• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.566-571
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• 2008

Calcineurin (Cn) is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase that has diverse functions in different cell types and organisms. We screened proteins interacting with the C. elegans CnA homolog, TAX-6, by the yeast two-hybrid system. CNP-3 (Calcineurin interacting protein-3) is a novel protein that physically interacts with the catalytic domain of TAX-6. It is strongly expressed in the nuclei of intestine, hypodermis, dorsal uterine regions and spermatheca. Expression begins around the 60-cell stage and proceeds during all larval stages and the adult. To elucidate the biological function of cnp-3 we isolated a cnp-3 deletion mutant. Since CNP-3 binds CnA, we looked at factors associated with calcineurin loss-of-function mutants, such as brood size, body size, serotonin- and levamisole-mediated egg-laying behavior. The cnp-3(jh145) single mutant had no gross defects compared to wild-type animal. However, the phenotypes of the double mutants, tax-6(p675);cnp-3(jh145) and cnb-1(jh103);cnp-3(jh145), were more severe in terms of brood size, body size and serotonin-mediated egg-laying defects than tax-6(p675) and cnb-1(jh103), respectively. These results suggest that dysfunction of cnp-3 enhances certain calcineurin loss-of-function phenotypes in C. elegans.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2002년도 창립10주년기념 및 국립독성연구원 의약품동등성평가부서 신설기념 국재학술대회:생물학적 동등성과 의약품 개발 전략을 위한 국제심포지움
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• pp.236-236
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• 2002

Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDP) is a mitochondrial protein serine/threonine phosphatase that catalyzes the dephosphorylation and concomitant reactivation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase componant of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). PDP consists of a Mg$\^$+2/ -dependent and Ca$\^$+2)-stimulated catalytic subunit (PDPc) of Mr 52,600 and a FAD-containing regulatory subunit (PDPr) of Mr 95.600. Catalytic subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDPc) has been suggested to have three major functional domains such as dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase(E$_2$)-binding domain, regulatory subunit of PDP(PDPr)-binding domain, and calcium-binding domain. In order to identify functional domains, recombinant catalytic subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (rPDPc) was expressed in E. coli JM101 and purified to near homogeneity using the unique property of PDPc: PDPm binds to the inner lipoyl domain (L$_2$) of E$_2$ of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) in the presence of Ca$\^$+2/, not under EGTA. PDPc was limited-proteolysed by trypsin, chymotrypsin, Arg-C, and elastase at pH7.0 and 30$^{\circ}C$ and N-terminal analysis of the fragment was done. Chymotrypsin, trypsin, and elastase made two major framents: N-terminal large fragment, approx. 50kD and C-terminal small fragment, approx. 0 kDa. Arg-C made three major fragments: N-terminal fragment, approx. 35 kD, and central fragment, approx. 15 kD, and C-terminal fragment, approx. 10 kD. This study strongly suggest that PDPc consists of three major functional domains. However, further study should be necessary to identify the functional role.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.141-150
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• 1994

전자현미경에 의해 자궁부착 전후의 돼지 수정란의 형태형성 및 분화에 따른 배발생 과정을 검토하였다. 돼지 초기배는 자궁이주후 균일하게 자궁에 배분되기전 약 2~3일간은 자궁각의 proximal portion에 존재하며, 임신 4일째에 할구와 할구의 경계를 상실하는 tight한 gap junction을 가진 상실배로 발달한다. 배반포를 형성하는 시기에 estradiol 17$\beta$는 compact한 상실배를 cavitated blastocyst로 발달을 촉진시키면서, steroid hormone이 이후의 배발생을 지배한다. Hatching의 시기는 교배후 6~7일경 zona pellucida을 둘러사고 있는 glycoprotein의 thinning과 lysis에 의해 이루워지는데, hatching 과정은 embryo의 세포수와 무관하였으며, 이때의 embryo의 직경은 0.5~1.0mm인 것을 본 실험에서 확인하였다. 12일경부터는 embryo는 prostaglandins, IGF-binding protein, retinol binding protein, plasminogen activator등의 단백질이 풍부해 이들 인자가 elongation 개시 후보로 고려될 수 있었다. 또한 이 시기의 embryo는 embryonic disc로 발달시 progesterone과 estrogen을 estradiol 17$\beta$로 전활할 수 있으며, 이러한 변화와 함께 spherical stage로부터 tubular 혹은 filamentous form으로 변형되었다. Estrogen이 임신을 통해 prostagladins의 분비를 uterine lumen에 지시하는지는 알 수 없으나 13일 경을 전후해 conceptus estrogen이 uterine arterial blood flow, uterine vasular permeability을 증가시키는 것으로 나타났으며, 자궁에서 protein과 calcium, PGF2$\alpha$, plasminogen inhibitor를 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 이 시기의 자궁 변화와 함께 embryo의 attachment는 trophoblast와 uterine membrane사이의 느슨한 결합에 의해 개시되었으며, 18일경 uterine과 trophoblastic microvili의 interdigitation에 의해 완성된다. 이 시기에 conceptus attachment를 위해 필요한 uterine microvili에서의 glycocalyx의 형성과 endometrial epithelium의 erosion을 야기하기 위해 plasminogen activator을 분비하였으며, 반면 자궁에서 plasminogen 역할을 하는 것은 estrogen이며, blastocyst cell 표면의 lectin binding이 attachment에 중요한 역할을 한다. 이상과 같은 일련의 과정을 거친 초기배는 성공적인 임신으로 유도된다고 본다. 따라서, 본 연구는 이상과 같이 착상을 전후한 시기의 배를 전자현미경에 의해 형태형성의 변화를 특히 착상을 전후해 배 취사율이 높은 시기를 대상으로 분석하였다. 이 분석 시기중 성공적인 착상성공율은 56%(71/126)였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권9호
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• pp.656-663
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• 2014

Gintonin, a novel, ginseng-derived G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, elicits $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transients in neuronal and non-neuronal cells via pertussis toxin-sensitive and pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins. The slowly activating delayed rectifier $K^+$ ($I_{Ks}$) channel is a cardiac $K^+$ channel composed of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits. The C terminus of the KCNQ1 channel protein has two calmodulin-binding sites that are involved in regulating $I_{Ks}$ channels. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of gintonin-mediated activation of human $I_{Ks}$ channel activity by expressing human $I_{Ks}$ channels in Xenopus oocytes. We found that gintonin enhances $I_{Ks}$ channel currents in concentration- and voltage-dependent manners. The $EC_{50}$ for the $I_{Ks}$ channel was $0.05{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/ml$. Gintonin-mediated activation 1 of the $I_{Ks}$ channels was blocked by an LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, an $IP_3$ receptor antagonist, and the calcium chelator BAPTA. Gintonin-mediated activation of both the $I_{Ks}$ channel was also blocked by the calmodulin (CaM) blocker calmidazolium. Mutations in the KCNQ1 $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM-binding IQ motif sites (S373P, W392R, or R539W)blocked the action of gintonin on $I_{Ks}$ channel. However, gintonin had no effect on hERG $K^+$ channel activity. These results show that gintonin-mediated enhancement of $I_{Ks}$ channel currents is achieved through binding of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM complex to the C terminus of KCNQ1 subunit.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.363-376
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• 1993

This study was taken to examine serum components concentrations and electrophoretic patterns of female tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) living in 0$\textperthousand$, 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$, and 30$\textperthousand$ salt concentrations, respectively. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows. The level of albumin and total protein showed changes in each salinity, but didn't significantly(P<0.05) change in Oreochromis niloticus. The level of BUN didn't significantly(P<0.05) change. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, each calcium level in every salinity groups showed less than that of control, and didn't significantly change in 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$, 30$\textperthousand$ salinity. The level of calcium didn't significantly(P<0.05) change in each salinity. In 20$\textperthousand$ salinity, the level of cholesterol was at the highest peak. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, each glucose level gradually decreased. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$, each glucose level gradually decreased. When fish were adapted from 0$\textperthousand$ to 10$\textperthousand$, 20$\textperthousand$ and 30$\textperthousand$. In 30$\textperthousand$ salinity, the level of alkaline phosphatase was at the highest peak. The level of serum enzyme such as SGOT and SGPT was higher in seawater-adapted group than in freshwater group. The level of phosphorus chnage significantly(P<0.05) in each salinity. Correlation coefficient between serum albumin and glucose in 0$\textperthousand$ was ＋0.924. Correlation coefficient between serum SGOT and SGPT of individuals in 0$\textperthousand$ was ＋0.917. Fraction 1 of transferrin patterns of tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) adapted in seawater was much thicker than that of transferrin patterns of individuals adapted in freshwater. Also fraction No. a wasn't observed in some individuals adapted in freshwater. These results showed that transferrin adapted in seawater relatively increased. Slight differences, that is, showed to be observed in total iron binding capacityand iron saturatin rate between tilapia adapted in freshwater and in seawater. The increase in total iron binding capacity was attributed to a rise in transferrin pressent in the first fraction of serum protein adapted in seawater. Accordingly, the serum iron levles seemed to be related to salinity($\textperthousand$).

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.236-243
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• 2006

Microarray analysis of gene expression has become a powerful approach for exploring the biological effects of drugs, particularly at the stage of toxicology and safety assessment. Acetaminophen (APAP) has been known to induce necrosis in liver, but the molecular mechanism involved has not been fully understood. In this study, we investigated gene expression changes of APAP using microarray technology. APAP was orally administered with a single dose of 50 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg into ICR mice and the animals were sacrificed at 6, 24 and 72 h of APAP administration. Serum biochemical markers for liver toxicity were measured to estimate the maximal toxic time and hepatic gene expression was assessed using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays capable of determining the expression profile of >30,000 well-substantiated mouse genes. Significant alterations in gene expression were noted in the liver of APAP-administered mice. The most notable changes in APAP-administered mice were the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, cell cycle, and calcium signaling pathway, cystein metabolism, glutatione metabolism, and MAPK pathway. The majority of the genes upregulated included insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1, heme oxygenase 1, metallothionein 1, S100 calcium binding protein, caspase 4, and P21. The upregulation of apoptosis and cell cycle-related genes were paralleled to response to APAP. Most of the affected gene expressions were returned to control levels after 72 hr. In conclusion, we identified potential hepatotoxicity makers, and these expressions profiling lead to a better understanding of the molecular basis of APAP-induced hapatotoxicity.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1258-1266
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• 2019

양격산화탕은 9가지의 약재로 구성된 처방으로 한의학적 뇌졸중 치료에 가장 널리 사용되는 처방 중 하나이며, 주로 사상체질이론의 소양인 뇌졸중 치료에 적용된다. 본 연구는 실험동물을 이용한 뇌졸중에 대한 양격산화탕의 효과에 대한 연구가 전무하여, photothrombosis로 유발된 허혈성 마우스모델을 이용하여 양격산화탕의 효과를 살펴 보았다. 동물행동학적 변화와 더불어 뇌손상에 미치는 영향을 뇌경색 용적에 대한 조직학적 검색 및 신경염증과 신생세포에 대한 면역조직화학적 검색으로 살펴 보았다. 동물행동학적 결과로 보아, 양격산화탕은 뇌허혈에 의해 손상된 운동기능, 즉 wire grip과 rotarod test에 의한 운동조정과 균형 능력 등에 대한 기능적 회복을 보였으며, 이는 조직학적 검색으로 관찰된 뇌경색 용적의 축소를 동반하였다. 면역조직화학적 결과를 보면, 양격산화탕은 tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$와 myeloperoxidase 면역반응세포의 수를 현저히 감소시켰다. 이와 반대로 양격산화탕은 glial fibrillary acidic protein와 ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 면역반응세포의 수를 현저히 증가시켰다. 또한 양격산화탕은 Ki67/doublecortin 면역반응세포의 수를 현저히 증가시켰다. 이상의 결과로 보아, 양격산화탕은 항염증, astrocyte와 microglia의 활성화 및 신경세포의 증식을 통해 뇌경색 용적을 감소시키며, 이는 뇌허혈성 운동장애에 대한 완화 효과로 이어 지는 것을 알 수 있다. 따라서 양격산화탕은 뇌손상에 대한 신경기능적 완화효과를 보여 줌으로서 뇌졸중 환자에 대한 유효한 치료제로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권12호
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• pp.1649-1653
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• 2007

무더운 날씨가 지속됨으로서 고랭지배추의 생장 및 결구가 지연되고 있는 강원도 정선군 질운산(새빗재)의 600 m와 900 m의 배추를 사용하여 무기성분 및 단백질 발현패턴을 분석하였다. 식물체 무기성분에서는 생장에 관련된 질소 및 인산의 부족현상과 결구에 관련된 칼슘이 부족하였다. 단백체 분석은 2차원 전기영동에 의해 전체 126개의 단백질이 분리되었고 그중 48개의 단백질이 고도에 따라 변화하는 양상을 보여주었다. 이 중에서 30개의 단백질 서열이 결정되었는데, 해발 900 m에서 단백질 발현이 증가한 14개 중에서 oxygen- evolving proteins, rubisco activase and ATPase 등이, 해발 600 m에서는 glutathione S-transferase (1, 28 kD cold induced- and 24kD auxin-binding proteins) and salt-stress induced protein 등 16개의 단백질 발현이 증가하였다. 이러한 단백질은 식물체 손상에 대한 보호기작을 가진 스트레스관련 단백질로 가뭄, 온도상승, 밤낮의 온도차 등의 반복으로 복합적이며 동시 다발적으로 나타나는 고온장해 현상으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.279-285
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• 2015

Background: Korean Red Ginseng has been used as a traditional oriental medicine to treat illness and to promote health for several thousand years in Eastern Asia. It is widely accepted that ginseng saponins, ginsenosides, are the major active ingredients responsible for Korean Red Ginseng's therapeutic activity against many kinds of illness. Although the crude saponin fraction (CSF) displayed antiplatelet activity, the molecular mechanism of its action remains to be elucidated. Methods: The platelet aggregation was induced by collagen, the ligand of integrin ${\alpha}_{II}{\beta}_I$ and glycoprotein VI. The crude saponin's effects on granule secretion [e.g., calcium ion mobilization and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release] were determined. The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and p38 MAPK, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt was analyzed by immunoblotting. In addition, the activation of integrin ${\alpha}_{II}b{\beta}_{III}$ was examined by fluorocytometry. Results: CSF strongly inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation and ATP release in a concentration-dependent manner. It also markedly suppressed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization in collagen-stimulated platelets. Immunoblotting assay revealed that CSF significantly suppressed ERK1/2, p38, JNK, PI3K, Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 phosphorylation. In addition, our fraction strongly inhibited the fibrinogen binding to integrin ${\alpha}_{IIb}{\beta}_3$. Conclusion: Our present data suggest that CSF may have a strong antiplatelet property and it can be considered as a candidate with therapeutic potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders involving abnormal platelet function.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권8호
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• pp.613-619
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• 2014

The optic nerve often suffers regenerative failure after injury, leading to serious visual impairment such as glaucoma. The main inhibitory factors, including Nogo-A, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, and myelin-associated glycoprotein, exert their inhibitory effects on axonal growth through the same receptor, the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR). Oncomodulin (OM), a calcium-binding protein with a molecular weight of an ~12 kDa, which is secreted from activated macrophages, has been demonstrated to have high and specific affinity for retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and promote greater axonal regeneration than other known polypeptide growth factors. Protamine has been reported to effectively deliver small interference RNA (siRNA) into cells. Accordingly, a fusion protein of OM and truncated protamine (tp) may be used as a vehicle for the delivery of NgR siRNA into RGC for gene therapy. To test this hypothesis, we constructed OM and tp fusion protein (OM/tp) expression vectors. Using the indirect immunofluorescence labeling method, OM/tp fusion proteins were found to have a high affinity for RGC. The gel shift assay showed that the OM/tp fusion proteins retained the capacity to bind to DNA. Using OM/tp fusion proteins as a delivery tool, the siRNA of NgR was effectively transfected into cells and significantly down-regulated NgR expression levels. More importantly, OM/tp-NgR siRNA dramatically promoted axonal growth of RGC compared with the application of OM/tp recombinant protein or NgR siRNA alone in vitro. In addition, OM/tp-NgR siRNA highly elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and inhibited activation of the Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA). Taken together, our data demonstrated that the recombinant OM/tp fusion proteins retained the functions of both OM and tp, and that OM/tp-NgR siRNA might potentially be used for the treatment of optic nerve injury.