• Title/Summary/Keyword: RNA splicing

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Studies on the Generation of Transgenic Cow Producing Human Lactoferrin in the Milk (락토페린을 우유에서 생산하는 형질전환 젖소의 개발에 관한 연구)

  • 한용만
    • Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.371-378
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    • 1997
  • Human lactoferrin (hLF) was expressed in the mammary gland of transgenic mice. Expresion of hLF was achieved by palcing its cDNA under the control of bovine $\beta$-casein gene. To improve the hLF expression level, two artificial introns were introduced into the expression vector. One intron is a hybrid-splice consisting of bovine $\beta$ casein intron 1 and rabbit $\beta$-casem intron II. The other intron is a DNA fragment spanning intron 8 of bovine $\beta$ casein gene. Trans sgenic mice were developed which expressed hLF in their milk. Twenty lines of transgenic mice were produced. hLF was present in the milk at concentrations of 1 ~ 200 ${\mu}\textrm{g}$ / ml. hLF RNA was only detected in the mammary gland of transgenic mice. The expressed RNA was cor r rectly spliced at the exon /intron junctions. To generate transgenic cows secreting active hLF in their milk, we transferred the DNA-injected bovine embryos to recipient heifers by surgical a and non-surgical methods out of 68 embryos transferred to 51 recipients by surgical or non-surgical method, 7 calves were normally born. Effect of embryo quality of DNA-injected blastocysts on pregnancy rate after transfer was investig a ated. Higher pregnancy rate of (38.9%) DNA-injected embryos was shown in excellent embryos. Pregnancy rates in the groups of good a and fair embryos were 15.4 and 14.3%, respectively. Effect of culture period of DNA-injected b bovine embryos on pregnancy rate after transfer was investigated. When Day-6 blastocysts of cuI ture were transferred, there was no pregnancy. Pregnancy rates of Day-7 and -8 blastocysts were 28.6 and 33.3%, respectively. There was no difference on pregnancy rate between Day-7 a and -8 bovine blastocysts after DNA injection. Thus, we established the techniques for transfer a and culture of DNA-injected bovine embryos. In a addition, factors affecting the pregnancy rate of DNA-injected embryos after transfer were investigated .

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Genomic Structure Analyses of Five Kinds of Human Sialyltransferase Gene (5종류의 인간유래 시알산전이효소 유전자들의 게놈구조 분석)

  • Kang Nam-Young;Kim Sang-Wan;Kim Cheorl-Ho;Lee Young-Choon
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.14 no.6 s.67
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    • pp.1009-1017
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    • 2004
  • Sialyltransferases cloned so far show the remarkable tissue-specific expression, which is correlated with the existence of cell type-specific sialylated sugar structure in glycoconjugates. In the previous studies, we found various mRNA isoforms of human sialyltransferases generated by alternative splicing and alternative promoter utilization. To understand the regulatory mechanisms for specific expression of human sialyltransferase genes and for production of their mRNA isoforms, in this study, we have isolated and characterized five kinds of human sialyltransferase genes: hST3Gal II, hST8Sia II, hST8Sia III, hST8Sia IV, and hST8Sia V. The hST3Gal II gene is composed of six exons, which span over 17kb, with exons ranging in size from 46 to over 1017 bp. The hST8Sia III gene comprises over 10 kb, and consists of only four exons, which is much smaller and simpler than other human sialyltransferase genes. In contrast, three genes (hST8Sia II, hST8Sia IV and hST8Sia V) span more than 70 kb, and comprise five or more exons. All exon-intron boundaries follow the GT-AG rule. In particular, the sialylmotif L, which is a highly conserved region in all cloned sialyltransferases, was found in one exon of hST8Sia III, whereas this motif is encoded by discrete exons in the other human sialyltransferases. Exon structures of these sialyltransferase genes show the structural diversity, as found in other human sialyltransferase genes reported so far. We determined the transcription start site of hST3Gal II gene by the 5'-RACE and cap site hunting experiments.

Expressions of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide and Its Receptor Gene in the Rat Uterus (흰쥐 자궁에서 Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide와 수용체 유전자의 발현)

  • 이성호
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.21-27
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    • 1998
  • The present study was performed to analyze the gene expressions of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide(PACAP) and its receptor in the rat uterus, a candidate for novel extrahypothalamic source and target. The PACAP cDNA fragments corresponding to the common exon region which is found in both the rat hypothalamus and testis were produced from all tissue samples including the rat uterus by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No PCR product was amplified from the rat hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian and uterine samples when the 5' primer corresponding to the testis-specific exon 1 region was used, while the predicted size of product was detected from the testis sample. RT-PCR using the uterine RNA and specific primers for the PACAP receptor yielded products with predicted sizes. Transcripts for the rat uterine PACAP receptor were identified as type I isoforms with hip-hop and hip- or hop-type inserts. After pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (15 IU) treatment of immature rats (day 25), the level of PACAP mRNA was increased in 24 h and 48 h group, and was declined to the lowest in 72 h group. The present study shows the presence of transcripts for PACAP and its receptor isoform in the rat uterus. These finding ssuggest that the uterine PACAP ight act as a novel autocrine and/or paracrine factor via its specific receptors on the reglulation of rat uterine function and physiology during the reproductive cycle.

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The Effects of 1,25- Dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ on Expression of IGF-I Gene and Cellular Proliferation in MC3T3-E1 Cells (골아세포의 IGF-I 유전자 발현 및 세포증식에 대한 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$의 영향)

  • Choi, Hee-Dong;Lee, Jae-Mok;Suh, Jo-Young
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.39-52
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    • 2000
  • Polypeptide growth factor belong to a class of potent biologic mediator which regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, migration and metabolism. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ decrease cell proliferation, and stimulate alkaline phosphatase activity which express in osteoblast during cell differentiation period. IGF-I is known to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation too. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ is known to increase IGF-I binding sites and IGF binding protein which inhibite the effect of IGF. The purpose of this study is to evaluate potential role of IGF-I as mediator that control the action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$. MC3T3-E1 cell were seeded $5{\times}10^5/ml$ at 100mm culture plate in ${\alpha}-MEM$ containing 10% fetal bovine serum. After 48 hour incubation period, medium were changed ${\alpha}-MEM$ containing 5% fetal bovine serum. After 24 hours, $10^{-9}M$ 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ added. Total mRNA was extracted at 0, 6, 24, 48, 72 hour. PRPCR method was programed for the detection of IGF-I mRNA. In the both groups of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin $D_3$ treated and control, alternative splicing form of IGF-I, IGF-IA and IGF-IB were expressed. In the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ treated group, IGF-I mRNA expression was matained until 24 hour, there after expression was decresed. MC3T3-E1 cell were seeded $2.5{\times}10^4/ml$ at 24well plate in ${\alpha}-MEM$ containing 10% fetal bovine serum. After 48 hour incubation period, medium were changed ${\alpha}-MEM$ containing 3% fetal bovine serum. After 24 hours, $10^{-9}M$ 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ and 10 ng/ml IGF-I were added separately or together. Cell were cultured for 1 and 3 days, $2{\mu}Ci/ml\;[^3H]$ -thymidine was added for the last 24h of culture of each days. ${[^3H]}$-thymidine incorporation in to DNA was measured and expressed counter per minute(CPM). DNA synthetic activity was significantly decreased by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ both at 1 day and 3 day, and in the combination group of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ and IGF-I, DNA synthetic activity was also decreased both at 1 day and 3 days. IGF-I did not affect the DNA synthetic activity compared to control group both at 1 day and 3 day. From the above results, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ was potent inhibitor of cell proliferaton in MC3T3-E1 cells. It assumed that the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ on osteoblast proliferation may be mediated in part by decreased level of IGF-I.

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Identification and functional prediction of long non-coding RNAs related to skeletal muscle development in Duroc pigs

  • Ma, Lixia;Qin, Ming;Zhang, Yulun;Xue, Hui;Li, Shiyin;Chen, Wei;Zeng, Yongqing
    • Animal Bioscience
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    • v.35 no.10
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    • pp.1512-1523
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    • 2022
  • Objective: The growth of pigs involves multiple regulatory mechanisms, and modern molecular breeding techniques can be used to understand the skeletal muscle growth and development to promote the selection process of pigs. This study aims to explore candidate lncRNAs and mRNAs related to skeletal muscle growth and development among Duroc pigs with different average daily gain (ADG). Methods: A total of 8 pigs were selected and divided into two groups: H group (high-ADG) and L group (low-ADG). And followed by whole transcriptome sequencing to identify differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and mRNAs. Results: In RNA-seq, 703 DE mRNAs (263 up-regulated and 440 down-regulated) and 74 DE lncRNAs (45 up-regulated and 29 down-regulated) were identified. In addition, 1,418 Transcription factors (TFs) were found. Compared with mRNAs, lncRNAs had fewer exons, shorter transcript length and open reading frame length. DE mRNAs and DE lncRNAs can form 417 lncRNA-mRNA pairs (antisense, cis and trans). DE mRNAs and target genes of lncRNAs were enriched in cellular processes, biological regulation, and regulation of biological processes. In addition, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was used to detect the functions of DE mRNAs and lncRNAs, the most of DE mRNAs and target genes of lncRNAs were enriched in QTLs related to growth traits and skeletal muscle development. In single-nucleotide polymorphism/insertion-deletion (SNP/INDEL) analysis, 1,081,182 SNP and 131,721 INDEL were found, and transition was more than transversion. Over 60% of percentage were skipped exon events among alternative splicing events. Conclusion: The results showed that different ADG among Duroc pigs with the same diet maybe due to the DE mRNAs and DE lncRNAs related to skeletal muscle growth and development.

Control of Trophoblast Gene Expression and Cell Differentiation

  • Cheon, Jong-Yun
    • 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2001.03a
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    • pp.195-205
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    • 2001
  • 태반 영양배엽 (trophoblast)은 포유동물의 발생과정 중 가장 먼저 분화되는 세포로서, 자궁환경내에서 배아가 착상, 발생, 및 분화하기 위해서 반드시 필요한 태반을 형성하는 색심적인 세포이다. 영양배엽 세포의 분화과정중의 결함은 배아의 사산이나 임신질환 등의 치명적 결과를 초래한다. 하지만, 영양배엽 세포의 분화를 조절하는 분자생물학적인 메카니즘은 아직 규명되지 않고 있다. 영양배엽 세포의 분화를 조절하는 경로를 규경하기 위한 선결과제는 분화된 영양배엽 세포에서만 발현하는 많은 유전자들이 밝혀져야만 한다. 본 연구팀은 최근에 분화된 영양배엽 세포에서만 발현하는 두 종류의 새로운 유전자들을 찾았다. 한 종류는 homeobox를 보유하고 있는 조절 유전자 Psx이고, 다른 한 종류는 임신호르몬인 태반 프로락틴 라이크 단백질 유전자 PLP-C${\beta}$이다. 본 연구과제의 목표는 이들 유전자의 기능과 조절 메카니즘을 규명함으로써, 영양배엽 세포의 분화를 조절하는 조절경로를 밝히는 것이다. 이를 위하여 다음과 같은 일련의 연구를 수행할 것이다. 1) Psx 유전자가 분화된 영양배엽 세포에서만 발현케 하는 조절 메카니즘을 규명하기 위해 functional assays, in vitro footprinting, gel mobility shift assays, 생쥐형질전화, UV crosslinking, Southwestern blot 등의 방법을 통해 Psx 유전자의 cis-acting 요인과 trans-acting factor를 밝혀 분석한다. 2) 영양배엽 세포의 분화조절 경로를 규명하기 위해 random oligonuclotide library screening, DD-PCR, subtractive screening 등의 방법을 이용하여 Psx 유전자에 의해 조절되는 하부유전자를 밝힌다. 3) Psx 유전자를 knock-out시켜 영양배엽 세포가 발달 및 분화하는데 미치는 역할을 밝힌다. 4) Yeast two-hybrid screening방법을 이용하여 태반 프로락틴 유전자의 수용체를 찾아 이들의 신호전달 기전을 밝힌다. 제1차년 연구결과로서, mouse와 rat으로부터 각각 Psx 유전자의 genomic DNA를 클로닝하여, 유전자 구조를 비교한 결과, mouse Psx (mPsx2)는 4개의 exons으로 이루어져 있는 반면에, rat Psx (Psx3)는 3개의 exons으로 구성되어 있었다. 즉, rPsx3는 mPsx2의 exon1이 없었다. Notrhern blot과 in situ hybridization 분석에 의해 mouse와 rat에서 Psx 유전자가 다르게 발현 조절되는 현상을 밝혔다. 실제로 mPsx2와 rPsx3의 5'-flanking지역을 클로닝하여 염기서열 분석 결과 전혀 homology를 찾을 수 없었다. 또한, 이들 각각 promoter의 activity를 luciferase reporter를 이용하여 조사한 결과 Rcho-1 trophoblast cells에서 각기 다른 activity를 보여 주는 것을 발견하였다. Psx 유전자의 transcription start sites는 Primer extension에 의해 밝혔다. 또한 Psx2 유전자를 knock-out 시키기 위해 targeting vector를 Osdupde1에 제작하였다. 본 과제를 시작할 때 새로운 프로락틴 유전자 하나를 클로닝하여 이 유전자를 PLP-I라고 이름을 붙였다. 이 후 이 유전자 (PLP-I)는 PLP-C${\beta}$라고 이름을 붙이게 되었다. Mouse PLP-C${\beta}$ 유전자의 counterpart를 rat에서 찾아 염기서열을 비교한 결과 mouse와 rat에서 PLP-C${\beta}$유전자의 homology는 약 79% (amino acid level)였다. 본 연구과정을 통해 또 하나의 새로운 PLP-C subfamily member를 mouse로부터 클로닝 하였고, 이 유전자를 PLP-C${\gamma}$라 하였다. PLP-C${\beta}$와 PLP-C${\gamma}$의 발현 유형은 Northern blot과 in 냐셔 hybridization 분석에 의해 태반의 제한된 spongitrophoblast와 trophoblast giant cells에서만 발현하는 것을 밝혔다. 놀랍게도 이들 두 새로운 유전자는 alternative splicing에 의해 두 종류의 isoform이 있음을 밝혔다. PLP family member 유전자로서 splicing에 의한 isoforms을 보여 주는 유전자로는 PLP-C${\beta}$와 PLP-C${\gamma}$가 최초이다. 이들 isoform mRNAs의 발현 유형은 RT-PCR 방법을 이용하여 규명하였다. 또 하나의 새로운 발견은 PLP-C${\beta}$와 PLP-C${\gamma}$가 독특한 유전자 구조를 갖고 있었다. 즉, PLP-C${\beta}$는 exon3의 alternative splicing에 의해 5개 혹은 6개의 exons을 갖는 two isoforms이 생긴다. 반면에 PLP-C${\gamma}$는 exon2가 alternative splcing이 되면서 7개의 exons을 갖거나 6개의 exons을 갖는 isoforms을 만든다. 그리고, PLP-C${\gamma}$의 promoter activity를 trophoblast Rcho-l${\gamma}$ 세포주를 이용하여 PLP-C${\gamma}$ 의 1.5 kb 5'-flanking 지역이 trophoblast-specific promoter activity를 갖고 있음을 밝혔다. PLP-C${\gamma}$ 유전자의 transcription start site는 Primer extension에 의해 밝혔다. 제 1차 년도의 연구결과를 토대로, 2차년에서는 다음단계의 연구를 수행하고자 한다. 즉, 1) mPsx2와 rPsx3의 promoter를 비교분석 함으로서 mouse와 rat에서 Psx 유전자가 다르게 조절되는 메카니즘 규명, 2) Psx와 PLP-C 유전자의 promoter에 있는 cis-acting elements 탐색, 3) Psx2와 Psx3의 단백질을 이용하여 이들이 binding하는 target sequence 규명, 4) 제작한 Psx2 targeting vector를 이용하여 ES cells에서 Psx2 유전자 knock-out, 5) Psx 유전자를 과발현시키는 세포주를 만들고 Psx에 의해 조절되는 유전자 탐색, 6) 새로 밝히 PLP-C members 유전자들의 조절기전을 Rcho-1 세포주를 이용하여 여러 거지 성장인자와 다른 호르몬에 대한 반응을 탐색, 7) Psx와 PLP-C${\gamma}$ 유전자의 chromosomal mapping 등을 밝힐 것이다.

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Effect of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress Inhibitor Treatment during Parthenogenetic Activation on the Apoptosis and In Vitro Development of Parthenogenetic Porcine Embryos

  • Park, Hye-Bin;Kim, Mi-Jeong;Jung, Bae-Dong;Lee, Seunghyung;Park, Choon-Keun;Yang, Boo-Keun;Cheong, Hee-Tae
    • Development and Reproduction
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.235-244
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    • 2018
  • We investigate the effect of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitor treatment during parthenogenetic activation of oocytes on the ER stress generation, apoptosis, and in vitro development of parthenogenetic porcine embryos. Porcine in vitro matured oocytes were activated by 1) electric stimulus (E) or 2) $E+10{\mu}M$ Ca-ionophore (A23187) treatment (EC). Oocytes were then treated by ER stress inhibitors such as salubrinal (200 nM) and tauroursodeoxychloic acid (TUDCA, $100{\mu}M$) for 3 h prior to in vitro culture. Parthenogenetic embryos were sampled to analyze ER stress and apoptosis at the 1-cell and blastocyst stages. The x-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1) mRNA and ER stress-associated genes were analyzed by RT-PCR or RT-qPCR. Apoptotic gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. At the 1-cell stage, although no difference was observed in Xbp1 splicing among treatments, BiP transcription level in the E group was significantly reduced by salubrinal treatment, and GRP94 and ATF4 transcription levels in EC group were significantly reduced by all treatments (p<0.05) compared to control. In the EC group, both apoptotic genes were reduced by ER stress inhibitor treatments compared to control (p<0.05) except Caspase-3 gene by TUDCA treatment. These results suggest that the treatment of ER stress inhibitor during parthenogenetic activation can reduce ER stress, and thereby reduce apoptosis and promote in vitro development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos.

흰쥐의 뇌와 부신에서 카테콜아민 생합성 효소들의 유전자 발현에 미치는 Estrogen의 효과

  • 유경신;이성호
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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    • 2002.11a
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    • pp.114-114
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    • 2002
  • 포유동물에서 뇌와 부신에서 합성.분비되는 카테콜아민(Catecholamine, CA)계 신경전달물질인 dopamine(DA), norepinephrine(NE), epinephrine(E)은 체내 각종 생리현상의 조절에 필수적이며, 생식과 관련지어서는 시상하부-뇌하수체 간 GnRH-gonadotropin 호르몬 축의 활성을 조절하는 기능 외에도 번식과 관련된 여러 행동양식을 조절함이 잘 알려져 있다. 본 연구는 CA 생합성 효소들인 tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase(DBH), phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase(PNMT)의 유전자 발현에 미치는 sex steroid의 영향을 조사하였다. 성숙한 암컷 횐쥐(SD strain)의 난소를 제거하고 1주 경과 후 vehicle(sesame oil; OVX+Oil 실험군) 또는 estradiol 17$\beta$(235ug/m1; OVX+E$_2$실험군)이 든 silastic capsule(길이 14mm; 내경 1.55mm; 외경 3.125mm)을 48 시간 동안 처리한 뒤 희생시켰다. 적출된 조직으로부터 RNA를 추출한 후 semi-quantitative RT-PCR을 시행하였다. (i) TH의 발현 정도는 OVX+Oil 군에서는 시상하부) substantia nigra(SNc)) 부신 순으로, OVX+E$_2$군에서는 SN글 부신) 시상하부 순으로 나타났다. TH 발현에 미치는 estradiol의 효과로 SNc과 부신에서는 유의한 증가를 보인데 비해 시상하부에서는 유의한 감소를 관찰하였다. (ii) DBH 발현 정도는 OVX+Oil군에서는 SNc> 부신> 시상 하부 순으로, OVX+E$_2$군에서는 부신> SNc> 시상하부 순이었다. DBH 발현에 미치는 estradiol의 효과로 SNc에서는 유의한 감소, 부신에서는 유의한 증가, 그리고 시상하부에서는 통계적 유의성은 없으나 감소하는 경향을 보였다. (iii) PNMT의 발현의 경우 SNc와 시상하부에서는 기보고된 바와 같이 alternative splicing에 의해 110bp 차이의 크고 작은 두 형태의 cDNA(PNMTI & PNMTs)가 증폭되었으나 부신에서는 작은 cDNA 만이 관찰되었다. PNMTs의 발현 정도는 OVX+Oil군과 OVX+E$_2$군에서 공히 부신> 시상하부> SNc 순이었고, PNMTI의 발현은 SNc가 시상하부 보다 다소 높은 경향이었으나 유의성은 없었다. PNMTs 발현에 미치는 estradiol의 효과로 SNc에서는 유의한 감소, 부신에서는 유의한 증가, 그리고 시상하부에서는 통계적 유의성은 없으나 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 본 연구에서는 CA 생합성 효소들의 유전자 발현의 조절에 미치는 estrogen 의 영향이 세포 기원이 neural crest cell인 부신 수질은 물론 뇌의 상이한 지역간에서도 조직특이적임을 관찰하였다. 이러한 결과는 각 조직에서의 estrogen 수용체 유형의 차이 혹은 작용 모드와 각 효소 유전자 발현 사이에 중요한 상관관계가 있음을 시사한다.

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CMTM5-v1, a four-transmembrane protein, presents a secreted form released via a vesicle-mediated secretory pathway

  • Li, Henan;Guo, Xiaohuan;Shao, Luning;Plate, Markus;Mo, Xiaoning;Wang, Yu;Han, Wenling
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.43 no.3
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    • pp.182-187
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    • 2010
  • family (CMTM) is a novel family of proteins linking classical chemokines and the transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF). Our earlier studies indicated several CMTM members (such as CKLF1 and CMTM2) have a secreted form. This is the first report of the secreted form of CMTM5-v1, the major RNA splicing form of CMTM5, which is produced as small vesicles (<100 nm diameter) and floats at a peak density of 1.19 g/ml on continuous sucrose gradients. CMTM5-v1 has no obvious co-localization with CD63 or Golgi complex. In addition, brefeldin A but not wortmannin can inhibit the secretion of CMTM5-v1. Our results suggest that CMTM5-v1 might be secreted via a different vesicle-mediated secretory pathway, which will be helpful for the studies of vesicle-mediated secretion and MARVEL domain-containing proteins.

$p19^{ras}$ Accelerates $p73{\beta}$-mediated Apoptosis through a Caspase-3 Dependent Pathway

  • Jang, Sang-Min;Kim, Jung-Woong;Choi, Kyung-Hee
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.399-403
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    • 2009
  • $p19^{ras}$ is an alternative splicing variant of the proto-oncogene c-H-ras pre-mRNA of $p21^{ras}$. In contrast to $p21^{ras}$, $p19^{ras}$ does not have a C-terminal CAAX motif that targets the plasma membrane and is localized to both the cytoplasm and nucleus. We found that $p19^{ras}$ activated the transcriptional activity of $p73{\beta}$ through protein-protein interactions in the nucleus. p73 is known to play an important role in cellular damage responses such as apoptosis. Although p73 is a structural and functional homologue of p53, p73-mediated apoptosis has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction between $p19^{ras}$ and $p73{\beta}$ accelerated $p73{\beta}$-induced apoptosis through a caspase-3 dependent pathway. Treatment with DEVD-CHO, a caspase inhibitor, also strengthened $p73{\beta}$-mediated apoptosis through a caspase-3 dependent pathway. Furthermore, the enhanced transcriptional activity of endogenous $p73{\beta}$ by treatment with Taxol was amplified by $p19^{ras}$ overexpression, which markedly increased caspase-3 dependent apoptosis in the p53-null SAOS2 cancer cell line. Our findings indicate a functional linkage between $p19^{ras}$ and p73 in caspase-3 mediated apoptosis of cancer cells.