• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2014

Inductive expression of early growth response 1 (Egr-1) in neurons is associated with many forms of neuronal activity. However, only a few Egr-1 target genes are known in the brain. The results of this study demonstrate that Egr-1 knockout (KO) mice display impaired contextual extinction learning and normal fear acquisition relative to wild-type (WT) control animals. Genome-wide microarray experiments revealed 368 differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of Egr-1 WT exposed to different phases of a fear conditioning paradigm compared to gene expression profiles in the hippocampus of KO mice. Some of genes, such as serotonin receptor 2C (Htr2c), neuropeptide B (Npb), neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (Npas4), NPY receptor Y1 (Npy1r), fatty acid binding protein 7 (Fabp7), and neuropeptide Y (Npy) are known to regulate processing of fearful memories, and promoter analyses demonstrated that several of these genes contained Egr-1 binding sites. This study provides a useful list of potential Egr-1 target genes which may be regulated during fear memory processing.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제41권12호
• /
• pp.1072-1080
• /
• 2018

A plant-specific B3 domain and AP2 domain-containing transcription factor, RAV1 acts as a negative regulator of growth in many plant species and its transcription was down-regulated by BR and ABA. In this study, we found that RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants showed abnormally developed ovules, resulting in reduced seed size, weight, and number in a silique. Interestingly, the endogenous expression of RAV1 fluctuated during seed development; it remained low during the early stage of seed development and sharply increased in the seed maturation stage. In plants, seed development is a complex process that requires coordinated growth of the embryo, endosperm, and maternal integuments. Among many genes that are associated with endosperm proliferation and embryo development, three genes consisting of SHB1, MINI3, and IKU2 form a small unit positively regulating this process, and their expression was regulated by BR and ABA. Using the floral stage-specific RNAs, we found that the expression of MINI3 and IKU2, the two downstream genes of the SHB1-MINI3-IKU2 cascade in the seed development pathway, were particularly reduced in the RAV1-overexpressing transgenic plants. We further determined that RAV1 directly binds to the promoter of MINI3 and IKU2, resulting in their repression. Direct treatment with brassinolide (BL) improved seed development of RAV1-overexpressing plants, but treatment with ABA severely worsened it. Overall, these results suggest that RAV1 is an additional negative player in the early stages of seed development, during which ABA and BR signaling are coordinated.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제30권12호
• /
• pp.1092-1100
• /
• 2020

Six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 (Steap4)는 철과 구리를 환원하여 철과 구리의 세포내 유입에 관여하는 금속 환원효소로, 구리 철의 항상성 뿐만 아니라 염증, 포도당 대사, 지질 대사에도 중요한 역할을 한다. 최근에 Steap4가 지방세포의 분화를 촉진한다는 보고가 발표되었으나, 이에 관련된 분자적 기전에 대해서는 알려지지 않았다. 그래서, 본 연구에서는 Steap4에 의한 지방세포분화 촉진에 관련된 기전을 연구하였다. 이를 위해 3T3-L1 백색지방세포, 불멸화된 갈색지방세포(iBA) 및 생쥐의 배아 섬유아 세포인 C3H10T1/3 세포에서 Steap4을 감소시킨 후 지방세포분화 초기단계에 관련된 신호들을 분석하였다. Steap4을 shRNA로 감소시켰을 때 지방세포분화 초기 단계에서 3종류 지방세포의 세포 증식이 억제되었으며, 세포주기 관련 단백질인 cyclin A, cyclin D 그리고 cdk2의 발현은 감소하는 반면 세포주기 저해 단백질인 p21과 p27의 발현은 증가하였다. 또한 세포주기 관련 신호인 p38, ERK 그리고 Akt의 활성화는 억제되었다. 한편 지방세포분화 초기 단계에 관여하는 지방세포분화 전사인자들을 분석하였을 때, Steap4의 감소는 지방세포분화 활성 전사 인자인 C/EBPβ, KLF4의 발현을 저해하는 반면, 지방세포분화 억제 전사 인자인 KLF2, KLF3 그리고 GATA2의 발현은 증가시켰다. 또한 Steap4의 과발현은 C/EBPβ promoter에 존재하는 전사억제 히스톤 표지자인 H3K9me2과 H3K27me3을 감소시켰다. 따라서, 이상의 결과를 종합하면 Steap4는 지방세포분화 초기단계인 mitotic clonal expansion을 촉진하고 지방세포분화 전사인자들의 발현을 조절함으로써, 지방세포분화를 촉진시킴을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• 제45권6호
• /
• pp.534-540
• /
• 2007

The Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) genome contains six operons (rrnA to F) for ribosomal RNA synthesis. Transcription from rrnD occurs from four promoters (p1 to p4). We found that transcripts from the p1 and p3 promoters were most abundant in vivo in the early exponential phase. However, at later phases of exponential and stationary growth, transcripts from the p1 promoter decreased drastically, with the p3 and p4 transcripts constituting the major forms. Partially purified RNA polymerase supported transcription from the p3 and p4 promoters, whereas pure reconstituted RNA polymerase with core enzyme (E) and the major vegetative sigma factor ${\sigma}^{HrdB}$ ($E{\cdot}{\sigma}^{HrdB}$) did not. In order to assess any potential requirement for additional factor(s) that allow transcription from the p3 and p4 promoters, we fractionated a partially purified RNA polymerase preparation by denaturing gel filtration chromatography. We found that transcription from the p3 and p4 promoters required factor(s) of about 30-35 kDa in addition to RNAP holoenzyme ($E{\cdot}{\sigma}^{HrdB}$). Therefore, transcription from the p3 and p4 promoters, which contain a consensus -10 region but no -35 for ${\sigma}^{HrdB}$ recognition, are likely to be regulated by transcription factor(s) that modulate RNA polymerase holoenzyme activity in S. coelicolor.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제28권3호
• /
• pp.183-188
• /
• 2009

TSAd/Lad is a T cell adaptor molecule involved in $p56^{lck}$-mediated T cell activation. To investigate the functions of TSAd in T cells, we generated transgenic (TG) mice expressing the SH2 domain of TSAd (TSAd-SH2) under the control of the $p56^{lck}$ proximal promoter. In T cells from TSAd-SH2 TG mice, T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated early signaling events, such as $Ca^{2+}$ flux and ERK activation, were normal; however, late activation events, such as IL-2 production and proliferation, were significantly reduced. Moreover, TCR-induced cell adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and migration through ECM proteins were defective in T cells from TSAd-SH2 TG mice. Furthermore, the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reaction, an inflammatory response mainly mediated by T helper 1 (Th1) cells, was inhibited in TSAd-SH2 TG mice. Taken together, these results show that TSAd, particularly the SH2 domain of TSAd, is essential for the effector functions of T cells.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.379-384
• /
• 2012

Lhx8 (LIM homeobox 8) gene encodes a LIM homeodomain transcriptional regulator that is preferentially expressed in germ cells and critical for mammalian folliculogenesis. However, Lhx8 DNA binding sequences are not characterized yet. We aimed to identify and characterize a cis-acting sequence of germ-cell specific transcriptional factor, Lhx8. To identify Lhx8 DNA binding element, Cyclic Amplification of Sequence Target (CAST) Analysis was performed. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) was processed for the binding specificity of Lhx8. Luciferase assay was for the transcriptional activity of Lhx8 through identified DNA binding site. We identified a putative cis-acting sequence, TGATTG as Lhx8 DNA binding element (LBE). In addition, Lhx8 binds to the LBE with high affinity and augments transcriptional activity of luciferase reporter driven by artificial promoter containing the Lhx8 binding element. These findings indicate that Lhx8 directly regulates the transcription of genes containing Lhx8 binding element in oocytes during early folliculogenesis.

• 한국미생물학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국미생물학회 2005년도 International Meeting of the Microbiological Society of Korea
• /
• pp.105-109
• /
• 2005

Heat Shock Transcription Factor (HSF), and the promoter heat Shock Element (HSE), are among the most highly conserved transcriptional regulatory elements in nature. HSF mediates the transcriptional response of eukaryotic cells to heat, infection and inflammation, pharmacological agents, and other stresses. While HSF is essential for cell viability in yeast, oogenesis and early development in Drosophila, extended life-span in C. elegans, and extra-embryonic development and stress resistance in mammals, little is known about its full range of biological target genes. We used whole genome analyses to identify virtually all of the direct transcriptional targets of yeast HSF, representing nearly three percent of the genomic loci. The majority of the identified loci are heat-inducibly bound by yeast HSF, and the target genes encode proteins that have a broad range of biological functions including protein folding and degradation, energy generation, protein secretion, maintenance of cell integrity, small molecule transport, cell signaling, and transcription. Approximately 30% of the HSF direct target genes are also induced by the diauxic shift, in which glucose levels begin to be depleted. We demonstrate that phosphorylation of HSF by Snf1 kinase is responsible for expression of a subset of HSF targets upon glucose starvation.

• 한국환경보건학회지
• /
• 제35권5호
• /
• pp.343-354
• /
• 2009

Since Barker found associations between low birth weight and several chronic diseases later in life, the hypothesis of fetal origins of adult disease (aka, Barker Hypothesis) and epigenetics have been emerging as a new paradigm for geneenvironment interaction of chronic disease. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene silencing that occur without any change in DNA sequence. Gene expression can be regulated by several epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, which may be associated with chronic conditions, such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes. One carbon metabolism which involves the transfer of a methyl group catalyzed by DNA methyltransferase is an important mechanism by which DNA methylation occurs in promoter regions and/or repetitive elements of the genome. Environmental factors may induce epigenetic modification through production of reactive oxygen species, alteration of methyltransferase activity, and/or interference with methyl donors. In this review, we introduce recent studies of epigenetic modification and environmental factors, such as heavy metals, environmental hormones, air pollution, diet and psychosocial stress. We also discuss epigenetic perspectives of early life environmental exposure and late life disease occurrence.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권6호
• /
• pp.2209-2213
• /
• 2015

DNA methylation of tumor suppressor gene promoters is the most frequent phenomenon leading to inactivation of function, consequently driving malignant cell transformation. Cyclin D2 is implicated in tumor suppression. In our study, we carried out the MSP assay to evaluation the methylation status at CpG islands in the cyclin D2 promoter in breast cancer cases from the Vietnamese population. The results showed that the frequency of methylation reached 62.1% (59 of 95 breast cancer tumors), but was low in non-cancer specimens at 10% (2 of 20 non-cancer specimens). Additionally, with an RR (relative risk) and OR (odd ratios) of 6.21 and 14.8, DNA hypermethylation of cyclin D2 increased the possibility of malignant transformation. Our results confirmed the cyclin D2 hypermethylation could be used as the potential biomarker which could be applied in prognosis and early diagnosis of Vietnamese breast cancer patients.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• 제35권2호
• /
• pp.152-157
• /
• 1997

Infection of human fibroblast (HF) cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) result in changes in the intracellular level of second messengers. Since nitric oxide (NO) production has been known to be related with other second messengers, it is probable that HCMV infection of HF cells may involve NO. To test this possibility, the amount of NO was measured following ogenous addition of NO generators such as sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or S-nitroso-N-a-cetylpenicillamine (SNAP) immediately after HCMV infection, however, inhibited virus multiplication. Furthermore, immunoblot experiment using monoclonal antibody to HCMV major immediate early (MIE) proteins or CAT assay using pCMVIE/CAT (plasmid containing CAT gene driven by HCMV MIE promoter) revealed that SNP or SNAP blocked the MIE gene expression. SNP was more effective than SNAP in hibiting HCMV multiplication or MIE gene expression. SNP produced more NO than SNAP in inhibiting HCMV multiplication or MIE gene expression. SNP produced more NO than SNAP. Although the mechanism for the inhibition of HCMV multiplication and MIE gene expression by NO is still elusive some correlation with NO-mediated inhibition of HCMV-induced increase in cytosolic free Ca$\^$2+/ concentration ([Ca$\^$2+/]) was observed. The increase of [Ca$\^$2+/] following HCMV infection was inhibited by SNP, and less effectively by SNAP. Raising [Ca$\^$2+/ with bromo-A23187 partially reversed the SNP block of MIE gene expression. Thus, there appear to e some relationships among NO. [Ca$\^$2+/], and HCMV MIE gene expression.