• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

Most animals, including human beings, live in a cyclic pattern of lift that is influenced by the ambient changes of environment. The regular changes occurred by rotation of the Earth itself its revolving around the Sun, and the local environment, are reflected by the distinct behavior in the living organisms. These regular changes of environment have been imprinted into the genes within the living organisms through the evolutionary process over a long period of time. The genes are expressed by rhythms during the process of fetal development followed by growth. The environmental modifications ultimately are settled in genes, serving as a biological clock that is located putatively in the hypothalamus. Thus the biological clock governs a large number of rhythms and affects the time of birth and death lift expectancy, behavior, physiology, cell division, biochemical reaction, etc. The rhythms are readjusted to the changes of environmental cues. The biological clock has the great advantage of predicting and preparing the regular changes of environment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2006

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus is the circadian pacemaker entrained to the 24-hr day by environmental time cues. Major circadian genes such as mPeriod ($mPer1{\sim}3$) and mCryptochrome ($mCry1{\sim}2$) are actively transcribed by the action of CLOCK/BMAL heterodimers, and in turn, these are being suppressed by the mPER/mCRY complex. In the study, the locomotor activity rhythms of mPer1 Knockout (KO) mice are measured, and the expression profiles of Heat Shock Protein 105kDa (HSP 105) genes in the SCN were measured by in situ hybridization. In agreement with previous reports, the locomotor activity rhythm of mPer1 KO mice was much shorter than that of wildtype. In addition, the total bout of activity of mPer1 KO was less in comparison to control mice. The expression of HSP 105 in the SCN of mPer1 KO mice was ranged from CT6 to CT22, with a peak level at CT14, implying that the gene are under the control of circadian clock. However, the expression of HSP 105 in the SCN of wildtype could not be detected in our study. Further analysis will reveal the direct or indirect regulation by mPer1 on the expression in the SCN and the role of the gene in the circadian clock.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2007

Three catalase cDNA clones were isolated from the small radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Their nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences showed the greatest homology to those of Arabidopsis. Genomic Southern blot analysis, using RsCat1 cDNA as a probe, showed that catalases are encoded by small multigene family in the small radish. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels revealed the presence of several catalase isozymes, the levels of which varied among the organs examined. The isozyme activities were assigned the individual catalase genes by Northern analysis using total RNA from different organs. The three catalase genes were differentially expressed in response to treatments such as white light, xenobiotics, osmoticum, and UV. Their expression in seedlings was controlled by the circadian clock under a light/dark cycle and/or in constant light. Interestingly, RsCat1 transcripts peaked in the morning, while those of RsCat2 and RsCat3 peaked in the early evening. Our results suggest that the RsCat enzymes are involved in defense against the oxidative stress induced by environmental changes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.999-1008
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• 2012

The circadian clock is a self-sustaining 24-hour timekeeper that allows organisms to anticipate daily-changing environmental time cues. Circadian clock genes are regulated by a transcriptional-translational feedback loop. In Arabidopsis, LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY) and CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) transcripts are highly expressed in the morning. Translated LHY and CCA1 proteins repress the expression of the TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1 (TOC1) transcripts, which peaks in the evening. The TOC1 protein elevates the expression of the LHY and CCA1 transcripts, forming a negative feedback loop that is believed to constitute the oscillatory mechanism of the clock. In mammals, the transcription factor protein CLOCK, which is a central component of the circadian clock, was reported to have an intrinsic histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity, suggesting that histone acetylation is important for core clock mechanisms. However, little is known about the components necessary for the histone acetylation of the Arabidopsis clock-related genes. Here, I report that DET1 (De-Etiolated1) functions as a negative regulator of a key component of the Arabidopsis circadian clock gene LHY in constant dark phases (DD) and is required for the down-regulation of LHY expression through the acetylation of histone 3 (H3Ac). However, the HATs directly responsible for the acetylation of H3 within LHY chromatin need to be identified, and a link connecting the HATs and DET1 protein is still absent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2013

Genes expressed during conidial germination of the pepper anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum acutatum were identified by sequencing the 5' end of unidirectional cDNA clones prepared from the conidial germination stage. A total of 983 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) corresponding to 464 genes, 197 contigs and 267 singletons, were generated. The deduced protein sequences from half of the 464 genes showed significant matches (e value less than 10-5) to proteins in public databases. The genes with known homologs were assigned to known functional categories. The most abundantly expressed genes belonged to those encoding the elongation factor, histone protein, ATP synthease, 14-3-3 protein, and clock controlled protein. A number of genes encoding proteins such as the GTP-binding protein, MAP kinase, transaldolase, and ABC transporter were detected. These genes are thought to be involved in the development of fungal cells. A putative pathogenicity function could be assigned for the genes of ATP citrate lyase, CAP20 and manganese-superoxide dismutase.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.25-28
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• 2002

The chicken pineal gland has been used for studies on the circadian clock, because it retains an intracellular phototransduction pathway regulating the phase of the intrinsic clock oscillator. Previously, we identified chicken clock genes expressed in the gland (cPer2, cPer3, cBmal1, cBmal2, cCry1, cCry2, and cClock), and showed that a cBMALl/2-cCLOCK heteromer acts as a regulator transactivating cPer2 gene through the CACGTG E-box element found in its promoter. Notably, mRNA expression of cPer2 gene is up-regulated by light as well as is driven by the circadian clock, implying that light-dependent clock resetting may involve the up-regulation of cPer2 gene. To explore the mechanism of light-dependent gene expression unidentified in animals, we first focused on pinopsin gene whose mRNA level is also up-regulated by light. A pinopsin promoter was isolated and analyzed by transcriptional assays using cultured chicken pineal cells, resulting in identification of an 18-bp light-responsive element that includes a CACGTG E-box sequence. We also investigated a role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the clock resetting, especially in the E-box-dependent transcriptional regulation, because MAPK is phospholylated (activated) in a circadian manner and is rapidly dephosphorylated by light in the gland. Both pulldown analysis and kinase assay revealed that MAPK directly associates with BMAL1 to phosphorylate it at several Ser/Thr residues. Transcriptional analyses implied that the MAPK-mediated phosphorylation may negatively regulate the BMAL-CLOCK-dependent transactivation through the E-box. These results suggest that the CACGTG E-box serves not only as a clock-controlled element but also as a light-responsive element.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.358-367
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• 2018

Most organisms have adapted to a circadian rhythm that follows a roughly 24-hour cycle, which is modulated by both internal (clock-related genes) and external (environment) factors. In such organisms, the central nervous system (CNS) is influenced by the circadian rhythm of individual cells. Furthermore, the period circadian clock 2 (Per2) gene is an important component of the circadian clock, which modulates the circadian rhythm. Per2 is mainly expressed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus as well as other brain areas, including the midbrain and forebrain. This indicates that Per2 may affect various neurobiological activities such as sleeping, depression, and addiction. In this review, we focus on the neurobiological functions of Per2, which could help to better understand its roles in the CNS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.60-61
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• 2006

• 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.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.276-285
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• 2020

Circadian rhythm is an endogenous oscillation of about 24-h period in many physiological processes and behaviors. This daily oscillation is maintained by the molecular clock machinery with transcriptional-translational feedback loops mediated by clock genes including Period2 (Per2) and Bmal1. Recently, it was revealed that gut microbiome exerts a significant impact on the circadian physiology and behavior of its host; however, the mechanism through which it regulates the molecular clock has remained elusive. 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (4-OH-PPA) and 3-phenylpropionic acid (PPA) are major metabolites exclusively produced by Clostridium sporogenes and may function as unique chemical messengers communicating with its host. In the present study, we examined if two C. sporogenes-derived metabolites can modulate the oscillation of mammalian molecular clock. Interestingly, 4-OH-PPA and PPA increased the amplitude of both PER2 and Bmal1 oscillation in a dose-dependent manner following their administration immediately after the nadir or the peak of their rhythm. The phase of PER2 oscillation responded differently depending on the mode of administration of the metabolites. In addition, using an organotypic slice culture ex vivo, treatment with 4-OH-PPA increased the amplitude and lengthened the period of PER2 oscillation in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and other tissues. In summary, two C. sporogenes-derived metabolites are involved in the regulation of circadian oscillation of Per2 and Bmal1 clock genes in the host's peripheral and central clock machineries.