• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.233-234
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• 2017

Aberrant expression of the polypeptide N-acetyl-galactosaminyltransferase (GALNTs) has been associated with cancer, but their function(s) in metastasis remains elusive. We have recently identified GALNT14, one of the O-GalNAc glycosylation-initiating enzymes, as a prognostic marker for pulmonary relapse in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, we showed that GALNT14 promotes lung metastasis by the following novel mechanisms: 1) enhancing metastasis initiation by inhibiting the anti-metastatic effect of BMP produced from the lung stroma, 2) exploiting growth signals (e.g. FGF) supplied by macrophages, for their growth into macrometastases in the lung environment. These multi-faceted roles of GALNT14 in lung metastasis are achieved by GALNT14-mediated inhibition and activation of the BMP and FGF signaling pathways, respectively. The link among GALNT14, its downstream pathways and lung metastasis, provides us with an opportunity to develop effective therapeutic intervention for breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.315-325
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• 2015

Recently, livestock breeding is more focused on the meat quality rather than meat quantity, mainly due to the improvement of consumers' income. Among the meat quality traits, meat color is one of very important traits because meat color is the first selection criterion from the consumers in the market. Most of the economically important traits have continuous variations and these are called quantitative traits. the genomic locations affecting these traits are called quantitative trait locus (QTL), which is mostly controlled by many genes having small effects. In this study, the recent QTL and candidate gene studies were reviewed in order to meet the consumers' demand for the future market. In the chicken QTL database, three traits are related with meat colors, namely breast color (Bco), meat color (Mco), drip loss (DL) and pH. The identified number of QTLs is 33 from 13 chromosomal regions. In these QTL regions, 14 candidate genes were identified; Eight for meat color (APP, BCMO1, COL1A2, FTO, KPNA2, PSMD12, G0S2, FTSJ3), two for drip loss (AGRP, FTO) and four for pH (GALNT1, PCDH19, DIAPH1, SPP2). These QTLs and candidate genes need to be confirmed and fine mapping is ultimately needed for identification of causative variations. The recently developed chicken resource population using Korean native chicken can be used for the improvement of meat quality traits, which increase the value that needed in the chicken industry.