• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2010

Camelina sativa L., known as popular names "gold-of-pleasure" or "false flax" is an alternative oilseed crop that can be grown under different climatic and soil conditions. Up to date, however, the genomic information of Camelina has not been studied in detail. Therefore, a cDNA library was constructed and characterized from young leaves. The constructed cDNA library incorporated of 1334 cDNA clones and the size of the insertion fragments average was 736 base pair. We generated a total of 1269 high-quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) sequences. The result of cluster analysis of EST sequences showed that the number of unigene was 851. According to subsequent analysis, the 476 (55.9%) unigenes were highly homologous to known function genes and the other 375 (44.1%) unigenes were unknown. Remaining 63 (7.4%) unigenes had no homology with any other peptide in NCBI database, indicating that these seemed to be novel genes expressed in leaves of Camelina. The database-matched ESTs were further classified into 17 categories according to their functional annotation. The most abundant of categories were "protein with binding function or cofactor requirement (27%)", "metabolism (11%)", "subcellular localization (11%)", "cellular transport, transport facilities and transport routes (7%)", "energy (6%)", "regulation of metabolism and protein function (6%)". Our result in this study provides an overview of mRNA expression profile and a basal genetic information of Camelina as an oilseed crop.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1339-1348
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• 2015

Until now, considerable effort has been made to engineer novel nitrogen-fixing organisms through the transfer of nif genes from various diazotrophs to non-nitrogen fixers; however, regulatory coupling of the heterologous nif genes with the regulatory system of the new host is still not well understood. In this work, a 49 kb nitrogen fixation island from P. stutzeri A1501 was transferred into E. coli using a novel and efficient transformation strategy, and a series of recombinant nitrogen-fixing E. coli strains were obtained. We found that the nitrogenase activity of the recombinant E. coli strain EN-01, similar to the parent strain P. stutzeri A1501, was dependent on external ammonia concentration, oxygen tension, and temperature. We further found that there existed a regulatory coupling between the E. coli general nitrogen regulatory system and the heterologous P. stutzeri nif island in the recombinant E. coli strain. We also provided evidence that the E. coli general nitrogen regulator GlnG protein was involved in the activation of the nif-specific regulator NifA via a direct interaction with the NifA promoter. To the best of our knowledge, this work plays a groundbreaking role in increasing understanding of the regulatory coupling of the heterologous nitrogen fixation system with the regulatory system of the recipient host. Furthermore, it will shed light on the structure and functional integrity of the nif island and will be useful for the construction of novel and more robust nitrogen-fixing organisms through biosynthetic engineering.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2006

To investigate whether GyeongshinhaeGihwan 1(GGT1), an anti-obesity herbal medicine widely used in oriental medicine, regulates the expression of obesity-related genes, we measured the changes in mRNA levels of these genes by GGT1 in human growth hormone transgenic (hGHTg) obese male rats, and these effects by GGT1 were compared with those of reductil (RD), an anti-obesity drug approved by FDA. Rats received once daily oral administrations of autoclaved water, RD, or GGT1 for 8 weeks. At the end of study, rats were sacrificed and tissues were harvested. Total RNA from adipose tissue, liver and kidney was prepared and the mRNA levels for LPL (lipoprotein lipase), PPAR $\gamma$ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma), PPAR$\delta$ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-delta), leptin, TNF$\alpha$ (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and internal standard G3PDH (glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase) were analyzed by RT-PCR. PPAR$\gamma$ mRNA levels of liver and kidney were decreased in drug-treated groups compared with control group and the decrease of PPAR$\gamma$ expression was more prominent in GGT1 group than in RD group, suggesting that GGT1 is effective in the inhibition of adipogenesis and lipid storage by decreasing the PPAR$\gamma$ expression. In contrast, PPAR$\delta$ mRNA levels of adipose tissue and kidney were increased by RD and GGT1 , and the magnitudes of increase were higher in GGT1 group than in RD group, indicating that GGT1 stimulates fatty acid oxidation and energy metabolism by activating PPAR$\delta$ expression, Compared with control and RD groups, GGT1 group had higher concentrations of serum leptin, a well-known inhibitor of appetite. However, The mRNA levels of leptin, LPL, and TNF$\alpha$ were not changed by GGT1 and RD, compared with DW. These results demonstrate that GGT1 not only decreases PPAR$\gamma$ expression of liver and kidney, but also increases PPAR$\delta$ expression of adipose tissue and kidney, leading to the regulation of obesity and that these effects were more pronounced in GGT1 group compared with RD group. In addition, GGT1 seems to prevent obesity by increasing the serum leptin levels.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.139-153
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• 2012

Objectives : NK cells are spontaneously cytotoxic lymphocytes. These are not only important parts in the first line of defence against bacterial and viral infections of outside, but they may also play a critical role in chronic viral diseases. NK cells kill their targets spontaneously, without the need for prior sensitization and class I MHC restriction by the regulation of cytolytic functions and secretion of a variety of cytokines, such as interleukin-12(IL-12), MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$. In addition, macrophage and NK cells cooperate through the production of cell mediates. These cooperation and modulation are one of major factors to prevent for evading immune surveillance of cancer. Hence, it could be assumed that if any candidate to enhance activities of macrophage and NK cell, it is considered as a potentially useful agents against cancer. Methods : In our study, to investigate effect of fermented soybean extracts by Lactic acid bacteria (SFE, soybean fermented extracts) work on intestinal immune cell to maintain general immune modulating and anti-cancer activity. We analyzed NK cytotoxicity assay and gene expressions of cytokine related with macrophage and NK cell activity. Results : In vitro experiment, SFE was verified as safety material for cell toxicicty to tumor cell strain without any toxicity of tumor growth inhibition and various cell strain. Effects of macrophage activity stimulating directly by SFE measured induced cytokine. The studies showed that IL-12 production by stimulation of SFE depended on concentration from 0.16mg/mL to 0.63mg/mL with non toxicity to cell, and it was the best activity at 0.63mg/mL. Besides, the effective concentration of SFE producing TNF-${\alpha}$ is similar to IL-12, but it was the best activity at 1.25mg/mL. The level of MCP-1, IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$ depended on concentration from 0.16mg/mL to 10mg/mL, IFN-${\gamma}$ showed the best activity at the effective concentration of 0.63mg/mL. With the result of NK cell activity measurement, the spleen cell of mouse injected SFE had 1.5 times higher killing effect than non injected cell. Conclusions : The result of this studies is that Soybean fermetated extracts(SFE) has possibility to immune aided material for the function not only inhibition of microbial infection to macrophage but also activity of adaption immune and cellular immune system.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.375-380
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• 2007

Dynamin plays a key role in the scission event common to various types of endocytosis. It has been previously reported that the SH3 domain-mediated association of Grb2 with dynamin-2 was dominantly found in Ras transformed cells. However, whether this association results from the increased expression of dynamin-2 and Grb2 in Ras transformed cells or not is still unknown. So in this study we first analyzed the expression levels of dynamin-2 and Grb2 and found that the expression of dynamin-2 protein was dramatically increased in Ras-transformed NIH3T3 (NIH3T3(Ras)) cells. Furthermore competitive PCR data revealed that the mRNA transcripts for dynamin-2 were increased about 100-fold in NIH3T3(Ras) compared to those of NIH3T3 cells. However, the protein level and mRNA transcript of Grb2 were not changed in these two cells. We also examined promoter activity of dynamin-2 in NIH3T3(Ras) cells and suggest the existence of Ras-responsive sequence in promoter region -300 to -200.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.428-436
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• 2012

Protein phosphorylation is a universal mechanism that regulates cellular activities. The brassinosteroid (BR) signal transduction pathway is a relay of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cascades. It starts with the BR-induced activation of the membrane receptor kinase brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (BRI1), resulting in the dephosphorylation of transcription factors such as BZR1/BES2 and BZR2/BES1 followed by BR-induced gene expression. Brassinosteroid signal transduction research has progressed rapidly by identifying the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation site(s) of the BR-regulated kinase and phosphatase substrates with a simultaneous pursuit of mutant phenotypes. Autophosphorylation, transphosphorylation, and serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor protein kinases BRI1 and BRI1-associated kinase (BAK1) have increased the understanding of the regulatory role of those kinases during physiological and developmental processes in plants. The phosphorylation event initiated by BR is also found in the regulation of receptor-mediated endocytosis and the subsequent degradation of the receptor. However, the basic molecular links of the BR signal transduction pathway are not well understood regarding this phosphorylation/dephosphorylation event. This review summarizes the current state of BR signal transduction research to uncover the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation networks and suggests directions for future research on steroid signal transduction to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the process.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.379-391
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• 2018

Through the development of organic synthetic skill, chemicals that mimic signaling mediators such as steroid hormones have been exposed to the environment. Recently, it has become apparent that this circumstance should be further studied in the field of physiology. Estrogenic action of chronic low-dose nonylphenol (NP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in mouse uterus was assessed in this study. Ten to twelve-week-old female mice (CD-1) were fed drinking water containing NP (50 or $500{\mu}g/L$) or DEHP (133 or $1,330{\mu}g/L$) for 10 weeks. Uterine diameter, the thickness of myometrium and endometrium, and the height of luminal epithelial cells were measured and the number of glands were counted. The expression levels of the known $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$)-regulated genes were evaluated with real-time RT-PCR methodology. The ration of uterine weight to body weight increased in $133{\mu}g/L$ DEHP. Endometrial and myometrial thickness increased in 133 and $1,330{\mu}g/L$ DEHP treated groups, and in 50, $500{\mu}g/L$ NP and $133{\mu}g/L$ DEHP, respectively. The height of luminal epithelial cell decreased in NP groups. The numbers of luminal epithelial gland were decreased in NP groups but increased in $50{\mu}g/L$ DEHP group. The histological characters of glands were not different between groups. The mRNA expression profiles of the known $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) downstream genes, Esr1, Esr2, Pgr, Lox, and Muc1, were also different between NP and DEHP groups. The expression levels dramatically increased in some genes by the NP or DEHP. Based on these results, it is suggested that the chronic low-dose NP or DEHP works as estrogen-like messengers in uterus with their own specific gene expression-regulation patterns.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2020

Psychological stress can affect the physiological condition of the skin and cause various cutaneous disorders. The stress hormone cortisol is secreted by various skin cells such as fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and melanocytes. Tight junctions (TJs) are cell-cell junctions that form a barrier in the stratum granulosum of mammalian skin. TJs can also affect other skin barriers and are affected by chemical, microbial, or immunological barriers. Stress can cause damage to the skin barrier. Interestingly, to our knowledge, there has not been any research demonstrating the involvement of TJs in this process. In this study, cortisol was used to treat keratinocytes to determine its role in regulating TJs. We found that cortisol damaged skin barrier function by regulating the gene expression and structure of TJ components. Cortisol also inhibited the development of the granular layer in a skin equivalent model. These results suggest that cortisol affects the skin barrier function by the regulation of TJs.

• Journal of Breast Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2018

Purpose: Immune suppression is common in patients with advanced breast cancer but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been sufficiently studied. In this study, we aimed to identify B7 family members that were able to predict the immune status of patients, and which may serve as potential targets for the treatment of breast cancer. We also aimed to identify microRNAs that may regulate the expression of B7 family members. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas data from 1,092 patients with breast cancer, including gene expression, microRNA expression and survival data, were used for statistical and survival analyses. Polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure messenger RNA and protein expression, respectively. Luciferase assay was used to investigate direct microRNA target. Results: Bioinformatic analysis predicted that microRNA (miR)-93, miR-195, miR-497, and miR-340 are potential regulators of the immune evasion of breast cancer cells, and that they exert this function by targeting CD274, PDCD1LG2, and NCR3LG1. We chose CD274 for further investigations. We found that miR-195, miR-497, and CD274 expression levels were inversely correlated in MDA-MB-231 cells, and miR-195 and miR-497 expressions mimic inhibited CD274 expression in vitro. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that miR-195 and miR-497 directly target CD274 3' untranslated region. Conclusion: Our data indicated that the level of B7 family members can predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients, and miR-195/miR-497 regulate CD274 expression in triple negative breast cancer. This regulation may further influence tumor progression and the immune tolerance mechanism in breast cancer and may be able to predict the effect of immunotherapy on patients.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.160-163
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• 2019

Senegalimassilia sp. KGMB 04484 was isolated from fecal samples obtained from a healthy Korean. The whole-genome sequence of Senegalimassilia sp. KGMB 04484 was analyzed using the PacBio Sequel platform. The genome comprises a 2,748,041 bp chromosome with a G+C content of 61.18%, 2,300 total genes, 2,139 protein-coding gene, 21 rRNA genes, and 51 tRNA genes. Also, we found that strain KGMB 04484 had some genes for hydrolysis enzyme, fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism in its genome based on the result of genome analysis. Those genes of KGMB 04484 may be related to regulation of human health and digest.