• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.217-228
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• 2003

뇌와 두개골의 조화로운 성장 발육은 성장 중인 두개골과 이 뼈들을 연결하는 두개봉합부들 그리고 발육중인 뇌사이의 일련의 상호작용에 의해 이루어진다. 두개봉합부의 조기융합으로 알려진 craniosynostosis는 이러한 상호균형적인 관계가 파괴될 때 야기될 수 있다. Bone morphogenetic protein의 하나인 Bmp2는 골 각각의 형태와 골격의 상대적인 비례성을 조절하는데 관여하고 있으며, Bmp의 하부 유전자로 알려져 있는 Msx2 homeobox 유전자의 돌연변이는 Boston-type craniosynostosis를 야기한다 이와 함께 Dlx5 homozygote mutant mouse의 표현형은 두개골 골화의 지연을 포함한 다양한 두개안면의 이상을 나타낸다. 이러한 사실들은 Bmp2, Msx2, Dlx5 유전자들이 두개봉합부의 형태발생과정에 중요하게 작용할 수 있음을 시사하고 있다. Mouse 두개봉합부의 초기형태발생과정에 위 유전자들의 기능을 알아보기 위해, 태생기 동안의 시상봉합부에서의 Bmp2, Msx2, Dlx5 유전자들의 발현양상을 in situ hybridization 방법을 이용하여 분석하였다. Bmp2 mRNA는 osteogenic front에서 강하게 발현되었으며, parietal bone의 골막에서도 관찰되었다. Msx2 mRNA는 시상봉합부의 미분화 간엽조직에서 강하게 발현되었으며, osteogenie front 및 dura mater에서도 관찰되었다. Dlx5 mRNA는 osteogenic front와 parietal bone에서 강하게 발현되었다. 두개봉합부에서의 Bmp signaling의 역할을 알아보기 위해 태생 15.5일 mouse의 두개골을 이용하여 in vitro 실험을 시행하였다. Bmp2-soaked beads를 osteogenic fronts에 올려놓고 48시간 기관배양한 결과 BSA 대조군에 비해 Bmp2 beads 주위 조직의 두께와 세포수가 증가하였으며 Msx2와 Dlx5 유전자들의 발현을 유도하였다. 그러나 FGF2 beads주위로는 이들 유전자들의 발현이 관찰되지 않았다. 이러한 결과들을 종합해 볼 때, Bmp2 유전자는 두개골 성장과 두개봉합부의 초기 형태발생을 조절하는데 중요한 역할을 담당하고 있으며, Bmp signaling은 Msx2, Dlx5 유전자들을 조절함으로써 두개골의 골화와 두개봉합부의 유지에 관여하고 있음을 제시해 주고 있다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.205-211
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• 2023

INTS14/VWA9, a component of the integrator complex subunits, plays a pivotal role in regulating the fate of numerous nascent RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase II, particularly in the biogenesis of small nuclear RNAs and enhancer RNAs. Despite its significance, a comprehensive mutation model for developmental research has been lacking. To address this gap, we aimed to investigate the expression patterns of INTS14 during zebrafish embryonic development. We generated ints14 mutant strains using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We validated the gRNA activity by co-injecting Cas9 protein and a single guide RNA into fertilized zebrafish eggs, subsequently confirming the presence of a 6- or 9-bp deletion in the ints14 gene. In addition, we examined the two mutant alleles through PCR analysis, T7E1 assay, TA-cloning, and sequencing. For the first time, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to create a model in which some sequences of the ints14 gene were removed. This breakthrough opens new avenues for in-depth exploration of the role of ints14 in animal diseases. The mutant strains generated in this study can provide a valuable resource for further investigations into the specific consequences of ints14 gene deletion during zebrafish development. This research establishes a foundation for future studies exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of ints14, its interactions with other genes or proteins, and its broader implications for biological processes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.621-627
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• 2009

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by ataxia and progressive motor deterioration. SCA1 is associated with an elongated polyglutamine tract in ataxin-1, the SCA1 gene product. As summarized in this review, recent studies have clarified the molecular mechanisms of SCA1 pathogenesis and provided direction for future therapeutic approaches. The nucleus is the subcellular site where misfolded mutant ataxin-1 acts to cause SCA1 disease in the cerebellum. The role of these nuclear aggregates is the subject of intensive study. Additional proteins have been identified, whose conformational alterations occurring through interactions with the polyglutamine tract itself or non-polyglutamine regions in ataxin-1 are the cause of SCA-1 cytotoxicity. Therapeutic hope comes from the observations concerning the reduction of nuclear aggregation and alleviation of the pathogenic phenotype by the application of potent inhibitors and RNA interference.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.382-393
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• 2006

Mechanical system dynamics plays an important role in the area of computational structural biology. Elastic network models (ENMs) for macromolecules (e.g., polymers, proteins, and nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA) have been developed to understand the relationship between their structure and biological function. For example. a protein, which is basically a folded polypeptide chain, can be simply modeled as a mass-spring system from the mechanical viewpoint. Since the conformational flexibility of a protein is dominantly subject to its chemical bond interactions (e.g., covalent bonds, salt bridges, and hydrogen bonds), these constraints can be modeled as linear spring connections between spatially proximal representatives in a variety of coarse-grained ENMs. Coarse-graining approaches enable one to simulate harmonic and anharmonic motions of large macromolecules in a PC, while all-atom based molecular dynamics (MD) simulation has been conventionally performed with an aid of supercomputer. A harmonic analysis of a macroscopic mechanical system, called normal mode analysis, has been adopted to analyze thermal fluctuations of a microscopic biological system around its equilibrium state. Furthermore, a structure-based system optimization, called elastic network interpolation, has been developed to predict nonlinear transition (or folding) pathways between two different functional states of a same macromolecule. The good agreement of simulation and experiment allows the employment of coarse-grained ENMs as a versatile tool for the study of macromolecular dynamics.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.298-306
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• 2017

Background: Compound K (CK) is a bioactive derivative of ginsenoside Rb1 in Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng). Its biological and pharmacological activities have been studied in various disease conditions, although its immunomodulatory role in innate immunity mediated by monocytes/macrophages has been poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of CK on cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages in innate immune responses. Methods: The immunomodulatory role of CK was explored by various immunoassays including cell-cell adhesion, fibronectin adhesion, cell migration, phagocytic uptake, costimulatory molecules, reactive oxygen species production, luciferase activity, and by the measurement of mRNA levels of proinflammatory genes. Results: Compound K induced cell cluster formation through cell-cell adhesion, cell migration, and phagocytic activity, but it suppressed cell-tissue interactions in U937 and RAW264.7 cells. Compound K also upregulated the surface expression of the cell adhesion molecule cluster of differentiation (CD) 43 (CD43) and costimulatory molecules CD69, CD80, and CD86, but it downregulated the expression of monocyte differentiation marker CD82 in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, CK induced the release of reactive oxygen species and induced messenger RNA expression of proinflammatory genes, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by enhancing the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activities of nuclear factor kappa-B and activator protein-1. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CK has an immunomodulatory role in innate immune responses through regulating various cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2005

The ubiquitin E3 ligase COP1 (Constitutive Photomorphogenesis 1) is a protein repressor of photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsisplants, and it found in various organisms, including animals. The COP1 protein regulates the stability of many of the light-signaling components that are involved in photomorphogenesis and in the developmental processes. To study the effect of COP1 on flowering in a short day plant, we have cloned a full-length of PnCOP1 (Pharbitis nil COP1) cDNA from Pharbitis nil Choisy cv. Violet, and we examined its transcript levels under various conditions. A full-length PnCOP1 cDNA consists of 2,280 bp nucleotidesthat contain 47 bp of 5'-UTR, 232 bp of 3'-UTR including the poly (A) tail, and 1,998 bp of the coding sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence contains 666 amino acids, giving it a theoretical molecular weight of 75 kD and a isolectric point of 6.2. The PnCOP1 contains three distinct domains, an N-terminal $Zn^2+$-binding RING-finger domain, a coiled-coil structure, and WD40 repeats at the C-terminal, implying that the protein plays a role in protein-protein interactions. The PnCOP1 transcript was detected in the cotyledon, hypocotyls and leaves, but not in root. The levels of the PnCOP1 transcript were reduced in leaves that were a farther distance away from the cotyledons. The expression level of the PnCOP1 gene was inhibited by light, while the expression was increased in the dark. During the floral inductive 16 hour-dark period for Pharbitis nil, the expression was increased and it reached its maximum at the 12th hour of the dark period. The levels of PnCOP1 mRNA were dramatically reduced upon light illumination. These results suggest that PnCOP1 may play an important function in the floral induction of Pharbitis nil.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8579-8587
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• 2016

Background: The molecular mechanisms linking breast cancer progression and inflammation still remain obscure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association of angiopoeitin like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) and its regulatory factor, hypoxia inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$), with the inflammatory markers nuclear factor kappa B/p65 (NF-${\kappa}B$/P65) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$) in order to evaluate their role in inflammation associated breast cancer progression. Materials and Methods: Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) mRNA expressions were evaluated using quantitative real time PCR and its protein expression by immunohistochemistry. DNA binding activity of NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 was evaluated by transcription factor binding immunoassay. Serum levels of ANGPTL4, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ were immunoassayed. Tumor clinico-pathological features were investigated. Results: ANGPTL4 mRNA expressions and serum levels were significantly higher in high grade breast carcinoma ($1.47{\pm}0.31$ and $184.98{\pm}18.18$, respectively) compared to low grade carcinoma ($1.21{\pm}0.32$ and $171.76{\pm}7.58$, respectively) and controls ($0.70{\pm}0.02$ and $65.34{\pm}6.41$, respectively), (p<0.05). Also, ANGPTL4 high/moderate protein expression was positively correlated with tumor clinico-pathological features. In addition, serum levels of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ as well as NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 DNA binding activity were significantly higher in high grade breast carcinoma ($148.54{\pm}14.20$, $0.79{\pm}0.03$ and $247.13{\pm}44.35$ respectively) than their values in low grade carcinoma ( $139.14{\pm}5.83$, $0.34{\pm}0.02$ and $184.23{\pm}37.75$, respectively) and controls ($33.95{\pm}3.11$, $0.11{\pm}0.02$ and $7.83{\pm}0.92$, respectively), (p<0.001). Conclusion: ANGPTL4 high serum levels and tissue expressions in advanced grade breast cancer, in addition to its positive correlation with tumor clinico-pathological features and HIF-$1{\alpha}$ could highlight its role as one of the signaling factors involved in breast cancer progression. Moreover, novel correlations were found between ANGPTL4 and the inflammatory markers, IL-$1{\beta}$ and NF-${\kappa}B$/p65, in breast cancer, which may emphasize the utility of these markers as potential tools for understanding interactions for axes of carcinogenesis and inflammation contributed for cancer progression. It is thus hoped that the findings reported here would assist in the development of new breast cancer management strategies that would promote patients' quality of life and ultimately improve clinical outcomes. However, large-scale studies are needed to verify these results.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권12호
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• pp.1802-1807
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• 2009

Platycodi radix의 주요 성분으로 항염증, 항고지혈 및 항종양 등 다양한 약리적 기능을 가지는 platycodin D는 최근 비만 및 지방세포형성(adipogenesis)을 억제하는 효과를 가진다고 보고되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 adipogenesis의 상위단계에 위치한 다양한 pro-adipogenic regulators와 anti-adipogenic regulators의 발현이 platycodin D에 의해 어떻게 변화되는지 분석하였다. Real-time PCR을 이용한 mRNA 발현의 정량적 분석에서 adipogenesis의 marker라 불리는 ADIPOQ와 GLUT4의 mRNA 발현은 platycodin D의 처리에 의해 유의적으로 감소되었다. 또한 terminal marker의 발현을 조절하는 PPAR$\gamma$와 C/EPB$\alpha$의 mRNA 발현 역시 platycodin D에 의해 유의하게 억제되었다. Platycodin D의 지방세포 억제 효과에 대한 상세한 분자적 메커니즘을 규명하기 위해, PPAR$\gamma$와 C/EPB$\alpha$의 상위 조절자들의 mRNA 발현 변화를 분석하였다. Pro-adipogenic regulators에 대한 platycodin D의 효과를 분석한 결과, C/EBP$\beta$와 C/EPB$\delta$의 mRNA 발현은 platycodin D에 의해 변화가 없었던 반면, KROX20과 KLF15의 mRNA 발현은 각각 초기 분화(2일)와 후기 분화(4일)에서 platycodin D에 의해 유의한 감소를 보였다. 또한, 대표적인 anti-adipogenic regulators인 CHOP의 mRNA 발현은 초기분화에서 platycodin D에 의해 유의하게 증가한 반면, 또 다른 anti-adipogenic regulators인 C/EBP$\gamma$의 mRNA 발현은 platycodin D에 의해 영향을 받지 않았다. 따라서 adipogenesis 과정에서 platycodin D는 pro-adipogenic regulators인 KROX20, KLF15와 anti-adipogenic regulator인 CHOP의 mRNA 발현에 영향을 주어 PPAR$\gamma$와 C/EPB$\alpha$를 조절하는 것으로 보여진다. 결론적으로, platycodin D에 의한 adipogenesis 억제 효과는 KROX20, KLF15 등의pro-adipogenic regulator와 CHOP 등의 anti-adipogenic regulator의 상호작용을 통해 나타나는 결과라 사료된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.129-138
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• 1999

If rumen bacteria can be manipulated to utilize nutrients (i.e., ammonia and plant cell wall carbohydrates) more completely and efficiently, the need for protein supplementation can be reduced or eliminated and the digestion of fiber in forage or agricultural residue-based diets could be enhanced. However, these approaches require a complete and accurate description of the rumen community, as well as methods for the rapid and accurate detection of microbial density, diversity, phylogeny, and gene expression. Molecular ecology techniques based on small subunit (SSU) rRNA sequences, nucleic acid probes and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can potentially provide a complete description of the microbial ecology of the rumen of ruminant animals. The development of these molecular tools will result in greater insights into community structure and activity of gut microbial ecosystems in relation to functional interactions between different bacteria, spatial and temporal relationships between different microorganisms and between microorganisms and reed panicles. Molecular approaches based on SSU rRNA serve to evaluate the presence of specific sequences in the community and provide a link between knowledge obtained from pure cultures and the microbial populations they represent in the rumen. The successful development and application of these methods promises to provide opportunities to link distribution and identity of gastrointestinal microbes in their natural environment with their genetic potential and in situ activities. The use of approaches for assessing pupulation dynamics as well as for assessing community functionality will result in an increased understanding and a complete description of the gastrointestinal communities of production animals fed under different dietary regimes, and lead to new strategies for improving animal growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.837-845
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• 2014

Background: Overweight and obesity are recognized as major drivers of cancers including breast cancer. Several cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and lipocalin 2 (LCN2), as well as dysregulated cell cycle proteins are implicated in breast carcinogenesis. The nuclear, casein kinase and cyclin-dependent kinase substrate-1 (NUCKS-1), is a nuclear DNA-binding protein that has been implicated in several human cancers, including breast cancer. Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate NUCKS-1 mRNA expression in breast tissue from obese patients with and without breast cancer and lean controls. NUCKS-1 expression was correlated to cytokine profiles as prognostic and monitoring tools for breast cancer, providing a molecular basis for a causal link between obesity and risk. Materials and Methods: This study included 39 females with breast cancer (G III) that was furtherly subdivided into two subgroups according to cancer grading (G IIIa and G IIIb) and 10 control obese females (G II) in addition to 10 age-matched healthy lean controls (G I). NUCKS-1 expression was studied in breast tissue biopsies by means of real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Serum cytokine profiles were determined by immunoassay. Lipid profiles and glycemic status as well as anthropometric measures were also recorded for all participants. Results: IL-6, IL-12 and LCN2 were significantly higher in control obese and breast cancer group than their relevant lean controls (p<0.05), while NUCKS-1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the breast cancer group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Significant higher levels of IL-6, IL-12, and LCN2 as well as NUCKS-1 mRNA levels were reported in G IIIb than G IIIa, and positively correlated with obesity markers in all obese patients. Conclusions: Evaluation of cytokine levels as well as related gene expression may provide a new tool for understanding interactions for three axes of carcinogenesis, innate immunity, inflammation and cell cycling, and hope for new strategies of management.