• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.321-325
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• 2023

RNAs are pivotal molecules acting as messengers of genetic information and regulatory molecules for cellular development and survival. From birth to death, RNAs face constant cellular decision for the precise control of cellular function and activity. Most eukaryotic cells employ conserved machineries for RNA decay including RNA silencing and RNA quality control (RQC). In plants, RQC monitors endogenous RNAs and degrades aberrant and dysfunctional species, whereas RNA silencing promotes RNA degradation to repress the expression of selected endogenous RNAs or exogenous RNA derived from transgenes and virus. Interestingly, emerging evidences have indicated that RQC and RNA silencing interact with each by sharing target RNAs and regulatory components. Such interaction should be tightly organized for proper cellular survival. However, it is still elusive that how each machinery specifically recognizes target RNAs. In this review, we summarize recent advances on RNA silencing and RQC pathway and discuss potential mechanisms underlying the interaction between the two machineries.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2023

Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotic microalgae, and they are highly diversified in aquatic environments. We describe an unrecorded diatom species Fragilaria saxoplanctonica Lange-Bertalot & Ulrich (Bacillariophyceae) collected from Paldang Reservoir, Korea, on 4 April 2022. The valve was needle shaped and narrowly rectangular, its ends were rounded, and no spines were found on the outline of their valves. The valve was 67.2-70.2㎛ in length and 1.4-2.9㎛ in width. The ratio of width-to-length was 1 : 23.2-50.1. The pattern of striation was alternate or opposite, and the number of striae in 10㎛ was 24-26. Molecular comparisons of the 18S rDNA and rbcL sequences showed that it belonged to the genus Fragilaria. These morphological and phylogenetic results confirmed that our species was F. saxoplanctonica, and it was the first record in Korea.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.343-357
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• 1992

Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF), a polypeptide hormone secreted primarily by activated macrophages, was originally identified on the basis of its ability to cause hemorrhagic necrosis and tumor regression in vivo. Subsequently, TNF has been shown to be an important component of the host responses to infection and cancer and may mediate the wasting syndrome known as cachexia. These systemic actions of TNF are reflected in its diverse effects on target cells in vitro. TNF initiates its diverse cellular actions by binding to specific cell surface receptors. Although TNF receptors have been identified on most of animal cells, regulation of these receptors and the mechanisms which transduce TNF receptor binding into cellular responses are not well understood. Therefore, in the present study, the mechanisms how TNF receptors are being regulated and how TNF receptor binding is being transduced into cellular responses were investigated in rat liver plasma membranes (PM) and ME-180 human cervical carcinoma cell lines. $^{125}I$-TNF bound to high ($K_d=1.51{\pm}0.35nM$)affinity receptors in rat liver PM. Solubilization of PM with 1% Triton X-100 increased both high affinity (from $0.33{\pm}0.04\;to\;1.67{\pm}0.05$ pmoles/mg protein) and low affinity (from $1.92{\pm}0.16\;to\;7.57{\pm}0.50$ pmoles/mg protein) TNF binding without affecting the affinities for TNF, suggesting the presence of a large latent pool of TNF receptors. Affinity labeling of receptors whether from PM or solubilized PM resulted in cross-linking of $^{125}I$-TNF into $M_r$ 130 kDa, 90 kDa and 66kDa complexes. Thus, the properties of the latent TNF receptors were similar to those initially accessible to TNF. To determine if exposure of latent receptors is regulated by TNF, $^{125}I$-TNF binding to control and TNF-pretreated membranes were assayed. Specific binding was increased by pretreatment with TNF (P<0.05), demonstrating that hepatic PM contains latent TNF receptors whose exposure is promoted by TNF. Homologous up-regulation of TNF receptors may, in part, be responsible for sustained hepatic responsiveness during chronic exposure to TNF. As a next step, the post-receptor events induced by TNF were examined. Although the signal transduction pathways for TNF have not been delineated clearly, the actions of many other hormones are mediated by the reversible phosphorylation of specific enzymes or target proteins. The present study demonstrated that TNF induces phosphorylation of 28 kDa protein (p28). Two dimensional soidum dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE) resolved the 28kDa phosphoprotein into two isoforms having pIs of 6.2 and 6.1. The pIs and relative molecular weight of p28 were consistent with those of a previously characterized mRNA cap binding protein. mRNA cap binding proteins are a class of translation initiation factors that recognize the 7-methylguanosine cap structure found on the 5' end of eukaryotic mRNAs. In vitro, these proteins are defined by their specific elution from affinity columns composed of 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate($m^7$GTP)-Sepharose. Affinity purification of mRNA cap binding proteins from control and TNF treated ME-180 cells proved that TNF rapidly stimulates phosphorylation of an mRNA cap binding protein. Phosphorylation occurred in several cell types that are important in vitro models of TNF action. The mRNA cap binding protein phosphorylated in response to TNF treatment was purifice, sequenced, and identified as the proto-oncogene product eukaryotic initiation factor-4E(eIF-4E). These data show that phosphorylation of a key component of the cellular translational machinery is a common early event in the diverse cellular actions of TNF.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1012-1022
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• 2020

Objective: Caseins and fatty acids of milk are synthesized and secreted by the epithelial cells of the mammary gland. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, has been shown to promote mammary development. This study was conducted to determine the effect of ATRA on casein synthesis and fatty acid composition in MAC-T cells. Methods: MAC-T cells were allowed to differentiate for 4 d, treated with ATRA (0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 μM), and incubated for 3 d. We analyzed the fatty acid composition, the mRNA expression of casein and fatty acid synthesis-related genes, and the phosphorylation of casein synthesis-related proteins of MAC-T cells by gas chromatography, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting, respectively. Results: In MAC-T cells, ATRA increased the mRNA levels of α_S1-casein and β-casein, janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and E74-like factor 5 of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 β (STAT5-β) pathway, ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, inhibited the mRNA expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E of the mTOR pathway, and promoted the phosphorylation of STAT5-β and S6K1 proteins. Additionally, ATRA increased the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, reduced the content of long-chain fatty acids, the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (SFA), the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to SFA, and the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 PUFA. The mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) were enhanced by ATRA. Conclusion: ATRA promotes the synthesis of casein by regulating JAK2/STAT5 pathway and downstream mTOR signaling pathway, and it improves the fatty acid composition of MAC-T cells by regulating SREBP1-related genes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.447-453
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• 2006

Histidine kinase plays important roles in signal transduction in plant. We characterized the function of Arabidopsis histidine kinase 3 (AHK3) and analyzed the expression patterns of genes and proteins in its mutant ahk3 by trans-zeatin (t-zeatin). The ahk3 exhibited decreased sensitivity to t-zeatin during callus formation, seedling growth, and leaf senescence. From proteomic analysis of ahk3, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A-2, auxin binding glutathione S-transferase, and NDPK1 were identified not to be induced by t-zeatin, when compared to the wild-type. In addition, the expression levels of ARR4 and ARR16 among A-type response regulators (ARRs) markedly decreased in ahk3 by t-zeatin treatment. These results suggest that AHK3 plays an important role in cytokinin signaling and the proteins identified from proteomic analysis and specific ARRs, ARR4 and ARR16 may be directly or indirectly associated in AHK3-mediated cytokinin signaling.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.54-63
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• 2006

Ferritin is a major eukaryotic protein and in humans is the protein of iron storage. A partial gene fragment of ferritin (255 bp) taken from the total RNA of Periserrula leucophryna, was amplified by RT-PCR using oligonucleotide primers designed from the conserved metal binding domain of eukaryotic ferritin and confirmed by DNA sequencing. Using the $^{32}P-labeled$ partial ferritin cDNA fragment, 28 different clones were obtained by the screening of the P. leucophryna cDNA library prepared in the Uni-ZAP XR vector, sequenced and characterized. The longest clone was named the PLF (Periserrula leucophryna ferritin) gene and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of this novel gene were deposited in the GenBank databases with accession numbers DQ207752 and ABA55730, respectively. The entire cDNA of PLF clone was 1109 bp (CDS: 129-653), including a coding nucleotide sequence of 525 bp, a 5' -untranslated region of 128 bp, and a 3'-noncoding region of 456 bp. The 5'-UTR contains a putative iron responsive element (IRE) sequence. Ferritin has an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 174 amino acids including a hydrophobic signal peptide of 17 amino acids. The predicted molecular weights of the immature and mature ferritin were calculated to be 20.3 kDa and 18.2 kDa, respectively. The region encoding the mature ferritin was subcloned into the pT7-7 expression vector after PCR amplification using the designed primers and included the initiation and termination codons; the recombinant clones were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) or E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysE. SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis showed that a ferritin of approximately 18 kDa (mature form) was produced and that by iron staining in native PAGE, it is likely that the recombinant ferritin is correctly folded and assembled into a homopolymer composed of a single subunit.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2000

Blunt-end DNA fragments can be inserted in two different orientations. Conventionally, their directions are determined by restriction enzyme digestion or by DNA sequencing, however, these methods are often limited in their use due to the lack of appropriate enzyme sites or large sample numbers, respectively. In the present study, a novel strategy and the corresponding protocol for the simple determination of insert orientation is introduced. Using conventional sequencing primers and PCR primers that have been used for amplification of the insert, single clones, which have inserted the fragment in the desired orientation, were easily identified by this PCR-based method. The fidelity of this system was confirmed by cloning of a tar urocortin cDNA, which is a recently discovered neuropeptide. Recombinant clones identified by this method were further shown to be fully functional, and using these, for the first time, urocortin was recombinantly expressed in eukaryotic cells.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2005

Phosphomannomutase (PMM) is a key enzyme in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, which catalyzes the conversion of ${\alpha}$-D-mannose 6-phosphate to ${\alpha}$-D-mannose 1-phosphate. The latter is the substrate for the synthesis of GDP-mannose, which serves as the mannosyl donor for many metabolic pathways in the cells. We report here on the isolation of a gene from a genomic library of Sphingomonas chungbukensis DJ77, the pmmC gene encoding phosphomannomutase. The gene was cloned into E. coli expression vector, and the sequence was analyzed. The ribosomal binding site GGAAG lays 5 bp upstream of the ORF of 750 bp, which is initiated by ATG codon and terminated by TAG. The predicted sequence of the enzyme consists of 249 amino acids with a molecular mass of 27.4 kDa and showed $86.9\%$ similarity to that of eukaryotic phosphomannomutase after bioinformatical analyses with the conserved domain search of NCBI. The purified gene product revealed the activity of phosphomannomutase. In conclusion, we confirmed that pmmC gene encodes phosphomannomutase actually.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.325-330
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• 2004

The RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for excision repair and is essential for cell viability. RAD3 encoded protein possesses a single stranded DNA-dependent ATPase and DNA and DNA-RNA helicase activities. To examine the extent of conservation of structure and function of RAD3 during eukaryotic evolution, the RAD3 homolog gene was isolated by screening of genomic DNA library. The isolated gene was designated as HRD3 (Homologue of RAD3 gene). The over-expressed HRD3 protein was estimated to be a 75 kDa in size which is in good agreement with the estimated by the nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that a number of other protein spots dramatically disappeared when the HRD3 protein was overexpressed. The overexpressed RAD3 protein showed a toxicity in E. coli host, suggesting that this protein may be involved in the inhibition of protein synthesis and/or degradation of host protein. To determine which part of HRD3 gene contributes to the toxicity in E. coli, various fusion plasmids containing a partial sequence of HRD3 and lac'Z gene were constructed. These results suggest that the C-terminal domain of HRD3 protein may be important for both toxic effect in E. coli and for its role in DNA repair in S. pombe.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.941-946
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• 2013

Local protein synthesis at subsynaptic sites plays a key role in the regulation of the protein composition in local domains. In this study, we carried out immunocytochemistry of cultured rat hippocampal neurons in various developmental stages to investigate the expression of eIF4E and its binding protein, eIF4EBP1. Both proteins were distributed in dendrites. In addition, eIF4EBP1 was highly expressed in the nucleus throughout the development, whereas eIF4E was not expressed in the nucleus. Punctate expression of eIF4E and eIF4EBP1 was evident in DIV 3. The colocalization rates of eIF4E or eIF4EBP1 puncta with PSD95 were higher in the dendrogenic than in the mature stages. In contrast, the colocalization rates of eIF4E and eIF4EBP1 puncta were higher in the mature than in the dendrogenic stages. As eIF4E is inactive when it is bound to eIF4EBP1, these data indicate that most dendritic eIF4E's are active during development but that they are mostly under inhibition in mature neurons.