• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.940-946
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• 2008

Neurotransmitter transporters, which remove neurotransmittesr from the synaptic cleft, are regulated by second messenger such as protein kinases and binding proteins. Neuronal ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid transporters (GATs) are responsible for removing the inhibitory neurotransmitter ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA) from the synaptic cleft. ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid transporters 2 (GAT2/BGT1) is involved in regulating neurotransmitter recycling, but the mechanism how they are stabilized and regulated by the specific binding protein has not yet been elucidated. Here, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify the specific binding protein(s) that interacts with the C-terminal region of GAT2 and found a specific interaction with the mammalian LIN-7b (MALS-2). MALS-2 protein bound to the tail region of GAT2 but not to other GAT members in the yeast two-hybrid assay. The "T-X-L" motif at the C-terminal end of GAT2 is essential for interaction with MALS-2. In addition, this protein showed specific interactions in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay. An antibody to GAT2 specifically co-immunoprecipitated MALS associated with GAT2 from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that MALS may stabilize GAT2 in brain.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.304-311
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• 2015

Most follicles in the mammalian ovary undergo atresia. Granulosa cell apoptosis is a hallmark of follicle atresia. Our previous study using a microRNA (miRNA) microarray showed that the let-7 microRNA family was differentially expressed during follicular atresia. However, whether the let-7 miRNA family members are related to porcine (Sus scrofa) ovary follicular apoptosis is unclear. In the current study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of let-7 family members in follicles and granulosa cells were similar to our microarray data, in which miRNAs let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, and let-7i were significantly decreased in early atretic and progressively atretic porcine ovary follicles compared with healthy follicles, while let-7g was highly expressed during follicle atresia. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and Hoechst33342 staining demonstrated that let-7g increased the apoptotic rate of cultured granulosa cells. In addition, let-7 target genes were predicted and annotated by TargetScan, PicTar, gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways. Our data provide new insight into the association between the let-7 miRNA family in granulosa cell programmed death.