• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.355-359
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• 2000

Cocaine induces immediate early gene expression and behavioral changes by blocking dopamine transporters in the terminals of nigrostriatal neurons in the striatum. The pharmacological role of serotonin 2/1C (5HT2/1C) receptors in cocaine-induced expression of zif268 (NGFI-A, egr1 and Krox-24) mRNA, a member of the zinc finger, was investigated using quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry in vivo. Behavioral alterations induced by cocaine were also monitored in relation with blockade of the receptors. Systemic injection of ritanserin (1 mg/kg, s.c.), a 5HT2/1C receptor antagonist, did not reverse behavioral alterations and zif268 mRNA gene expression induced by 15 mg/kg cocaine, i.p., in the dorsal and ventral striatum. These data indicate that ritanserin-sensitive 5HT2/1C receptors are not necessary for cocaine-induced behavioral alterations and zif268 mRNA gene expression in the striatum.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1506-1513
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• 2009

RGS proteins have been identified as negative regulators of G protein signalling pathways and attenuate the activity of GPCR receptors. However, information on the regulatory effects of RGS proteins in the activity of cannabinoid receptors is limited. In this study, the role of RGS proteins on the signal transduction of the CB2 cannabinoid receptor was investigated in HEK293 cells co-transfected with CB2-receptors and plasmids encoding RGS2, RGS3, RGS4 and RGS5. Treatment of cells with WIN55, 212-2, a CB2 receptor agonist, inhibited forskolin-induced cAMP response element (CRE) activity in CB2-transfected HEK293 (CB2-HEK293) cells. This inhibitory effect of WIN 55, 212-2 on CRE activity was reversed by co-transfection of CB2-HEK293 cells with RGS3, but not with RGS2, RGS4 and RGS5. However, endogenous RGS3 protein knocked down by a small interfering siRNA targeting RGS3 gene enhanced inhibition of forskolin induced CRE activity via agonist induced CB2 receptor signal transduction. These results indicate the functional role of endogenous RGS protein in cannabinoid signaling pathways and define receptor-selective roles of endogenous RGS3 in modulating CRE transcriptional responses to agonist induced CB2 receptor activity.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 2008

A piperazinylalkylisoxazole library containing 86 compounds was constructed and evaluated for the binding affinities to dopamine (D3) and serotonin (5-HT2A/2C) receptor to develop antipsychotics. Dopamine antagonists (DA) showing selectivity for D3 receptor over the D2 receptor, serotonin antagonists (SA), and serotonin-dopamine dual antagonists (SDA) were identified based on their binding affinity and selectivity. The analogues were divided into three groups of 7 DAs (D3), 33 SAs (5-HT2A/2C), and 46 SDAs (D3 and 5-HT2A/2C). A classification model was generated for identifying structural characteristics of those antagonists with different affinity profiles. On the basis of the results from our previous study, we conducted the generation of the decision trees by the recursive-partitioning (RP) method using Cerius2 2D descriptors, and identified and interpreted the descriptors that discriminate in-house antipsychotic compounds.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2005

We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to know whether the inhibitory effects of ginsenosides on $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel acctivity are coupled to anti-nausea and anti-vomiting action. In vitro study, we investigated the effect of compound K (CK) and M4, which are ginsenoside metabolites, on human $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Treatment of CK or M4 themselves had no effect in both oocytes injected with $H_2O\;and\;5-HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA. In oocytes injected with $5- HT_{3A}$ receptor cRNA, M4 treatment inhibited more potently 5-HT-induced inward peak current $(I_{5-HT})$ than CK with dose-dependent and reversible manner. The half-inhibitory concentrations $(IC_{50})$ of CK and M4 were $36.9\;\pm\;10.1\;and\;7.3\;\pm\;2.2\;{\mu}M$, respectively. The inhibition of $I_{5-HT}$ by M4 was non-competitive and voltage-independent. These results indicate that M4 might regulate $5-HT_{3A}$ receptors. In vivo experiments, injection of cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.v.) induced both nausea and vomiting with 1 h latency. These episodes reached to peak after 2 h and persisted for 4 h. Pre-treatment of GTS (500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting by $51\;\pm\;8.4\;and\;48.8\;\pm\;6.4\%$ during 4 h compared to GIS­untreated group, respectively. These results show the possibility that in vitro inhibition of $5-HT_{3A}$ receptor channel activity by ginsenosides might be coupled to in vivo anti-emetic activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 1998

One of the better-characterized transcription factor of E. coli is the cAMP receptor protein(CRP) and the CRP binds cAMP and DNA. The cAMP-CRP complex is involved in regulation of many genes at bacteria. The cAMP-CRP regulatory element represents, in some respects, a global regulatory network. The aim of this work was to study the structure and the mechanisms controlling the expression of CRP in Serratia marcescens. We have been get 5 different clones from Serratia which stimulated the cells to use maltose as a sole carbon source in E. coli TP2139. The crp gene clone, pCKB12, was confirmed by Southern hybridization with E. coli crp gene. The location of the crp gene was determined by construction subclones carrying various portions of pCKB12. To investigate the potential role of CRP in E. coli, lacZ fused plasmids were constructed and investigated the ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity of the fused plasmid. The Serratiamarcescens cAMP receptor protein can substitute the E. coli CRP in transcriptional activation at the lacZ gene. These results suggest that Serratia marcescens cAMP receptor protein complex functions to regulate several promoters in E. coli.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2003

For screening of autoregulator receptor gene from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, PCR was performed with primers of receptor gene designed on the basis of amino acid sequences of autoregulator receptor proteins with known function. PCR products were subcloned into the BamHI site of pUC19 and transformed into the E. coli DH5$\alpha$. The isolated plasmid from transformant contained the fragment of 120 bp, which was detected on 2% gel after BamHI treatment. The insert, 120 bp PCR product, was confirmed as the expected internal segment of gene encoding autoregulator receptor protein by sequencing. Southern and colony hybridization using Saccha. erythraea chromosomal DNA were performed with the insert as probe. The plasmid (pEsg) having 3.2 kbp SacI DNA fragment from Saccha. erythraea is obtained. The 3.2 kbp SacI DNA fragment was sequenced by the dye terminator sequencing. The nucleotide sequence data was analyzed with GENETYX-WIN (ver 3.2) computer program and DNA database. frame analyses of the nucleotide sequence revealed a gene encoding autoregulator receptor protein which is a region including KpnI and SalI sites on 3.2 kbp SacI DNA fragment. The autoregulator receptor protein consisting of 205 amino acid was named EsgR by author. In comparison with known autoregulator receptor proteins, homology of EsgR showed above 30%.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 1996

To investigate the involvement of $5-HT_{2A}/ 5-HT_{2C} receptors in the developmental toxicity of cocaine in rats, mianserin (2.5 mg/kg), a $5-HT_{2A}/5-HT_{2C}$ receptor antagonist, and/or cocaine HCl (45 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.), during postnatal days (PND) 7-13. Behavioral assessments for the rat pups were done after 100 days of age by using the progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement (FR 1-FR 128, doubled everyday) and cocaine challenge (5, 15 or 30 mg/kg i.p.) upon established FR 32 behavior. Cocaine injected just prior to the FR 32 session suppressed the established FR 32 responding in a dose-dependent manner. The low dose of cocaine did not affect the FR 32 responding, while the high dose of cocaine suppressed it in all experimental groups. However, by the middle dose of cocaine, rats previously received water-cocaine in their early life showed a marked resistance to cocaine-induced behavioral suppression, and this resistance was not observed in rats received both mianserin and cocaine in their early life. These results suggest that $5-HT_{2A}/ 5-HT_{2C}$ receptors may have an important role for the persistently altered behavioral sensitivity to cocaine caused by exposure to cocaine during development.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.1365-1374
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• 2014

Thirteen analogs of tridecapeptide ${\alpha}$-factor (WHWLQLKPGQPMY) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with C- or N-terminal Trp extension and isosteric replacement by Aib at position 8 and 11, Trp at position 13, D-Ala at position 9, and Orn and Glu at position 6 were synthesized and assayed for their biological activity. Receptor binding assay was carried out using our newly developed spectrophotometric method with detector peptide 14. C- or N-terminal extended analogs, ${\alpha}$-factor-$[Trp]_n$ (n =1-5) 1-5 and $[N-Trp]_1$-${\alpha}$-factor 6, were all less active than native ${\alpha}$-factor and gradual decreases in both activity and receptor affinity were observed with greater Trp extension. Trp-substituted analog at position 13, $[Trp^{13}]{\alpha}$-factor 7, exhibited about 2-fold reductions in both activity and receptor affinity. Aib-substituted analogs, $[Aib^8]{\alpha}$-factor 8 and $[Aib^{11}]{\alpha}$-factor 9, showed 5- to 10-fold reduction in activity as well as 3-fold reduction in receptor affinity compared to native ${\alpha}$-factor. $[Orn^6]{\alpha}$-factor 10 demonstrated strong potency with a 7.0-fold increase in halo activity as well as 1.8-fold increase in receptor affinity compared to native ${\alpha}$-factor. For two double substituted analogs, [$Glu^6,{\small{D}}-Ala^9$]${\alpha}$-factor 12 showed the slightly decreased potency in halo activity compared to analog 10, whereas [$Orn^6,{\small{D}}-Ala^9$]${\alpha}$-factor 11 exhibited 15-fold higher halo activity as well as nearly 3-fold higher receptor affinity compared to native ${\alpha}$-factor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1721-1728
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• 2018

Objective: The use of genetic markers can help to enhance reproduction in cattle, which is a very important trait for profitability in dairy production systems. This study evaluated the association between genotypes of leptin (LEP), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and chemokine receptor of interleukin 8 C-X-C motif (CXCR1) genes and fertility traits in Czech Fleckvieh cattle. Methods: Phenotypic data from 786 Czech Fleckvieh cows raised on 5 farms in the Czech Republic were used, along with information from the 1st three parities. To determine genotype, the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used. Results: Except for LEP g.-963C>T, all studied genotype frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were distributed according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Two LEP SNPs (g.-963C>T and c.357C>T) were associated with the age at the 1st calving, days open (DO), pregnancy rate after 1st service (PR), and calving interval (CLI). In LEP g.-963C>T the TT genotype heifers firstly calved 24 days earlier than CC genotype and the CT genotype cow showed a tendency for shorter DO and higher PR. In LEP c.357C>T we observed longer CLI and DO period in TT cows. In general, we can propose the TT genotype of g.-963C>T as favorable and the TT genotype of c.357C>T as unfavorable for a cow's fertility. Heterozygotes in TLR4 c.-226C>G were significantly associated with shorter CLI, and presented a nonsignificant tendency to be associated with higher PR. In CXCR1 c.777 C>G, we did not observe any relationship of this SNP with reproduction. Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that LEP could be an effective marker for improving reproduction in Czech Fleckvieh cattle. This study also provides novel insights into the relationship between TLR4 and CXCR1 SNPs and reproduction in dual-purpose cattle.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2005

Many reports demonstrate that extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MFs, 60 Hz) may be involved in hyperalgesia. In a previous investigation, we suggested that MFs may produce hyperalgesia and such a response may be regulated by the benzodiazepine system. In order to further confirm this effect of MFs, we used diazepam and/or flumazenil with MFs exposure. When testing the pain threshold of rats using hot plate tests, MFs or diazepam ($0.5\;{\mu}g$, i.c.v.; a benzodiazepine receptor agonist) induced hyperalgesic effects with the reduction of latency. These effects were blocked by a pretreatment of flumazenil (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.; a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist). When the rats were exposed simultaneously to MFs and diazepam, the latency tended to decrease without statistical significance. The induction of hyperalgesia by co-exposure to MFs and diazepam was also blocked by flumazenil. However, the pretreatment of GABA receptor antagonists such as bicuculline ($0.1\;{\mu}g$, i.c.v.; a $GABA_A$ antagonist) or phaclofen ($10\;{\mu}g$, i.c.v.; a $GABA_B$ antagonist) did not antagonize the hyperalgesic effect of MFs. These results suggest that the benzodiazepine system may be involved in MFs-induced hyperalgesia.