• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2003

Background: CTLA4 (CD152), which is expressed on the surface of T cells following activation, has a much higher affinity for B7 molecules comparing to CD28, and is a negative regulator of T cell activation. In contrast to stimulating and agonistic capabilities of monoclonal antibodies specific to CTLA-4, CTLA4Ig fusion protein appears to act as CD28 antagonist and inhibits in vitro and in vivo T cell priming in variety of immunological conditions. We've set out to confirm whether inhibition of the CD28-B7 costimulatory response using a soluble form of human CTLA4Ig fusion protein would lead to persistent inhibition of alloreactive T cell activation. Methods: We have used CHO-$dhfr^-$ cell-line to produce CTLA4Ig fusion protein. After serum free culture of transfected cell line we purified this recombinant molecule by using protein A column. To confirm characterization of fusion protein, we carried out a series of Western blot, SDS-PAGE and silver staining analyses. We have also investigated the efficacy of CTLA4Ig in vitro such as mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) & cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response and in vivo such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), graft versus host disease (GVHD) and skin-graft whether this fusion protein could inhibit alloreactive T cell activation and lead to immunosuppression of activated T cell. Results: In vitro assay, CTLA4Ig fusion protein inhibited immune response in T cell-specific manner: 1) Human CTLA4Ig inhibited allogeneic stimulation in murine MLR; 2) CTLA4Ig prevented the specific killing activity of CTL. In vivo assay, human CTLA4Ig revealed the capacities to induce alloantigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in mouse model: 1) GVHD was efficiently blocked by dose-dependent manner; 2) Clinical score of EAE was significantly decreased compared to nomal control; 3) The time of skin-graft rejection was not different between CTLA4Ig treated and control group. Conclusion: Human CTLA4Ig suppress the T cell-mediated immune response and efficiently inhibit the EAE, GVHD in mouse model. The mechanism of T cell suppression by human CTLA4Ig fusion protein may be originated from the suppression of activity of cytotoxic T cell. Human CTLA4Ig could not suppress the rejection in mouse skin-graft, this finding suggests that other mechanism except the suppression of cytotoxic T cell may exist on the suppression of graft rejection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.282-289
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• 2021

A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), caused a worldwide pandemic. Our aim in this study is to produce new fusion inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2, which can be the basis for developing new antiviral drugs. The fusion core comprising the heptad repeat domains (HR1 and HR2) of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) were used to design the peptides. A total of twelve peptides were generated, comprising a short or truncated 24-mer (peptide #1), a long 36-mer peptide (peptide #2), and ten peptide #2 analogs. In contrast to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 S-mediated cell-cell fusion cannot be inhibited with a minimal length, 24-mer peptide. Peptide #2 demonstrated potent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 S-mediated cell-cell fusion at 1 µM concentration. Three peptide #2 analogs showed IC50 values in the low micromolar range (4.7-9.8 µM). Peptide #2 inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus assay at IC50=1.49 µM. Given their potent inhibition of viral activity and safety and lack of cytotoxicity, these peptides provide an attractive avenue for the development of new prophylactic and therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2016

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer related death. Alterations in gene sequence, structure, and expression have an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Fusion genes and alternative splicing of cancer-related genes have the potential to be oncogenic. In the current study, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate potential fusion genes and alternative splicing in non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: RNA was isolated from lung tissues obtained from 86 subjects with lung cancer. The RNA samples from lung cancer and normal tissues were processed with RNA-seq using the HiSeq 2000 system. Fusion genes were evaluated using Defuse and ChimeraScan. Candidate fusion transcripts were validated by Sanger sequencing. Alternative splicing was analyzed using multivariate analysis of transcript sequencing and validated using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. Results: RNA-seq data identified oncogenic fusion genes EML4-ALK and SLC34A2-ROS1 in three of 86 normal-cancer paired samples. Nine distinct fusion transcripts were selected using DeFuse and ChimeraScan; of which, four fusion transcripts were validated by Sanger sequencing. In 33 squamous cell carcinoma, 29 tumor specific skipped exon events and six mutually exclusive exon events were identified. ITGB4 and PYCR1 were top genes that showed significant tumor specific splice variants. Conclusion: In conclusion, RNA-seq data identified novel potential fusion transcripts and splice variants. Further evaluation of their functional significance in the pathogenesis of lung cancer is required.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2014

Plant cells from which the cell walls have been enzymatically or mechanically removed are called protoplasts. The protoplasts are theoretically totipotent and can be used as sources of somatic cell fusion in practical breeding programs. Wild Solanum species have often been used as sources of important agricultural traits including diverse disease resistance. However, they cannot often be directly applied to breeding programs due to their sexual incompatibility with S. tuberosum. Somatic hybridization via protoplast fusion is one of the ideal methods to overcome this limitation and to introgress certain traits into S. tuberosum. This technique has still widely been used in potato since the first fusion was reported in 1970s. Therefore, this review highlights general perspectives of protoplast fusion and discusses the application of protoplast fusion in potato breeding.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.606-610
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• 2013

Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) regulates glucose mediated-insulin secretion, nutrient accumulation, and ${\beta}$-cell growth. Despite the potential therapeutic usage for type 2 diabetes (T2D), GLP-1 has a short half-life in vivo ($t_{1/2}$ <2 min). In an attempt to prolong half-life, GLP-1 fusion proteins were genetically engineered: GLP-1 human serum albumin fusion (GLP-1/HSA), AGLP-1/HSA which has an additional alanine at the N-terminus of GLP-1, and AGLP-1-L/HSA, in which a peptide linker is inserted between AGLP-1 and HSA. Recombinant fusion proteins secreted from the Chinese Hamster Ovary-K1 (CHO-K1) cell line were purified with high purity (>96%). AGLP-1 fusion protein was resistant against the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV). The fusion proteins activated cAMP-mediated signaling in rat insulinoma INS-1 cells. Furthermore, a C57BL/6N mice pharmacodynamics study exhibited that AGLP-1-L/HSA effectively reduced blood glucose level compared to AGLP-1/HSA.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2008

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a cellular self-destruction mechanism that is essential for a variety of biological events, such as developmental sculpturing, tissue homeostasis, and the removal of unwanted cells. Mitochondria play a crucial role in regulating cell death. $Ca^{2+}$ has long been recognized as a participant in apoptotic pathways. Mitochondria are known to modulate and synchronize $Ca^{2+}$ signaling. Massive accumulation of $Ca^{2+}$ in the mitochondria leads to apoptosis. The $Ca^{2+}$ dynamics of ER and mitochondria appear to be modulated by the Bcl-2 family proteins, key factors involved in apoptosis. The number and morphology of mitochondria are precisely controlled through mitochondrial fusion and fission process by numerous mitochondria-shaping proteins. Mitochondrial fission accompanies apoptotic cell death and appears to be important for progression of the apoptotic pathway. Here, we highlight and discuss the role of mitochondrial calcium handling and mitochondrial fusion and fission machinery in apoptosis.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1993.07a
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• pp.287-289
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• 1993

Recently semiconductor technology is widely used in biotechnology fields and one of the represetatives is electric cell-fusion-device. In this paper. some basic researches required in the development of this fusion system was performed and they are as follows: 1) preparation of protoplast and selection of the fittest plant cell, 2) development of high frequency AC power supply for cell-alignment by using class-E resonant circuit. As a result, cabbage cell is selected and pearl-chain, which shows cell-alignment. can be observed by the applied AC field.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in fusion medium on the fusion, nuclear morphology and the development of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos. Bovine skin cells were transferred into an enucleated oocyte and fused with cytoplasm in the fusion medium containing with 0.05 to 1.0 mM Cacl$_2$. Nuclear transfer embryos were activated with a combination of A23187 and cycloheximide. Nuclear transfer embryos were fixed at 3 h after fusion or cultured for 7 ~8 days. Fusion rate was significantly (P＜0.01) increased by increasing the $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in the fusion medium from 0.05 mM (56.6%) to 0.5 mM (50.1%) and 1.0 mM (84.3%). More than 80% of reconstituted embryos underwent premature chromosome condensation (PCC) with 0.05, 0.1 mM CaCl$_2$, whereas 54.5% and 59.3% of embryos formed pronucleus (PN) directly without PCC in the 0.5 and 1.0 mM CaCl$_2$, groups. Blastocyst formation rates were significantly (P＜0.05) different between 0.1 mM and 1.0 mM CaCl$_2$groups. From the present result, it is suggested that the elevated $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in fusion medium can enhance the fusion and blastocyst formation rates of bovine nuclear transfer embryos.bryos.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.277-284
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• 1993

A possible involvement of maturation promoting factor (nfPF) in the two-cell block phenomenon was studied by fusion experiments. Germinal vesicle (GlF) ooeyte was fused with a blastomore from late or blocked 2-cell mouse embryos. and germinal vesicle breakdoum (GVBD) of fused GV oocvtes in the presence of dbcAMP (100$\mu$g/ml) was scored as an index of MPF aniviD. GnD was induced approximately 30% by fusion of a blastomere derived from late 2-cell embryos, but not from blocked 2-cell embryos. The rate of GVBD was changed when GV oocyte was fused with a blastomere from late 2-cell embryos which were treated with u-amanitin, puromvcin or colcemid before and after hsion: Treatment of late 2-cell embryos with puromycin (50 Is/mll but not with u-amanitin (100 Is/ml) clearly inhibited GVBD, indicating that do novo protein synthesis maw be required for the appearance of MPF activity in late 2-cell embryos. Treatment of late 2-cell embryos w기h colcemid (0.1 Is/mll doubled GVBD, presumably due to the maintenance of metaphase or mitotic phase. SDS-PAGE and twoiimensional electrophoresis revealed that there was no difference in protein synthetic pattern in late and blocked 2-cell embryos, but three phosphoproteins with 27, 35 and 46 M)a, presumsblv M-phase components were phosphorylated in late 2-cell embryos but not in blocked 2-cell embryos. It seems then that MPF activity is closely related to phosphorylstion of M-phase components in late 2-cell embryos.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.399-403
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• 1998

This study was carried out to optimize the concentration of Ca2+ and pH of fusion medium which affected electrofusion frequency of protoplasts isolated from Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv. BY4) mesophyll cells and callus. The protoplasts were electrofused in the fusion media containing two different Ca2+ concentrations and three different pH regions. Fusion frequency was lower in the fusion medium containing only 13% mannitol as osmotic stabilizer. However, higher degree of fusion frequency (47.3%) was observed in the fusion medium containing 50mM CaCl2 at pH 10.5 than any other conditions. Cell viability was decreased by Ca2+ and high pH treatment in the fusion media, while fusion frequency was increased. It is concluded that Ca2+ is involved in electrofusion of protoplasts.