• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1024-1030
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• 1996

Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide: CAP) is a mai or ingredient of hot pepper that has been used as a spicy food additive, preservative, and medicine. In this study, we evaluated the effect of dietary CAP on the selected proto-oncogene(c-jun, c-myc, H-ras, erbB, p53) expressions in various tissues of mice. Male ICR mice were divided into four groups and fed the experimental diets containing CAP at the levels of 0, 5, 20 and 100ppm for four weeks. Steady state RNA levels in various tissues were measured by slot blot hybridization assay. C-jun expression level was enhanced in stomach tissue from mice fed 20ppm CAP and significantly reduced from mice fed 100ppm CAP. The c-jun expression levels were differentially altered in organ-specific manner, Tumor suppressor gene p53 expression level appeared to be slightly increased in the liver from mice fed 20ppm CAP. These results suggested that dietary CAP differentially modulates c-jun and p53 expression in various organs.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 1997

The Bcl-2 protein has been shown to block apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli. We have performed the experiments which cell death can be blocked by the bcl-2 proto-oncogene under moderate(50-100mM) or high ethanol treatment(400-600mM). As a result of morphological changes, and MTT assay, cell death was blocked by Bcl-2 under 100mM ethanol. However, the results of DNA fragmentation and RT-PCR(ICE, and CPP32), immunoblotting(CPP32, and PARP) for SK-pcDNA3 cells(vector only) and SK-Bcl-2 cells(stably expressed bcl-2 gene) were showen to be no significant differences between two cell lines. These results suggested that cell death induced by ethanol was not followed by apoptosis mechanism, and was blocked by the bcl-2 proto-oncogene with moderate ethanol.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2002

Background: The molecular pathogenesis of hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma is well known to be associated with germ-line mutation in the RET proto-oncogene and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma has been shown to carry somatic RET mutation especially in exon 13 and 16. The aim of this study is to evaluate the genetic background in the pathogenesis of the sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma which shows extremely high incidence in Korea. Materials and Methods: Direct DNA sequencing for RET exon 13 and 16, as well as immunohistochemistrical assay for a monoclonal RET antibody were performed from 20 cases of archival tissues of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Results: Monoclonal RET antibody with C-terminal epitope showed comparatively stronger expression in tumor cells than in normal tissues and immunoreactive area in the tumor was $66.0{\pm}40.1%$. Direct sequencing of RET exon 13 revealed 4 cases of mis-sense mutations in Codon 778, Codon 767, and both in Codon 768 and 778. One case showed a silent mutation (ACG-ACT) in RET exon 16 (Codon 926). Conclusions: The strong RET immunoreactivity of medullary thyroid carcinoma may suggest that there could be a genetic alteration in oncoprotein level. RET proto-oncogene mutation may be involved in the evolutional process of medullary thyroid carcinoma in the aspect of molecular basis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2027-2033
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• 2014

Background: We aimed to assess RET proto-oncogene polymorphisms in three different Iranian families with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy stability analysis of these mutations. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 48 patients and their first-degree relatives with MTC confirmed by pathologic diagnosis and surgery. We performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy stability analysis of mutations, and docking evaluation of known RET proto-oncogene inhibitors, including ZD-6474 and ponatinib, with wild-type and mutant forms. Results: The first family consisted of 27 people from four generations, in which nine had the C.G2901A (P.C634Y) mutation; the second family consisted of six people, of whom three had the C.G2901T (P.C634F) mutation, and the third family, who included 12 individuals from three generations, three having the C.G2251A (P.G691S) mutation. The automated 3D structure of RET protein was predicted using I-TASSER, and validated by various protein model verification programs that showed more than 96.3% of the residues in favored and allowed regions. The predicted instability indices of the mutated structures were greater than 40, which reveals that mutated RET protein is less thermo-stable compared to the wild-type form (35.4). Conclusions: Simultaneous study of the cancer mutations using both in silico and medical genetic procedures, as well as onco-protein inhibitor binding considering mutation-induced drug resistance, may help in better overcoming chemotherapy resistance and designing innovative drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2107-2117
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• 2015

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine neoplasia. The medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is one of the most aggressive forms of thyroid malignancy,accounting for up to 10% of all types of this disease. The mode of inheritance of MTC is autosomal dominantly and gain of function mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are well known to contribute to its development. MTC occurs as hereditary (25%) and sporadic (75%) forms. Hereditary MTC has syndromic (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A, B; MEN2A, MEN2B) and non-syndromic (Familial MTC, FMTC) types. Over the last two decades, elucidation of the genetic basis of tumorigenesis has provided useful screening tools for affected families. Advances in genetic screening of the RET have enabled early detection of hereditary MTCs and prophylactic thyroidectomy for relatives who may not show any symptom sof the disease. In this review we emphasize the main RET mutations in syndromic and non syndromic forms of MTC, and focus on the importance of RET genetic screening for early diagnosis and management of MTC patients, based on American Thyroid Association guidelines and genotype-phenotype correlation.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.27-27
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• 1999

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.184-189
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• 2008

The proto-oncogene protein DEK has been implicated in various human disease including cancer. We have shown that DEK induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in Drosophila by regulating histone acetylation. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method based on annealing control primers was used to screen and identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in DEK overexpressed HeLa cells. Among the genes identified, clusterin and fibrillarin have major role in apoptosis pathway regulation. TFIIIC and RPS24 are implicated in HAT mediated transcriptional initiation and cololectal cancer, respectively. To further analyze DEK's role in apoptosis, multiplex PCR was performed. Caspase-3, -7, and -10 and proapoptotic gene bid were newly identified as possible target genes regulated by DEK expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2007

The proto-oncogene protein DEK is a nuclear binding phosphoprotein that has been associated with various human diseases including leukemia. Histone acetylation is an important post-translational modification which plays important role in transcriptional regulation. Auto-acetylation of histone acetyltransferase PCAF results in increment of its HAT activity and facilitation of its nuclear localization. In this study, we report that DEK inhibits PCAF auto-acetylation through direct interaction. The C-terminal acidic domains of DEK are responsible for the interaction with PCAF. Using confocal microscopy, we have shown that nuclear localization of PCAF is severely inhibited by DEK. Taken together, our results suggest that DEK may be involved in various cellular signal transduction pathways accommodated by PCAF through the regulation of PCAF auto-acetylation.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.44.1-44
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6315-6319
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• 2013

To study the differentiated expression of the proto-oncogene Pokemon in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines and tissues, mRNA and protein expression levels of CNE1, CNE2, CNE3 and C666-1 were detected separately by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR and Western-blotting. The immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line NP69 was used as a control. The Pokemon protein expression level in biopsy specimens from chronic rhinitis patients and undifferentiated non keratinizing NPC patients was determined by Western-blotting and arranged from high to low: C666-1>CNE1>CNE2> CNE3>NP69. The Pokemon mRNA expression level was also arranged from high to low: CNE1>CNE2>NP69>C666-1>CNE3. Pokemon expression of NP69 and C666-1 obviously varied from mRNA to protein. The Pokemon protein level of NPC biopsy specimens was obviously higher than in chronic rhinitis. The data suggest that high Pokemon protein expression is closely associated with undifferentiated non-keratinizing NPC and may provide useful information for NPC molecular target therapy.