• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2010

Ras genes are responsible for up to 30% of human tumor mutations and are composed of three isoforms: H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras. The post-translational modification of the CAAX motif of the Ras protein is essential in Ras actions. In the present study, we studied the effects of novel farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTIs), YH3938 and YH3945, on the actions of oncogenic mutants of H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras. YH3938 and YH3945 completely reverted the proliferation and morphology of oncogenic H-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells, but not of oncogenic K-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells. Oncogenic N-Ras-transformed Rat2 cells were slightly affected. Activation of SRE promoters by oncogenic H-Ras and N-Ras, but not by K-Ras, were inhibited by treatment with YH3938 and YH3945. Using bandshift analysis, YH3938 suppressed the processing of oncogenic H-Ras and N-Ras, but not that of oncogenic K-Ras protein. YH3945 only inhibited the processing of H-Ras. From these results, we conclude that YH3938 and YH3945 specifically inhibit actions of oncogenic H-Ras through inhibition of its farnesylation, that YH3938 also inhibits N-Ras activity in a dose-dependent manner, and that these drugs have no effect on oncogenic K-Ras activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 1999

The existence of the Ras-independent signal transduction pathway of insulin leading to DNA synthesis was investigated in Rat-1 fibroblasts overexpressing human insulin receptor (HIRc-B) using the single-cell microinjection technique. Microinjection of a dominant-negative mutant $Ras^{N17}$ protein into quiescent HIRc-B cells inhibited the DNA synthesis stimulated by insulin. Microinjection of oncogenic H-$Ras^{V12}$ protein ($H-Ras^{V12}$) (0.1 mg/ml) induced DNA synthesis by 35%, whereas that of control-injected IgG was induced by 20%. When the marginal amount of oncogenic H-$Ras^{V12}$ protein was coinjected with a dominant-negative mutant of the H-Ras protein ($Ras^{N17}$), DNA synthesis was 35% and 74% in the absence and presence of insulin, respectively. This full recovery of DNA synthesis by insulin suggests the existence of the Ras-independent pathway. The same recovery was observed in the cells coinjected with either H-$Ras^{V12}$ plus H-$Ras^{N17}$ plus SH2 domain of the p85 subunit of PI3-kinase ($p85^{SH2-N}$) or H-$Ras^{V12}$ plus H-$Ras^{N17}$ plus interfering anti-Shc antibody. When co-injected with a dominant-negative H-$Ras^{N17}$, the DNA synthesis induced by the Ras-independent pathway was blocked. These results indicate that the Ras-independent pathway of insulin leading to DNA synthesis exists, bypassing the p85 of PI3-kinase and Shc protein, and requires Rac1 protein.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 1994

These expriments were carried out to investigate existence of H-Y antibody in the rat serum immunized against H-Y antigen from rat spleen cells and effect of H-Y antiserum on development of mouse male embryos. The results obtained were summerized as follows : 1. When mouse embryos were cultured for 48∼72 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing 16% of FBS(fetal bovine serum) or RNS(rat normal serum), percentages of embryos developed from 2, 4, 8 and 16-cell embryo to morulae were 20, 27, 94 and 100%, respectively, in FBS and 8, 7, 94 and 100%, respectively, in RNS. Eight to 16-cell embryos showed no difference in development rate between FBS adn RNS. 2. When 8∼16-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 24∼48 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing FBS, RNS＋GPC(guinea pig complement) and RAS(rat antiserum)＋GPC, proportions of embryos developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were 100, 82.4 and 52.1∼53.6%(ave.52.9), respectively, so that it was suggested that rat antiserum suppressed development of male embryos. 3. When 8∼16-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 24∼48 hrs in the Ham's F10 containing FBS, RNS, RNS＋GPC and RAS＋GPC, proportions of embryos developed to the expanded blastocyst stage were 94.5, 90.9, 82.3 and 47%, respectively, and the embryos developed in the medium containing RAS＋GPC seemed to be female. These results indicated that the antisera prepared through immunized against H-Y antigen from rat spleen cell, possessed H-Y antibody which supressed development of male embryos.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 1996

The effect of albumin on phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism in Hep-G2, 3T3-H.ras, and 3T3 cells pre-labelled with [Me-$^3H$]choline was studied. The [$^3H$]choline was more efficiently taken up and incorporated into cellular phospholipids in 3T3-H.ras cells than in Hep-G2 and 3T3 cells. In each of the three cell lines, most of the [$^3H$]choline metabolized into the phospholipids was incorporated into PC and only minor was incorporated into lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Bovine serum albumin stimulated the release of [$^3H$]LPC and [$^3H$]PC from each of the three cell lines pre-labelled with [$^3H$]choline. [$^3H$]PC was also released in the absence of albumin but [$^3H$]LPC was not. The efficiency of LPC secretion represented as the proportion of medium [$^3H$]LPC to cellular [$^3H$]choline lipid during a chase period is approximately 9 to 14 times greater in 3T3 cells compared with the transformed 3T3-H.ras and Hep-G2 cells. A similar comparison of published data for rat hepatocytes with Hep-G2 shows secretion to be 35~75 times greater from the rat hepatocytes than from Hep-G2. Also, PC secretion from 3T3 cells was 1.6 times more effective than from 3T3-H.ras, whereas rat hepatocytes secrete PC 2.8~3.8 times more effectively than does Hep-G2. The measurement of specific radioactivity of cellular PC in pre-labelled 3T3 cells showed it to be similar to that of the secreted PC. However, the specific radioactivity of secreted LPC was markedly lower than that of the cellular PC, which suggests that LPC is being secreted from a PC pool distinct from that used for PC secretion.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2020

T In the present study, we investigated the effect of oncogenic H-Ras on rat mdr1b expression in NIH3T3 cells. The constitutive expression of H-Ras^V12 was found to downregulate the mdr1b promoter activity and mdr1b mRNA expression. The doxorubicin-induced mdr1b promoter activity of the H-Ras^V12 expressing NIH3T3 cells was markedly lower than that of control NIH3T3 cells. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between the level of H-Ras^V12 expression and a sensitivity to doxorubicin toxicity. To examine the detailed mechanism of H-Ras^V12-mediated down-regulation of mdr1b expression, antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium (DPI) were used. Pretreating cells with either NAC or DPI significantly enhanced the oncogenic H-Ras-mediated down-regulation of mdr1b expression and markedly prevented doxorubicin-induced cell death. Moreover, NAC and DPI treatment led to a decrease in ERK activity, and the ERK inhibitors PD98059 or U0126 enhanced the mdr1b-Luc activity of H-Ras^V12-NIH3T3 and reduced doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that Ras^V12 expression could downregulate mdr1b expression through intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and ERK activation induced by ROS, is at least in part, contributed to the downregulation of mdr1b expression.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.245-259
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• 1998

Cellular transforming genes have been identified in a number of different tumor cell lines and tumor types. A significant number of these oncogenes belong to the ras gene family. The ras gene family consists of three closely related genes:H-ras, K-ras and N-ras which code for a related 21 kDa protein. Mutations in codon 12, 13 and 61 of one of the three ras genes convert these genes into acute oncogenes. The presence of H-ras gene mutations has important prognostic implications in various tumors. Each genomic DNA was isolated from tumors induced by implantation with DMBA, or by treatment with DMBA -implantation/irradiation. When genome DNA was transfected into NIH 3T3 cells and investigated by two-step PCR-RFLP, the fOllowing results were concluded: 1. Transformation foci developed in two groups when the genome DNA of two experimental groups were transfected into NIH 3T3 cells. 2. Transformation efficiency was 0.01-0.02 foci/㎍DNA in the experimental group with the DMBA-implantation, 0.01-0.03 foci/㎍lgDNA in the experimental group with the DMBA-implantation/irradiation according to results of transfection assay. 3. When the point mutation of H-ras gene was investigated by a two-step PCR-RFLP, there was 13.9％ (5/36) in the experimental group with the DMBA implantation, 15.4 ％ (6/39) in the experimental group with the DMBA -implantation/irradiation. 4. The point mutation in codon 12 and 61 of H-ras was 5.6％(2/36) and 8.3％(3/36) in the experimental group with the DMBA implantation. 5. The point mutation in codon 12 and 61 of H-ras gene was 7.7％(3/39) in the experimental group with the DMBA -implantation/irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.91-99
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• 2003

Ras proteins play an important role in intracellular signal transduction pathways involved in cell growth and the mutated twas genes have been found in thirty percent of human cancers. Ras proteins (H-, K- and N-Ras) are small guanine nucleotide binding proteins that undergo a series of posttranslational modifications including the farnesylation onto cysteine 186 at C-terminal of Ras by farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase). This is a mandatory process for retention of transforming ability. Therefore, inhibitors of FPTase have a promising to be effective antitumor agents. In our screening program for FPTase inhibitors, the methanol extracts of 193 plants were screened for the inhibitory activity against FPTase partially purified from the rat brain. Extracts of 7species plants including Areca catechu, Saururus chinensis, Curcuma longa, Artemisa princeps, Paeonia suffruticosa, Spatholobus suberectus, Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum japonicum inhibited more than 60% of FPTase activity at a concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 1997

In an attempt to investigate whether hemorrhage affects the gene expression of the renin-angioteusin system (RAS) components in the brain and peripheral angiotensin-generating tissues, changes in mRNA levels of the RAS components in response to hemorrhage were measured in conscious unrestrained rats. Wistar rats were bled at a rate of 3 ml/kg/min for 5 min, and then decapitated 7 h after hemorrhage. Levels of mRNA for renin, angiotensinogen and angiotensin $II-AT_1$ receptor subtypes ($AT_{1A}$ and $AT_{1B}$) were determined with the methods of northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Hemorrhage produced a profound hypotension with tachycardia, but blood pressure and heart rate recovered close to the basal level at 7 h. Plasma and renal renin levels were significantly increased at 7 h. Hemorrhage induced rapid upregulation of gene expression of both $AT_{1A}$ and $AT_{1B}$ receptor subtypes in the brainstem and hypothalamus, downregulation of them in the adrenal gland and liver. However, renin mRNA level increased in the brainstem, decreased in the liver, but was not changed in the hypothalamus, kidney and adrenals after hemorrhage. Angiotensinogen mRNA level was not significantly changed in any of the tissue except a slight increase in the liver. The kidney and liver did not show any significant change in gene expression of the RAS components. These results suggest that gene expression of the RAS in central and peripheral tissues are, at least in part, under independent control and the local RAS in each organ plays specific physiologic role.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2008

The methanol extract from the aerial parts of Aceriphyllum rossii was fractionated into ethyl acetate, n-BuOH and $H_2O$ layers through solvent fractionation. Repeated silica gel column chromatography of EtOAc and n-BuOH layers afforded five flavonol glycosides. They were identified as astragalin (1), kaempferol 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1${\rightarrow}$6)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (2), rutin (3), kaempferol 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1${\rightarrow}$4)-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl 1${\rightarrow}$6)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (4), and quercetin 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1${\rightarrow}$4)-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1${\rightarrow}$6)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (5) on the basis of spectroscopic data. All of them showed an inhibition in farnesyl protein tranferase (FPTase) activity, and rutin (3) inhibited the growth of rat H-ras cell and the cell migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2007

From the EtOAc fraction of Eugenia caryophyllata, four compounds were isolated through activity-guided silica gel column chromatography, From the result of spectroscopic data including NMR, MS and IR, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as 1-allyl-4-hydroxy-3-methoxybezene acetate (eugenol acetate, 1), 1-allyl-4-hydroxy-3-methoxybezene (eugenol, 2), $3{\beta}-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic$ acid (oleanolic acid, 3) and $2{\alpha}$, $3{\beta}-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic$ acid (maslinic acid, 4). Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated for the first time from this plant. Also, compounds 1, 2 and 3 exhibited relatively high platelet aggregation inhibitory activity with the $IC_{50}$ values of 0.24, 0.09 and 0.07 mM, respectively. Compound 2 significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) with the value of $124{\pm}11.2$ seconds as compared to the control with the value of $37.5{\pm}2.2$ seconds at the concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. Compounds 1 and 3 revealed inhibitory activity on farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase) with the $IC_{50}$ values of 0.49 and 0.24 mM and compounds 1 and 2 highly inhibited the growth of rat-H-ras cells with the $Gl_{50}$ values of 6.63 and 5.70 ${\mu}M$, respectively.