• BMB Reports
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.187-192
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• 2011

TGF-$\beta$ activated kinase-1 (TAK1) plays a pivotal role in developmental processes in many species. Previous research has mainly focused on the function of TAK1 in model organisms, and little is known about the function of TAK1 in hymenoptera insects. Here, we isolated and characterized the TAK1 gene from Apis cerana cerana. Promoter analysis of AccTAK1 revealed the presence of transcription factor binding sites related to early development. Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that AccTAK1 was expressed at high levels in fourth instar larvae, primarily in the abdomen, in the intestinal wall cells of the midgut and in the secretory cells of the salivary glands. In addition, AccTAK1 expression in fourth instar larvae could be dramatically induced by treatment with pesticides and organic solvents. These observations suggest that AccTAK1 may be involved in the regulation of early development in the larval salivary gland and midgut.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2002년도 생물공학의 동향 (X)
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• pp.261-264
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• 2002

CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells were transfected with plasmids containing both cis-acting HRE (hypoxia response element) and CMV-promoter that controls tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). CHO cells with HRE produced 16.2 fold higher t-PA concentration than CHO cells without HRE. It was noted that hypoxia strongly induced CHO cell apoptosis. which resulted in decrease of cell viability and protein production. In this study. by introducing Bcl-2, anti-apoptotic gene, we tried to recover cell viability and increase the protein production. When batch culture of both control cells without transfection of Bcl-2 and cells transfected with Bcl-2 were performed in the absence of CoCl ι hypoxia mimic condition. the cells with Bcl-2 were effected specific cell growth rates, maximum cell density. Immunoblotting assay showed Bcl-2 was recombinant with HRE dependent t- P A expression cassette, and their expression level was depended on hypoxia. By introducing Bcl-2, both cell viability and maximum cell density could be increased.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.15-19
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• 2004

The expression of a chimeric transgene (nos-npt II) has been examined in 9 years old transgenic poplars (Populus koreana x P. nigra) growing in a nursery. The expression of the gene in twenty six independentely transformed plants were examined by 1) enzyme (NPT II) assay, 2) RT-PCR, and 3) resistance to kanamycin. High NPT II activities in young leaves of all the transformed plants were found even without a selection pressure for antibiotics for 9 years. However, the activity varied with the positions of leaves in the stem in that young leaves showed higher activity than did mature tissues. When leaf segments were cultured in the presence of 150 mg/l kanamycin, only those from young leaves produced vigorously growing callus. However, as in the case of NPTII assay, the leaf segments from mature leaves did not form callus well on the media. RT-PCR with nptII specific primers also showed that amplification products were observed only when RNAs from young tissues were used. The total RNA gel showed that while RNA in young leaves are relatively stable and in a large quantity, those in old leaves were mostly degraded. All the above results suggest that the gene is transcriptionally active only in young tissue even though it is attached to a constituitive promoter. Therefore, the expression of foreign gene in poplar plants seemed to be affected by the metabolic state of the cells and thus vary greatly with the developmental stages and the age of tissue.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.164-168
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• 2001

Abel et al. in Germany discovered a new dioxin-responsive gene, which has later been identified as rpt-1 (regulatory protein T-lymphocyte 1). While it is speculated that rpt-1 may play a role in signal transduction and carcinogenesis, its roles and functions remain unknown. The present study attempted to analyze functions of rpt-1 in human epithelial cells following the xenobiotic exposures. While German counterpart analyzed expressionn of rpt-1 in spleen and thymus cells from mouse and rat and characterizes molecular properties of the gene, our work mainly focused on analyzing function of rpt-1 in human skin cells. Expression of rpt-1 in human cells were analyzed by western and northern blot RT-PCR analysis. Expression of rpt-1 as well as Staf-50 in human cells with or without exposure to environmental pollutants were also analyzed by northern blot analysis, since Staf-50 is homologous with rpt-1 and found in human cells. To help study roles of rpt-1 in human cell system, retroviral vector system carrying rpt-1 gene under the CMV promoter were constructed and transfected. Cells overexpressing the gene after the transfection showed an increase of cell density and soft agar colony formations, as compared to the control cells, suggesting that rpt-1 may play a certain role in the transformation processes of human cells. While the expression of rpt-1 in spleen and thymus is known to be strong in the laboratory animals, both the basal and TCDD-induced expression of rpt-1 in the current cellular system remained insignificant. It is speculated that the expression pattern of rpt-1 may be tissue- and species-specific. The present study demonstrated a strong expression of rpt-1 protein in the brain of SD rat model. Since there is no previous report on the expression of rpt-1 in the brain tissue, the result may play a significant role in understanding dioxin-induced neurotoxicities in the future. The present study provides an opportunity to understand a role of rpt-1 in human cell system and suggest a possible lead and basis for the future study of dioxin-induced neurotoxicities.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.329-334
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• 2006

Adipocyte-specific secretory factor (ADSF)/resistin, a hormone, is a small cysteine-rich protein secreted from adipose tissue and has been implicated in modulating adipogenesis in humans and rodents. The objective of this study was to clone a gene encoding ADSF/resistin and to characterize its function in Korean Native Cattle (Hanwoo). The coding sequence was 330 base pairs and it encoded a protein of 109 amino acids. An NCBI BLAST-search revealed the cloned cDNA fragment shared significant homology (82%) with the cDNA encoding the human ADSF/resistin. The nucleotide sequence homology of the Hanwoo sequence was 73% and 64% for the rat and mouse, respectively. A 654 bp ADSF/resistin gene promoter was cloned and putative binding sites of transcription factors were identified. Tissue distribution of ADSF mRNA was examined in liver, skeletal muscles (tenderloin, biceps femoris), subcutaneous fat, and perirenal fat by RT-PCR. ADSF mRNAs were detected in fat tissues but not in liver and muscles, suggesting that ADSF/resistin expression may be induced during adipogenesis. Although, the physiological function of ADSF/resistin in the cow remains to be determined, these data indicate ADSF is related to the adipocyte phenotype and may have a possibly regulatory role in adipocyte function.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.677-684
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• 2002

한우 성장단계 특이발현 유전자 탐색에 관한 연구(장 등, 2002)에서 선정된 후보유전자 중, EPV 20, TCTP 및 aldolase A를 비롯하여 24개월령 cDNA probe에 대하여 강한 signal을 나타낸 ADRP 유전자의 발현양상을 분석하기 위하여 성장단계별 한우 등심조직 시료를 사용하여 semiquantitative RT-PCR 및 northern blot 분석을 실시하였다. EPV 20 유전자는 한우 등심조직에서 성장단계에 따른 발현량 차이가 거의 없는 결과를 근거로, 근육조직에서 항상 발현되는 유전자로 판단하였다. 또한 발달단계에 따라 발현량 차이가 있는 것으로 보고된 aldolase A 유전자 역시 뚜렷한 발현량 차이는 없었으며, aldolase A의 muscle specific promoter와 근육분화 관련 transcription factor에 관한 연구를 통하여 근육분화 및 근육수축에 있어 aldolase A의 역할 및 조절작용을 밝힐 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. 성장관련 단백질로 알려져 있는 TCTP의 발현양상을 분석한 결과, 한우 등심조직에서 성장함에 따라 발현량이 약간 증가하는 양상을 나타내었다. 이와 같은 발현양상 분석결과로 TCTP 유전자는 성장과 관련된 기능이 있지만 동물의 성장에 있어 직접적으로 관여하지는 않을 것으로 판단된다. 지방세포 분화의 초기단계에서 발현량이 급증하고 lipid droplet 형성에 관여하며 지방축적과도 관련이 있는 것으로 보고된 ADRP 유전자의 transcript의 크기는 약 1.82 kb 이었고, 24개월령 한우 등심조직에서 발현량이 급격히 증가하였으며, 30개월령 조직에서는 감소하는 양상을 나타내었다. 이와 같은 결과로부터 ADRP 유전자를 한우 성장단계 특이발현 유전자로 선정하였으며, ADRP 유전자의 발현양상은 근육내 지방축적과 관련이 있을 것으로 추정하였다. 이후에는 발현조절 기작의 해명 및 근육내 지방축적과의 관련성 분석을 위하여 ADRP 유전자의 전체적인 구조 및 전사조절 인자 분석을 비롯하여 다른 지방대사 및 지방축적 관련 유전자와의 상호작용 및 다형성 탐색분석에 관한 연구가 필요 할 것으로 판단하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권15호
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• pp.6397-6403
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• 2014

Background: Aberrant promoter hypermethylation has been recognized in human breast carcinogenesis as a frequent molecular alteration associated with the loss of expression of a number of key regulatory genes and may serve as a biomarker. The E-cadherin gene (CDH1), mapping at chromosome 16q22, is an intercellular adhesion molecule in epithelial cells, which plays an important role in establishing and maintaining intercellular connections. The aim of our study was to assess the methylation pattern of CDH1 and to correlate it with the expression of E-cadherin, clinicopathological parameters and hormone receptor status in breast cancer patients of Kashmir. Materials and Methods: Methylation specific PCR (MSP) was used to determine the methylation status of CDH1 in 128 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) paired with the corresponding normal tissue samples. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression of E-cadherin, ER and PR. Results: CDH1 hypermethylation was detected in 57.8% of cases and 14.8% of normal adjacent controls. Reduced levels of E-cadherin protein were observed in 71.9% of our samples. Loss of E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with the CDH1 promoter region methylation (p<0.05, OR=3.48, CI: 1.55-7.79). Hypermethylation of CDH1 was significantly associated with age at diagnosis (p=0.030), tumor size (p=0.008), tumor grade (p=0.024) and rate of node positivity or metastasis (p=0.043). Conclusions: Our preliminary findings suggest that abnormal CDH1 methylation occurs in high frequencies in infiltrating breast cancers associated with a decrease in E-cadherin expression. We found significant differences in tumor-related CDH1 gene methylation patterns relevant to tumor grade, tumor size, nodal involvement and age at diagnosis of breast tumors, which could be extended in future to provide diagnostic and prognostic information.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.140-145
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• 2016

다세포 생물의 유전자들은 발생 및 분화 그리고 조직 특이적으로 전사되며, 이러한 유전자 전사는 게놈 상에서 멀리 떨어져 존재하는 인핸서(enhancer) 부위에 의해 조절된다. 최근의 연구들은 활성화된 인핸서에서 RNA Polymerase II (Pol II)에 의해 noncoding RNA가 전사된다고 보고하고 있으며, 이들은 인핸서 RNA (eRNA)라 불리고 있다. eRNA는 인핸서 중심으로부터 양방향으로 합성되며, 5’ capping은 일어나지만, splicing이나 3’ tailing은 되지 않는다. eRNA의 전사는 전사 활성자의 결합에 의해 일어나며, 표적 유전자의 전사 수준과 비례하게 일어난다. 인위적으로 eRNA의 전사를 억제하거나 합성된 eRNA를 제거하면 표적 유전자의 전사는 억제된다. eRNA의 전사 과정은 인핸서 부분의 활성 히스톤 변형을 유도하며, 합성된 eRNA는 인핸서와 프로모터 사이의 크로마틴 고리 구조 형성을 매개한다. 또한 표적 유전자의 프로모터에 RNA Pol II를 모집하고 이들의 신장을 촉진하는 것도 eRNA의 역할로 보인다. 본 총설은 인핸서 유래 eRNA의 특징에 대해 살펴보고, eRNA의 합성 기작 및 표적 유전자의 전사 조절을 위한 eRNA의 역할을 정리해보고자 한다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.364-371
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• 2007

The tumor suppressor gene Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A) is highly methylated in a wide range of human sporadic tumors. The current study investigated the hypermethylation of RASSF1A, the expression of RASSF1A protein, and the correlation between these and the clinicopathological features of gallbladder (GB) cancer in Korean patients. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors and non-neoplastic GB tissues (22 carcinomas, 8 adenomas, 26 normal epithelia) were collected from patients who had undergone surgical resection. The methylation status of two regions of the RASSF1A CpG island was determined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and the expression of RASSF1A protein was examined by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. The K-RAS mutation was analyzed by direct sequencing. Methylation of the RASSF1A promoter (region 1) was detected in 22.7% (5/22) of carcinomas, 12.5% (1/8) of adenomas, and 0% (0/26) of normal gallbladder epithelia (P = 0.025). Methylation of the first exon (region 2) was found in 36.4% (8/22) of carcinomas, 25.0% (2/8) of adenomas, and 8.0% (2/26) of normal gallbladder epithelia (P = 0.038). K-RAS mutations were present in 4.5% (1/22) of carcinomas and 25% (2/8) of adenomas. RASSF1A methylaton was not associated with clinicopathological factors or K-ras mutation. Reduction or loss of RASSF1A expression was observed in most methylated adenocarcinomas. Three RASSF1A-expressing human biliary tract cancer cell lines examined contained unmethylated promoters and exons 1. These results suggest that downregulation of RASSF1A expression by DNA hypermethylation may be involved in GB carcinogenesis.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.485-497
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• 2003

악안면 구조의 형태와 기능은 대개 유전자 정보에 의해 결정된다. 분자생물학의 발달로 인해 정상 성장과 형태 형성에 중요한 유전자에 대한 정보가 밝혀지고 있고 이는 현대 두개안면 생물학의 근간이 되고 있다. 밝혀진 사실들 중 주목할만한 것은 섬유아세포 성장인자2 (FGFR2)에 서 의 특이한 돌연변이 가 어 퍼트 증후군 (Apert syndrome) 의 발생과 관련이 있다는 것이다. 어퍼트 증후군은 두개 관상봉합의 조기 유합과 사지의 기형으로 특징지워진다. 그 중 특히 두개골 유합증의 병인과 형성기전을 연구하기 위해 본 연구에서 유전자 변환기법을 시도하여 어퍼트 증후군의 유발인자로 알려진 FGFR2에 서 의 단일 아미노산 치 환 돌연변이를 재연한 인위 유전자구조물을 제작하고 이를 미 세주입법으로 쥐의수정란에 삽입하여 형질변환 쥐를 제작하였다. 본 연구에서는 전체 조직이 아닌 골조직에서 특이하게 활성화되는 전사촉진자(promoter, 제 I형 교원질 유전자의 전사촉진자)를 이용하여 골조직에서만 돌연변이 유전자의 발현을 재현함으로써 이 시도가 쥐에서 두개골유합증을 유발하는지 검증하고자 하였다. 초기 표현형 분석을 통해 어퍼트 환자에서 기대되는 두개골 유합증을 확인하였다. 또한 본 연구에서 삽입된 변환유전자가 원활히 돌연변이 단백질을 생산하고 기능의 증가를 보임을 확인하였다. 이러한 동물 모델을 이용함으로써 이제 정상적 혹은 비정상적 두개골 및 봉합 발육에서의 FGFR2의 역할을 연구하는 것이 가능하리라 사료된다