• BMB Reports
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.242-248
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• 2018

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show great promise for replacing current stem cell therapies in the field of regenerative medicine. However, the original method for cellular reprogramming, involving four exogenous transcription factors, is characterized by low efficiency. Here, we focused on using epigenetic modifications to enhance the reprogramming efficiency. We hypothesized that there would be a new reprogramming factor involved in DNA demethylation, acting on the promoters of pluripotency-related genes. We screened proteins that bind to the methylated promoter of Oct4 and identified Zinc finger protein 127 (Zfp127), the functions of which have not yet been identified. We found that Zfp127 binds to the Oct4 promoter. Overexpression of Zfp127 in fibroblasts induced demethylation of the Oct4 promoter, thus enhancing Oct4 promoter activity and gene expression. These results demonstrate that Zfp127 is a novel regulator of Oct4, and may become a potent target to improve cellular reprogramming.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.121-125
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• 2020

The identification of adult stem cells is challenging because of the heterogeneity and plasticity of stem cells in different organs. Within the same tissue, stem cells may be highly proliferative, or maintained in a quiescent state and only to be activated after tissue damage. Although various stem cell markers have been successfully identified, there is no universal stem cell marker, which is exclusively expressed in all stem cells. Here, we discuss the roles of master developmental regulator RUNX1 in stem cells and the development of a 270 base pair fragment of the Runx1 enhancer (eR1) for use as stem cell marker. Using eR1 to identify stem cells offers a distinct advantage over gene promoters, which might not be expressed exclusively in stem cells. Moreover, RUNX1 has been strongly implicated in various cancer types, such as leukemia, breast, esophageal, prostate, oral, skin, and ovarian cancers-it has been suggested that RUNX1 dysfunction promotes stem cell dysfunction and proliferation. As tissue stem cells are potential candidates for cancer cells-of-origin and cancer stem cells, we will also discuss the use of eR1 to target oncogenic gene manipulations in stem cells and to track subsequent neoplastic changes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.337-344
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• 2014

Adipose-derived stem cells represent a type of mesenchymal stem cells with the attendant capacity to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell lineages. We have performed a microarray-based gene expression profiling of osteogenic differentiation and found that the transcription factor Sox11 is down-regulated during the process. Functional assays demonstrate that down-regulation of Sox11 is required for an efficient differentiation. Furthermore, results from forced expression of constitutively-active and dominant-negative derivatives of Sox11 indicate that Sox11 functions as a transcriptional activator in inhibiting osteogenesis. Sox11 thus represents a novel regulator of osteogenesis whose expression and activity can be potentially manipulated for controlled differentiation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.92-97
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• 1996

The age-46.5 gene of Escherichia coli is induced by nitrate ion and regulated by Fnr, NarL, and NarP during anaerobic growth. aeg-46.5::lacZ fusion gene shows its maximum expression in narL host after two hours of aerobic to anaerobic switch in M9-Glc-nitrate medium. Fnr and NarP act as positive regulators, and NarL acts as a negative regulator. The control region of the aeg-46.5 was identified and the binding sites of regulator proteins have been predicted (Reznikoff and Choe (1993)). It has two symmetry regions. One is located at -52~-37 bp from the anaerobic mRNA 5'-end, which is the binding site of NarL and NarP. The other is located at +37~+56 bp from the 5'-end of mRNA. In this study, the downstream symmetry region from the mRNA 5'-end was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. The destruction of the symmetry region increases the expression level of aeg-46.5. We propose that the symmetry region interferes with the expression of aeg-46.5 possibly by forming a stem-and-loop structure.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권8호
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• pp.425-430
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• 2020

Tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 protein (TSG-6) is a cytokine secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulates MSC stemness. We previously reported that TSG-6 changes primary human hepatic stellate cells (pHSCs) into stem-like cells by activating yes-associated protein-1 (YAP-1). However, the molecular mechanism behind the reprogramming action of TSG-6 in pHSCs remains unknown. Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a transmembrane protein that has multiple functions depending on the ligand it is binding, and it is involved in various signaling pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Given that β-catenin influences stemness and acts downstream of CD44, we hypothesized that TSG-6 interacts with the CD44 receptor and stimulates β-catenin to activate YAP-1 during TSG-6-mediated transdifferentiation of HSCs. Immunoprecipitation assays showed the interaction of TSG-6 with CD44, and immunofluorescence staining analyses revealed the colocalization of TSG-6 and CD44 at the plasma membrane of TSG-6-treated pHSCs. In addition, TSG-6 treatment upregulated the inactive form of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, which is a negative regulator of β-catenin, and promoted nuclear accumulation of active/nonphosphorylated β-catenin, eventually leading to the activation of YAP-1. However, CD44 suppression in pHSCs following CD44 siRNA treatment blocked the activation of β-catenin and YAP-1, which inhibited the transition of TSG-6-treated HSCs into stem-like cells. Therefore, these findings demonstrate that TSG-6 interacts with CD44 and activates β-catenin and YAP-1 during the conversion of TSG-6-treated pHSCs into stem-like cells, suggesting that this novel pathway is an effective therapeutic target for controlling liver disease.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.122-129
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• 2024

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare haematological and immunodeficiency disorder that occurs in childhood leading to recurrent infections, bleeding tendencies and progressive neurological dysfunction. Partial oculocutaneous albinism occurs in almost all cases. The exact prevalence is unknown, and the disease is caused by over 70 identified mutations in the lysosomal trafficking regulator gene. The presence of a bright polychromatic appearance from hair shaft and abnormally large intracytoplasmic granules, especially within neutrophils and platelets in the bone marrow is highly suggestive. Treatment is largely supportive, and the only curative treatment is through an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Without transplant, most patients will enter an accelerated phase of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) which carries a high mortality rate. We present a young male with CHS who we had followed through and eventually developed a fulminant accelerated phase. We believe this is only the second reported case of CHS in Malaysia.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2003

국내에서 육종된 감자 품종들에 대하여 재분화 및 형질전환효율에 영향을 미치는 여러 요인들을 조사하고 품종별 최적 조건을 규명하고자 하였다. 최근 육종된 5품종 '추백', '남서', '자심', '조풍'과 '조원'의 잎과 줄기 조직을 재료로 사용하여 배지 내 호르몬 조성별 신초형성률을 조사하였다. 신초형성률은 잎 조직의 경우 '조원'이 GA₃0.1 mg/L, Zeatin 2.0mg/L과 NAA 0.01 mg/L가 포함된 M5 배지에서 90%이상으로 가장 높은 반면 다른 공시품종은 20% 미만이었으며 줄기조직을 치상한 경우 '조풍'이 M5 배지에서 70%의 신초형성률을 나타내었으나. 다른 품종은 25% 이하의 신초형성률을 나타내어 품종별, 조직별로 큰 차이를 나타내었다. 감자의 형질전환 시 Agrobacterium 접종과정에서 75 μM의 acetosyringone을 처리한 경우 잎 조직은 '조원'이 87.9%, 줄기 조직은 '조풍'이 68.4%로 높은 형질전환효율을 나타내어 acetosyringone을 처리하지 않은 대조구에 비하여 1.5∼4.0배의 높은 형질전환효율을 나타냈다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권8호
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• pp.1164-1169
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• 2009

비정상적 DNA메칠화는 암 발생에 있어 중요한 역할을 한다. 최근 연구에 의하면 암줄기세포 유지에 있어 DNA과메칠화가 연관되어 있다고 보고하고 있다. 따라서 본 연구는 4T1 유방암 실험모델에서 demethylating agent인 AZA 처리에 따른 후성유전적 변화가 암줄기세포의 유지 및 증식에 있어 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 조사 하였다. 4T1 세포에서 AZA 처리에 따른 tumorsphere 형성이 감소 하는 것을 in vitro 실험을 통해 관찰 하였고, in vivo 실험에서는 줄기세포 조절 유전자들 (Oct-4, Nanog. Sox2)의 발현이 감소 되는 것을 확인 하였다. 본 연구 결과로 볼 때 4T1 유방암 실험모델에서 AZA에 의한 후성유전적 변화는 줄기세포 조절 유전자(SRG)들의 발현을 조절하면서 암줄기세포 특성을 변화시켜 암줄기세포의 증식 및 유지를 억제 할 것으로 사료된다. 향후 이러한 DNA 메칠화 억제를 항암치료에 응용하면, 암줄기세포를 파괴함으로써 암의 재발 및 악성화를 효과적으로 제어 할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물학회 1985년도 워크샵 및 심포지엄 북한산국립공원의 식생
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• pp.35-48
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• 1985

Plastids, which are organelles unique to plant cells, bear their own genome that is organized into DNA-protein complexes (nucleoids). Regulation of gene expression in the plastid has been extensively investigated because this organelle plays an important role in photosynthesis. Few attempts, however, have been made to characterize the regulation of plastid gene expression at the chromosomal structure, using plastid nucleoids. In this report, we summarize the recent progress in the characterization of DNA-binding proteins in plastids, with special emphasis on CND41, a DNA binding protein, which we recently identified in the choloroplast nucleoids from photomixotrophically cultured tobacco cells. CND41 is a protein of 502 amino acids which consisted of a transit peptide of 120 amino acids and a mature protein of 382 amino acids. The N-terminal of the 'mature' protein has lysine-rich region which is essential for DNA-binding. CNA41 also showed significant identities to some aspartyl proteases. Protease activity of purified CND41 has been recently confirmed and characterized. On the other hand, characterization of accumulation of CND41 both in wild type and transgenic tobacco with reduced amount of CND41 suggests that CND41 is a negative regulator in chloroplast gene expression. Further investigation indicated that gene expression of CND41 is cell-specifically and developmentally regulated as well as sugar-induced expression. The reduction of CND41 expression in transgenic tobacco also brought the stunted plant growth due to the reduced cell length in stem. GA3 treatment on apical meristem reversed the dwarf phenotype in the transformants. Effects of CND41 expression on GA biosynthesis will be discussed

• 자연과학논문집
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.33-37
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• 1998

식물의 주요 phytohormone의 하나인 cytokinin은 식물체의 줄기와 뿌리성장 그 외에도 영양의 전달이나 노화방지, 열매숙성 등 식물의 성장과 발달에 미치는 영향은 크고 다양하다. Cytokinin 생합성에 관여하는 효소를 생산하는 것으로 알려져 있으며 토양박테리아 Agrobacterium tumefaciens에 존재하는 유전자인 isopentenyl transferase (jpt)를 이용한 많은 분자생물학적 연구가 진행되어 왔는데 그 중 하나로 이 연구에서 jpt 유전자에 의한 cytokinin의 overproduction이 식물체에 성장과 발달에 어떠한 영향을 주는지 관찰하고 그 결과가 제시할 수 있는 작물의 유전 공학적 이용가능성에 대하여 알아본다.