• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 1997

The MTF1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a 43 kDa MITOCHONDRIAL RNA polymerase specificity factor which recognizes mitochondrial promoters to initiate correct transcription. To better understand structure-function of the MTF1 gene as well as the transcription mechanism of mitochondrial RNA polymerase, two cold-sensitive alleles of the MTF1 mutation were isolated by plasmid shuffling method after PCR-based random mutagenesis of the MTF1 gene. The mutation sites were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing. These cs phenotype mtf1 mutants were respiration competent on the nonfermentible glycerol medium at the permissive temperature, but incompetent at 13.deg.C. The cs phenotype allele of the MTF1, yJH147, encoded an L146P replacement. The other cs allele, yJH148, contained K179E and K214M double replacements. Mutations in both alleles were in a region of Mtflp which is located between domains with amino acid sequence similarities to conserved regions 2 and 3 of bacterial s factors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.22-25
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• 1999

In order to study the mechanism for the adaptation to salt stress, we mutagenized budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with Ethylmethane sulfonate, and isolated salt-tolerant mutants. Among the salt-tolerant mutants, two strains exhibit additional temperature sensitive phenotype. Here, we report that these two salt-tolerant mutants are specific to {TEX}$Na^{+}${/TEX} rather than general osmotic stress. These mutant strains may contain mutations in the genes involved in {TEX}$Na^{+}${/TEX} home-ostasis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.128-137
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• 2011

Fifty two Macrophomina phaseolina isolates were recovered from 24 host plant species through the 14 Iranian provinces. All isolates were confirmed to species using species-specific primers. The colony characteristics of each isolate were recorded, including chlorate phenotype, relative growth rate at $30^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$, average size of microsclerotia, and time to microsclerotia formation. The feathery colony phenotype was the most common (63.7%) on the chlorate selective medium and represented the chlorate sensitive phenotype of the Iranian Macrophomina phaseolina population. Meantime, inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) Markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of the fungus. Unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic means (UPGMA) clustering of data showed that isolates did not clearly differentiate to the specific group according to the host or geographical origins, however, usually the isolates from the same host or the same geographic origin tend to group nearly. Our results did not show a correlation between the genetic diversity based on the ISSR and phenotypic characteristics. Similar to the M. phaseolina populations in the other countries, the Iranian isolates were highly diverse based on the phenotypic and the genotypic characteristics investigated and needs more studies using neutral molecular tools to get a deeper insight into this complex species.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.368-372
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• 2008

Recent molecular and genetic studies in rice, a short-day plant, have elucidated both conservation and divergence of photoperiod pathway genes and their regulators. However, the biological roles of rice genes that act within the autonomous pathway are still largely unknown. In order to better understand the function of the autonomous pathway genes in rice, we conducted molecular genetic analyses of OsFVE, a rice gene homologous to Arabidopsis FVE. OsFVE was found to be ubiquitously expressed in vegetative and reproductive organs. Overexpression of OsFVE could rescue the flowering time phenotype of the Arabidopsis fve mutants by up-regulating expression of the SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO1 (SOC1) and down-regulating FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) expression. These results suggest that there may be a conserved function between OsFVE and FVE in the control of flowering time. However, OsFVE overexpression in the fve mutants did not rescue the flowering time phenotype in in relation to the response to intermittent cold treatment.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.5 s.94
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• pp.363-370
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• 2005

Neural stem cells (NSCs) of the central nervous system (CNS) have raised a great interest not only for their importance in basic neural development but also for their therapeutic potentials in neurologically degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer and stroke. During the CNS development, two molecular cascades determine specification of midbrain dopamine system. In one pathway, FGF-8, sonic hedgehog and transcription factor Nurr1 specify dopamine neurotransmitter phenotype. In the other, transcription factors $Lm{\times}lb\;and\;Pt{\times}3$ are required for induction of dopaminergic neurons. In Nurr1 knockout mouse, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells fail to appear in substantia nigra, indicating that Nurr1 is essential in specification of dopaminergic cell phenotype. In this study, we used the immortalized human NSCs retrovirally transduced with Nurr1 gene to probe the Nurr1 mediated mechanism to induce dopamine phenotype. While Nurr1 over-expression alone did not generate dopamine phenotype in NSCs, applications of retinoid and forskolin induced expression of TH and AADC mRNAs. In addition, co-cultures of Nurr1 expressing NSCs with human astrocytes induced a marked increase of TH expression. In this co-culture system, the addition of retinoid and forskolin dramatically increased expression of TH. These results indicate that the immortalized human NSCs with Nurr1 gene could have a clinical utility for cell replacement for the Parkinson patients.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2018

Clinical and genetic heterogeneity in association with overlapping spectrum is characteristic in pediatric neuromuscular disorders, which makes confirmative diagnosis difficult and time consuming. Considering evolution of molecular genetic diagnosis and resultant upcoming genetically modifiable therapeutic options, rapid and cost-effective genetic testing should be applied in conjunction with existing diagnostic methods of clinical examinations, laboratory tests, electrophysiologic studies and pathologic studies. Earlier correct diagnosis would enable better clinical management for these patients in addition to new genetic drug options and genetic counseling.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.414-419
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• 1995

The retroviruses carrying ${\nu}-myc$ and ${\nu}-raf$ oncogenes were infected into fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC) to study the molecular mechanisms involved in T cell development. T cell lymphomas in the different stages of T cell development were obtained from this culture system. Interestingly, a few cell lines obtained from this system have a lack of transfected oncogenes, however these cells have the characteristics of transformed cells. In spite of the discrete phenotype of these transformed cell lines, the same pattern of recombination of endogenous c-raf genes was detected from Southern blot analysis. We suggest in this regard that the translocation event of thymocytes, or abnormal promoter activity, can cause lymphomagenesis by way of c-raf.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.2.1-2.16
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• 2018

Supplementation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at sites of bone resorption is required for bone homeostasis because of the non-proliferation and short lifespan properties of the osteoblasts. Calcium ions ($Ca^{2+}$) are released from the bone surfaces during osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. However, how elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations would alter MSCs behavior in the proximal sites of bone resorption is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ on MSCs phenotype depending on $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations. We found that the elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ promoted cell proliferation and matrix mineralization of MSCs. In addition, MSCs induced the expression and secretion of osteopontin (OPN), which enhanced MSCs migration under the elevated extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ conditions. We developed in vitro osteoclast-mediated bone resorption conditions using mouse calvaria bone slices and demonstrated $Ca^{2+}$ is released from bone resorption surfaces. We also showed that the MSCs phenotype, including cell proliferation and migration, changed when the cells were treated with a bone resorption-conditioned medium. These findings suggest that the dynamic changes in $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in the microenvironments of bone remodeling surfaces modulate MSCs phenotype and thereby contribute to bone regeneration.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2015

A mouse homozygous for the spontaneous mutation uncovered (Uncv) has a hairless phenotype. A 309-bp non-frameshift deletion mutation in the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of iRhom2 was identified in Uncv mice ($iRhom2^{Uncv}$) using target region sequencing. The detailed molecular basis for how the iRhom2 mutation causes the hairless phenotype observed in the homozygous $iRhom2^{Uncv}$ mouse remains unknown. To identify differentially expressed proteins in the skin of wild-type and homozygous $iRhom2^{Uncv}$ littermates at postnatal day 5, proteomic approaches, including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used. Twelve proteins were differentially expressed in the skin in a comparison between wild-type and homozygous $iRhom2^{Uncv}$ mice. A selection of the proteomic results were tested and verified using qRT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. These data indicate that differentially expressed proteins, especially KRT73, MEMO1 and Coro-1, might participate in the mechanism by which iRhom2 regulates the development of murine skin.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.725-730
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• 2009

Cyclin E1 (CCNE1), a positive regulator of the cell cycle, controls the transition of cells from G1 to S phase. In numerous human tumors, however, CCNE1 expression is frequently dysregulated, while the mechanism leading to its dysregulation remains incompletely defined. Herein, we showed that CCNE1 expression was subject to post-transcriptional regulation by a microRNA miR-16-1. This was evident at protein level of CCNE1 as well as its mRNA level. Further evident by dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that two evolutionary conserved binding sites on 3' UTR of CCNE1 were the direct functional target sites. Moreover, we showed that miR-16-1 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by targeting CCNE1 and siRNA against CCNE1 partially phenocopied miR-16-1-induced cell cycle phenotype whereas substantially rescued anti-miR-16-1- induced phenotype. Together, all these results demonstrate that miR-16-1 plays a vital role in modulating cellular process in human cancers and indicate the therapeutic potential of miR-16-1 in cancer therapy.