• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권10호
• /
• pp.734-741
• /
• 2014

Histone modifications on major transcription factor target genes are one of the major regulatory mechanisms controlling adipogenesis. Plant homeodomain finger 2 (PHF2) is a Jumonji domain-containing protein and is known to demethylate the histone H3K9, a repressive gene marker. To better understand the function of PHF2 in adipocyte differentiation, we constructed stable PHF2 knock-down cells by using the mouse pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3-L1. When induced with adipogenic media, PHF2 knock-down cells showed reduced lipid accumulation compared to control cells. Differential expression using a cDNA microarray revealed significant reduction of metabolic pathway genes in the PHF2 knock-down cell line after differentiation. The reduced expression of major transcription factors and adipokines was confirmed with reverse transcription- quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. We further performed co-immunoprecipitation analysis of PHF2 with four major adipogenic transcription factors, and we found that CCATT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)${\alpha}$ and C/EBP${\delta}$ physically interact with PHF2. In addition, PHF2 binding to target gene promoters was confirmed with a chromatin immunoprecipitation experiment. Finally, histone H3K9 methylation markers on the PHF2-binding sequences were increased in PHF2 knock-down cells after differentiation. Together, these results demonstrate that PHF2 histone demethylase controls adipogenic gene expression during differentiation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.449-456
• /
• 2018

Objective: Nanog, a homeodomain protein, has been investigated in humans and mice using embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Because of the limited availability of ESCs, few studies have reported the function and role of Nanog in porcine ESCs. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the location of the porcine Nanog chromosome and its basal promoter activity, which might have potential applications in development of ESCs specific marker as well as understanding its operating systems in the porcine. Methods: To characterize the porcine Nanog promoter, the 5'-flanking region of Nanog was isolated from cells of mini-pig ears. BLAST database search showed that there are two porcine Nanog genomic loci, chromosome 1 and 5, both of which contain an exon with a start codon. Deletion mutants from the 5'-flanking region of both loci were measured using the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System, and a fluorescence marker, green fluorescence protein. Results: Promoter activity was detected in the sequences of chromosome 5, but not in those of chromosome 1. We identified the sequences from -99 to +194 that possessed promoter activity and contained transcription factor binding sites from deletion fragment analysis. Among the transcription factor binding sites, a Sp1 was found to play a crucial role in basal promoter activity, and point mutation of this site abolished its activity, confirming its role in promoter activity. Furthermore, gel shift analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed that Sp1 transcription factor binds to the Sp1 binding site in the porcine Nanog promoter. Taken together, these results show that Sp1 transcription factor is an essential element for porcine Nanog basal activity the same as in human and mouse. Conclusion: We showed that the porcine Nanog gene is located on porcine chromosome 5 and its basal transcriptional activity is controlled by Sp1 transcription factor.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제9권6호
• /
• pp.248-254
• /
• 2009

[ $TGF-{\beta}1$ ]is well known to induce Ig germ-line ${\alpha}$ ($GL{\alpha}$) transcription and subsequent IgA isotype class switching recombination (CSR). Homeodomain protein TG-interacting factor (TGIF) and E3-ubiquitin ligases TGIF interacting ubiquitin ligase 1 (Tiul1) are implicated in the negative regulation of $TGF-{\beta}$ signaling. In the present study, we investigated the roles of Tiul1 and TGIF in $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA CSR. We found that over-expression of Tiul1 decreased $TGF{\beta}1$-induced $GL{\alpha}$ promoter activity and strengthened the inhibitory effect of Smad7 on the promoter activity. Likewise, overexpression of TGIF also diminished $GL{\alpha}$ promoter activity and further strengthened the inhibitory effect of Tiul1, suggesting that Tiul1 and TGIF can down-regulate $TGF{\beta}1$-induced $GL{\alpha}$ expression. In parallel, overexpression of Tiul1 decreased the expression of endogenous IgA CSR-predicitive transcripts ($GLT_{\alpha},\;PST_{\alpha},\;and\;CT_{\alpha}$) and $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA secretion, but not $GLT_{\gamma3}$ and IgG3 secretion. Here, over-expressed TGIF further strengthened the inhibitory effect of Tiul1. These results suggest that Tiul1 and TGIF act as negatively regulators in $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA isotype expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 2012

HoxB4, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, is involved in the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells in vivo and in vitro, and plays a key role in regulating the balance between hematopoietic stem cell renewal and cell differentiation. However, the biological activity of HoxB4 in other cells has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of overexpressed HoxB4 on cell survival under various conditions that induce death, using the Ba/F3 cell line. Analysis of phenotypical characteristics showed that HoxB4 overexpression in Ba/F3 cells reduced cell size, death, and proliferation rate. Moreover, the progression from early to late apoptotic stages was inhibited in Ba/F3 cells subjected to HoxB4 overexpression under removal of interleukin-3-mediated signal, leading to the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and attenuated cell death by Fas protein stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, apoptotic cell death induced by doxorubicin-treated G2/M phase cell-cycle arrest also decreased with HoxB4 overexpression in Ba/F3 cells. From these data, we suggest that HoxB4 may play an important role in the regulation of pro-B cell survival under various apoptotic death environments.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제41권8호
• /
• pp.781-798
• /
• 2018

Plants have evolved strategies to cope with drought stress by maximizing physiological capacity and adjusting developmental processes such as flowering time. The WOX13 orthologous group is the most conserved among the clade of WOX homeodomain-containing proteins and is found to function in both drought stress and flower development. In this study, we isolated and characterized OsWOX13 from rice. OsWOX13 was regulated spatially in vegetative organs but temporally in flowers and seeds. Overexpression of OsWOX13 (OsWOX13-ov) in rice under the rab21 promoter resulted in drought resistance and early flowering by 7-10 days. Screening of gene expression profiles in mature leaf and panicles of OsWOX13-ov showed a broad spectrum of effects on biological processes, such as abiotic and biotic stresses, exerting a cross-talk between responses. Protein binding microarray and electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses supported ATTGATTG as the putative cis-element binding of OsWOX13. OsDREB1A and OsDREB1F, drought stress response transcription factors, contain ATTGATTG motif(s) in their promoters and are preferentially expressed in OsWOX13-ov. In addition, Heading date 3a and OsMADS14, regulators in the flowering pathway and development, were enhanced in OsWOX13-ov. These results suggest that OsWOX13 mediates the stress response and early flowering and, thus, may be a regulator of genes involved in drought escape.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.556-561
• /
• 2006

The HOX genes coding homeodomain proteins have been suggested as a candidate molecular switch that determines the fates of cells during embryonic development and patterning. It is believed that a set of differentiation-specific HOX genes enter into a turn-on state during tissue differentiation, in contrast to stem cell-specific HOX genes that enter into a turn-off state. However, comprehensive data of expression profiles of HOX genes in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and differentiated embryonic tissues are not available. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of all 39 HOX genes in hESC and human fetal tissues and analyzed the relationships between hESC and each tissue. Of the 39 genes, 18 HOX genes were expressed in stem cells, and diverse expression patterning was observed in human fetal tissues when compared with stem cells. These results indicate that HOX genes could be main targets for switching of stem cell differentiation into tissues.

• Mycobiology
• /
• 제46권4호
• /
• pp.407-415
• /
• 2018

Pheromone (PHB)-receptor (RCB) interaction in the mating pheromone response pathway of Lentinula edodes was investigated using synthetic PHBs. Functionality of the C-terminally carboxymethylated synthetic PHBs was demonstrated by concentration-dependent induction of a mating-related gene (znf2) expression and by pseudoclamp formation in a monokaryotic strain S1-11 of L. edodes. Treatment with synthetic PHBs activated the expression of homeodomain genes (HDs) residing in the A mating type locus, and of A-regulated genes, including znf2, clp1, and priA, as well as genes in the B mating type locus, including pheromone (phb) and receptor (rcb) genes. The synthetic PHBs failed to discriminate self from non-self RCBs. PHBs of the B4 mating type (B4 PHBs) were able to activate the mating pheromone response pathway in both monokaryotic S1-11 and S1-13 strains, whose B mating types were B4 (self) and B12 (non-self), respectively. The same was true for B12 PHBs in the B4 (non-self) and B12 (self) mating types. The synthetic PHBs also promoted the mating of two monokaryotic strains carrying B4-common incompatible mating types ($A5B4{\times}A1B4$). However, the dikaryon generated by this process exhibited abnormally high content of hyphal branching and frequent clamp connections and, more importantly, was found to be genetically unstable due to overexpression of mating-related genes such as clp1. Although synthetic PHBs were unable to discriminate self from non-self RCBs, they showed a higher affinity for non-self RCBs, through which the mating pheromone response pathway in non-self cells may be preferentially activated.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• 제20권2호
• /
• pp.19.1-19.15
• /
• 2022

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important food and feed crop which rich in mineral sources. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) gene family plays important roles in plant development and identification of putative gene families, their structure, and potential functions is a primary step for not only understanding the genetic mechanisms behind various biological process but also for genetic improvement. A variety of computational tools, including MAFFT, HMMER, hidden Markov models, Pfam, SMART, MEGA, ProtTest, BLASTn, and BRAD, among others, were used. We identified 34 MsWOX genes based on a systematic analysis of the alfalfa plant genome spread in eight chromosomes. This is an expansion of the gene family which we attribute to observed chromosomal duplications. Sequence alignment analysis revealed 61 conserved proteins containing a homeodomain. Phylogenetic study sung reveal five evolutionary clades with 15 motif distributions. Gene structure analysis reveals various exon, intron, and untranslated structures which are consistent in genes from similar clades. Functional analysis prediction of promoter regions reveals various transcription binding sites containing key growth, development, and stress-responsive transcription factor families such as MYB, ERF, AP2, and NAC which are spread across the genes. Most of the genes are predicted to be in the nucleus. Also, there are duplication events in some genes which explain the expansion of the family. The present research provides a clue on the potential roles of MsWOX family genes that will be useful for further understanding their functional roles in alfalfa plants.

• Mycobiology
• /
• 제51권1호
• /
• pp.26-35
• /
• 2023

The diversity of A mating type in wild strains of Lentinula edodes was extensively analyzed to characterize and utilize them for developing new cultivars. One hundred twenty-three A mating type alleles, including 67 newly discovered alleles, were identified from 106 wild strains collected for the past four decades in Korea. Based on previous studies and current findings, a total of 130 A mating type alleles have been found, 124 of which were discovered from wild strains, indicating the hyper-variability of A mating type alleles of L. edodes. About half of the A mating type alleles in wild strains were found in more than two strains, whereas the other half of the alleles were found in only one strain. About 90% of A mating type combinations in dikaryotic wild strains showed a single occurrence. Geographically, diverse A mating type alleles were intensively located in the central region of the Korean peninsula, whereas only allele A17 was observed throughout Korea. We also found the conservation of the TCCCAC motif in addition to the previously reported motifs, including ATTGT, ACAAT, and GCGGAG, in the intergenic regions of A mating loci. Sequence comparison among some alleles indicated that accumulated mutation and recombination would contribute to the diversification of A mating type alleles in L. edodes. Our data support the rapid evolution of A mating locus in L. edodes, and would help to understand the characteristics of A mating loci of wild strains in Korea and help to utilize them for developing new cultivars.

• 대한소아치과학회지
• /
• 제30권3호
• /
• pp.391-405
• /
• 2003

두개봉합부의 조기융합으로 일컬어지는 craniosynostosis는 두개봉합부에서의 골아세포의 조기분화 및 석회화의 결과로 나타나는 선천성 발육이상이다. 최근 유전학적 연구에 의하면 homeobox gene인 Msx2의 변이에 의해 Boston-type craniosynostosis가 야기되며, 또한 Dlx5 homozygote mutant mouse의 표현형에서 두개골의 골화지연을 포함한 다양한 두개안면부위의 이상을 발견하였다는 보고가 있었다. 게다가 Msx2와 Dlx5 homeodomain protein의 상호작용에 의해 성숙골아세포의 표지자인 osteocalcin의 전사를 조절할 수 있다는 사실이 알려져 있다. 이러한 일련의 결과들은 Msx2 Dlx5 및 osteocalcin 유전자들이 두개골의 골화과정과 두개봉합부의 형태발생에 중요한 역할을 담당하고 있음을 제시해주고 있다. 두개골의 성장과 두개봉합부의 형태발생시 이러한 유전자들의 기능을 알아보기위해 mouse의 태생기 (E15-E18) 동안 osteocalcin, Msx2, 및 Dlx5 유전자들의 발현양상을 조사하였다. Osteocalcin은 E15부터 두정골의 골막에서 관찰되었으며, 발생시기가 후기일수록 강한 발현양상을 나타내었다. Msx2는 시상봉합부의 미분화간엽조직과 osteogenic front에서 강하게 발현되었으며 경막과 hair follicle에서도 관찰되었다. Dlx5는 osteogenic front를 포함한 두정골의 골막에서 강하게 발현되었으나 시상봉합부의 미분화간엽조직 에서는 발현되지 않아, Msx2와는 발현양상의 차이를 나타내었다. 두개골과 두개봉합부의 발육과정에서의 Msx2와 Dlx5의 기능을 좀더 심도깊게 분석하기위해, 여러 가지 signaling molecule들의 protein을 사용하여 in vitro 실험을 시행하였다. BMP-2, -4 protein의 overexpression은 bead 주위로 Msx2 유전자의 발현을 유도하였으나, 다른 $TGF{\beta}$ superfamily인 $TGF{\beta}1$, GDF-6, -7 bead들 주위로는 Msx2를 관찰할 수 없었다. 또한 FGF, Shh protein 역시 bead주위로 Msx2의 발현을 유도하지않았다. 흥미롭게도 BMP-2, -4 protein의 overexpression은 bead 주위로 Dlx5 유전자의 발현을 유도하였으나, 다른 $TGF{\beta}$ superfamily, FGF, Shh bead주위로는 Dlx5를 관찰할 수 없어, Msx2와 동일한 결과를 나타내었다 이 결과들을 종합해볼 때, Msx2와 Dlx5 유전자는 두개골과 두개봉합부의 성장발육과정에 중요한 역할을 담당하고 있으며, BMP signaling은 이 두 전사조절인자들을 조절하므로써 두개골의 골화과정과 두개봉합부의 형태발생 및 유지에 관여하고 있음을 제시해주고 있다. 특히 BMP signaling에 specific downstream gene인 Msx2 및 Dlx5의 발현양상의 차이는 골아세포의 분화시 이들 유전자가 각각의 독특한 기능을 가지고 있음을 시사해주고 있다.