• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2011

Adipocyte differentiation is an ordered multistep process requiring the sequential activation of several groups of adipogenic transcription factors, including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-$\alpha$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-$\gamma$, and coactivators. In previous reports, we identified that replication factor C 140 (RFC140) protein played a critical role in regulating adipocyte differentiation as a coactivator. Here, we show expressional regulation of RFC140 and small RFC subunit, RFC38, following characterization of gene promoter of RFC140 and RFC38. In addition, RFC140 increases PPAR$\gamma$-mediated gene activation, resulting from direct protein-protein interaction of RFC140 and PPAR$\gamma$. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the regulated expression of RFC140 and RFC38 by specific adipocyte transcription factors is required for the adipocyte differentiation process.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2016

Mitochondrial biogenesis is a complex process requiring coordinated expression of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) is a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, and it controls mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication within diverse tissues, including muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on mtDNA copy number and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ promoter activity in $C_2C_{12}$ muscle cells. mtDNA copy number and mRNA levels of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis such as PGC-$1{\alpha}$, nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) were assayed by quantitative real-time PCR. The PGC-$1{\alpha}$ promoter from -970 to +412 bp was subcloned into the pGL3-basic vector, which includes a luciferase reporter gene. Both EPA and DHA significantly increased mtDNA copy number, dose and time dependently, and up-regulated mRNA levels of PGC-$1{\alpha}$, NRF1, and Tfam. Furthermore, EPA and DHA stimulated PGC-$1{\alpha}$ promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EPA and DHA may modulate mitochondrial biogenesis, which was partially associated with increased mtDNA replication and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ gene expression in $C_2C_{12}$ muscle cells.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2023

Plant viruses are responsible for worldwide production losses of numerous economically important crops. The most common plant RNA viruses are positivesense single-stranded RNA viruses [(+)ss RNA viruses]. These viruses have small genomes that encode a limited number of proteins. The viruses depend on their host's machinery for the replication of their RNA genome, assembly, movement, and attraction to the vectors for dispersal. Recently researchers have reported that chloroplast proteins are crucial for replicating (+)ss plant RNA viruses. Some chloroplast proteins, including translation initiation factor [eIF(iso)4E] and 75 DEAD-box RNA helicase RH8, help viruses fulfill their infection cycle in plants. In contrast, other chloroplast proteins such as PAP2.1, PSaC, and ATPsyn-α play active roles in plant defense against viruses. This is also consistent with the idea that reactive oxygen species, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid are produced in chloroplast. However, knowledge of molecular mechanisms and functions underlying these chloroplast host factors during the virus infection is still scarce and remains largely unknown. Our review briefly summarizes the latest knowledge regarding the possible role of chloroplast in plant virus replication, emphasizing chloroplast-related proteins. We have highlighted current advances regarding chloroplast-related proteins' role in replicating plant (+)ss RNA viruses.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.66-77
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• 2000

For a variety of viruses, the primary virus infection has been shown to prevent superinfection with a homologous secondary virus; however, the mechanism of exclusion has not been clearly understood. In this work, we demonstrated that BVDV -infected MDBK cells were protected from superinfection with a homologous superinfecting BVDV, one of the positive-sense RNA pestiviruses, but not with an unrelated rhabdovirus, such as vesicular stomatitis virus. Once superinfection exclusion was established by a primary infection with BVDV, the transfected infectious BVD viral RNA genome was shown to be competent for viral translation, but not viral replication. In addition, our results also demonstrated that upon superinfection, the. viral RNA genome of viral particles was not transferred into the cytoplasm of BVDV -infected cells. Using newly developed system involving rapid generation of the MDBK cells expressing BVD viral proteins, we subsequently found that expression of the viral structural proteins was dispensable for the block occurring at the level of viral RNA replication, but required for the exclusion at the level of viral entry step. Altogether, these findings provide evidence that the superinfection exclusion of BVDV occurs not only at the level of viral replication in which the viral replicase are involved, but also at the level of viral entry with which the viral structural proteins are associated, and that a cellular factor(s) play an essential role in this process.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.117-122
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• 1998

D-raf, a Drosophila homolog of the human c-raf-1, is known as a signal transducer in cell proliferation and differentiation. A previous study found that the D-raf gene expression is regulated by the DNA replication-related element (DRE)/DRE-binding factor (DREF) system. In this study, we found the sequences homologous to transcription factor C/EBP, MyoD, STAT and Myc recognition sites in the D-raf promoter. We have generated various base substitutional mutations in these recognition sites and subsequently examined their effects on D-raf promoter activity through transient CAT assays in Kc cells with reporter plasmids p5'-878DrafCAT carrying the mutations in these binding sites. Through gel mobility shift assay using nuclear extracts of Kc cells, we detected factors binding to these recognition sites. Our results show that transcription factor C/EBP, STAT and Myc binding sites in D-raf promoter region play a positive role in transcriptional regulation of the D-raf gene and the Myo D binding site plays a negative role.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.529-536
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• 2005

Viral infection causes stress to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The response to endoplasmic reticulum stress, known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), is designed to eliminate misfolded proteins and allow the cell to recover. The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein NS4B, a component of the HCV replicons that induce UPR, is incompletely understood. We demonstrate that HCV NS4B could induce activating transcription factor (ATF6) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), to favor the HCV subreplicon and HCV viral replication. HCV NS4B activated the IRE1 pathway, as indicated by splicing of X box-binding protein (Xbp-1) mRNA. However, transcriptional activation of the XBP-1 target gene, EDEM (ER degradation-enhancing $\alpha-mannosidase-like$ protein, a protein degradation factor), was inhibited. These results imply that NS4B might induce UPR through ATF6 and IRE1-XBP1 pathways, but might also modify the outcome to benefit HCV or HCV subreplicon replication.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.637-647
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• 2016

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a critical eukaryotic replication accessory factor that supports DNA binding in DNA processing, such as DNA replication, repair, and recombination. PCNA consists of three toroidal-shaped monomers that encircle double-stranded DNA. The diverse functions of PCNA may be regulated by its interactions with partner proteins. Many of the PCNA partner proteins generally have a conserved PCNA-interacting peptide (PIP) motif, located at the N- or C- terminal region. The PIP motif forms a 3₁₀ helix that enters into the hydrophobic groove produced by an interdomain-connecting loop, a central loop, and a C-terminal tail in the PCNA. Post-translational modification of PCNA also plays a critical role in regulation of its function and binding partner proteins. Structural and biochemical studies of PCNA-protein will be useful in designing therapeutic agents, as well as estimating the outcome of anticancer drug development. This review summarizes the characterization of eukaryotic PCNA in relation to the protein structures, functions, and modifications, and interaction with proteins.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2016

Argonaute 2 (AtAGO2) is a well characterized effector protein in Arabidopsis for its functionalities associated with DNA double-strand break (DSB)-induced small RNAs (diRNAs) and for its inducible expression upon ${\gamma}$-irradiation. However, its transcriptional regulation depending on the recovery time after the irradiation and on the specific response to DSBs has been poorly understood. We analyzed the 1,313 bp promoter sequence of the AtAGO2 gene ($1.3kb_{pro}$) to characterize the transcriptional regulation of AtAGO2 at various recovery times after ${\gamma}$-irradiation. A stable transformant harboring $1.3kb_{pro}$ fused with GUS gene showed that the AtAGO2 is highly expressed in response to ${\gamma}$-irradiation, after which the expression of the gene is gradually decreased until 5 days of DNA damage recovery. We also confirm that the AtAGO2 expression patterns are similar to that of ${\gamma}$-irradiation after the treatments of radiomimetic genotoxins (bleomycin and zeocin). However, methyl methanesulfonate and mitomycin C, which are associated with the inhibition of DNA replication, do not induce the expression of the AtAGO2, suggesting that the expression of the AtAGO2 is closely related with DNA DSBs rather than DNA replication.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.338-343
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• 2018

Transcription termination factor-1 (TTF-I) is an RNA polymerase 1-mediated transcription terminator and consisting of a C-terminal DNA-binding domain, central domain, and N-terminal regulatory domain. This protein binds to a so-called 'Sal box' composed of an 11-base pair motif. The interaction of TTF-I with the 'Sal box' is important for many cellular events, including efficient termination of RNA polymerase-1 activity involved in pre-rRNA synthesis and formation of a chromatin loop. To further understand the role of TTF-I in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-I virus production, we generated various TTF-I mutant forms. Through a series of studies of the over-expression of TTF-I and its derivatives along with co-transfection with either proviral DNA or HIV-I long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven reporter vectors, we determined that wild-type TTF-I downregulates HIV-I LTR activity and virus production, while the TTF-I Myb-like domain alone upregulated virus production, suggesting that wild-type TTF-I inhibits virus production and trans-activation of the LTR sequence; the Myb-like domain of TTF-I increased virus production and trans-activated LTR activity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2006

3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is an important molecule, which mediates diverse cellular processes. For example, it is involved in regulation of sugar uptake/catabolism, DNA replication, cell division, and motility in various acterial species. In addition, cAMP is one of the critical regulators for syntheses of virulence factors in many pathogenic bacteria. It is believed that cAMP acts as a signal for environmental changes as well as a regulatory factor for gene expressions. Therefore, intracellular concentration of cAMP is finely modulated by according to its rates of synthesis (by adenylate cyclase), excretion, and degradation (by cAMP phosphodiesterase). In the present review, we discuss the bacterial physiological characteristics governed by CAMP and the molecular mechanisms for gene regulation by cAMP. Furthermore, the effect of cAMP on phosphotransferase system is addressed.