• Molecules and Cells
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.146-153
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• 2006

Cell polarity is critical for the division, differentiation, migration, and signaling of eukaryotic cells. RAX2 of budding yeast encodes a membrane protein localized at the cell cortex that helps maintain the polarity of the bipolar pattern. Here, we designate SPAC6f6.06c as $rax2^+$ of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, based on its sequence homology with RAX2, and examine its function in cell polarity. S. pombe $rax2^+$ is not essential, but ${\Delta}rax2$ cells are slightly smaller and grow slower than wild type cells. During vegetative growth or arrest at G1 by mutation of cdc10, deletion of $rax2^+$ increases the number of cells failing old end growth just after division. In addition, this failure of old end growth is dramatically increased in ${\Delta}tea1{\Delta}rax2$, pointing to genetic interaction of $rax2^+$ with $tea1^+$. ${\Delta}rax2$ cells contain normal actin and microtubule cytoskeletons, but lack actin cables, and the polarity factor for3p is not properly localized at the growing tip. In ${\Delta}rax2$ cells, and endogenous rax2p is localized at the cell cortex of growing cell tips in an actin- and microtubule-dependent manner. However, ${\Delta}rax2$ cells show no defects in cell polarity during shmoo formation and conjugation. Taken together, these observations suggest that rax2p controls the cell polarity of fission yeast during vegetative growth by regulating for3p localization.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.315-320
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• 2008

This study investigated the signaling mechanisms contributed to the vasodilatory effects of HMC05, a herbal prescription. HMC05 acted in an endothelium-independent manner. To elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of its vascular actions, we focused on the signaling molecules involved in actin-myosin filament regulation including 20 kDa myosin light chains (LC20), Rho-associated kinase (ROCK), PKC, JNK and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the endothelium-denuded thoracic aorta or isolated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). It lowered the phosphorylation level of LC20 and showed that ROCK, ERK, JNK and $PKC{\alpha}$ pathways played important roles in the effects, as confirmed by the observations with a specific inhibition or activation, and with the activity and the subcellular localization of these molecules. In particular, HMC05 dramatically inhibited the activity of ERK and the downstream signaling of ROCK. It also changed the subcellular localization of the phophorylated $PKC{\alpha}$ as well as the amount of phosphorylation. Taken together, these data indicate that the vascular relaxation effects of HMC05 are attributed to the regulation of these signaling mechanisms.

• BMB Reports
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.243-247
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• 2005

Dishevelled (Dvl) is a positive regulator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which regulates the levels of $\beta$-catenin. The $\beta$-catenin oncoprotein depends upon the association of Dvl and Axin proteins through their DIX domains, and its accumulation directs the expression of specific developmental-related genes at the nucleus. Here, the $^1H$, $^{13}C$, and $^{15}N$ resonances of the human Dishevelled 2 DIX domain are assigned using heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In addition, helical and extended elements are identified based on the NMR data. The results establish a structural context for characterizing the actin and phospholipid interactions and binding sites of this novel domain, and provide insights into its role in protein localization to stress fibers and cytoplasmic vesicles during Wnt signaling.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.49-54
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• 2018

To artificially enhance antimicrobial peptide expression in Bombyx mori, we constructed genetically engineered silkworms overexpressing Rel family transcription factor. The truncated BmRelish1 (BmRelish1t) gene contained a Rel homolog domain (RHD), nuclear localization signal (NLS), acidic and hydrophobic amino acid (AHAA)-rich region, and death domain (DD), but no ankyrin-repeat (ANK) domain. The BmRelish1t gene was controlled by B. mori cytoplasmic actin 3 promoter in the PiggyBac transposon vector. Chromosome analysis of G1 generations of a transgenic silkworm with EGFP expression confirmed stable insertion of BmRelish1t. BmRelish1t gene overexpression in transgenic silkworms resulted in higher mRNA expression levels of B. mori antimicrobial peptides such as lebocin(~20.5-fold), moricin(~8.7-fold), and nuecin(~17.4-fold) than those in normal silkworms.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.189-194
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• 2009

The modulating effect of IGF-I on the regulation of AR gene expression and activation in skeletal muscle cells remains poorly understood. In this study, the effects of IGF-I treatment on AR induction and activation in the absence of AR ligands were examined. Differentiating C2C12 cells were treated with different concentrations (0-250 ng/ml) of IGF-I or for various periods of time (0-60 min) of 250 ng/ml IGF-I. Treatment of C2C12 cells with IGF-I resulted in a dose- and time-dependent increase in total AR and phosphorylated AR (Ser 213). IGF-I treatment also led to significantly increased AR mRNA expression when compared with the control. The levels of skeletal ${\alpha}-actin$ and myogenin mRNA, known target genes of AR, were also significantly upregulated after 5 or 10 min of treatment with IGF-I. Confocal images revealed that IGF-I stimulated nuclear localization of AR in the absence of ligands. In addition, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that IGF-I stimulated the AR DNA binding activity in a time-dependent manner. The present results suggest that IGF-I stimulates the expression and activation of AR by ligand-independent mechanism in differentiating C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.589-593
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• 2009

In this study, the roles of the p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathway in IGF-I-induced AR induction and activation were examined. C2C12 cells were treated with IGF-I in the absence or presence of various inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB203580), ERK1/2 (PD98059), and JNK (SP600125). Inhibition of the MAPK pathway with SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125 significantly decreased IGF-I-induced AR phosphorylation and total AR protein expression. IGF-I-induced nuclear fraction of total AR and phosphorylated AR were significantly inhibited by SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125. Furthermore, IGF-I-induced AR mRNA and skeletal ${\alpha}-actin$ mRNA were blocked by those inhibitors in dose-dependent manner. Confocal images showed that IGF-I-induced AR nuclear translocation from cytosol was significantly blocked by SB203580, PD98059, or SP600125, suggesting that the MAPK pathway regulates IGF-I-induced AR nuclear localization in skeletal muscle cells. The present results suggest that the MAPK pathways are required for the ligand-independent activation of AR by IGF-I in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.185-193
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• 2004

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which invades a wide range of hosts including humans. The exact mechanisms involved in its invasion are not fully understood. This study focused on the roles of $Ca^{2+}$ in host cell invasion and in T. gondii replication. We examined the invasion and replication of T. gondii pretreated with several calcium modulators, the conoid extrusion of tachyzoites. Calmodulin localization in T. gondii were observed using the immunogold method, and $Ca^{2+}$ levels in tachyzoites by confocal microscopy. In light microscopic observation, tachyzoites co-treated with A23187 and EGTA showed that host cell invasion and intracellular replication were decreased. The invasion of tachyzoites was slightly inhibited by the $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, bepridil and verapamil, and by the calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. We observed that calcium saline containing A23187 induced the extrusion of tachyzoite conoid. By immunoelectron microscopy, gold particles bound to anti-calmodulin or anti-actin mAb, were found to be localized on the anterior portion of tachyzoites. Remarkably reduced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was observed in tachyzoites treated with BAPTA/AM by confocal microscopy. These results suggest that host cell invasion and the intracellular replication of T. gondii tachyzoites are inhibited by the calcium ionophore, A23187, and by the extracellular calcium chelator, EGTA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권13호
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• pp.5445-5451
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• 2015

Fascin-1 (FSCN1) is an actin-bundling protein that induces cell membrane protrusions, increases cell motility, and is overexpressed in various human epithelial cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We analyzed various protein-protein interactions (PPI) of differentially-expressed genes (DEGs), in fascin knockdown ESCC cells, to explore the role of fascin overexpression. The node-degree distributions indicated these PPI sub-networks to be characterized as scale-free. Subcellular localization analysis revealed DEGs to interact with other proteins directly or indirectly, distributed in multiple layers of extracellular membrane-cytoskeleton/ cytoplasm-nucleus. The functional annotation map revealed hundreds of significant gene ontology (GO) terms, especially those associated with cytoskeleton organization of FSCN1. The Random Walk with Restart algorithm was applied to identify the prioritizations of these DEGs when considering their relationship with FSCN1. These analyses based on PPI network have greatly expanded our comprehension of the mRNA expression profile following fascin knockdown to future examine the roles and mechanisms of fascin action.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.167-172
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• 2001

Nebulin is an approximately 700 kDa filamentous protein in vertebrate skeletal muscle. It binds to the Z line and also binds side-by-side to the entire thin actin filament in a sarcomere. The correlation of nebulin size with thin filament length have led to the suggestion that nebulin acts as a molecular ruler for the length of thin filaments. The C-terminal part of human nebulin is anchored in the sarcomeric Z-disk and contains an SH3 domain. SH3 domains have been identified in an ever-increasing number of proteins important for a wide range of cellular processes, from signal transduction to cytoskeleton assembly and membrane localization. However, the exact physiological role of SH3 domains remains, in many cases, unclear. To explore the role of nebulin SH3 in the cytoskeletal rearrangement that accompanies myoblast differentiation, we transfected sense and antisense nebulin SH3 domain fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein in myoblast. Cells expressing nebulin SH3 fragment showed decrease of cell-cell adhesion, and cells transfected with antisense nebulin SH3 gene showed a rounded cell morphology and loss of cell-matrix adhesion. No alteration in cell shape and differentiation were observed in control cells expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein. Perturbation of nebulin altered the cell shape and disrupted cell adhesion in myoblast, demonstrating that nebulin can affect cytoskeleton rearrangement.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권10호
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• pp.1199-1206
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• 2017

종양괴사인자 수용체 일종인 Lymphotoxin ${\beta}$ receptor ($LT{\beta}R$)은 림프 구조와 기관 형성에 중요한 역학을 한다. 우리는 fibroblastic reticular cell (FRC)에서 agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody로 $LT{\beta}R$을 자극하면 stress fiber (SF)에 변화가 생긴다는 것을 알았다. MLCK와 ROCK는 세포에서 SF 형성 기여에 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구는 MLCK 저해에 초점을 맞추어 $LT{\beta}R$ 신호 전달은 SF 조절로 항섬유화 효과에 대하여 조사하였다. SF 변화에 대한 $LT{\beta}R$의 기능 조사를 위해 agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody로 처리된 FRC와 세포 추출물을 이용하여 immunoblot, fluorescence assay와 Rho-guanosine diphosphate (GDP)/guanosine triphosphate (GTP) exchange 활성 분석법으로 분석하였다. 세포막과 세포골격 연결자 ezrin은 agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody 처리된 FRC에서 완전히 탈인사화가 유도되었다. Actomysoisn에 의한 SF를 확인하였고 인산화 myosin light chain (p-MLC)인 함께 co-localization 되는 것도 확인하였다. ML7 처리된 FRC에서 agonistic $anti-LT{\beta}R$ antibody 처리된 세포에서 관찰되는 유사한 현상인 SF분해, 세포막 응축과 쇠퇴 현상이 나타났다. ROCK 활성저해는 액틴 골격 변화는 유도하였으나 부분적으로 SF가 세포에 남아 있었다. 반면, ML7에 의한 MLCK저해는 SF를 완전히 분해하였다. 또한, $LT{\beta}R$ 자극은 MLC 인산화를 완전히 억제하였지만, Rho-GDP/GTP exchange 활성변화에서는 감소는 되었으나 활성이 완전히 없어지지는 않았다. 결론적으로 이런 결과들은 FRC에서 $LT{\beta}R$신호전달을 통해 유도되는 SF 조절에는 MLCK가 보다 더 강력한 역할을 한다는 것을 제시하고 있다.