is essential for high-level lysine production as well as biosynthesis of meso-DAP.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.661-665
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• 1995

Ginsenoside-Rg$_{1}$(G-Rg$_{1}$) has been shown to stimulate DNA synthetic activity in SK-HEP-1 cells. This study was therefore designed to determine in SK-HEP-1 cells whether the stimulatory effect of G-Rg$_{1}$ may be mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) which is known to play a key role in the signal transduction pathway leading to the cell proliferation. Using the tn situ PKC assay method, the PKC enzyme activity was determined in SK-HEP-1 cell cultures in response to G-Rg$_{1}$ at 3*10$^{-5}$ M or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) at 10$^{-6}$ M which in the enzyme activity by 1.5- and 7-fold, respectively. Furthermore, G-Rg$_{1}$, was also able to synergistically increase the enzyme activity by 11-fold m the cell cultures in the presence of PMA. These stimulatory effects of G-Rg$_{1}$ or PMA on the DNA synthetic activity and the PKC activity were ablished by a specific PKC inhibitor, GF109203X. These results suggest that the stimulatory effect of G-Rg$_{1}$ on the DNA synthetic activity may be partly due to stimulation of PKC-mediated signal transduction pathway leading to the proliferation of SK-HEP-1 cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5807-5815
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• 2015

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy and constitutes the fifth leading cause of female cancer death. Some biological parameters have prognostic roles in patients with advanced ovarian cancer and their expression may contribute to tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential prognostic value of SKP2, genes P27Kip1, K-ras, c-Myc, COX2 and HER2 genes expression in ovarian cancer. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on two hundred formalin fixed paraffin embedded ovarian cancer and normal adjacent tissues (NAT). Gene expression levels were assessed using real time PCR and Western blotting. Results: Elevated expression levels of SKP2, K-ras, c-Myc, HER2 and COX2 genes were observed in 61.5% (123/200), 92.5% (185/200), 74% (148/200), 96 % (192/200), 90% (180/200) and 78.5% (157/200) of cancer tissues, respectively. High expression of SKP2 and down-regulation of P27 was associated with advanced stages of cancer. Conclusions: The association between high expression of c-Myc and SKP2 with low expression of P27 suggested that the Skp2-P27 pathway may play an important role in ovarian carcinogenesis. Reduced expression of P27 is associated with advanced stage of cancer and can be used as a biological marker in clinical routine assessment and management of women with advanced ovarian cancer.