• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.86-89
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• 1999

An OTHBVS cell line from HepG2 was established. This cell line stably expresses the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) middle S protein that includes the preS2 region which is important for HBV particle entry into the hepatocyte. To establish this cell line, the middle S open reading frame (ORF), with a promoter located in the 5' region and enhancer located in the 3' region, was cloned downstream from the metallothionine (MT) promoter of the OT1529 vector. In this vector, expression of the middle S protein was constructed to be regulated by its own promoter and enhancer. Expression of the large S protein which contains the preS1 region in addition to the middle S protein was designed to be regulated by the MT promoter. When extracts of OTHBVS cells were examined with an S protein detection kit (RPHA, Korea Green Cross Co.), an S protein was detected. Total mRNA of OTHBVS cell examined by northern blot analysis with an S ORF probe revealed small/middle S transcripts (2.1 kb). When the MT promoter was induced by Zn, large S transcripts (2.4 kb) were detected. The GP36 and GP33 middle S proteins were presumably detected, but large S proteins were not detected by immunostain analysis using anti-preS2 antibody.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.455-463
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• 2011

Metallothioneins are a class of small cysteine-rich proteins that have been associated with increased tolerance to metal and oxidative stresses in animals, plants, and fungi. We investigated a metallothionein-like (mt-like) gene shown previously to be upregulated in fruiting bodies of the fungus Agaricus bisporus in response to post-harvest storage. Analysis of an A. bisporus genomic DNA cosmid library identified two similar mt-like genes (met1 and met2) arranged as a bidirectional gene pair transcribed from the same promoter region. The promoter contained regulatory elements including 9 metal responsive elements and a CAAT box region 220 bp downstream of met1 that showed striking similarity to a feature in Coprinopsis cinerea mt-like gene promoters. Transcriptional analysis showed that both met genes are significantly and rapidly (within 3 hours) upregulated during post-harvest storage and expression is significantly greater in stipe and cap tissues compared with the gills. However, a strong directionality of the promoter was demonstrated, as transcript levels of met1 were at least two orders of magnitude greater than those of met2 in all samples tested.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.421-427
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• 1993

Some interleukin 6 (IL-60 transcription control factors were resported as the regulator of IL-6 expression. A nuclear protein bound to interleukin 1 (IL-1) responsive element in the IL-6 promoter region was named NF-IL6 (nuclear factor for IL-6). This NF-IL6 was known to be very imporant as a transcription factor for various immuno-protein as well as for IL-6. The human NF-IL6 genes were transfected into the mouse L cells under the metallothionein promoter (MT promoter) to establish a model system for the expression of foreign gene in the mammalian cell line.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2016

Mitochondrial biogenesis is a complex process requiring coordinated expression of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-$1{\alpha}$) is a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, and it controls mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication within diverse tissues, including muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on mtDNA copy number and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ promoter activity in $C_2C_{12}$ muscle cells. mtDNA copy number and mRNA levels of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis such as PGC-$1{\alpha}$, nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) were assayed by quantitative real-time PCR. The PGC-$1{\alpha}$ promoter from -970 to +412 bp was subcloned into the pGL3-basic vector, which includes a luciferase reporter gene. Both EPA and DHA significantly increased mtDNA copy number, dose and time dependently, and up-regulated mRNA levels of PGC-$1{\alpha}$, NRF1, and Tfam. Furthermore, EPA and DHA stimulated PGC-$1{\alpha}$ promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EPA and DHA may modulate mitochondrial biogenesis, which was partially associated with increased mtDNA replication and PGC-$1{\alpha}$ gene expression in $C_2C_{12}$ muscle cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.532-539
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• 2014

We isolated a rice (Oryza sativa L.) WRKY gene which is highly upregulated in senescent leaves, denoted OsWRKY42. Analysis of OsWRKY42-GFP expression and its effects on transcriptional activation in maize protoplasts suggested that the OsWRKY42 protein functions as a nuclear transcriptional repressor. OsWRKY42-overexpressing (OsWR KY42OX) transgenic rice plants exhibited an early leaf senescence phenotype with accumulation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydrogen peroxide and a reduced chlorophyll content. Expression analysis of ROS producing and scavenging genes revealed that the metallothionein genes clustered on chromosome 12, especially OsMT1d, were strongly repressed in OsWRKY42OX plants. An OsMT1d promoter:LUC construct was found to be repressed by OsWRKY42 overexpression in rice protoplasts. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that OsWRKY42 binds to the W-box of the OsMT1d promoter. Our results thus suggest that OsWRKY42 represses OsMT1d-mediated ROS scavenging and thereby promotes leaf senescence in rice.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2002

The major urinary proteins(MUPs) of mice that bind hydrophobic molecules known as pheromones are regulated in part by the actions of growth hormone. The expression of the MUPs was therefore investigated in transgenic mice that express a human growth hormone-releasing factor gene from a metallothionein gene promoter(MT-GRF) and as a result have elevated growth hormone levels. MUPs were severely down-regulated in the urine of these animals compared to normal mice or to control transgenic mice expressing another gene(the inhibin a subunit) from the same metallothionein promoter(MT-Inh) and more MUPs disappeared in male mice than female ones. MUPs were also down-regulated in the urine of the UT-GRF-injected mice. In addition, it was observed that the urine of the MT-GRF mice included a high molecular weight protein that co-migrates with the major serum protein albumin, indicating an impairment in glomerular filtration within the kidney. The urinary loss of serum proteins was more severe in male MT-GRF mice than female ones. Thus the overexpression of human GRF mimics changes observed in MUP protein expression and glomerular function in other models of growth hormone hypersecretion with sex-dependent differential effects.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2002

Characteristics of cell growth and heavymetal adsorption by recombinant Saccharomyus cerevisiae strains harboring multiple copies of the CUP1 gene encoding metallothione (MT) protein were studied in batch cultures. Recombinant S. cerevisiae strains harboring multiple copies of the CUP1 gene were superior to the host and wild-type yeast strains in terms of cell growth and heavy metal removal, indicating that the copy number of the CUP1 gene for MT expression played an important role in the adsorption of heavy metals. It was suggested that the CUP1 promoter for the MT expression is induced by manganese and zinc as well as copper An optimum copper concentration for MT expression and concomitant adsorption of heavy metals by recombinant S. cerevisiae was found to be 0.31 mM. A nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 enhanced cell growth by 17.7% and removal of zinc by 6.1% compared with the control case.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2016

The retinoic acid (RA) plays an important role in the growth and development of many cells, and bioactive RA concentration is regulated by several enzymes, including CYP26A1. The expression of the CYP26A1 gene is regulated by RA, and the CYP26A1 gene is one of the candidates for RA-responsive genes. Although CYP26A1 genes are cloned from several animals, cloning of the CYP26A1 gene from cows has not been reported yet. The promoter region of CYP26A1 from cows was cloned by PCR and analyzed by sequence alignment with human and mouse CYP26A1. The RA-responsive element (RARE), DR-5 (ttggg), was located in this region and was perfectly conserved. The promoter region of bovine CYP26A1, which contains DR-5, was ligated to the luciferase reporter gene on transient transfection assays. The expression of CYP26A1-Luc promoter was activated by ATRA treatment in lung-derived mtCC cells. Co-transfection with RAR-α or -β with ATRA significantly activates the expression of CYP26A1-Luc promoter; however, it was less effective with either RAR-γ or RXR-γ. In addition, the endogenous gene expressions measured by Q-RT-PCR in mtCC cells were not significantly affected by ATRA treatment for 2 days; however, the expression of the endogenous CYP26A1 gene was diminished sharply at day 3 with ATRA treatment. In conclusion, the promoter region of bovine CYP26A1 contains conserved DR-5 RARE, which functions as a binding site for RAR-α or -β, and it is involved in the regulation of CYP26A1 gene expression and the control of RA signaling in mtCC cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.365-368
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• 2006

Yeast mitochondrial transformation has been confirmed by cell death and CFP expression (CDF: cell death factor gene). Expression vector containing CDF and CFP driven by one TPI (Triose-phosphate isomerase) promoter (called artificial operon type) was bombarded to Yeast. Interestingly, yeast cells were progressively deformed into unusual shapes and lysed inner cytoplasm resulting in ell death after all after bombarding with expression vector (CDC and GFP). Since there is no report about more than one gene expression simultaneously in a single mitochondria, this report is very important to novel type of eukaryotic gene expression. Successful yeast cell transformation in this report implies possible eukaryotic mitochodrial transformation including plants and animals and moreover two or more gene expression which can be excellent applicable protocols to pharmaceutical field including antibody production.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.269-275
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• 1998

The reporter plasmid pMT-lacZ containing the metallothionein (MT) promoter region (-320∼+58 with respect to the transcription initiation site) fused to the lacZ gene in a P-element vector was constructed. Transgenic Drosophila bearing the MT-lacZ fusion gene were established by P-element mediated transformation. Expression of the MT-lacZ fusion gene in transformants was examined during development. By treatment with low concentration of cadmium (>1O uM) or paraquat (>50 uM), increased expression of B-galactosidase was shown in fat body, brain lobe, and ganglion transgenic larval tissues. The results show that transformants bearing the MT-lacZ fusion gene are useful for further studies on the mechanism of regulation of MT gene expression and for monitoring toxic metals.