• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권11호
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• pp.1007-1012
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• 2015

EphA7 is a key molecule in regulating the development of the dien- and mesencephalon. To get insight into the mechanism of how EphA7 gene expression is regulated during the dorsal specification of the dien- and mesencephalon, we investigated the cis-acting regulatory sequence driving EphA7 to the dorsal midline of the dien- and mesencephalon. Transgenic LacZ reporter analysis, using overlapping EphA7 BACs, was used to narrow down the dorsal midline-specific enhancer, revealing the 25.3 kb genomic region as the enhancer candidate. Strikingly, this genomic DNA was located far downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, +302.6 kb to +327.9 kb. Further enhancer mapping, using comparative genomic analysis and transgenic methods, showed that the 187 bp genomic DNA alone, approximately 305 kb downstream of the EphA7 transcription start site, was sufficient to act as the dorsal midline-specific enhancer of EphA7. Importantly, our results indicate that the 187 bp dorsal midline-specific enhancer is critically regulated by homeobox transcription factors during the development of the dien- and mesencephalon.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.13-17
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammation effect of Potentilla chinensis (PC) on Raw264.7 macrophage cells. Ethanol extract of PC decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Ethanol extract was fractioned by n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water and each fraction was tested for inhibitory effects on inflammation. Among the sequential solvent fractions, PC chloroform extracts (50, 100, 300, and 500 ${\mu}g/mL$) significantly suppressed LPS-stimulated production of NO. During the entire experimental period, 200 and 300 ${\mu}g/mL$ of PC chloroform extracts had no cytotoxicity. LPS-induced NO and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production were inhibited by PC chloroform extracts up to 50% and 90% of these productions, respectively. PC chloroform extracts reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 gene. These results suggest that PC chloroform extracts exhibit strong effects of anti-inflammation and can be a potential candidate in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.11-26
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• 2003

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid deposition and associated loss of neunons in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes. Several causes of evidence support that the congnitive disturbance is closed associated with the deficit of cerebral acetylcholine neurotransmission, and the effect of carboxyl terminal 105 amino acid fragment (CT105) of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) on the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines. We tested it on the scopolamine-induced amnesia model of the ICR mouse using the Morris water maze with repeated orally administration of 1st Green-Tea extract (200 mg/kg) and 2nd Green-Tea extract (200 mg/kg). The Green-Tea prevents impairment of learning and memory and neuronal loss in mouse models of cognitive disturbance and it demonstrated selectivity for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Furthermore, the repeated administration of Green-Tea, CT105-induced alzheimer's mouse model showed central cholinergic activity by ameliorates learning and memory impairment, and isolation of CD14 microglia showed significantly decreases intracellular release of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because of its composite profile, oral therapeutic index and a prophylactic, Green-Tea is considered the better therapeutic candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.236-240
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• 2003

인간의 면역계는 외부의 병원균 등의 침입에 대하여 매우 강력한 방어작용을 수행하고 있다. 하지만, 때로 면역계의 손상으로 인해 비정상적인 면역작용이 유발됨으로써 면역성 질환이 야기되기도 한다. 특히, 자가면역 질환은 그 종류가 매우 다양하며 심각한 위험을 초래하기도 한다 이들 질환에 대한 활발한 병인학적 연구가 진행되고 있으나, 아직 정확한 메커니즘을 밝히지는 못하고 있다. 자가면역성 당뇨병의 원인 유전자로 인간의 게놈에 내생하고 있는 HERV가 거론된 후, 사이토카인의 변화나 외생 레트로바기러스의 감염에 의해 HERV의 발현이 활성화되어 superantigen으로 작용함으로써 비정상적인 면역반응이 유도된다는 새로운 사실이 밝혀져 많은 주목을 끌고 있다. 이는 내생 레트로바이러스 유래의 superantigen과 인간의 질병과의 관련성을 비교적명확하게 제시함으로써, 자가면역 질환의 극복을 위한 향후 연구에 주요한 실마리를 제공하고 있다.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.230-238
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• 2013

Many other human species appeared in evolution in the last 6 million years that have not been able to survive to modern times and are broadly known as archaic humans, as opposed to the extant modern humans. It has always been considered fascinating to compare the modern human genome with that of archaic humans to identify modern human-specific sequence variants and figure out those that made modern humans different from their predecessors or cousin species. Neanderthals are the latest humans to become extinct, and many factors made them the best representatives of archaic humans. Even though a number of comparisons have been made sporadically between Neanderthals and modern humans, mostly following a candidate gene approach, the major breakthrough took place with the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome. The initial genome-wide comparison, based on the first draft of the Neanderthal genome, has generated some interesting inferences regarding variations in functional elements that are not shared by the two species and the debated admixture question. However, there are certain other genetic elements that were not included or included at a smaller scale in those studies, and they should be compared comprehensively to better understand the molecular make-up of modern humans and their phenotypic characteristics. Besides briefly discussing the important outcomes of the comparative analyses made so far between modern humans and Neanderthals, we propose that future comparative studies may include retrotransposons, pseudogenes, and conserved non-coding regions, all of which might have played significant roles during the evolution of modern humans.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.246-252
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• 2006

1,2-Dibromoethane(DBE) has been widely used as a soil fumigant, an additive to leaded gasoline and an industrial solvent. In this study, we have carried out in vitro genetic toxicity test of 1,2-dibromoethane and microarray analysis of differentially expressed genes in response to 1,2-dibromoethane. 1,2-Dibromoethane showed mutations in base substitution strain TA1535 both with and without exogenous metabolic activation. 1,2-Dibromoethane showed mutations in frame shift TA98 both with and without exogenous metabolic activation. 1,2-Dibromoethane showed DNA damage based on single cell gel/comet assay in L5178Y cells both with and without exogenous metabolic activation. 1,2-Dibromoethane increased micronuclei in CRO cells both with and without exogenous metabolic activation. Microarray analysis of gene expression profiles in L5178Y cells in response to 1,2-dibromoethane selected differentially expressed 241 genes that would be candidate biomarkers of genetic toxic action of 1,2-dibromoethane.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.59-73
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• 2008

Several aspects of photoperception and light signal transduction have been elucidated by studies with model plants. However, the information available for economically important crops, such as Fabaceae species, is scarce. In order to incorporate the existing genomic tools into a strategy to advance soybean research, we have investigated publicly available expressed sequence tag (EST) sequence databases in order to identify Glycine max sequences related to genes involved in light-regulated developmental control in model plants. Approximately 38,000 sequences from open-access databases were investigated, and all bona fide and putative photoreceptor gene families were found in soybean sequence databases. We have identified G. max orthologs for several families of transcriptional regulators and cytoplasmic proteins mediating photoreceptor-induced responses, although some important Arabidopsis phytochrome-signaling components are absent. Moreover, soybean and Arabidopsis genefamily homologs appear to have undergone a distinct expansion process in some cases. We propose a working model of light perception, signal transduction and response-eliciting in G. max, based on the identified key components from Arabidopsis. These results demonstrate the power of comparative genomics between model systems and crop species to elucidate several aspects of plant physiology and metabolism.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.362-371
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• 2019

Plant phenotype is affected by a community of associated microorganisms which requires dissection of the functional fraction. In this study, we aimed to culture the functionally active fraction of an upland soil microbiome, which can suppress tomato bacterial wilt. The microbiome fraction (MF) from the rhizosphere of Hawaii 7996 treated with an upland soil or forest soil MF was successively cultured in a designed modified M9 (MM9) medium partially mimicking the nutrient composition of tomato root exudates. Bacterial cells were harvested to amplify V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene for QIIME based sequence analysis and were also treated to Hawaii 7996 prior to Ralstonia solanacearum inoculation. The disease progress indicated that the upland MM9 $1^{st}$ transfer suppressed the bacterial wilt. Community analysis revealed that species richness was declined by successive cultivation of the MF. The upland MM9 $1^{st}$ transfer harbored population of phylum Proteobacteria (98.12%), Bacteriodetes (0.69%), Firmicutes (0.51%), Actinobacteria (0.08%), unidentified (0.54%), Cyanobacteria (0.01%), FBP (0.001%), OD1 (0.001%), Acidobacteria (0.005%). The family Enterobacteriaceae of Proteobacteria was the dominant member (86.76%) of the total population of which genus Enterobacter composed 86.76% making it a potential candidate to suppress bacterial wilt. The results suggest that this mixed culture approach is feasible to harvest microorganisms which may function as biocontrol agents.

• Quantitative Bio-Science
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.125-132
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• 2018

In this study, noble strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated and identified by genetic analysis of 16s rRNA. Also, pH-dependent growth curve, cholesterol assimilation ability and sugar production efficiency were measured. Lactic acid bacteria were identified to inhabit in the milks from various animals. Results of sequence analysis showed that there were differences in 16S rRNA sequence among strains and part of gene deletion was also recognized. Growth rates were varied, too, depending on the pH of the medium. Lactobacillus rhamnosus LOCK908 isolated from cow milk showed the highest growth rate and high cholesterol assimilation ability. Results of sugar fermentation tests were relatively consistent with the sequencing results. So, we propose newly isolated Lactobacillus rhamnosus LOCK908 as useful candidate for a starter of fermented beverage and probiotics. Results of this study will contribute to the isolation and identification of noble Lactic acid bacteria and to the public health.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.718-729
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• 2022

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common primary esophageal malignancy with poor prognosis. Here, due to the necessity for exploring potential therapies against ESCC, we obtained the gene expression data on ESCC from the TCGA and GEO databases. Venn diagram analysis was applied to identify common targets. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by Cytoscape software, and the hub targets were extracted from the network via cytoHubba. The potential hub nodes as drug targets were found by pharmacophore-based virtual screening and molecular modeling, and the antitumor activity was evaluated through in vitro studies. A total of 364 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ESCC were identified. Pathway enrichment analyses suggested that most DEGs were mainly involved in the cell cycle. Three hub targets were retrieved, including CENPF, CCNA2 (cyclin A), and CCNB1 (cyclin B1), which were highly expressed in esophageal cancer and associated with prognosis. Moreover, amentoflavone, a promising drug candidate found by pharmacophore-based virtual screening, showed antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects and induced G1 in esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. Taken together, our findings suggested that amentoflavone could be a potential cell cycle inhibitor targeting cyclin B1, and is therefore expected to serve as a great therapeutic agent for treating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.