• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2009

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a well-known antioxidant molecule, has been reported to cause hepatotoxicity when used in excess. However, the mechanism underlying EGCG-induced hepatotoxicity is still unclear. To better understand the mode of action of EGCG-induced hepatotoxicity, we examined the effect of EGCG on human hepatic gene expression in HepG2 cells using microarrays. Analyses of microarray data revealed more than 1300 differentially expressed genes with a variety of biological processes. Upregulated genes showed a primary involvement with protein-related biological processes, such as protein synthesis, protein modification, and protein trafficking, while downregulated genes demonstrated a strong association with lipid transport. Genes involved in cellular stress responses were highly upregulated by EGCG treatment, in particular genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, such as GADD153, GADD34, and ATF3. In addition, changes in genes responsible for cholesterol synthesis and lipid transport were also observed, which explains the high accumulation of EGCG-induced lipids. We also identified other regulatory genes that might aid in clarifying the molecular mechanism underlying EGCG-induced hepatotoxicity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.220-225
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• 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary type of liver cancer, is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths worldwide. HCC patients have poor prognosis due to intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of various liver diseases including HCC. Among HBV gene products, HBV X protein (HBx) plays an important role in the development and metastasis of HCC. However, the mechanism of HCC metastasis induced by HBx has not been elucidated yet. In this study, for the first time, we report that HBx interacts with the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) which negatively controls NF-κB by degrading p65, a subunit of NF-κB. NF-κB activates the transcription of factors associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial cellular process associated with invasiveness and migration of cancer cells. Here, we report that HBx physically binds to SOCS1, subsequently prevents the ubiquitination of p65, activates the transcription of EMT transcription factors and enhance cell migration and invasiveness, suggesting a new mechanism of HBV-associated HCC metastasis.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.221-231
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• 2007

Recent researches have shown that important cellular-based autoprotective mechanisms are mediated by heat-shock proteins(HSPs), also called 'molecular chaperones'. HSPs as molecular chaperones are the primary cellular defense mechanism against damage to the proteome, initiating refolding of denatured proteins and regulating degradation after severe protein damage. HSPs also modulate multiple events within apoptotic pathways to help sustain cell survival following damaging stimuli. HSPs are induced by almost every type of stresses including physical and psychological stresses. Our nervous system in the brain are more vulnerable to stress and damage than any other tissues due to HSPs insufficiency. The normal function of HSPs is a key factor for endogenous stress adaptation of neural tissues. HSPs play an important role in the process of neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, and neuroendocrine regulation. The altered function of HSPs would be associated with the development of several neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore, an understanding of HSPs activities could help to improve autoprotective mechanism of our neural system. This paper will review the literature related to the significance of HSPs in neuropsychiatric field.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.447-452
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• 1974

A mechanistic possibility for the initiation of the thermal polymerization reactions are envisaged theoretically. As result of the considerations, it is assumed that the thermal polymerization reactions take place via the pseudo molecular complex which has been supposed to be an intermediate in the transition state of Diels-Alder reactions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 1996

In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of plasmid incompatibility of broad host-range plasmid R1162, the plasmid-encoded replication protein RepIB was purified and tested for binding to the 20 bp direct repeat (DR) DNA sequence which is reiterated 3 and 1/2 times within the replicative origin of the plasmid. The RepIB protein specifically binds to the DR DNA. Point mutations in the DR which affect expression of plasmid incompatibility also coordinately affect binding. These results indicate that the incompatibility of broad host-range plasmid R1162 is exerted by the DR DNA by titrating the essential replication protein RepIB.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.49-52
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• 2008

Parkinson's disease is characterized by motor disturbances and dopaminergic neurodegeneration. parkin and PINK1, two most critical Parkinson's disease-associated genes, have been intensively studied to address the underlying molecular pathogenesis of the disease, but our understanding still remains unclear. Through generation and characterization of Drosophila mutants for PINK1, we show that PINK1 is required for mitochondrial integrity and function in both indirect flight muscles and dopaminergic neurons. Surprisingly, we find that PINK1 mutants share striking phenotypic similarities with parkin mutants. Indeed, transgenic expression of parkin dramatically ameliorates all PINK1 loss-of-function phenotypes, but not vice versa, implicating that Parkin acts downstream of PINK1 in maintaining mitochondrial integrity and function in both muscles and dopaminergic neurons. With the establishment of the PINK1-Parkin pathway, we are trying to further investigate the detailed molecular relationship between PINK1 and Parkin using both mammalian dopaminergic neuronal cells for biochemical analysis and Drosophila model animal for genetic analysis. We believe that elucidating the molecular function of Parkinson's disease-associated genes will be of big help for the ultimate understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of this disease and also for the development of effective drugs for Parkinson's disease.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.301-301
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• 2011

We present theoretical investigations of the self-assembled growth of one-dimensional (1D) molecular lines directed across the dimer rows on the H-terminated Si(001) surface [1]. Based on density-functional theory calculations, a new growth mechanism of the 1D acetylacetone line is proposed [2], which involves the radical chain reaction initiated at two dangling-bond sites on one side of two adjacent Si dimers. It is also enabled that, if an H-free Si dimer were employed as the initial reaction site, a 1D acetylacetone line can grow along the dimer row. Our findings represent the first insight into the growth of 1D molecular lines not only across but also along the dimer rows on the H-terminated Si(001) surface.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.51.1-51.1
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• 1997

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.57-61
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.238.2-239
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• 2000

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