• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1557-1561
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate the promoter methylation status of the E-cadherin gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its association with clinical pathological parameters, and to explore the relationship between downregulation of E-cadherin gene expression and the methylation status of its promoter region. Methods: Nested methylation-specific PCR was performed to examine CpG methylation within the 5' CpG island of the E-cadherin gene in lung cancer and para-cancerous tissue from 37 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the level of E-cadherin mRNA. Results: Of thirty-seven cases, 12 (32.4%) samples showed aberrant CpG methylation in tumor tissues compared with the corresponding normal tissues. In addition, a reduction in E-cadherin mRNA levels was observed in 11 of the 12 (91.7%) tumor tissues carrying a methylated E-cadherin gene. However, only 10 (43.5%) cases displayed reduced mRNA levels in tumor tissues from the remaining 23 cases (excluding 2 samples from which mRNA was unavailable) without methylation events. Downregulation of E-cadherin gene expression significantly correlated with the promoter methylation status of this gene. Conclusion: These results provide strong evidence that the methylation status of E-cadherin gene contributes to a reduction in the expression of E-cadherin mRNA, and may play a role in the development and progression of NSCLC.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2008

We constructed the null mutants of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe rsml gene that is thought to be involved in mRNA export. Though rsm1 gene is not essential for growth, the null mutant strain constructed by replacing the rsm1-coding region with an $kan^{r}$ gene showed growth retardation and mRNA export defects compared to wild type strain. We constructed double mutants which harbor rsm1 null allele and mutant allele of genes involved in mRNA export. The mex67 or npp106 null allele, when combined with rsm1 null allele, showed an additive effect on growth retardation and mRNA export defects. On the other hand, the thp1 null allele restored the defects of growth and mRNA export of rsm1 null mutant. These results suggest that rsm1 plays a role in mRNA export from the nucleus.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 2015

Suicidal gene therapy is based on the transduction of tumor cells with "suicide" genes encoding for prodrug-activating enzymes that render target cells susceptible to prodrug treatment. Suicidal gene therapy results in the death of tumor with the expression of gene encoding enzyme that converts non-toxic prodrug into cytotoxic product. Cytochrome P450 4B1 (CYP4B1) activates 4-ipomeanol (4-IPO) or 2-aminoanthracene (2-AA) to cytotoxic furane epoxide and unsaturated dialdehyde intermediate.In this study, therapeutic effects of suicidal gene therapy with rabbit CYP4B1/2-AA or 4-IPO system were evaluated in HT-29 (human colon cancer cell). pcDNA-CYP4B1 vector was transfected into HT-29 by lipofection and stable transfectant was selected by treatment of hygromycin ($500{\mu}g/mL$) for 3 weeks. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed for confirmation of CYP4B1 expression in CYP4B1 gene transduced cell. The cytotoxic effects of CYP4B1 transduced cell were determined using dye-exclusion assay after treatment of 2-AA or 4-IPO for 96 hrs. Dye-exclusion assay showed that $IC_{50}$ of HT-29 and CYP4B1 transduced HT-29 was 0.01 mM and 0.003 mM after 4-IPO or 2-AA treatment at 96 hrs exposure, respectively. In conclusion, CYP4B1 based prodrug gene therapy probably have the potential for treatment of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.6-9
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• 2007

An RNase P ribozyme library has been developed as a tool for functional genomics studies. Each clone of this library contains a random 18-mer and the sequence of M1 RNA, the catalytic subunit of RNase P. Repression of target gene expression is thus achieved by the complementary binding of mRNA to the random guide sequence and the successive target cleavage via M1 RNA. Cellular expression of the ribozyme expression was confirmed, and EGFP mRNA was used as a model to demonstrate that the RNase P ribozyme expression system can inhibit the target gene expression. The constructed RNase P ribozyme library has a complexity of $1.4\times10^7$. This novel library system should become a useful in functional genomics, to identify novel gene functions in mammalian cells.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 1997

In order to express the FLP recombinase in B. mori cultured cell line, BmN-4, transient expression system using a heat shock protein gene (hsp70) promoter of Dorosophilla melnogaster was constructed. This vector was designated as pHsSV. Activity strength of the hsp70 promoter was compared with that of immediate early gene (IE-1) and polyhedrin gene of BmNPV employing the E. coli $\beta$-galactosidase gene as a reporter gene. The result showed that the pHs $\beta$-gal plasmid vector expressed the $\beta$-galactosidase at 2nd and 3rd day after the transfer of plasmid DNA into BmN-4 cells, which was similar to that of pIE1 $\beta$-gal vector, but different from that of a recombinant virus, vBm $\beta$-gal. For the construction of FLP recombinase transient expression vector, the FLP recombinase gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction technique. To express the FLP recombinase, this gene was inserted into pHsSV plasmid vector, under the control of the hsp70 promotor, and tranfected in BmN-4 cells. The expressed FLP recombinase was estimated at 44kDa on a 12.5% SDS-PAGE.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.434-439
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• 2004

Medicago truncatula is a model plant for molecular genetic studies of legumes and plant-microbe interactions. To accelerate finding of genes that play roles in the early stages of nodulation and stress responses, a trans-genic plant was developed that contains a promoter­reporter fusion. The promoter of rip], a Rhizobium-induced peroxidase gene, was fused to the coding region of $\beta-glucuronidase (GUS)$ gene and inserted into a modified plant transformation vector, pSLJ525YN, in which the bar gene was preserved from the original plasmid but the neomycin phosphotransferase gene was replaced by a polylinker. Transformation of M. truncatula was carried out by vacuum infiltration of young seedlings with Agrobacterium. Despite low survival rates of infiltrated seedlings, three independent transformants were obtained from repeated experiments. Southern blot analyses revealed that 7 of 8 transgenic plants of the T 1 generation contained the bar gene whereas 6 $T_1$ plants contained the GUS gene. These results indicate that vacuum infiltration is an effective method for transformation of M. truncatula. The progeny seeds of the transgenic plants will be useful for mutagenesis and identification of genes that are placed upstream and may influence the expression of rip] in cellular signaling processes including nodulation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 2010

Background : At high glucose levels in $\beta$-cells, cell viability and insulin secretion are decreased by glucotoxicity. Sopyung-tang(SPT) had an effect on blood glucose level decrease and antioxidant enzyme activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Objectives : This study performed a series of experiment to verify the effects of SPT extract on the cell viability, antioxidant enzyme activities, insulin secretion and insulin mRNA expression at hyperglycemic states of RIN-m5F. Methods : After treatment at various concentrations of SPT added to the RIN-m5F cells, cell viability by MTT assay, free radical-scavenging activity, SOD activity and insulin secretion were measured. Additionally, insulin-related gene expression was measured using real-time RT-PCR. Results : Compared to the control group, SPT extract showed considerable effects on RIN-m5F cell viability, DPPH radical-scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, insulin secretion and insulin-related gene expression. Conclusions : This study showed that SPT extract has an effect on $\beta$-cell cell viability, insulin secretion and insulin-related gene expression. Thus, SPT extract may be used for treatment of diabetes and its complications. Further mechanism studies of SPT seem to be necessary on the glucotoxicity and oxidative stress.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.107-107
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• 1997

Cytochrome P450 enzymes have been intensively investigated in hepatic tissues and several mammalian cell lines. Compared to most studies about cytochrome P450 isozymes in liver in vivo and hepatic, cell lines in vitro, the study of cytochrome P450IA1 in human breast cancer cells could be very important to understand the mechanism of the regulation of CYPIA1 gene expression and cell growth. MCF-7 human breast cancer cells are well characterized to study estrogen and antiestrogen action due to the fact that they contain high level of estrogen receptor and have biological markers characterized. And also MCF-7 cells express high level of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activity and human cytochrome P450IA1 cDNA was cloned from MCF-7 cells. Ah receptor was characterized in many breast cancer cell lines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon such as 3-MC induced the expression of CYPIA1 gene and cytochrome P450- dependent monooxygenase activity. We undertook a study to examine the effect of estrogens and other chemicals on the regulation of human CYPIA1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells via RTPCR analysis, that might help us to understand the mechanism of the regulation of CYPIA1 gene expression and MCF-7 cell growth. Expression vector containing the functional 5'-regulatory region of human CYPIA1 fused to the CAT reporter gene was transfected into estrogen receptor positive MCF-T cells or estrogen receptor negative MDA-MB-231 cells. After these cells were treated with various chemicals, RTPCR was carried out to measure both CYPIA1 mRNA and CAT mRNA levels. 1nM 3-MC increased in both P450 and CAT mRNA levels over those of control by two folds in MCF-7 cells but does not in MDA-MB-231 cells. Estrogen or tamoxifen or retinoic acid or chrysin decreased in both P450 and CAT mRNA levels that were induced by 3-MC in MCF-7 when each chemical was administered with 3-MC concomitantly. These results suggested that the level of CYPIA1 gene expression is modulated with estrogen-related molecules and make it possible to speculate that ER is related to CYPIA1 gene expression and cell growth in breast cancer cells. [Supported by grants from the Korean Ministry of Education ]

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.149-154
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• 2007

In the present study, we performed the PCR assay using TOX2P/TOX2M primer targeting a specific region within mcyB gene to identify potential microcystin-producing cyanobacteria. TOX2P/TOX2M primer set was effective in amplifying mcy gene in the field samples containing Microcystis spp. of 1,000 cells per mL. Moreover, the results from the PCR assay agreed with those of the ELISA analysis. Consequently, this study demonstrated that TOX2P/TOX2M primer set can be used as a genetic probe for the early detection of cyanobacterial toxigenicity in Korean water bodies.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2013

For the treatment of osteoarthritis, pulsed electromagnetic field stimulus has been suggested as a useful therapeutic method in rehabilitative medicine. Most studies have been performed under low-frequency and low-energy to find out biological properties for stimulating chondrocyte with pulsed magnetic field. In this study, the effect of strong pulse magnetic field on the human chondrosarcoma cells (SW-1353) has been investigated by means of cell counting, morphologies, and gene expression of cartilage extracellular matrix genes. The SW-1353 cells were exposed under the field intensities of 270, 100, 55, 36, and 26 mTesla during 6 hours a day in 5 consecutive days. The pulse magnetic field with an LRC oscillating signal has the pulse width of 0.126 msec and stimulation period of 1 sec. For the 270 and 100 mTesla stimulation, the cell proliferation significantly increased in 21-24% as compared with the non-stimulated cells. Gene expression of cartilage extracellular matrix genes (ACAN, COMP and COL2A1) was assayed by quantitative real time-PCR method. The ACAN gene expression showed a significant brightness, which means the increase on gene expression, compared with the non-stimulated cells. Our results suggest that the strong pulse magnetic field stimulation can be utilized to accelerate cell proliferation and gene expression on human chondrosarcoma cells.