• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.909-920
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• 2020

Cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels ([Ca²⁺]_c) change dynamically in response to inducers, repressors, and physiological conditions, and aberrant [Ca²⁺]_c concentration regulation is associated with cancer, heart failure, and diabetes. Therefore, [Ca²⁺]_c is considered as a good indicator of physiological and pathological cellular responses, and is a crucial biomarker for drug discovery. A genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) was recently developed to measure [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models. GECI have some advantages over chemically synthesized indicators, although they also have some drawbacks such as poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), low positive signal, delayed response, artifactual responses due to protein overexpression, and expensive detection equipment. Here, we developed an indicator based on interactions between Ca²⁺-loaded calmodulin and target proteins, and generated an innovative GECI sensor using split nano-luciferase (Nluc) fragments to detect changes in [Ca²⁺]_c. Stimulation-dependent luciferase activities were optimized by combining large and small subunits of Nluc binary technology (NanoBiT, LgBiT:SmBiT) fusion proteins and regulating the receptor expression levels. We constructed the binary [Ca²⁺]_c sensors using a multicistronic expression system in a single vector linked via the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and examined the detection efficiencies. Promoter optimization studies indicated that promoter-dependent protein expression levels were crucial to optimize SNR and sensitivity. This novel [Ca²⁺]_c assay has high SNR and sensitivity, is easy to use, suitable for high-throughput assays, and may be useful to detect [Ca²⁺]_c in single cells and animal models.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.528-534
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• 2015

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a key regulator of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Recent studies have shown that, BIX01294, a G9a histone methyltransferase (HMT)-specific inhibitor, induces apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. However, not many studies have investigated whether inhibition of G9a HMT can modulate HIF-$1{\alpha}$ stability and angiogenesis. Here, we show that BIX01294 dose-dependently decreases levels of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The half-life of HIF-$1{\alpha}$, expression of proline hydroxylase 2 (PHD2), hydroxylated HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) under hypoxic conditions were decreased by BIX01294. The mRNA expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also significantly reduced by BIX01294 under hypoxic conditions in HepG2 cells. BIX01294 remarkably decreased angiogenic activity induced by VEGF in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo, as demonstrated by assays using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), mouse aortic rings, and chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs), respectively. Furthermore, BIX01294 suppressed VEGF-induced matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) activity and inhibited VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and paxillin in HUVECs. In addition, BIX01294 inhibited VEGF-induced formation of actin cytoskeletal stress fibers. In conclusion, we demonstrated that BIX01294 inhibits HIF-$1{\alpha}$ stability and VEGF-induced angiogenesis through the VEGFR-2 signaling pathway and actin cytoskeletal remodeling, indicating a promising approach for developing novel therapeutics to stop tumor progression.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.223-236
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• 2018

Objectives : We compared the inhibitory effects of herb-combined remedies, which were recorded on "Yooam" prescription of Dongeuibogam, on cell migration and invasion, two critical cellular processes that are often deregulated during metastasis, in B16F10 melanoma cells. For this purpose, water extracts of Sipyukmiryukieum (SYMRKU), Danjacheongpitang (DJCPT), Cheongganhaeultang (CGHUT) and Jipaesan (JPS) were used. Methods : Cytotoxicity was assessed by an MTT assay. Wound healing and matrigel transwell assays were used to examine on B16F10 cell migration and invasion. The levels of mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results : Our data showed that DJCPT showed the strongest inhibitory effect among the four prescriptions in inhibiting cell motility of B16F10 melanoma cells within the concentration range that was not cytotoxic. The inhibitory potential of colony formation was higher in DJCPT and SYMRKU compared to the other two types of prescriptions, and the inhibitory effect of invasiveness is shown in order of DJCPT, SYMRKU, CGHUT and JPS. DJCPT, and SYMRKU strongly inhibited the activity and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are important mediators in cancer invasion, compared to CGHUT and JPS, and the increased expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was also more effective in these two prescriptions. In conclusion, DJCPT is expected to exhibit the most potent blocking effect on migration and invasion among four herb-combined remedies compared in B16F10 melanoma cells. Conclusion : Overall, the results of this study will be used as an important source to validate these prescriptions in animal models and to understand the mechanism of action of herbal remedies recorded in Dongeuibogam.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1385-1390
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• 2007

Anticarcinogenic-active compound was isolated and purified from Angelica gigas Nakai. The compound was identified as decursin ($C_{19}H_{20}O_5$; molecular weight 328) by mass, IR spectrophotometry $^1H-NMR$ and $^{13}C-NMR$. The proliferation decreased in a dose dependant fashion in the MCF-7 cells treated with decursin for 24 hours over the concentration of $20{\mu}g/mL$. The $IC_{50}$ value of the decursin treatment for 24 hours were 31.04, 33.60, 27,24, $20.45{\mu}g/mL$ in the SW480, 293, HepG2 and MCF-7 cells, respectively, The growth inhibitory effect was stronger in the MCF-7 cells compared to other cells including 293 of human normal cells. The chromatin condensation, apoptotic body formation and DNA fragmentation were examined in the cells treated with decursin. These results suggest that decursin from Angelica gigas Nakai inhibited the growth through apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.572-577
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• 2018

Recent studies showed that the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade is a dramatic therapy for melanoma by enhancing antitumor immune activity. Currently, major strategies for the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade have mainly focused on the use of antibodies and compounds. Seeking an alternative approach, others employ endogenous proteins as blocking agents. The extracellular domain of PD-1 (ePD1) includes the binding site with PD-L1. Accordingly, we constructed a PD-1-based recombinantly tailored fusion protein (dFv-ePD1) that consists of bivalent variable fragments (dFv) of an MMP-2/9-targeted antibody and ePD1. The melanoma-binding intensity and antitumor activity were also investigated. We found the intense and selective binding capability of the protein dFv-ePD1 to human melanoma specimens was confirmed by a tissue microarray. In addition, dFv-ePD1 significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of mouse melanoma B16-F1 cells, and displayed cytotoxicity to cancer cells in vitro. Notably, dFv-ePD1 significantly inhibited the growth of mouse melanoma B16-F1 tumor cells in mice and in vivo fluorescence imaging showed that dFv-ePD was gradually accumulated into the B16-F1 tumor. Also the B16-F1 tumor fluorescence intensity at the tumor site was stronger than that of dFv. This study indicates that the recombinant protein dFv-ePD1 has an intensive melanoma-binding capability and exerts potent therapeutic efficacy against melanoma. The novel format of the PD-L1-blocked agent may play an active role in antitumor immunotherapy.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Marine microalgae are a promising source of organisms that can be cultured and targeted to isolate the broad spectrum of functional metabolites. In this study, two species of cyanobacteria, Chlorella ovalis Butcher and Nannchloropsis oculata Droop, one species of bacillariophyta, Phaeoductylum tricornutum Bohlin, and one species of Dinophyceae, Amphidinium carterae (Hulburt) were cultured and biomasses used to evaluate the proximate comical compositions. Among the determined proximate chemical compositions of the cultured marine microalgae, the highest content of crude proteins and lipids were exhibited in P. tricornutum and A. carterae, respectively. Solvent-solvent partition chromatography was subjected to fractionate each of the cultured species and separated n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions. Nitric oxide production inhibitory level (%) and cytotoxicity effect on lipo-polysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were performed to determine the anti-inflammatory activity. N. oculata hexane and chloroform fractions showed significantly the strongest anti-inflammatory activity at $6.25{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentration. The cancer cell growth inhibition (%) was determined on three different cell lines including HL-60 (a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line), A549 (a human lung carcinoma cell line), and B16F10 (a mouse melanoma cell line), respectively. Among the extracts, C. ovalis ethyl acetate and A. carterae chloroform fractions suppressed the growth of HL-60 cells significantly at 25 and $50{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentrations. Thus, the cultured marine microalgae solvent extracts may have potentiality to isolate pharmacologically active metabolites further using advance chromatographic steps. Hence, the cultured marine microalgae can be described as a good candidate for the future therapeutic uses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2009

Esculetin, a coumarin compound, has been known to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several types of human cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in esculetin-induced apoptosis are still uncharacterized in human leukemia cells. In this study, we have investigated whether esculetin exerts anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on human leukemia U937 cells. It was found that esculetin could inhibit cell viability in a time-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death such as increased populations of apoptotic- sub G1 phase. Apoptosis of U937 cells by esculetin was associated with an inhibition of Bcl-2/Bax binding activity, formation of tBid, down-regulation of X-linked inhibitor of apoptotic protein (XIAP) expression, and up-regulation of death receptor 4 (DR4) and FasL expression. Esculetin treatment also induced the degradation of ${\beta}$-catenin and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase (DFF45/ICAD). Furthermore, a caspase-3 specific inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, significantly inhibited sub-G1 phase DNA content, morphological changes and degradation of ${\beta}$-catenin and DEE45/ICAD. These results indicated that a key regulator in esculetin-induced apoptosis was caspase-3 in human leukemia U937 cells.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.519-532
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• 1999

Helicobacter pylori is a causative agent of type B gastritis and plays a central role in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. To elucidate the host-parasite relationship of the H. pylori infection on the basis of molecular biology, we tried to evaluate the genomic diversity of H. pylori. An ordered overlapping bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of a Korean isolate, H. pylori 51 was constructed to set up a genomic map. A circular physical map was constructed by aligning ApaI, NotI and SfiI-digested chromosomal DNA. When the physical map of H. pylori 51 was compared to that of unrelated strain, H. pylori 26695, completely different restriction patterns were shown. Fifteen known genes were mapped on the chromosome of H. pylori 51 and the genetic map was compared with those of strain 26695 and J99, of which the entire genomic sequences were reported. There were some variability in the gene location as well as gene order among three strains. For further analysis on the genomic diversity of H. pylori, when comparing the genomic structure of 150 H. pylori Korean isolates with one another, genomic macrodiversity of H. pylori was characterized by several features: whether or not susceptible to restriction digestion of the chromsome, variation in chromosomal restriction fingerprint and/or high frequency of gene rearrangement. We also examined the extent of allelic variation in nucleotide or deduced amino acid sequences at the individual gene level. fucT, cagA and vacA were confirmed to carry regions of high variation in nucleotide sequence among strains. The plasticity zone and strain-specific genes of H. pylori 51 were analyzed and compared with the former two genomic sequences. It should be noted that the H. pylori 51-specific sequences were dispersed on the chromosome, not congregated in the plasticity zone unlike J99- or 26695-specific genes, suggesting the high frequency of gene rearrangement in H. pylori genome. The genome of H. pylori 51 shows differences in the overall genomic organization, gene order, and even in the nucleotide sequences among the H. pylori strains, which are far greater than the differences reported on the genomic diversity of H. pylori.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2006

Transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates the induction of Phase II detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant enzymes in response to many cancer chemopreventive compounds. In this study, we investigated the role of receptor associated coactivator (RAC3) or steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC3) and other nuclear co-regulators including CBP/p300 (CREB-binding protein), CARM1 (Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase), PRMT1 (Protein arginine methyl-transferase 1), and p/CAF (p300/CBP-associated factor) in the transcriptional activation of a chimeric Gal4-Nrf2-Luciferase system containing the transactivation domain (TAD) of Nrf2 in HepG2 cells. The results indicated that RAC3 up-regulated the transactivation activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370) in a dose-dependent manner. The enhancement of transactivation domain activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370) by RAC3 was dampened in the presence of dominant negative mutants of RAC3. Next we studied the effects of other nuclear co-regulators including CBP/p300, CARM1, PRMT1 and p/CAF, and the results showed that they had different level of positive effects on this transactivation domain activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370). But importantly, synergistic effects of these co-regulators in the presence of RAC3/SRC3 on the transactivation activity of Gal4-Nrf2-(1-370) were observed. In summary, our present study showed for the first time that the 160 RAC3/SRC3 is involved in the functional transactivation of TAD of Nrf2 and that the other nuclear co-regulators such as CBP/p300, CARM1, PRMT1 and p/CAF can also transcriptionally activate this TAD of Nrf2 and that they could further enhance the transactivation activity mediated by RAC3/SRC3.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.6 s.93
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• pp.373-377
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• 1999

This study was designed to develop functional drink from jujube extract through a simple submerged culture of three basidiomycetes species. The optimum Brix and pH of the jujube extract for culturing the Ganoderma lucidum appeared to be 5 Brix and pH 4. Ten days of culture period produced maximum mycelium. The optimum Brix and pH of the jujube extract for culturing the Coriolus versicolor appeared to be 5 Brix and pH 5. Ten days of culture period produced maximum mycelium. The optimum Brix and pH of the jujube extract for culturing the Phellinus igniarius appeared to be 3 Brix and pH 5. For the maximum mycelial production eighteen days of culture period was required for Phellinus igniarius. The antitumor activity of the polysaccharides extracted from the fermented drinks was demonstrated through the tumor cell line experiments. The $IC_{50}$ values of the jujube drinks fermented with Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus igniarius against stomach cancer cell line appeared to be one fourth that of the jujube drink which was not fermented with basidiomycetes.