• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.87-93
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• 2000

eCG는LH, FSH및 TSH와 같이 당단백질 호르몬에 속하고, 당쇄가 많이 첨가된 $\alpha$와 $\beta$-subunits의 비공유결합으로 구성되어 있고, 말에서 보다 다른 동물에서 FSH와 LH의 이중 생리활성을 나타내는 아주 특이한 성선 자극 호르몬이다. eCG는 임신 40~130일 사이에 말의 자궁내막배의 영양막세포에서 합성ㆍ분비된다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 eCG, eLH 및 eFSH의 각각 subunits mRNA발현을 태반과 뇌하수체에서 분석하였다. mRNA의 추출은 임신 70일의 태반과 27개월된 숫컷말의 뇌하수체에서 분리하였다. 말 태반을 이용한eCG mRNA발현의 Northern blotting분석결과 $\beta$ subunit가 $\alpha$ subunit보다 아주 많이 발현되었으며, 또한 뇌하수체에서 $\alpha$-, LH $\beta$-, FSH $\beta$-subunit의 분석결과 $\alpha$ subunit는 약 0.8 kb, FSH $\beta$ subunit는 1.8 kb의 크기로 발현되었는데, 이러한 FSH $\beta$ subunit는 cloning되어진 cDNA의 크기와 일치한다. 뇌하수체 전엽에서는 $\alpha$ subunit가 LH $\beta$ subunit와 FSH $\beta$ subunit보다 현저히 많이 발현된다는 사실이 밝혀졌다. 따라서, 태반과 뇌하수체에서 발현되는 각각 subunit의 mRNA는 독립적으로 조절되어 결과적으로 발현량에 차이가 나타난다고 시사되어진다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.269-275
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• 1996

Biosynthesis and secretion of anterior pituitary hormones are under the control of specific hypothalamic stimulatory and inhibitory factors. Among them, Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) is the major stimulator of pituitary somatotrophs activating GH gene expression and secretion. Human GHRH is a polypeptide of 44 amino acids initially isolated from pancreatic tumors, and the gene for the hypothalamic form of GHRH is organized into 5 exons spanning over 10 kilobases (kb) on genomic DNA and encodes a messenger RNA of 700-750 nucleotides. Several neuropeptides classically associated with the hypothalamus have been found in the extrahypothalamic regions, suggesting the existence of novel sources, targets and functions. GHRH-like immunoreactivity has been found in several peripheral sites, including placenta, testis, and ovary, indicating that GHRH may also have regulatory roles in peripheral reproductive organs. Furthermore, higher molecular weight forms of the GHRH transcripts were identified from these organs (1.75 kb in testis; 1.75 and >3 kb in ovary). These tissue-specific expression of GHRH gene suggest the existence of unique regulatory mechanism of GHRH expression and function in these organs. In fact, placenta-specific and testis-specific promoters for GHRH transcripts which are located in about 10 kb upstream region of hypothalamic promoter were reported. The use of unique promoters in extrahypothalamic sites could be refered in a different control of GHRH gene and different functions of the translated products in these tissues. Somatotrophs and lactotrophs have been thought to be derived from a common bipotential progenitor, the somatolactotrophs, which give origins to either phenotypes. Although the precise mechanism responsible for the lactotroph differentiation in the anterior pituitary gland has not been yet clalified, there are several candidators for the generation of lactotrophs. In human, the presence of GHRH peptides with different size from authentic hypothalamic form in the normal anterior pituitary and several types of adenoma were demonstrated. Recently our group found the existence of immunoreactive GHRH and its transcript from the normal rat anterior pituitary (gonadotroph> somatotroph> lactotroph), and the GHRH treatment evoked the increased proliferation rate of anterior pituitary cells in vitro. The transgenic mouse models clearly shown that GHRH or NGF overexpression by anterior pituitary cells induced development of pituitary hyperplasia and adenomas particularly GH-oma and prolactinoma. Taken together, we hypothesize that the pituitary GHRH could serve not only as a modulator of hormone secretion but as a paracrine or autocrine regulator of anterior pituitary cell proliferation and differentiation. Interestingly enough, the expression of Pit-1 homeobox gene (the POU class transcription factor) was confined to somatotrophs, lactotrophs and somatolactotrophs in which GHRH receptors are expressed commonly. Concerning the mechanism of somatolactotroph and lactotroph differentiation in the anterior pituitary, we have focused following two possibilities; (1) changes in the relative levels or interactions of both hypothalamic and intrapituitary factors such as dopamine, VIP, somatostatin, NGF and GHRH; (2) alterations of GHRH-GHRH receptor signaling and Pit-1 activity may be the cause of lactotroph differentiation or pituitary hyperplasia and adenoma formation. Extensive further studies will be necessary to solve these complicated questions.

• 한국동물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물학회 1996년도 한국생물과학협회 국제학술대회
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• pp.140.1-140
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.237-242
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• 2000

흰쥐 시상하부에서 합성ㆍ분비되어 뇌하수체 전엽에서의 growth hormone (GH) 분비를 촉진하는 growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)이 시상하부 이외 조직들 (extrahypothalamic tissues)인 태반, 생식소, 그리고 뇌하수체 전엽에서도 발현됨이 보고되었다. 본 연구는 흰쥐 뇌하수체 전엽에서 발현되는 GHRH의 기능을 조사하기 위해 i)세포 배양을 시행하면서 GHRH의 세포내 함량, 분비 그리고 세포분획법 (cell-fractionation)을 사용하여 분리한 뇌하수체 세포 유형별로 GHRH 함량을 방사면역측정법으로 조사하였고, ii)체외배양 중인 뇌하수체 전엽세포의 증식에 미치는 GHRH의 효과를 측정하기 위해 [$^3$H] thymidine incorporation assay를, 그리고 iii) GHRH의 세포분열 촉진 효과와 세포내 c-fos 유전자 발현과의 상관관계를 조사하기 위해 northern blot analysis를 시행하였다. GHRH 방사면역측정법을 시행한 결과 상당량의 GHRH-like 분자들이 흰쥐 뇌하수체 전엽내에 존재하고, 체외 세포배양시 분비됨을 관찰하였다. 세포분획을 사용한 실험에서 GHRH 함량은 gonadotrope, somatotrope, lactotrope 그리고 thyrotrope 순으로 나타났다. 이 러한 결과는 흰쥐 뇌하수체 전엽에서 생성된 GHRH가 국부적인 조절인자, 특히 상이한 유형의 세포들 간의 상호조절 (cross-talk)을 통해 뇌하수체 전엽에서의 세포분열과 분화, 그리고 기능조절에 관여할 가능성을 보여주었다. GHRH는 체외 배양중인 뇌하수체 전엽세포의 [$^3$H] thymidine incorporation을 농도의존적으로 증가시켰으며, 이러한 GHRH의 세포분열 촉진 효과는 예상대로 세포내 oncogene 활성 의 증가를 통해 일어나는 것임을 c-fos northrn blot으로 확인하였다. 결론적으로, 본 연구는 흰쥐 뇌하수체 전엽에서 합성되는 GHRH가 paracrine 또는 autocrine 기작으로 GH의 분비 촉진 이외에도 세포분열의 조절함을 시사하는 것이다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.231-236
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• 2000

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)과 그 수용체가 흰쥐의 난소, 정소, 자궁, 태 반 그리고 유선 등의 생식기관에서 발현됨이 알려져 있다. 더욱이, 뇌하수체 전엽에 작용하는 GnRH의 표적 산물로 알려진 luteinizing hormone (LH)이 흰쥐 생식소에서도 발현됨이 알려졌는데, 이는 생식소 내에 GnRH-LH로 이루어진 국부 회로 (local circuit)가 존재함을 시사하는 것이다 본 연구는 LH와 그 수용체 유전자가 흰쥐 유선에서도 발현되는가를 규명한 것이다. 이를 위해 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)과 LH 방사면역측정법 (radioimmunoassay, RIA)을 사용하였다. RT-PCR을 시행한 결과 생식 주기중인 임신하지 않은 흰쥐 유선에서 뇌하수체 유형의 LH${\beta}$ 전사체 (exon 1-3)가 증폭되었으나 정소특이적 LH${\beta}$ exon 부분은 검출되지 않았다. 뇌하수체 glycoprotein hormone에서 공통적으로 존재하는 ${\alpha}$-subunit과 LH 수용체에 대한 전사체 역시 흰쥐 유선에 존재함이 확인되었다. 또한 기존의 보고에서 수유중인 흰쥐 유선에서만 발현된다고 알려진 GnRH가 임신하지 않은 흰쥐 유선에서도 발현됨을 확인하였다. LH 방사면역측정법을 시행한 결과 흰쥐 유선조직 추출물에서 immunoreactive LH분자들이 검출되었으며, LH standard curve와 parallelism을 보이므로 흰쥐 유선의 LH가 뇌하수체 형과 동일할 가능성을 확인하였다. 본 연구는 흰쥐 유선에서 LH subunit들과 수용체 유전자가 발현됨을 최초로 보고한 것으로서, 흰쥐 유선이 LH의 생성처이면서 동시에 작용처이며 유선에서 합성된 GnRH의 조절하에 국부적인 인자로 작용할 가능성을 시사한다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.125-132
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• 2009

Calbindin-$D_{9k}$ (CaBP-9k), a cytosolic calcium-binding protein, is expressed in a variety of tissues, i.e., the duodenum, uterus, placenta, kidney and pituitary gland. Duodenal CaBP-9k is involved in intestinal calcium absorption, and is regulated at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the hormonal form of vitamin D, and glucocorticoids (GCs). Uterine CaBP-9k has been implicated in the regulation of myometrial action(s) through modulation of intracellular calcium, and steroid hormones appear to be the main regulators in its uterine and placental regulation. Because phenotypes of CaBP-9k-null mice appear to be normal, other calcium-transporter genes may compensate for its gene deletion and physiological function in knockout mice. Previous studies indicate that CaBP-9k may be controlled in a tissue-specific fashion. In this review, we summarize the current information on calcium homeostasis related to CaBP-9k gene regulation by GCs, vitamin D and its receptors, and its molecular regulatory mechanism. In addition, we present related data from our current research.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.125-142
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• 2000

임신초기 말의 태반으로부터 분비되는 융모성성선자극 호르몬 (eCG)은 황체형성 (LH), 난포자극 (FSH) 및 갑상선자극 (TSH) 호르몬과 같이 알파 및 베타 단체의 비공유결합으로 구성되어져 있는 당단백질 호르몬이다. 알파단체의 아미노산 배열은 동물종내에서 동일하지만, 베타단체는 호르몬에 따라 작용의 특이성을 가지고 있다고 알려져 있다. 말의 융모성 성선자극 호르몬은 모체의 자궁내막에 침입한 태아 유래의 융모조직 (자궁내막배)에서 합성ㆍ분비되어진다. eCG 는 당단백칠 호르몬중 탄수화물 함량이 40% 이상으로 가장 많이 함유되어 있으며, 알파단체는 두 개의 N-linked 당쇄첨가 부위 (아미노산 56 및 82번), 베타단체는 13번에 1개의 N -linked 당쇄첨가 부위와 카르복실기 말단부위에 적어도 11개의 O-linked 당쇄첨가 부위를 가지고 있는 것이 특징이다. 또한, eCG 는 다른 동물에 있어서 강력한 난포자극 및 황체형성 호르몬의 기능을 가지고 있는 아주 특이한 호르몬이다. 말의 태반과 뇌하수체 조직으로부터 eCG $\alpha$ 및 $\beta$ 단체와 eFSH $\beta$ 단체의 cDNA를 cloning 하였으며, 각 단체의 mRNA 발현은 태반과 뇌하수체에서 독립적으로 조절되어진다. 따라서, eCG 의 기능 및 수용체에 대한 호르몬의 특이한 작용을 분자생물학, 생화학적인 측면에서 연구하는데 아주 흥미로운 호르몬이다. 왜 eCG 가 이러한 이중활성을 가지고 있는지에 대해서는 아직까지 구체적으로 연구된 바가 없지만, 지금까지의 eCG 연구를 종합하면, eCG 의 알파 및 베타 단체 의 cDNA 의 유전자 구조 (알파단체는 96개 아미노산 ; 베타단체는 149개아미노산) 가 밝혀짐으로서 각각의 당쇄첨가 부위에 대한 기능연구에 박차를 가하게 될 것으로 보인다. 따라서 Site-directed mutagenesis 를 활용 어느 특정부위의 당쇄 수식이 없는 유전자 재조합 eCG 에 대한 연구로 이들 당단백질 호르몬에 대한 생물학적 특성에 대해서 확실하게 밝혀질 것으로 기대하고, 이러한 연구가 계속 진행되고 있으며, 가까운 미래에 eCG 에 있어서 지금까지 의문으로 남아있는 난포자극 및 황체형성의 이중활성에 대한 당쇄의 기능이 완전히 해결될 것으로 기대한다. eCG 의 황체형성에 대한 당쇄의 기능은 본 연구팀에 의해 알파단체의 56 번 N-linked 당쇄첨가 부위가 필수불가결하다는 결과를 얻었지만, 앞으로 난포자극 활성에 미치는 당쇄의 중요성에 관해서는 현재 연구 중에 있다.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2000년도 국제심포지움
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• pp.10-12
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$-subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was. efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to consist of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t63I or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632-653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agonist-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17-fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.357-364
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• 2000

Members of the glycoprotein family, which includes CG, LH, FSH and TSH, comprise two noncovalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), known as PMSG, has a number of interesting and unique characteristics since it appears to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities in other species than the horse. This dual activity of eCG in heterologous species is of fundamental interest to the study of the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins and their receptors. CG and LH $\beta$ genes are different in primates. In horse, however, a single gene encodes both eCG and eLH $\beta$ -subunits. The subunit mRNA levels seem to be independently regulated and their imbalance may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$-subunits in the placenta and pituitary. The dual activities of eCG could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the $\alpha$-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides. The tethered-eCG was efficiently secreted and showed similar LH-like activity to the dimeric eCG. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of the tethered-eCG was increased markedly in comparison with the native and wild type eCG. These results also suggest that this molecular can implay particular models of FSH-like activity not LH-like activity in the eCG/indicate that the constructs of tethered molecule will be useful in the study of mutants that affect subunit association and/or secretion. A single-chain analog can also be constructed to include additional hormone-specific bioactive generating potentially efficacious compounds that have only FSH-like activity. The LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR), a membrane glycoprotein that is present on testicular Leydig cells and ovarian theca, granulosa, luteal, and interstitial cells, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gonadal development and function in males as well as in nonpregnant and pregnant females. The LH/CGR is a member of the family of G protein-coupled receptors and its structure is predicted to of a large extracellular domain connected to a bundle of seven membrane-spanning a-helices. The LH/CGR phosphorylation can be induced with a phorbol ester, but not with a calcium ionophore. The truncated form of LHR also was down-regulated normally in response to hCG stimulation. In contrast, the cell lines expressing LHR-t631 or LHR-628, the two phosphorylation-negative receptor mutant, showed a delay in the early phase of hCG-induced desensitization, a complete loss of PMA-induced desensitization, and an increase in the rate of hCG-induced receptor down-regulation. These results clearly show that residues 632~653 in the C-terminal tail of the LHR are involved in PMA-induced desensitization, hCG-induced desensitization, and hCG-induced down-regulation. Recently, constitutively activating mutations of the receptor have been identified that are associated with familial male-precocious puberty. Cells expressing LHR-D556Y bind hCG with normal affinity, exhibit a 25-fold increase in basal cAMP and respond to hCG with a normal increase in cAMP accumulation. This mutation enhances the internalization of the free and agoinst-occupied receptors ~2- and ~17- fold, respectively. We conclude that the state of activation of the LHR can modulate its basal and/or agonist-stimulated internalization. Since the internalization of hCG is involved in the termination of hCG actions, we suggest that the lack of responsiveness detected in cells expressing LHR-L435R is due to the fast rate of internalization of the bound hCG. This statement is supported by the finding that hCG responsiveness is restored when the cells are lysed and signal transduction is measured in a subcellular fraction (membranes) that cannot internalize the bound hormone.