• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.387-392
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• 1995

To study the regulatory expression mechanism of soybean glycinin gone, Gy2, the 5' upstream region of the gene was searched for the presence of putative regulatory elements by nucleotide sequencing. It revealed various kinds of regulatory sequence elements commonly found in plant storage protein genes. There were canonical promoter sequences, TATA box (TATAAT) and AGGA box (GAAT) which are common in the 5' upstream region of the plant genes. The embryo factor binding sequence, RY repeat, CACA sequences, ${\alpha}$-conglycinin enhancer-like sequences were also found. To delineate the function of these sequences, 5' upstream deletion mutants of Gy2 were prepared and fused to the ${\alpha}$-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Each chimeric construct was transferred into soybean protoplasts for transient assay, which led to the identification of the sequences between -281 and -223, -170 and -122, of Gy2 promoter as negative regulatory elements, and the sequences between -223 and -170, -122 and -16 as positive regulatory elements. These results are consistent in transformed tobacco plants as well. The serially deleted promoter fragments fused to the GUS were transformed into Nicotiana tabacum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens using the binary vector system. GUS activity of Gy2 promoter deletion constructs was detected only in seeds but not in leaves with different levels of expression as in transient assay. These results suggest that the glycinin Gy2 promoter drives a tissue-specific expression in transgenic tobacco plants.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1 s.26
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• pp.41-50
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• 1980

Chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA) has been used as a gallstone dissolving agent since 1972. Recently, ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA) has been reported to be effective in dissolving gallstones. Both bile acids increased bile flow. The increase in bile flow associated with an increase in cholesterol level in bile after CDCA or UDCA infusion was reported. In this study, using the smooth muscle strips of guinea pig and fowl, responses of the cholates were observed. In addition, the influence of adrenergic blocking agents on the response of the strips to cholates was investigated. Also the effects of cholates on cardiac function were examined by using isolated atria of rabbit and heart of anesthetized frog. The results are as follows: 1) All cholates, such as UDCA, CDCA, and CA produced a marked inhibitory effect on the motility in isolated duodenal strip of guinea pig and fowl, however, only UDCA showed the contraction in the isolated esophagus of fowl. These effects of cholates were blocked by propranolol. 2) In isolated guinea pig stomach strip and gall bladder, cholates exhibited a marked inhibitory effect on the motility and the effects due to UDCA and CA were blocked by phenoxybenzamine while CDCA was not affected. 3) The spontaneous and ouabain induced arrhythmia was partially abolished by cholates. However, concomitant administration of cholates with ouabain or epinephrine caused a marked prolongation in occurrence of atrial arrhythmia in comparison with ouabain or epinephrine alone in isolated rabbit atria. 4) In the heart of anesthetized frog, the epinephrine-induced arrhythmia was partially abolished by cholates. The combined treatment with cholates and ouabain or epinephrine produced a marked prolongation in occurrence of the arrhythmia in comparison with, ouabain or epinephrine alone. From the above results, it can be suggested that the effects of cholates on the smooth muscle of duodenum and esophagus are produced in response to adrenergic ${\beta}$-receptor and the effect or gall bladder and stomach is more likely due to the direct effect on the muscle. In addition, cholates exhibit a slight antiarrhythmic effect on heart, therefore, cholates can be classified as a nonselective antiarrhythmic drug, such as propranolol.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.4 s.71
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• pp.553-560
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• 2005

The stf (Salmonella typhimurium fimbriae) operon consisting of stfA(CDEFG assumes to encode putative fimbriae. The complete stf operon is existed in S. typhimurium and S. choleraesuis, whereas it is absent in S. typhi. Analyses of the amino acid residues between major subunit StfA of the Stf fimbriae and those of known other fimbriaes suggested that Stf belongs to class I type fimbriae. Through comparison of StfD chaperone with the other fimbrial chaperones, and of C-terminus in subunits of Stf fimbriae, it belongs to FGS (with a short Fl-G1 loop) subfamily. In order to investigate the expression of stf operon, we have constructed a Salmonella strain containing a chromosomal stfA::lacZYA transcriptional fusion, resulting in S. typhimurium $_X8532$. The strain $_X8532$ lacked the expression of \beta-galactosidase$ under normal culture conditions. However, with longer incubation time of the S. typhimurium $_X8532$, we have isolated 21 individual strains exhibiting $Lac^+$ phenotype. $Lac^+$ phenotype was appeared as approximately 0.03 frequency per generation. All isolates expressed lacZ constitutively in the various environmental conditions. Various global regulatory proteins including RpoS, OmpR, and CpxR were not involved in the regulation of the stf operon. A S. typhimurium $_X8661$ mutant lacking stfAC function attenuated 6.7 folds more than that of wild type $_X3761$ in the mouse virulence test, suggesting in the somehow involved in the Salmonella pathogenesis.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.26.1-26.10
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• 2014

Background: Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substance, interfere with the endocrine system, and disrupt hormonal functions. However, the effect of endocrine disruptors in different species has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the possible effects of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), genistein (GEN) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), on capacitation and the acrosome reaction in bovine, mouse, and porcine spermatozoa. In this in vitro trial, spermatozoa were incubated with $0.001-100{\mu}M$ of each chemical either 15 or 30 min and then assessed capacitation status using chlortetracycline staining. Results: E2 significantly increased capacitation and the acrosome reaction after 30 min, while the acrosome reaction after 15 min incubation in mouse spermatozoa. Simultaneously, capacitation and the acrosome reaction were induced after 15 and 30 min incubation in porcine spermatozoa, respectively. Capacitation was increased in porcine spermatozoa after 15 min incubation at the lowest concentration, while the acrosome reaction was increased in mouse spermatozoa after 30 min (P < 0.05). E2 significantly increased the acrosome reaction in porcine spermatozoa, but only at the highest concentration examined (P < 0.05). P4 significantly increased the acrosome reaction in bovine and mouse spermatozoa treated for 15 min (P < 0.05). The same treatment significantly increased capacitation in porcine spermatozoa (P < 0.05). P4 significantly increased capacitation in mouse spermatozoa treated for 30 min (P < 0.05). GEN significantly increased the acrosome reaction in porcine spermatozoa treated for 15 and 30 min and in mouse spermatozoa treated for 30 min (P < 0.05). OP significantly increased the acrosome reaction in mouse spermatozoa after 15 min (P < 0.05). Besides, when spermatozoa were incubated for 30 min, capacitation and the acrosome reaction were higher than 15 min incubation in E2 or GEN. Furthermore, the responsiveness of bovine, mouse and porcine spermatozoa to each chemical differed. Conclusions: In conclusion, all chemicals studied effectively increased capacitation and the acrosome reaction in bovine, mouse, and porcine spermatozoa. Also we found that both E2 and P4 were more potent than environmental estrogens in altering sperm function. Porcine and mouse spermatozoa were more responsive than bovine spermatozoa.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 1984

The exocrine pancreatic secretion is controlled mainly by gastrointestinal hormones as well as cholinergic nerves. The adrenergic influence on exocrine pancreas is thought not to he important and the evidences supporting this contention are still contradictory. In an effort to elucidate the adrenergic influence on the exocrine pancreas, we have determined the amylase release from pancreatic slices of rats treated with adrenergic drugs. The albino rats of either sex, weighing $60{\sim}80\;g$, were decapitated and the uncinate pancreata were isolated and incubated in screw top vials containing 2 ml krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer solution gassed with 95% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$. These vials were shaken continuously in a waterbath maintained at $37^{circ}C$, and enzyme release was stimulated with acetylcholine$(10^{-5}M)$. For chronic treatment methoxamine$(an\;{\alpha}-adrenergic\;agonist,\;5\;mg/kg)$, isoproterenol (a\;{\beta}-adrenergic\;agonist,\;10\;mg/kg) and reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) along with cholecystokinin octapeptide$(CCK-op,\;2{\mu}g/kg)$ were given i.p. in rats daily for 3, 5, 7, 9 or 12 days. For acute experiment these drugs were added directly to the incubation medium in a concentration of $10^{-5}M$ except CCK-OP $(10^{-9}M)$. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The addition of methoxamine, isoproterenol or reserpine to the incubation medium containing pancreatic slices augmented the release of amylase induced by acetylcholine and among them the effect of isoproterenol was most prominent. 2) Chronic treatment of methoxamine or reserpine caused enhancement of acetylcholine response in amylase release from pancreatic slice throughout the experimental period, but the amylase release was less than that of control by 12 days isoproterenol treatment. 3) In the pancreatic slices obtained from 12 days treatment of CCK-OP, the amylae release responding to acetylcholine was enhanced. By these finding it is suggested that methoxamine, isoproterenol and reserpine had marked influence on the exocrine pancreatic functions in rats and that these effects are due to their inherent actions rather than sympathetic nerve or adrenergic receptor function.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2013

Binary trans-activation (pOp/LhG4) system is one of the regulatory systems of transgene expression. The target gene expression is achieved by crossing the reporter plants with an activator in this system. In this study, we used the features of this system in Chinese cabbage as a way to protect genetic resources and new varieties. To establish pOp/LhG4 system in Chinese cabbage, we designed an activator (35SLhG41300), and reporter constructs (pOpGUSBart) and co-transformed using Agrobacterium. The transgenic plants were selected by antibiotics and the functional activity of pOp/LhG4 system was confirmed by GUS expression. To induce the tissue-specific function, we constructed pOp/LhG4 system (795LhGBart) using female tissue specific promoter (ProAt1g26795) of Arabidopsis. Co-transformed transgenic plants clearly showed tissue specific expression in Arabidopsis. The results suggest the possibility of the system's application of $F_1$ generation can be restricted by expressing the target gene to protect a new variety and genetic resource in Chinese cabbages.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.13.1-13.12
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• 2018

We aimed to explore whether changes in circulating levels of miRNAs according to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or prediabetes status could be used as biomarkers to evaluate the risk of developing the disease. The study included 462 patients without T2DM at baseline from the CORDIOPREV trial. After a median follow-up of 60 months, 107 of the subjects developed T2DM, 30 developed prediabetes, 223 maintained prediabetes and 78 remained disease-free. Plasma levels of four miRNAs related to insulin signaling and beta-cell function were measured by RT-PCR. We analyzed the relationship between miRNAs levels and insulin signaling and release indexes at baseline and after the follow-up period. The risk of developing disease based on tertiles (T1-T2-T3) of baseline miRNAs levels was evaluated by COX analysis. Thus, we observed higher miR-150 and miR-30a-5p and lower miR-15a and miR-375 baseline levels in subjects with T2DM than in disease-free subjects. Patients with high miR-150 and miR-30a-5p baseline levels had lower disposition index (p = 0.047 and p = 0.007, respectively). The higher risk of disease was associated with high levels (T3) of miR-150 and miR-30a-5p ($HR_{T3-T1}=4.218$ and $HR_{T3-T1}=2.527$, respectively) and low levels (T1) of miR-15a and miR-375 ($HR_{T1-T3}=3.269$ and $HR_{T1-T3}=1.604$, respectively). In conclusion, our study showed that deregulated plasma levels of miR-150, miR-30a-5p, miR-15a, and miR-375 were observed years before the onset of T2DM and pre-DM and could be used to evaluate the risk of developing the disease, which may improve prediction and prevention among individuals at high risk for T2DM.