• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.471-476
• /
• 1998

The G protein-activated inwardly rectifying $K^＋$ channel (GIRK1) was coex-pressed in Xenopus oocytes along with the $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor, a 7-helix receptor known to be coupled to $K^＋$ channels in many neural tissues. Thus, the activation of the $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor by its agonist leads to the opening of GIRK1. The GIRK1 current was measured using the two electrode voltage clamp technique with bath application of 5-HT in the presence of various external potassium concentrations $[K^＋]_0$. GIRK1 showed a strong inward rectification since only hyperpolarizing voltages evoked inward currents. $K^{+}$ was the major ion carrier as evidenced by about 44㎷ voltage shift corresponding to a 10-fold external 〔$K^＋$〕 change. 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent inward $K^＋$ current ($EC_{50}{\equation omitted}10.7nM$) which was blocked by $Ba^{2＋}$. Pertussis toxin (PTX) pre-treatment reduced the $K^＋$ current by as much as about 70%, suggesting that PTX-sensitive G protein ($G_i or G_o$ type) are involved in the $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor-GIRK1 coupling in Xenopus oocytes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.2273-2278
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to explore the molecular mechanisms in the process of oral squamous cells carcinoma (OSCC) development. Method: We downloaded the affymetrix microarray data GSE31853 and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between OSCC and normal tissues. Then Gene Ontology (GO) and Protein-Protein interaction (PPI) networks analysis was conducted to investigate the DEGs at the function level. Results: A total 372 DEGs with logFCI >1 and P value < 0.05 were obtained, including NNMT, BAX, MMP9 and VEGF. The enriched GO terms mainly were associated with the nucleoplasm, response to DNA damage stimuli and DNA repair. PPI network analysis indicated that GMNN and TSPO were significant hub proteins and steroid biosynthesis and synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies were significantly dysregulated pathways. Conclusion: It is concluded that the genes and pathways identified in our work may play critical roles in OSCC development. Our data provides a comprehensive perspective to understand mechanisms underlying OSCC and the significant genes (proteins) and pathways may be targets for therapy in the future.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.535-539
• /
• 1996

The activation of phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzes hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidic acid (PA) and choline in plants as well as animals. To determine the presence of PLD in oat cells, we prepared inside-out plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions from oat tissues. PLD activities in both cytosol and plasma membrane were detected by ion chromatography method. The activity of PLD in plasma membrane was dependent upon $Ca^{2+}$ concentration and was heat stable. To investigate whether G-protein couples to PLD, the effects of $GTP{\gamma}S$ and $GDP{\beta}S$ on the PLD activity were measured. PLD activity was dramatically increased 300~400% in the presence of 50 ${\mu}M$ $GTP{\gamma}S$ but not in the presence of 50 ${\mu}M$ $GDP{\beta}S$. These results indicate that G-protein may be involved in regulation of PLD activity. To identify whether PLD is regulated by red light receptor, phytochrome, we irradiated red, far-red, or red/far-red/red light on oat protoplasts. PLD activity has increased 5-fold and 3-fold by treatment with red light and red/far-red/red light, respectively. In contrast, irradiation with far-red light had little or no effect on PLD activity. These results suggest that phytochrome regulates PLD activity through activation of G-protein in oat cells.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.56 no.9
• /
• pp.514-519
• /
• 2023

Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), a key component of the m⁶A methyltransferase complex, regulates the splicing, nuclear transport, stability, and translation of its target genes. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of METTL3 expression by alternative splicing (AS) remains unknown. We analyzed the expression pattern of METTL3 after AS in human tissues and confirmed the expression of an isoform retaining introns 8 and 9 (METTL3-IR). We confirmed the different intracellular localizations of METTL3-IR and METTL3 proteins using immunofluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the endogenous expression of METTL3-IR at the protein level was different from that at the mRNA level. We found that 3'-UTR generation by intron retention (IR) inhibited the export of METTL3-IR mRNA to the cytoplasm, which in turn suppressed protein expression. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to confirm the regulation of METTL3 gene expression by AS, providing evidence that the suppression of METTL3 protein expression by IR is an integral part of the mechanism by which 3'-UTR generation regulates protein expression via inhibition of RNA export to the cytoplasm.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.404-412
• /
• 2016

We hypothesized that supplementing finishing diets with palm oil would promote adipogenic gene expression and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression in subcutaneous (s.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) adipose tissues of feedlot steers. Eighteen Angus and Angus crossbred steers were assigned to three groups of 6 steers and fed a basal diet (control), with 3% palm oil, or with 3% soybean oil, for 70 d, top-dressed daily. Tailhead s.c. adipose tissue was obtained by biopsy at 14 d before the initiation of dietary treatments and at 35 d of dietary treatments. At slaughter, after 70 d of dietary treatment, tailhead s.c. adipose tissue and i.m. adipose tissue were obtained from the longissimus thoracis muscle. Palm oil increased plasma palmitic acid and soybean oil increased plasma linoleic acid and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid relative to the initial sampling time. Expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha ($AMPK{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) increased between the initial and intermediate biopsies and declined thereafter (p<0.03). SCD gene expression did not change between the initial and intermediate biopsies but declined by over 75% by the final period (p = 0.04), and G-coupled protein receptor 43 (GPR43) gene expression was unaffected by diet or time on trial. Soybean oil decreased (p = 0.01) $PPAR{\gamma}$ gene expression at the intermediate sample time. At the terminal sample time, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SCD gene expression was less in i.m. adipose tissue than in s.c. adipose tissue (p<0.05). $AMPK{\alpha}$ gene expression was less in s.c. adipose tissue of palm oil-fed steers than in control steers (p = 0.04) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein-beta ($CEBP{\beta}$) gene expression was less in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissues of palm oil-fed steers than in soybean oil-fed steers (p<0.03). Soybean oil decreased SCD gene expression in s.c. adipose tissue (p = 0.05); SCD gene expression in palm oil-fed steers was intermediate between control and soybean oil-fed steers. Contrary to our original hypothesis, palm oil did not promote adipogenic gene expression in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissue.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.186-190
• /
• 2014

Carbonic anhydrase isozymes (CAs) are widespread zinc-containing metalloenzyme family. The enzyme catalyzes the reversible interconversion of $CO_2$ and $HCO_3$. This reaction is the main role of CA enzymes in physiological conditions. CA III, one of the CA isozymes, has been identified in many tissues. It is distinguished from the other isozymes by several characteristics, particularly by a lower specific activity and by its resistance to acetazolamide. However, the physiological function of CA III in fish is unknown. In this study, we examined the detection of CAs in the Shaggy sea raven Hemitripterus villosus, using SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing (IEF), and western blot analysis. We detected a significant protein band with molecular weight about 30 kDa from the tissues of H. villosus by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. A specific band of CA III with pI 7.0 was detected by IEF and western blotting in gill and muscle. The immunoreaction of anti-CA III expressed in the gill of H. villosus was much stronger than other tissues. One explanation for this result is that the fish gill is the only organ that is exposed to the external environment and that plays an important role in acid-base relevant ion transfer, the transfer of $H^+$ and/or $HCO{_3}^-$, for the maintenance of systemic pH. This is the first report on the identification of a carbonic anhydrase III-like protein from H. villosus.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1655-1659
• /
• 2013

Background: HER-2/neu is a proto-oncogene that encodes a transmembrane tyrosine kinase growth factor which is crucial for stimulating growth and cellular motility. Overexpression of HER-2/neu is observed in 10-35% of human breast cancers and is associated with pathogenesis, prognosis as well as response to therapy. Given the imperative role of HER-2/neu overexpression in breast cancer, it is important to determine the magnitude of amplification which may facilitate a better prognosis as well as personalized therapy in affected patients. In this study, we determined HER-2/neu protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) concurrently with HER-2/neu DNA amplification by quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). Materials and Methods: A total of 53 paired tissue samples from breast cancer patients were frozen-sectioned to characterize the tumour and normal tissues. Only tissues with 80% tumour cells were used in this study. For confirmation, Q-PCR was used to determine the HER-2/neu DNA amplification. Results: We found 20/53 (37.7%) of the tumour tissues to be positive for HER-2/neu protein overexpression using IHC. Out of these twenty, only 9/53 (17%) cases were in agreement with the Q-PCR results. The concordance rate between IHC and Q-PCR was 79.3%. Approximately 20.7% of positive IHC cases showed no HER-2/neu gene amplification using Q-PCR. Conclusion: In conclusion, IHC can be used as an initial screening method for detection of the HER-2/neu protein overexpression. Techniques such as Q-PCR should be employed to verify the IHC results for uncertain cases as well as determination of HER-2/neu gene amplification.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.1901-1906
• /
• 2012

Background: The discovery that microRNA (miRNA) regulates metastasis provide a principal molecular basis for tumor heterogeneity. A characteristic of solid tumors is their heterogenous distribution of blood vessels, with significant hypoxia occurring in regions (centers of tumor) of low blood flow. It is necessary to discover the mechanism of breast cancer metastasis in relation to the fact that there is a differential distribution of crucial microRNA in tumors from centers to edges. Methods: Breast tissues from 48 patients (32 patients with breast cancer) were classified into the high invasive and metastatic group (HIMG), low invasive and metastatic group (LIMG), and normal group. Samples were collected from both the centers and edges of all tumors. The first six specimens were detected by microRNA array, and the second ten specimens were detected by real-time qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Correlation analysis was performed between the miRNAs and target proteins. Results: The relative content of miR-20a and miR-20b was lower in the center of the tumor than at the edge in the LIMG, lower at the edge of the tumor than in the center in the HIMG, and lower in breast cancer tissues than in normal tissues. VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha mRNA levels were higher in the HIMG than in the LIMG, and levels were higher in both groups than in the normal group; there was no difference in mRNA levels between the edge and center of the tumor. VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha protein levels were higher in the HIMG than in the LIMG, and protein levels in both groups were higher than in the normal group; there was a significant difference in protein expression between the edge and center of the tumor. Correlation analysis showed that the key miRNAs (miR-20a and miR-20b) negatively correlated with the target proteins (VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha). Conclusions: Our data suggest that miR-20a and miR-20b are differentially distributed in breast cancer, while VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha mRNA had coincident distributions, and VEGF-A and HIF-1alpha proteins had uneven and opposing distributions to the miRNAs. It appears that one of the most important facets underlying metastatic heterogeneity is the differential distribution of miR-20a and miR-20b and their regulation of target proteins.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.1088-1097
• /
• 2018

Objective: It is commonly accepted that adiponectin binds to its two receptors to regulate fatty acid metabolism in adipocytes. To better understand their functions in the regulation of intramuscular adipogenesis in goats, we cloned the three genes (adiponectin [AdipoQ], adiponectin receptor 1 [AdipoR1], and AdipoR2) encoding these proteins and detected their mRNA distribution in different tissues. We also determined the role of AdipoQ in the adipogenic differentiation of goat skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs). Methods: SMSCs were isolated using 1 mg/mL Pronase E from the longissimus dorsi muscles of 3-day-old female Nanjiang brown goats. Adipogenic differentiation was induced in satellite cells by transferring the cells to Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with an isobutylmethylxanthine, dexamethasone and insulin cocktail. The pEGFP-N1-AD plasmid was transfected into SMSCs using Lipofectamine 2000. Expression of adiponectin in tissues and SMSCs was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemical staining. Results: The three genes were predominantly expressed in adipose and skeletal muscle tissues. According to fluorescence and immunocytochemical analyses, adiponectin protein expression was only observed in the cytoplasm, suggesting that adiponectin is localized to the cytoplasm of goat SMSCs. In SMSCs overexpressing the AdipoQ gene, adiponectin promoted SMSC differentiation into adipocytes and significantly (p<0.05) up-regulated expression of AdipoR2, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty-acid synthase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1, though expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding $protein-{\alpha}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$, and AdipoR1 did not change significantly. Conclusion: Adiponectin induced SMSC differentiation into adipocytes, indicating that adiponectin may promote intramuscular adipogenesis in goat SMSC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.973-980
• /
• 2004

To evaluate the antioxidative effect of rice coated with maengjong-juk extract in vivo system, rice coated with maengjong-juk extract diets were fed to NZW rabbit for 16 weeks and lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, activities of antioxidative enzymes and total glutathione content in tissues were measured. TBARS contents in liver and spleen were significantly decreased in maengjong-juk extract diet group compared to control group, while those in kidney and heart tissue were not significantly different. Maengjong-juk extract diet suppressed the protein oxidation significantly in liver, spleen, kidney and heart tissues. Hepatic total SOD, Cu$.$Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities of maengjong-juk extract diets were significantly higher than those of control diet. GSH-Px and catalase activities of maengjong-juk extract diet were higher than those of control, while GR activities show no significant difference between the two groups. Total hepatic glutathione content was significantly increased by maengjong-juk extract diet. According to this study, many antioxidative materials and phytochemicals in maengjong-juk extracts seems to protect tissues from oxidative stress by stimulating antioxidative systems in atherosclerotic rabbit fed high cholesterol diet.