• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1057-1065
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• 2021

Alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers have been reported in patients with stomach cancer and suggested to play a role in gastric carcinogenesis or gastric cancer progression. However, changes in the levels of mitochondrial proteins or mtDNA-encoded oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins in gastric cancer remain unclear. In this study, we investigated mtDNA contents, mitochondrial protein levels, and mtDNA-encoded OXPHOS protein levels in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. We correlated mtDNA copy numbers with clinicopathologic features of the gastric cancer samples used in this study and used quantitative PCR to analyze the mtDNA copy numbers of the gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Western blot analysis was used for assessing the amounts of mitochondrial proteins and mtDNA-encoded OXPHOS proteins. Among the 27 gastric cancer samples, 22 showed a reduction in mtDNA copy numbers. The mtDNA content was increased in the other five samples relative to that in normal matched gastric tissues. Mitochondrial protein and OXPHOS protein levels were reduced in some gastric cancer tissues. However, mitochondrial protein and OXPHOS protein levels in gastric cancer cell lines were not always in line with their mtDNA contents. The mtDNA copy numbers were reduced in five gastric cancer cell lines tested in this study. In summary, this study reports a common reduction in mtDNA contents in gastric carcinoma tissues and cell lines, pointing to the possible involvement of mtDNA content alterations in tumorigenesis of the stomach.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2011

Neurons utilize a large quantity of energy for their survival and function, and thereby require active mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial morphology shows dynamic changes, depending on the cellular condition, and mitochondrial dynamics are required for neuronal development and function. In this study, we found that the length of mitochondria in the distal axon is significantly shorter than that of mitochondria in dendrites or proximal axons of cerebral cortical neurons, and the reason for this difference is the local fission within the axon. We also found that suppression of Drp1, a key regulator of mitochondrial fission, resulted in significant elongation of mitochondria in axons. Collectively, these results suggest that local mitochondrial fission within the axon contributes to region-dependent mitochondrial length differences in the axons of cortical neurons.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2009

Recent advances in cell biological and genetic researches have revealed that mitochondrial morphology is highly dynamic and regulated by multiple molecular factors including dynamin-related proteins (DRPs). Considering that the mitochondria play critical roles in the cellular metabolism via ATP synthesis, calcium homeostasis in cooperation with endoplasmic reticulum, and apoptosis, the failure of mitochondrial dynamics is infrequently related to the failure in the normal growth and cellular integrity. In this respect, alteration of mitochondrial dynamics may greatly affect the development of nervous system. In this short review, we discussed molecules involved in the control of mitochondrial dynamics, and provide some perspectives on their significance in the neuronal development.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 1985

식이 중 지방함량이 성장기 뇌의 미토콘드리아 지방산 조성에 미치는 영향을 살펴보기 위해 옥수수기름을 각각 10, 2, 0.5% 포함한 3종류의 식이를 임신한 Sprague Dawley종의 흰쥐에게 임신말기부터 제공했다. 수유기간 중의 영향을 살펴보기 위해 대조군(10%옥수수기름 섭취)의 일부에 분만 후 0.5% 결핍식이를 섭취시켰고, 또 이유후부터 0.5% 결핍식이군의 일부에 10% 정상식이를 주어 회복효과를 관찰하고자 하였다. 전 실험기간 동안 체중과 뇌 무게, 단백질 함량을 측정하였고 뇌에서의 미토콘드리아를 분리하여 지방산 조성을 관찰하였다. 출생후 수유기간 동안에는 대조군에 비해 지방결핍식이군에서 체중과 뇌의 무게가 다소 높았으나 이유 후 부터 점점 감소하여 유의적인 차이를 볼 수 없었고 특히 0.5% 식이군의 체중은 생후 6주와 7주에 유의적인 감소를 보였다. 그러나 체중에 대한 뇌무게와 뇌의 단백질 함량에 있어에는 대조군과 결핍군 사이에 유의적인 차이를 볼 수 없었다. 따라서 지방결핍이 뇌 성장에 미치는 영향은 다른 영양소에 비해 크지 않음을 알 수 있었다. 뇌 미토콘드리아의 지방산 조성은 나이와 식이에 따라 변하였다. 나이를 먹음에 따라 단쇄 포화 지방산은 감소하고 다 불포화 지방산의 함량은 증가하였다. 또한 결핍식이군과 대조군 사이에 뇌 미토콘드리아 지방산조성을 살펴 본 결과 지방 결핍의 좋은 지표가 되고 불포화도, triene 과 tetraene의 비, 그리고 ${\omega}-6$ 계열과 ${\omega}-9$ 계열의 비에 있어서 큰 차이를 볼 수 있었다. 이들로 부터 성장초기에 지방함량을 조절한 식이에 의해 뇌 미토콘드리아 지질 조성이 크게 변하고 이에따라 미토콘드리아의 기능도 유의적인 영향을 받고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.32
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• pp.171-183
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• 2011

In this study molecular genetic analysis was carried out on 4 human skeletal remains from Osuri, Buyeo. We showed that real-time PCR is the method of the choice to assess the initial number of genuine ancient DNA molecules. Human mitochondrial DNA quantification was accomplished by the real-time PCR for the cytochrome b gene of the mitochondria. Histological results proved to be a good potentiality for biochemical analysis using biomolecule. The level of specimen's preservation state was proved that level of quantitative result was BO-04, BO-01, BO-03, BO-02. Continually, we showed that biochemical and biomolecule results for the level of preservation state were similar. This study will be useful to important material for predicting biochemistry and biology analysis of the ancient bone.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.8 s.88
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• pp.1053-1062
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• 2007

In the present work, we show that tamoxifen(Tam)-induced cytotoxicity is due to the mitochondrial-dependent pathway triggered by the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Tam induced the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase. According to the experimental results with $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, Tam-induced $Ca^{2+}$ uptake seemed to depend on the voltage-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channel at the early stage, but at later stages the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increases are more likely due partly to the release of stored $Ca^{2+}$ and partly to the capacitative $Ca^{2+}$ or other entry pathways. Tam-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase led to the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol and the change of mitochondrial membrane potential. In MCF-7 cells, caspase-7 plays a key role in the downstream of apoptosis because caspase-3 is absent. In the cells treated with Tam, caspase-7 cleavage was increased almost two-fold. There was no marked alteration in the level of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein; however, the cells showed increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein more than two-fold in response to Tam. These results imply that the apoptotic signaling pathway activated by Tam is likely to be mediated via the mitochondrial-dependent pathway.

• The Microorganisms and Industry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1991

tRNA는 그 생화학적인 역할이 잘 알려져 있고 구조적으로 안정하며, 이용할 수 있는 분자 생물학적인 자료가 많아, 유전자 발현과 유전자 산물간의 조직적인 상호작용을 연구하는데 적합한 재료이다. 효모의 미토콘드리아에는 24개의 tRNA 유전자가 잇어, 단백질 합성에 필요한 tRNA를 자급하고 있으나, 유전자 발현과 processing에 관여하는 모든 정보가, tRNA의 5' 부위를 process하는데 관여하는 효소중 RNA subunit인 9S RNA를 산출하는 tsl 유전자를 제외하고, 핵 유전자에 존재한다. 효모의 대표적인 종인 Saccharomyces cerevisiae의 $tRNA^{Asp}$ 유전자에 결함이 생긴 한 돌연변이 균주의 성질을 조사하고, 억제현상(suppression)을 규명하므로써 tRNA의 구조적 특성을 파악하고, 나아가 미토콘드리아 생성에 관여하는 핵 유전자를 찾아보고자 한다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.887-894
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• 2016

The extract from Artemisia annuain L.(AAE) is known as a medicinal herb that is effective against cancer. Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death, and mitochondria are known to play a central role in cell death control. In this study, we evaluated the p53-independent apoptosis of extract of AAE through downregulation of Bcl-2 and the mitochondrial pathway in A549 (lung cancer cells). AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through regulating p-Akt, Cox-2, p53 and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. p-Akt/cox-2 is known to play an important role in cell proliferation and cell survival. The Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic proteins (such as Bax, Bak and Bim) mediate the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Treatment of AAE reduces p-Akt, p-Mdm2, cox-2 and anti-apoptotic proteins (such as Bcl-2), while tumor suppressor p53 and pro-apoptotic proteins. Activation of Bax/Bak releases cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol to activate a caspase. Caspase-3 is the major effector caspase associated with apoptotic pathways. Caspase-3 generally exists in cytoplasm in the form of a pro-enzyme. In the initiation stage of apoptosis, caspase-3 is activated by proteolytic cleavage and activated caspase-3 cleaves poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). We treated Pifithrin-α (p53 inhibitor) and Celecoxib (Cox-2 inhibitor) to learn the relationship between the signal transduction of proteins associated with apoptosis. These results suggest that AAE induces apoptosis through a p53-independent pathway in A549.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.442-450
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• 2009

Piperine is an alkaloid-amine found in pepper and has been reported to have anticarcinogenic properties. To explore the possibility that piperine has cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in colon cancer, we examined whether piperine inhibits the growth of HT-29 human colon cancer cells and investigated the mechanisms for this effect. Cells were cultured with various concentrations ($0{\sim}40{\mu}M$) of piperine. Piperine decreased the cell viability and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells. Western blot analysis of total cell lysates revealed that piperine decreases the protein levels of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and intact Bid but increases Bik levels. Piperine increased the percentage of cells with depolarized mitochondrial membrane, and the release of cytochrome c into cytoplasm. Piperine induced the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspases 8, 9, 7, and 3 and increased the Fas levels. In addition, piperine significantly decreased the protein levels of survivin. The present results indicate that piperine inhibits the growth of HT-29 colon cancer cells by the induction of apoptosis, which may be mediated by its ability to change the Bcl-2 family proteins, increase the activation of caspases, and decrease survivin levels. Overall, our findings suggest that piperine has cancer chemotherapeutic effects in colon cancer.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2001

Cadmium is an ubiquitous toxic metal and chronic exposure to cadmium results in the accumulation of cadmium in the liver and kidneys. In contrast, acute exposure leads to damage mainly in the liver. Apoptosis induced by cadmium has been shown in many tissues in vivo and in cultured cells in vitro. However, the molecular mechanism of cadmium-induced apoptosis is not clear in hepatocyte. To investigate the induction of apoptosis in the hepatocyte, we used mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepalclc7 cells, and analysed the molecules that involved in cadmium-induced apoptosis. Cadmium induced the genomic DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and activation of caspase-3 like protease. Caspase-9 cysteine protease was activated in a time-dependent manner but caspase-8 cysteine protease was not significantly activated in cadmium-treated Hepalclc7 cells. Cadmium also induced mitochondrial dysfunction including cytochrome c release from mitochondria, change oj mitochondrial membrane potential tranition, and tranlocation of Bax Protein into mitochondria. These results strong1y indicated that the signal Pathway of apoptotic death in cadmium-treated Hepalclc7 cells is modulated by caspase cascade via mitochondria.