• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 2014

The transcription factor E2F1 is active during G1 to S transition and is involved in the cell cycle and progression. A recent study reported that increased E2F1 is associated with DNA damage and tumor development in several tissues using transgenic models. Here, we show that E2F1 expression is regulated by tristetraprolin (TTP) in prostate cancer. Overexpression of TTP decreased the stability of E2F1 mRNA and the expression level of E2F1. In contrast, inhibition of TTP using siRNA increased the E2F1 expression. E2F1 mRNA contains three AREs within the 3'UTR, and TTP destabilized a luciferase mRNA that contained the E2F1 mRNA 3'UTR. Analyses of point mutants of the E2F1 mRNA 3'UTR demonstrated that ARE2 was mostly responsible for the TTP-mediated destabilization of E2F1 mRNA. RNA EMSA revealed that TTP binds directly to the E2F1 mRNA 3'UTR of ARE2. Moreover, treatment with siRNA against TTP increased the proliferation of PC3 human prostate cancer cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that E2F1 mRNA is a physiological target of TTP and suggests that TTP controls proliferation as well as migration and invasion through the regulation of E2F1 mRNA stability.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.391-397
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• 2010

E2F transcription factors and their target genes have been known to play an important role in cell growth control. We found that curcumin, a polyphenolic phytochemical isolated from the plant Curcuma longa, markedly suppressed E2F4 expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells. Hydrogen peroxide was also found to decrease E2F4 protein level, indicating the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in curucmin-induced downregulation of E2F4 expression. Involvement of ROS in E2F4 downregulation in response to curcumin was confirmed by the result that pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcystein (NAC) before exposure of curcumin almost completely blocked the reduction of E2F4 expression at the protein as well as mRNA level. Anti-proliferative effect of curcumin was also suppressed by NAC which is consistent to previous reports showing curcumin-superoxide production and induction of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage as well as apoptosis. Expression of several genes, cyclin A, p21, and p27, which has been shown to be regulated in E2F4-dependent manner and involved in the cell cycle progression was also affected by curcumin. Moreover, decreased (cyclin A) and increased (p21 and p27) expression of these E2F4 downstream genes by curcumin was restored by pretreatment of cells with NAC and E2F4 overexpression which is induced by doxycycline. In addition, E2F4 overexpression was observed to partially ameliorate curcumin-induced growth inhibition by cell viability assay. Taken together, we found curcumin-induced ROS down-regulation of E2F4 expression and modulation of E2F4 target genes which finally lead to the apoptotic cell death in HCT116 colon cancer cells, suggesting that E2F4 appears to be a novel determinant of curcumin-induced cytotoxicity.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.148-157
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• 2019

In this study, $C_f/SiC$, $SiC_f/SiC$ and $C_f-SiC_f/SiC$ ceramic composites reinforcing carbon fiber, SiC fiber and hybrid fiber were fabricated by hybrid TGCVI and PIP process. After the thermal shock cycle, 3-point bending and Oxy-Acetylene torch test, their mechanical behavior, oxidation and erosion resistance were evaluated. The $C_f/SiC$ composite showed a decrease in mechanical property along with increasing temperature, a pseudo-ductile fracture mode and a large quantity of erosion. The $SiC_f/SiC$ composite exhibited stronger mechanical property and lower erosion rate compared to the $C_f/SiC$, but brittle fracture mode. On the other hand, hybrid type of $C_f-SiC_f/SiC$ composite gave the best mechanical property, more ductile failure mode than the $SiC_f/SiC$, and lower erosion rate than the $C_f/SiC$. During the Oxy-Acetylene torch test, the $SiO_2$ formed by reaction of the SiC matrix with oxygen prevented further oxidation or erosion of the fibers for $C_f-SiC_f/SiC$ and $SiC_f/SiC$ composites particularly. In conclusion, if a hybrid composite with low porosity is prepared, this material is expected to have high applicability as a high temperature thermo-structural composite under high temperature oxidation atmosphere by improving low mechanical property due to the oxidation of $C_f/SiC$ and brittle fracture mode of $SiC_f/SiC$ composite.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.640-644
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• 1998

AT cells exhibit defective cell cycle regulation following DNA damage. Previous studies have shown that induction of p53 and p2i proteins are delayed in response to ionizing rad iation, resulting in the failure of G1/S checkpoint in AT cells. In this study, further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying G1/S phase progression in AT cells was conducted. Exponentially growing normal and AT cells were exposed to 2 Gly of ionizing radiation and the expression levels and functional activities of Rb and E2F-1 proteins were determined. We observed overexpression of hyperphosphorylated Rb and E2F-1 proteins in AT cells, which was unaffected post-irradiation. Furthermore, gel shift assays showed that E2F-1-DNA binding was constitutive in AT cells, whereas it was inhibited in control cells following exposure to ionizing radiation. The data suggests that abnormalities in the function of Rb and E2F-1 proteins may also be responsible for the failure of AT cells to arrest in the G1/S checkpoint in response to DNA damage.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2018

The family Thapariellidae has been reported in only 3 countries since 1990. The objective of this study was to identify Thapariella anastomusa metacercariae in snails in Thailand based on morphological traits using a light (LM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). A total of 94 Filopaludina snails were collected and identified as 50 F. martensi martensi and 44 F. doliaris. Metacercariae of T. anastomusa were recovered from the snails by the crushing method. The overall prevalence was 22.3% (21/94), and the mean intensity was 17.0 per snail. The prevalence in F. martensi martensi was 24.0% (12/50) and F. doliaris 20.5% (9/44) with the mean intensity of 18.8 and 14.8 per snail, respectively. SEM revealed traits such as a concave ventral body and well-developed oral and ventral suckers. This study represents the first report of T. anastomusa in South East Asia. While LM and SEM observations provide novel insights into T. anastomusa metacercarial morphology and life history, the trematode's life cycle remains unclear. To date, there has been no report of T. anastomusa causing infections in humans. However, the snails F. martensi martensi and F. doliaris carrying the infective stages of T. anastomosa are frequently consumed by Thai people. This consumption, particularly uncooked snails, may present a risk of Thapariella infections in humans.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2008

Forest-grown American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is exposed to daily and seasonal light variations. Our goal was to determine the effect of understory light changes on the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, expressed as $F_v/F_m$, and photosynthetic pigment composition of two-year-old plants. Understory light photon flux density and sunfleck durations were characterized using hemispherical canopy photography. Our results showed that understory light significantly affected the $F_v/F_m$ of American ginseng, especially during the initial development of the plants when light levels were the highest, averaging 28 mol $m^{-2}d^{-1}$. Associated with low $F_v/F_m$ during its initial development, American ginseng had the lowest levels of epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle of the season, suggesting an active dissipation of excess light energy absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments. As photon flux density decreased after the deployment of the forest canopy to less than 10 mol $m^{-2}d^{-1}$, chlorophyll a/b decreased suggesting a greater investment in light harvesting pigments to reaction centers in order to absorb the fleeting light energy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2014

O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii are reported to possess many pharmacological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertension, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer effects. However, their anti-cancer activities in human breast cancer have not been clearly elucidated yet. Objectives: In the present study, we compared the in vitro cytotoxic effects of single and complex treatment of O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Methods: After we treated human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells with O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii. we evaluated viability, growth inhibition, morphological changes, apoptotic body formation, measurement of the cell cycle and formation of DNA fragmentation of these cells. Results: We found that single treatment of O. diffusa and F. thunbergii could inhibit cell proliferation in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. However, complex treatment of O. diffusa, C. appendiculata and F. thunbergii had weak or no effect on the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells. The first, anti-proliferative effects of O. diffusa in MDA-MB-231 cells was associated with G2/M arrest of cell cycle and apoptotic cell death. The second, anti-proliferative effect of F. thunbergii in MDA-MB-231 cells was associated with apoptotic cell death. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings suggest that O. diffusa and F. thunbergii may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human breast cancer cells, further studies will be needed to identify the molecular mechanisms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2014

In this research, we quantified the environmental load while using and not using secondary resources. During the process of primary processed product of metal resources (copper, aluminum), we applied LCA technique and analyzed by dividing into 8 environmental impact categories that affect the environment. Furthermore, we analyzed the greenhouse gas that occur during the process of primary processed product domestically and globally according to the changes of each metal resource's recycling rate. Consequently, when producing 1 ton of copper using secondary resources, the environmental effects were found to be 6.09E + 01 person-yr/f.u. and 7.23E + 01 person-yr/f.u. Additionally, as the recycling rate increased both globally and domestically, the amount of greenhouse gas decreased. Producing 1 ton of Aluminum using secondary resources, the environmental effects were found to be 2.34E + 02 person-yr/f.u. and 3.01E + 02 person-yr/f.u. Moreover, as the recycling rate domestically decreased, the amount of greenhouse gas increased, however the globally was decreased.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.871-877
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• 2009

We investigated the effects of sodium butyrate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the cell cycle progression in human monocytic leukemia U937 cells. Exposure of U937 cells to sodium butyrate resulted in growth inhibition, G1 arrest of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. The increase in G1 arrest was associated with the down-regulation in cyclin D1, E, A, cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 4 and 6 expression, and up-regulation of Cdk inhibitors such as p21 and p27. Sodium butyrate treatment also inhibited the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and p130, however, the levels of transcription factors E2F-1 and E2F-4 were not markedly modulated. Furthermore, the down-regulation of phosphorylation of pRB and p130 by this compound was associated with enhanced binding of pRB and E2F-1, as well as p130 and E2F-4, respectively. Overall, the present results demonstrate a combined mechanism involving the inhibition of pRBjp130 phosphorylation and induction of Cdk inhibitors as targets for sodium butyrate that may explain some of its anti-cancer effects in U937 cells.

• 한국ITS학회:학술대회논문집
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• v.2007 no.10
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• pp.76-84
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• 2007