(−)-Epicatechin Gallate (ECG) Stimulates Osteoblast Differentiation via Runt-related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2) and Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-binding Motif (TAZ)-mediated Transcriptional Activation

Byun, Mi Ran,Sung, Mi Kyung,Kim, A Rum,Lee, Cham Han,Jang, Eun Jung,Jeong, Mi Gyeong,Noh, Minsoo,Hwang, Eun Sook,Hong, Jeong-Ho American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bi 2014 The Journal of biological chemistry Vol.289 No.14

<P>Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease characterized by low bone mass and is caused by an imbalance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. It is known that the bioactive compounds present in green tea increase osteogenic activity and decrease the risk of fracture by improving bone mineral density. However, the detailed mechanism underlying these beneficial effects has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the osteogenic effect of (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), a major bioactive compound found in green tea. We found that ECG effectively stimulates osteoblast differentiation, indicated by the increased expression of osteoblastic marker genes. Up-regulation of osteoblast marker genes is mediated by increased expression and interaction of the transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). ECG facilitates nuclear localization of TAZ through PP1A. PP1A is essential for osteoblast differentiation because inhibition of PP1A activity was shown to suppress ECG-mediated osteogenic differentiation. Taken together, the results showed that ECG stimulates osteoblast differentiation through the activation of TAZ and RUNX2, revealing a novel mechanism for green tea-stimulated osteoblast differentiation.</P>

Repurposing of ginseng extract as topoisomerase I inhibitor based on the comparative analysis of gene expression patterns

Byun, Mi Ran,Kim, Cheol Hyun,Lee, Ho Sub,Choi, Jin Woo,Lee, Sang Kwan Elsevier 2019 Phytochemistry Vol.164 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Repositioning of plant extracts and chemical drugs can accelerate drug development. However, its success rate may depend on what the clue is for the repositioning. Recently, repositioning based on correction of unwarranted gene expression pattern has suggested the possibility of new drug development. Here, we designed a similar method for the repositioning of nutraceutical ginseng (<I>Panax ginseng</I> C.A.Mey.), which is one of the most validated natural therapeutic products for various diseases. We analyzed ginseng-induced gene expression profiles using the connectivity map algorithm, which is a database that connects diseases, chemical drugs, and gene expression. Ginseng was predicted to show the same effects as those of topoisomerase I inhibitors. In a subsequent <I>in vitro</I> assay, ginseng extract unwound coiled or supercoiled DNA, an effect comparable to that of the topoisomerase I inhibitor, camptothecin. Furthermore, ginseng extract induced synthetic lethality with suppression of the Werner syndrome gene. The collected data implicate ginseng as a candidate antitumor agent owing to its topoisomerase I inhibitory activity and further validate the usefulness of differentially expressed gene similarity-based repurposing of other natural products.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A functional similarity between natural extracts and already known drugs was analyzed based on gene expression patterns. </LI> <LI> Target of natural products can be predicted by such an analysis. </LI> <LI> <I>Panax ginseng</I>extract intervenes topoisomerase I activity as effectively as the professional inhibitors like camptothecin. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>- Gene expression patterns between ginseng and other chemical drugs was compared. - The analysis revealed inhibitory effect of ginseng against topoisomerase I activity.</P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Multifunctional Hybrid Multilayer Gate Dielectrics with Tunable Surface Energy for Ultralow-Power Organic and Amorphous Oxide Thin-Film Transistors

Byun, Hye-Ran,You, Eun-Ah,Ha, Young-Geun American Chemical Society 2017 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.9 No.8

<P>For large-area, printable, and flexible electronic applications using advanced semiconductors, novel dielectric materials with excellent capacitance, insulating property, thermal stability, and mechanical flexibility need to be developed to achieve high-performance, ultralow-voltage operation of thin-film transistors (TFTs). In this work, we first report on the facile fabrication of multifunctional hybrid multilayer gate dielectrics with tunable surface energy via a low-temperature solution-process to produce ultralow-voltage organic and amorphous oxide TFTs. The hybrid multilayer dielectric materials are constructed by iteratively stacking bifunctional phosphonic acid based self-assembled monolayers combined with ultrathin high-k oxide layers. The nanoscopic thickness-controllable hybrid dielectrics exhibit the superior capacitance (up to 970 nF/cm(2)), insulating property (leakage current densities <10(-7) A/cm(2)), and thermal stability (up to 300 degrees C) as well as smooth surfaces (root-mean-square roughness <0.35 nm). In addition, the surface energy of the hybrid multilayer dielectrics are easily changed by switching between mono and bifunctional phosphonic acid based self-assembled monolayers for compatible fabrication with both organic and amorphous oxide semiconductors. Consequently, the hybrid multilayer dielectrics integrated into TFTs reveal their excellent dielectric functions to achieve high-performance, ultralow-voltage operation (< +/- 2 V) for both organic and amorphous oxide TFTs. Because of the easily tunable surface energy, the multifunctional hybrid multilayer dielectrics can also be adapted for various organic and inorganic semiconductors, and metal gates in other device configurations, thus allowing diverse advanced electronic applications including ultralow-power and large-area electronic devices.</P>

SRC activates TAZ for intestinal tumorigenesis and regeneration

Byun, Mi Ran,Hwang, Jun-Ha,Kim, A Rum,Kim, Kyung Min,Park, Jung Il,Oh, Ho Taek,Hwang, Eun Sook,Hong, Jeong-Ho Elsevier 2017 Cancer letters Vol.410 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (cSRC) is involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) development and damage-induced intestinal regeneration, although the cellular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Here, we report that transcriptional coactivator with PDZ binding domain (TAZ) is activated by cSRC, regulating CRC cell proliferation and tumor formation, where cSRC overexpression increases TAZ expression in CRC cells. In contrast, knockdown of <I>cSRC</I> decreases TAZ expression. Additionally, direct phosphorylation of TAZ at Tyr316 by cSRC stimulates nuclear localization and facilitates transcriptional enhancer factor TEF-3 (TEAD4)-mediated transcription. However, a TAZ phosphorylation mutant significantly decreased cell proliferation, wound healing, colony forming, and tumor formation. In a CRC mouse model, <I>Apc</I> <SUP> <I>Min/+</I> </SUP>, activated SRC expression was associated with increased TAZ expression in polyps and TAZ depletion decreased polyp formation. Moreover, intestinal TAZ knockout mice had intestinal regeneration defects following γ-irradiation. Finally, significant correspondence between SRC activation and TAZ overexpression was observed in CRC patients. These results suggest that TAZ is a critical factor for SRC-mediated intestinal tumor formation and regeneration.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> TAZ is activated by cSRC in colorectal cell proliferation and tumor formation. </LI> <LI> cSRC phosphorylates TAZ at Tyr316 and stimulates nuclear localization of TAZ and facilitates TEAD4-mediated transcription. </LI> <LI> In <I>Apc</I> <SUP> <I>Min/+</I> </SUP>mouse, TAZ depletion decreases polyp formation. </LI> <LI> Intestinal specific TAZ knockout mice have intestinal regeneration defects following γ-irradiation. </LI> <LI> Correspondence between SRC activation and TAZ overexpression is observed in CRC patients. </LI> </UL> </P>

Room-temperature solution-processed, ZrO_x-based hybrid gate dielectrics for low-voltage organic thin-film transistors on plastic substrates

Byun, Hye-Ran,You, Eun-Ah,Ha, Young-Geun American Institute of Physics 2019 Applied Physics Letters Vol.114 No.1

Phorbaketal A stimulates osteoblast differentiation through TAZ mediated Runx2 activation

Byun, Mi Ran,Kim, A Rum,Hwang, Jun-Ha,Sung, Mi Kyung,Lee, Yeon Kyung,Hwang, Buyng Su,Rho, Jung-Rae,Hwang, Eun Sook,Hong, Jeong-Ho Elsevier 2012 FEBS letters Vol.586 No.8

<P><B>Highlights</B></P><P>► Phorbaketal A stimulates osteogenesis. ► Phorbaketal A increases TAZ-mediated osteoblast marker gene expression. ► ERK is an important kinase for phorbaketal A induced osteogenic differentiation. ► Phorbaketal A is suggested as a potential compound for stimulating bone formation.</P> <P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Osteoporosis arises from an imbalance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. In this study, we screened molecules from marine natural products that stimulate osteoblast differentiation. We found that phorbaketal A significantly stimulates osteoblast differentiation in mesenchymal cells. Increased interaction of TAZ and Runx2 stimulated phorbaketal A-induced expression of osteoblastic marker genes. The activation of ERK was important for the stimulation of differentiation because an inhibitor of ERK blocked phorbaketal A-induced osteogenic differentiation. Taken together, the results showed that phorbaketal A stimulates TAZ-mediated osteoblast differentiation through the activation of ERK.</P><P><B>Structured summary of protein interactions</B></P><P><B>TAZ</B> physically interacts with <B>RUNX2</B> by pull down (View interaction)</P>

5,60년대 한국영화를 통해 본근대경험

변재란(Byun jai-Ran) 한국영화학회 2004 영화연구 Vol.0 No.23

City is where modernity was born it has been clinical lab of modem society and 'library . Also, it is the hero of modernization and the transformer that have led civilization. Elements of modernity can never he embodied better in any place but in the experiences of city lives. Questions extended by the thought: How can the modemization be look when it is reflected in the min-or of Korean modem society's bright and dark' sides and the curves of Seoul's history of 'development' ? How could the Korea n modem experiences be incarnated in the places? My research is initiated by the idea that we may rethink today through tracing the history, which inevitably caused today's Korean society. Therefore, [ will follow the traces of Seoul in 1950-60' s Korean films, winch will lead us to reaffirm the social strata of 'modernization process' after liberation and to reconstruct them now. Reading Seoul thought the films implies seeing Seoul through the gazes that operate for the structures of the films. There can easily he seen an intense coalition of urban modernity and cinematic apparatus in numerous Korean films since Korean war: Seoul's dynamics are captured in camera's fast movements, tall building such as city hall, government building appear as spectacle. 1950' s Korea faced big socio-political that makes this era different from the 1960s: demolition and poverty due to Korean War, forced migration of population, weakened cultural/material foundation of the traditional social orders, influx of American pop ular culture. overflowing materialism, violence by police-state' s power, enforcement of anti-communist ideology and early establishment of the nation's subject in the cold war era, etc. People rushed into the city. Increased urban population played one of t he key roles for economic growth, especially industrialization and vice versa. Since 1960, the 3rd republic's industrialization policy accelerated people to leal' e the country and to rush into the city. By raising several issues such as urban overpopulation, people's recognition of Seoul based on country/city binaries, 1 tries to trace 1950s' Seoul through the eyes of people that left homes and went up to Seoul. Watching <Money> (1958), <Mr. Wearying Comes to Seoul> (1962), <Three Maids> (1969), <Fog> (967), I focus on the Seoul where the modernization of 1950-60 was engraved. The films above let us to see that the system of capitalism's monetary economy permeated beyond the boundary of the city by showing the dismal and misery in the country where no hope can be dreamed. By doing so, ironically, (Money) also depict Seoul as the city of hope and desire. In <Three Maid>, women's labors catch our eyes. In 1960s, women provided the cheapest labors for rapid industrialization and urbanization. However women's labor was also a new threat to the bourgeois. TIle film shows how the late 1960s' Korean society brought women's labors to the city by consolation of the anxiety about 'the female threat' in nation's modernization and family structure, In fact, the symptorna t ic consolation was already seen in (Mr. Waryong Comes to Seoul) , where all the compelling desires in city /country, male/female, capitalist/laborer come to the end of pathos telling "After all, we all are in the hard times to lead our lives in Seoul." TIle film's moral emphasizing the compromise of all rile social contradiction than rile confrontation persuades the nation' s people - not citizen - to accept the social matters in their standings, only to imagine utopian modernization. As to the male subject(s) in <Fog>, where riley come back to Seoul like runaays, Seoul becomes a <virtual> space where neither they can leave nor they can rake root.

전후영화에 나타난 여성 인물의 재현

변재란(Byun, Jai-Ran) 순천향대학교 인문학연구소 2017 순천향 인문과학논총 Vol.36 No.3

한국의 두 번째 여성감독인 홍은원감독의 <여판사>필름 발굴(2015)과 최초의 여성감독인 박남옥감독의 작고(2017)로 초기 여성감독의 작품을 다시 읽는 작업이 갈급해졌다. 이 글은 영화의 마지막이 유실되고 사운드가 부분적으로 사라진 불완전한 텍스트인 영화들을 시나리오, 신문과 잡지기사, 감독의 글 등 다양한 자료에 기대어 그것들을 서로 맞추어가며 상호텍스트성을 경험하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 여성감독에 의한 영화이며 여성(관객)을 위한 영화인 <미망인>(1955)과 <여판사>(1962), 이 2편의 영화를 담론차원에서 접근하는 과정은 영화를 구성하는 여러 층위를 관통하고 한국전쟁 직후인 1950년대 중반에서 1960년대 초반에 이르는 시기의 시대정신과 영화의 의미를 이해하는 과정이 된다. 한국영화의 ‘새로운 르네상스의 시기’, 전후 여성인구의 증가와 여성의 경제적-사회적-법적 지위의 상승, 전후 ‘자유’와 ‘민주주의’ 수용과정에서의 여성에 대한 이중적 시선 등 이 지배적인 시기에 등장한 <미망인>과 <여판사>는 전후 폐허 속에서 재건이 요구되던 당시 여성들을 호명하는 영화였다. 영화 속에 재현된 여성 등장인물들은 전후 보호와 유혹의 대상인 위험한 여성들로 취급받은 전쟁미망인의 삶으로부터, 전통사회에 대한 비판의식으로 무장했지만 현실은 공적공간과 사적공간에서 우왕좌왕하는 여판사의 삶에 이르기까지 당시 근대의식을 가진 여성주체로서의 꿈과 짐에 대한 이야기임을 보여준다. 미망인 여성에게 던져진 욕망과 모성의 갈림길, 여판사가 가족과 직업에 동시에 대처하는 과정을 보여주는 이 영화들은 당시 다른 영화들과 차별화된 지점이면서 이 영화들 역시 당시 시대정신으로부터 자유롭지 않다는 것을 드러낸다. 이는 실제 벌어진 최초의 여판사의 죽음(1961)을 둘러싼 사회적 소란과 영화<여판사>의 유사성과 차이가 만드는 간극이며 <미망인>과 <여판사>가 서로 연결되며 채워가고 도달하는 어떤 지점이다. 당시 광고나 기사는 최초의 여성감독의 작업의 현실과 최초의 여판사를 연상하게 하는 영화속 등장인물과의 관계를 시종일관 상기시키기 때문이다. Recently, the death of the first ever woman director, Park Nam-ok( The Widow ), and the discovery of A Woman Judge , a film directed by Hong Eun-won, the second woman director from Korea, increased the need to reinterpret early woman directors’ work. This paper navigated the intertextuality from variety of materials -scenario, newspaper(s), magazine article(s), and excerpt from director(s) - since the texts of these movies were incomplete: lost ending and partially missing sound track. Observing The Widow (1955) and A Woman Judge (1962), the films made by and talked about women, from discoursive point of view (speared the multi-layers of movie and it) leads to understand the spirit of the period and the meaning of movies right after the Korean War: from mid-1950s to early 1960s. After the war, the increase of female population, the rise of women’s economical-social-legal status, and the dual viewpoint about women while accepting the freedom and the democracy were dominant. The Widow and A Woman Judge appeared during this ‘New Renaissance of Korean Film’ (and called out to women who needed to reconstruct from ruins). From the war widow, treated as a dangerous flesh, an object of post-war protection and seduction, to the woman judge, armed with criticism against the traditional society, and yet in real life, swayed between the public sphere and the private one, the (main) female characters represented the dream and burden of modern consciousness as a female subject in those days. These movies presented the crossroads between desire and motherhood (for The Widow) and the coping process between family and work (for A Woman Judge) to differentiate from the others around the same time period and also to show that even these could not get away from the spirit of the age. It was a gap generated from similarities and differences between A Woman Judge and the social turmoil around the death of the first female judge in 1961; and it was a point where The Widow and A Woman Judge should reach as they tangled and supplemented each other. Advertisements and newspaper articles during that time constantly reminded audience the correlation between the reality of the first woman director’s work in women discourse and the character in the movie who brought up the image of the first female judge.

남한영화에 나타난 북한에 대한 이해

변재란(Byun Jai-Ran) 한국영화학회 2001 영화연구 Vol.- No.16

Korean films have taken an important role in the process of establishing Korean war's private memory into public memory on the basis of the cold war ideology. It is right that the recognition on the history of Korean War and nation division amplifies and reproduces through films. So r d like to consider the structure of anticommunist films, war films and the films of the nation division with nation division and unification, and the change of various disclosure on North Korea, especially the recognition on North Korea appearing in films like Swiri, Spy Lee Chul-Jin and Joint Security Area, JSA. These films are made under 'the Sunny Policy' of People' s Government. I' d like to make an issue on special concept appearing in common by studying difference and meaning in each films and examining image composition and structure about North Korea in comparatively latest movies. Therefore this is a challenging work representing dominant feeling and gap through cultural-political reading. Anticommunist film has a typical structure nation-governing film and guarantee-good film as carrots and censorship as a stick during the Park Jeong-Hee regime. We can find a nervous breakdown symptoms in crashing against with government's censorship in regard with some films portraying North Korea. But the problems of anticommunist film caused a crisis which related to how we change anticommunist theme into a well made movie artistically and commercially. And this well made anticommunist film/war film/nation division film is the goal of film industry as well as ruling class. The obsession about the desire of a well made movie and the success and failure of a movie is still dominating from Swiri to JSA. There are two critical attitudes about Swiri. One is based on the Korean style blockbuster and the other is about theme on the basis of nation division. But I am neutral with the points of Swiri obsessing with the scale and action and amplifying the typical anticommunist ideology by using stereotyping frame. Rather than those problems, I think it has a serious problem with sexual difference combined with cold war ideology unconsciously. Spy Lee Chul-Jin portrays famine in North Korea with Swiri and it also shows a weak and helpless spy. This film partially succeeds in breaking stereotype image of North Korea but still produces another stereotype image by distorting and satiring reality. While we take a pity on Spy Lee Chul-Jin, he becomes the Other of us satisfying our superiority. On the other hand, JSA tells three different stories in mysterious and comic mood. Four north and south Korean soldiers jeer about Korean geopolitical situation at the last cold war area called Panmoonjom joint security areas. However, their breaking taboo is always accompanied concern and fear with fascination. Covering the truth, the film shows audience that the irony of keeping the peace reveals tragedy of the nation division most tragic. Especially four soldiers on the same photograph, one day a tourist took a picture of four contemporary soldiers by accident, tells us the truth of a funny and sad tourist attraction called Panmoonjom. Swiri, Spy Lee Chul-Jin and JSA reflect the trend of the nation unification discourse and the change of the relationship of north and south. This article tells that this change encourages producing other films on nation division but it also gives a warning to those films treating nation division just as a simple theme that capitalism meets nationalism which transfers into a group consciousness. The purpose of this article is looking for the future of post-division films in films portraying the reality of nation division properly and completing communication with audience.

1950년대 감독연구

변재란(Byun Jai-Ran) 한국영화학회 2002 영화연구 Vol.- No.20

In 1950s, Korean movie revived after war. Since there had been no other entertainment besides movie and the pressure of postwar restoration and reconstruction weighed down, the audience became more attached to movie. The audience at that time was mainly 30-40s women, Film industry called them komushinjok and this term disparaged women audience. Housewives felt relieved while watching movie and especially melrodram was a big hit. The production of more melodrama movies indicated that it reflected 1950s atmosphere very well after 〈Freedom Lady〉 in 1956. The melodrama in 1950s focused on daily life as a fighting Held with showing love and marriage, social success and failure, changing sense of value and domestic moral and generation gap. This article tries to observe the spirit of the 1950s with Hong Sung-ki who was known as the best melodrama director but unfortunately his films didn't exist so I only focus on the trend of dramatized of serial novels in a newspaper. The best times of his life was from mid 50s to 60s and I tries to look over his works by dramatizing serial novels in a newpaper by Kim Nae-Sung and Park Kye-Ju. Since there were no films left so this observation depended mainly on the interview and articles of 1950-60s. With interview and observation, I found out a lot of movies dramatized serial novels in 1950s. It also leads into two reasonings. One is that this was a method of movie production meeting audiences need at that time. The other is his movie overcame Haws of melodramatic factor in movies with characteristics of dramatization of serial novels. In other words, Korean movie industry begin to admit the existence of the audience. But this audience orientation attitude can be a dangerous factor like commercialization and popularization of serial novels. For example, a movie can be made easily with dramatization of serial novel rather than original script. Nevertheless, I hope this article could show a detouring way in confronting absence of films while studying Korean film study. The audience in these days feel old-fashioned and outdated when they watch the films of 1950s including Hong Sung-ki's films but the audience in those days felt relieved and sympathy. And that's the way I tried to observe Hong Sung-Ki film style as a method of Korean Melodrama. So this article is a beginning to look over Hong Sung-Ki style or trend of 1950s film production but need to follow up in studying his films and style.