• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.667-677
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• 2021

The elevated expression of the hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) is known to be highly associated with tumor progression in prostate cancer, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of HMMR expression remain unclear. Here, we report that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key regulator of HMMR expression, for which its kinase activity is required. Pharmacological inhibitors of mTOR, such as rapamycin and Torin2, markedly suppressed the mRNA level as well as the protein level of HMMR in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Our data demonstrate that such regulation occurs at the transcription level. HMMR promoter reporter assays revealed that the transcription factor SRF is responsible for the mTOR-mediated transcriptional regulation of HMMR gene. Consistently, the suppression of HMMR expression by Torin2 was noticeably reversed by the overexpression of SRF. Moreover, our findings suggest that the SRF binding sites responsible for the transcriptional regulation of HMMR through the mTOR-SRF axis are located in HMMR promoter sequences carrying the first intron, downstream of the translational start site. Furthermore, the upregulation of HMMR by DHT was abolished by stimulation with rapamycin, prior to DHT treatment, suggesting that mTOR activity is required for the induction of HMMR expression by androgen. Collectively, our study provides new mechanistic insights into the role of mTOR/SRF/AR signaling in HMMR regulation in prostate cancer cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.456-460
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• 1999

The promoter of the HSV-1 VP16 gene contains binding sites for the cellular transcription factors such as USF, CTF, and Sp1, each of which affects basal level expression of the VP16 gene. Transcription of the VP16 gene was induced by viral immediate-early proteins, ICP0 and ICP4, in a synergistic manner but repressed by ICP22. To gain further insight into the role of ICP0 in the expression of the VP16 gene during virus infection, several mutants with deletions in each of their transcriptional regulatory elements were generated. According to transient gene expression assays of these mutants using the CAT gene as a reporter, the USF and CTF binding sites were necessary for efficient induction of the promoter in the presence of transfected ICP0 or during virus infection, whereas the Sp1 binding site had little effect on ICP0-mediated VP16 expression. These results indicate that the immediate early proteins of HSV-1 regulate expression of the VP16 gene during virus infection by modulating the activities of cellular transcription factors such as USF and CTF.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.323-332
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• 2017

Homology-specific transcriptional and post-transcriptional silencing, an intrinsic mechanism of gene regulation in most eukaryotes, can be induced by anti-sense, co-suppression, or hairpin-based double-stranded RNA. Hairpin-based RNA interference (RNAi) has been applied to analyze gene function and genetically modify crops. However, RNAi vector construction usually requires high-cost cloning steps and large amounts of time, or involves methods that are protected by intellectual property rights. We describe a more effective method for generating intron-spliced RNAi constructs. To produce intron-spliced hairpin RNA, an RNAi cassette was ligated with the first intron and splicing sequences of the Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis histone deacetylase 1 gene. This method requires a single ligation of the PCR-amplified target gene to SpeI-NcoI and SacI-BglII enzyme sites to create a gene-specific silencing construct. We named the resulting binary vector system pKHi and verified its functionality by constructing a vector to silence DIHYDROFLAVONOL 4-REDUCTASE (DFR), transforming it into tobacco plants, and confirming DFR gene-silencing via PCR, RT-qPCR, and analysis of the accumulation of small interfering RNAs. Reduction of anthocyanin biosynthesis was also confirmed by analyzing flower color of the transgenic tobacco plants. This study demonstrates that small interfering RNAs generated through the pKHi vector system can efficiently silence target genes and could be used in developing genetically modified crops.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.107-111
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• 2005

C. elegans DLK-1 has been reported to play an important role in synaptogenesis by shaping the structure of presynaptic terminal. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and regulation of the dlk-1 gene in C. elegans. To determine the expression pattern, we made a dlk-1::gfp fusion construct, named pPDdg1, which consisted of -2.2 kb 5' upstream region, the first exon, the first intron, and a part of the second exon of the dlk-1 gene. By microinjecting this construct into the worm, we observed that the DLK-1::GFP was expressed mainly in neurons. We next examined the regulatory elements of gene expression by deletion analysis of pPDdg1. Removal of a large portion of the 5' upstream region (${\Delta}-361$ to -2246) of the gene had little effect on the expression pattern, whereas deletion of the first intron led to elimination of the DLK-1::GFP expression in most of the neurons. Our results suggest that the first intron of the C. elegans dlk-1 gene contains the regulatory element critical for gene expression.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.114-122
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• 2017

It is becoming increasingly clear that eukaryotic genomes are subjected to higher-order chromatin organization by the CCCTC-binding factor/cohesin complex. Their dynamic interactions in three dimensions within the nucleus regulate gene transcription by changing the chromatin architecture. Such spatial genomic organization is functionally important for the spatial disposition of chromosomes to control cell fate during development and differentiation. Thus, the dysregulation of proper long-range chromatin interactions may influence the development of tumorigenesis and cancer progression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 1997

The present study was performed to analyze the molecular mechanism which dictates the transcription regulation of the $O^6$-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Previously we identified one possible upstream repressing sequence (URS) in MGMT promoter by promoter deletion and competition analysis. In this paper we report another regulatory element (UAS: upstream activating sequence. -213 to -136) which affects the transcription activity of MGMT promoter. Gel mobility shift assay and Southwestern blot analysis using UAS probe showed several specific proteins which were able to bind to this sequence.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2006

Certain flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory activity. Besides their antioxidative property, the cellular action mechanisms of flavonoids include an inhibition of arachidonate metabolizing enzymes such as cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases, and a down-regulation of proinflammatory gene expression such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$. In this review, the recent findings of anti-inflammatory flavonoid research since 2004 were summarized. And the cellular mechanisms on signal transduction pathways were also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.67-73
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• 2007

There have been various inflammatory skin disorders in humans including atopic dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. Although some drugs have been used for these disorders, there is an urgent need for safer and more effective topical anti-inflammatory agents. Plant flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory activity and some of them have multiple pharmacological mechanisms, inhibition of eicosanoid metabolizing enzymes, histamine release and/or down-regulation of pro inflammatory gene expression. These properties of flavonoids may be suitable for treating chronic skin inflammatory disorders. Especially, wogonin, some prenylated flavonoids and biflavonoids have a strong potential as new anti-inflammatory agents by topical application.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.125.2-125.2
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• 2003

Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion predisposes the liver to secondary stresses such as endotoxemia possibly via dysregulation of the hepatic microcirculation secondary to imbalanced regulation of vascular stress gene. In this study, we determined the effect of endotoxin on hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression in response to hepatic ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Rats were subjected to 90 min of hepatic ischemia and 6 h of reperfusion. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally after reperfusion. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.299.1-299.1
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• 2002

Failure of the hepatic microcirculation is a major component of reperfusion injury in the liver. However. the vasoactive mediators involved in the regulation of sinusoidal flow during reperfusion following hepatic ischemia remain to be identified. We investigate the role of Kupffer cells in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (l/R)-induced imbalance of vasoregulatory gene expression. Rats were subjected to 60 min hepatic ischemia, followed by 5 h of reperfusion. (omitted)