• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2008

We generated transgenic tomato plants with Arabidopsis thaliana $H^+$/cation exchanger gene (C4X4) by Agrobactrium-mediated transformation. We confirmed transgene copy number and transcription by Southern and Northern blot analyses. The intact CAX4-expressing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruits contained 63-71% more calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) than wild-type fruits. Moreover, ectopic expression of C4X4 in tomato fruits did not show any significant increase of the four kinds of metallic cations analyzed ($Mg^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$, and $Cu^{2+})$. The C4X4-expressing tomato plants including their fruits did not show any morphological alternations during whole growth period. These results suggest the enhanced Ca-substrate specificity of CAX4 exchanger in tomato. Therefore, intact CAX4 exchanger can be a useful tool for $Ca^{2+}$ nutrient enrichment of tomato fruits with reduced accumulation of undesirable cations.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2014

Increasing data shows miR-29a is a key regulator of oncogenic processes. It is significantly down-regulated in some kind of human tumors and possibly functionally linked to cellular proliferation, survival and migration. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we report miR-29a is significantly under-expressed in gastric cancer compared to the healthy donor. The microvessel density is negatively related to miR-29a expression in gastric cancer tissues. The ectopic expression of miR-29a significantly inhibits proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, western blot combined with the luciferase reporter assays demonstrate that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is direct target of miR-29a. This is the first time miR-29a was found to suppress the tumor microvessel density in gastric cancer by targeting VEGF-A. Taken together, these results suggest that miR-29a is a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer. Restoration of miR-29a in gastric cancer may be a promising therapeutic approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3005-3009
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• 2014

The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of ubiquitin- conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) on biological behavior of lung cancer cells. Using MTT, flow cytometry and invasion assays, we detected UBE2C expression and evaluated its biological properties in these cells, including effects on proliferation, the cell cycle profile and invasive capability. Compared with control cells, the UBE2C transfected cells demonstrated increased cellular proliferation (p<0.05). UBE2C transfected cells also had a lower percentage in G1 phase and a higher percentage in S phase (p<0.05). Importantly, the UBE2C transfected cells had a notable enhancement of cell numbers penetrating the basement membrane compared with the control group (p<0.05). Ectopic up-regulation UBE2C promoted the growth of lung cancer cells in vivo. Furthermore, we found UBE2C increased the expression of cyclin D1 and MMP-2. These results show UBE2C may represent a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2013

TTRAP is a multi-functional protein that is involved in multiple aspects of cellular functions including cell proliferation, apoptosis and the repair of DNA damage. Here, we demonstrated that the lentivirus-mediated overexpression of TTRAP significantly inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. The ectopic TTRAP suppressed the growth and colony formation capacity of two osteosarcoma cell lines, U2OS and Saos-2. Cell apoptosis was induced in U2OS cells and the cell cycle was arrested at G2/M phase in Saos-2 cells. Exogenous expression of TTRAP in serum-starved U2OS and Saos-2 cells induced an increase in caspase-3/-7 activity and a decrease in cyclin B1 expression. In comparison with wild-type TTRAP, mutations in the 5'-tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase activity of TTRAP, in particular $TTRAP^{E152A}$, showed decreased inhibitory activity on cell growth. These results may aid in clarifying the physiological functions of TTRAP, especially its roles in the regulation of cell growth and tumorigenesis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.214-219
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• 2017

Mitochondria play pivotal roles in the ATP production, apoptosis and generation of reactive oxygen species. Although dynamic regulation of mitochondria morphology is a critical step to maintain cellular homeostasis, the regulatory mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated. In this study, we identified miR-200a-3p as a novel regulator of mitochondrial dynamics by targeting mitochondrial fission factor (MFF). We demonstrated that the ectopic expression of miR-200a-3p enhanced mitochondrial elongation, mitochondrial ATP synthesis, mitochondrial membrane potential and oxygen consumption rate. These results indicate that miR-200a-3p positively regulates mitochondrial elongation by downregulating MFF expression.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.10-18
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• 1996

Recently, we have reported a rice MADS-box gene, OsMADS1, as a molecular factor triggering flower formation; this has been well studied in a heterologous system (Chung et al., 1994). In order to study whether the OsMADS1 homolog exists in other plant species, the OsMADS1 cDNA was used as a probe to screen a tobacco cDNA library, and a potential homolog, NtMADS3, was isolated. Sequence analysis revealed that the gene shares 56.1% identity in whole amino acids with OsMADS1. Like OsMADS1, the NtMADS3 gene starts to express at a very early stage of flower development, and the expression continues up to flower maturation. In the tobacco flower, the gene is expressed in whorl 2,3 and 4, corresponding to the petal, stamen, and carpel, respectively. Upon ectopic expression in the homologous system, NtMADS3 caused a trasition from inflorescence shoot meristem into floral meristem, reducing flowering time dramatically. These phenotypes strongly suggest the NtMADS3 gene is the OsMADS1 homolog of tobacco. Hybrids between the OsMADS1 and the NtMADS3 plants were also generated. The hybrids flowered even earlier than these two transgenic plants. The detailed studies are discussed here.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.232-237
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• 2022

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays crucial roles in early development, tissue homeostasis, stem cells, and cancers. Here, we show that RNF152, an E3 ligase localized to lysosomes, acts as a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway during Xenopus early embryogenesis. Overexpression of wild-type (WT) RNF152 inhibited XWnt8-induced stabilization of β-catenin, ectopic expression of target genes, and activity of a Wnt-responsive promoter. Likewise, an E3 ligase-defective RNF152 had repressive effects on the Wnt-dependent gene responses but not its truncation mutant lacking the transmembrane domain. Conversely, knockdown of RNF152 further enhanced the transcriptional responses induced by XWnt8. RNF152 morphants exhibited defects in craniofacial structures and pigmentation. In line with this, the gain-of-RNF152 function interfered with the expression of neural crest (NC) markers, whereas its depletion up-regulated NC formation in the early embryo. Mechanistically, RNF152 inhibits the polymerization of Dishevelled, which is key to Wnt signaling, in an E3 ligase-independent manner. Together, these results suggest that RNF152 controls negatively Wnt/β-catenin signaling to fine-tune its activity for NC formation in Xenopus embryo.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.38-38
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• 2003

The electrical properties of neurons are produced by the coordinated activity of ion channels (Hille, 1992). $K^{+}$ channels play a key role in shaping action potentials and in determining neural firing patterns. Small conductance $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^{+}$ (S $K_{Ca}$ ) channels are involved in modulating the slow component of afterhyperpolarization (AHP) (Kohler et al., 1996). Here we examine whether rat type 2 S $K_{Ca}$ (rSK2) channels can affect the shape of the action potential and the neural firing pattern, by overexpressing rat SK2 channels in Aplysia neuron R15. Our results show that rSK2 overexpression decreased the intraburst frequency and changed the regular bursting activity of neurons to an irregular bursting or beating pattern in R15, Furthermore, the overexpression of rSK2 channels increased AHP and reduced the duration of the action potential. Thus, our results suggest that ectopic S $K_{Ca}$ channels play an important role in regulating the filing pattern and the shape of the action potential.ntial.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.151-161
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• 2017

Proper synaptic function in neural circuits requires precise pairings between correct pre- and post-synaptic partners. Errors in this process may underlie development of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Development of ASD can be influenced by genetic factors, including copy number variations (CNVs). In this study, we focused on a CNV occurring at the 16p11.2 locus in the human genome and investigated potential defects in synaptic connectivity caused by reduced activities of genes located in this region at Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions, a well-established model synapse with stereotypic synaptic structures. A mutation of rolled, a Drosophila homolog of human mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) at the 16p11.2 locus, caused ectopic innervation of axonal branches and their abnormal defasciculation. The specificity of these phenotypes was confirmed by expression of wild-type rolled in the mutant background. Albeit to a lesser extent, we also observed ectopic innervation patterns in mutants defective in Cdk2, Gq, and Gp93, all of which were expected to interact with Rolled MAPK3. A further genetic analysis in double heterozygous combinations revealed a synergistic interaction between rolled and Gp93. In addition, results from RT-qPCR analyses indicated consistently reduced rolled mRNA levels in Cdk2, Gq, and Gp93 mutants. Taken together, these data suggest a central role of MAPK3 in regulating the precise targeting of presynaptic axons to proper postsynaptic targets, a critical step that may be altered significantly in ASD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2361-2366
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• 2013

Diverse studies have shown that miR-155 is overexpressed in different tumor types. However, the precise molecular mechanism of the ectopic expression of miR-155 in breast cancer is still poorly understood. To further explore the role of miR-155 in breast tumorigenesis, we here assessed the influence of miR-155 antisense oligonucleotide (miR-155 ASO) on MDA-MB-157 cell viability and apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, the effects of inhibitory effects of miR-155 on the growth of xenograft tumors in vivo were determined with performance of immunohistochemistry to detect expression of caspase-3, a pivotal apoptosis regulatory factor, in xenografts. Transfection efficiency detected by laser confocal microscope was higher than 80%. The level of miR-155 expression was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the cells transfected with miR-155 ASO, compared with that in cells transfected with a negative control. After being transfected with miR-155 ASO, the viability of MDA-MB-157 cells was reduced greatly (P<0.05) and the number of apoptotic cells was increased significantly. Additionally, miR-155 ASO inhibited the growth of transplanted tumor in vivo and significantly increased the expression of caspase-3. Taken together, our study revealed that miR-155 ASO can induce cell apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation in vitro. Moreover, miR-155 ASO could significantly repress tumor growth in vivo, presumably by inducing apoptosis via caspase-3 up-regulation. These findings provide experimental evidence for using miR-155 as a therapeutic target of breast carcinoma.