• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.383-388
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• 2011

Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins are regulators of $Ca^{2+}$ signaling that accelerate the GTPase activity of the G-protein ${\alpha}$ -subunit. RGS1, RGS2, RGS4, and RGS16 are expressed in the pancreas, and RGS2 regulates G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. However, the role of RGS4 in $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in pancreatic acinar cells is unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of GPCR-induced $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in pancreatic acinar cells derived from $RGS4^{-/-}$ mice. $RGS4^{-/-}$ acinar cells showed an enhanced stimulus intensity response to a muscarinic receptor agonist in pancreatic acinar cells. Moreover, deletion of RGS4 increased the frequency of $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. $RGS4^{-/-}$ cells also showed increased expression of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase type 2. However, there were no significant alterations, such as $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in treated high dose of agonist and its related amylase secretion activity, in acinar cells from $RGS4^{-/-}$ mice. These results indicate that RGS4 protein regulates $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1506-1513
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• 2009

RGS단백질은 G 단백질 신호전달작용에 있어서 신호를 억제하는 조절단백질로서 G 단백질 매개수용체(GPCR)의 활성을 억제하는 것으로 알려졌다. 그렇지만 캐너비노이드 수용체 CB2의 활성에 있어서 RGS 단백질의 조절효과에 관해서는 지금까지 알려져 있지 않다. 그러므로 본 연구에서 우리는 RGS2, 3, 4, 5와 캐너비노이드 수용체 CB2 cDNA를 동시에 HEK293 세포주에 발현시킨 후 각 RGS 단백질의 효과를 조사하였다. CB2 단백질을 발현하는 HEK293 세포주(CB2-HEK293)에서 CB2 효현제인 WIN55,212-2는 폴스콜린으로 유도된 cAMP response element (CRE) 활성을 억제하였다. 이러한 WIN55,212-2의 CRE 억제 활성은 RGS3에 의하여 차단되었지만 RGS2, 4, 및 RGS5에서는 관찰되지 않았다. 뿐만 아니라 RGS3 small interference RNA (siRNA)를 사용하여 내인성 RGS3 단백질의 발현을 저하시키면 WIN55,212-2에 의한 폴스콜린 유도 CRE 억제활성은 더욱 증강되었다. 이상의 결과는 캐너비노이드 수용체 CB2 신호전달작용에 있어서 RGS 단백질의 기능적 역할과 특히 내인성 RGS3의 캐너비노이드 수용체 CB2에 대한 선택적 작용을 나타낸다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.899-910
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• 2007

Extracellular Regulated Kinases (ERK) and Protein Kinase B (Akt) are intermediaries in relaying extracellular growth signals to intracellular targets. Each pathway can become activated upon stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors mediated by $G_q$ and $G_{i/o}$ proteins subjected to regulation by RGS proteins. The goal of the study was to delineate the specificity in which cardiac RGS proteins modulate $G_{q^-}$ and $G_{i/o}$-induced ERK and Akt phosphorylation. To isolate $G_{q^-}$ and $G_{i/o}$-mediated effects, we exclusively expressed muscarinic $M_2$ or $M_3$ receptors in COS-7 cells. Western blot analyses demonstrated increase of phosphorylation of ERK 1.7-/3.3-fold and Akt 2.4-/6-fold in $M_{2^-}/M_{3^-}$ expressing cells through carbachol stimulation. In co-expressions, $M_3/G_q$-induced activation of Akt was exclusively blunted through RGS3s/RGS3, whereas activation of ERK was inhibited additionally through RGS2/RGS5. $M_2/G_{i/o}$ induced Akt activation was inhibited by all RGS proteins tested. RGS2 had no effect on $M_2/G_{i/o}$-induced ERK activation. The high degree of specificity in RGS proteins-depending modulation of $G_{q^-}$ and $G_{i/o}$-mediated ERK and Akt activation in the muscarinic network cannot merely be attributed exclusively to RGS protein selectivity towards $G_q$ or $G_{i/o}$ proteins. Counter-regulatory mechanisms and inter-signaling cross-talk may alter the sensitivity of GPCR-induced ERK and Akt activation to RGS protein regulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권12호
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• pp.1721-1725
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• 2012

A growth and digestibility study was conducted using Osmanabadi goat male kids by feeding complete diets in the form of mash or expander extruded pellets containing different levels of red gram (Cajanus cajan) straw (RGS). Two iso-nitrogenous complete diets were prepared by incorporating RGS at 35% and 50% levels. Half the quantity of each complete mash feed was then converted into pellets through expander extruder processing. Thirty two kids of 4 to 5 months age were divided into four groups of eight each and were fed for 150 d with four experimental diets (T1: mash with 35% RGS, T2: mash with 50% RGS, T3: pellets with 35% RGS and T4: pellets with 50% RGS). Pelleting of complete diets significantly (p<0.001) increased the voluntary feed intake (671.45 vs 426.28 g/d) at both levels of RGS in the feeds. Average daily gain (ADG, g/d) also increased significantly (p<0.001) from 48.79 in kids fed mash diet to 71.29 in those fed with pelleted diets. Feed conversion efficiency (dry matter (DM) intake: weight gain) was comparable among all the treatment groups. Digestibility of nutrients was not affected by pelleting of the feeds whereas, increasing the level of inclusion of RGS in feeds from 35% to 50% decreased (p<0.05) the digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) resulting in lower (p<0.001) metabolizable energy (ME) content (MJ/kg DM) in feeds with 50% RGS (7.93 vs 8.75). Daily intake (MJ/kg $BW^{-0.75}$) of ME decreased (p<0.05) in feeds containing 50% RGS while pelleting of feeds increased (p<0.05) the intake of DM, CP, digestible crude protein (DCP) and ME. It is inferred that expander extruder pelleting can efficiently utilize RGS up to 50% level in complete diets for growing goat kids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권12호
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• pp.2021-2030
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• 2020

Objective: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been extensively used in the field of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) research to elucidate their characteristics and clinical potential by normalization of target genes against reference genes (RGs), which are believed to be stably expressed irrespective of various experimental conditions. However, the expression of RGs is also variable depending on the experimental conditions, which may lead to false or contradictory conclusions upon normalization. Due to the current lack of information for a clear list of stable RGs in bovine MSCs, we conducted this study to identify suitable RGs in bovine MSCs. Methods: The cycle threshold values of ten traditionally used RGs (18S ribosomal RNA [18S], beta-2-microglobulin [B2M], H2A histone family, member Z [H2A], peptidylprolyl isomerase A [PPIA], ribosomal protein 4 [RPL4], succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit A [SDHA], beta actin [ACTB], glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH], TATA box binding protein [TBP], and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltrasnfrase1 [HPRT1]) in bovine bone marrow-derived MSCs (bBMMSCs) were validated for their stabilities using three types of RG evaluation algorithms (geNorm, Normfinder, and Bestkeeper). The effect of validated RGs was then verified by normalization of lineage-specific genes (fatty acid binding protein 4 [FABP4] and osteonectin [ON]) expressions during differentiations of bBMMSCs or POU class 5 homeobox 1 (OCT4) expression between bBMMSCs and dermal skins. Results: Based on the results obtained for the three most stable RGs from geNorm (TBP, RPL4, and H2A), Normfinder (TBP, RPL4, and SDHA), and Bestkeeper (TBP, RPL4, and SDHA), it was comprehensively determined that TBP and RPL4 were the most stable RGs in bBMMSCs. However, traditional RGs were suggested to be the least stable (18S) or moderately stable (GAPDH and ACTB) in bBMMSCs. Normalization of FABP4 or ON against TBP, RPL4, and 18S presented significant differences during differentiation of bBMMSCs. However, although significantly low expression of OCT4 was detected in dermal skins compared to that in bBMMSCs when TBP and RPL4 were used in normalization, normalization against 18S exhibited no significance. Conclusion: This study proposes that TBP and RPL4 were suitable as stable RGs for qPCR study in bovine MSCs.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.324-329
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• 2014

Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins regulate certain G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signaling pathways. The GABAB receptor ($GABA_BR$) is a GPCR that plays a role in the stress response. Previous studies indicate that acute immobilization stress (AIS) decreases RGS4 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hypothalamus (HY) and suggest the possibility of a signal complex composed of RGS4 and $GABA_BR$. Therefore, in the present study, we tested whether RGS4 associates with $GABA_BR$ in these brain regions. We found the co-localization of RGS4 and $GABA_BR$ subtypes in the PFC and HY using double immunohistochemistry and confirmed a direct association between $GABA_{B2}R$ and RGS4 proteins using co-immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, we found that AIS decreased the amount of RGS4 bound to $GABA_{B2}R$ and the number of double-positive cells. These results indicate that $GABA_BR$ forms a signal complex with RGS4 and suggests that RGS4 is a regulator of $GABA_BR$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.454-464
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• 2018

Crosstalk between G-protein signaling and glutamatergic transmission within the brain reward circuits is critical for long-term emotional effects (depression and anxiety), cravings, and negative withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction. A previous study showed that Regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) may be implicated in opiate action in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, the mechanism of the NAc-specific RGS4 actions that induce the behavioral responses to opiates remains largely unknown. The present study used a short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knock-down of RGS4 in the NAc of the mouse brain to investigate the relationship between the activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors and RGS4 in the NAc during morphine reward. Additionally, the shRNA-mediated RGS4 knock-down was implemented in NAc/striatal primary-cultured neurons to investigate the role that striatal neurons have in the morphine-induced activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors. The results of this study show that the NAc-specific knock-down of RGS4 significantly increased the behaviors associated with morphine and did so by phosphorylation of the GluR1 (Ser831) and NR2A (Tyr1325) glutamate receptors in the NAc. Furthermore, the knock-down of RGS4 enhanced the phosphorylation of the GluR1 and NR2A glutamate receptors in the primary NAc/striatal neurons during spontaneous morphine withdrawal. These findings show a novel molecular mechanism of RGS4 in glutamatergic transmission that underlies the negative symptoms associated with morphine administration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.1097-1104
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• 2012

Background/Aim: Pristimerin isolated from Celastrus and Maytenus spp can inhibit proteasome activity. However, whether pristimerin can modulate cancer metastasis is unknown. Methods: The impacts of pristimerin on the purified and intracellular chymotrypsin proteasomal activity, the levels of regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS 4) expression and breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, and the migration and invasion were determined by enzymatic, Western blot, immunofluorescent, and transwell assays, respectively. Results: We found that pristimerin inhibited human chymotrypsin proteasomal activity in MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pristimerin also inhibited breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, migration, and invasion in vitro by up-regulating RGS4 expression. Thus, knockdown of RGS4 attenuated pristimerin-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, pristimerin inhibited growth and invasion of implanted breast tumors in mice. Conclusion: Pristmerin inhibits proteasomal activity and increases the levels of RGS4, inhibiting the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.96-105
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• 2022

The ovary undergoes substantial physiological changes along with estrus phase to mediate negative/positive feedback to the upstream reproductive tissues and to play a role in producing a fertilizable oocyte in the developing follicles. However, the disorder of estrus cycle in female can lead to diseases, such as cystic ovary which is directly associated with decline of overall reproductive performance. In gene expression studies of ovaries, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay has been widely applied. During this assay, although normalization of target genes against reference genes (RGs) has been indispensably conducted, the expression of RGs is also variable in each experimental condition which can result in false conclusion. Because the understanding for stable RG in porcine ovaries was still limited, we attempted to assess the stability of RGs from the pool of ten commonly used RGs (18S, B2M, PPIA, RPL4, SDHA, ACTB, GAPDH, HPRT1, YWHAZ, and TBP) in the porcine ovaries under different estrus phase (follicular and luteal phase) and cystic condition, using stable RG-finding programs (geNorm, Normfinder, and BestKeeper). The significant (p < 0.01) differences in Ct values of RGs in the porcine ovaries under different conditions were identified. In assessing the stability of RGs, three programs comprehensively agreed that TBP and YWHAZ were suitable RGs to study porcine ovaries under different conditions but ACTB and GAPDH were inappropriate RGs in this experimental condition. We hope that these results contribute to plan the experiment design in the field of reproductive physiology in pigs as reference data.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.349-360
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• 2020

최근 피부 기능 개선과 관련한 다양한 가능성으로 인해 화장품 소재로서 수요가 높아지고 있는 인삼 유래 사포닌의 한 종류인 ginsenoside Rd를 위한 생물 전환 제조 기술을 확립하였다. 홍삼 사포닌(RGS)에 포함된 ginsenoside Rb1을 Rd로 전환하기 위하여 상업용 효소를 탐색하였고 그 중 Viscoflow MG가 가장 효율적인 것을 확인하였다. Ginsenoside Rd로의 전환에 영향을 주는 요인을 최적화하기 위하여 반응표면분석법(RSM)을 통하여 실험 조건을 설계하였다. 주요 독립변수는 RGS 농도, 효소 농도와 반응 시간이었고 Box-Behnken design (BBD) 모델설계법에 따라 선정된 17 가지 조건으로 ginsenoside Rd로 전환을 수행하고 최적화 조건을 분석하였다. 전환된 Ginsenoside Rd의 농도는 0.3113 g/L에서 최대 0.5277 g/L까지였고 RGS 2%, 효소 1.25%를 13.5 h 반응시킨 조건에서 가장 높은 생성량을 보였다. 결론적으로, ginsenoside Rd 생물전환의 독립변수인 RGS 농도, 효소 농도는 p-value가 0.05보다 작은 값으로 유의미한 값을 나타내었고 각 독립변수 사이의 교호작용 중에서는 효소 농도와 반응 시간 사이의 교호 작용이 가장 큰 영향력을 갖고 있음을 확인하였다.