• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.376-384
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• 2012

Although ginsenosides have a variety of physiologic or pharmacologic functions in various regions, there are only a few reports on the effects of transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channels. Here, we showed evidence suggesting that TRPM7 channels play an important role in ginseng total saponin (GTS)-mediated cellular injury. The combination techniques of electrophysiology, pharmacological analysis, small interfering RNA (siRNA) method and cell death assays were used. GTS depolarized the resting membrane potentials and decreased the amplitude of pacemaker potentials in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The TRPM7-like currents in single ICCs and the overexpressing TRPM7 in HEK293 cells were inhibited by GTS. However, GTS had no effect on $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ conductance. GTS inhibited the survival of human gastric (AGS) and brea (MCF-7) adenocarcinoma cells. Also, GTS inhibited the TRPM7-like currents in AGS and MCF-7 cells. The GTS-mediated cytotoxicity was inhibited by TRPM7-specific siRNA. In addition, we showed that overexpression of TRPM7 channels in HEK293 cells was inhibited by GTS. Thus, TRPM7 channels are involved in GTS-mediated cell death in AGS and MCF-7 cells, and these channels may represent a novel target for physiological disorders where GTS plays an important role.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.225-238
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• 2022

The ultimate goal of human assisted reproductive technology is to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, ideally from the selection and transfer of a single competent embryo. Recently, techniques for efficiently evaluating the state and quality of preimplantation embryos using time-lapse imaging systems have been applied. Artificial intelligence programs based on deep learning technology and big data analysis of time-lapse monitoring system during in vitro culture of preimplantation embryos have also been rapidly developed. In addition, several molecular markers of the secretome have been successfully analyzed in spent embryo culture media, which could easily be obtained during in vitro embryo culture. It is also possible to analyze small amounts of cell-free nucleic acids, mitochondrial nucleic acids, miRNA, and long non-coding RNA derived from embryos using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or digital PCR, as well as next-generation sequencing. Various efforts are being made to use non-invasive evaluation of embryo quality (NiEEQ) to select the embryo with the best developmental competence. However, each NiEEQ method has some limitations that should be evaluated case by case. Therefore, an integrated analysis strategy fusing several NiEEQ methods should be urgently developed and confirmed by proper clinical trials.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 1996

The RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for excision repair and is essential for cell viability. RAD3 encoded protein possesses a single stranded DNA-dependent ATPase and DNA-RNA helicase activies. To examine the extent of conservation of structure and function of RAD3 during eukaryotic evolution, we have cloned the RAD3 homolog, HRD3, from the distantly related yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here, we report the partial cloning and characterization of HRD3 gene (Homologous of RAD3 gene) which was isolated by PCR amplification using conserved domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD3 gene. Chromosomal DNA isolated from S. pombe had similar restriction patterns to those from S. cerevisiae, as determined by Southern blot analysis. The 2. 8 kb transcript of mRNA was identified by Northern hybridization. The level of transcript did not increase upon UV-irradiation, suggesting that the HRD3 gene in S. pombe is not UV-inducible.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.220-227
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• 2011

The morphology of the two marine urostyloid ciliates, Pseudokeronopsis carnea (Cohn, 1866) and Uroleptopsis citrina Kahl, 1932, in the family Pseudokeronopsidae, collected from the Yellow Sea, and the East Sea, Korea, respectively, were studied using live observation and protargol impregnation. Additionally, the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene was sequenced. These two species are firstly recorded in Korea. The main diagnostic key is as follows. Pseudokeronopsis carnea: body outline elongate-elliptical, brown-reddish or orange-red in colour in vivo; bicorona of 16-24 frontal cirri; one buccal and two frontoterminal cirri; 7-10 transverse cirri; 5-7 dorsal kineties; two types of cortical granules (one orange-red pigment, mainly grouped around cirri and dorsal bristles, arranged in typical rubra-pattern; the other, colourless and blood-cell-shaped, and densely distributed); contractile vacuole in the posterior half of the cell on the left side, usually in posterior 1/3-2/5. Uroleptopsis citrina: body outline elongate-elliptical, lemon-yellow in colour in vivo; two types of cortical granules (one yellow pigment; the other, blood-cell-shaped, densely distributed); bicorona of 12-18 frontal cirri; 2-3 frontoterminal cirri; two midventral rows comprising 26-35 cirri (consisting of anterior paired cirri, non-paired single cirri, and posterior paired cirri); three dorsal kineties. In addition, the SSU rRNA sequences of the two species were compared with public database of these species and consequently, showed high similarity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.734-740
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• 2005

The blood samples were collected from dairy cows at the same milking stage. The single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method was used to analyze for polymorphism at the 5'flanking region of the hsp70 gene. The mRNA expression levels of HSP70, HSF1, Bcl-2 and Bax-$\alpha$ at different daily-mean-temperature were analyzed by relative quantitative RTPCR. The DNA content, cell phase and the ratio of apoptosis of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of dairy cattle at different daily-meantemperature were determined by FCM. The PCR-SSCP products of primer pair 1 showed polymorphisms and could be divided into four genotypes: aa, ab, ac, cc, with the cis-acting element (CCAAT box) included. Mutations in the hsp70 5'flanking region (468-752 bp) had different effects on mRNA expression of HSP70, HSF1, Bcl-2 and Bax-$\alpha$. The ac genotypic cows showed higher expressions of HSP70mRNA, HSF1mRNA and Bcl-2mRNA/Bax-$\alpha$mRNA and lower ratio of apoptosis. These mutation sites can be used as molecular genetic markers to assist selection for anti-heat stress cows.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.563-571
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• 2018

Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer in the world, has no specific biomarkers that facilitate its diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The miRNAs, small single-stranded RNAs that repress the mRNA translation and trigger the mRNA degradation, show aberrant levels in the CRC, by which these molecules have been related with the initiation, progression, and drug-resistance of this cancer type. Numerous studies show the microRNAs influence the cellular mechanisms related to the cell cycle, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration of the cancer cells through the post-transcriptionally regulated gene expression. Specific patterns of the upregulated and down-regulated miRNA have been associated with the CRC diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response. Concretely, the downregulated miRNAs represent attractive candidates, not only for the CRC diagnosis, but for the targeted therapies via the tumor-suppressing microRNA replacement. This review shows a general overview of the potential uses of the miRNAs in the CRC diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment with a special focus on the downregulated ones.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.116-125
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• 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic is not over despite the emergency use authorization as can see recent COVID-19 daily confirmed cases. The viruses are not only difficult to diagnose and treat due to random mutations, but also pose threat human being because they have the potential to be exploited as biochemical weapons by genetic manipulation. Therefore, it is inevitable to the rapid antibody-based therapeutic platform to quickly respond to future pandemics by new/re-emerging viruses. Although numerous researches have been conducted for the fast development of antibody-based therapeutics, it is sometimes hard to respond rapidly to new viruses because of complicated expression or purification processes for antibody production. In this study, a novel rapid antibody-based therapeutic platform using single B cell sorting method and mRNA-antibody. High immunogenicity was caused to produce antibodies in vivo through mRNA-antigen inoculation. Subsequently, antigen-specific antibody candidates were selected and obtained using isolation of B cells containing antibody at the single cell level. Using the antibody-based therapeutic platform system in this study, it was confirmed that novel antigen-specific antibodies could be obtained in about 40 days, and suggested that the possibility of rapid response to new variant viruses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6869-6874
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• 2013

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinases are two important factors for angiogenesis associated with breast cancer growth and progression. The present study was aimed to examine the effects of tamoxifen and tranilast drugs singly or in combination on proliferation of breast cancer cells and also to evaluate VEGF and MMP-9 expression and VEGF secretion levels. Materials and Methods: Human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were treated with tamoxifen and/or tranilast alone or in combination and percentage cell survival and proliferative activity were evaluated using LDH leakage and MTT assays. mRNA expression and protein levels were examined by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA assay, respectively. Results: LDH and MTT assays showed that the combined treatment of tamoxifen and tranilast resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability and cell proliferation compared with tamoxifen or tranilast treatment alone, with significant decrease in VEGF mRNA and protein levels. We also found that tamoxifen as a single agent rarely increased MMP-9 expression. A decrease in MMP-9 expression was seen after treatment with tranilast alone and in the combined treatment MMP-9 mRNA level was decreased. Conclusions: This combination treatment can able to inhibit growth, proliferation and angiogenesis of breast cancer cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.753-758
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• 2010

Purpose: It has been suggested that p16 has a role in glucocorticoid (GC)-related apoptosis in leukemic cells, but the exact mechanisms have yet to be clarified. We evaluated the relationship between the GC response and p16 expression in a lymphoma cell line. Methods: We used p16 siRNA transfection to construct p16-inactivated cells by using the B-cell lymphoblast cell line NC-37. We compared glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression, apoptosis, and cell viability between control (p16+NC-37) and p16 siRNA-transfected (p16-NC-37) cells after a single dose of dexamethasone (DX). Results: In both groups, there was a significant increase in cytoplasmic GR expression, which tended to be higher for p16+NC-37 cells than for p16- NC37 cells at all times, and the difference at 18 h was significant (P<0.05). Similar patterns of early apoptosis were observed in both groups, and late apoptosis occurred at higher levels at 18 h when the GR had already been downregulated ($P$<0.05). Cell viability decreased in both groups but the degree of reduction was more severe in p16+NC-37 cells after 18 h ($P$<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest a relationship between GR expression and cell cycle inhibition, in which the absence of p16 leads to reduced cell sensitivity to DX.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.568-573
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• 2021

This study identified genomic factors associated with endoplasmic reticulum protein (ERp)29 gene expression in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of genetic variants, including single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In total, 373 European genes from the 1000 Genomes Project were analyzed. SNPs with an allelic frequency of less than or more than 5% were removed, resulting in 5,913,563 SNPs including in the analysis. The following expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) from the long noncoding RNA LOC105372577 were strongly associated with ERp29 expression: rs6138266 (p<4.172e10), rs62193420 (p<1.173e10), and rs6138267 (p<2.041e10). These were strongly expressed in the testis and in the brain. The three eQTL were identified through a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and showed a significant association with ERp29 and osteosarcoma amplified 9 (OS9) expression. Upstream sequences of rs6138266 were recognized by ChIP-seq data, while HaploReg was used to demonstrate how its regulatory DNA binds upstream of transcription factor 1 (USF1). There were no changes in the expression of OS9 or USF1 following ER stress.