• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.401-402
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• 2016

S6K1 is a key regulator of cell growth, cell size, and metabolism. Although the role of cytosolic S6K1 in cellular processes is well established, the function of S6K1 in the nucleus remains poorly understood. Our recent study has revealed that S6K1 is translocated into the nucleus upon adipogenic stimulus where it directly binds to and phosphorylates H2B at serine 36. Such phosphorylation promotes EZH2 recruitment and subsequent histone H3K27 trimethylation on the promoter of its target genes including Wnt6, Wnt10a, and Wnt10b, leading to repression of their expression. S6K1-mediated suppression of Wnt genes facilitates adipogenic differentiation through the expression of adipogenic transcription factors PPARγ and Cebpa. White adipose tissues from S6K1-deficient mice consistently exhibit marked reduction in H2BS36 phosphorylation (H2BS36p) and H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), leading to enhanced expression of Wnt genes. In addition, expression levels of H2BS36p and H3K27me3 are highly elevated in white adipose tissues from mice fed on high-fat diet or from obese humans. These findings describe a novel role of S6K1 as a transcriptional regulator controlling an epigenetic network initiated by phosphorylation of H2B and trimethylation of H3, thus shutting off Wnt gene expression in early adipogenesis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.442-452
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the anti-lipogenic effect and the mechanism of Jungmanbunso-hwan extract (JMBSH) on a cellular model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells.Methods: The JMBSH was prepared, andHepG2 cells were treated with various concentrations of JMBSH in order to perform an MTT assay. The HepG2 cells were cultivated in palmitate-containing media with or without extract of JMBSH. The intracellular lipid content in the HepG2 cells was examined. The effects of JMBSH on sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in HepG2 cells were measured.Results: JMBSH did not reduce HepG2 cell viability under 1,000 μg/mL. JMBSH considerably decreased intracellular lipid accumulation caused by palmitate in HepG2 cells. JMBSH repressed expression of SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes (ACC, FAS, and SCD-1). JMBSH also activated AMPK, which plays animportant role in the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.Conclusions: This study suggested that JMBSH relieves hepatic steatosis by repressing SREBP-1c, which mediates the induction of lipogenic genes. The anti-lipogenic effect of JMBSH may also be related to the activation of AMPK. Therefore, JMBSH could potentially be applied to NAFLD treatment after further clinical studies.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.289-300
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• 2016

Non-genotoxic carcinogens are substances that induce tumorigenesis by non-mutagenic mechanisms and long term rodent bioassays are required to identify them. Recent studies have shown that transcription profiling can be applied to develop early identifiers for long term phenotypes. In this study, we used rat liver expression profiles from the NTP (National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, USA) DrugMatrix Database to construct a gene classifier that can distinguish between non-genotoxic carcinogens and other chemicals. The model was based on short term exposure assays (3 days) and the training was limited to oxidative stressors, peroxisome proliferators and hormone modulators. Validation of the predictor was performed on independent toxicogenomic data (TG-GATEs, Toxicogenomics Project-Genomics Assisted Toxicity Evaluation System, Osaka, Japan). To build our model we performed Random Forests together with a recursive elimination algorithm (VarSelRF). Gene set enrichment analysis was employed for functional interpretation. A total of 770 microarrays comprising 96 different compounds were analyzed and a predictor of 54 genes was built. Prediction accuracy was 0.85 in the training set, 0.87 in the test set and increased with increasing concentration in the validation set: 0.6 at low dose, 0.7 at medium doses and 0.81 at high doses. Pathway analysis revealed gene prominence of cellular respiration, energy production and lipoprotein metabolism. The biggest target of toxicogenomics is accurately predict the toxicity of unknown drugs. In this analysis, we presented a classifier that can predict non-genotoxic carcinogenicity by using short term exposure assays. In this approach, dose level is critical when evaluating chemicals at early time points.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2006

Biomarkers identify various stages and interactions on the pathway from exposure to disease. The three categories of biomarkers are those measuring susceptibility, exposure and effect. Susceptibility biomarkers are identifiable genetic variations affecting absorption, metabolism or response to environmental agents. Biomarkers of exposure indicate the amount of a foreign compound that is absorbed into the body. Biological measurements performed on human tissues are vastly expanding the capabilities of classical epidemiology, which has relied primarily on estimates of human exposure derived form chemical levels in the air, water, and other exposure routes. Biomarkers of exposure indicate the amount of a foreign compound that is absorbed into the body. Biological measurements performed on human tissues are vastly expanding the capabilities of classical epidemiology, which has relied primarily on estimates of human exposure derived form chemical levels in the air, water, and other exposure routes. The biomarker response is typical of chemical pollution by specific classes of compound, such as (i) heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, zinc), responsible for the induction of metallothionein synthesis, and (ii) organochlorinated pollutants (PCBs, dioxins, DDT congeners) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which induce the mixed function oxygenase (MFO) involved in their bio transformations and elimination. Currently genomic researches are developed in human cDNA clone subarrays oriented toward the expression of genes involved in responses to xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, cell cycle components, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, DNA repair genes, estrogen-responsive genes, oxidative stress genes, and genes known to be involved in apoptotic cell death. Several research laboratories in Korea for kicking off these Environmental Genomics were summarized.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.604-609
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• 2015

The active metabolite of vitamin D such as $1{\alpha}$,25-dihydroxyvitamin ($D_3(1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3)$ is a well-known key regulatory factor in bone metabolism. However, little is known about the potential of vitamin D as an odontogenic inducer in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) in vitro. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin $D_3$ metabolite, $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$, on odontoblastic differentiation in HDPCs. HDPCs extracted from maxillary supernumerary incisors and third molars were directly cultured with $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$ in the absence of differentiation-inducing factors. Treatment of HDPCs with $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$ at a concentration of 10 nM or 100 nM significantly upregulated the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentin matrix protein1 (DMP1), the odontogenesis-related genes. Also, $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$ enhanced the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization in HDPCs. In addition, $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$ induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), whereas the ERK inhibitor U0126 ameliorated the upregulation of DSPP and DMP1 and reduced the mineralization enhanced by $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$. These results demonstrated that $1{\alpha},25(OH)_2D_3$ promoted odontoblastic differentiation of HDPCs via modulating ERK activation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.234-243
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• 2018

In recent years, the interest towards the relationship between incretins and bone has been increasing. Previous studies have suggested that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its receptor agonists exert beneficial anabolic influence on skeletal metabolism, such as promoting proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts via entero-osseous-axis. However, little is known regarding the effects of GLP-1 on osteoblast apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms involved. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the effects of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, on apoptosis of murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. We confirmed the presence of GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in MC3T3-E1 cells. Our data demonstrated that liraglutide inhibited the apoptosis of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells induced by serum deprivation, as detected by Annexin V/PI and Hoechst 33258 staining and ELISA assays. Moreover, liraglutide upregulated Bcl-2 expression and downregulated Bax expression and caspase-3 activity at intermediate concentration (100 nM) for maximum effect. Further study suggested that liraglutide stimulated the phosphorylation of AKT and enhanced cAMP level, along with decreased phosphorylation of $GSK3{\beta}$, increased ${\beta}-catenin$ phosphorylation at Ser675 site and upregulated nuclear ${\beta}-catenin$ content and transcriptional activity. Pretreatment of cells with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, PKA inhibitor H89, and siRNAs GLP-1R, ${\beta}-catenin$ abrogated the liraglutide-induced activation of cAMP, AKT, ${\beta}-catenin$, respectively. In conclusion, these findings illustrate that activation of GLP-1 receptor by liraglutide inhibits the apoptosis of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells induced by serum deprivation through $cAMP/PKA/{\beta}-catenin$ and $PI3K/Akt/GSK3{\beta}$ signaling pathways.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

Identification of host genes involved in disease progresses and/or defense responses is one of the most critical steps leading to the elucidation of disease resistance mechanisms in plants. Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most prevalent pathogen of soybean (Glycine max). Although the soybeans are placed one of many important crops, relatively little is known about defense mechanism. In order to obtain host genes involved in SMV disease progress and host defense especially for virus resistance, two different cloning strategies (DD RT-PCR and Subtractive hybridization) were employed to identify pathogenesis- and defenserelated genes (PRs and DRs) from susceptible (Geumjeong 1) and resistant (Geumjeong 2) cultivars against SMV strain G7H. Using these approaches, we obtained 570 genes that expressed differentially during SMV infection processes. Based upon sequence analyses, differentially expressed host genes were classified into five groups, i.e. metabolism, genetic information processing, environmental information processing, cellular processes and unclassified group. A total of 11 differentially expressed genes including protein kinase, transcription factor, other potential signaling components and resistant-like gene involved in host defense response were selected to further characterize and determine expression profiles of each selected gene. Functional characterization of these genes will likely facilitate the elucidation of defense signal transduction and biological function in SMV-infected soybean plants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.11a
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• pp.69-80
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• 1994

Although ureases play important roles in microbial nitrogen metabolism and in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, little is known of the mechanism of metallocenter biosynthesis in this Ni-Containing enzyme. Klebsiella aerogenes urease apo-protein was purified from cells grown in the absence of Ni. The purified apo-enzyme showed the same native molecular weight, charge, and subunit stoichiometry as the holo-enzyme. Chemical modification studies were consistent with histidinyl ligation of Ni. Apo-enzyme could not be activated by simple addition of Ni ions suggesting a requirement for a cellular factor. Deletion analysis showed that four accessory genes (ureD, ureE, ureF, and ureG) are necessary for the functional incorporation of the urease metallocenter. Whereas the $\Delta$ureD, $\Delta$ureF, and $\Delta$ureG mutants are inactive and their ureases lack Ni, the $\Delta$ureE mutants retain partial activity and their ureases possess corresponding lower levels of Ni. UreE and UreG peptides were identified by SDS-polyacrylamide gel comparisons of mutant and wild type cells and by N-terminal sequencing. UreD and UreF peptides, which are synthesized at ve교 low levels, were identified by using in vitro transcription/translation methods. Cotransformation of E. coli cells with the complementing plasmids confirmed that ureD and ureF gene products act in trans. UreE was purified and characterized. immunogold electron microscopic studies were used to localize UreE to the cytoplasm. Equilibrium dialysis studies of purified UreE with $^{63}$ NiC1$_2$ showed that it binds ～6 Ni in a specific manner with a $K_{d}$ of 9.6 $\pm$1.3 $\mu$M. Results from spectroscopic studies demonstrated that Ni ions are ligated by 5 histidinyl residues and a sixth N or O atom, consistent with participation of the polyhistidine tail at the carboxyl termini of the dimeric UreE in Ni binding. With these results and other known features of the urease-related gene products, a model for urease metallocenter biosynthesis is proposed in which UreE binds Ni and acts as a Ni donor to the urease apo-protein while UreG binds ATP and couples its Hydrolysis to the Ni incorporation process.ouples its Hydrolysis to the Ni incorporation process.s.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.420-431
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• 2005

The differentially virulent race T1 of common bunt (Tilletia tritici) was used to inoculate the wheat lines Neepawa (compatible) and its sib BW553 (incompatible) that are nearly isogenic for the Bt-10 resistance gene. Inoculated crown tissues were used to construct a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library. Of the 1920 clones arrayed from the SSH cDNA library, approximately 10% were differentially regulated. A total of 168 differentially up-regulated and 25 down-regulated genes were identified and sequenced; 71% sequences had significant homology to genes of known function, of which 59% appeared to have roles in cellular metabolism and development, 24% in abiotic/biotic stress responses, 3% involved in transcription and signal transduction responses. Two putative resistance genes and a transcription factor were identified among the up regulated sequences. The expression of several candidate genes including a lipase, two non-specific lipid transfer proteins (ns-LTPs), and several wheat pathogenesis-related (PR)-proteins, was evaluated following 4 to 32 days post-inoculation in compatible and incompatible interactions. Results confirmed the higher overall expression of these genes in resistant BW553 compared to susceptible Neepawa, and the differential up-regulation of wheat lipase, chitinase and PR-1 proteins in the expression of the incompatible interaction.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.785-804
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• 1999

The cell activities of bone metabolism is affected by growth factor rather than by hormone. The affects of growth factors on the bone activity were observed using various culture methods. Platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) is produced from the well differentiated bone cell. It stimulates cell mitosis, synthesizes collagen in bone tissue and plays a role in healing response. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects that PDGF has on the activity and the proliferation of osteoblast by measuring the activity of alkaline phosphatase, the growth formation of calcified nodules, and osteocalcin production. In this study, HOS and ROS 17/2.8 osteoblastic cell line was used, along with variable concentrations of PDGF the were measured with osteoblastic proliferation. The cell proliferation of HOS and ROS 17/2.8 cells was stimulated dose- depentdently. Alakline phosphatase activity was significantly decreased by PDGF in osteoblastic cells. A number of small calcified nodules were observed in HOS cell treated with low concentrations(0.1, 0.4 ng/ml) of PDGF-BB and no significant difference from control group was found. High concentrations(10, 50 ng/ml) of PDGF suppressed calcified nodule formation. And osteocalcin production was inhibited with PDGF. These results suggest that PDGF stimulates the osteoblastic proliferation, whereas suppresses the individual cellular functions.