• BMB Reports
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.201-206
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• 2003

Two lymphoid-specific proteins, RAG1 and RAG2, are required for the initiation of the V(D)J recombination in vitro. The V(D)J cleavage that is mediated by RAG proteins at the border between the coding and signal sequences results in the production of a hairpin at the coding end and a double-stranded break at the signal end. Two hairpin coding ends are re-opened, modified, and sealed; whereas, the signal ends are directly ligated. Here I report that only RAG1 can carry out a distinct endonucleolytic activity in vitro using an oligonucleotide substrate that is tethered by a short single-stranded DNA. The purified RAG1 protein alone formed a nick at the near position to the recombination signal sequence. This endonucleolytic activity was eliminated by immunoprecipitation using the RAG1-specific antibody, and required the 3'-hydroxy group. All of the RAG1 mutants that were incapable of the nick and hairpin formation in the V(D)J cleavage analysis also showed this new endonucleolytic activity. This suggests that the nicking activity that was observed might be functionally different from the nick formation in the V(D)J cleavage.

• 셀메드
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2013

In traditional systems of medicine including homeopathy, the Condurango extract (Con) is often used to cure stomach cancer mainly, without having any scientific validation of its anti-cancer ability. Con has therefore been tested against non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) A549 and NCI-H522 (H522) known to contain the KRAS mutation, making them resistant to most chemotherapeutic agents. As cancer cells generally defy cytotoxicity developed by chemopreventive agents and escape cell death, any drug showing the capability of preferentially killing cancer cells through apoptosis is worth consideration for judicious application. A549 and H522 cells were exposed to $0.35{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ and $0.25{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of Con, respectively, for 48 h and analysed based on various protocols associated with apoptosis and DNA damage, such as MTT assay to determine cell viability, LDH assay, DNA fragmentation assay, comet assay, and microscopical examinations of DNA binding fluorescence stains like DAPI, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide to determine the extent of DNA damage made in drug-treated and untreated cells and the results compared. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species were also documented through standard techniques. Con killed almost 50% of the cancer cells but spared normal cells significantly. Fluorescence studies revealed increased DNA nick formation and depolarized membrane potentials after drug treatment in both cell types. Caspase-3 expression levels confirmed the apoptosis-inducing potential of Con in both the NSCLC lines. Thus, overall results suggest considerable anticancer potential of Con against NSCLC in vitro, validating its use against lung cancer by practitioners of traditional medicine including homeopathy.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.275-289
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• 2002

본 연구는 종모우의 정자수정능력 평가방법의 개발과 정자 기능 및 성상 변화에 영향을 미치는 요인을 알아보기 위하여 시행하였다. 동결-융해된 종모우 정액을 대상으로 정자의 운동성과 정자의 형태를 분석하였고, 정자의 기능 검 사 항목으로서 체외수정(IVF), HOST, Ca-ionophore에 의한 첨체반응율, 정자의 ROS 측정을 위한 luminol, lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence, LPO 분석을 위한 malondialdehyde의 측정 및 TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT) dUTP nick end labelling) 기법을 이용한 정자의 DNA fragmentation를 측정하였으며 이들 각각의 조사 항목들의 분석치들과 체외수정율 및 배발생율과의 상관관계를 조사하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 고수정군과 저수정군의 체외수정율과 배반포 발생율의 평균은 각각 64.4%와 34.3%, 18.50%와 6.2%였으며 두 군간에 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 보였다(P<0.05). 고수정군과 저수정군의 정자운동성과 첨체반응률은 각각 평균79.0 %와 66.2%, 40.7%와 22.9%로 두 군간에 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 보였으나(P<0.05), 정상형태 정자의 비율과 HOST는 각각 평균 94.6%와 92.7%, 69.4%와 59.8%로 두 군간 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 2. Luminol dependent chemiluminescence, LPO 및 DNA fragmentation의 평균은 고수정군과 저수정군에 있어서 각각 6.4와 6.5, 2.Onmol와 3.Inmol 및 2.6%와 7.4%로 두 군간 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 보였으나(P<0.05), lucigenin dependent chemiluminescence는 4.7와 4.6로 두 군간 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 3. 체외 수정율은 정자의 운동성 및 첨체반응율과 통계학적으로 유의한 정(positive)의 상관관계(r=0.87, p<0.01; r=0.81, p<0.05)를 나타내었으며, luminol dependent chemiluminescence, lipid peroxldation 및 DNA fragmentation과는 통계학적으로 유의한 부(negative)의 상관관계 (r= -0.81, p<0.05; r: -0.74, p<0.05; r : 0.81, p<0.05)를 나타내었다. 그러나 체외수정율은 정상형태 정자의 비율, HOST 및 lucigenin dependent chemiluminescence와는 유의한 상관 관계를 나타내지 않았다. 4. 배반포 발생율은 첨체반응율과 통계학적으로 유의한 정의 상관관계(r=0.71, p<0.05)를 나타내었으며, luminol dependent chemiluminescence, lipid peroxidation 및 DNA fragmentation과는 통계학적으로 유의한 부의 상관관계(r= -0.71, p<0.05; r= -0.89, p<0.01; r= -0.71, P<0.05)를 나타내었다. 배반포 발생율은 정자의 운동성, 정상형태 정자의 비율 및 HOST, lucigenin dependent chemilumihescence와는 유의한 상관관계를 나타내지 않았다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 보면 정액질의 저하에 ROS의 영향이 밀접히 연관되어 있음을 알 수 있으며, 또한 본 연구에서 적용된 기법들은 정액질의 평가 및 정자 수정능력 향상을 위한 기술개발에 있어서 유용한 평가 방법으로 이용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.105-115
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• 2002

Objective : To evaluate the effects of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated with a xanthine (X) and xanthine oxidase (XO) system on sperm function, the change of sperm characteristics, lipid peroxidation, and DNA fragmentation in bovine spermatozoa. Materials and Methods: ROS were produced using a combination of 1000 uM X and 50 mU/ml XO. The ROS scavengers: superoxide dismu tase (SOD) (200 U/ml) and catalase (500 U/ml) were also tested. Spermatozoa were incubated for 2 hours in BWW medium with a combination of X-XO supplemented with or without ROS scavengers at $37^{circ}C$ under 5% $CO_2$ incubator. Sperm movement characteristics by CASA (computer-aided sperm analysis), HOST (hypoosmotic swelling test), Caionophore induced acrosome reaction, malondialdehyde formation for the analysis of lipid peroxidation, the percentage of DNA fragmentation using the method of TdT-mediated nick end labelling (TUNEL) by flow cytometry were determined after 2 hours incubation. Results: The action of ROS on bovine spermatozoa resulted in a decreased in capacity for sperm motility, Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction and membrane integrity, an increased in malondialdehyde formation and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation. In the effects of antioxidant, catalase completely alleviated the toxic effects induced by the ROS in terms of sperm function and characteristics, however SOD exhibited no capacity to reduce the toxic effects. Conclusion: The ROS can induce significant damages to sperm functions and characteristics. The useful ROS scavengers can minimized the defects of sperm function and various damages of spermatozoa.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.57-65
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• 2005

대계는 전통 한의학에서 약용 물질로 널리 쓰이고 있으므로, 대계의 약침을 조제하여 항산화적 활성을 검증해 보았다. 실험의 재료로 쓰인 대계는 동국대학교 한의과대학 부속 한방 병원에서 구입하여 사용하였고 (경상북도 경주), 이를 약침액으로 조제한 후 동결 건조 방법으로 5.1 %의 분말을 회수 하였다. 대계 약침액의 항산화 능력을 측정하기 위하여 DPPH자유기의 소거능은 Gyamfi et al. 의 방법을 따랐고, superoxide radicals $(O_2^-{\cdot})$ 소거능은 Gotoh et al.의 방법을 일부 수정하여 사용하였다. Hydroxyl radicals의 직접적인 소거능과 iron ions 사이의 관계는 deoxyribose assay를 통하여 검증하였다. 이상의 실험 결과에서 1) Non-site-specific scavenging assay (hydroxyl radicals, OH) 및 2) Site-specific scavenging assay (chelate iron ions) 그리고 3) 전산화 효과에서 모두 대계 약침액은 농도 의존적인 저해 효과를 보였으며, 특히 pro-oxidant 실험에서는 산화를 촉진하지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 끝으로 hydorxyl radical에 의하여 매개되는 DNA의 분절 효과를 적절하게 방어하는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 따라서 대계 약침액은 산화적 스트레스를 직접적으로 방어 하고, 다양한 산화적 손상에 의한 병증을 예방할 것으로 사료된다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.33-45
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• 2011

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is ATPase-directed molecular chaperon and affects survival of cancer cell. Inhibitory effect of Hsp90 by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the cancer cell was reported. However, its role during oocyte maturation and early embryo development is very insufficient. In this study, we traced the effects of Hsp90 inhibitor, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), on meiotic maturation and early embryonic development in pigs. We also investigated several indicators of developmental potential, including structural integrity, gene expression (Hsp90-, cell cycle-, and apoptosis-related genes), and apoptosis, which are affected by 17-AAG. Then, we examined the roles of Hsp90 inhibitor on viability of primary cells in pigs. Porcine oocytes were cultured in the NCSU-23 medium with or without 17-AAG for 44 h. The proportion of GV arrested oocytes was significantly different between the 17-AAG treated and untreated group (78.2 vs 34.8%, p<0.05). After completion of meiotic maturation, the proportion of MII oocytes was lower in the 17-AAG treated group than in the control group (27.9 vs 71.0%, p<0.05). After IVF, the percentage of penetrated oocytes was significantly lower in the 17-AAG treated group (25.2%), resulting in lower normal pronucleus formation (2PN of 14.6%). Therefore, the inhibition of meiotic progression by Hsp90 inhibitor played a critical role in fertilization status. Porcine embryo were cultured in the PZM-3 medium with or without 17-AAG for 6 days. In result, significant differences in developmental potential were detected between the embryos that were cultured with or without 17-AAG. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) showed that the number of containing fragmented DNA at the blastocyst stage increased in the 17-AAG treated group compared with control (7.5 vs 4.4, respectively). Blastocysts that developed in the 17-AAG treated group had low structural integrity and high apoptotic nuclei than those of the untreated control, resulting in decrease the embryonic qualities of preimplantation porcine blastocysts. The mRNA expressions of cell cycle-related genes were down-regulated in the 17-AAG treated group compared with control. Also, the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax increased in 17-AAG treated group, whereas expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bel-XL decreased. However, the expression of ER stress-related genes did not changed by 17-AAG. Cultured pESF cells were treated with or without 17-AAG and used for MIT assay. The results showed that viability of pESF cells were decreased by treatment of 17-AAG ($2{\mu}M$) for 24 hr. These results indicated that 17-AAG decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death. Expression patterns Hsp90 complex genes (Hsp70 and p23), cell cycle-related genes (cdc2 and cdc25c) and apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Bcl-XL) were significantly changed by using RT-PCR analysis. The spliced form of pXbp-1 product (pXbp-1s) was detected in the tunicamycin (TM) treated cells, but it is not detected in 17-AAG treated cells. In conclusion, Hsp90 appears to play a direct role in porcine early embryo developmental competence including structural integrity of blastocysts. Also, these results indicate that Hsp90 is closely associated with cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes expression in developing porcine embryos.