• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.142-147
• /
• 1989

Fluorescence enhancements of ethidium bromide (EB) by solution species of low molecular weights such as DNA base molecules and nucleosides in water are reported. The degree of enhancements was determined by intensity as well as lifetime measurements for EB fluorescence. Experiments including solvent effects on absorbance and fluorescence spectra of EB, effects of protonation on the EB absorbance spectrum, and determination of equilibrium constants for EB-DNA bases have been performed to help explain the fluorescence enhancement. The results suggest that the excited state stabilization in the hydrophobic environment, the loss of torsional/vibrational energy of amino groups, and the change in the electronic transition characteristics are all responsible for the fluorescence enhancement.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제42권7호
• /
• pp.512-522
• /
• 2019

Chromosomes located in the nucleus form discrete units of genetic material composed of DNA and protein complexes. The genetic information is encoded in linear DNA sequences, but its interpretation requires an understanding of three-dimensional (3D) structure of the chromosome, in which distant DNA sequences can be juxtaposed by highly condensed chromatin packing in the space of nucleus to precisely control gene expression. Recent technological innovations in exploring higher-order chromatin structure have uncovered organizational principles of the 3D genome and its various biological implications. Very recently, it has been reported that large-scale genomic variations may disrupt higher-order chromatin organization and as a consequence, greatly contribute to disease-specific gene regulation for a range of human diseases. Here, we review recent developments in studying the effect of structural variation in gene regulation, and the detection and the interpretation of structural variations in the context of 3D chromatin structure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• 제42권6호
• /
• pp.801-812
• /
• 1995

CR asthma is associated with disease chronicity, a positive family history of asthma and in vitro and in vivo defects in mononuclear cell function. The HPA axis in CR asthmatics is suppressed normally by dexamethasone and the pharmacokinetic profile of an oral dose of prednisolone is similar to that found in CS subjects. In addition, competitive binding studies have shown that the ligand binding and nuclear translocation functions of the GR are similar in the two groups. Studies using gel retardation assay have indicated a defect in DNA binding in CR subjects. Chemical mutational analysis of the GR has shown that is not due to a defect in its structure at the cDNA level. Scatchard analysis of the GR/DNA and GR/ligand interactions suggests that there may be transcriptional interference of the GR with other transcriptionally active molecules leading to defective gene transcription.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.246-255
• /
• 2005

Retroviral integrases insert viral DNA into target DNA. In this process they recognize their own DNA specifically via functional domains. In order to analyze these functional domains, we constructed six chimeric integrases by swapping domains between HIV-1 and HFV integrases, and two point mutants of HFV integrase. Chimeric integrases with the central domain of HIV-1 integrase had strand transfer and disintegration activities, in agreement with the idea that the central domain determines viral DNA specificity and has catalytic activity. On the other hand, chimeric integrases with the central domain of HFV integrase did not have any enzymatic activity apart from FFH that had weak disintegration activity, suggesting that the central domain of HFV integrase was defective catalytically or structurally. However, these inactive chimeras were efficiently complemented by the point mutants (D164A and E200A) of HFV integrase, indicating that the central domain of HFV integrase possesses potential enzymatic activity but is not able to recognize viral or target DNA without the help of its homologous N-terminal and C-terminal domains.

• 인지과학
• /
• 제1권2호
• /
• pp.361-376
• /
• 1989

카테콜아민 생합성에 관여하는 마지막 효소인 phenylethanolamine Nmethyltransferase는 norepinephrine 을 epinephrine으로 전환시키는 중요한 효소이다. PNMT효소의 발현은 epinephrine 신경세표의 발현에 필수적이다.따라서 PNMT 유전자를 크로닝하여 그 구조를 결정하고,유전자 발현연구를 하는 것은 상당히 중요한 일이다.그러나 최근에 저자가 bovine 및 human cDA 를 처음으로 분리하여 그 구조를 보고한 것 외에는 아직까지 인간과 백서 전체 genomic DNA 의 분리 보고는 없다.이에 저자들은 인간과 백서 PNMT유전자의 전체구조와 여러종(species)사이의 진화적인 관계를 규명하기 위해서 human 과 Rat genomic library 를 만들고,이 library 를 이용하여 bovine cDNA 를 probe로 13.1kb와 13.2kb길이의 인간과 백서의 genomic clone 을 분리 크리닝하는데 성공하여 유전자의 구조적 규명하였다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제39권12호
• /
• pp.888-897
• /
• 2016

Stable expression of Foxp3 is ensured by demethylation of CpG motifs in the Foxp3 intronic element, the conserved non-coding sequence 2 (CNS2), which persists throughout the lifespan of regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, little is known about the mechanisms on how CNS2 demethylation is sustained. In this study, we found that Ten-Eleven-Translocation (Tet) DNA dioxygenase protects the CpG motifs of CNS2 from re-methylation by DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) and prevents Tregs from losing Foxp3 expression under inflammatory conditions. Upon stimulation of Tregs by interleukin-6 (IL6), Dnmt1 was recruited to CNS2 and induced methylation, which was inhibited by Tet2 recruited by IL2. Tet2 prevented CNS2 re-methylation by not only the occupancy of the CNS2 locus but also by its enzymatic activity. These results show that the CNS2 methylation status is dynamically regulated by a balance between Tets and Dnmts which influences the expression of Foxp3 in Tregs.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제43권2호
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2020

Cells are constantly exposed to endogenous and exogenous stresses that can result in DNA damage. In response, they have evolved complex pathways to maintain genomic integrity. RUNX family transcription factors (RUNX1, RUNX2, and RUNX3 in mammals) are master regulators of development and differentiation, and are frequently dysregulated in cancer. A growing body of research also implicates RUNX proteins as regulators of the DNA damage response, often acting in conjunction with the p53 and Fanconi anemia pathways. In this review, we discuss the functional role and mechanisms involved in RUNX factor mediated response to DNA damage and other cellular stresses. We highlight the impact of these new findings on our understanding of cancer predisposition associated with RUNX factor dysregulation and their implications for designing novel approaches to prevent cancer formation in affected individuals.

• 정보처리학회논문지B
• /
• 제14B권6호
• /
• pp.461-472
• /
• 2007

게놈 프로젝트 연구는 DNA사슬 내에서 생물학적 의미(예, molecule의 진화역사 또는 그 기능)를 추출하기위한 사슬분석 쪽으로 강조가 되어가고 있다. 특히, DNA사슬 내에서 상보적 또는 반복되는 패턴은 생물학적 의미를 가지고 있다. 문제는 상보적 단어가 만들어내는 흥미 있는 패턴과 단어 구성을 찾아 내는 것이다. 본 논문은 다양한 길이의 팰린드롬 쌍을 검색하는 알고리즘에 관한 연구이다. 다양한 길이의 팰린드롬 쌍 내에는 빈 공백을 또한 허용한다. 알고리즘은 팰린드롬 알고리즘이라고 명명하며 O(N)의 계산 시간을 가진다. 하나의 팰린드롬 쌍은 머리핀 형태로 구성되어 있다. 검출된 여러 팰린드롬 쌍을 활용하여 n-쌍 팰린드롬 형태를 구성하였다. 더욱이 발견된 가장 긴 팰린드롬 쌍을 DNA 사슬 원형 구조에 점으로 표현하여 가시성을 제고하였다. 본 알고리즘은 여러 게놈 상에서 실시되었으며 E.coli K12의 결과를 나타내었다. 실험결과 DNA 안에는 랜덤한 경우에는 확률상 매우 발생하기 힘든 긴 팰린드롬 패턴들이 존재 한다는 것을 발견할 수 있었다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.5-11
• /
• 2008

Stalled DNA replication forks activate specific DNA repair mechanism called post-replication repair (PRR) pathways that simply bypass DNA damage. The bypassing of DNA damage by PRR prevents prolonged stalling of DNA replication that could result in double strand breaks (DSBs). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) functions to initiate and choose different bypassing pathways of PRR. In yeast, DNA replication forks stalled by DNA damage induces monoubiquitination of PCNA at K164, which is catalyzed by Rad6/Rad18 complex. PCNA monoubiquitination triggers the replacement of replicative polymerase with special translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases that are able to replicate past DNA lesions. The PCNA interaction motif and/or the ubiquitin binding motif in most TLS polymerases seem to be important for the regulation of TLS. The TLS pathway is usually error-prone because TLS polymerases have low fidelity and no proofreading activity. PCNA can also be further polyubiquitinated by Ubc13/ Mms2/Rad5 complex, which adds an ubiquitin chain onto monoubiquitinated K164 of PCNA. PCNA polyubiquitination directs a different PRR pathway known as error-free damage avoidance, which uses the newly synthesized sister chromatid as a template to bypass DNA damage presumably through template switching mechanism. Mammalian homologues of all of the yeast PRR proteins have been identified, thus PRR is well conserved throughout evolution. Mutations of some PRR genes are associated with a higher risk for cancers in mice and human patients, strongly supporting the importance of PRR as a tumor suppressor pathway.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제31권10호
• /
• pp.2873-2876
• /
• 2010

Excess free iron generates oxidative stress that may contribute to the pathogenesis of various causes of neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have shown that one of the primary causes of increased brain iron may be the release of excess iron from intracellular iron storage molecules. In this study, we attempted to characterize the oxidative damage of DNA induced by the reaction of ferritin with $H_2O_2$. When DNA was incubated with ferritin and $H_2O_2$, DNA strand breakage increased in a time-dependent manner. Hydroxyl radical scavengers strongly inhibited the ferritin/$H_2O_2$ system-induced DNA cleavage. We investigated the generation of hydroxyl radical in the reaction of ferritin with $H_2O_2$ using a chromogen, 2,2'-azinobis-(2-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), which reacted with ${\cdot}OH$ to form $ABTS^{+\cdot}$. The initial rate of $ABTS^{+\cdot}$ formation increased as a function of incubation time. These results suggest that DNA strand breakage is mediated in the reaction of ferritin with $H_2O_2$ via the generation of hydroxyl radicals. The iron-specific chelator, deferoxamine, also inhibited DNA cleavage. Spectrophotometric study using a color reagent showed that the release of iron from $H_2O_2$-treated ferritin increased in a time-dependent manner. Ferritin enhanced mutation of the lacZ' gene in the presence of $H_2O_2$ when measured as a loss of $\alpha$-complementation. These results indicate that ferritin/$H_2O_2$ system-mediated DNA cleavage and mutation may be attributable to hydroxyl radical generation via a Fenton-like reaction of free iron ions released from oxidatively damaged ferritin.