Numerous studies have documented that Sp1 expression level were elevated in various human cancers. However, the promoters of many pro-apoptotic genes have been found to contain the Sp1 binding elements and are activated by Sp1 overexpression. To better understand the role and the mechanism of increased Sp1 levels on apoptosis, we used adenovirus to ectopically express GFP-Sp1 protein in various cancer cell lines. First, in HeLa and A549 cells, we found that Sp1 overexpression suppressed the cell growth and increased the detection of sub-G1 fraction, caspase-3 cleavage, and annexin-V signal revealed that apoptosis occurred. Furthermore, when cells entered the mitotic stage, the cell apoptosis was induced by Sp1 overexpression through affecting mitotic chromatin packaging. We also verified that p53 protein was accumulated and activated the p53-dependent apoptotic pathways in the wildtype p53 cells but not in the p53-mutated or p53-deleted cell lines when these cells were infected with adeno-GFP-Sp1 virus. In addition, A549 (p53) cells could be protected from apoptosis under Sp1 overexpression when p53 was knockdown by p53 shRNA. Finally, H1299 (p53 2/2 ) cell viability was significantly inhibited by adeno-GFP-Sp1 virus infection in the expression of p53. In conclusion, p53 was an essential factor for Sp1 overexpression-induced apoptotic cell death in transforming cells. ' UICCKey words: Sp1; p53; apoptosis The specificity protein/Kr€ uppel-like factor (Sp/XKLF) family is composed of transcription factors in which a particular combination of 3 conserved Cys 2 His 2 zinc fingers form the DNA-binding domain.1 The transcription factor Sp1 is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells and is important in a variety of physiological processes, including cell-cycle regulation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Recent studies and our previous studies have revealed that the posttranslational modifications of Sp1 could alter its transcriptional activity, DNA-binding affinity, or protein stability. Sp1 commonly undergoes posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, glycosylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation. [2][3][4][5][6] Numerous studies have documented that Sp1 activity and/or expression levels are elevated in human pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and thyroid carcinoma.7-12 Although Sp1 regulates a number of oncogenes such as those coding for the vascular endothelial growth factor, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor, and epithelial growth factor receptor, [13][14][15] it also induces the expression of many tumor suppressor genes such as p27 kip1 , p21 WAF1/CIP1 , p16 INK4a , and pp2a-c. [16][17][18] In addition, the promoters of many proapoptotic genes have been found to contain Sp1-binding elements; for instance, fas, fas ligand, bax, and caspase 3.19,20 Interestingly, it has been found that Sp1 can also induce the expression of many antiapoptotic genes (such as survivin, bcl-x, and bcl-w).20,21 Moreover, severa...

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of knowledge creation mode (e.g. goal-driven and goal-free) and organizational culture on knowledge creation performance in the context of high-tech manufacturing companies having received at least 20 patents. Design/methodology/approach -This paper uses an empirical study to examine the research model. Findings -Both goal-free and goal-framed creation modes are more likely to support knowledge creation, while the goal-driven mode is not likely to be favorable for knowledge creation. Manufacturing companies who are frequently looking for new ideas for product design and manufacturing technologies are more likely to adopt the goal-free creation mode. Adhocracy culture is more likely to be a predicator of product and manufacturing creation. Practical implications -This work provides policy implications for government and high-tech industry associations. A company whose cohesion comes mainly from the task achievements is likely to emphasize manufacturing creation. Companies who would like to emphasize goal achievement with respect to creation in manufacturing should form an organizational culture with a characteristic of market competition. Also, a company with both goal-free and/or goal-framed creation modes is more likely to be willing to frame its strategic decisions (or goals) and then freely look for creative ways to reach the goals. Originality/value -Manufacturing creation-based companies are becoming increasingly knowledge-sensitive as the competition becomes more intense, and thus may try multiple modes of knowledge creation to strengthen their creation capability in some areas. The research findings are quite remarkable because the impacts of culture and creation mode on creation performance are statistically examined.

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Although the social exchange relationships between employers and employees are increasingly important to the performance of safety management systems, the psychological effects of work attitudes on this relationship have been less studied. Using a sample of first-line operators and their supervisors from 188 facilities in Taiwan which had Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18000 (OHSAS 18000) certification, the current research conducted an empirical investigation of the influence of safety climate on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Work attitude was used to disclose the psychological effect. Research results indicated that (a) safety climate was a significant predicator of OCB, (b) the psychological effect significantly influenced social exchange relationships, and (c) job satisfaction showed a stronger mediating influence than organizational commitment due to the frequent top management turnover. Discussions and implications are also addressed.

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