• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.547-553
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• 2014

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common brain malignancies and has a very poor prognosis. Recent evidence suggests that the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC) in GBM and the rare CSC subpopulation that is resistant to chemotherapy may be responsible for the treatment failure and unfavorable prognosis of GBM. A garlic-derived compound, Z-ajoene, has shown a range of biological activities, including anti-proliferative effects on several cancers. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that Z-ajoene specifically inhibits the growth of the GBM CSC population. CSC sphere-forming inhibition was achieved at a concentration that did not exhibit a cytotoxic effect in regular cell culture conditions. The specificity of this inhibitory effect on the CSC population was confirmed by detecting CSC cell surface marker CD133 expression and biochemical marker ALDH activity. In addition, stem cell-related mRNA profiling and real-time PCR revealed the differential expression of CSC-specific genes, including Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog, upon treatment with Z-ajoene. A proteomic approach, i.e., reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) and Western blot analysis, showed decreased SMAD4, p-AKT, 14.3.3 and FOXO3A expression. The protein interaction map (http://string-db.org/) of the identified molecules suggested that the AKT, ERK/p38 and $TGF{\beta}$ signaling pathways are key mediators of Z-ajoene's action, which affects the transcriptional network that includes FOXO3A. These biological and bioinformatic analyses collectively demonstrate that Z-ajoene is a potential candidate for the treatment of GBM by specifically targeting GBM CSCs. We also show how this systemic approach strengthens the identification of new therapeutic agents that target CSCs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.370-381
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• 2017

Protein dephosphorylation is important for cellular regulation, which is catalyzed by protein phosphatases. Among protein phosphatases, carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) phosphatases are recently emerging and new functional roles of them have been revealed. There are 7 CTD phosphatases in human genome, which are composed of CTD phosphatase 1 (CTDP1), CTD small phosphatase 1 (CTDSP1), CTD small phosphatase 2 (CTDSP2), CTD small phosphatase-like (CTDSPL), CTD small phosphatase-like 2 (CTDSPL2), CTD nuclear envelope phosphatase (CTDNEP1), and ubiquitin-like domain containing CTD phosphatase 1 (UBLCP1). CTDP1 dephosphorylates the second phosphor-serine of CTD of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), while CTDSP1, STDSP2, and CTDSPL dephosphorylate the fifth phosphor-serine of CTD of RNAPII. In addition, CTDSP1 dephosphorylates new substrates such as mothers against decapentaplegic homologs (SMADs), cell division cycle-associated protein 3 (CDCA3), Twist1, tumor-suppressor protein promyelocytic leukemia (PML), and c-Myc. CTDP1 is related to RNA polymerase II complex recycling, mitosis regulation and cancer cell growth. CTDSP1, CTDSP2 and CTDSPL are related to transcription factor recruitment, tumor suppressor function and stem cell differentiation. CTDNEP1 dephosphorylates LIPIN1 and is related to neural tube formation and nuclear envelope formation. CTDSPL2 is related to hematopoietic stem cell differentiation. UBLCP1 dephosphorylates 26S proteasome and is related to nuclear proteasome regulation. In conclusion, noble roles of CTD phosphatases are emerging through recent researches and this review is intended to summarize emerging roles of CTD phosphatases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.501-508
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• 2017

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional cytokines that play important roles in a variety of cellular functions. Among BMP family members, BMP2 efficiently promotes osteoblast differentiation through Smad-mediated runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) expression. Several recent studies suggest that BMPs are associated with clock genes, in particular Bmal1. Bmal1 protein heterodimerizes with Clock protein and then induces period 1 (Per1) expression. However, the role of Per1 on osteoblast differentiation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether Per1 is involved in osteoblast differentiation. MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with BMP2 for induction of osteoblastic differentiation. Osteogenic maker gene and Per1 mRNA expression were measured using real-time PCR. Interestingly, BMP2 treatment induced Per1 mRNA expression in MC3T3-E1 cells. To further investigate the function of Per1 on osteoblast differentiation, MC3T3-E1 cells were transiently transfected with pCMV-Per1. Per1 overexpression increased Runx2 mRNA and protein levels. Also, mRNA expression and promoter activity of osteocalcin were upregulated by Per1 overexpression. To investigate the effect of interaction between Per1 and osteogenic condition, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in osteogenic medium containing ascorbic acid and ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate. Osteogenic medium-induced ALP staining level and mineralization were synergistically increased by overexpression of Per1. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Per1 is a positive regulator of osteoblast differentiation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2006.02a
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• pp.83-89
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• 2006

Cellular functions are carried out by a concerted action of biochemical pathways whose components have genetic interactions. Abnormalities in the activity of the genes that constitute or modulate these pathways frequently have oncogenic implications. Therefore, identifying the upstream regulatory genes for major biochemical pathways and defining their roles in carcinogenesis can have important consequences in establishing an effective target-oriented antitumor strategy We have analyzed the gene expression profiles of human liver cancer samples using cDNA microarray chips enriched in liver and/or stomach-expressed cDNA elements, and identified groups of genes that can tell tumors from non-tumors or normal liver, or classify tumors according to clinical parameters such as tumor grade, age, and inflammation grade. We also set up a high-throughput cell-based assay system (cell chip) that can monitor the activity of major biochemical pathways through a reporter assay. Then, we applied the cell chip platform for the analysis of the HCC-associated genes discovered from transcriptome profiling, and found a number of cancer marker genes having a potential of modulating the activity of cancer-related biochemical pathways such as E2F, TCF, p53, Stat, Smad, AP-1, c-Myc, HIF and NF-kB. Some of these marker genes were previously blown to modulate these pathways, while most of the others not. Upon a fast-track phenotype analysis, a subset of the genes showed increased colony forming abilities in soft agar and altered cell morphology or adherence characteristics in the presence of purified matrix proteins. We are currently analyzing these selected marker genes in more detail for their effects on various biological Processes and for Possible clinical roles in liver cancer development.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.264-269
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• 2017

Prunella vulgaris, well-known traditional medicinal plant, is used for the cure of abscess, scrofula, hypertension and urinary diseases. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. The pathological characteristics of diabetic nephropathy are glomerular and tubular basement membrane thickening. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Prunella vulgaris, on diabetic glomerular injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 45 mg/kg) and confirmed by random glucose level higher than ${\leq}300mg/dL$. The experimental rats were divided into five groups: control group (Male SD rats), STZ group (Male SD rats injected STZ), Aminoguanidine group (Male SD rats injected STZ + AG 100 mg/kg/day), Low dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 100 mg/kg/day), High dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 300 mg/kg/day). AG or APVs were administered once a day for 8 weeks. Body weight and food/water intake were measured every four weeks. At the end of study, the kidneys were collected and cut into pieces for immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Our study showed that body weight and water/food intake were no significant differences between untreated STZ-induced diabetic rat and APV treated-STZ rat. However, phosphorylation of receptor-regulated Smads (Smad3) was significantly decreased in APV treated-STZ rat as compared with the diabetic group. In addition, APV was improved nephrin level in kidney tissue. Therefore, we suggest that APV has a protective effect against STZ-induced diabetic glomerular injury.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.26.1-26.14
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• 2020

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a lethal cancer type that is associated with multiple gene mutations in somatic cells. Genetically engineered mouse is hardly applicable for developing a pancreatic cancer model, and the xenograft model poses a limitation in the reflection of early stage pancreatic cancer. Thus, in vivo somatic cell gene engineering with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats is drawing increasing attention for generating an animal model of pancreatic cancer. In this study, we selected Kras, Trp53, Ink4a, Smad4, and Brca2 as target genes, and applied Campylobacter jejuni Cas9 (CjCas9) and Streptococcus pyogens Cas9 (SpCas9) for developing pancreatic cancer using adeno associated virus (AAV) transduction. After confirming multifocal and diffuse transduction of AAV2, we generated SpCas9 overexpression mice, which exhibited high double-strand DNA breakage (DSB) in target genes and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions with two AAV transductions; however, wild-type (WT) mice with three AAV transductions did not develop PanIN. Furthermore, small-sized Cjcas9 was applied to WT mice with two AAV system, which, in addition, developed high extensive DSB and PanIN lesions. Histological changes and expression of cancer markers such as Ki67, cytokeratin, Mucin5a, alpha smooth muscle actin in duct and islet cells were observed. In addition, the study revealed several findings such as 1) multiple DSB potential of AAV-CjCas9, 2) peri-ductal lymphocyte infiltration, 3) multi-focal cancer marker expression, and 4) requirement of > 12 months for initiation of PanIN in AAV mediated targeting. In this study, we present a useful tool for in vivo cancer modeling that would be applicable for other disease models as well.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2023

Objective: Pigs, an ideal biomedical model for human diseases, suffer from about 50% early embryonic and fetal death, a major cause of fertility loss worldwide. However, identifying the causal variant remains a huge challenge. This study aimed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes for the number of mummified (NM) piglets using the imputed whole-genome sequence (WGS) and validate the potential candidate genes. Methods: The imputed WGS was introduced from genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) using a multi-breed reference population. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for NM piglets at birth from a Landrace pig populatiGWAS peak located on SSC11: 0.10 to 7.11 Mbp (Top SNP, SSC11:1,889,658 bp; p = 9.98E-13) was identified in cyclin dependent kinase on. A total of 300 Landrace pigs were genotyped by GBS. The whole-genome variants were imputed, and 4,252,858 SNPs were obtained. Various molecular experiments were conducted to determine how the genes affected NM in pigs. Results: A strong GWAS peak located on SSC11: 0.10 to 7.11 Mbp (Top SNP, SSC11:1,889,658 bp; p = 9.98E-13) was identified in cyclin dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) gene, which plays a crucial role in embryonic retardation and lethality. Based on the molecular experiments, we found that Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) was a crucial transcription factor for CDK8, which mediated the effect of CDK8 in the proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells via transforming growth factor beta/small mother against decapentaplegic signaling pathway, and, as a consequence, affected embryo quality, indicating that this pathway may be contributing to mummified fetal in pigs. Conclusion: A powerful imputation-based association study was performed to identify genes associated with NM in pigs. CDK8 was suggested as a functional gene for the proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells, but further studies are required to determine causative mutations and the effect of loci on NM in pigs.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.25-25
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• 2022

피부 노화는 피부와 피부 지지층 등의 광범위한 퇴행 과정을 말한다. 피부 노화의 원인은 흡연, 공해, 스트레스 등이 있지만, 그 중에서도 자외선(ultra violet, UV) 조사가 가장 큰 요인으로 꼽힌다. 반복적인 자외선 조사에 의해 진행되는 피부노화를 광노화라고 하며 그 가장 큰 특징으로는 콜라겐 섬유와 엘라스틴의 감소로 야기되는 주름을 들 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 제주에서 채집한 바위수국의 추출물 및 분획물의 항산화 및 자외선으로 인한 피부노화 예방(anti-photoaging) 효능을 확인하고, 활성물질을 분리하여 광노화 예방 효능과 그 메커니즘을 확인하였다. 실험에 사용된 바위수국은 범의귀과의 덩굴성 식물로 바위면이나 나무줄기 등에 붙어서 자라며, 한국(제주, 울릉도)과 일본에 분포한다. 바위수국 추출물과 분획물에서 총 페놀 함량. 총 플라보이드 함량, DPPH 및 ABTS 라디칼소거 활성의 항산화 실험 결과, 부탄올과 에틸아세테이트 분획층에서 강력한 항산화 활성이 관찰되었다. 또한 UVA를 조사한 인간 진피 섬유아세포 (human dermal fibroblast, HDF)데 대한 콜라겐 분해효소인 matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1) 생성 억제 활성을 확인한 결과, 부탄올 분획층이 세포 생장 저해 없이 가장 우수한 효능이 확인되었다. 따라서 부탄올 분획층에서 주요 성분 분리 실험을 수행하여 총 4개의 화합물을 분리하였다; Chlorogenic acid (1), Quercetin-3-O-glucosyl-(1-2)-rhamnoside (2), Quercetin-3-O-xylosyl-(1-2)-rhamnoside (3), Quercitrin (4). 분리한 4개의 물질의 MMP-1 생성 억제 활성을 비교한 결과 화합물 2가 세포독성 없이 MMP-1 생성 억제 효능이 우수하였고, 이후 화합물 2의 광노화 예방 효능과 그 메커니즘을 확인하였다. 화합물 2는 MMP-1의 생성을 억제할 뿐만 아니라 procollagen type I의 생성을 증가시켰으며, MMP-1 생성에 관여하는 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) 신호전달경로를 하향 조절하며, 콜라겐 생성과 관련된 Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad 신호전달경로를 상향 조절하여 UVA에 의한 광노화 예방에 효능을 나타내었다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로, 바위수국은 항노화(anti-aging) 기능성 화장품 및 이너뷰티 기능성 식품 소재로 개발이 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.592-610
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• 2023

The Hippo kinase cascade functions as a central hub that relays input from the "outside world" of the cell and translates it into specific cellular responses by regulating the activity of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1). How Hippo translates input from the extracellular signals into specific intracellular responses remains unclear. Here, we show that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-activated TAK1 activates LATS1/2, which then phosphorylates YAP1. Phosphorylated YAP1 (p-YAP1) associates with RUNX3, but not with TEAD4, to form a TGFβ-stimulated restriction (R)-point-associated complex which activates target chromatin loci in the nucleus. Soon after, p-YAP1 is exported to the cytoplasm. Attenuation of TGFβ signaling results in re-localization of unphosphorylated YAP1 to the nucleus, where it forms a YAP1/TEAD4/SMAD3/AP1/p300 complex. The TGFβ-stimulated spatiotemporal dynamics of YAP1 are abrogated in many cancer cells. These results identify a new pathway that integrates TGFβ signals and the Hippo pathway (TGFβ→TAK1→LATS1/2→YAP1 cascade) with a novel dynamic nuclear role for p-YAP1.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.450-461
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• 2001

Background : The underlying pathogenesis of radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RTLF) has not been very well defined. However, the role of TGF-$\beta$ in the generation of RTLF has been a major focus because there is an increase in the expression of both the TGF-${\beta}m$-RNA and its protein preceding RTLF lesions. The down stream signal after a TGF-$\beta$ stimulated lung fibrosis includes the activation of many mediators such as Smad and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) through TAK1. It is we hypothesized that JNK activation may play a pivotal role in RTLF pathogenesis through increased transcription of the fibrogenic cytokines. The present study evaluates JNK activity in alveolar macrophages after irradiation and the relationship between JNK activity and the amount of collagen in the lung tissues. Methods : C57BL/6 mice(20-25 gr, males) received chlorotetracycline(2g/L) in their drinking water 1 week prior to irradiation and continuously there after. The mice were irradiated once with 1400 cGy of $60CO{\gamma}$-ray over the whole chest. The cellular composition of the whole lung bronchoalveoalr lavage fluids(BALF), elastin expression in the lung tissues, the level of hydroxyproline in lung tissues, and an in vitro JNK assay was measured before irradiation and one, four, and eight weeks after irradiation (RT). Results : The volumes of BALF retrieved from instilled 4 mL of saline with 2% heparin were 3.7-3.8 mL for each group. The cell numbers were similar before($4.1{\times}10^4{\pm}0.5{\times}10^4/mL$) and 1 week($3.1{\times}10^4{\pm}0.5{\times}10^4/mL$) after RT. At four and eight weeks after RT, the cell number reached to $14.0{\times}10^4{\pm}1.5{\times}10^4mL$ and $10.0{\times}10^4{\pm}1.3{\times}10^4/mL$, respectively. There we no changes in the lymphocytes and neutrophils population observed in the BALF after RT. The H-E stain of the lung tissues did not show any structural and fibrotic change in the lung tissues at 4 and 8 weeks after RT. In addition, the amount of elastin and collagen were not different on Verhoeff staining of the lung tissues before RT to eight weeks after RT. The hydroxyproine content was measured with the left lung dissected from the left main bronchus. The lung were homogenized and hydrolyzed with 6 N Hel for 12 hours at $110^{\circ}C$ then measured as previously described. The content of hydroxyproline, standardized with a lung protein concentration, reached a peak 4 weeks after RT, and thereafter showed a plateau. AnIn vitro JNK assay using c-$Jun_{1-79}$-GST sepharose beads were performed with the alveolar macrophages obtained from the BAL. JNK activity was not detected prior to RT, However, the JNK activity increased from one week after RT and reached a peak four weeks after RT. Conclusion : JNK may be involved in the pathogenesis because the JNK activity showed similar pattern observed with the hydroxyproine content. However, it is necessary to clarify that the JNK increases the transcription of fibrogenic cyiokines through the transcription factor.