• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

Although pork quality traits are important commercially, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have not well considered Landrace and Yorkshire pigs worldwide. Landrace and Yorkshire pigs are important pork-providing breeds. Although quantitative trait loci of pigs are well-developed, significant genes in GWASs of pigs in Korea must be studied. Through a GWAS using the PLINK program, study of the significant genes in Korean pigs was performed. We conducted a GWAS and surveyed the gene ontology (GO) terms associated with the backfat thickness (BF) trait of these pigs. We included the breed information (Yorkshire and Landrace pigs) as a covariate. The significant genes after false discovery rate (<0.01) correction were AFG1L, SCAI, RIMS1, and SPDEF. The major GO terms for the top 5% of genes were related to neuronal genes, cell morphogenesis and actin cytoskeleton organization. The neuronal genes were previously reported as being associated with backfat thickness. However, the genes in our results were novel, and they included ZNF280D, BAIAP2, LRTM2, GABRA5, PCDH15, HERC1, DTNBP1, SLIT2, TRAPPC9, NGFR, APBB2, RBPJ, and ABL2. These novel genes might have roles in important cellular and physiological functions related to BF accumulation. The genes related to cell morphogenesis were NOX4, MKLN1, ZNF280D, BAIAP2, DNAAF1, LRTM2, PCDH15, NGFR, RBPJ, MYH9, APBB2, DTNBP1, TRIM62, and SLIT2. The genes that belonged to actin cytoskeleton organization were MKLN1, BAIAP2, PCDH15, BCAS3, MYH9, DTNBP1, ABL2, ADD2, and SLIT2.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.278-284
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• 2016

Background: The ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) is the most abundant compound in the root of Panax ginseng. Recent studies have shown that Rb1 has a neuroprotective effect. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect are still unknown. Methods: We used stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture, combined with quantitative mass spectrometry, to explore a potential protective mechanism of Rb1 in ${\beta}$-amyloid-treated neuronal cells. Results: A total of 1,231 proteins were commonly identified from three replicate experiments. Among these, 40 proteins were significantly changed in response to Rb1 pretreatment in ${\beta}$-amyloid-treated neuronal cells. Analysis of the functional enrichments and protein interactions of altered proteins revealed that actin cytoskeleton proteins might be linked to the regulatory mechanisms of Rb1. The CAP1, CAPZB, TOMM40, and DSTN proteins showed potential as molecular target proteins for the functional contribution of Rb1 in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Conclusion: Our proteomic data may provide new insights into the protective mechanisms of Rb1 in AD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.233-238
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• 2014

Background: The actin cytoskeleton in podocytes is essential for the maintenance of its normal structure and function. Its disruption is a feature of podocyte foot-process effacement and is associated with proteinuria. ${\alpha}$-Actinin-4 in podocytes serves as a linker protein binding the actin filaments of the cytoskeleton. Methods: To investigate the effect of ginseng total saponin (GTS) on the pathological changes of podocyte ${\alpha}$-actinin-4 induced by diabetic conditions, we cultured mouse podocytes under normal glucose (5mM) or high glucose (HG, 30mM) conditions, with or without the addition of advanced glycosylation end products (AGE), and treated with GTS. Results: In confocal imaging, ${\alpha}$-actinin-4 colocalized with the ends of F-actin fibers in cytoplasm, but diabetic conditions disrupted F-actin fibers and concentrated ${\alpha}$-actinin-4 molecules at the peripheral cytoplasm. GTS upregulated ${\alpha}$-actinin protein in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and suppressed the receptor for AGE levels in western blotting. Diabetic conditions, including HG, AGE, and both together, decreased cellular ${\alpha}$-actinin-4 protein levels at 24 h and 48 h. Such quantitative and qualitative changes of ${\alpha}$-actinin-4 protein induced by diabetic conditions were mitigated by GTS. Conclusion: These findings imply that both HG and AGE have an influence on the distribution and amount of ${\alpha}$-actinin-4 in podocytes that can be recovered by GTS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.628-634
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• 2002

A microfilament-based motility in Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) Is involved in host cell invasion, yet the exact mechanism has not yet been determined. Accordingly, the current study examined the localization of actin and tubulin in T gondii using immunofluorescent (IF) and immunogold staining for electron microscopy. Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) staining using anti-actin and anti-tubulin monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) revealed localization of fluorescence on the entire surface of the tachyzoites. The actin in T. gondii was observed by immunogold staining, and the gold particles were seen on the surface, especially at the anterior end and in the cytoplasm of the parasite. However, there were no gold particles in the nucleus, rhoptries, and dense granules. The tubulin in T gondii was located on the surface and in the cytoplasm of the tachyzoites in the extracellular parasite, compared with anterior part of tachyzoites in the intracellular parasite. The antigens of T gondii recognized by anti-actin mAb were 107 kDa, 50 kDa, 48 kDa, and 40 kDa proteins, while those recognized by anti-tubulin mAb were 56 kDa, 52 kDa, and 34 kDa proteins. Tachyzoites of T gondii pretreated with the actin inhibitor, cytochalasin D (20 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), and tubulin inhibitor, colchicine (2$\times$10$\^$-6/ M), for 30 min at 37$\^{C}$ were used to infect the isolated mouse macrophages (tachyzo ites:macrophage=2:1). Pretreatment with the inhibitors resulted in lower multiplication of tachyzoites within the macrophages than in the untreated group 18 h post infection (p<0.05). Therefore, the present results suggest that actin and tubulin appear to be involved in the invasion of and multiplication in host cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권10호
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• pp.583-588
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• 2015

Microtubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1), a widely expressed cytoskeletal linker, plays important roles in various cells by regulating cytoskeleton dynamics. However, its role in osteoblastic cells is not well understood. Based on our previous findings that the association of MACF1 with F-actin and microtubules in osteoblast-like cells was altered under magnetic force conditions, here, by adopting a stable MACF1-knockdown MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell line, we found that MACF1 knockdown induced large cells with a binuclear/multinuclear structure. Further, immunofluorescence staining showed disorganization of F-actin and microtubules in MACF1-knockdown cells. Cell counting revealed significant decrease of cell proliferation and cell cycle analysis showed an S phase cell cycle arrest in MACF1-knockdown cells. Moreover and interestingly, MACF1 knockdown showed a potential effect on cellular MTT reduction activity and mitochondrial content, suggesting an impact on cellular metabolic activity. These results together indicate an important role of MACF1 in regulating osteoblastic cell morphology and function.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권7호
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• pp.866-870
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• 2009

Fascin은 액틴결합 단백질로 형성을 포함한 많은 발생과정에 있어서 중요한 역할을 한다. Fascin은 암세포에 대한 생체표지인자로도 잘 알려져 있다. 그러나 이러한 fascin 유전자의 발현조절기전은 현재까지 잘 알려져있다. 그러나 이러한 fascin 유전자의 발현조절기전은 현재까지 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 Raf 돌연변이 초파리에서 이미 보고 되어있는 초파리 fascin 돌연변이 초파리의 휘어진 등털 표현형을 관찰함으로써 초파리 fascin 유전자의 발현이 Raf신호체계에 의해 조절되는 가를 조사하였다. RT-PCR과 Western blot의 실험 방법으로 Raf 유전자 돌연변이 초파리에서 fascin의 발현이 감소되어 있는 것을 확인하였으며, GAL4-UAS계로 Raf를 과발현시킨 초파리에서 fascin 발현이 증가하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 세포의 증식과 이동 연구모델계로 잘 알려져 있는 초파리의 혈액세포에서 이러한 조절기전을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과들은 fascin유전자의 발현이 Raf 신호체계에 의해 조절된다는 것을 나타낸다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.585-589
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• 2008

Actin cytoskeleton rearrangement를 조절하는 cofilin은 인산기가 제거되면서 활성화되는데 이를 담당하는 효소가 chronophin이다. 이 효소는 비타민 $B_6$의 활성형태인 pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)의 세포 내 농도를 조절하는 PLP phosphatase로도 알려져 있다. Chronophin은 cap 도메인과 core 도메인을 갖는 HAD family에 속하는 phosphatase이며 다른 HAD phosphatase와 같이 기질결합을 위해 cap 도메인과 core 도메인 사이의 활성부위가 노출되는 열린 형태로의 전환이 있을 것으로 추정되었다. 이전의 밝혀진 chronophin/PLPP의 결정구조에서는 단백질의 결정화과정이 산화된 상태에 이루어졌기에 cap 도메인의 C91과 core 도메인의 C221 사이에 disulfide bond가 있었으며 이것이 cap 도메인과 core 도메인사이의 움직임을 막고 있었다. 본 연구에서는 환원된 상태의 chronophin의 결정체를 얻어 chronophin의 구조를 규명하였다. 환원된 상태의 chronophin의 구조에는 C91과 C221간의 disulfide 결합은 없었으나 산화된 상태와 동일한 닫힌 형태이었으며 국부적인 core 도메인의 움직임이외에는 core 도메인과 cap 도메인의 구조에는 변화가 없었다. 이는 chronophin이 기질이 없는 상태에서 닫힌 형태로 유지되는 것이 disulfide bond에 의한 것이 아님을 의미하며 세포 내의 환원된 상태에서도 닫힌 구조를 유지함으로서 높은 기질 특이성을 보여줄 것임을 암시한다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.18-24
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• 2021

Vibration is a mechanical cue that can be applied to adipose tissues for the purpose of treating obesity. However, the exact correlation between vibration and other anti-adipogenic pathways, such as development of cytoskeleton and apoptosis, remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the unknown anti-adipogenic effects of vibration with varied frequencies on preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing 5% calf serum at 37 ℃ with 5% CO2 in a humidified incubator. Vibration was generated using Arduino Uno microcontroller and vibration motor module with 1 V DC, and applied to preadipocytes for 3 days. Frequency conditions were set to 20, 55, and 90 Hz. Then, the expressions of p38 pathway, ROCK-1, α-actinin, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-9, 8, and 3 were analyzed with western blot. As a result, p38 pathway was inhibited in 55 and 90 Hz while ROCK-1 and α-actinin were expressed in 20 Hz. Caspase-3, a terminal apoptotic factor, was activated in 20 Hz via extrinsic pathway rather than intrinsic pathway. Results suggest that various frequencies of vibration can inhibit adipogenesis via different pathways which sheds light on future mechanotransduction applications of vibration for the treatment of obesity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.535-547
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• 2000

Recent findings indicate that mechanical strain (deformation) exerted by the extracellular matrix modulates activation of airway smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, cytoskeletal organization in airway smooth muscle appears to be dynamic, and subject to modulation by receptor activation and mechanical strain. Mechanosensitive modulation of crossbridge activation and cytoskeletal organization may represent intracellular feedback mechanisms that limit the shortening of airway smooth muscle during bronchoconstriction. Recent findings suggest that receptor-mediated signal transduction is the primary target of mechanosensitive modulation. Mechanical strain appears to regulate the number of functional G-proteins and/or phospholipase C enzymes in the cell membrane possibly by membrane trafficking and/or protein translocation. Dense plaques, membrane structures analogous to focal adhesions, appear to be the primary target of cytoskeletal regulation. Mechanical strain and receptor-binding appear to regulate the assembly and phosphorylation of dense plaque proteins in airway smooth muscle cells. Understanding these mechanisms may reveal new pharmacological targets for control1ing airway resistance in airway diseases.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.382-389
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• 2015

Motility contrast imaging is a coherence-domain imaging technique that uses cellular motility as a fully endogenous imaging contrast agent. Motility is measured inside tissue using a digital holographic coherence gate that extracts dynamic speckle from fixed depths. The dynamic speckle arises from the normal organelle motion inside cells, and from the movement of the cellular membranes driven by the cytoskeleton. It measures cellular activity and the effects of temperature and osmolarity. Motion is sensitive to cytoskeletal drugs, such as the antimitotic drugs used for cancer chemotherapy, and the effects of drug combinations also can be monitored. Motility contrast imaging is a potential tissue-based assay platform for highthroughput screening of pharmaceuticals.