• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.371-376
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• 2002

The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily. It plays a critical role in osteoclast differentiaion, lymph node organogenesis, and mammary gland development. The stimulation of RANK causes the activation of transcription factors NF-${\kappa}B$ and activator protein 1 (AP1), and the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In the signal transduction of RANK, the recruitment of the adaptor molecules, TNF receptor-associated factors (TRAFs), is and initial cytoplasmic event. Recently, the association of the MAPK kinase kinase, transforming growth factor-$\beta$-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), with TRAF6 was shown to mediate the IL-1 signaling to NF-${\kappa}B$ and JNK. We investigated whether or not TAK1 plays a role in RANK signaling. A dominant-negative form of TAK1 was discovered to abolish the RANK-induced activation of AP1 and JNK. The AP1 activation by TRAF2, TRAF5, and TRAF6 was also greatly suppressed by the dominant-negative TAK1. the inhibitory effect of the TAK1 mutant on RANK-and TRAF-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was also observed, but less efficiently. Our findings indicate that TAK1 is involved in the MAPK cascade and NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway that is activated by RANK.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.826-831
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• 2003

ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase (ADPRase) hydrolyzes ADP-ribose (ADPR) into AMP and ribose-5'-phosphate. It is classified into two groups, $Mg^{2+}$-dependent and $Mg^{2+}$-independent ADPRase, depending on its $Mg^{2+}$requirement. Here, we purified $Mg^{2+}$-dependent ADPRase from rabbit liver and examined what factors affect $Mg^{2+}$ requirement. The purified enzyme showed a single band with the molecular weight of 34 kDa on SDS-PAGE both in the presence and absence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The molecular weight of the native enzyme calculated by gel filtration was 68 kDa, indicating that ADPRase is a dimer made up of two identical subunits. $Mg^{2+}$-dependent ADPRase with the highest ADPR affinity had a $K_m$ of 160$\pm$10 $\mu$M and a pH optimum of around pH 9.5. Treatment of the purified ADPRase with heated cytosol fractions at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 3 h caused some changes in the chemical properties of the enzyme, including an increase in molecular weight, a decrease in solubility, and a loss of $Mg^{2+}$-dependency. The molecular weight of the cytosol-treated ADPRase measured by gel filtration was over 420 kDa, suggesting, for the first time, that ADPRase could be polymerized by undefined cytoplasmic factors, and that polymerization is accompanied by changes in the solubility and metal ion dependency of the enzyme.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3 s.95
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• pp.185-191
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• 2001

The morphological variation and density of the Euglena viridis cells and environmental factors of urban waterways of Daejoncheon , Jeonjucheon, Kwangjucheon, Kumhogang, Mihocheon,and Musimcheon, Korea were studied from 25December, 1995 to 5 January, 1997 in order toelucidate possible relationships among the bio-logical and abiological factors. All E. viridis cells were same in having single star-cluster of chlo-roplast lobes and included two morphotypes based on other detailed morphology. The morphotype I cells agreed well with the typical form off. viridrs and commonly occurred in most of waters and bloomed with $5386\;cells\;{\cdot}\;mL^{-1}$ in Kwangjucheon. The density of the morphotype Ipositively correlated with ammonium (r = 0.80)and nitrite (r = 0.68), while negatively with nit-rate concentration. The morphotype II cells were characterized by having randomly scattered cytoplasmic granules beneath pellicle and unevenmargined lobes of chloroplasts. The density of the morphotype II positively correlated with nitrate (r = 0.98), while negatively correlated with ammonium and nitrite. However, the density of each morphotype was not significantly related with inorganic phosphate, temperature and pH of surface water. These results indicate that E. viridis includes two morphotypes in urban waterways in Korea, that coexist in the same period and station as a response of allocation of nitrogenous nutrients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3057-3063
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• 2014

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been intensively studied. The gold standard for ALK detection is FISH, but this is not routinely conducted in clinical practice, so that the IHC method has a role. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of ALK rearrangement and risk or prognostic factors for ALK positivity using both of IHC and FISH methods. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to December 2012, 267 completely resected NSCLC patients in Chiang Mai University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Clinical and pathological variables and outcomes of treatment were retrospectively reviewed. IHC and FISH were used to evaluate ALK rearrangement. Sensitivity and specificity of IHC were analyzed. Multivariable analysis was used to identify clinico-pathological correlations with positive results of IHC and clinical outcomes. Results: Twenty-two (8.2%) of 267 specimens were IHC-positive for ALK with intense cytoplasmic staining, whereas only 10 (3.8%) were FISH-positive. Sensitivity, specificity and the positive likelihood ratio with IHC were 80.0%, 94.9%, and 15.8 respectively. Age less than 55 years (RR 4.4, 95%CI 1.78-10.73, p value=0.001) and presence of visceral pleural invasion (VPI) (RR 2.9, 95%CI 1.21-6.78, p value =0.017) were identified as risk factors for ALK rearrangement with FISH. There were no statistically significant differences in other clinical and pathological variables. ALK rearrangement was not a prognostic factor for tumor recurrence or overall survival. Conclusions: The incidences of ALK positivity in completely resected NSCLCs in northern Thailand were 8.2% by IHC and 3.8% by FISH. IHC with mouse monoclonal, Ventana D5F3 antibody can be used as a screening tool before FISH method because of high specificity and high positive likelihood ratio. Age less than 55 years and VPI are risk factors for ALK positivity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 1980

We observed performance of segregation in flower color and type of hybrids which obtained from crossing of intra species in Hibiscus syriacus. Obtained results were followings. 1. The purple flower was dominance to the white one and this was presumed that was owing to cytoplasmic heredity. 2. Single and double petal of flower was presumed that was originated from factors of Ss and dd. 3. There was not variation in flower color and type of $F_1$ hybrid between 4 n and 2 n Hibiscus syriacus. 4. There were many variation of flower color among $F_1$ hybrids which abtained in open pollination of Hibiscus syriacus. 5. We could observe many flowers variegated with red color among $F_1$ hybrids which obtained in crossing between double petal flowers of Hibiscus syriacus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1844-1854
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• 2017

Trichomonas vaginalis is a pathogen that triggers severe immune responses in hosts. T. vaginalis ${\alpha}$-actinin 2 ($Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2) has been used to diagnose trichomoniasis. $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 was dissected into three parts; the N-terminal, central, and C-terminal portions of the protein (#1, #2, and #3, respectively). Western blot of these $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 proteins with pooled patients' sera indicated that #2 and #3, but not #1, reacted with those sera. Immunofluorescence assays of two different forms of T. vaginalis (trophozoites and amoeboid forms), using anti-$Tv{\alpha}$- actinin 2 antibodies, showed localization of $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 close to the plasma membranes of the amoeboid form. Fractionation experiments indicated the presence of $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 in cytoplasmic, membrane, and secreted proteins of T. vaginalis. Binding of fluorescence-labeled Trichomonas to vaginal epithelial cells and prostate cells was decreased in the antibody blocking experiment using anti-$Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 antibodies. Pretreatment of T. vaginalis with anti-$rTv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 antibodies also resulted in reduction in its cytotoxicity. Flow cytometry, ligand-binding immunoblotting assay, and observation by fluorescence microscopy were used to detect the binding of recombinant $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 to human epithelial cell lines. Specifically, the truncated N-terminal portion of $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2, $Tv{\alpha}$-actinin 2 #1, was shown to bind directly to vaginal epithelial cells. These data suggest that ${\alpha}$-actinin 2 is one of the virulence factors responsible for the pathogenesis of T. vaginalis by serving as an adhesin to the host cells.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.201-207
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• 2004

Objective: The Id family of helix-loop-helix proteins are thought to affect the balance between cell growth and differentiation by negatively regulating the function of basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of Ids (Id-1, -2, -3, and -4) in preimplantation mouse embryos at mRNA and protein levels. Methods: Oocytes and preimplantation embryos were collected from reproductive organs of female ICR mice following superovulation. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of Id genes and their protein were localized by immunofluorescence analysis. Results: Id-1 and Id-3 mRNAs were strongly expressed at the germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte and the blastocyst stages. Id-2 mRNA was expressed throughout preimplantation embryo development, but Id-4 was not expressed. Immunofluorescence showed that Id-1 and Id-2 were predominantly localized in cytoplasmic region, but the immunofluorescence signal of Id-3 was weak throughout preimplantation embryo development. Conclusion: These data show for the first time that Ids are expressed in preimplantation mouse embryos and suggest that Ids may play an important role in early preimplantation embryo development and uterine physiological changes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.253-257
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• 2004

Schwann cells play an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration. Upon neuronal injury, activated Schwann cells clean up the myelin debris by phagocytosis, and promote neuronal survival and axon outgrowth by secreting various neurotrophic factors. However, it is unclear how the nerve injury induces Schwann cell activation. Recently, it was reported that certain cytoplasmic molecules, which are secreted by cells undergoing necrotic cell death, induce immune cell activation via the toll-like receptors (TLRs). This suggests that the TLRs expressed on Schwann cells may recognize nerve damage by binding to the endogenous ligands secreted by the damaged nerve, thereby inducing Schwann cell activation. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to examine the expression and the function of the TLRs on primary Schwann cells and iSC, a rat Schwann cell line. The transcripts of TLR2, 3, 4, and 9 were detected on the primary Schwann cells as well as on iSC. The stimulation of iSC with poly (I : C), a synthetic ligand for the TLR3, induced the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and RANTES. In addition, poly (I : C) stimulation induced the iNOS expression and nitric oxide secretion in iSC. These results suggest that the TLRs may be involved in the inflammatory activation of Schwann cells, which is observed during Wallerian degeneration after a peripheral nerve injury.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 1991

In order to investigate the factors of the control mechanism of somitogenesis, early chick embryos (H-H stage $8{\sim}13$) were treated with heat shock, ${\alpha}$-amanitin and cycloheximide and morphological changes of somite were examined by light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In normal chick embryo, somites were formed from the somitomere which preexisted in segmental plate. Somites were wrapped with extracellular collagen fibrils and connected with neural tube, notochord and ectoderm. And then, somites were differentiated to sclerotome, dermatome and myotome by the interaction of nervous tissue. Abnormal somites were observed after formation of six or seven so mites in heat shock treated group. Amounts of collagen fibrils were obviously decreased in this group. In cycloheximide treated group, most so mites were smaller and neural tube formation was incomplete. Chromatins were condenced and formed several heterochromatins in the nucleus of somite cells. Lipid like cytoplasmic dense mass and lipid droplets were also observed. Segmentation of somites seemed to be normal progress in ${\alpha}$-amanitin treated group. Center of somite, however, hollowed in longitudinal sectioned samples. These results suggested that so mites were already existed in the segmental plate as the form of somitomere. Segmented somites were contacted with neural tube or notochord and the somites were tightly connected with each other by the extracellular collagen fibrils which were secreted from neuroepithelium and somite cells. Somites are thought to differentiate into sclerotome, dermatome and myotome by these interactions.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2010

When fully grown oocytes are removed from their follicles, they can resume meiosis and mature spontaneously under in vitro conditions. However, nuclear maturation under in vitro condition is not accompanied by complete cytoplasmic maturation, which is essential for successful fertilization and the initiation of zygotic development. This study analyzed change of proteins in follicular fluids during the porcine follicular development. Follicular fluids were collected from follicles of diameter 1~2 mm, 2~6 mm and 6~10 mm in ovary of slaughtered pigs. Total proteins were extracted from follicular fluids by M-PER Mammalian Protein Extraction Reagent. We confirmed totally 27 same spots, 1 spot from follicle fluid of 2~6 mm follicle and 5 spots from follicle fluid of 6~10 mm in diameter were analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry and searched on NCBInr. In results, spot No. 28 from 2~6 mm follicle was Ig lambda chain C region, and spot No.32 and 33 from 6~10 mm was Apolipoprotein A-(APOA4). Spot No.29 and 31 were failed to analyze. These results indicate that the porcine oocyte during in vitro maturation depend on specific different expressed proteins may play an important roles in the sequence of molecular events in porcine oocyte maturation and follicular development.