• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권9호
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• pp.1367-1375
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• 2023

Objective: Pigment production and distribution are controlled through multiple proteins, resulting in different coat color phenotypes of sheep. Methods: The expression distribution of vimentin (VIM) and transthyretin (TTR) in white and black sheep skins was detected by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem MS (LC-ESI-MS/MS), gene ontology (GO) statistics, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to evaluate their role in the coat color formation of sheep. Results: LC-ESI-MS/MS results showed VIM and TTR proteins in white and black skin tissues of sheep. Meanwhile, GO functional annotation analysis suggested that VIM and TTR proteins were mainly concentrated in cellular components and biological process, respectively. Further research confirmed that VIM and TTR proteins were expressed at significantly higher levels in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins by Western blot, respectively. Immunohistochemistry notably detected VIM and TTR in hair follicle, dermal papilla, and outer root sheath of white and black sheep skins. qRT-PCR results also revealed that the expression of VIM and TTR mRNAs was higher in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins. Conclusion: The expression of VIM and TTR were higher in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins and the transcription and translation were unanimous in this study. VIM and TTR proteins were expressed in hair follicles of white and black sheep skins. These results suggested that VIM and TTR were involved in the coat color formation of sheep.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2021년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.53-53
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• 2021

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (A. distichum), endemic species of Korea, is classified according to the petals and calyx colors. Recently, A. distichum cv. Okhwang 1, which has the golden flower, designated the first official cultivar improved from A. distichum species. The study on the chloroplast genome of A. distichum cv. Okhwang 1 have been reported, but no studies on bioactivity such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer have been progressed. This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibition on melanogenesis of the flower from A. distichum cv. Okhwang 1 (FAO). Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Inhibition effects on melanogenesis of FAO were confirmed by expression of tyrosinase-related proteins and mRNAs using immunoblotting and RT-qPCR. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that regulates both stimulation and inhibition of melanogenesis. Stimulated MITF in cellular levels increases the expressions of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 to induce melanogenesis. As a result, FAO inhibited the expression of MITF, followed by down-regulated tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2, which lead to inhibit melanin overproduction. In conclusion, these results indicated that FAO reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and markedly inhibited the expression of melanin-related factors. The present study suggested providing that FAO has the potential for development as a functional cosmetic material derived from natural.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.341-348
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• 2024

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a crucial role in liver diseases, affecting various types of hepatic cells. While studies have focused on the link between ER stress and hepatocytes as well as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the precise involvement of hepatic macrophages in ER stress-induced liver injury remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of ER stress on hepatic macrophages and their role in liver injury. Acute ER stress led to the accumulation and activation of hepatic macrophages, which preceded hepatocyte apoptosis. Notably, macrophage depletion mitigated liver injury induced by ER stress, underscoring their detrimental role. Mechanistic studies revealed that ER stress stimulates macrophages predominantly via the PERK signaling pathway, regardless of its canonical substrate ATF4. hnRNPA1 has been identified as a crucial mediator of PERK-driven macrophage activation, as the overexpression of hnRNPA1 effectively reduced ER stress and suppressed pro-inflammatory activation. We observed that hnRNPA1 interacts with mRNAs that encode UPR-related proteins, indicating its role in the regulation of ER stress response in macrophages. These findings illuminate the cell type-specific responses to ER stress and the significance of hepatic macrophages in ER stress-induced liver injury. Collectively, the PERK-hnRNPA1 axis has been discovered as a molecular mechanism for macrophage activation, presenting prospective therapeutic targets for inflammatory hepatic diseases such as acute liver injury.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.549-552
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• 2009

유전자의 융합으로 인한 돌연변이는 염색체 재배열, 트랜스 스플라이싱, 유전자간 스플라이싱으로 인하여 야기된다고 알려져 있다. 우리는 두 개의 서로 다른 유전자의 pre-mRNA의 융합으로 인하여 만들어지는 트랜스 스플라이싱의 전사 산물에 관심을 가져, 인간의 태아 줄기 세포에서 이러한 돌연변이 양상을 분석하였다. 배아줄기세포의 mRNA에서 트랜스 스플라이싱 전사체 70개를 탐지해 내고, 이들의 융합되는 패턴에 따라 5'UTR-5'UTR, 5'UTR-3'UTR, 3'UTR-3'UTR, 5'UTR- CDS, 3'UTR-CDS, CDS-CDS의 6개의 유형으로 분류하여 분석하였다. 두 유전자의 융합되는 영역은 UTR영역보다 CDS에서 풍부하였는데, 이러한 이유는 많은 인트론 수로 인해 야기되는 것으로 추정된다. 융합되는 유전자의 염색체상의 위치분석 결과, 17번과 19번 염색체가 융합유전자의 활성화를 나타내었다. 이러한 연구결과는 향후 융합유전자와 인간의 질병 연구에 크게 기여할 것으로 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.3503-3507
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• 2013

Background: Although the majority of investigations concerned with TP53 and its protein have focused on coding regions, recently a set of studies highlighted significant roles of regulatory elements located in p53 mRNA, especially 5'UTR. The wrap53${\alpha}$ transcript is one of those that acts as a natural antisense agent, forming RNA-RNA hybrids with p53 mRNA and protecting it from degradation. Materials and Methods: In this study, we focused on the mutation status of exon $1{\alpha}$ of the WRAP53 gene (according to exon 1 of p53) in 160 breast tumor tissue samples and conducted a bioinformatics search for probable miRNA binding site in the p53/wrap53 overlapping region. Mutations were detected, using single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing. We applied the miRBase database for prediction of miRNAs which target overlapping region of p53/wrap53 transcripts. Results: Our results showed all samples to have wild type alleles in exon 1 of TP53 gene. We could detect a novel and unreported intronic mutation (IVS1+56, G>C) outside overlapping regions of p53/wrap53 genes in breast cancer tissues and also predict the presence of a binding site for miR-4732-5p in the 5'UTR of Wrap53 mRNA. Conclusions: From our findings we propose designing further studies focused on overexpression of miRNA-4732-5p and introducing different mutations in the overlapping region of wrap53 and p53 genes in order to study their effects on p53 and its ${\Delta}N$ isoform (${\Delta}$40p53) expression. The results may provide new pieces in the p53 targeting puzzle for cancer therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권10호
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• pp.870-879
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• 2020

Dendrites require precise and timely delivery of protein substrates to distal areas to ensure the correct morphology and function of neurons. Many of these protein substrates are supplied in the form of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex consisting of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and mRNAs, which are subsequently translated in distal dendritic areas. It remains elusive, however, whether key RBPs supply mRNA according to local demands individually or in a coordinated manner. In this study, we investigated how Drosophila sensory neurons respond to the dysregulation of a disease-associated RBP, Ataxin-2 (ATX2), which leads to dendritic defects. We found that ATX2 plays a crucial role in spacing dendritic branches for the optimal dendritic receptive fields in Drosophila class IV dendritic arborization (C4da) neurons, where both expression level and subcellular location of ATX2 contribute significantly to this effect. We showed that translational upregulation through the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) further enhanced the ATX2-induced dendritic phenotypes. Additionally, we found that the expression level of another disease-associated RBP, fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), decreased in both cell bodies and dendrites when neurons were faced with aberrant upregulation of ATX2. Finally, we revealed that the PAM2 motif of ATX2, which mediates its interaction with poly(A)-binding protein (PABP), is potentially necessary for the decrease of FMRP in certain neuronal stress conditions. Collectively, our data suggest that dysregulation of RBPs triggers a compensatory regulation of other functionally-overlapping RBPs to minimize RBP dysregulation-associated aberrations that hinder neuronal homeostasis in dendrites.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2004

Aquaporins(AQPs)유전자는 다양한 조직의 상피세포와 내피세포에 존재하며 다량의 물 이동을 조절하는 막성 단백질로서, 세포간 또는 세포막 사이의 물 이동에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 발정기의 생쥐 자궁에서는 자궁내막세포의 증식과 함께 수화되는 특징을 보이며, 자궁내강으로 물이 이동되어 자궁내액의 점성이 낮아지는 현상이 나타난다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 생쥐의 발정주기 동안 자궁에서의 형태학적인 변화와 관련하여 AQP유전자가 물 이동의 매개체로서 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 추측하여, 생쥐 발정주기 동안에 AQP유전자의 발현 양상을 역전사 중합효소 연쇄반응을 통하여 관찰하였다. 또한, laser capture microdissection(LCf을 이용하여 자궁내 세포의 종류에 따른 AQP유전자의 발현 양상을 조사하였다. AQP-4 전령체는 발정주기의 proestrus와 estrus 시기에 발현량이 유의하게 증가하는 반면, AQP-8 전령체는 동일한 시기에 유의하게 감소하는 것으로 관찰되었다. 또한, LCM 기법을 통해서 AQP-4와 -8 전령체가 자궁기질세포보다 자궁내막세포에서 강하게 발현이 유도됨을 관찰하였다. 결과적으로, 생쥐 자궁에서 AQP-4와 -8유전자가 발정주기에 따라 발현량이 변화하는 것으로 보아 난소내 호르몬인 estrogen과 progesterone에 의해 조절될 가능성이 있으며, proestrus와 estrus 시기에 자궁내강으로 자궁내액을 수송하는데 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.265-272
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• 2011

It is well known that adipose tissue or body fat has been proved as a crucial component of brain-peripheral axis which can modulate the activities of reproductive hormonal axis in female mammals including rodents and human. Concerning the male reproduction, however, the role of adipose tissue has not been thoroughly studied. The present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on the reproductive system of postpubertal male rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to male rats from week 8 after birth for 4 weeks. The blood glucose levels, body and tissue weights were measured. Histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights (p<0.01) and blood glucose levels (p<0.01) of HF group were significantly higher than those of control animals. Similarly, the weights of epididymis (p<0.05), prostate (p<0.01), seminal vesicle (p<0.01) in HF group were higher than control levels. The weights of testis were not changed. The weights of kidney (p<0.001) and spleen (p<0.01) were significantly higher than control levels while the adrenal and pancreas weights were not changed. There were only slight alterations in the microstructures of accessory sex organs; the shape of luminal epithelial cells in epididymis from HF group were relatively thicker and bigger than those from control animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the mRNA levels of hypothalamic GnRH (p<0.05) in HF group were significantly higher than those from the control animals. The mRNA levels of kisspeptin in HF group tend to be higher than control levels, the difference was not significant. Unlike the hypothalamic GnRH expression, the mRNA levels of pituitary $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ were significantly decreased in HF group (p<0.05). The present study indicated that the 4-weeks feeding HF diet during the postpubertal period can alter the hypothalamus-pituitary (H-P) neuroendocrine reproductive system These results suggest that the increased body fat and the altered leptin input might disturb the H-P reproductive hormonal activities in male rats, and the changed activities seem to be responsible for the changes of tissue weights in accessory sex organs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권8호
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• pp.3781-3789
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• 2012

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors with a dismal prognosis. The membrane cytoskeletal crosslinker Ezrin participates in several functions including cell proliferation, adhesion, motility and survival. There is increasing evidence that Ezrin is overexpressed in vast majority of malignant tumors and regulates tumor progression. However, its roles in pancreatic cancer remain elusive. Methods: Three pairs of specific Ezrin siRNAs were designed and synthetized and screened to determine the most efficient one for construction of a hairpin RNA plasmid targeting Ezrin. After transfection into the Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cell line, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were performed to examine the expression of mRNA and protein. The MTT method was applied to examine the proliferation and the drug sensibility to Gemcitabine. Flow cytometry was used to assess the cycle and apoptosis, while capacity for invasion was determined with transwell chambers. Furthermore, we detected phosphorylated-Erk1/2 protein and phosphorylated-Akt protein by Western blotting. Results: Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting revealed that Ezrin expression was notably down-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels by RNA interference (P< 0.01). Proliferation was inhibited and drug resistance to gemcitabine was improved (P< 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of cells in the G1/G0 phase increased (P< 0.01), and in G2/M and S phases decreased (P< 0.05), with no apparent differences in apoptosis (P> 0.05). The capacity for invasion was markedly reduced (P< 0.01). In addition, down-regulating Ezrin expression had no effect on phosphorylated-Akt protein (P>0.05), but could decrease the level of phosphorylated-Erk1/2 protein (P< 0.05). Conclusions: RNA interference of Ezrin could inhibit its expression in the pancreatic cancer cells line Panc-1, leading to a potent suppression of malignant behavior in vitro. Assessment of potential as a target for pancreatic cancer treatment is clearly warranted.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.382-392
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• 2012

This study evaluated the effects of dietary anticoccidial drugs plus antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) on parameters of immunity in commercial broiler chickens. Day-old chicks were raised on used litter from a farm with endemic gangrenous dermatitis to simulate natural pathogen exposure and provided with diets containing decoquinate (DECX) or monensin (COBN) as anticoccidials plus bacitracin methylene disalicylate and roxarsone as AGPs. As a negative control, the chickens were fed with a non-supplemented diet. Immune parameters examined were concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated spleen cell proliferation, intestine intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) and spleen cell subpopulations, and cytokine/chemokine mRNA levels in IELs and spleen cells. ConA-induced proliferation was decreased at 14 d post-hatch in DECX-treated chickens, and increased at 25 and 43 d in COBN-treated animals, compared with untreated controls. In DECX-treated birds, increased percentages of $MHC2^+$ and $CD4^+$ IELS were detected at 14 d, but decreased percentages of these cells were seen at 43 d, compared with untreated controls, while increased $TCR2^+$ IELs were evident at the latter time. Dietary COBN was associated with decreased fractions of $MHC2^+$ and $CD4^+$ IELs and reduced percentages of $MHC2^+$, $BU1^+$, and $TCR1^+$ spleen cells compared with controls. The levels of transcripts for interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-17F, IL-13, CXCLi2, interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), and transforming growth factor${\beta}$4 were elevated in IELs, and those for IL-13, IL-17D, CXCLi2, and IFN-${\gamma}$ were increased in spleen cells, of DECX- and/or COBN-treated chickens compared with untreated controls. By contrast, IL-2 and IL-12 mRNAs in IELs, and IL-4, IL-12, and IL-17F transcripts in spleen cells, were decreased in DECX- and/or COBN-treated chickens compared with controls. These results suggest that DECX or COBN, in combination with bacitracin and roxarsone, modulate the development of the chicken post-hatch immune system.