• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2009

The 26S proteasome is a 2-MDa complex with a central role in protein turn over. The 26S proteasome is comprised of one 20S core particle and two 19S regulatory particles (RPs). The RPN12a protein, a non-ATPase subunit of the 19S RP, was previously shown to be involved in cytokinin signaling in Arabidopsis. To further investigate cellular roles of RPN12a, RNAi transgenic plants of RPN12a were constructed. As expected, the 35S:RNAi-RPN12a plants showed cytokinin signaling defective phenotypes, including abnormal formation of leaves and inflorescences. Furthermore, RNAi knock-down transgenic plants exhibited additional unique phenotypes, including concave and heart-shape cotyledons, triple cotyledons, irregular and clustered guard cells, and defects in phyllotaxy, all of which are typical for defective cytokinin signaling. We next examined the mRNA level of cytokinin signaling components, including type-A ARRs, type-B ARRs, and CRFs. The expression of type-A ARRs, encoding negative regulators of cytokinin signaling, was markedly reduced in 35S:RNAi-RPN12a transgenic plants relative to that in wild type plants, while type-B ARRs and CRFs were unaffected. Our results also indicate that in vivo stability of the ARR5 protein, a negative regulator of cytokinin signaling, is mediated by the 26S proteasome complex. These results suggest that RPN12a participates in feedback inhibitory mechanism of cytokinin signaling through modulation of the abundance of ARR5 protein in Arabidopsis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.331-339
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• 2009

Capsaicin is a very important secondary metabolite that is unique to Capsicum. Capsaicin biosynthesis is regulated developmentally and environmentally in the placenta of hot pepper. To investigate regulation of capsaicin biosynthesis, the promoter (1,537 bp) of pepper capsaicin synthase (CS) was fused to GUS and introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens to produce CSPRO::GUS transgenic plants. The CS was specifically expressed in the placenta tissue of immature green fruit. However, the transgenic Arabidopsis showed ectopic GUS expressions in the leaves, flowers and roots, but not in the stems. The CSPRO activity was relatively high under light conditions and was induced by both heat shock and wounding, as CS transcripts were increased by wounding. Exogenous capsaicin caused strong suppression of the CSPRO activity in transgenic Arabidopsis, as demonstrated by suppression of CS expression in the placenta after capsaicin treatment. Furthermore, the differential expression levels of Kas, Pal and pAmt, which are associated with the capsaicinoid biosynthetic pathway, were also suppressed in the placenta by capsaicin treatment. These results support that capsaicin, a feedback inhibitor, plays a pivotal role in regulating gene expression which is involved in the biosynthesis of capsaicinoids.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2009

We reported previously that overexpression of a salicylic acid (SA) methyltransferase1 gene from rice (OsBSMT1) or a SA glucosyltransferase1 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSAGT1) leads to increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae due to reduced SA levels. To further examine their roles in the defense responses, we assayed the transcript levels of AtBSMT1 or AtSAGT1 in plants with altered levels of SA and/or other defense components. These data showed that AtSAGT1 expression is regulated partially by SA, or nonexpressor of pathogenesis related protein1, whereas AtBSMT1 expression was induced in SA-deficient mutant plants. In addition, we produced the transgenic Arabidopsis plants with RNAi-mediated inhibition of AtSAGT1 and isolated a null mutant of AtBSMT1, and then analyzed their phenotypes. A T-DNA insertion mutation in the AtBSMT1 resulted in reduced methyl salicylate (MeSA) levels upon P. syringae infection. However, accumulation of SA and glucosyl SA was similar in both the atbsmt1 and wild-type plants, indicating the presence of another SA methyltransferase or an alternative pathway for MeSA production. The AtSAGT1-RNAi line exhibited no altered phenotypes upon pathogen infection, compared to wild-type plants, suggesting that (an)other SA glucosyltransferase(s) in Arabidopsis plants may be important for the pathogenesis of P. syringae.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.699-704
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• 2014

Themetastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) oncogene hasbeen suggested to be involved in the regulation of cancer progression. However, there is still no direct evidence that MTA1 regulates cisplatin (CDDP) resistance, as well as cancer stem cell properties. In this study, we found that MTA1 was enriched in CNE1/CDDP cells. Knock down of MTA1 in CNE1/CDDP cells reversed CSCs properties and CDDP resistance. However, ectopic expression of MTA1 in CNE1 cells induced CSCs phenotypes and CDDP insensitivity. Interestingly, ectopic overexpression of MTA1-induced CSCs properties and CDDP resistance were reversed in CNE1 cells after inhibition of PI3K/Akt by LY294002. In addition, MTA1 expression and Akt activity in CNE1/CDDP cells was much higher than that in CNE1 cells. These results suggested that MTA1 may play a critical role in promoting CDDP resistance in NPC cells by regulatingcancer stem cell properties via thePI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Our findings suggested that MTA1 may be a potential target for overcoming CDDP resistance in NPC therapy.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2012

Adult stem cell transplantation has been increased every year, because of the lack of organ donors for regenerative medicine. Therefore, development of reliable and safety cryopreservation and bio-baking method for stem cell therapy is urgently needed. The present study investigated safety of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) such as common cryoprotectant on porcine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (pBM-MSCs) by evaluating the activation of Caspase-3 and -7, apoptosis related important signal pathway. pBM-MSCs used for the present study were isolated density gradient method by Ficoll-Paque Plus and cultured in A-DMEM supplemented 10% FBS at $38.5^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ incubator. pBM-MSCs were cryopreserved in A-DMEM supplemented either with 5%, 10% or 20% DMSO by cooling rate at $-1^{\circ}C$/min in a Kryo 360 (planner 300, Middlesex, UK) and kept into $LN_2$. Survival rate of cells after thawing did not differ between 5% and 10% DMSO but was lowest in 20% DMSO by 0.4% trypan blue exclusion. Activation of Caspase-3 and -7 by Vybrant FAM Caspase-3 and -7 Assay Assay Kit (Molecular probes, Inc.OR, USA) was analyzed with a flow cytometer. Both of cryopreserved and control groups (fresh pBM-MSCs) were observed after the activation of Caspase-3 and -7. The activation did not differ between 5% and 10% DMSO, but was observed highest in 20% DMSO. Therefore 5% DMSO can be possibly used for cell cryopreservation instead of 10% DMSO.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.250-255
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• 2011

The immune system is finely balanced by the activities of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators or cytokines. Unregulated activities of these mediators can lead to the development of various inflammatory diseases. A variety of safe and effective anti-inflammatory agents are available with many more drugs under development. Of the natural compounds, the sesquiterpenes (nootkatone, ${\alpha}$-cyperone, valencene and ${\alpha}$-selinene) isolated from C. rotundus L. have received much attention because of their potential antiinflammatory effects. However, limited studies have been reported regarding the influence of sesquiterpene structure on anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory potential of four structurally divergent sesquiterpenes was evaluated in lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, murine macrophages. Among the four sesquiterpenes, ${\alpha}$-cyperone and nootkatone, showed stronger anti-inflammatory and a potent NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitory effect on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Molecular analysis revealed that various inflammatory enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) were reduced significantly and this correlated with downregulation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Additionally, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) elucidated that nootkatone and ${\alpha}$-cyperone dramatically suppressed LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA binding activity using 32Plabeled NF-${\kappa}B$ probe. Hence, our data suggest that ${\alpha}$-cyperone and nootkatone are potential therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.421-427
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• 2015

Imperatorin has been known to exert many biological functions including anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of imperatorin on the production of inflammatory mediators in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC). Imperatorin inhibited degranulation and the generation of eicosanoids (leukotriene $C_4$ ($LTC_4$) and prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) in IgE/antigen (Ag)-stimulated BMMC. To elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in this process, we investigated the effect of imperatorin on intracellular signaling in BMMC. Biochemical analyses of the IgE/Ag-mediated signaling pathway demonstrated that imperatorin dramatically attenuated degranulation and the production of 5-lipoxygenase-dependent $LTC_4$ and cyclooxygenase-2-dependent $PGD_2$ through the inhibition of intracellular calcium influx/phospholipase $C{\gamma}1$, cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$/mitogen-activated protein kinases and/or nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ pathways in BMMC. These results suggest that the effects of imperatorin on inhibition of degranulation and eicosanoid generation through the suppression of multiple steps of IgE/Ag-mediated signaling pathways would be beneficial for the prevention of allergic inflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2018

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of hypothermia on endothelium-independent vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism underlying the relaxation. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Hypothermia significantly inhibited fluoride-, thromboxane $A_{2-}$, phenylephrine-, and phorbol ester-induced vascular contractions regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, suggesting that another pathway had a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle. Hypothermia significantly inhibited the fluoride-induced increase in pMYPT1 level and phorbol ester-induced increase in pERK1/2 level, suggesting inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. These results suggest that the relaxing effect of moderate hypothermia on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function involves inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.81-90
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• 2004

Sialic acid containing glycosphingolipids (gangliosides) have been implicated in the regulation of various biological phenomena such as atherosclerosis. Recent report suggeststhat exogenously supplied disialoganglioside (GD3) serves a dual role in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation and apoptosis. However, the role of the GD3 synthase gene in VSMC responses has not yet been elucidated. To determine whether a ganglioside is able to modulate VSMC growth. the effect of overexpression of the GD3 synthase gene on DNA synthesis was examined. The results show that the overexpression of this gene has a potent inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis and ERK phosphorylation in cultured VSMC in the presence of PDGF. The suppression of the GD3 synthase gene was correlated with the down-regulation of cyclinE/CDK2. the up-regulation of the CDK inhibitor p21 and blocking of the p27 inhibition,whereas up-regulation of p53 as the result of GD3 synthase gene expression was not observed. Consistently, blockade of GD3 function with anti-GD3 antibody reversed VSMC proliferation and cell cycle proteins. The expression of the CD3 synthase gene also led to the inhibition of TNF--induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in VSMC as determined by zymography and immunoblot. Furthermore, GD3 synthase gene expression strongly decreased MMP-9 promoteractivlty in response to TNF-. This inhibition was characterized by the down-regulation of MMP-9,which was Iranscriptionally regulated at NF-B and activation protein-1 (AP-1) sites in the MMP-9promoter Finally, the overexpression of MMP-9 in GD3 synthase transfectant cells rescued VSMC proliferation. However MMP-2 overexpression was not affected the cell proliferation. These findings suggest that the fl13 synthase gene represents a physiological modulator of VSMC responses that may contribute to plaque instability in atherosclerosis.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2010

[ ${\Delta}^1$ ]pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) is a proline biosynthetic pathway enzyme and is known for conferring enhanced salt and drought stress in transgenics carrying this gene in a variety of plant species; however, the wild-type P5CS is subjected to feedback control. Therefore, in the present study, we used a mutagenized version of this osmoregulatory gene-P5CSF129A, which is not subjected to feedback control, for producing transgenic indica rice plants of cultivar Karjat-3 via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. We have used two types of explants for this purpose, namely mature embryo-derived callus and shoot apices. Various parameters for transformation were optimized including antibiotic concentration for selection, duration of cocultivation, addition of phenolic compound, and bacterial culture density. The resultant primary transgenic plants showed more enhanced proline accumulation than their non-transformed counterparts. This proline level was particularly enhanced in the transgenic plants of next generation ($T_1$) under 150 mM NaCl stress. The higher proline level shown by transgenic plants was associated with better biomass production and growth performance under salt stress and lower extent of lipid peroxidation, indicating that overproduction of proline may have a role in counteracting the negative effect of salt stress and higher maintenance of cellular integrity and basic physiological processes under stress.