• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.47-55
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• 2003

Objectives: Bok, Bcl-2-related ovarian killer, is a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein identified in the ovary based on its dimerization with the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. The present study examined the hormonal regulation and localization of Bok messenger RNA levels in the mouse ovary during the follicle development. Methods: The animals were implanted subcutaneously with Silastic brand capsules containing the synthetic estrogen, DES at $21{\sim}23$ days of age. Ovaries were collected $1{\sim}3$ days after implantation for RNA analysis and in situ hybridization. Some mice were removed capsule for $1{\sim}2$ days to induce ovarian follicle apoptosis. Ovaries were also collected from 26 day-old immature mice at various times after treatment with 10 IU PMSG. Some mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 10 IU hCG to induce ovulation, and ovaries were obtained at different time intervals for Northern blot and in situ hybridization analysis, respectively. Results: Treatment of immature mice with diethylstilbestrol (DES) for $24{\sim}48$ h increased ovarian Bok mRNA levels. Bok mRNA was remained the same levels in mice removed DES for $24{\sim}48$ h to induce apoptosis. High signals of Bok mRNA after DES treatment were detected in granulosa cells of early antral follicles. Treatment of immature mice with PMSG for 12 h increased markedly ovarian Bok mRNA expression which was detected mainly in preantral and atretic follicles. Interestingly, low levels of Bok mRNA were also expressed in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. Treatment of PMSGprimed mice with hCG stimulated strongly ovarian Bok mRNA expression at $6{\sim}9$ h. At that time, Bok mRNA was expressed in granulosa cells of atretic and small growing follicles. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that Bok is one of proapoptotic Bcl-2 members expressed in early growing and atretic follicles during the ovarian follicular development. Gonadotropins induce a transient increase of Bok gene expression in granulosa cells of preantral and preovulatory follicles indicating some role in the ovulatory process.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권5호
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• pp.273-280
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• 2004

Nitric oxide (NO) has been suggested to act as a mediator of cytokine-induced effects of turn over of bone. Activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by inflammation has been related with apoptotic cell death in osteoblast. YS 49, a synthetic isoquinoline alkaloid, inhibits NO production in macrophages activated with cytokines. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of YS 49 to inhibit iNOS expression in ROS 17/2.8 cells, which were activated with combined treatment of inflammatory cytokines $(TNF-{\alpha},\;IFN-{\gamma})$ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results indicated that YS 49 concentration-dependently reduced iNOS mRNA and protein expression, as evidenced by Northern and Western blot analysis, respectively. The underlying mechanism by which YS 49 suppressed iNOS expression was not to affect iNOS mRNA stability but to inhibit activation and translocation of $NF-_kB$ by preventing the degradation of its inhibitory protein $I_kB_{\alpha}$. As expected, YS 49 prevented NO-induced apoptotic cell death by sodium nitroprusside. Taken together, it is concluded that YS 49 inhibits iNOS expression by interfering with degradation of phosphorylated inhibitory $_kB_{\alpha}\;(p-I_kB_{\alpha})$. These actions may be beneficial for the treatment of inflammation of the joint, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.17-26
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• 1995

The present studies were carried out to determine if antinociceptive action of morphine and ${\beta}-endorphin$ administered intraventricularly was changed in. pentobarbital anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Antinociception was assessed by the tail-flick test. The $ED_{50}$ values of antinociception for morphine administered intraventricularly were 1.9 and 1.2 nmol for WKY and SHR rats, respectively. The $ED_{50}$ values of antinociception for ${\beta}-endorphin$ administered intraventricularly were 0.40 and 0.12 nmol for WKY and SHR rats, respectively. The $[Met^5]-enkephalin$ (ME) and proenkephalin mRNA levels in midbrain, pons and medulla, or lumbar section of the spinal cord in WKY and SHR rats were measured by the radioimmunoassay and Northern blot assay, respectively. There were no differences of ME and proenkephalin mRNA levels in these tissues between WKY and SHR rats. The results suggest that ${\beta}-endorphin$ but not morphine administered intraventricularly produces a greater antinociception in SHR rats. This increased antinociceptive effect of ${\beta}-endorphin$ in SHR rats may be not, at least, due to the alterations of ME And proenkephalin mRNA levels in the midbrain, pons and medulla, or spinal cord.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.170-180
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• 1996

Lowered immune function in the senile dementia patients may be related to the abnormal metabolism of amyloid precursor protein(APP). To investigate the passibility of an abnormal metabolism of APP in lymphocytes and the possible role of APP in the activation of lymphocytes in senile dementia patients, immunohistochemical study of rat spleen and fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis(FACS) of human lymphocytes with the specific antigen far each lymphocyte and double fluorescent marker with antibody to APP were performed. After stimulating lymphocyte with phytohemagglutinin(PHA), APP mRNA and protein were extracted and quantitfied and the influence of ${\beta}$-amyloid protein($A{\beta}$) specific antibody on lymphocyte division was investigated. In spleen, the majority of cells showing $A{\beta}$ immunoreactivity was found in the T-sell dependent zone. FACS indicated that around 90% $CD_4(+)$ T-cells and 60% of $CD_8(+)$ T-sell were immunoreactive to $A{\beta}$ specific antibody(mAb 4G8). Northern blot analysis shows that lymphocyte APP mRNA was gradually increased to reach a maximum at 3 days after activation with lectin mitogen PHA. However, the $A{\beta}$ immunoreactivity an cell surface remained constant during stimulation with PHA, indicating that the release of APP(secreted farm of APP) might be increased. A very large increase in soluble APP secretion was observed in T-lymphocyte upon activation, but only law levels in the resting stale. Immunoblot was carried out an the protein obtained from cell lysate after stimulating lymphocyte by applying PHA to the cultured lymphocyte, and the result was that $A{\beta}$ band of immature farm under 116 KDa marker decreased as the duration of culture was increased after PHA stimulation. The monoclonal $A{\beta}$ specific(4G8) and polyclonal APP antibodies did not inhibit the [$^3H$]-thymidine uptake of mitogen-treated lymphocytes significantly, suggesting that mitogenesis can not be inhibited by specific $A{\beta}$ and polyclonal APP antibody. These results suggest that APP is expressed in T-cell and might be closely associated with the function of T-cells.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.7-10
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• 1999

This study was carried out with the purpose of looking into the transcriptionally regulated genes related to the anther development, characterizing them, and applying their promoters to induce male-sterile plants and restore their fertility. Fifteen anther-specific clones were isolated from the anther cDNA library of Chinese cabbage through the differential screening and sequenced partially at both ends. These partial sequence data showed that cDNA clones BAN52, 84, 101, and 229 are very similar to polygalacturonase, ascorbate oxidase, $H^+-translocating$ ATPase, and pectin esterase genes respectively. However, the other clones have not been matched to any of gene sequences in data bank. In northern dot blot analysis, the transcripts of cDNA clone BAN5, 10, 33, 52, 57, 102, 103, 215, 229 appeared in the flower bud of 2.1 mm in length and their amounts were gradually increased along with the anther development. Transcription of cDNA clone BAN32, 54, 62, 84, 101 began in flower bud of 3.9 mm, which is the late stage in anther development. However, the transcription of BAN87 was very small, but its transcript was detected in all anther developmental stages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.1023-1027
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• 2004

The RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for the incision step of UV-induced excision repair. An yeast RAD3 gene has been previously isolated by functional complementation. In order to identify the RAD3 homologous gene from fungus Coprinus cinereus, we have constructed cosmid libraries from electrophoretically separated chromosomes of the C. cinereus. The 13 C. cinereus chromosomes were resolved by pulse-field gel electrophoresis, hybridized with S. cerevisiae RAD3 DNA, and then isolated RAD3 homologous DNA from C. cinereus chromosome. The RAD3 homolog DNA was contained in 3.2 kb DNA fragment. Here, we report the results of characterization of a fungus C. cinereus homolog to the yeast RAD3 gene. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the C. cinereus chromosome contains the RAD3 homolog gene and this gene exists as a single copy in C. cinereus genome. When total RNA isolated from the C. cinereus cells were hybridized with the 3.4 kb PvuII DNA fragment of the S. cerevisiae RAD3 gene, transcripts size of 2.8 kb were detected. In order to investigate whether the increase of the amount of transcripts by DNA damaging agent, transcript levels were examined after treating agents to the cells. The level of transcripts were not increased by untraviolet light (UV). This result indicated that the RAD3 homologous gene is not UV inducible gene. Gene deletion experiments indicate that the HRD3 gene is essential for viability of the cells and DNA repair function. These observations suggest an evolutionary conservation of other protein components with which HRD3 interacts in mediating its DNA repair and viability functions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.23-30
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• 2004

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $\gamma$(PPAR$\gamma$), a member of the steroid/thyroid nuclear hormone receptor suferfamily of ligand-activated transcription factor, is an important regulator of adipocyte gene expression and differentiation. In this studies, we report the identification, characterization, and expression of a Hanwoo PPAR$\gamma$ gene. The PPAR$\gamma$ cDNA sequence of the Hanwoo show strong conservation with the corresponding sequences reported in other species except of three amino acid sequences. The distribution of PPAR$\gamma$ mRNA in various tissues of Korean cattle aged 12 months were investigated using Northern Blot analysis. The highest expression was detected in adipose tissue, more lower expression was detected in colon, small intestine, kidney, lung, while expression was not detected in brain, heart. PPAR$\gamma$ expression was higher in adipose tissue of Korean cattle when aged 30 months than aged 12 months. These results indicated PPAR$\gamma$, regulator adipocyte gene expression and differentiation, related on adipose differentiation in Korean native cattle(HANWOO).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.165-170
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• 2009

A system for the production of transgenic plants has been developed for perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Included in this study were two factors which may affect the gene transfer efficiency: concentrations of acetosyringone (AS, 0 to 300 ${\mu}M$), and co-culture period (1 to 7 days). Both factors were very important to achieve high efficiency gene transformation in the perennial ryegrass. The highest transformation efficiency was obtained when embryogenic calli were inoculated with Agrobacterium in the presence of 100 ${\mu}M$ AS with the culture medium for 5 days. Phosphinothricin resistant calli were developed with into complete plants. GUS histochemical assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Northern blot analysis of transgenic plants demonstrated that transgenes were integrated into the genome of perennial ryegrass. Using this protocol, it was possible to obtain transformants efficiently for further study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.912-918
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• 2003

Mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK), which is a novel kinesin with a central motor domain, is believed to playa role in mitotic segregation of chromosome during the M phase of the cell cycle. In the present study, it is shown that a rabbit polyclonal antibody has been produced using the N-terminal region (187 aa) of human MCAK expressed in E. coli as the antigen. To express the N-terminal region in E. coli, the MCAK cDNA fragment encoding N-terminal 187 aa was obtained by PCR and was then inserted into the pET 3d expression vector. Molecular mass of the N-terminal region overexpressed in the presence of IPTG was 23.2 kDa on SDS-PAGE, and the protein was insoluble and mainly localized in the inclusion body that could be easily purified from the other cellular proteins. The N-terminal region was purified by electro-elution from the gel after the inclusion body was resolved on the SDS-PAGE. The antiserum obtained after tertiary immunization with the purified protein specifically recognized HsMCAK when subjected to Western blot analysis, and showed a fluctuation of the protein level during the cell cycle of human Jurkat T cells. Synchronization of the cell-cycle progression required for recovery of cells at a specific stage of the cell cycle was performed by either hydroxyurea or nocadazole, and subsequent release from each blocking at 2, 4, and 7 h. Northern and Western analyses revealed that both mRNA and protein of HsMCAK reached a maximum level in the S phase and declined to a basal level in the G1 phase. These results indicate that a polyclonal antibody raised against the N-terminal region (187 aa) of HsMCAK, overexpressed in E. coli, specifically detects HsMCAK (81 kDa), and it can analyze the differential expression of HsMCAK protein during the cell cycle.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2010

Glycoprotein hormones have a common $\alpha$-subunit that is involved in the signaling pathway together with G protein, adenylcyclase and cAMP induction; however, it is an unclear how this common structure is related to hormonal action. To determine the biological functions of the COOH-terminal amino acids in the $\alpha$-subunit of these glycoprotein hormones, a tethered-molecule was constructed by fusing the $NH_2$-terminus of the $\alpha$-subunit to the COOH-terminus of the $\beta$-subunit of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). The following deletion mutants were created by PCR; Ile was inserted at position 96 to form ${\Delta}96$, Lys was substituted at position 95 to form ${\Delta}95$, His was inserted at position 93 to form ${\Delta}93$ and Tyr was substituted at position 87 to form ${\Delta}87$. Each mutant was transfected into CHO-K1 cells. Tethered-wt eCG, and ${\Delta}96$, ${\Delta}95$, and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were efficiently secreted into the medium but the ${\Delta}87$ mutant was not secreted. Interestingly, the RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and northern blot analyses confirmed that the RNA was transcribed in the ${\Delta}87$ mutant. However, the ${\Delta}87$ mutant protein was not detected in the medium or the intracellular fraction of the cell lysates. The LH- and FSH-like activities of the recombinant proteins were assayed in terms of cAMP production using rat LH/CG and rat FSH receptors. The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was determined by injecting rec-eCG (2 IU) into the tail vein. The ${\Delta}95$ and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were completely inactive in both the LH- and FSH-like activity assays. The ${\Delta}96$ mutant showed slight activity in the LH-like activity assay. In comparison to the wild type, the activity of the ${\Delta}96$ mutant in the FSH-like activity assay was the highest among all the mutants. The MCR assay in which rec-eCG was injected showed a peak at 10 min in all the treatment groups, which disappeared 4 h after injection. These results imply a direct interaction between the receptor and the COOH-terminal region of the a-subunit. The data also reveal a significant difference in the mechanism by which the eCG hormone interacts with the rLH and rFSH receptors. The COOH-terminal region of the $\alpha$-subunit is very important for the secretion and functioning of this hormone.