• Molecules and Cells
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.145-153
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• 2007

Elucidation of the roles of circadian associated factors requires a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythms, control of flowering time through photoperiodic pathways, and photosensory signal transduction. In Arabidopsis, the APRR1 quintet, APRRs 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, are known as central oscillator genes. Other plants may share the molecular mechanism underlying the circadian rhythm. To identify and characterize these circadian response genes in Brassica crops whose genome was triplicated after divergence from Arabidopsis, we identified B. rapa BAC clones containing these genes by BLAST analysis of B. rapa BAC end sequences against the five corresponding Arabidopsis regions. Subsequent fingerprinting, Southern hybridization, and PCR allowed identification of five BAC clones, one for each of the five circadian-related genes. By draft shotgun sequencing of the BAC clones, we identified the complete gene sequences and cloned the five expressed B. rapa circadian-associated gene members, BrPRRs 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that each BrPRR was orthologous to the corresponding APRR at the sequence level. Northern hybridization revealed that the five genes were transcribed at distinct points in the 24 hour period, and Southern hybridization revealed that they are present in 2, 1, 2, 2, and 1 copies, respectively in the B. rapa genome, which was triplicated and then diploidized during the last 15 million years.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.305-317
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• 2016

Purpose: Recent studies demonstrated disruption of the circadian clock gene is associated with the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Obesity is often caused by the high calorie intake, In addition, the chronic stress tends to contribute to the increased risk for obesity. To evaluate the molecular mechanisms, we examined the expression of circadian clock genes in high fat diet-induced mice models with the chronic stress. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed with a 45% or 60% high fat diet for 8 weeks. Daily immobilization stress was applied to mice fed with a 45% high fat for 16 weeks. We compared body weight, food consumption, hormone levels and metabolic variables in blood. mRNA expression levels of metabolic and circadian clock genes in both fat and liver were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Results: The higher fat content induced more severe hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia, and these results correlated with their relevant gene expressions in fat and liver tissues. Chronic stress had only minimal effects on metabolic variables, but it altered the expression patterns of metabolic and circadian clock genes. Conclusion: These results suggest that the fat metabolism regulates the function of the circadian clock genes in peripheral tissues, and stress hormones may contribute to its regulation.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권10호
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• pp.1225-1231
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• 2017

암을 포함한 다양한 인간의 질병 발생이 circadian clock 유전자의 변형된 발현 양상과 깊은 연관관계를 나타내고 있다. 세포 주기와 세포 성장은 circadian rhythm과 연결되어 있으며, 이를 조절하는 clock 유전자의 비정상적인 발현은 결국 종양 발생과 암의 발달을 유발하게 된다. Circadian clock에 관한 분자적 기전은 다수의 clock activator와 clock repressor의 통합적인 조절에 따른 전사 및 번역이 포함된 음성피드백 고리로 구성되어 있다. 이러한 circadian rhythm의 자동조절 기전에 의해 전체 유전체의 약 10~15%가 전사 수준에서 영향받는 것으로 나타났다. 많은 clock 유전자들 중, Period 1 (Per1)과 Period 2 (Per2)는 clock repressor 유전자로 정상적인 생리적 리듬을 조절하는 것에 기여한다. PER1과 PER2는 cyclin, CDK, CKI를 포함하는 세포 주기 조절자의 발현에 관여함이 밝혀졌으며, 다양한 암에서 PER1과 PER2의 발현 감소가 보고되었다. 따라서, 본 논문에서는 PER1과 PER2의 circadian rhythm에서의 분자적 기능과 종양 발생과 관련된 PER1과 PER2의 하위 표적인자에 대해 살펴보고, 암 치료를 위한 새로운 치료 표적과 암의 예후를 예측하기 위한 분자 지표로써의 PER1과 PER2의 가능성에 대해 서술하고자 한다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.999-1008
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• 2012

자기 현가적(self-sustaining) 조절 장치인 생체시계는 24시간 주기의 생체리듬을 조절하며 또한 생물체로 하여금 매일 변화하는 자연환경의 외부 신호를 인지할 수 있도록 해준다. 생체시계 유전자의 발현 조절은 전사/해독의 역환류 기작을 통해 이루어진다. 애기장대 LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY)와 CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1)는 아침에 최고조로 발현되며 해독된 LHY and CCA1는 저녁에 최고로 발현되는 TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION1 (TOC1)의 발현을 억제한다. TOC1단백질은 LHY와 CCA1 발현을 촉진시킴으로써 생체시계의 핵심 진자(oscillator)를 형성한다. 동물에서 생체시계의 주요 전사 인자인CLOCK은 아세틸화효소 활성 기능을 가지며, 이는 생체시계의 기능 유지에 아세틸화의 중요함을 의미한다. 하지만 애기장대 생체시계에 아세틸화를 담당하는 인자에 대한 정보는 현재 보고된 바가 없다. 본 연구에서 DET1 (De-Etiolated1)는 암조건하에서 애기장대 생체시계 관련 핵심인자 중 하나인 LHY발현을 억제하는데 필요하며 이의 억제는 H3Ac 조절을 통해 이루어짐을 증명하였다. 하지만 LHY 아세틸화를 담당하는 효소의 발굴 및 이들 효소와 DET1과의 연결을 찾는 문제는 여전히 미재로 남아있다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.183-190
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• 2021

Background: The circadian rhythm is the internal clock that controls sleep-wake cycles, metabolism, cognition, and several processes in the body, and its disruption has been associated with aging. The differentiated embryo chondrocyte (Dec) gene is related to circadian rhythm. To our knowledge, there are no reports of the relationship between dec gene expression and KRG effect. Therefore, we treated Dec gene knockout (KO) aging mice with KRG to study anti-aging related effects and possible mechanisms. Methods: We evaluated KRG and expression of Dec genes in an ototoxicity model. Dec genes expression in livers of aging mice was further analyzed. Then, we assessed the effects of DEC KO on hearing function in mice by ABR. Finally, we performed DNA microarray to identify KRG-related gene expression changes in mouse liver and assessed the results using KEGG analysis. Results: KRG decreased the expression of Dec genes in ototoxicity model, which may contribute to its anti-aging efficacy. Moreover, KRG suppressed Dec genes expression in liver of wild type indicating inhibition of senescence. ABR test indicated that KRG improved auditory function in aging mouse, demonstrating KRG efficacy on aging related diseases. Conclusion: Finally, in KEGG analysis of 238 genes that were activated and 158 that were inhibited by KRG in DEC KO mice, activated genes were involved in proliferation signaling, mineral absorption, and PPAR signaling whereas the inhibited genes were involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and peroxisomes. Our data indicate that inhibition of senescence-related Dec genes may explain the anti-aging efficacy of KRG.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.38.1-38.9
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• 2020

Chronotype is an important moderator of psychiatric illnesses, which seems to be controlled in some part by genetic factors. Clock genes are the most relevant genes for chronotype. In addition to the roles of individual genes, gene-gene interactions of clock genes substantially contribute to chronotype. We investigated genetic associations and gene-gene interactions of the clock genes BHLHB2, CLOCK, CSNK1E, NR1D1, PER1, PER2, PER3, and TIMELESS for chronotype in 1,293 healthy Korean individuals. Regression analysis was conducted to find associations between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and chronotype. For gene-gene interaction analyses, the quantitative multifactor dimensionality reduction (QMDR) method, a nonparametric model-free method for quantitative phenotypes, were performed. No individual SNP or haplotype showed a significant association with chronotype by both regression analysis and single-locus model of QMDR. QMDR analysis identified NR1D1 rs2314339 and TIMELESS rs4630333 as the best SNP pairs among two-locus interaction models associated with chronotype (cross-validation consistency [CVC] = 8/10, p = 0.041). For the three-locus interaction model, the SNP combination of NR1D1 rs2314339, TIMELESS rs4630333, and PER3 rs228669 showed the best results (CVC = 4/10, p < 0.001). However, because the mean differences between genotype combinations were minor, the clinical roles of clock gene interactions are unlikely to be critical.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.306-316
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• 2022

Chronic stress contributes to the risk of developing depression; the habenula, a nucleus in epithalamus, is associated with many neuropsychiatric disorders. Using genome-wide gene expression analysis, we analyzed the transcriptome of the habenula in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress for 14 days. We identified 379 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were affected by chronic stress. These genes were enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, the cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) signaling pathway, circadian entrainment, and synaptic signaling from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and responded to corticosteroids, positive regulation of lipid transport, anterograde trans-synaptic signaling, and chemical synapse transmission from the Gene Ontology analysis. Based on protein-protein interaction network analysis of the DEGs, we identified neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, circadian entrainment, and cholinergic synapse-related subclusters. Additionally, cell type and habenular regional expression of DEGs, evaluated using a recently published single-cell RNA sequencing study (GSE137478), strongly suggest that DEGs related to neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and trans-synaptic signaling are highly enriched in medial habenular neurons. Taken together, our findings provide a valuable set of molecular targets that may play important roles in mediating the habenular response to stress and the onset of chronic stress-induced depressive behaviors.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권11호
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• pp.1304-1310
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• 2015

주기성 시계 유전자 3(period circadian clock gene 3, PER3)는 포유류에서 생물학적 주기 타이밍 시스템의 역할을 수행 한다. 이 유전자는 규칙적인 운동 체계에 의해 근육에서 전사 개시 되는 것으로 알려져 있다. 인간과 마우스에서는 본 유전자에 대해 잘 알려져 있지만, 주기 및 연주기 동안 낮의 길이에 영향을 많이 받는 말에서 운동 연관 연구는 존재하지 않는다. 운동 시 근육의 기능에 중요한 역할을 하는 PER3 유전자에 대해 대표적인 경주마인 국내산 더러브렛 품종의 운동 전과 운동 후 유전자 발현을 분석하기 위해 본 연구를 수행하였다. 그 결과, 골격근에서 PER3 유전자의 발현은 운동 전에 비해 운동 후에 유의적으로 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 인실리코상에서 4개의 비동의성 단일 염기 변이(non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism, nsSNP) 분석과 이러한 nsSNP의 단백질 구조 및 기능 분석 결과, 전체 자유 에너지와 RMSD 값은 돌연변이의 원인이 될 수 있음으로 나타났다. 이 중, nsSNP–s395916798 (G72R)은 구조적 기능적 측면에서 중요한 잔기의 안정화 효과와 연관된 것을 알 수 있었다. 본 연구는 운동에 따라 더러브렛 골격근 내 PER3 발현 차이는 운동이라는 표현형에 대표될 수 있음을 확인하였다. 또한, SNP의 조합을 활용하여 운동 후 경주마의 조기 회복의 평가 지표로써 유용한 바이오마커가 될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.34-47
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• 2020

The circadian clock regulates various physiological processes, including bone metabolism. The nuclear receptors Reverbs, comprising Rev-erbα and Rev-erbβ, play a key role as transcriptional regulators of the circadian clock. In this study, we demonstrate that Rev-erbs negatively regulate differentiation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The knockdown of Rev-erbα in osteoclast precursor cells enhanced receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation, as well as expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The overexpression of Rev-erbα leads to attenuation of the NFATc1 expression via inhibition of recruitment of c-Fos to the NFATc1 promoter. The overexpression of Rev-erbα in osteoblast precursors attenuated the expression of osteoblast marker genes including Runx2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), and osteocalcin (OC). Rev-erbα interfered with the recruitment of Runx2 to the promoter region of the target genes. Conversely, knockdown of Rev-erbα in the osteoblast precursors enhanced the osteoblast differentiation and function. In addition, Rev-erbα negatively regulated osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation by suppressing the p38 MAPK pathway. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of GSK4112, a Rev-erb agonist, protects RANKL-induced bone loss via inhibition of osteoclast differentiation in vivo. Taken together, our results demonstrate a molecular mechanism of Rev-erbs in the bone remodeling, and provide a molecular basis for a potential therapeutic target for treatment of bone disease characterized by excessive bone resorption.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.238-245
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• 2022

Previous reports have demonstrated that genetic mechanisms greatly mediate responses to drugs of abuse, including methamphetamine (METH). The circadian gene Period 2 (Per2) has been previously associated with differential responses towards METH in mice. While the behavioral consequences of eliminating Per2 have been illustrated previously, Per2 overexpression has not yet been comprehensively described; although, Per2-overexpressing (Per2 OE) mice previously showed reduced sensitivity towards METH-induced addiction-like behaviors. To further elucidate this distinct behavior of Per2 OE mice to METH, we identified possible candidate biomarkers by determining striatal differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in both drug-naïve and METH-treated Per2 OE mice relative to wild-type (WT), through RNA sequencing. Of the several DEGs in drug naïve Per2 OE mice, we identified six genes that were altered after repeated METH treatment in WT mice, but not in Per2 OE mice. These results, validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, could suggest that the identified DEGs might underlie the previously reported weaker METH-induced responses of Per2 OE mice compared to WT. Gene network analysis also revealed that Asic3, Hba-a1, and Rnf17 are possibly associated with Per2 through physical interactions and predicted correlations, and might potentially participate in addiction. Inhibiting the functional protein of Asic3 prior to METH administration resulted in the partial reduction of METH-induced conditioned place preference in WT mice, supporting a possible involvement of Asic3 in METH-induced reward. Although encouraging further investigations, our findings suggest that these DEGs, including Asic3, may play significant roles in the lower sensitivity of Per2 OE mice to METH.