• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2017

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can affect epigenetic mechanisms and obesity development. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)-widely used to make flames-are one of the important POPs. Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as POPs, may affect global DNA methylation in long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1), increasing the risk of obesity later in life. Therefore, pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to elucidate whether BDE-47 and BDE-209 transferred through placenta and breast milk cause epigenetic changes in LINE-1 and increase genetic susceptibility to obesity as obesogen during the developmental periods. Global DNA methylation in LINE-1 and gene expression related to obesity were measured in dams and offspring, using a methylation-sensitive high resolution melting analysis (MS-HRM) and direct bisulfite sequencing and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. The results of MS-HRM showed global DNA hypomethylation patterns in LINE-1 of exposed offspring (2 of total 4) at PND 4, but bisulfite sequencing showed no difference in both the exposed and non-exposed groups. Gene expression in dams related to ${\beta}$-oxidation pathway and those related to adipokines showed different patterns between the two groups. On the contrary, gene expressions of offspring showed a similar pattern. Gene expressions related to ${\beta}$-oxidation pathway and obesity were significantly increased when compared with 'at birth', but not $PPAR-{\alpha}$. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the possibility that co-exposure to BDE-47 and BDE-209-via the placenta and breast milk-may affect epigenetic changes and modulate gene expression levels related to obesity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4467-4474
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• 2014

Background: We aimed to comprehensively review the evidence for using sputum DNA to detect non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Vip Databases and Google Scholar from 2003 to 2013. The meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effect model with sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odd ratios (DOR), summary receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves), area under the curve (AUC), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) as effect measurements. Results: There were twenty-two studies meeting the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.62 (95%CI: 0.59-0.65) and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.70-0.75), respectively. The DOR was 10.3 (95%CI: 5.88-18.1) and the AUC was 0.78. Conclusions: The overall accuracy of the test was currently not strong enough for the detection of NSCLC for clinical application. Dscovery and evaluation of additional biomarkers with improved sensitivity and specificity from studies rated high quality deserve further attention.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.369-377
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• 2018

In order to examine the constituents and weathered state of a lacquer specimen, analysis of the organic materials was conducted using py/GC/MS(pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The samples were obtained from the lacquered wooden sheath of a long ring-pommel sword excavated in the Imdang No.1 ancient tomb constructed around the Proto-Three Kingdoms period. In direct py/GC/MS, the sample and the dried Asian lacquer showed similar chromatograms, while the characteristic compounds of Asian lacquer such as 1,2-dimethoxy-3-pentadecylbenzene were observed in THM(thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation)-py/GC/MS. In addition, compounds like dimethyl nonanedioate, which presumably originated from drying oil, were also detected. Furthermore, the detection of oxidized catechols in considerable amount indicated that the degradation of lacquer is estimated to result from the oxidation of urushiol. Therefore, it is suggested that the lacquered wooden sheath was prepared using Asian lacquer and drying oil, and that the lacquer layer was considerably oxidized over the long burial time.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.197-206
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• 2004

Cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) is responsible for the metabolic activation of a number of aromatic amines and amides to mutagenic and carcinogenic moieties. Considerable variations in the level of CYP1A2 expression in humans have been reported. Thus, the level of human CYP1A2 may determine an individuals susceptibility to these chemicals. Given its importance, the molecular mechanisms of CYP1A2 regulation have been studied by many groups. Direct interactions between transcription factors with the promoters of the gene represent one of the primary means by which the expression of CYP1A2 is controlled. In this review, several important cis elements, transcription factors and the effects of deacetylation/methylation of promoter regions that play an important role in the induction by PAHs as well as constitutive expression of human CYP1A2 are discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.97-101
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• 1991

Gas-phase pyrolyses of carbonate esters, ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-hydroxy esters and ${\beta}$-hydroxy ketones have been studied theoretically by the AM1 MO method. Carbonate esters were found to decompose by two types of processes; in the reaction pathway involving an intermediate, the decomposition of the intermediate was rate-limiting, but direct pyrolyses were also possible via a six-membered cyclic transition state in which the methoxy oxygen attacks a hydrogen atom on the ${\beta}$-carbon. The hydroxy esters and ketones were found to decompose in a concerted process involving a six-membered cyclic transition state. Successive methylation on the ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-carbon led to an increase in the reactivity in agreement with experiments.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2012

ErmSF is one of the Erm family proteins which catalyze S-adenosyl-$_L$-methionine dependent modification of a specific adenine residue (A2058, E. coli numbering) in bacterial 23S rRNA, thereby conferring resistance to clinically important macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B ($MLS_B$) antibiotics. $^{222}FXPXPXVXS^{230}$ (ErmSF numbering) sequence appears to be a consensus sequence among the Erm family. This sequence was supposed to be involved in direct interaction with the target adenine from the structural studies of Erm protein ErmC'. But in DNA methyltarnsferase M. Taq I, this interaction have been identified biochemically and from the complex structure with substrate. Arginine 223 and 227 in this sequence are not conserved among Erm proteins, but because of the basic nature of residues, it was expected to interact with RNA substrates. Two amino acid residues were replaced with Ala by site-directed mutagenesis. Two mutant proteins still maintained its activity in vivo and resistant to the antibiotic erythromycin. Compared to the wild-type ErmSF, R223A and R227A proteins retained about 50% and 88% of activity in vitro, respectively. Even though those arginine residues are not essential in the catalytic step, with their positive charge they may play an important role for RNA binding.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1050-1052
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• 1997

The complexes M(CO)4-1,2-(PPh2)2-1,2-C2B10H10 (M=Cr 2a, Mo 2b, W 2c) have been prepared in good yields from readily available bis-diphenylphosphino-o-carboranyl ligand, closo-1,2-(PPh2)2-1,2-C2B10H10 (1), by direct reaction with Group Ⅵ metal carbonyls. The infrared spectra of the complexes indicate that there is an octahedral disposition of chelate bis-diphenylphosphino-o-carboranyl ligand around the metal atom. The crystal structure of 2a was determined by X-ray diffraction. Complex 2a crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with cell parameters a = 12.2360(7), b = 17.156(1), c = 16.2040(6) Å, V = 3354.1(3) Å3, and Z =4. Of the reflections measured a total of 2514 unique reflections with F2 > 3σ(F2) was used during subsequent structure refinement. Refinement converged to R1 = 0.066 and R2 = 0.071. Structural studies showed that the chromium atom had a slightly distorted pseudo-octahedral configuration about the metal center with two phosphine groups of o-carborane occupying the equatorial plane cis-orientation to each other. These metal carbonyl complexes are rapidly converted to the corresponding metal carbene complexes, [(CO)3M=C(OCH3)(CH3)]-1,2-(PPh2)2-1,2-C2B10H10 (M= Cr 3a, Mo 3b, W 3c), via alkylation with methyllithium followed by O-methylation with CF3SO3CH3.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.634-641
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• 1995

The metal-carbon σ-bond cluster complexes 1-Mn(CO)5-2-R-1,2-C2B10H10 (R=CH3 Ia, C6H5 Ib) have been prepared in good yields from readily available carboranyl lithium complexes, 1-Li+-2-R-1,2-C2B10H10- (R=CH3, C6H5), by direct reaction with (CO)5MnBr. These manganese metal complexes are rapidly converted to the corresponding manganese metal carbene complexes, 1-[(CO)4Mn=C(OCH3)(CH3)]-2-R-1,2-C2B10H10 (R=CH3 IIIa, C6H5 IIIb), via alkylation with methyllithium followed by O-methylation with CF3SO3CH3. The crystal structure of IIIb was determined by X-ray diffraction. Thus, complex IIIb crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with cell parameters a=15.5537(5), b=19.0697(5), c=7.4286(3) Å, V=2203.4(1) Å3, and Z=4. Of the reflections measured a total of 3805 unique reflections with F2>3σ(F2) was used during subsequent structure refinement. Refinement converged to R1=0.053 and R2=0.091. Structural studies showed that the manganese atom had a slightly distorted pseudo-octahedral configuration about the metal center with the carbene and ortho-carborane occupying the equatorial plane cis-orientation to each other.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.643-647
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• 1996

1,2-Disubstituted chiral calix[4]arene "25-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyloxy)-26-methoxy-27,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene" was synthesized by the reaction of 25-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyloxy)-calix[4]arene with methyl iodide in the presence of K2CO3. Methylation was occurred at the 26-position of calix[4]arene. The partial cone conformation and 1,2-substitution were characterized based on the 1H NMR, 13C NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction method. The crystals are orthorhombic, Pbca, a=10.652(1), b=17.687(1), c=32.247(3) Å, Z=8, V=6075.4(9) Å3, Dc=1.38gcm-3. The intensity data were collected on an Enraf-Nonius CAD-4 Diffractometer with a graphite monochromated Cu-Kα radiation. The structure was solved by direct method and refined by full-matrix least-squares methods to a final R value of 0.050 for 2368 observed reflections. The molecule is in the partial cone conformation. It has two strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds of O(1D)-H…O(1C)-H…O(1B).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2014

Differential transcription of the clusterin (CLU) gene yields two CLU isoforms, a nuclear form (nCLU) and a secretory form (sCLU), which play crucial roles in prostate tumorigenesis. Pro-apoptotic nCLU and anti-apoptotic sCLU have opposite effects and are differentially expressed in normal and cancer cells; however, their regulatory mechanisms at the transcriptional level are not yet known. Here, we examined the transcriptional regulation of nCLU in response to hypoxia. We identified three putative hypoxia response elements (HREs) in the human CLU promoter between positions -806 and +51 bp. Using a luciferase reporter, electrophoretic gel mobility shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we further showed that hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) bound directly to these sites and activated transcription. Exposure to the hypoxia-mimetic compound $CoCl_2$, incubation under 1% $O_2$ conditions, or overexpression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ enhanced nCLU expression and induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC3M cells. However, LNCaP prostate cancer cells were resistant to hypoxia-induced cell death. Methylation-specific PCR analysis revealed that the CLU promoter in PC3M cells was not methylated; in contrast, the CLU promoter in LNCap cells was methylated. Co-treatment of LNCaP cells with $CoCl_2$ and a demethylating agent promoted apoptotic cell death through the induction of nCLU. We conclude that nCLU expression is regulated by direct binding of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ to HRE sites and is epigenetically controlled by methylation of its promoter region.