• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2009

Calbindin-$D_{9k}$ (CaBP-9k), a cytosolic calcium-binding protein, is expressed in a variety of tissues, i.e., the duodenum, uterus, placenta, kidney and pituitary gland. Duodenal CaBP-9k is involved in intestinal calcium absorption, and is regulated at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the hormonal form of vitamin D, and glucocorticoids (GCs). Uterine CaBP-9k has been implicated in the regulation of myometrial action(s) through modulation of intracellular calcium, and steroid hormones appear to be the main regulators in its uterine and placental regulation. Because phenotypes of CaBP-9k-null mice appear to be normal, other calcium-transporter genes may compensate for its gene deletion and physiological function in knockout mice. Previous studies indicate that CaBP-9k may be controlled in a tissue-specific fashion. In this review, we summarize the current information on calcium homeostasis related to CaBP-9k gene regulation by GCs, vitamin D and its receptors, and its molecular regulatory mechanism. In addition, we present related data from our current research.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.573-580
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• 2006

A sediment core from the Cheollipo arboretum ($36^{\circ}$ 47' 57'N, $126^{\circ}$ 09' 04') was studied for pollen analysis in order to reconstruct postglacial vegetational change and environmental changes around the central western region of the Korean Peninsula. The record shows four pollen assemblage zones: Zone CHL-I, Quercus stage (ca. 9,300$\sim$6,200 yr BP): zone CHL-II, Quercus-Pinus stage (ca. 6,200$\sim$4,600 yr BP); zone CHL- III, Pinus-Quercus stage (ca. 4,600$\sim$1,160 yr BP): zone CHL-IV and Pinus stage (ca. 1,160 yr BP-present). During the 9,300$\sim$8,500 yr BP, the early Holocene, researchers have guessed a piece of cool-temperate norihern/altimontane mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved forest. Between 8,500$\sim$4,600 yr BP the Quercus dominated the landscape of study area and the established dates of this typical cool-temperate central/montane deciduous broad-leaved forest vegetation might be ca. 6500 yr BP, and then the Pinus developed around the site at ca. 5,700 yr BP. The abrupt increase of Pinus and NAP (non-arboreal pollen) after ca. 1,100 yr BP indicates the vegetation changes due to human activities. From the dynamics of the Chenopodiaceae pollen indicating salt marsh and freshwater pollen flora such as Typha, Trapa, Nymphoides and so forth, we suggest that the tidal flat was altered into freshwater lake around 6,500 yr BP.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.237-247
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• 2009

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is the major neurohormone secreted during the night by the vertebrate pineal gland. The circadian pattern of pineal melatonin secretion is related to the biological clock within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus in mammals. The SCN coordinates the body's rhythms to the environmental light-dark cycle in response to light perceived by the retina, which acts mainly on retinal ganglion cells that contain the photopigment melanopsin. Calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) is a member of the S100 family of intracellular calcium- binding proteins, and in this review, we discuss the involvement of melatonin and CaBP-9k with respect to calcium homeostasis and apoptotic cell death. In future studies, we hope to provide important information on the roles played by CaBP-9k in cell signal transduction, cell proliferation, and $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis in vivo and in vitro.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.661-670
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• 1999

Effects of Ca supplementation on blood pressure(BP) response to dietary Na level were studied in 15 normotensive healthy college women with family history of hypertension. All subjects, randomly divided into 3 groups, ate low Na diet(1816mg/day) prepared in the laboratory during the first 2 weeks and normal Na diet(4064mg/day) of their own home for the next 8 weeks. The one group received daily 1g Ca supplement at both low and normal Na diet periods, the second group took daily 1g Ca supplement only at normal a diet period, and the last group took placebo during both periods. Average Ca and energy intakes at the basal of and during the trial ranged 450-600mg and 1735-1878kcal, respectively. Systolic/diastolic BP was decreased by 9.2-9.8/4.4-4.5 mmHg during low Na diet period and was increased again during next normal Na diet period. However simultaneous Ca supplementation during both low and normal Na diet period suppressed the elevation of systolic/diastolic BP occurred at normal Na diet period. Ca supplementation only at normal Na diet peroid did not affect the BP elevation. The increase of serum Ca and Ca/Mg ratio and the decrease of serum Na and Na/K ratio might be related to the BP lowering effects of Ca supplementation. In conclusion, Ca supplement could attenuate BP elevation induced by increasing Na intake. The BP lowering effect of Ca supplementation was not appeared at low Na intake. Further studies were needed to make it certain. Low Na intake was also confirmed as an effective diet control for lowering blood pressure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.715-722
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• 1996

To determine relationships of biochemical parameters involved in Ca metabolism with eggshell quality, serum Ca level, duodenal and uterine calcium binding protein (CaBP) and uterine carbonic anhydrase (CA) activities were measured using 102-week old hens. Three groups of chickens were selected, those showing high quality (HQ) and low quality (LQ) eggshells and non-laying activity (NE). NE hens exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower serum Ca levels than laying hens. HQ and LQ hens were not different in the Ca level, indicating that serum Ca level was not good indicator of hen's ability to produce different quality eggshells. Duodenal CaBPs was highest in HQ and lowest in NE (p < 0.10). Uterine CaBPs of LQ and NE were not different and lower significantly (p<0.10) than that of HQ, suggesting that CaBP played an important role in determining eggshell quality. Uterine CA activities of the three groups were significantly different (p < 0.01) ; highest in HQ and lowest in NE, suggesting intimate relationship between CA and Eggshell quality.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1996

The present study was conducted to investigate the role of thyroid hormones in the regulation of gene expression of calbindin-$D_{28k}$ (CaBP-D28K) in the chicken. By employing slot blot and RIA analyses, levels of CABP-D28K mRNA and CaBP-D28K protein in the intestine, kidney, cerebellum and liver were measured 6 and 12 h after i.m. injection of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin $D_3$ [1, 25 $(OH)_2D_3$; 250 ng/chick] and 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyronine ($T_3$; 500 ng/chick) in one-day-old chicks. The abundant messages of CaBP-D28K mRNA were detected in the intestine, kidney and cerebellum while there was little message in the liver. After 1, 25 $(OH)_2D_3$ treatment (6 + 12 hours), levels of CaBP-D28K mRNA increased in the intestine, but there was no change in the mRNA levels in the kidney and cerebellum. Although $T_3$ alone had no effect on CaBP-D28K mRNA levels, simultaneous administration of $T_3$ enhanced the 1, 25 $(OH)_2D_3$ effect of levels of CaBP-D28K mRNA in the intestine both 6 and 12 h post-treatment, and in the kidney 12 h post-treatment. At a protein level, co-treatment with 1, 25 $(OH)_2D_3$ and $T_3$ elicited a significant increase in CaBP-D28K expression in the intestine 12 h post-treatment, as compared to treatment with only 1, 25 $(OH)_2D_3$, whereas no differences were observed in the CaBP-D28K protein levels in the kidney and cerebellum. These results suggest that thyroid hormones may play a synergistic role with 1, 25 $(OH)_2D_3$ for CaBP-D28K gene expression in the intestine and kidney in chicks.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 1996

A clone, LCM1, which encodes calmodulin (CaM) was isolated and characterized from monocot lily (Lilium longiflorum Thunb.) plants. The clone is 681 bps and contains the 447 bp coding region, 8 bp leader sequence, 210 bp 3'-untraslated region, and a poly(A) tail. The coding region of 149 amino acids encodes a protein of predicted Mr 17 kD. Comparison of the LCM1 amino acid sequence with other CaMs revealed that the protein is highly conserved among various living organisms. The expression level of calmodulin gene in lily was studied by RNA blot analysis. The LCM1 mRNA was present in all tissues tested. However, a higher level of calmodulin was observed in anther and floral bud. The level of calmodulin mRNA in anther was about 10 times higher than that in anther was about 10 times higher than that in vegetative tissues. The anther preferential expression of CaM in lily is currently investigated in dicot plants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.166-166
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• 2002

In the present study, estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity of cypermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide was investigated. We used immature rat uterotrophic assay, estrogen-responsive calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) gene expression assay and luciferase reporter gene assay for measure of estrogenic potential of cypermethrin.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.181-182
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• 2003

Exposure to some synthetic environmental chemicals and their metabolites cause reproductive problems in a variety of vertebrate via endocrine mechanisms. However, in most cases, the link between these compounds and adverse effects on humans, fish, and wildlife has not been established, which necessitates a closer look at the molecular, functional, and clinical implications of these chemicals in the environment. Calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) is a member of a largo family of intracellular calcium binding proteins that have high affinities for calcium. It was reported that the estrogen level of uterus affected the expression of the CaBP-9k gene in rat uterus. We examined the dose-dependent CaBP-9K gene expression in the uterus for three-days injection of methoxychlor (HC) in the overectomized immature rats and the relation with uterotrophic response of the compoundsand compared the responses induced by MC according to the route of administration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.939-944
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• 2016

Background: Cell-free DNA circulating in blood is a candidate biomarker for malignant tumors. Unlike uniformly truncated DNA released from apoptotic non diseased cells, DNA released from necrotic cancer cells varies in size. Objectives: To measure the DNA integrity index in serum and the absolute DNA concentration to assess their clinical utility as potential serum biomarkers for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) compared to CEA and CA19-9. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with CRC, 10 with benign colonic polyps and 20 healthy sex and age matched volunteers, were investigated by real time PCR of ALU repeats (ALU q-PCR) using two sets of primers (115 and 247 bp) amplifying different lengths of DNA fragments. The DNA integrity index was calculated as the ratio of q-PCR results of ALU 247/ALU 115bp. Results: Serum DNA integrity was statistically significantly higher in CRC patients compared to the benign and control groups (p<0.001). ROC curves for differentiating CRC patients from normal controls and benign groups had areas under curves of 0.90 and 0.85 respectively. Conclusions: The DNA integrity index is superior to the absolute DNA concentration as a potential serum biomarker for screening and diagnosis of CRC. It may also serve as an indicator for monitoring the progression of CRC patients. Combining CEA and CA19-9 with either of the genetic markers studied is better than either of them alone.