• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2008

KIF1B${\beta}$ is a member of the Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), which are microtubule-dependent molecular motors that are involved in various intracellular organellar transport processes. KIF1B${\beta}$ is not restricted to neuronal systems, however, is widely expressed in other tissues, even though the function of KIF1B${\beta}$ is still unclear. To elucidate the KIF1B${\beta}$-binding proteins in non-neuronal cells, we used the yeast two-hybrid system, and found a specific interaction of KIF1B${\beta}$ and the sorting nexin (SNX) 17. The C-terminal region of SNX17 is required for the binding with KIF1B${\beta}$. SNX17 protein bound to the specific region of KIF1Bf3 (813-916. aa), but not to other kinesin family members. In addition, this specific interaction was also observed in the Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay. An antibody to SNX17 specifically co-immunoprecipitated KIF1B${\beta}$ associated with SNX17 from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that SNX17 might be involved in the KIF1B${\beta}$-mediated transport as a KIF1B${\beta}$ adaptor protein.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.445-453
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• 2015

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) is an organelle where most secretory and membrane proteins are synthesized, folded, and undergo further maturation. As numerous conditions can perturb such ER function, eukaryotic cells are equipped with responsive signaling pathways, widely referred to as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). Chronic conditions of ER stress that cannot be fully resolved by UPR, or conditions that impair UPR signaling itself, are associated with many metabolic and degenerative diseases. In recent years, Drosophila has been actively employed to study such connections between UPR and disease. Notably, the UPR pathways are largely conserved between Drosophila and humans, and the mediating genes are essential for development in both organisms, indicating their requirement to resolve inherent stress. By now, many Drosophila mutations are known to impose stress in the ER, and a number of these appear similar to those that underlie human diseases. In addition, studies have employed the strategy of overexpressing human mutations in Drosophila tissues to perform genetic modifier screens. The fact that the basic UPR pathways are conserved, together with the availability of many human disease models in this organism, makes Drosophila a powerful tool for studying human disease mechanisms. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 445-453]

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.465-470
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• 2013

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have diverse and important roles in the proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells in our tissues. Especially, BMPs are well known to be the main inducers of bone formation, by facilitating both proliferation and differentiation of bone stem cells. Interestingly, in skin stem cells, BMPs repress their proliferation but are indispensable for the proper differentiation into several lineages of skin cells. Here, we tested whether BMP antagonists have an effect on the prevention of wrinkle formation. For this study we used an in vivo wrinkle-induced mouse model. As a positive control, retinoic acid, one of the top anti-wrinkle effectors, showed a 44% improvement compared to the non-treated control. Surprisingly, bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1a extracellular domain (BMPR1a-ECD) exhibited an anti-wrinkle effect which was 6-fold greater than that of retinoic acid. Our results indicate that BMP antagonists will be good targets for skin or hair diseases.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2009

Mammalian hibernation is a type of natural adaptation that allows organisms to avoid harsh environment and to increase the possibility of survival. To investigate the molecular link between circadian and hibernating rhythms in the greater tube-nosed bats, Murina leucogaster, we set out to identify circadian genes that are expressed in bats, with specific focus on the PAS domain by using PCR-based screens. We could isolate a eDNA clone, designated as LPAS1, that encodes a protein of 521 amino acid residues. LPAS1 is closely related with CLOCK family with the highest homology to human CLOCK. Based on RT-PCR analyses, LPAS1 transcripts are ubiquitously present in tissues from both summer active and winter dormant periods. Given that LPAS1 is a member of the bHLH-PAS protein superfamily but lacks polyglutamine transactivation domains, it is likely to function as a repressor for endogenous CLOCK to hinder its roles in promoting transcription. Our result will open a new avenue to further examine the functional interconnection between the circadian clock and the circannual clock such as mammalian hibernation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.544-549
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• 2014

Lily symptomless virus (LSV), Lily mottle virus (LMoV), and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) are the most prevalent viruses infecting lilies in Korea. Leaf and bulb samples showing characteristic symptoms of virus infection were collected in 2012, and 80 field samples were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The infection frequencies were 79% for LMoV, 5% for LSV, and 3% for CMV. The LMoV coat protein gene was amplified and cloned into the pET21d(+) expression vector to develop serological diagnostic tools to detect LMoV. The resulting carboxy-terminal His-tagged coat proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) by induction with IPTG. The recombinant proteins were purified using Ni-NTA agarose beads and used as an antigen to produce polyclonal antibodies in laying hens. The resulting egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) specifically recognized LMoV from infected plant tissues in immunoblotting assays and had comparable sensitivity to that of a mammalian antibody. In addition, method of immunocapture RT-PCR using this IgY was developed for sensitive, efficient, and rapid detection of LMoV. Based on these results, large-scale bulb tests and detection of LMoV in epidemiological studies can be performed routinely using this IgY. This is the first report of production of a polyclonal IgY against a plant virus and its use for diagnosis.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 1998

A cDNA encoding desiccation-related protein was isolated from a flower bud cDNA library of Chinese cabbage (C-DH) and its nucleotide sequence was characterized. It contains 679 bp nucleotides with 501 bp open reading frame. The amino acid sequence of the putative protein showed the highest amino acid sequence homology (79 % identity) to dehydrin protein in Gossypium hirsutum. Also, the C-DH shares 48-52% amino acid sequence identity with the other typical dehydrin proteins in plant cells. When the amino acid sequence of their proteins were aligned, several peptide motifs were well conserved, of which function has to be solved. Particularly the C-DH contains 15 additional amino acids at its N-terminus. Genomic Southern blot analysis using the coding region of C-DH showed that the C-DH consists of a single copy gene in Chinese cabbage genome. The C-DH mRNA, whose transcript size is 0.7 kb, was expressed with a tissue-specific manner. It was highly expressed in seed, flower buds and low expression as detected in root, stem or leaf tissues of Chinese cabbage. And the transcript level of C-DH was significantly induced by the treatment of plant hormone, abscisic acid and water-deficit conditions.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 1989

Near full length cDNA clones encoding the rice seed storage protein, prolamine, were isolated and divided into two homology classes based on cross-hybridization and DNA sequencing analysis. These cDNA clones contain a single open reading frame encoding a putative rice prolamine precursor(M.W.=17,200) possessing atypical 14 amino acid signal peptide. Clones of these two homology classes diverge mainly by insertions/deletions of short nucleotide stretches and point mutations. The deduced primary structures of both types of prolamine polypeptides are devoid of any major tandem repetitive sequences, a feature prevalent in other cereal prolamines. No significant homology teas detected between the rice prolamine and other cereal prolamines, indicating that the rice gene evolved from a different ancestor that gave rise to other cereal prolamine genes. Developing wheat and rice endosperms were examined using ultrathin sections prepared from tissues harvested at various days after flowering. By immunocytochemical localization techniques, wheat prolamines are localized within vesicles from Golgi apparatus and in homogeneous regions of protein bodies. The involvement of the goli apparatus in the packaging of wheat prolamines into protein bodies indicates a pathway which differs from the mode of other cereal prolamines and resembles the mechanism employed for the storage of rice glutelin and legume globulins.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.270-277
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• 2008

This study addresses the physiological functions of the Ran-binding protein homolog NbRanBP1 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of NbRanBP1 caused stunted growth, leaf yellowing, and abnormal leaf morphology. The NbRanBP1 gene was constitutively expressed in diverse tissues and an NbRanBP1:GFP fusion protein was primarily localized to the nuclear rim and the cytosol. BiFC analysis revealed in vivo interaction between NbRanBP1 and NbRan1 in the nuclear envelope and the cytosol. Depletion of NbRanBP1 or NbRan1 reduced nuclear accumulation of a NbBTF3:GFP marker protein. In the later stages of development, NbRanBP1 VIGS plants showed stress responses such as reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, excessive production of reactive oxygen species, and induction of defense-related genes. The molecular role of RanBP1 in plants is discussed in comparison with RanBP1 function in yeast and mammals.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 1994

The prolein components of each crystal toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki and alzawai were separated by SDS-PAGE. The major clqistal proteins from both shins were composed of paiypeptides having molecular weights of 130 kd and 64 kd. Digestive mixture of both. toxins with t~ypsin and gut juices shared 62 kd polypeptide which may be major actwe toxh. However, aizawal produced much less amount of 62 kd polypeptide than kurstaki did. On ingestion with Bt &-endotoxin, larvae of Hyphantria cunea developed 45 kd stress protein in the several tissues including fat body, which was induced by heat and cold shock.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.516-522
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• 2009

SH2D4A, comprising a single SH2 domain, is a novel protein of the SH2 signaling protein family. We have previously demonstrated SH2D4A is expressed ubiquitously in various tissues and is located in the cytoplasm. In this study we investigated the function of SH2D4A in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells using interaction analysis, cell proliferation assays, and kinase activity detection. SH2D4A was found to directly bind to estrogen receptor $\alpha$ (ER$\alpha$), and prevent the recruitment of phospholipase C-$\gamma$ (PLC-$\gamma$) to ER$\alpha$. Moreover, we observed its inhibitory effects on estrogen-induced cell proliferation, involving the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway. Together, these findings suggested that SH2D4A inhibited cell proliferation by suppression of the ER$\alpha$/PLC-$\gamma$/PKC signaling pathway. SH2D4A may be useful for the development of a new anti-cancer drug acting as an ER signaling modulator.