• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.645-652
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• 2019

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has the infamous distinction of being the leading cause of global cancer-related death over the past decade, and novel molecular targets are urgently required to change this status. We previously conducted a microarray analysis to investigate the association of transcription factor activating enhancer-binding protein 2C (TFAP2C) with NSCLC and revealed its oncogenic roles in NSCLC development. In this study, to identify new biomarkers for NSCLC, we focused on several oncogenes from the microarray analysis that are transcriptionally regulated by TFAP2C. Here, the cell division cycle 20 (CDC20) and tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) were subsequently found as potential potent oncogenes as they are positively regulated by TFAP2C. The results showed that the mRNA and protein levels of CDC20 and TRIB3 were down-regulated in two NSCLC cell lines (NCI-H292 and NCI-H838), which were treated with TFAP2C siRNA, and that the overexpression of either CDC20 or TRIB3 was responsible for promoting cell viability in both NSCLC cell lines. In addition, apoptotic levels of NCI-H292 and NCI-H838 cells treated with TFAP2C siRNA were found to be suppressed by the overexpression of either CDC20 or TRIB3. Together, these results suggest that CDC20 and TRIB3 are positively related to NSCLC tumorigenesis and that they should be considered as potential prognostic markers for developing an NSCLC therapy.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2018

Advances in bacterial and fungal genome mining uncover a plethora of cryptic secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. Guided by the genome information, targeted transcriptional derepression could be employed to determine the product of a cryptic gene cluster and to explore its biological role. Monascus spp. are food grade filamentous fungi popular in eastern Asia and several genome data belong to them are now available. We achieved transcription activation of a cryptic fungal polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthase gene Mpfus1 in Monascus purpureus ${\Delta}MpPKS5$ by inserting Aspergillus gpdA promoter at the upstream of Mpfus1 through double crossover gene replacement. The gene cluster with Mpfus1 show a high similarity to those for the biosynthesis of conjugated polyene derivatives with 2-pyrrolidone ring and the mycotoxin fusarin is the representative member of this group. The ${\Delta}MpPKS5$ is incapable of producing azaphilone pigment, providing an excellent background to identify chromogenic and UV-absorbing compounds. Activation of Mpfus1 resulted in a yellow hue on mycelia and its methanol extract exhibit a maximum absorption at 365 nm. HPLC analysis of the organic extracts indicated the presence of a variety of yellow compounds in the extract. This implies that the product of MpFus1 is metabolically or chemically unstable. LC-MS analysis guided us to predict the MpFus1 product and to propose that the Mpfus1-containing gene cluster encode the biosynthesis of a desmethyl analogue of fusarin. This study showcases the genome mining in Monascus and the possibility to unveil new biological activities embedded in it.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2007

The physiological responses of microorganisms to specific nutrient limitation can be regulated at the transcriptional levels. In this study, in order to develop the Pichia pastoris-derived promoter inducible by nutrient-limited condition, we constructed cDNA libraries using RT-PCR of total RNA from P. pastoris in steady-states of phosphate-limited chemostat with different dilution rates. Various genes were detected from cDNA library. Among these genes, the gene encoding putative sodium/phosphate ($Na^+$/Pi) symporter (NPS), high affinity transporter of phosphate, was detected. It was observed that expression of NPS increased in a manner specific to phosphate-limited condition through Northern blot. Therefore, it is thought that the promoter from NPS gene may have the potential as auto-inducible promoter by phosphate-limited culture condition without inducer.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2008

Dental pulp cells are assumed to possess the capacity to elaborate both bone and dentin matrix under the pathological conditions following tooth injury. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on various gene expression regarding dentinogenesis and cell viability assay in cultured primary human dental pulp cells. The author also examined the effects of this material on cellular alkaline phosphatase activity as a potential indicator of dentinogenesis. For gene expression on MTA, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed using primer sets of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase(ALP), osteonectin, and dentin sialoprotein after 2 and 4 days. Cell viability assay showed that the proportion of MTA-treated pulp cells which had been exposed for 5 days to MTA was higher than that of the control cells. Among the genes investigated in this study, ALP and osteonectin(SPARC) were increased in MTA treated group than in control. These findings suggest that this dental pulp culture system may be useful in the future as a model for studying the mechanisms underlying dentin regeneration after the treatment with MTA. Exposure to MTA material would not induce cytotoxic response in the dental pulp cells. In addition, MTA could influence the behavior of human pulp cells by increasing the ALP activity and SPARC synthesis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.630-635
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• 2014

Pine nut oil (PNO) is well known to impart beneficial effects in overweight individuals, but the mechanisms underlying PNO-mediated weight loss remain unclear. To investigate how PNO promotes weight loss, its composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, the effects of PNO on cytotoxicity, lipid accumulation, expression of lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, and leptin secretion were assessed in 3T3-L1 cells. GC-MS analyses revealed that PNO contains several components, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. Moreover, PNO did not have a cytotoxic effect on 3T3-L1 cells. However, it inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2). Finally, PNO significantly increased leptin secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results support the notion that PNO is useful for weight management in overweight individuals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.301-309
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• 2022

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) establishes infection in the human gastric mucosa for a long time and causes severe gastric diseases such as peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. When H. pylori is exposed to the antibacterial agents or inhibitors, the expression of pathogenic associated genes could be altered. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptional changes of H. pylori genes induced by zerumbone treatment. RNA expression changes were analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and then reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to verify the results. As a result of NGS analysis, a total of 23 out of 1,632 genes were differentially expressed by zerumbone treatment. RT-PCR confirmed that zerumbone treatment regulated the expression level of 14 genes. Among the genes associated with DNA replication, transcription, virulence factors and T4SS components, 10 genes (dnaE, dnaQ, rpoA, rpoD, secA, flgE, flhA, virB5, virB8 and virB9) were significantly down-regulated and 4 genes (flaA, flaB, virB4 and virD4) were up-regulated. The results of our current study imply that zerumbone might be a potential therapeutic agent for H. pylori infection by regulating factors related to various H. pylori pathogenicity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1214-1217
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• 2016

Rebamipide is a mucosal-protective antiulcer drug, but its mechanism of action in gastric cancer remains elusive. CagA, a major virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), is associated with the risk of gastric cancer. CagA protein is injected into gastric epithelial cells and deregulates a variety of cellular signaling molecules. CagA from H. pylori induces phospholipase D1 (PLD1) expression through NFκB activation in gastric epithelial cells, followed by invasion and proliferation of gastric epithelial cancer cells. Infection with cagA-positive H. pylori and expression of CagA enhances the binding of NFκB to the PLD1 promoter. Rebamipide abolishes H. pylori cagA-induced PLD1 expression via inhibition of binding of NFκB to the PLD1 promoter and also inhibits PLD activity. Moreover, rebamipide abolishes H. pylori CagA-induced β-catenin and the expression of a target cancer stem cell (CSC) marker gene via upregulation of miRNA-320a and -4496, followed by attenuation of self-renewal capacity of H. pylori CagA-infected gastric CSCs. In addition, rebamipide increases the chemosensitivity of CagA-expressed gastric CSCs and suppresses gastric carcinogenesis. Thus, it is speculated that rebamipide might show a potent efficacy as chemotherapeutic drug against gastric cancer cells. In this review, we summarizes recent results regarding the novel insights for the efficacy of rebamipide in gastric cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Statistical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.207-212
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• 2000

본 연구는 최근의 사회조사와 선거자료를 이용하여 한국사회의 지역주의의 특징을 살펴보고자 한다. 첫째, 최근의 선거결과에 보이는 지역주의적 투표는 지역간 사회적 거리를 잘 보여주고 있다. 둘째, 이러한 사회적 거리는 '편견과 차별'의 형태로 다양한 일상생활에서 존재하고 있다. 많은 사람들은 이러한 편견을 믿고 있으며, 편견에 의한 지역적 차별을 경험하고 있다. 특히 이러한 경험은 특정지역(호남)과 관련되어 있다. 셋째, 이러한 정치적 측면(지역주의적 투표)과 사회적 측면(지역간 편견)을 선거제도와 연결하여 살펴봄으로써, 앞으로 한국사회의 정치제도의 변화에 대한 전망을 할 수 있다. 연구의 잠재적인 가정은 선거에 있어서 지역적인 투표가 무조건 '나쁜' 것만은 아니라는 것이다. 한국 정치에서 나타나는 지도자나 이데올로기의 편향은 많은 사람들로 하여금 투표나 선거에서 출신지를 중요한 요소로 삼게 하였다. 이러한 요소는 쉽게 사라지지는 않을 것이며, 앞으로 선거제도의 변화에 중요한 역할을 할 것이다. 이러한 예측은 세 가지 중요한 요소에 근거하고 있다. 첫째, 유권자들의 지역주의에 대한 믿음과 예측은 쉽게 사라지지 않을 것이다. 둘째, 정치지도자들은 지역주의를 선거와 관련한 자신의 이익을 위해서 최대한 이용할 것이다. 셋째, 지역주의에 근거한 유권자들의 성향은 최근 선거와 투표에서 더욱 강화되고 있다. 정치엘리트들이 지역적인 기반을 중심으로 결합하려는 경향이 강해지고 있다. 이러한 경향은 이들 정치엘리트 사이의 내각중심제에 대한 선호도와 지역당의 출현 가능성을 증가시킬 것이다.도 설치행위의 처분성과 관련하여 횡단보도의 설치행위와 같은 일반적인 명령을 항고소송의 대상으로 할 필요성이 존재한다면 이른바 독일에서의 일반처분이라는 개념을 무리하게 받아들여 이를 행정행위의 한 유형으로 한다거나 우리 판례와 같이 "직접적이고 구체적인 법적 효과"를 미치는 명령이라는 명확치 않은 기준에 의하여 처분성을 인정하기보다는 일반적인 명령과 개별적인 행정행위를 구분하고 명령에 대하여도 취소소송의 대상으로 삼도록 하는 보다 명확하고 일관성 있는 논의전개를 제안하였다.수 있었다.로 첨가하여 48시간 배양한 후 암항원 유전자 발현성을 측정한 결과 세포주에 따라 다소 차이는 있으나 대개 0.2 uM농도에서도 유전자 발현이 유도되었으며 1, 5 uM농도에서 매우 강하게 유도되었다. ADC 처리가 페암세포주의 MHC와 B7 발현을 증가시키는가를 알아보기 위해 1 uM 농도의 ADC를 72시간 처치한 후 FACS 분석을 실시한 결과 4개의 페암세포주에서 MHC 및 B7분자의 발현은 유도되지 않았다. 또 ADC농도가 세포성장에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 ADC를 0.2, 1, 5 uM농도로 96시간 처치 후 세포수를 측정하여 상대성장지수를 알아본 결과 ADC 처치 농도가 증가함에 따라 세포의 성장은 매우 감소하였다. 결론: 폐암세포주에서 ADC처치는 MAGE, GAGE 및 NY-ESO-1과 같은 세포독성 T 림프구 반응을 유도할 수 있는 암항원의 발현을 증가시킬 수 있으며, ADC의 세포독성과 항원 발현 유발시간을 분석할 때 1 uM 농도에서 48시간 처치한 후 ADC가 없는 배지에서

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2006

Objective: Human embryonic stem (ES) cells have a great potential in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The human ES cells could be differentiated into specific cell types by treatments of growth factors and alterations of gene expressions. However, the efficacy of guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells are still low. In this study, we characterized isolated cells from differentiated human ES cells by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) system using specific antibodies to cell surface markers. Methods: The undifferentiated hES cells (Miz-hESC4) were sub-cultured by mechanical isolation of colonies and embryoid bodies were spontaneously differentiated with DMEM containing 10% FBS for 2 weeks. The differentiated cells were isolated to positive and negative cells with MACS system using CD34, human epithelial antigen (HEA) and human fibroblast (HFB) antibodies, respectively. Observation of morphological changes and analysis of marker genes expression were performed during further culture of MACS isolated cells for 4 weeks. Results: Morphology of the CD34 positive cells was firstly round, and then it was changed to small polygonal shape after further culture. The HEA positive cells showed large polygonal, and the HFB positive spindle shape. In RT-PCR analysis of marker genes, the CD34 and HFB positive cells expressed endodermal and mesodermal genes, and HEA positive cells expressed ectodermal genes such as NESTIN and NF68KD. The marker genes expression pattern of CD34 positive cells changed during the extension of culture time. Conclusion: Our results showed the possibility of successful isolation of specific cells by MACS system from undirected differentiated human ES cells. Thus, MACS system and marker antibodies for specific cell types might be useful for guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells from human ES cells.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.103-108
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• 2009

Little is known about roles of adipose tissue, although obesity is one of the potential risk factors in causing breast cancer and adipose tissue surrounding breast ductal cells is the largest organ. To identify the genes that are regulated by factors secreted from adipocytes in breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with the culture medium of adipocytes. In present study glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor-related protein ligand (GITRL) gene was studied among the induced genes. It was found that GITRL was significantly increased by the culture medium of adipocytes. Proteinase K-treated adipocyte culture supernatants failed to induce GITRL expression. These findings indicate that unknown protein factors are responsible for the induction of GITRL expression. The expression of GITRL did not affect the invasive ability of MDA-MB-231 cells, but coculture with NK92 expressing GITR suppressed the invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells.