• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.712-720
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• 2009

The goal of this study was to elucidate the expression and segmental distribution of the glomerular cationic amino acid metabolism transporter-2 (CAT-2) and thus to improve our understanding of porcine cationic amino acid transporters and amino acid absorption. Porcine CAT-2 was cloned, sequenced and characterized. The predicted amino acid sequence of porcine CAT-2 shared 86.1% and 92.1% identity with human and mouse CAT-2A, respectively. The tissue distribution patterns and ontogenic changes of CAT-2 mRNAs were determined by real-time Q-PCR. The results showed that porcine CAT-2 was highly expressed in the heart and intestinal tract (duodenum, ileum and jejunum). In addition, the mRNA of CAT-2 was found in liver, lung, kidney, brain and muscle. Within the intestinal tract, CAT-2 mRNA was most abundant in the ileum and rarely expressed in the duodenum. In the duodenum, the levels of CAT-2 mRNA reached their peak on day 7 (p<0.05) while in the jejunum, levels were low on day 1 and 7 and increased rapidly after day 26 before peaking on days 30 and 60 (p<0.05). The levels then dramatically decreased by day 90 (p<0.05). In the ileum, levels achieved their maximum on day 30 and then decreased significantly on day 60 (p<0.05).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.34-36
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• 2002

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) have been shown to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of various somatic cells, including placental trophoblasts and also to enhance fetal growth and development when maternally administered. Since an increase of the expression of placental EGF and IGF-I receptors in rat, mouse, and human with the gestation advanced, both EGF and IGF-I were considered to play pivotal roles on fetal growth by regulating some function of placental cells. Amino acids are crucial importance for both maternal and fetal requirements of energy source and essential constituent of fetal mass during pregnancy. Impaired fetal and placental uptake of amino acids has been observed in several models of growth retardation in the rat. Amino acid is concentrated in the fetal side through active transport by amino acid transporters and is one of the important metabolic fuels for the fatal growth. Therefore, at first plasma amino acid concentrations in mothers and fetuses were measured as an index of uphill transport across the placenta associated with EGF and IGF-1. The EGF administration at the concentration of 0, 0.1, or 0.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g to pregnant rats from day 18 to 21 of gestation apparently increased fetal/maternal ratio of serum proline concentration and also fatal growth in EGF dose-dependent manner. When IGF-I in doses of 0, 1, 2, and 4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g were administrated, the ratio of leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine and also fetal growth significantly increased with a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that EGF and IGF-I enhanced fatal growth by, as one of its possible mechanisms, promoting placental activity to transfer some amino acid supplies from the mother to the fetus in late pregnancy.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2009

A cDNA clone encoding a MDR-like ABC transporter protein was isolated from Brassica rapa seedlings, through rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). This gene (named as Brmdr 1; GenBank accession no.: DQ296184 ) had a total length of 4222 bp with an open reading frame of 3900 bp, and encoded a predicted polypeptide of 1300 amino acids with a molecular weight of 143.1 kDa. The BrMDR1 protein shared 71.0, 62.5, 60.0 and 58.2% identity with other MDR proteins isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana (AAN28720), Coptis japonica (CjMDR), Gossypium hirsutum (GhMDR) and Triticum aestivum (TaMDR) at amino acid level, respectively. Southern blot analysis showed that Brmdr1 was a low-copy gene. Expression pattern analysis revealed that Brmdr1 constitutively expressed in the root, stem petals and stamens, but with lower expression in leaves and open flowers. The domains analysis showed that BrMDR1 protein possessed two transmembrane domains (TMDs) and two nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) arranging in "TMD1-NBD1-TMD2-NBD2" direction, which is consistent with other MDR transporters. Within NBDs three characteristic motifs common to all ABC transporters, "Walker A", "Walker B" and C motif, were found. These results indicate that BrMDR1 is a MDR-like ABC transporter protein that may be involved in the transport and accumulation of secondary metabolites.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.783-796
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• 2006

The periodontium is a topographically complex organ consisting of epithelial tissue, soft and mineralized tissues. Structures comprising the periodontium include the gingiva, periodontal ligament (PDL) , cementum and the alveolar bone. The molecular mechanism of differentiation in PDL fibroblast cells remain unclear. Amino acid transporters play an important role in supplying nutrition to normal and cancer cells and for cell proliferation. Amino acid transport system L is a major nutrient transport system responsible for the Na+-independent transport of neutral amino acids including several essential amino acids. The system L is divided into two major subgroups, the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and the L-type amino acid transporter 2 (LAT2). In this study, the expression pattern of amino acid transport system L was, therefore, investigated in the differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells. To determine the expression level of amino acid transport system L participating in intracellular transport of amino acids in the differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells, it was examined by RT-PCR, observation of cell morphology, Alizaline red-S staining and uptake analysis after inducing experimental differentiation in PDL fibroblast cells isolated from mouse molar teeth. The results are as follows. 1. The LAT1 mRNA was expressed in the early stage of PDL fibroblast cell differentiation. This expression level was gradually reduced by differentiation- inducing time and it was not observed after the late stage. 2. The expression level of LAT2 mRNA was increased in time-dependent manner during differentiation induction of PDL fibroblast cells. 3. There was no changes in. the expression level of 4F2hc mRNA, the cofactor of LAT1 and LAT2, during differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells. 4. The expression level of ALP mRNA was gradually increased and the expression level of Col I mRNA was decreased during differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells. 5. The L-leucine transport was reduced by time from the early stage to the late stage in PDL fibroblast cell differentiation. As the results, it is considered that among neutral ammo acid transport system L in differentiation of PDL fibroblast cells, the LATl has a key role in cell proliferation in the early stage of cell differentiation and the LAT2 has an important role in the late stage of cell differentiation for providing cells with neutral amino acids including several essential amino acids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.710-719
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• 2001

Several amino acid transport systems in mammary gland have been characterized during the last few years. These systems may be divided into two broad categories based on whether they are sodium-dependent or $Na^{+}$-independent, and each of these categories is subdivided into 3 groups depending on whether the systems prefer zwitterionic, cationic or anionic substrates. The zwitterion preferring transport processes in mammary gland are $Na^{+}$-dependent system A and $Na^{+}$-independent systems L and T. System $y^{+}$ is a $Na^{+}$-independent transporter of cationic amino acids and $X_{AG^{-}}$ is a $Na^{+}$-dependent system for anionic amino acids. A ($Na^{+}+Cl^{-}$)-dependent system, selective for $\beta$-amino acids has been reported in rat mammary tissue. In addition, there is yet another class of transporters that have still broader specificity. The $Na^{+}$-dependent systems $BCl^{-}$-dependent and $BCl^{-}$-independent and $Na^{+}$-independent system $y^{+}L$ have been reported to mediate the transport of zwitterionic as well as cationic amino acids. Each system has been characterized with respect to its substrate specificity, affinity, kinetics and ion-dependence. Transport of amino acids by mammary tissue is regulated by i) the intracellular substrate concentration, ii) lactogenic hormones and iii) milk stasis. Four of the above transport systems (i.e. A, L, $y^{+}$ and $BCl^{-}$-independent) are up-regulated by lactogenic hormones (insulin, cortisol and prolactin) in mammary gland.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.498-505
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• 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurological disorder characterized by the deterioration of motor neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate alteration of cationic amino acid transporter (CAT-1) activity in the transport of lysine and the pretreatment effect of lysine on pro-inflammatory states in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cell line. The mRNA expression of cationic amino acid transporter 1 was lower in NSC-34/hSOD1^G93A (MT) than the control cell line (WT), lysine transport is mediated by CAT-1 in NSC-34 cell lines. The uptake of [³H]L-lysine was Na⁺-independent, voltage-sensitive, and strongly inhibited by inhibitors and substrates of cationic amino acid transporter 1 (system y⁺). The transport process involved two saturable processes in both cell lines. In the MT cell line, at a high-affinity site, the affinity was 9.4-fold higher and capacity 24-fold lower than that in the WT; at a low-affinity site, the capacity was 2.3-fold lower than that in the WT cell line. Donepezil and verapamil competitively inhibited [³H]L-lysine uptake in the NSC-34 cell lines. Pretreatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased the uptake of [³H]L-lysine and mRNA expression levels in both cell lines; however, the addition of L-lysine restored the transport activity in the MT cell lines. L-Lysine exhibited neuroprotective effects against pro-inflammatory states in the ALS disease model cell lines. In conclusion, studying the alteration in the expression of transporters and characteristics of lysine transport in ALS can lead to the development of new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2006

Amino acids are required for protein synthesis and energy sources in all living cells. The amino acid transport system L is a major nutrient transport system that is responsible for $Na^+$-independent transport of neutral amino acids including several essential amino acids. In malignant tumors, the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), the first isoform of system L, is highly expressed to support tumor cell growth. In the present study, the expression and functional characterization of amino acid transport system L were, therefore, investigated in Saos2 human osteogenic sarcoma cells. RT-PCR and western blot analyses have revealed that the Saos2 cells expressed the LAT1 and the L-type amino acid transporter 2 (LAT2), the second isoform of system L, together with their associating protein heavy chain of 4F2 antigen (4F2hc) in the plasma membrane, but the expression of LAT2 was very weak. The uptakes of [${14}^C$]L-leucine by Saos2 cells were $Na^+$-independent and were completely inhibited by the system L selective inhibitor, 2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH). The affinity of [${14}^C$]L-leucine uptake and the inhibition profiles of [${14}^C$]L-leucine uptake by various amino acids in the Saos2 cells were comparable with those for the LAT1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The majority of [${14}^C$]L-leucine uptake is, therefore, mediated by LAT1 in the Saos2 cells. These results suggest that the transports of neutral amino acids including several essential amino acids into Saos2 human osteogenic sarcoma cells are for the most part mediated by LAT1. Therefore, the Saos2 human osteogenic sarcoma cells are excellent tools for examine the properties of LAT1. Moreover, the specific inhibition of LAT1 in tumor cells might be a new rationale for anti-tumor therapy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1159-1165
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• 2010

Glucose is the main energy source for mammalian cells and its absorption is co-mediated by two different families of glucose transporters, sodium/glucose co-transporters (SGLTs) and facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs). Here, we report the cloning and tissue distribution of porcine GLUT2. The GLUT2 was cloned by RACE and its cDNA was 2,051 bp long (GenBank accession no. EF140874). An AAATAA consensus sequence at nucleotide positions 1936-1941 was located upstream of the poly $(A)^+$ tail. Open reading frame analysis suggested that porcine GLUT2 contained 524 amino acids, with molecular weight of 57 kDa. The amino acid sequence of porcine GLUT2 was 87% and 79.4% identical with human and mouse GLUT2, respectively. GLUT2 mRNA was detected at highest level in porcine liver, at moderate levels in the small intestine and kidney, and at low levels in the brain, lung, muscle and heart. In the small intestine, the highest level was in the jejunum. In conclusion, the mRNA expression of GLUT2 was not only differentially regulated by age, but also differentially distributed along the small intestine of piglets, which may be related to availability of different intestinal luminal substrate concentrations resulting from different food sources and digestibility.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.659-666
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• 2021

After Candida albicans, Candida glabrata is one of the most common fungal species associated with candidemia in nosocomial infections. Rapid acquisition of nutrients from the host is important for the survival of pathogens which possess the metabolic flexibility to assimilate different carbon and nitrogen compounds. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nitrogen assimilation is controlled through a mechanism known as Nitrogen Catabolite Repression (NCR). NCR is coordinated by the action of four GATA factors; two positive regulators, Gat1 and Gln3, and two negative regulators, Gzf3 and Dal80. A mechanism in C. glabrata similar to NCR in S. cerevisiae has not been broadly studied. We previously showed that in C. glabrata, Gln3, and not Gat1, has a major role in nitrogen assimilation as opposed to what has been observed in S. cerevisiae in which both factors regulate NCR-sensitive genes. Here, we expand the knowledge about the role of Gln3 from C. glabrata through the transcriptional analysis of BG14 and gln3Δ strains. Approximately, 53.5% of the detected genes were differentially expressed (DEG). From these DEG, amino acid metabolism and ABC transporters were two of the most enriched KEGG categories in our analysis (Up-DEG and Down-DEG, respectively). Furthermore, a positive role of Gln3 in AAA assimilation was described, as was its role in the transcriptional regulation of ARO8. Finally, an unexpected negative role of Gln3 in the gene regulation of ABC transporters CDR1 and CDR2 and its associated transcriptional regulator PDR1 was found. This observation was confirmed by a decreased susceptibility of the gln3Δ strain to fluconazole.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.871-884
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• 2009

Gene expression profiling is a useful tool for identifying critical genes and pathways in metabolism. The objective of this study was to determine the major differences in the expression of genes associated with metabolism and metabolic regulation in liver and mammary tissues of lactating cows. We used the Michigan State University bovine metabolism (BMET) microarray; previously, we have designed a bovine metabolism-focused microarray containing known genes of metabolic interest using publicly available genomic internet database resources. This is a high-density array of 70mer oligonucleotides representing 2,349 bovine genes. The expression of 922 genes was different at p<0.05, and 398 genes (17%) were differentially expressed by two-fold or more with 222 higher in liver and 176 higher in mammary tissue. Gene ontology categories with a high percentage of genes more highly expressed in liver than mammary tissues included carbohydrate metabolism (glycolysis, glucoenogenesis, propanoate metabolism, butanoate metabolism, electron carrier and donor activity), lipid metabolism (fatty acid oxidation, chylomicron/lipid transport, bile acid metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, steroid metabolism, ketone body formation), and amino acid/nitrogen metabolism (amino acid biosynthetic process, amino acid catabolic process, urea cycle, and glutathione metabolic process). Categories with more genes highly expressed in mammary than liver tissue included amino acid and sugar transporters and MAPK, Wnt, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Real-time PCR analysis showed consistent results with those of microarray analysis for all 12 genes tested. In conclusion, microarray analyses clearly identified differential gene expression profiles between hepatic and mammary tissues that are consistent with the differences in metabolism of these two tissues. This study enables understanding of the molecular basis of metabolic adaptation of the liver and mammary gland during lactation in bovine species.