• 한국균학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2007

세포벽은 진균류의 생존과 삼투안전성 유지에 필수적인 구조체로, 세포부착성 단백질이나 가수분해효소 등과 같은 생물학적 활성을 갖는 다양한 단백질이 결합하거나 그 속에 자리잡고 작용할 수 있게 한다. 최근 효모류인 Saccharomyces cerevisiae와 사상균인 Aspergillus nidulans에서 세포 내 단백질 분비 소낭의 하나인 COPI 소낭을 구성하는 ${\alpha}-COP$ 단백질에 돌연변이가 일어날 경우, 온도의존적 삼투감수성이 나타나는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 이러한 사실은 ${\alpha}-COP$이 베타-1,3-글루칸 합성효소 복합체를 구성하는 단백질과 세포벽 단백질의 이송과정에 중요한 역할을 함으로써 세포벽 안정성 유지에 기여함을 시사하는 것이다. 본 총설에서는 세포 내 단백질 이송기구 중에서도 COPI 소낭을 구성하는 ${\alpha}-COP$과 균류의 세포벽 형성과정과의 관계에 대하여 기술하는 한편, 단백질 분비기구에 결손이 생긴 돌연변 이주를 이용한 세포벽 합성기작에 대한 기초 및 응용연구의 가능성에 대하여 검토하여 보았다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.625-633
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• 2017

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is one of the bioactive phospholipids that has many cellular functions such as cell migration, adhesion, proliferation, angiogenesis, and $Ca^{2+}$ signaling. Recent studies have reported that SPC induces invasion of breast cancer cells via matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) secretion leading to WNT activation. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a matricellular and calcium-binding protein that binds to a wide variety of integrin and non-integrin cell surface receptors. It regulates cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in inflammation, angiogenesis and neoplasia. TSP-1 promotes aggressive phenotype via epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). The relationship between SPC and TSP-1 is unclear. We found SPC induced EMT leading to mesenchymal morphology, decrease of E-cadherin expression and increases of N-cadherin and vimentin. SPC induced secretion of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) during SPC-induced EMT of various breast cancer cells. Gene silencing of TSP-1 suppressed SPC-induced EMT as well as migration and invasion of MCF10A cells. An extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor, PD98059, significantly suppressed the secretion of TSP-1, expressions of N-cadherin and vimentin, and decrease of E-cadherin in MCF10A cells. ERK2 siRNA suppressed TSP-1 secretion and EMT. From online PROGgene V2, relapse free survival is low in patients having high TSP-1 expressed breast cancer. Taken together, we found that SPC induced EMT and TSP-1 secretion via ERK2 signaling pathway. These results suggests that SPC-induced TSP-1 might be a new target for suppression of metastasis of breast cancer cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권11호
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• pp.795-803
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• 2014

To withstand ever-changing environmental stresses, plants are equipped with phytohormone-mediated stress resistance mechanisms. Salt stress triggers abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, which enhances stress tolerance at the expense of growth. ABA is thought to inhibit the action of growth-promoting hormones, including brassinosteroids (BRs). However, the regulatory mechanisms that coordinate ABA and BR activity remain to be discovered. We noticed that ABA-treated seedlings exhibited small, round leaves and short roots, a phenotype that is characteristic of the BR signaling mutant, brassinosteroid insensitive1-9 (bri1-9). To identify genes that are antagonistically regulated by ABA and BRs, we examined published Arabidopsis microarray data sets. Of the list of genes identified, those upregulated by ABA but downregulated by BRs were enriched with a BRRE motif in their promoter sequences. After validating the microarray data using quantitative RT-PCR, we focused on RD26, which is induced by salt stress. Histochemical analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing RD26pro:GUS revealed that the induction of GUS expression after NaCl treatment was suppressed by co-treatment with BRs, but enhanced by co-treatment with propiconazole, a BR biosynthetic inhibitor. Similarly, treatment with bikinin, an inhibitor of BIN2 kinase, not only inhibited RD26 expression, but also reduced the survival rate of the plant following exposure to salt stress. Our results suggest that ABA and BRs act antagonistically on their target genes at or after the BIN2 step in BR signaling pathways, and suggest a mechanism by which plants fine-tune their growth, particularly when stress responses and growth compete for resources.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2018

microRNA (miR)-612 shows anticancer activity in several types of cancers, yet its function in melanoma is still unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of miR-612 and its biological relevance in melanoma cell growth, invasion, and tumorigenesis. The expression and prognostic significance of miR-612 in melanoma were examined. The effects of miR-612 overexpression on cell proliferation, colony formation, tumorigenesis, and invasion were determined. Rescue experiments were conducted to identify the functional target gene(s) of miR-612. miR-612 was significantly downregulated in melanoma tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Low miR-612 expression was significantly associated with melanoma thickness, lymph node metastasis, and shorter overall, and disease-free survival of patients. Overexpression of miR-612 significantly decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of SK-MEL-28 and A375 melanoma cells. In vivo tumorigenic studies confirmed that miR-612 overexpression retarded the growth of A375 xenograft tumors, which was coupled with a decline in the percentage of Ki-67-positive proliferating cells. Mechanistically, miR-612 targeted Espin in melanoma cells. Overexpression of Espin counteracted the suppressive effects of miR-612 on melanoma cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis. A significant inverse correlation (r = -0.376, P = 0.018) was observed between miR-612 and Espin protein expression in melanoma tissues. In addition, overexpression of miR-612 and knockdown of Espin significantly increased the sensitivity of melanoma cells to doxorubicin. Collectively, miR-612 suppresses the aggressive phenotype of melanoma cells through downregulation of Espin. Delivery of miR-612 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy against melanoma.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.191-197
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• 2009

Four-leaf white clover is not found easily in nature due to its low appearance rate (1 in 10,000). Because people believe that it brings good luck and like to either keep it or present it to a loved one, it has commercial and ornamental value. To breed four-leaf clover, we exposed its flowers to ${\gamma}-rays$ at the pollination stage. The $M_1$ seeds produced following doses at 25-100 Gy showed an approximately 74% germination rate, with seedling survival at 46%. In the $M_1$ generation of plants irradiated within that dose range, we found an increased frequency of four leaflets. One of them, Jeju Lucky-1 (JL-1), had a frequency of about 60%. To see whether that mutation was somaclonal or genetic, we observed its $M_2$ generation and found that such a phenotype reappeared. Although our results demonstrated that the irradiation of fully mature flowers led to a higher frequency of 4-leaflets, we could not clearly explain the genetic mechanism involved. We suggest that JL-1 is valuable as a new variety, without further genetic fixation, because white clover can be propagated vegetatively by stolons.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권9호
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• pp.660-672
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• 2022

The target of rapamycin complex (TORC) plays a key role in plant cell growth and survival by regulating the gene expression and metabolism according to environmental information. TORC activates transcription, mRNA translation, and anabolic processes under favorable conditions, thereby promoting plant growth and development. Tomato fruit ripening is a complex developmental process promoted by ethylene and specific transcription factors. TORC is known to modulate leaf senescence in tomato. In this study, we investigated the function of TORC in tomato fruit ripening using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of the TORC genes, TOR, lethal with SEC13 protein 8 (LST8), and regulatory-associated protein of TOR (RAPTOR). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of tomato TORC genes were the highest in the orange stage during fruit development in Micro-Tom tomato. VIGS of these TORC genes using stage 2 tomato accelerated fruit ripening with premature orange/red coloring and decreased fruit growth, when control tobacco rattle virus 2 (TRV2)-myc fruits reached the mature green stage. TORC-deficient fruits showed early accumulation of carotenoid lycopene and reduced cellulose deposition in pericarp cell walls. The early ripening fruits had higher levels of transcripts related to fruit ripening transcription factors, ethylene biosynthesis, carotenoid synthesis, and cell wall modification. Finally, the early ripening phenotype in Micro-Tom tomato was reproduced in the commercial cultivar Moneymaker tomato by VIGS of the TORC genes. Collectively, these results demonstrate that TORC plays an important role in tomato fruit ripening by modulating the transcription of various ripening-related genes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.60-71
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• 2023

Background: The purpose of this research was to assess the role of heparanase (HPSE)/syndecan1 (SDC1)/nerve growth factor (NGF) on cancer pain from melanoma. Methods: The influence of HPSE on the biological function of melanoma cells and cancer pain in a mouse model was evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze HPSE and SDC1. HPSE, NGF, and SDC1 were detected using western blot. Inflammatory factors were detected using ELISA assay. Results: HPSE promoted melanoma cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth, as well as cancer pain, while SST0001 treatment reversed the promoting effect of HPSE. HPSE up-regulated NGF, and NGF feedback promoted HPSE. High expression of NGF reversed the inhibitory effect of HPSE down-regulation on melanoma cell phenotype deterioration, including cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion. SST0001 down-regulated SDC1 expression. SDC1 reversed the inhibitory effect of SST0001 on cancer pain. Conclusions: The results showed that HPSE promoted melanoma development and cancer pain by interacting with NGF/SDC1. It provides new insights to better understand the role of HPSE in melanoma and also provides a new direction for cancer pain treatment.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.75-89
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• 1992

복합약제내성암세포주의 출현은 암의 화학 요법에 있어서 중요한 문제점중의 하나이며 이 복합내성 암세포의 출현에 대한 정확한 기전은 아직 밝혀져 있지 않다. 본 실험에서는 약제내성 암세포의 다른 항암제에 대한 복합내성 형성정도와 calcium 길항제인 verapamil에 의한 내성극복 정도를 비교하고 내성 암세포의 세포막 단백질의 변화를 관찰하였다. 사람의 위암 세포주 SNU-1을 cisplatin 농도 $0.001{\mu}M$에서 시작하여 $10{\mu}M$까지 증가시켜 내성세포 SNU-1/$Cis_5$를 얻었으며, MTT assay로 세포성장을 관찰한 결과 doubling time은 SNU-1이 약 29 시간, SNU-1/$Cis_5$는 약 38시간으로 내성세포가 감수성세포보다 성장속도가 느린 것을 관찰하였다. 약제 감수성 검사를 위해서 4일간의 MTT assay로 대조군에 대한 50% 세포 생존시의 약제농도 $IC_{50}$를 비교하여 상대적 내성도 (Relative Resistance, RR)를 측정하였는데 cisplatin, 81.4; vinblastine, > 43.0; epirubicin, 22.9 ; dactinomycin, 16.0 ; etoposide, 15.0 ; vincristine, 9.2 ; adriamycin, 5.7 ; aclarubicin, 5.3으로 관찰되었고 그외의 약제인 cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, daunorubicin에서는 낮게 나타났다. $10{\mu}M$의 verapamil에 의한 내성 억제 효과는 vincristine, 13.1 ; epirubicin, 10.0 ; etoposide, 6.3 ; vinblastine, 4.4 ; dactinomycin, 3.6 ; daunorubicin, 2.4로 나타났다. Radioiodination을 이용한 SDS-PAGE로 SNU-1/$Cis_5$에서 항암제 내성과 관련된 것으로 여겨지는 51,400와 81,300 dalton의 막단백질의 발현을 관찰하였다.

• 원예과학기술지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.575-584
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• 2015

건조 스트레스는 작물의 생존과 생산성을 결정하는데 매우 중요한 환경요인이다. 본 연구의 목적은 배추에서 신규 건조 스트레스 저항성 유전자를 동정 검정하는 것이다. 건조 스트레스 하에서 생육된 지부('Chiifu') 배추를 이용하여 제작된 KBGP-24K 마이크로어레이 데이터 분석을 통해 738개의 건조 반응 유전자 중 기능은 밝혀져 있지 않지만, 건조 스트레스 하에서 발현량이 6배 이상 크게 증가한 1개의 유전자를 선발하여 BrDSR(B. rapa Drought Stress Resistance)이라 명명하였다. 이의 검정을 위해 내혼계배추('CT001')에서 BrDSR을 동정한 결과 438bp의 오픈리딩프레임과 145개의 아미노산을 가지고 있음을 확인하였고, 동정된 완전장의 cDNA 염기서열은 형질전환용 과발현 vector인 'pSL100' 제작에 이용하였다. BrDSR이 식물체에서 건조 스트레스 저항성을 향상시켜줄 수 있는지 분석하기 위해 담배 형질전환을 수행하였다. PCR과 DNA 블롯 분석으로 선발된 T1 세대 담배 형질전환체들을 대상으로 quantitative real-time RT PCR 분석을 수행한 결과, 형질전환체의 BrDSR 발현량은 비형질 전환체 보다 2.6배까지 증가하였다. 또한 건조처리 10일째 수행한 표현형 분석에서 BrDSR이 발현되는 담배 형질전환체들이 비형질전환체들 보다 우수한 건조 저항성을 보였다. 연구 결과들을 종합하면 BrDSR은 건조 스트레스 하에서 식물의 생장과 생존에 효과적인 저항성 기능을 할 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.1057-1067
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• 2014

인간게놈 프로젝트 이후 질병과 연관된 변이유전자를 탐색하기 위해 유전형질의 차이에 영향을 주는 단일 유전자를 중심으로 전장유전체 연관성 연구가 활발하게 진행되어왔다. 그러나 전장유전체 연관성 연구에서 접근한 단일유전자 분석방법에 한계점이 발견되면서 최근에는 다중유전자 분석방법이나 유전자-유전자간의 상호작용에 대한 연구들이 활발하게 진행 중이다. 이 중 다중차원축소방법은 유전자-유전자간의 상호작용의 연관성을 찾아내기 위하여 고차원을 일차원으로 축소하는 방법으로 이진형 반응변수를 기반으로 크게 활용되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 이 방법을 생존시간으로 확장하여 생존시간과 연관된 유전자-유전자간의 상호작용을 찾아내는 방법을 제안하고자 한다. 구체적으로 가속화 고장시간 회귀모형 하에서 표준화잔차 스코어를 분류기준으로 사용하여 다중차원축소방법을 적용하는 방법으로 AFT-MDR이라고 지칭하였다. 시뮬레이션 연구를 통하여 기존에 제안된 Surv-MDR과 Cox-MDR과의 검정력을 비교하였으며 국내의 백혈병환자 자료분석에 적용하였다. 시뮬레이션 결과로부터 AFT-MDR은 유전율이 높을수록 검정력이 커지며 회귀모형에 기반하여 공변량의 효과를 고려할 수 있다는 장점이 있으나 센서링 비율이 높아지면서 검정력이 매우 떨어진다는 단점이 발견되었다. 따라서 이를 보완하기 위한 추후연구의 필요성이 요구된다.