• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권11호
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• pp.827-833
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• 2016

Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) binds to calcineurin through the PxIxIT motif, which is evolutionarily conserved. SP repeat phosphorylation in RCAN1 is required for its complete function. The specific interaction between RCAN1 and calcineurin is critical for calcium/calmodulin-dependent regulation of calcineurin serine/threonine phosphatase activity. In this study, we investigated two available deletion rcan-1 mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans, which proceed differently for transcription and translation. We found that rcan-1 may be required for calcineurin activity and possess calcineurin-independent function in body growth and egg-laying behavior. In the genetic background of enhanced calcineurin activity, the rcan-1 mutant expressing a truncated RCAN-1 which retains the calcineurin-binding PxIxIT motif but misses SP repeats stimulated growth, while rcan-1 lack mutant resulted in hyperactive egg-laying suppression. These data suggest rcan-1 has unknown functions independent of calcineurin, and may be a stimulatory calcineurin regulator under certain circumstances.

• BMB Reports
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.607-617
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• 2006

A novel calcium-dependent protein kinase gene (designated as IiCPK2) was cloned from tetraploid Isatis indigotica. The full-length cDNA of IiCPK2 was 2585 bp long with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1878 bp encoding a polypeptide of 625 amino acid residues. The predicted IiCPK2 polypeptide included three domains: a kinase domain, a junction domain (or autoinhibitory region), and a C-terminal calmodulin-like domain (or calcium-binding domain), which presented a typical structure of plant CDPKs. Further analysis of IiCPK2 genomic DNA revealed that it contained 7 exons, 6 introns and the length of most exons was highly conserved. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that the expression of IiCPK2 in root, stem and leaf were much higher in tetraploid sample than that in diploid progenitor. Further expression analysis revealed that gibberellin ($GA_3$), NaCl and cold treatments could up-regulate the IiCPK2 transcription. All our findings suggest that IiCPK2 might participate in the cold, high salinity and GA3 responsive pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권9호
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• pp.454-459
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• 2017

Tumor suppressor candidate 2 (Tusc2, also known as Fus1) regulates calcium signaling, and $Ca^{2+}$-dependent nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) and nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) pathways, which play roles in osteoclast differentiation. However, the role of Tusc2 in osteoclasts remains unknown. Here, we report that Tusc2 positively regulates the differentiation of osteoclasts. Overexpression of Tusc2 in osteoclast precursor cells enhanced receptor activator of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. In contrast, small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Tusc2 strongly inhibited osteoclast differentiation. In addition, Tusc2 induced the activation of RANKL-mediated $NF-{\kappa}B$ and calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase IV (CaMKIV)/cAMP-response element (CRE)-binding protein CREB signaling cascades. Taken together, these results suggest that Tusc2 acts as a positive regulator of RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.315-319
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• 1998

Gastric smooth muscle of cats was used to investigate the involvement of protein kinase in vanadate-induced contraction. Vanadate caused a contraction of cat gastric smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner. Vanadate-induced contraction was totally inhibited by 2 mM EGTA and 1.5 mM $LACI_3$ and significantly inhibited by $10\mu$M verapamil and $1\mu$M nifedipine, suggesting that vanadate-induced contraction is dependent on the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, and the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was mediated through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel. Both protein kinase C inhibitor and tyrosine kinase inhibitor significantly inhibited the vanadate-induced contraction and the combined inhibitory effect of two protein kinase inhibitors was greater than that of each one. But calmodulin antagonists did not have any influence on the vanadate-induced contraction. On the other hand, both forskolin ($1\mu$M) and sodium nitroprusside ($1\mu$M) significantly inhibited vanadate-induced contraction. Therefore, these results suggest that both protein kinase C and tyrosino kinase are involved in the vanadate-induced contraction which required the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in cat gastric smooth muscle, and that the contractile mechanism of vanadate may be different from that of agonist binding to its specific receptor.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권12호
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• pp.627-632
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• 2022

Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is a secreted protein that acts as an antagonist of the canonical WNT/β-catenin pathway, which regulates osteoblast differentiation. However, the role of DKK1 on osteoblast differentiation has not yet been fully clarified. Here, we investigate the functional role of DKK1 on osteoblast differentiation. Primary osteoprogenitor cells were isolated from human spinal bone tissues. To examine the role of DKK1 in osteoblast differentiation, we manipulated the expression of DKK1, and the cells were differentiated into mature osteoblasts. DKK1 overexpression in osteoprogenitor cells promoted matrix mineralization of osteoblast differentiation but did not promote matrix maturation. DKK1 increased Ca⁺ influx and activation of the Ca⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II Alpha (CAMK2A)-cAMP response element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) and increased translocation of p-CREB1 into the nucleus. In contrast, stable DKK1 knockdown in human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS2 exhibited reduced nuclear translocation of p-CREB1 and matrix mineralization. Overall, we suggest that manipulating DKK1 regulates the matrix mineralization of osteoblasts by Ca⁺-CAMK2A-CREB1, and DKK1 is a crucial gene for bone mineralization of osteoblasts.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.154-159
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• 2020

We investigated the effects of physalin A, B, D, and F on osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL). The biological functions of different physalins were first predicted using an in silico bioinformatic tool (BATMAN-TCM). Afterwards, we tested cell viability and cell apoptosis rate to analyze the cytotoxicity of different physalins. We analyzed the inhibitory effects of physalins on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis from mouse bone-marrow macrophages (BMMs) using a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) stain. We found that physalin D has the best selectivity index (SI) among all analyzed physalins. We then confirmed the inhibitory effects of physalin D on osteoclast maturation and function by immunostaining of F-actin and a pit-formation assay. On the molecular level, physalin D attenuated RANKL-evoked intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) oscillation by inhibiting phosphorylation of phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) and thus blocked the downstream activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMK)IV and cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB). An animal study showed that physalin D treatment rescues bone microarchitecture, prevents bone loss, and restores bone strength in a model of rapid bone loss induced by soluble RANKL. Taken together, these results suggest that physalin D inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone loss via suppressing the PLCγ2-CaMK-CREB pathway.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권9호
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• pp.1349-1353
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• 2007

Calcineurin is a calmodulin dependent protein that functions as a regulator of muscle cell growth and function. Agents capable of interacting with calcineurin could have important applications in muscle disease treatment as well as in the improvement of livestock production. Calsarcins comprise a family of muscle-specific calcineurin binding proteins which play an important role in modulating the function of calcineurin in muscle cells. Recently, we described the first two members of the calsarcin family (calsarcin-1 and calsarcin-2) in the pig. Here, we characterized the third member of the calsarcin family, calsarcin-3, which is also expressed specifically in skeletal muscle. However, unlike calsarcin-1 and calsarcin-2, the calsarcin-3 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle kept rising throughout the prenatal and postnatal development periods. In addition, radiation hybrid mapping indicated that porcine calsarcin-3 mapped to the distal end of the q arm of pig chromosome 2 (SSC2). A C/T single nucleotide polymorphism site in exon 5 was genotyped using the denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) method and the allele frequencies at this locus were significantly different among breeds.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.566-571
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• 2008

Calcineurin (Cn) is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase that has diverse functions in different cell types and organisms. We screened proteins interacting with the C. elegans CnA homolog, TAX-6, by the yeast two-hybrid system. CNP-3 (Calcineurin interacting protein-3) is a novel protein that physically interacts with the catalytic domain of TAX-6. It is strongly expressed in the nuclei of intestine, hypodermis, dorsal uterine regions and spermatheca. Expression begins around the 60-cell stage and proceeds during all larval stages and the adult. To elucidate the biological function of cnp-3 we isolated a cnp-3 deletion mutant. Since CNP-3 binds CnA, we looked at factors associated with calcineurin loss-of-function mutants, such as brood size, body size, serotonin- and levamisole-mediated egg-laying behavior. The cnp-3(jh145) single mutant had no gross defects compared to wild-type animal. However, the phenotypes of the double mutants, tax-6(p675);cnp-3(jh145) and cnb-1(jh103);cnp-3(jh145), were more severe in terms of brood size, body size and serotonin-mediated egg-laying defects than tax-6(p675) and cnb-1(jh103), respectively. These results suggest that dysfunction of cnp-3 enhances certain calcineurin loss-of-function phenotypes in C. elegans.

• 한국식물병리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식물병리학회 2003년도 정기총회 및 추계학술발표회
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• pp.65.2-65
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• 2003

To protect the plant against several soil-borne pathogens, we are currently constructing disease-resistant transgenic root stock for the growth of cucurbitaceae vegetable plants, watermelon and gourd. We made a watermelon cDNA library from Cladosporium cucumerinum-Infected leaves for substractive hybriazation and differential screening. We isolated the several pathogen inducible cDNA clones, such as caffeoyl-CoA-methyltransferase, LAA induced protein, receptor-like kinase homolog, hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein, catalase, calmodulin binding protein, mitochondrial ATPase beta subunit, methyl tRNA synthetase and WRKY transcription factors. We previously obtained CaMADS in pepper and galactinol synthase ( CsGolS) in cucumber that were confirmed to be related with disease-resistance. CaMADS and CsGolS2 were transformed into the inbred line 'GO701-2' gourd, the inbred line '6-2-2' watermelon and the Kong-dye watermelon by Agrobacterium tumerfaciens LBA4404. Plant growth regulators (zeatin, BAP and IAA) were used for shoot regeneration and root induction for optimal condition. Putative transgenic plants were selected in medium containing 100mg/L kanamycin and integration of the CaMADS and CsGO/S2 into the genomic DNA were demonstrated by the PCR analysis. We isolated major soil-borne pathogens, such as Monosporascus cannonballus, Didymella bryoniae, Cladosporium cuvumerinum from the cultivation area of watermelon or root stock, and successfully established artificial inoculation method for each pathogen. This work was supported by a grant from BioGreen 21 program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.520-525
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• 2009

영아형 바텐병은 PPT1 결핍 및 기능장애로 인해 발병하며, 12,500명 당 1명의 발병률을 가진 신경 퇴행 질환이다. 전 세계적으로 수많은 연구가 진행 중 이지만, 아직 명확하게 밝혀진 발병원인 및 치료방법에 대해서는 알려지고 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 뇌에서 풍부하게 발현되는 neurogranin의 발현수준이 WT과 EBD KO 쥐에서 어떤 변화를 보이는지 확인하기 위해 mRNA, 단백질, 배양된 neurospheres를 이용하여 실험을 수행하였다. real-time PCR을 통한 neurogranin의 발현수준 비교 결과 WT에서는 노화와 무관하게neurogranin mRNA 수준에 차이가 없었으나, EBD KO 쥐에서는 노화가 진행됨에 따라 neurogranin mRNA 발현수준이 감소하였으며, 뇌에서 추출된 단백질을 이용한 western blot 분석에서도 real-time PCR과 동일한 결과를 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 WT, EBD KO 쥐의 태아로 부터 neural stem cell 인 neurospheres를 배양하여 western blot 분석을 수행한 결과 PPT1 결핍에 의해 neurogranin의 정상적인 인산화에 문제가 발생함을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로 neurospheres에 산화스트레스 유발물질인 $H_2O_2$를 처리하였고, 24시간 경과 후 항산화제인 NAC을 처리하자 $H_2O_2$를 처리한 시료에서는 mock control인 인산화된 neurogranin에 비해 그 수준이 증가하였으며, $H_2O_2$ 처리 후 NAC을 투여한 시료의 인산화 수준은 mock control 보다는 높았지만 $H_2O_2$만을 처리한 시료 수준보다 neurogranin의 인산화 정도가 감소하는 결과를 확인하였다. 이러한 결과들을 통해 PPT1 결핍으로 인해 신경세포 내에 과다하게 인산화된 neurogranin이 존재하며, neurogranin 인산화 정도는 세포가 지닌 산화스트레스 정도에 의해 변화함을 알 수 있었다. 또한 항산화제를 사용하여 세포의 산화스트레스 수준을 감소시킬 경우 neurogranin의 기능을 정상적으로 회복시킬 수 있는 가능성을 확인하였다.