• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.285-296
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• 2015

Oxidative stress has been linked to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, the complication of diabetes in the kidney. NADPH oxidases of the Nox family, and in particular the homologue Nox4, are a major source of reactive oxygen species in the diabetic kidney and are critical mediators of redox signaling in glomerular and tubulointerstitial cells exposed to the diabetic milieu. Here, we present an overview of the current knowledge related to the understanding of the role of Nox enzymes in the processes that control mesangial cell, podocyte and tubulointerstitial cell injury induced by hyperglycemia and other predominant factors enhanced in the diabetic milieu, including the renin-angiotensin system and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$. The nature of the upstream modulators of Nox enzymes as well as the downstream targets of the Nox NADPH oxidases implicated in the propagation of the redox processes that alter renal biology in diabetes will be highlighted.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제20권11호
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• pp.1484-1490
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• 2010

In the Streptomyces hygroscopicus JCM4427 geldanamycin biosynthetic gene cluster, five putative regulatory genes were identified by protein homology searching. Among those genes, gel14, gel17, and gel19 are located downstream of polyketide synthase genes. Gel14 and Gel17 are members of the LAL family of transcriptional regulators, including an ATP/GTP-binding domain at the N-terminus and a DNA-binding helix-turn-helix domain at the C-terminus. Gel19 is a member of the TetR family of transcriptional regulators, which generally act to repress transcription. To verify the biological significance of the putative regulators in geldanamycin production, they were individually characterized by gene disruption, genetic complementation, and transcriptional analyses. All three genes were confirmed as positive regulators of geldanamycin production. Specifically, Gel17 and Gel19 are required for gel14 as well as gelA gene expression.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권7호
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• pp.424-433
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• 2019

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental monogenic disorder with a strong genetic influence. Idiopathic autism could be defined as a type of autism that does not have a specific causative agent. Among signalling cascades, mTOR signalling pathway plays a pivotal role not only in cell cycle, but also in protein synthesis and regulation of brain homeostasis in ASD patients. The present review highlights, underlying mechanism of mTOR and its role in altered signalling cascades as a triggering factor in the onset of idiopathic autism. Further, this review discusses how distorted mTOR signalling pathway stimulates truncated translation in neuronal cells and leads to downregulation of protein synthesis at dendritic spines of the brain. This review concludes by suggesting downstream regulators such as p70S6K, eIF4B, eIF4E of mTOR signalling pathway as promising therapeutic targets for idiopathic autistic individuals.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.141-148
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• 2011

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing cells of monocyte/macrophage origin and are culprits of bone destruction associated with osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer bone metastasis. Recent advances in osteoclast biology revealed central roles of various cytokines in regulating osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. However, exact underlying mechanisms including signaling pathways downstream of receptor ligation are still under pursuit. In the present review, the role of Jak/STAT proteins and their regulators will be discussed in connection with osteoclastogenesis, since growing evidence indicates that a number of cytokines and growth factors utilizing Jak/STAT signaling pathways affect osteoclastogenesis. A better understanding on the role of Jak/STAT pathways in osteoclast differentiation will not only strengthen our knowledge on osteoclast biology but also provide invaluable insights into the development of anti-resorptive strategies for treating bone-lytic diseases.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.218-224
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• 2020

The antitumor effects of octyl gallate (OG) were investigated on FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. At various concentrations, OG inhibited the proliferation of FaDu cells by suppressing cell cycle regulators and induced apoptosis by activating caspase 3 and its downstream poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, thereby damaging DNA. Immunoblotting demonstrated that OG significantly suppressed the expression of integrin family proteins (integrin α4, αv, β3, β4), hindering cell adhesion. The reduced expression of integrins subsequently mediated the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway to stimulate the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and c-jun N-terminal kinases, leading to apoptosis. Thus, OG demonstrated antitumor activity on hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells by suppressing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.284-290
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• 2022

Exosome, a type of nanoparticles also known as small extracellular vesicles are gaining attention as novel therapeutics for various diseases because of their ability to deliver genetic or bioactive molecules to recipient cells. Although many pharmaceutical companies are gradually developing exosome therapeutics, numerous hurdles remain regarding manufacture of clinical-grade exosomes for therapeutic use. In this mini-review, we will discuss the manufacturing challenges of therapeutic exosomes, including cell line development, upstream cell culture, and downstream purification process. In addition, developing proper formulations for exosome storage and, establishing good manufacturing practice facility for producing therapeutic exosomes remains as challenges for developing clinical-grade exosomes. However, owing to the lack of consensus regarding the guidelines for manufacturing therapeutic exosomes, close communication between regulators and companies is required for the successful development of exosome therapeutics. This review shares the challenges and perspectives regarding the manufacture and quality control of clinical grade exosomes.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제22권10호
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• pp.1359-1370
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• 2012

애기장대에서 AtERF71/HRE2는 핵에서 전사인자로 작용하여 하위 유전자의 발현을 증가시키는 역할을 수행함으로써 저산소와 삼투 스트레스 반응에 관여할 것으로 여겨지는 유전자이다. 본 연구에서는 AtERF71/HRE2에 의해 직, 간접적으로 발현이 조절되는 하위 유전자를 알아보기 위해 AtERF71/HRE2 과발현체를 대상으로 마이크로어레이 실험을 수행하였다. 야생형에 비해 AtERF71/HRE2 과발현체에서 발현이 2배 이상 증가한 기능이 알려진 유전자는 AtERF71/HRE2 자신을 제외하고 161개였다. 161개 유전자 중 전사인자와 DNA-결합 단백질 등과 같은 전사조절자가 24개로 확인되어, AtERF71/HRE2는 하위 전사조절 유전자의 발현 조절을 통해 더 많은 유전자의 발현을 조절하는 상위 전사인자로서의 기능을 가질 것으로 추정되었다. 161개 유전자 중 15개 유전자를 대상으로 RT-PCR을 수행하여 마이크로어레이 결과의 신뢰성을 검증하였다. Genevestigator 데이터베이스 분석 결과, 161개 유전자 중 51개 유전자는 저산소 및 삼투 스트레스에 의해 발현이 증가하는 것으로 확인되었다. RT-PCR 분석 결과 AtERF71/HRE2 과발현체에서 발현이 증가한 15개 유전자 중 3개 유전자가 저산소에 의해 발현이 증가하였고, 다른 3개 유전자가 삼투 스트레스에 의해 발현이 증가하였으며, 이러한 결과는 이들 유전자가 AtERF71/HRE2에 의해 매개되는 저산소 또는 고염 스트레스 신호전달의 하위 유전자일 수 있음을 의미한다. 또한 본 연구의 마이크로어레이 분석 결과는 AtERF71/HRE2가 저산소 및 삼투 스트레스 반응뿐만 아니라 다른 환경 스트레스 반응과 식물 발달 조절에도 관여할 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권9호
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• pp.646-660
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• 2019

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone essential for seed development and seedling growth under unfavorable environmental conditions. The signaling pathway leading to ABA response has been established, but relatively little is known about the functional regulation of the constituent signaling components. Here, we present several lines of evidence that Arabidopsis Raf-like kinase Raf10 modulates the core ABA signaling downstream of signal perception step. In particular, Raf10 phosphorylates subclass III SnRK2s (SnRK2.2, SnRK2.3, and SnRK2.6), which are key positive regulators, and our study focused on SnRK2.3 indicates that Raf10 enhances its kinase activity and may facilitate its release from negative regulators. Raf10 also phosphorylates transcription factors (ABI5, ABF2, and ABI3) critical for ABA-regulted gene expression. Furthermore, Raf10 was found to be essential for the in vivo functions of SnRK2s and ABI5. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Raf10 is a novel regulatory component of core ABA signaling.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.517-529
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• 2020

Carboxyl-terminal binding proteins (CtBPs) are transcription regulators that control gene expression in multiple cellular processes. Our recent findings indicated that overexpression of CtBP2 caused the repression of multiple bone development and differentiation genes, resulting in atrophic nonunion. Therefore, disrupting the CtBP2-associated transcriptional complex with small molecules may be an effective strategy to prevent nonunion. In the present study, we developed an in vitro screening system in yeast cells to identify small molecules capable of disrupting the CtBP2-p300 interaction. Herein, we focus our studies on revealing the in vitro and in vivo effects of a small molecule NSM00158, which showed the strongest inhibition of the CtBP2-p300 interaction in vitro. Our results indicated that NSM00158 could specifically disrupt CtBP2 function and cause the disassociation of the CtBP2-p300-Runx2 complex. The impairment of this complex led to failed binding of Runx2 to its downstream targets, causing their upregulation. Using a mouse fracture model, we evaluated the in vivo effect of NSM00158 on preventing nonunion. Consistent with the in vitro results, the NSM00158 treatment resulted in the upregulation of Runx2 downstream targets. Importantly, we found that the administration of NSM00158 could prevent the occurrence of nonunion. Our results suggest that NSM00158 represents a new potential compound to prevent the occurrence of nonunion by disrupting CtBP2 function and impairing the assembly of the CtBP2-p300-Runx2 transcriptional complex.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권9호
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• pp.453-457
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• 2020

The right-handed double-helical structure of DNA (B-DNA), which follows the Watson-Crick model, is the canonical form of DNA existing in normal physiological settings. Even though an alternative left-handed structure of DNA (Z-DNA) was discovered in the late 1970s, Z-form nucleic acid has not received much attention from biologists, because it is extremely unstable under physiological conditions, has an ill-defined mechanism of its formation, and has obscure biological functions. The debate about the physiological relevance of Z-DNA was settled only after a class of proteins was found to potentially recognize the Z-form architecture of DNA. Interestingly, these Z-DNA binding proteins can bind not only the left-handed form of DNA but also the equivalent structure of RNA (Z-RNA). The Z-DNA/RNA binding proteins present from viruses to humans function as important regulators of biological processes. In particular, the proteins ADAR1 and ZBP1 are currently being extensively re-evaluated in the field to understand potential roles of the noncanonical Z-conformation of nucleic acids in host immune responses and human disease. Despite a growing body of evidence supporting the biological importance of Z-DNA/RNA, there remain many unanswered principal questions, such as when Z-form nucleic acids arise and how they signal to downstream pathways. Understanding Z-DNA/RNA and the sensors in different pathophysiological conditions will widen our view on the regulation of immune responses and open a new door of opportunity to develop novel types of immunomodulatory therapeutic possibilities.