• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.285-295
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• 2019

Junction-mediating and regulatory protein (JMY) is a regulator of both transcription and actin filament assembly. The actin-regulatory activity of JMY is based on a cluster of three actin-binding Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein homology 2 (WH2) domains that nucleate actin filaments directly and promote nucleation of the Arp2/3 complex. In addition to these activities, we examined the activity of JMY generation in early embryo of mice carrying mutations in the JMY gene by CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome engineering. We demonstrated that JMY protein shuttled expression between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Knockout of exon 2, CA (central domain and Arp2/3-binding acidic domain) and NLS-2 (nuclear localization signal domain) on the JMY gene by CRISPR/Cas9 system was effective and markedly impeded embryonic development. Additionally, it impaired transcription and zygotic genome activation (ZGA)-related genes. These results suggest that JMY acts as a transcription factor, which is essential for the early embryonic development in mice.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 2018

Interferon-tau (IFNT) is known as a major conceptus protein that signals the process of maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants. Also, multiple interferon genes exist in cattle, However, molecular mechanisms of these bovine IFNT (bIFNT) genes whose expressions are limited have not been characterized. We and others have observed that expression levels of bovine subtype IFNT genes in the tissues of ruminants; thus, bIFNT1 and other new type I (bIFNTc1/c2/c3) gene co-exist during the early stages of conceptus development and non-trophoblast cells. Its genes transcription could be regulated through CDX2 and ETS2 and JUN and/or cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CREBBP) expression, a transcription factor implicated in the control of cell differentiation in the trophectoderm. Bovine ear-derived fibroblast cells, were co-transfected with luciferase reporter constructs carrying upstream (positions -1000 to +51) regions of bIFNT1 and other new type I gene and various transcription factor expression plasmids. Compared to each - 1kb-bIFNT1/c1/c2/c3-Luc increased when this constructs were co-transfected with CDX2, ETS2, JUN and/or CREBBP. Also, Its genes was had very effect on activity by CDX2, either alone or with the other transcription factors, markedly increased luciferase activity. However, the degree of transcriptional activation of the bIFNTc1 gene was not similar to that bIFNT1/c2/c3 gene by expression plasmid. Furthermore, Sequence analyses also revealed that the expression levels of bIFNT1/c2/c3 gene mRNAs expression were highest on day 17, 20 and 22 trophoblast and, Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK), Bovine ear-derived fibroblast (EF), and endometrium (Endo) non-trophoblast cells. But, bIFNTc1 mRNA had not same expression level, bIFNTc1 lowest levels than those of IFNT1/c2/c3 gene in both trophoblast and non-trophoblast cells. These results demonstrate that bovine subtype bIFNT genes display differential, in the trophoblast and non-trophoblast cells.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.371-378
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• 2012

Notch signaling plays fundamental roles in various animal development. It has been suggested that Hr-Notch, a Notch homologue in the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi, is involved in the formation of peripheral neurons by suppressing the neural fates and promoting the epidermal differentiation. However, roles of Notch signaling remain controversial in the formation of nervous system in ascidian embryos. To precisely investigate functions of Notch signaling, we have isolated and characterized Hr-Numb, a Numb homologue which is a negative regulator of Notch signaling, in H. roretzi. Maternal expression of Hr-Numb mRNAs was detected in egg cytoplasm and the transcripts were inherited by the animal blastomeres. Its zygotic expression became evident by the early neurula stage and the transcripts were detected in dorsal neural precursor cells. Suppression of Hr-Numb function by an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide resulted in larvae with defect in brain vesicle and palps formation. Similar results have been obtained by overexpression of the constitutively activated Hr-Notch forms. Therefore, these results suggest that Hr-Numb is involved in Notch signaling during ascidian embryogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2010

Nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 19 leopard cats (Prionailurus bangalensis euptilura) obtained from Seoul grand park zoo in South Korea were determined for analysing genetic diversity. In the leopard cats, 3 haplotypes of the partial cytochrome b sequences (603 base-pairs, bp) were identified. Haplotypes obtained from those genes showed existences of at least 3 maternal lineages of leopard cats in Korea. Tamura-Nei nucleotide distance among 3 haplotypes were 0.00. Molecular phylogenetic tree showed the similar clustering of haplotypes for genes. Meanwhile, no individual variations within the leopard cats in S. Korea. Genetic surveillance system of leopard cats in S. Korea is warranted for maintaining biological conservation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2009

We are reporting the identification, expression patterns, and possible biological functions of zebrafish kif3b (kif3bz) encoding 475 amino acids. Kif3Bz contains the kinesin motor domain, catalytic domain, KISc domain, and one single coiled coil domain. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that kif3bz is a highly conserved gene among the tested vertebrates. First of all, both maternal and zygotic messages of kif3bz were evenly distributed in the blastomeres at 2-cell stage. Its ubiquitous expression throughout the blastomeres continued till 40% epiboly. However, kif3bz transcripts became restricted in Kupffer's vesicle at tailbud and 6-somite stages. At 13-somite stage, kif3bz expression pattern became specific to the telencephalon, diencephalon, trigeminal placode, and somites. Such expression patterns were further intensified in the telencephalon, diencephalons, hind brain, pronephric ducts, optic vesicles, and spinal cord neurons in the 23-somite stage embryos, and last till 24 hpf. We discussed possible functions of Kif3Bz related to the vertebrate embryonic development.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2001

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.859-865
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• 2015

Most imprinted genes are concerned with embryonic development, especially placental development. Here, we identified a placenta-specific imprinted gene Qpct. Our results show that Qpct is widely expressed during early embryonic development and can be detected in the telecephalon, midbrain, and rhombencephalon at E9.5-E11.5. Moreover, Qpct is strikingly expressed in the brain, lung and liver in E15.5. Expression signals for Qpct achieved a peak at E15.5 during placental development and were only detected in the labyrinth layer in E15.5 placenta. ChIP assay results suggest that the modification of histone H3K4me3 can result in maternal activating of Qpct.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.44-49
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• 2020

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a disorder characterized by hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia due to end organ resistance to parathyroid hormone. PHP is caused by the deficiency of the α-subunit of the stimulatory G protein encoded by the GNAS gene, and this defect arises from genetic or imprinting disturbances. Sporadic PHP 1b shows two or more methylation defects of upstream of GNAS gene and some of them lead to loss of maternal GNAS imprints, therefore, only paternally derived GNAS gene is expressed. Here, we report a 10 year 9 month old boy presented with intermittent tetany who was finally diagnosed with PHP 1b caused by paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 20q.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.587-592
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• 2009

A dramatic morphological change of embryos occurs at peri-implantation. Maternal and embryonic cross-talk during this period, initiated by signals from embryo(s), provides signals for maternal recognition of pregnancy and establishing and maintaining the pregnancy. However, the cellular, biochemical and genetic processes that direct embryo remodeling in mammalian species are not well studied or understood. In order to identify potential genes responsible for morphological change and cross-talk between embryo and uterus, an initial EST analysis was performed. A catalog of expressed genes (Transcriptome) from the d12 peri-implanting porcine embryos was constructed. Six clones were chosen from the initial ESTs for elucidation of their expression patterns during embryogenesis in early pregnancy. A number of these genes demonstrated unique expression profiles in a tissue, cell-type, and temporal fashion, indicating dynamic regulation of embryonic and endometrial gene expressions at different stages of pregnancy. Cross-talk between the embryo and endometrium of the pregnant uterus has provided a suitable micro-environment for the embryo's rapid and dramatic morphological changing process at the peri-implantation stage.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2013

FGF9/16/20 signaling pathway specify the developmental fates of notochord, mesenchyme, and neural cells in ascidian embryos. Although a conserved Ras/MEK/Erk/Ets pathway is known to be involved in this signaling, the detailed mechanisms of regulation of FGF signaling pathway have remained largely elusive. In this study, we have isolated Hr-Erf, an ascidian orthologue of vertebrate Erf, to elucidate interactions of transcription factors involved in FGF signaling of the ascidian embryo. The Hr-Erf cDNA encompassed 3110 nucleotides including sequence encoded a predicted polypeptide of 760 amino acids. The polypeptide had the Ets DNA-binding domain in its N-terminal region. In adult animals, Hr-Erf mRNA was predominantly detected in muscle, and at lower levels in ganglion, gills, gonad, hepatopancreas, and stomach by quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) method. During embryogenesis, Hr-Erf mRNA was detected from eggs to early developmental stage embryos, whereas the transcript levels were decreased after neurula stage. Similar to the QPCR results, maternal transcripts of Hr-Erf was detected in the fertilized eggs by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Maternal mRNA of Hr-Erf was gradually lost from the neurula stage. Zygotic expression of Hr-Erf started in most blastomeres at the 8-cell stage. At gastrula stage, Hr-Erf was specifically expressed in the precursor cells of brain and mesenchyme. When MEK inhibitor was treated, embryos resulted in loss of Hr-Erf expression in mesenchyme cells, and in excess of Hr-Erf in a-line neural cells. These results suggest that zygotic Hr-Erf products are involved in specification of mesenchyme and neural cells.