• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.399-403
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• 2009

$p19^{ras}$ is an alternative splicing variant of the proto-oncogene c-H-ras pre-mRNA of $p21^{ras}$. In contrast to $p21^{ras}$, $p19^{ras}$ does not have a C-terminal CAAX motif that targets the plasma membrane and is localized to both the cytoplasm and nucleus. We found that $p19^{ras}$ activated the transcriptional activity of $p73{\beta}$ through protein-protein interactions in the nucleus. p73 is known to play an important role in cellular damage responses such as apoptosis. Although p73 is a structural and functional homologue of p53, p73-mediated apoptosis has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction between $p19^{ras}$ and $p73{\beta}$ accelerated $p73{\beta}$-induced apoptosis through a caspase-3 dependent pathway. Treatment with DEVD-CHO, a caspase inhibitor, also strengthened $p73{\beta}$-mediated apoptosis through a caspase-3 dependent pathway. Furthermore, the enhanced transcriptional activity of endogenous $p73{\beta}$ by treatment with Taxol was amplified by $p19^{ras}$ overexpression, which markedly increased caspase-3 dependent apoptosis in the p53-null SAOS2 cancer cell line. Our findings indicate a functional linkage between $p19^{ras}$ and p73 in caspase-3 mediated apoptosis of cancer cells.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.210-225
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• 1995

The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ can be seen in many solid tumor, but the pattern and incidence of expression were different according to organ, countries, and examiners, thus it is not definitely defined. Total 67 colorectal carcinoma in paraffin sections are analysed by immunohistochemically for evaluation of the $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ expression according to the age, sex, chief complaints, location, differentiation, modified Dukes stage, using the specific monoclonal antibodies. The results were summarized as follows : The age of patients ranged from 32 years to 82 years. The mean age was 57.6 years. The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ was not correlated with age. Male was 29 cases(43.3%) and female was 38 cases(56.7%). The male to female ratio was 1:1.31. The expression of $p21^{ras}$ was increased in female(p<0.05). Abdominal pain(43.7%) was the most frequent chief complaint. The most frequent tumor location was rectum(44.8%). The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ was increased in the rectum(p<0.05). The 65 cases(97.0%) out of 67 cases showed positive reaction of $p62^{c-myc}$ in the nucleus, cytoplasmic membrane, and cytoplasm. The 62 cases(92.5%) out of 67 cases showed positive reaction of $p21^{ras}$ in the cytoplasmic membrane and cytoplasm. The positive rate of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ was 97.0% and 91.4% in well differentiated adenocarcinoma, 100.0% and 95.0% in moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 90.0% and 90.0% in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, 100.0% and 100.0% in mucinous carcinoma. The positive rate of $p62^{c-myc}$ and $p21^{ras}$ was 94.1% and 88.2% in Dukes stage $B_1$, 96.0% and 96.0% in Dukes stage $B_2$, 100.0% and 100.0% in Dukes stage $C_1$, 100.0% and 88.9% in Dukes stage $C_2$, and 100.0% and 100.0% in Dukes stage D. The expression of $p62^{c-myc}$ in metastatic colorectal carcinoma showed diffuse and strongly positive reaction than primary colorectal carcinoma. The expression of $p21^{ras}$ in primary colorectal carcinoma showed diffuse and strongly positive reaction than metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 1995

The GTPase activating protein (GAP) can function both as a negative regulator and an effector of $p21^{ras}$. Overexpression of GAP in NIH-3T3 cells has been shown to inhibit transformation by ms or src. To investigate the function of GAP in a differentiative system, we overexpressed this protein in the nerve growth factor (NGF)-responsive PC12 cell line. Two-fold overexpression of GAP caused a delay of several days in the onset of NGF- but not FGF-induced neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. However, the NGF-induced activation or tyrosine phosphorylation of upstream (Trk, PLC-${\gamma}1$, SHC) and downstream (B-Raf and $p44^{mapk/erk1}$) components of $p21^{ras}$, signalling cascade was not altered by GAP overexpression. Therefore, the change of phenotype induced by GAP was probably not due to GAP functioning as a negative regulator of $p21^{ras}$. Rather, we found that NGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SNT, a specific target of neurotrophin-induced tyrosine kinase activity, was inhibited by GAP overexpression. SNT is thought to function upstream or independent of $p21^{ras}$. Thus in PC12 cells, overexpressed GAP may control the rate of neuronal differentiation through a pathway involving SNT rather than the $p21^{ras}$ signalling pathway.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1993.11a
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• pp.28-33
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• 1993

Regulation of nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neuronal differentiation by GTPase activating protein(GAP) and its mechanism were investigated in rat pheochromocytoma cell line, PCl2. Overexpression of GAP caused the delay in the onset of neurite outgrowth of PCl2 eel Is in response to NGF. GAP has been known to inhibit p21$\^$ras/, the activated form of which induces neuronal differentiation. Therefore, the activity of p21$\^$ras/ was compared in control cells and cells overexpressing GAP indirectly by measuring the activities of B-Raf and MAP kinase that are known to be positively regulated by p21$\^$ras/. Surprisingly, NGF-induced activities of these two proteins were the same in control eells and GAP-overexpressing cells. Activities of Trk, PLC-r and SMC that act at a site upstream to p21$\^$ras/ in NGF signal transduction pathway were not also affected by GAP overexpression. Interestingly, however, the extent of tyrosine phosphorylation of SNT was found to be remarkably low in cells overexpressing GAP. It has been shown previously that neurotrophins and not mitogens induce SNT tyrosine phosphorylation in PCl2 cells. Thus it is possible that the timing of NGF-induced neuronal differntiation may be in part regulated by SNT and the slower onset of neurite outgrowth in cells overexpressing GAP may be through the inhibition of SNT by GAP.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.759-769
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• 2002

Mutated forms of ras are found in many human tumors and the rate of incidence is significantly higher in colon and pancreatic cancers. The protein product from the ras oncogene is a small G-protein, $p21^{ras}{\;}(Ras)$ that is known to playa key role in the signal transduction cascade and cell differentiation and proliferation. Mutated Ras is unable to regulate itself and remains constantly activated, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. The function of Ras in signal transduction requires its location near the growth factor receptor at the cell membrane. However, Ras does not have a transmembrane domain. Ras requires farnesylation to increase its hydrophobicity and subsequent plasma membrane association for its transforming activity. This key post-translational modification is catalyzed by the enzyme Ras farnesyltransferase (FTase), which transfers a farnesyl group from farnesylpyrophosphate to the C-terminal cysteine of the Ras protein. The requirement has focused attention on FTase as a target for therapeutic intervention. Selective inhibition of FTase will prevent Ras protein from association with the plasma membrane, leading to a disruption of oncogenic Ras function.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 2001

Background : Approximately 10-13% of patients with interstitial lung disease(ILD) die of lung cancer, and patients with ILD have been reported to have a 7 fold higher incidence of lung cancer compared to the normal population. Recently, overexpression of the p53 and p21 proteins were observed in the epithelial cells from pathologic specimens of ILD. Overexpression of these proteins may result from chronic or recurrent DNA damage by unknown causes of inflammation. However, these proteins may also contribute to oncogenesis if other genetic alterations such as K-ras are superimposed. Methods : Immunohistochemical stains for p53 and K-ras proteins were performed with pathologic specimens from 38 cases with ILD(M/F : 27/11, mean agea : $54{\pm}10$ years) and from 10 control subjects. Results : The p53 protein was expressed in 21.1% (8/38 ILD cases) and K-ras protein expression was observed in 65.8% (25/38 ILD cases). However, neither p53 nor the K-ras protein staining was observed in the control subjects. Conclusion : A significant proportion of cases with ILD expressed the p53 and K-ras proteins in their bronchial epithelial cells. These proteins may be potentially oncogenic with the addition of further genetic alterations. However, to clarify the significance of these findings, further studies looking for correlations with the incidence of lung cancer and other genetic changes are needed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1992.05a
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• pp.42-42
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• 1992

ras oncogene은 암조직이나 transformed human cell line에서 거의 공통적으로 발견되는 oncogene으로서 그 product인 p2l 단백질은 C-terminal 25개의 아미노산 외에는 거의 동일한 배열을 가지고 있는 매우 conservative한 단백질이며 C-terminal cysteine이 carboxy methylation되어 있고 또한 palmitic acid와 같은 long chain fatty acid도 결합되어 있다. 보고된 바에 의하면 p21 protein의 palmitation은 ras protein의 세포막에 대한 친화력을 유지시키며 이와 같은 친화력은 cell transforming activity의 기본요건으로 알려져 있다. 이와 같은 관점에서 볼때 p21 단백질의 C-terminal processing현상을 new drug target으로, 즉 p2l 단백질의 C-terminal processing을 억제하므로서 cell transforming activity를 저해 할 수 있을 것이므로 생체내에 존재하는 p21 단백질 C-terminal processing 억제제의 identification 및 purification은 항암제 연구와 밀접한 관계가 있다. 구체적으로 farnesyl-protein transferase inhibitor 혹은 carboxyl methyl inhibitor의 identification 및 purification은 이같은 목적을 달성 할 수 있는 가능성이 크다.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2000

This study was carried out to examine proliferative activity and expression of c-myc oncoprotein and p2lras in normal and preneoplastic rat livers induced by an in vivo mid-term chemical carcinogenesis assay. Sixty, six-week-old male specific pathogen free Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group I was received a single intraperitoneal(IP) dose(200mg/kg) of diethylnitrosamine(DEN). Group 2(10 rats) was operated partial hepatectomy(PH) and Group 3 was received IP(200mg/kg) DEN, fed two weeks later with 500ppm of phenobarbital(PB). Group 4 was received IP(200mg/kg) DEN, fed two weeks later 500ppm(PB) and PH at week 3 after the onset of experiment. While group 5(20 rats) was not treated and used as a control group. All the rats were sacrificed at age 14 weeks except 10 rats from group 5 were sacrificed at the onset of experiment. Livers of all rats were examined for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine(BrdU) incoporation, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions(AgNORs) counts per nucleus and expression of c-myc oncoprotein and p21ras. Both the number and area of the preneoplastic lesions were significantly(p<0.01) compared to other groups. A significant(p<0.01) increase in immunoreactive cells were detected in preneoplastic hepatocytes in Groups 3 and 4 by PCNA and BrdU immunohistochemical stain. The number of the positive cells were significantly(p<0.05) lower in normal 14-week-old rats than those of 6-week-old rats. The results showed that proliferative activity of the hepatocytes was increased by treatment with DEN, PH and PB. Meanwhile, AgNORs counts per nucleus were significantly(p<0.05) increased in the preneoplastic hepatocytes of rats in both groups 3 and 4. The expression of c-myc oncoprotein and p21ras were more readily localized within the hepatic preneoplastic lesions such as hyperplastic nodules. Especially, group 4 showed significantly (p<0.05) overexpressed levels compared to groups 1 and 3. These findings suggest that PCNA, BrdU and AgNORs are significantly increased and c-myc oncoprotein and p21ras are significantly overexpressed in hepatic preneoplastic lesions induced by mid-term carcinogenesis. So these parameters can be an effective markers for hepatic prencoplastic lesions.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 1995

Famesyl protein transferase involved in the first step of post-translational modification of $p21^{ras}$ proteins transfers the famesyl moiety from famesyl pyrophosphate to a cysteine residue in $p21^{ras}$ proteins. The enzyme was first purified 30,000-fold from bovine testis by use of 30~50% ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatography, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration chromatography, Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography, and hexapeptide (Lys-Lys-Cys-Val-Ile-Met) affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be ~100 kDa by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gels showed two closely spaced bands of ~50 kDa protein. These indicate that the enzyme consists of two nonidentical subunits, a and 13, which have slightly different molecular weights. The enzyme was inhibited by hexapeptide (Lys-Lys-Cys-Val-Ile-Met), which acted as an alternative substrate that competed for famesylation. Kinetic analysis by measuring initial velocities showed that famesyl protein transferase is a very slow enzyme. EDTA-treated famesyl protein transferase showed little activity with $Mg^{2+}$ or $Zn^{2+}$ alone, but required both $Mg^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ for the catalytic activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2787-2793
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• 2016

Background: Urinary bladder cancer is a common malignancy in the West and ranks as the $7^{th}$ most common cancer in our region of Kashmir, India. FGFR3 mutations are frequent in superficial urothelial carcinoma (UC) differing from the RAS gene mutational pattern. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency and association of FGFR3 and RAS gene mutations in UC cases. Materials and Methods: Paired tumor and adjacent normal tissue specimens of 65 consecutive UC patients were examined. DNA preparations were evaluated for the occurrence of FGFR3 and RAS gene mutations by PCR-SCCP and DNA sequencing. Results: Somatic point mutations of FGFR3 were identified in 32.3% (21 of 65). The pattern and distribution were significantly associated with low grade/stage (p<0.05). The overall mutations in exon 1 and 2 in all the forms of RAS genes aggregated to 21.5% and showed no association with any clinic-pathological parameters. In total, 53.8% (35 of 65) of the tumors studied had mutations in either a RAS or FGFR3 gene, but these were totally mutually exclusive in and none of the samples showed both the mutational events in mutually exclusive RAS and FGFR3. Conclusions: We conclude that RAS and FGFR3 mutations in UC are mutually exclusive and non-overlapping events which reflect activation of oncogenic pathways through different elements.