• 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.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.355-359
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• 2006

The functional stability of mRNA is one of the crucial factors affecting the efficiency of in vitro translation. As the rapid degradation of mRNA in the cell extract (S30 extract) causes early termination of the translational reactions, extending the mRNA half-life will improve the productivity of the in vitro protein synthesis. Thus, a simple PCR-based method is introduced to increase the stability of mRNA in an S30 extract. The target genes are PCR-amplified with primers designed to make the ends of the transcribed mRNA molecule anneal to each other. When compared with normal mRNA, the mRNA with the annealing sequences resulted in an approximately 2-fold increase of protein synthesis in an in vitro translation reaction. In addition, sequential transcription and translation reactions in a single tube enabled direct protein expression from the PCR-amplified genes without any separate purification of the mRNA.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.8
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• pp.588-602
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• 2022

Various RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key components in RNA metabolism and contribute to several neurodevelopmental disorders. To date, only a few of such RBPs have been characterized for their roles in neocortex development. Here, we show that the RBP, Rbms1, is required for radial migration, polarization and differentiation of neuronal progenitors to neurons in the neocortex development. Rbms1 expression is highest in the early development in the developing cortex, with its expression gradually diminishing from embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) to postnatal day 0 (P0). From in utero electroporation (IUE) experiments when Rbms1 levels are knocked down in neuronal progenitors, their transition from multipolar to bipolar state is delayed and this is accompanied by a delay in radial migration of these cells. Reduced Rbms1 levels in vivo also reduces differentiation as evidenced by a decrease in levels of several differentiation markers, meanwhile having no significant effects on proliferation and cell cycle rates of these cells. As an RNA binding protein, we profiled the RNA binders of Rbms1 by a cross-linked-RIP sequencing assay, followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction verification and showed that Rbms1 binds and stabilizes the mRNA for Efr3a, a signaling adapter protein. We also demonstrate that ectopic Efr3a can recover the cells from the migration defects due to loss of Rbms1, both in vivo and in vitro migration assays with cultured cells. These imply that one of the functions of Rbms1 involves the stabilization of Efr3a RNA message, required for migration and maturation of neuronal progenitors in radial migration in the developing neocortex.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.494-504
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• 2024

Background: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), which encodes thiol protease that hydrolyzes a peptide bond at the C-terminal glycine residue of ubiquitin, regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, transcriptional regulation, and numerous other biological processes and may be involved in lung cancer progression. UCHL1 is mainly expressed in the brain and plays a tumor-promoting role in a few cancer types; however, there are limited reports regarding its role in lung cancer. Methods: Single-cell RNA (scRNA) sequencing using 10X chromium v3 was performed on a paired normal-appearing and tumor tissue from surgical specimens of a patient who showed unusually rapid progression. To validate clinical implication of the identified biomarkers, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was performed on 48 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue specimens, and the correlation with clinical parameters was evaluated. Results: We identified 500 genes overexpressed in tumor tissue compared to those in normal tissue. Among them, UCHL1, brain expressed X-linked 3 (BEX3), and midkine (MDK), which are associated with tumor growth and progression, exhibited a 1.5-fold increase in expression compared to that in normal tissue. IHC analysis of NSCLC tissues showed that only UCHL1 was specifically overexpressed. Additionally, in 48 NSCLC specimens, UCHL1 was specifically upregulated in the cytoplasm and nuclear membrane of tumor cells. Multivariable logistic analysis identified several factors, including smoking, tumor size, and high-grade dysplasia, to be typically associated with UCHL1 overexpression. Survival analyses using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets revealed that UCHL1 overexpression is substantially associated with poor survival outcomes. Furthermore, a strong association was observed between UCHL1 expression and the clinicopathological features of patients with NSCLC. Conclusion: UCHL1 overexpression was associated with smoking, tumor size, and high-grade dysplasia, which are typically associated with a poor prognosis and survival outcome. These findings suggest that UCHL1 may serve as an effective biomarker of NSCLC.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.863-876
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the anti-neoplastic and anti-inflammatory effects of single and mixed extracts of Ulmus davidiana (UD) and Oldenlandia diffusa (OD) on azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS)-induced colonic neoplasms in mice. Methods: AOM/DSS induces colitis-associated colonic neoplasms in mice. Mice were divided into seven groups: normal-no inducement and no treatment; control-colonic neoplasms with no treatment; UD-colonic neoplasms and treatment with UD; OD-colonic neoplasms and treatment with OD; UD1+OD1-colonic neoplasms and treatment with UD1 and OD1. UD1+OD2-colonic neoplasms and treatment with UD1 and OD2; UD2+OD1-colonic neoplasms and treatment with UD2 and OD1. Single and mixed preparations of UD and OD were applied to mice for six weeks. The colon length and weight and histopathologic changes of colon tissue were observed. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and interferon-gamma ($INF-{\gamma}$) were measured by RT-PCR. Results: The colon length was significantly increased in OD, UD1+OD2, and UD2+OD1 mice, and the colon weight was significantly decreased in OD and UD1+OD2 mice. The morphological change of colon epithelial cells was more suppressed in complex-treatment groups than in single-treatment groups. The inhibitory effect on inflammatory cell invasion was especially shown in UD1+OD2 mice. The serum level of the pro-inflammatory $TNF-{\alpha}$ was decreased in all complex-treatment groups, and the IL-6 level was decreased in UD1+OD1 mice. Single-treatment groups had an increase in the mRNA expression of the pro-apoptosis regulator Bax, and UD2+OD1 decreased the mRNA expression of the anti-apoptosis regulator Bcl-2. The mRNA expression of $INF-{\gamma}$ associated with inflammation was decreased in OD and UD1+OD2 mice. Conclusions: This study suggests that single and mixed extracts of Ulmus davidiana and Oldenlandia diffusa have anti-neoplastic and anti-inflammatory effects on AOM/DSS-induced colonic neoplasms in mice. Therefore, we conclude that UD, OD, and a mixture of UD and OD are potential therapeutic agents for colitis-associated colonic neoplasms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.578-584
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• 1998

In a previous paper (Kim et al., 1996a), the immediate 5' -flanking region and coding region of the human UDP-N -acetylglucosamine:-D-mannoside-1,4-Nacetylglucosaminyltransferase III (N-acetylglucosaminyitransferase- III; GnT-III) gene was reported, isolated and analyzed. Herein, we report on amplification of a new 5' -noncoding region of the GnT-III mRNA by single-strand ligation to single-stranded cDNA-PCR (5' -RACE PCR) using poly(A)+ RNA isolated from human fetal liver cells. A cDNA clone was obtained with 5' sequences (96 bp) that diverged seven nucleotides upstream from the ATG (+1) start codon. A concensus splice junction sequence, TCTCCCGCAG, was found immediately 5' to the position where the sequences of the cDNA diverged. The result suggested the presence of an intron in the 5' -noncoding region and that the cDNA was an incompletely reversetranscribed cDNA product derived from an mRNA containing a new noncoding exon. When mRNA expression of GnT-III in various human tissues and cancer cell lines was examined, Northern blot analysis indicated high expression levels of GnT-III in human fetal kidney and brain tissues, as well as for a number of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cell lines. Promoter activities of the 5' -flanking regions of exon 1 and the new noncoding region were measured in a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, by luciferase assays. The 5'-flanking region of exon 1 was the most active, whilst that of exon 2 was inactive.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1964

Yung Nok Lee (Dept. of Biology, Korea University) : Studies on the phosphate metabolism in Chlorella, with special reference to polyphosphate. Kor. J. Microbiol., Vol.2, No.1, p1-11 (1964). 1. Uniformly $^{32}P$-labeled Chlorella cells which were irradiated with Cobalt-60 gamma-rays of about 70, 000 $\gamma$ dose, were further grown in a standard "cold" medium ("hot".rarw."cold"), and some portions of the algae were taken out at the begining of, and at intervals during the culture, and subjected to analyze the contents of $^{32}P$- and total P in various fractions of the cell materials. Results obtained were compared with those of nonirradiated normal cells. 2. Amounts of phosphate in various fractions of the nonirradiated normal Chlorella cells were measured using uniformly $^{32}P$--labeled cells. Analysis of the $^{32}P$--labeled algal cells showed that the highest value in P-content was the fraction of RNA followed by those of lipid, polyphosphate "C" polyphosphate "B", DNA, nucleotidic labile phosphate compounds, polyphosphate "A" and protein. It was observed that content of total polyphosphates in a single Chlorella cell was almost equal to RNA-P content in the cell, and the amount of RNA-P was almost equal to ten times of DNA-P content. 3. When the $^{32}P$--labeled algae which were irradiated with gamma-rays were grown in a normal "cold" medium, phosphate contents in the fraction of DNA, nucleotidic labile phosphate compounds and protein decreased markedly, while the contents of phosphate in the fractions of polyphosphate "C" and potyphosphate "B" increased in comparison with those of unirradiated normal cells. So, it was considered that the pretreatment of above mentioned dose of gamma-ray inhibited DNA and protein synthesis from polyphosphate in Chlorella cells. 4. Proceeding the culture of $^{32}P$--labeled Chlorella in a "cold" standard medium, whose synthetic activity of DNA and protein from polyphosphate was disturded by gamma-ray irradiation, the amounts of $^{32}P$-in the fraction of polyphosphate "C" increased, in contrast with those of polyphosphate "B" fraction. According to these experimental results, it was inferred that polyphosphate "B" could transform into polyphosphate "C" in normal growing Chlorella cells.sults, it was inferred that polyphosphate "B" could transform into polyphosphate "C" in normal growing Chlorella cells.ing Chlorella cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2004

For discrimination of ductal and ascinar cells, we isolated a single-chain variable domain fragment (scFv) antibody against ductal cells of salivary gland using phage display technique. From the spleen of a mouse immunized with ductal cell lysate, total RNA was prepared and used as a template for cDNA synthesis of antibody genes. The scFv genes were constructed with variable domain genes of heavy and light chain and were introduced into pCANTAB5E to construct phage scFv library. The phage particles specific for acinar cells were screened by subtraction using immunotubes coated with acinar and ductal cell lysate and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbance assay (ELISA). The characteristics of the scFv were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the result indicated that the isolated scFv has the specificity against ductal cells of salivary glands and tubules of kidney. And the scFv has an unique binding activity specific for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The nucleotide sequence of isolated scFv gene was determined and revealed that V/sub H/ belongs to the mouse H-chain family subgroup IB and V/sub L/ to the mouse L-chain family subgroup III.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.75.2-75
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• 2003

To develop an effective protection strategy against tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), tobacco plants expressing single-chain Fv antibodies (scFv), were established. A previous had shown that the replication activity of viral replicase was inhibited by the selected scFvs. Moreover, no systemic symptom was found after virus inoculation on leaves of wt N. benthamiana infiltrated with an Agrobacterium suspension resulting i3l expression of the scFvs. However, control plants showed systemic symptoms. In this study the localization of the scFvs within two transgenic plant lines, (CP28H3, CP-P55) was demonstrated using immunogold labelling. The gold particles, indicating the presence of scFv, were mostly found In the cytoplasm of the plant cells including chloroplasts and in the cell walls. However, they were hardly found in the vacuole, nucleoplasm and intercellular spaces. Gold particles often accumulated in either the cytosol or chloroplasts showing a specific labeling, There was no difference in type of gold labeling between both transgenic lines. The localization of the scFv in the cytoplasm further conforms the inhibition of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) by the selected scFv because it is known that the RdRp is localized to membraneous cytosolic structures.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.285-291
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• 2005

The nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which is the essential catalytic enzyme for the viral replication and is an appealing target for the development of new therapeutic agents against HCV infection. A small amount of serum from a single patient with hepatitis C was used to get the genome of a Korean HCV isolate. Sequence analysis of NS5B 1701 nucleotides showed the genotype of a Korean isolate to be subtype 1b. The soluble recombinant HCV NS5B polymerase lacking the C-terminal 24 amino acids was expressed and purified to homogeneity. With the highly purified NS5B protein, we established in vitro systems for RdRp activity to identify potential polymerase inhibitors. The rhodanine family compounds were found to be potent and specific inhibitors of NS5B from high throughput screening (HTS) assay utilizing the scintillation proximity assay (SPA) system. The binding mode of an inhibitor was analyzed by measuring various kinetic parameters. Lineweaver-Burk plots of the inhibitor suggested it binds not to the active site of NS5B polymerase, but to an allosteric site of the enzyme. The activity of NS5B in in vitro polymerase reactions with homopolymeric RNA requires interaction with multiple substrates that include a template/primer and ribonucleotide triphosphate. Steady-state kinetic parameter, such as Km, was determined for the ribonucleotide triphosphate. One of compounds found interacts directly with the viral polymerase and inhibits RNA synthesis in a manner noncompetitively with respect to UTP. Furthermore, we also investigated the ability of the compound to inhibit NS5B-directed viral RNA replication using the Huh7 cell-based HCV replicon system. The investigation is potentially very useful for the utility of such compounds as anti-hepatitic agents.