Biomedical subjects

Ho-Geun Yoon

Publications and source records attributed to Ho-Geun Yoon.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Artificially engineered magnetic nanoparticles for ultra-sensitive molecular imaging.

Successful development of ultra-sensitive molecular imaging nanoprobes for the detection of targeted biological objects is a challenging task. Although magnetic nanoprobes have the potential to perform such a role, the results from probes that are currently available have been far from optimal. Here we used artificial engineering approaches to develop innovative magnetic nanoprobes, through a process that involved the systematic evaluation of the magnetic spin, size and type of spinel metal ferrites. These magnetism-engineered iron oxide (MEIO) nanoprobes, when conjugated with antibodies, showed enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sensitivity for the detection of cancer markers compared with probes currently available. Also, we successfully visualized small tumors implanted in a mouse. Such high-performance, nanotechnology-based molecular probes could enhance the ability to visualize other biological events critical to diagnostics and therapeutics.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Preparation of poly epsilon-caprolactone nanoparticles containing magnetite for magnetic drug carrier.

Magnetic poly epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles were prepared in a well shaped spherical form by the o/w emulsion method. The influence of some preparative variables on the size and surface property was investigated. Nanoparticles were smooth, well individualized and homogeneous in size. The presence of magnetite and its superparamagnetic characteristic were confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The anti-cancer drug was encapsulated in the magnetic nanoparticle during preparation. A typical release behavior was observed for 30 days. In vitro experiment of magnetic susceptibility under external magnetic field demonstrated that the magnetic PCL nanoparticles have sufficient magnetic susceptibility for a potential magnetic drug carrier for targeted delivery.

Cisplatin↗

PubMed2005

A role of the amino-terminal (N) and carboxyl-terminal (C) interaction in binding of androgen receptor to chromatin.

The N-terminal domain of AR is known to engage a hormone-dependent interaction with its C-terminal ligand-binding domain, and this N/C interaction is known to modulate AR transcriptional activity. Using Xenopus oocytes as a model system to study transcriptional regulation in chromatin, we found that two previously reported N/C interaction-defective AR mutants, one with deletion of 23FQNLF27(ARDeltaF) and one with a Gly 21 to Glu mutation (ARG21E), were surprisingly inactive in activating transcription from various reporters assembled into chromatin. Further study using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that these mutants failed to bind both mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat and prostate-specific antigen enhancer assembled into chromatin. This defect is specific to chromatin because both mutants could bind to a consensus AR response element in vitro and activate transcription driven by mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat in transient transfection as effective as the wild-type AR. To further substantiate this novel finding, we established 293 cell lines that stably expressed either AR or ARDeltaF mutant in an inducible manner. Using these cell lines, we confirmed by using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay that AR but not ARDeltaF could bind to the endogenous prostate-specific antigen enhancer. Furthermore, we found that the ARDeltaF mutant interacts poorly with Brg1, the ATPase subunit of the chromatin-remodeling factor SWI/SNF. Taken together, our study reveals a novel role of AR N/C interaction in control of AR chromatin binding and suggests a working model that the proper N/C interaction is required for AR to recruit SWI/SNF complex, which in turn remodels chromatin to allow AR to bind to AR response elements in chromatin.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2005

The corepressors silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor and nuclear receptor corepressor are involved in agonist- and antagonist-regulated transcription by androgen receptor.

We have investigated the role of corepressors SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor) and N-CoR (nuclear receptor corepressor) in transcriptional regulation by androgen receptor (AR) in the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. Using specific small interference RNAs to knock down SMRT and/or N-CoR in LNCaP cells, we found that SMRT and N-CoR not only mediate antagonist-dependent inhibition of AR activation but also have a widespread role in suppressing agonist-dependent activation of several AR target genes we have tested, including PSA (prostate-specific antigen), TSC22 (TSC22 domain family member 1), NKX3-1 (NK3 transcription factor locus 1), and B2M(beta-2-microglobulin). By sequencing analysis followed by analysis of physical association by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we mapped the putative androgen response elements in the NKX3-1 and B2M. Consistent with a role in both antagonist- and agonist-regulated transcription by AR, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that both SMRT and N-CoR were recruited by AR to these genes in the presence of either flutamide or R1881. Knocking down SMRT and N-CoR enhanced the recruitment of the coactivators steroid receptor coactivator 1 and p300 by agonist-bound AR and led to increased hyperacetylation of histone H3 and H4, suggesting that the corepressors actively compete with coactivators for binding to agonist-bound AR. Taken together, our data indicate that SMRT and N-CoR corepressors are involved in transcriptional regulation by both agonist- and antagonist-bound AR and regulate the magnitude of hormone response, at least in part, by competing with coactivators.

Acetylation↗

PubMed2005

Reading and function of a histone code involved in targeting corepressor complexes for repression.

A central question in histone code theory is how various codes are recognized and utilized in vivo. Here we show that TBL1 and TBLR1, two WD-40 repeat proteins in the corepressor SMRT/N-CoR complexes, are functionally redundant and essential for transcriptional repression by unliganded thyroid hormone receptors (TR) but not essential for transcriptional activation by liganded TR. TBL1 and TBLR1 bind preferentially to hypoacetylated histones H2B and H4 in vitro and have a critical role in targeting the corepressor complexes to chromatin in vivo. We show that targeting SMRT/N-CoR complexes to the deiodinase 1 gene (D1) requires at least two interactions, one between unliganded TR and SMRT/N-CoR and the other between TBL1/TBLR1 and hypoacetylated histones. Neither interaction alone is sufficient for the stable association of the corepressor complexes with the D1 promoter. Our data support a feed-forward working model in which deacetylation exerted by initial unstable recruitment of SMRT/N-CoR complexes via their interaction with unliganded TR generates a histone code that serves to stabilize their own recruitment. Similarly, we find that targeting of the Sin3 complex to pericentric heterochromatin may also follow this model. Our studies provide an in vivo example that a histone code is not read independently but is recognized in the context of other interactions.

Acetylation↗

PubMed2003

Purification and functional characterization of the human N-CoR complex: the roles of HDAC3, TBL1 and TBLR1.

Corepressors N-CoR and SMRT participate in diverse repression pathways and exist in large protein complexes including HDAC3, TBL1 and TBLR1. However, the roles of these proteins in SMRT-N-CoR complex function are largely unknown. Here we report the purification and functional characterization of the human N-CoR complex. The purified N-CoR complex contains 10-12 associated proteins, including previously identified components and a novel actin-binding protein IR10. We show that TBL1/TBLR1 associates with N-CoR through two independent interactions: the N-terminal region and the C-terminal WD-40 repeats interact with the N-CoR RD1 and RD4 region, respectively. In vitro, TBL1/TBLR1 bind histones H2B and H4, and, importantly, repression by TBL1/TBLR1 correlates with their interaction with histones. By using specific small interference RNAs (siRNAs), we demonstrate that HDAC3 is essential, whereas TBL1 and TBLR1 are functionally redundant but essential for repression by unliganded thyroid hormone receptor. Together, our data reveal the roles of HDAC3 and TBL/TBLR1 and provide evidence for the functional importance of histone interaction in repression mediated by SMRT-N-CoR complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

N-CoR mediates DNA methylation-dependent repression through a methyl CpG binding protein Kaiso.

The identification and characterization of molecular mechanisms utilized by cells to mediate transcriptional repression at methylated loci are fundamental to understanding the biological consequences of DNA methylation. Here we demonstrate that Kaiso, a methyl CpG binding protein belonging to the BTB/POZ family of transcription factors, is a component of the human N-CoR complex. In vitro, the Kaiso/N-CoR complex binds specific CpG-rich sequences in a methylation-dependent manner. In vivo, Kaiso targets the N-CoR complex to the MTA2 gene promoter in a methylation-dependent manner. Importantly, we demonstrate that Kaiso is required for transcriptional repression of the methylated MTA2 locus. Furthermore, this repression also requires a functional N-CoR deacetylase complex, which brings about histone hypoacetylation and methylation of H3 lysine 9 to the MTA2 locus. Thus, our data demonstrate a critical role for a methyl CpG binding protein in mediating DNA methylation-dependent repression and reveal the mechanism by which it represses transcription.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Involvement of histone methylation and phosphorylation in regulation of transcription by thyroid hormone receptor.

Previous studies have established an important role of histone acetylation in transcriptional control by nuclear hormone receptors. With chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we have now investigated whether histone methylation and phosphorylation are also involved in transcriptional regulation by thyroid hormone receptor (TR). We found that repression by unliganded TR is associated with a substantial increase in methylation of H3 lysine 9 (H3-K9) and a decrease in methylation of H3 lysine 4 (H3-K4), methylation of H3 arginine 17 (H3-R17), and a dual modification of phosphorylation of H3 serine 10 and acetylation of lysine 14 (pS10/acK14). On the other hand, transcriptional activation by liganded TR is coupled with a substantial decrease in both H3-K4 and H3-K9 methylation and a robust increase in H3-R17 methylation and the dual modification of pS10/acK14. Trichostatin A treatment results in not only histone hyperacetylation but also an increase in methylation of H3-K4, increase in dual modification of pS10/acK14, and reduction in methylation of H3-K9, revealing an extensive interplay between histone acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation. In an effort to understand the underlying mechanism for an increase in H3-K9 methylation during repression by unliganded TR, we demonstrated that TR interacts in vitro with an H3-K9-specific histone methyltransferase (HMT), SUV39H1. Functional analysis indicates that SUV39H1 can facilitate repression by unliganded TR and in so doing requires its HMT activity. Together, our data uncover a novel role of H3-K9 methylation in repression by unliganded TR and provide strong evidence for the involvement of multiple distinct histone covalent modifications (acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation) in transcriptional control by nuclear hormone receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Gene cloning and biochemical analysis of thermostable chitosanase (TCH-2) from Bacillus coagulans CK108.

The DNA sequence of the thermostable chitosanase TCH-2 gene from Bacillus coagulans CK108 showed a 843-bp open reading frame that encodes a protein of 280 amino acids with a signal peptide corresponding to 32 kDa in size. The deduced amino acid sequence of the chitosanase from Bacillus coagulans CK108 has 61.6%, 48.0%, and 12.6% identities to those from Bacillus ehemensis, Bacillus circulans, and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. C-Terminal homology analysis shows that the enzyme belongs to the Cluster I group. The size of the gene was similar to those from mesophiles of the Cluster I group with regard to higher preference for codons ending in G or C. The recombinant chitosanase was electrophoretically purified to homogeneity by only two steps with column chromatography. The half-life of the enzyme was 40 min at 90 degrees C. The purified protein was also highly stable, retaining above 50% residual activities during treatment with denaturants such as urea (8 M) and guanidine x HCl (4 M) at 37 degrees C for 30 min. The enzyme had a useful reactivity and a high specific activity for producing functional oligosaccharides as well, producing the tetramer as a major product.

Amino Acid Sequence↗