• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2003

Mex67p/Tap are evolutionally conserved mRNA export factors. To identify mutations in genes that are functionally linked to mex67 with respect to mRNA export, we used a synthetic lethal genetic screen in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Three synthetic lethal mutants were isolated and mutations in these mutants defined separate complementation groups. These mutants exhibited the accumulation of poly A$\^$+/ RNA in the nucleus, with a decrease in the cytoplasm under synthetically lethal conditions, suggesting that the mutations cause an mRNA nuclear export defect. In addition, the S. pombe genes that were found to be involved in mRNA export did not suppress the synthetic lethality of these mutants. These results indicate that the isolated mutants contain mutations in new genes, which are involved in mRNA export from the nucleus.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2004

We have previously isolated three synthetic lethal mutants from Schizosaccharomyces pombe in order to identify mutations in the genes that are functionally linked to spmex67 with respect to mRNA export. A novel rsm1 gene was isolated by complementation of the growth defect in one of the synthetic lethal mutants, SLMex1. The rsml gene contains no introns and encodes a 296 amino-add-long protein with the RING finger domain, a C3HC4 in the N-terminal half. The Δrsm1 null mutant is viable, but it showed a slight poly(A)$\^$＋/ RNA accumulation in the nucleus. Also, the combination of Δrsm1 and Δspmex67 mutations confers synthetic lethality that is accompanied by the severe poly(A)$\^$＋/ RNA export defect. These results suggest that rsm1 is involved in mRNA export from the nucleus.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 2006

The sp%pl null mutant was constructed to study the function of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe spThp1, which is homologous to budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae THP1. Tetrad analysis showed that the spThp1 is not essential for vegetative growth. The spThp1 null mutant also showed no massive poly(A)+ RNA export defect. However, spThp1 null is genetically associated with spMex67 null. These results suggest that spThp1 is involved in mRNA export out of the nucleus.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.344-349
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• 2007

We have isolated previously three synthetic lethal mutants in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which genetically interact with mex67, in order to identify the genes involved in mRNA export. A novel nup97 gene was isolated by complementation of the growth defect in one of the synthetic lethal mutants, SLMex3. The nup97 gene contains one intron and encodes an 851 amino-acid protein that is similar to nucleoporins, Nppl06p in S. pombe and Nic96p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The nup97 gene is essential for vegetative growth, and nup97 null mutant harboring pREP41X-Nup97 showed $poly(A)^+$ RNA export defect when expression of nup97 is repressed in the presence of thiamine. These results suggest that nup97 is involved in mRNA export from the nucleus to cytoplasm.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.719-727
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• 2011

Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by Clostridium botulinum, which produces seven (A-G) antigenically diverse neurotoxins (BoNTs). BoNTs are the most poisonous substances known to humans, with a median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of approximately 1 ng/kg of body weight. Owing to their extreme potency and lethality, they have the potential to be used as a bioterrorism agent. The mouse bioassay is the gold standard for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins; however, it requires at least 3-4 days for completion. Attempts have been made to develop an ELISA-based detection system, which is potentially an easier and more rapid method of botulinum neurotoxin detection. The present study was designed using a synthetic gene approach. The synthetic gene encoding the catalytic domain of BoNT serotype B from amino acids 1-450 was constructed with PCR overlapping primers (BoNT/B LC), cloned in a pQE30 UA vector, and expressed in an E. coli M15 host system. Recombinant protein production was optimized at 0.5 mM IPTG final concentration, 4 h post induction, resulting in a maximum yield of recombinant proteins. The immunogenic nature of the recombinant BoNT/B LC protein was evaluated by ELISA. Antibodies were raised in BALB/c mice using various adjuvants. A significant rise in antibody titer (p<0.05) was observed in the Alum group, followed by the Titermax Classic group, Freund's adjuvant, and the Titermax Gold group. These developed high-titer antibodies may prove useful for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins in food and clinical samples.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.669-676
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• 2015

Genome instability, primarily caused by faulty DNA repair mechanisms, drives tumorigenesis. Therapeutic interventions that exploit deregulated DNA repair in cancer have made considerable progress by targeting tumor-specific alterations of DNA repair factors, which either induces synthetic lethality or augments the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The study of Fanconianemia (FA), a rare inherited blood disorder and cancer predisposition syndrome, has been instrumental in understanding the extent to which DNA repair defects contribute to tumorigenesis. The FA pathway functions to resolve blocked replication forks in response to DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs), and accumulating knowledge of its activation by the ubiquitin-mediated signaling pathway has provided promising therapeutic opportunities for cancer treatment. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of FA pathway regulation and its potential application for designing tailored therapeutics that take advantage of deregulated DNA ICL repair in cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.645-650
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• 2022

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-subtype gastric cancers have the worst prognosis due to their higher recurrence rate, higher probability of developing metastases and higher chemo-resistance compared to those of other molecular subtypes. Pharmacologically actionable somatic mutations are rarely found in EMT-subtype gastric cancers, limiting the utility of targeted therapies. Here, we conducted a high-throughput chemical screen using 37 gastric cancer cell lines and 48,467 synthetic small-molecule compounds. We identified YK-135, a small-molecule compound that showed higher cytotoxicity toward EMT-subtype gastric cancer cell lines than toward non-EMT-subtype gastric cancer cell lines. YK-135 exerts its cytotoxic effects by inhibiting mitochondrial complex I activity and inducing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mediated apoptosis. We found that the lower glycolytic capacity of the EMT-subtype gastric cancer cells confers synthetic lethality to the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, possibly by failing to maintain energy homeostasis. Other well-known mitochondrial complex I inhibitors (e.g., rotenone and phenformin) mimic the efficacy of YK-135, supporting our results. These findings highlight mitochondrial complex I inhibitors as promising therapeutic agents for EMT-subtype gastric cancers and YK-135 as a novel chemical scaffold for further drug development.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.284-291
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• 2018

In this study, a dust inhibitor for road dust was prepared by using molecular structure, molecular weight, viscosity, hydrophilicity, swelling, wetting and moisturizing properties of natural polysaccharide which is widely used as food and cosmetic materials. Various dust control effects were confirmed and superior results were obtained than simple water spraying and synthetic for control(PVA). In addition, the comparison of water evaporation, scattering inhibition rate, Field test, and determining acute lethality of effluents to Daphnia magna were studied and the safety of soil and water quality was studied. The availability of the dust inhibitor was confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.249-253
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• 2014

THOC7/Mft1 is a member of the THO complex that is an evolutionally conserved assembly connecting transcription elongation with mRNP packaging and mRNA export. In fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, an ortholog (spThoc7) of THOC7/Mft1 was isolated by partial complementation of the lethality in synthetic lethal mutant, SLRsm1. A deletion mutant in a diploid strain was constructed by replacing one of spThoc7-coding region with an $ura4^+$ gene using one-step gene disruption method. Tetrad analysis showed that the spthoc7 is nonessential for growth. But the ${\Delta}thoc7$ null mutant showed slight defects of both growth and mRNA export. And the functional spThoc7-GFP protein is localized mainly in the nucleus. These results suggest that spThoc7 is also involved in mRNA export from the nucleus to cytoplasm.