• Molecules and Cells
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.310-317
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• 2005

The Xenopus FGF-8a and FGF-8b isoforms have been reported to be neural crest and neuronal inducers, respectively. However, cloning of Xenopus FGF-8b (XFGF-8b) has not been reported previously and the two isoforms do not seem to have been clearly distinguished in Xenopus experiments. Here, we describe the cloning and expression of XFGF-8b and compare the effects of the two isoforms. XFGF-8b has an 11 amino acid insert in its N-terminal region compared with XFGF-8a. Both isoforms are expressed in the anterior neural regions of the early embryo, and in the apical ectodermal ridge of limb buds and tips of growing digits in the larval stages. However, XFGF-8b is more abundant than XFGF-8a throughout early development. The two isoforms are also regulated in similar fashion by retinoic acid in early development. However, although both XFGF-8a and XFGF-8b induce ectopic neurogenesis, only XFGF-8a appears to be involved in neural crest induction.

• 한국양식학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2009

The Korean doty barbel Hemibarbus mylodon (Cypriniformes; Cyprinidae) is a critically endangered freshwater fish species mainly because of its natural habitat degradation. Three full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) clones representing different muscle actin isoforms were isolated and characterized. The three muscle actin isoforms were 1,294-1,601 bp long with the identical open reading frames of 1,134 bp with the deduced amino acid residues of 377. They showed 83.9-87.2% identities in the coding nucleotide level and 96.8-98.1% identities in the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis with the coding nucleotide sequences revealed that three muscle actin isoforms of H. mylodon formed strongly supported monophyletic groups with one of cypriniform skeletal $\alpha$-actin (acta1), cypriniform aortic $\alpha$-actins (acta2), and uncharacterized Danio rerio muscle actin isoform/Salmo trutta slow muscle actin (a novel muscle actin type). Our phylogenetic tree further suggested that cypriniform acta2 only showed the orthologous relationship to tetrapod acta2. Other multiple actin isoforms from diverse teleostean taxa were however clustered to no tetrapod orthologs, i.e., acta1, cardiac $\alpha$-actins (aetc1), acta2, and enteric $\gamma$-actin (actg2). This result strongly suggested that teleostean muscle actins have experienced different and complicated evolutionary history in comparison to mammalian counterparts.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.508-513
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• 2003

The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces toxin inclusions that are deleterious to target insect larvae. These toxins are believed to interact with a specific receptor protein(s) that is present on the gut epithelial cells of the larvae. In various insect species (in particular those belonging to the lepidopteran class), aminopeptidase N (APN) is one of the two receptor proteins that are considered to be involved in toxin-receptor interactions. However, in mosquitoes, the nature and identity of the receptor protein is unknown. Here, using RT-PCR, we identified two isoforms of the APN transcripts in the Aedes aegypti mosquito larval midgut. These results are congruent with a previous report of multiple isoforms of the APN gene expression in lepidopteran larvae. Which of the two isoforms (or other yet unidentified receptor proteins) is involved in the killing of mosquito larvae remains to be elucidated.

• 한국생물정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물정보시스템생물학회 2005년도 BIOINFO 2005
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• pp.215-220
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• 2005

Generally, enzymes in the starch biosynthesis pathway exist in many isoforms, contributing to the difficulties in the dissection of their specific roles in controlling starch properties. In this study, we present an algorithm as an alternative method to classify isoforms of starch biosynthesis enzymes based on their conserved secondary structures. Analysis of the predicted secondary structure of plant soluble starch synthase I (SSI) and soluble starch synthase II (SSII) demonstrates that these two classes of isoform can be reclassified into three subsets, SS-A, SS-B and SS-C, according to the differences in the secondary structure of the protein at C-terminus. SS-A reveals unique structural features that are conserved only in cereal plants, while those of SS-B are found in all plants and SS-C is restricted to barley. These findings enable us to increase the accuracy in the estimation of evolutionary distance between isoforms of starch synthases. Moreover, it facilitates the elucidation of correlations between the functions of each enzyme isoforms and the properties of starches. Our secondary structure analysis tool can be applicable to study the functions of other plant enzyme isoforms of economical importance.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.211-216
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• 2009

A cell frequently utilizes glucose as a fuel of energy and a major substrate of lipid and protein syntheses. A regulation of glucose movement into and out of the cells is precisely controlled by cooperative works of passive and sodium-dependent active processes. At least 13 glucose cotransporter (Slc2a, GLUT) isoforms involve in passive movement of glucose in cells. The efferent ductules (EDs) play in a number of important functions for maintenance of male fertility. In the present study, using real-time PCR analysis, we determined gene expression of five Slc2a isoforms in the EDs. In addition, we compared expression levels of these Slc2a isoforms according to postnatal development ages, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months. Results from the current study showed that expression of Slc2a1, Slc2a3, and Slc2a5 mRNAs reached the highest levels at 1 month of age, followed by a transient decrease at 3 months of age. In addition, the level of Slc2a4 mRNA reminded at steady until 1 month of age and was significantly reduced at 3 months of age, whereas the highest level of Slc2a 8 mRNA was detected at 2 weeks of age. Data from the present study indicate a differential expression of various Slc2a isoforms in the ED according to postnatal ages. Thus, it is believed that glucose movement through the epithelial cells in the ED would be regulated by the coordinated manner among Slc2a isoforms expressed at a given age.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.126-140
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• 2011

Genetic determinants of two metallothionein isoforms (MT-A and MT-B) were isolated and characterized from the perciform species, rockbream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). Rockbream MT-A and MT-B shared a high degree of homology at amino acid levels with representative orthologs from other perciform species, especially with respect to the conserved cysteine residues. At the genomic level, both MT-A and MT-B genes represent a tripartite structure typical of vertebrate MT genes. However, rockbream MT-B showed unusually large introns (1.2 kb and 0.8 kb for intron I and II, respectively), a phenomenon that has rarely been seen in other vertebrate MT genes. MT-A and MT-B transcripts were ubiquitously detected in a wide array of tissues, wherein brain and eye showed the highest basal expression levels, and the fin exhibited the lowest expression of both isoforms. The basal expression of MT-A in most tissues was significantly higher (ranging from 4- to 10-fold) than that of MT-B. Upon heavy metal exposures to Cd, Cu or Zn at 25 ppb for 48 h, MT-A and MT-B transcripts in the liver were significantly activated by Cd and moderately by Zn. On the other hand, exposure to Cu did not result in alterations of MT-A, nor in the significant suppression of MT-B. Following bacterial challenges with Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda or Streptococcus iniae, MT isoforms in the liver, kidney and spleen were highly modulated and exhibited a pattern that was dependent on the bacterial species, tissues and isoforms. These results suggest that the two MT isoforms could be taken into account as potential indicators of metal toxicity and immune perturbations of this aquaculture-relevant species.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.656-664
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in bovine longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle by liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS). LT muscles taken from Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) steer (n=3) used to separate myosin bands by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The peptide queries were obtained from the myosin bands by LC-MS/MS analysis following in-gel digestion with trypsin. A total of 33 and 43 queries were identified as common and unique peptides, respectively, of MHC isoforms (individual ions scores >43 indicate identity or extensive homology, p<0.05). MHC-1 (IIx), -2 (IIa), -4 (IIb), and -7 (slow/I) were identified based on the Mowse score (5118, 3951, 2526, and 2541 for MHC-1, -2, -4, and -7, respectively). However, more analysis is needed to confirm the expression of MHC-4 in bovine LT muscle because any query identified as a unique peptide of MHC-4 was not found. The queries that were identified as unique peptides could be used as peptide markers to confirm MHC-1 (14 queries), -2 (8 queries), and -7 (21 queries) in bovine LT muscle; no query identified as a unique peptide of MHC-4 was found. LC-MS/MS analysis is a useful approach to study MHC isoforms at the protein level.

• 한국식물병리학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.258-264
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• 1995

Production and some properties of chitinolytic enzymes were investigated by 80% ammonium sulfate precipitates (crude enzymes) from culture supernatant of antagonistic bacteria, Chromobacterium violaceum strain C-61 and strain C-72, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas caviae, and Serratia marcescens. The maximum production of chitinase was obtained from the 3-day culture at 28$^{\circ}C$ in C. violaceum stains, the 6-day culture in S. marcescens, and the 2-day culture in A. hydrophila and A. caviae. In the optimum culture periods, chitinase activity of C. violaceum strains C-61 was 1.5, 5.5, 12.0 and 11.3 times higher than those of strain C-72, S. marcescens, A. hydrophila and A. caviae, respectively. However, N,N'-diacetylchitobiase activity was 3.2 times higher in S. marcescens than in C. violaceum strain C-61, and that of Aeromonas spp.was very low. On gels containing glycol chitin, chitinase of C. violaceum strains showed four isoforms of 54-, 52-, 50- and 37-kDa, whereas there were four isoforms of 58-, 52-, 48- and 38-kDa in S. arcescens, three isoforms of 70-, 58- and 54-kDa in A. hydrophila and six isoforms of 90-, 79-, 71-, 63-, 58- and 38-kDa in A. caviae. The chitinase of C. violaceum strain C-61 was most active at pH 7.0 and at 5$0^{\circ}C$ and was stable in ranges of pH 5.0~10.0 for 2 hours and of 0~5$0^{\circ}C$ for 30 min.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.385-390
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• 2000

Overwintering plants should survive the various biotic and abiotic stresses that occur during winter. Previous studies indicated that active oxygen species are involved in freezing, dehydration, anoxia and pathogen infections. As the importance of the events that occur in the intercellular compartment became apparent in disease resistance, we examined the nature of intercellular antioxidant enzymes in order to access their possible involvement in the winter hardiness of barley. The levels of intercellular peroxidase, catalase, and SOD activities on the unit protein basis were 394, 18, and 9% of those of cellular activities, respectively. Major intercellular peroxidase isoforms consisted of four neutrals and four basic forms; whereas major cellular isoforms were two basic forms. Out of the two major catalase isoforms a higher molecular weight form was predominantly abundant in both cellular and intercellular compartments. Among the five major cellular SOD isoforms, three were also present in the intercellular compartment. The presence of substantial amounts of intercellular antioxidant enzymes in overwintering barley leaves may suggest the involvement of these enzymes in the tolerance mechanism to the various stresses that occur during winter.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.304-314
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• 2010

Vitamin E has been a generic term for all tocopherol and tocotrienol derivatives. The most active form of vitamin E isoforms in vivo is regarded to be $\alpha$-tocopherol which is the only form defined as vitamin E in the US Food and Nutrition Board, causing controversy over setting dietary reference intake (DRI) of vitamin E. However, most of the countries other than the US maintain the original concept that all isoforms are accepted as vitamin E but with different biopotency. The roles of the isoforms of vitamin E other than $\alpha$-tocopherol have received continuous attention. Among them those of $\gamma$-tocopherol and $\alpha$-tocotrienol have been most studied in comparison with $\alpha$-tocopherol, since $\gamma$-tocopherol comprises major form of vitamin E in many plant seeds and those of the both vitamin E have been implicated in unique physiological functions. This review summarizes findings that have led a better understanding of vitamin E absorption, transport, tissue storage and various functions common and specific to vitamin E isoforms focusing $\alpha$- and $\gamma$-tocopherol as well as tocotrienols. It is expected to help redefining vitamin E and setting its DRI for Koreans.