• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.74-82
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• 2000

Prostate cancer initially responds and regresses in response to androgen depletion therapy, but most human prostate cancers will eventually recur, and re-grow as an androgen independent tumor. Once these tumors become hormone refractory, they usually are incurable leading to death for the patient. Little is known about the molecular details of how prostate cancer cells regress following androgen ablation and which genes are involved in the androgen independent growth following the development of resistance to therapy. Such knowledge would reveal putative drug targets useful in the rational therapeutic design to prevent therapy resistance and control androgen independent growth. The application of genome scale technologies have permitted new insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with these processes. Specifically, we have applied functional genomics using high density cDNA microarray analysis for parallel gene expression analysis of prostate cancer in an experimental xenograft system during androgen withdrawal therapy, and following therapy resistance, The large amount of expression data generated posed a formidable bioinformatics challenge. A novel template based gene clustering algorithm was developed and applied to the data to discover the genes that respond to androgen ablation. The data show restoration of expression of androgen dependent genes in the recurrent tumors and other signaling genes. Together, the discovered genes appear to be involved in prostate cancer cell growth and therapy resistance in this system. We have also developed and applied tissue microarray (TMA) technology for high throughput molecular analysis of hundreds to thousands of clinical specimens simultaneously. TMA analysis was used for rapid clinical translation of candidate genes discovered by cDNA microarray analysis to determine their clinical utility as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets. Finally, we have developed a bioinformatic approach to combine pharmacogenomic data on the efficacy and specificity of various drugs to target the discovered prostate cancer growth associated candidate genes in an attempt to improve current therapeutics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1845-1849
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• 2012

Objective: Tissue factor (TF) is expressed abnormally in certain types of tumor cells, closely related to invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to construct a human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 stably-transfected with human TF, and observe effects on oxaliplatin-dependent inhibition of invasion and the apoptosis induction. Methods: The target gene TF was obtained from human placenta by nested PCR and introduced into the human gastric cell line SGC7901 through transfection mediated by lipofectamine. Stably-transfected cells were screened using G418. Examples successfully transfected with TF-pcDNA3 recombinant (experimental group), and empty vector pcDNA3 (control group) were incubated with oxaliplatin. Transwell chambers were used to show change in invasive ability. Caspase-3 activity was detected using a colorimetric method and annexin-V/PI double-staining was applied to detect apoptosis. Results: We generated the human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/TF successfully, expressing TF stably and efficiently. Compared with the control group, invasion increased, whereas caspase-3 activity and apoptosis rate were decreased in the experimental group. Conclusion: TF can enhance the invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells in vitro. Its increased expression may reduce invasion inhibition and apoptosis-inducing effects of oxaliplatin and therefore may warrant targeting for improved chemotherapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.176-181
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• 2010

The primary sigma factor ($\sigma^{A}$) of Staphylococcus aureus, a potential drug target, was little investigated at the structural level. Using an N-terminal histidine-tagged $\sigma^{A}$ (His-$\sigma^{A}$), here we have demonstrated that it exits as a monomer in solution, possesses multiple domains, harbors primarily $\alpha$-helix and efficiently binds to a S. aureus promoter DNA in the presence of core RNA polymerase. While both N- and C-terminal ends of His-$\sigma^{A}$ are flexible in nature, two Trp residues in its DNA binding region are buried. Upon increasing the incubation temperature from 25$^{\circ}$ to 40$^{\circ}C$, $\sim$60% of the input His-$\sigma^{A}$ was cleaved by thermolysin. Aggregation of His-$\sigma^{A}$ was also initiated rapidly at 45$^{\circ}C$. From the equilibrium unfolding experiment, the Gibbs free energy of stabilization of His-$\sigma^{A}$ was estimated to be +0.70 kcal $mol^{-1}$. The data together suggest that primary sigma factor of S. aureus is an unstable protein. Core RNA polymerase however stabilized $\sigma^{A}$ appreciably.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1239-1244
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• 2008

In this study, PCR-DGGE was conducted to investigate the variations of microbial community according to pH conditions from pH 3 to pH 10 during anaerobic fermentation process of hydrogen production. Maximum hydrogen yield was 1.8 mol $H_2$/mol substrate at pH 5. The microbial growth rate was not proportional to the hydrogen production rate at each pH. Variations of microbial community was observed at each condition from PCR-DGGE experiment of 16s rDNA. Klebsiella was main species of the microbial community. Streptococcus and Clostridium were mainly contributed for hydrogen production.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2001

Improvement and possible commercialization of a home-made electroporation apparatus(home-made) were further tried to establish a simple and effective introduction of foreign gene into sperm followed by in vitro fertilization. Expressions of introduced pJJ9 and pNT plasmids were shown in all fertilized eggs with electroporated spermatozoa. In particular, with this gene transfer system all the fry showed a consistently transient expression in the syncytium of the yolk sac. This fact is important since some required, minute quantity of human proteins can be produced from the established transient expression on the yolk sac of all fry derived from in vitro fertilization with electroporated spermatozoa. To explore tissue-specific expression in fish, which we will use a similar system later, we targeted the nerve tissue to see whether tissue-specific promoter is working in fish properly. pNT plasmid containing a nerve cell-specific tubulin promoter gene demonstrated consistently exact targeted expressions among the developing nerve cells in later stages of embryos and hatched fry. Finally, liver-specific genes are now being cloned by using already selected primers for useful human protein gene fusion.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.355-365
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• 2014

The enteric protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human amebiasis. During infection, adherence of E. histolytica through Gal/GalNAc lectin on the surface of the amoeba can induce caspase-3-dependent or -independent host cell death. Phosphorylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase C (PKC) in E. histolytica play an important function in the adhesion, killing, or phagocytosis of target cells. In this study, we examined the role of amoebic PI3K and PKC in amoeba-induced apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T cells. When Jurkat T cells were incubated with E. histolytica trophozoites, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells were markedly increased compared to those of cells incubated with medium alone. However, when amoebae were pretreated with a PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin before being incubated with E. histolytica, E. histolytica-induced PS externalization and DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells were significantly reduced compared to results for amoebae pretreated with DMSO. In addition, pretreatment of amoebae with a PKC inhibitor, staurosporine strongly inhibited Jurkat T cell death. However, E. histolytica-induced cleavage of caspase-3, -6, and -7 were not inhibited by pretreatment of amoebae with wortmannin or staurosporin. In addition, we found that amoebic PI3K and PKC have an important role on amoeba adhesion to host compartment. These results suggest that amebic PI3K and PKC activation may play an important role in caspase-independent cell death in Entamoeba-induced apoptosis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.7-7
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• 2010

전 세계적으로 폭발적으로 증가하고 있는 비만은 만병의 근원이다. 동시에 대사성질환의 발병을 증가시키는 결정적인 역할을 하고 있다. 이러한 상황을 극복할 수 있는 안전하고 효능이 우수한 약의 개발이 매우 시급하다. 시판되는 약들은 예견할 수 없는 지방변으로 실제생활을 매우 불편하게 하는 부작용과 우울증 및 자살충동 등의 심각한 부작용을 유발시키고 있다. 특히 생명을 위협하는 약은 시판이 금지되었다. 200여종의 한약재들을 In vitro screening (pancreatic lipase inhibition, PDE inhibition, c-AMP activity), ex vivo screening (lipolytic action on fat pad), short term animal screening(혈중 TG 함량 분석)을 토대로 long term animal model에서비만 예방 및 치료 효능을 검증하기 위하여 호장근 부탄올 분획을 선정하였다. 고지방 사료로 비만을 유도한 rat (Diet induced obesty (DIO) rat)에서 비만 치료 효능이, 고지방 사료로 비만을 유도한 ICR-mice에서 비만 예방 효능이 우수함을 입증하였다 (체중감소, 지방세포의 크기억제, 지방간 예방/치료(간무게, TG함량, 간 색상, 고지혈증 증상억제), 혈중 TNF-a, IL-6, leptin, adponectin 등, 간 조직에서의 pAMPK, SOCS, NF-${\kappa}B$ DNA biding activity, ACC level, FAS expression, CPT-1 activity의 정상화). 호장근 부탄올 분획의 이러한 효능은 AMPK 작용과 CPT-1 작용을 활성화하고 동시에 지방산 합성 억제와 지방산 산화를 촉진함으로 인함임을 규명하였다. 동시에 비만으로 인한 pancreatic beta cell의 파괴를 예방함으로 인슐린 내성을 예방(치료)함을 입증하였다. 이는 AMPK 활성화와 SOCS-3 단백질 억제와 NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA 결합 억제로 인함임을 증명하였다. 3T3-L1 지방 세포주에서 lipogenesis 예방(치료) 및 lipolytic effect에 관여하는 인자들의 변화를 확인하였다. 이는 Multi-compounds-multi-targets에 의한 시너지 효과임을 알 수 있었다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.404-409
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• 1999

The inhibitory effects of the constituents of Gastrodia elata Bl. (GE) on glutamate-induced apoptosis in human neuronal cells were investigated using IMR32 human neuroblastoma cells. Glutamate (GLU) induced DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, in a dose-dependent manner. GLU also induced a slow and sustained increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Treatment with EGTA, an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, in a nominal $Ca^{2+}$ -free buffer solution abolished the GLU-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase, indicating that GLU stimulated Ca2+ influx pathway in the IMR32 cells. BAPTA, an intracellualr $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, significantly inhibited the GLU-induced apoptosis assessed by the flow cytometry measuring hypodiploid DNA content indicative of apoptosis, implying that intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ rise may mediate the apoptotic action of GLU. Vanillin (VAN) and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde(p-HB), known constituents of GE, significantly inhibited both intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ rise and apoptosis induced by GLU. These results suggest that the apoptosis-inhibitory actions of the constituents of GE may account, at least in part, for the basis of their antiepileptic activities. These results further suggest that intracelluarl $Ca^{2+}$ signaling pathway may be a molecular target of the constituents of GE.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.515-520
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• 2012

In this review, the fabrication of silicon based memory capacitor and organic memory thin film transistors (TFTs) was discussed for their potential identification tag applications and biosensor applications. Metal or non-metal nanoparticles (NPs) could be capped with chemicals or biomolecules such as protein and oligo-DNA, and also be self-assembly monolayered on corresponding target biomolecules conjugated dielectric layers. The monolayered NPs were formed to be charging elements of a nano floating gate layer as forming organic memody deivces. In particular, the strong and selective binding events of the NPs through biomolecular interactions exhibited effective electrostatic phenomena in memory capacitors and TFTs formats. In addition, memory devices fabricated as organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) have been intensively introduced to facilitate organic electronics era on flexible substrates. The memory OTFTs could be applicable eventually to the development of new conceptual devices.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.119-124
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• 2018

Although the transcription factor CP2c has been recently validated as a promising target for development of novel anticancer therapy, its structure has not been solved yet. In the present study, the purified recombinant protein corresponding to the tetramerization domain of CP2c appeared to be well folded, whereas the Elf-1 domain showed a largely unfolded conformation. Particularly, the Elf-1 domain, which contains the putative DNA-binding region, showed a conformational equilibrium between relatively less-ordered and well-ordered conformers. Interestingly, addition of zinc shifted the equilibrium to the relatively more structured conformer, whereas zinc binding decreased the overall stability of the protein, leading to a promoted precipitation. Likewise, a dodecapeptide that has been suggested to bind to the Elf-1 domain also appeared to shift the conformational equilibrium and to destabilize the protein. These results constitute the first structural characterization of the CP2c domains and newly suggest that zinc ion might be involved in the conformational regulation of the protein.