• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1999

The mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase (tk+/-) gene assay (MOLY) using L5178Y tk+/- mouse lymphoma cell line is one of the mammalian forward mutation assays. It is well known that MOLY has many advantages and more sensitive than the other mammalian forward mutation assays such as x-linked hyposanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene assay. The target gene of MOLY is a heterozygous tk+/- gene located in 11 chromosome of L5178Y tk+/- cell, so it is able to detect the wide range of genetic changes like point mutation, deletion, rearrangement, and mitotic recombination within tk gene or deletion of entire chromosome 11. MOLY has relatively short expression time (2-3 days) compared to 1 week of hprt gene assay. MOLY can also induce relatively high mutant frequency so a large number of events can be recorded. The bimodal distribution of colony size which may indicate gene mutation and chromosome breakage potential of chemicals according to mutation scale such as large normal-growing mutants and small slow-growing mutants can be observed in this assay. The statistical analysis of data can be performed using the MUTANT program developed by York Electronic Research in association with Hazelton as recommended by the UKEMS (United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society) guidelines. This report reviewed MOLY using the microtiter cloning technique (microwell assay).

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2001

Endostatin, a proteolytic fragment of collagen XVIII, is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and the growth of several primary tumors. However, the opinions on the activity of endostatin derivatives deleted N- or C- terminal are still controversial. In this regard, we produced mouse endostatin and its derivatives in the prokaryotic system, and studied their anti-tumor activity. The [$^3H$]-thymidine incorporation assay demonstrated that N-terminal deleted mouse endostatin, and a C- and N-terminal deleted mutant, effectively inhibited the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The biological activity of endostatin was also shown by its in vivo anti-angiogenic ability on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of a chick embryo. Treatment of $200\;{\mu}g$ of mouse endostatin, or N-terminal deleted mouse endostatin, inhibited capillary formation of CAM 45 to 71%, which is comparative to a 80% effect of positive control, $1\;{\mu}g$ of retinoic acid. An in vivo mouse tumor growth assay showed that N-terminal deleted mouse endostatin, and the N-/C-terminal deleted mutant, significantly repressed the growth of B16F10 melanoma cells in mice as did the full-length mouse endostatin. According to these results, N-and N-/C-terminal deleted mouse endostatins are the potent inhibitors of tumor growth and angiogenesis.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.48-48
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• 2001

A new neurological mutant has been found in the ICR outbred strain mouse. Affected mice display profound deafness and a head-tossing and bidirectional circling behavior, showing an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. It was, therefore, named cir/Kr with the gene symbol cir. The auditory tests identified clearly the hearing loss of the cir mice when compared to wild type mice. Pathological studies confirmed the developmental defects in the middle ear, cochlea, cochlear nerve, and semicircular canal areas, which were correlated to the abnormal behavior observed in the cir mice. Thus, cir mice may be useful as a model for studying inner ear abnormalities and deafness. We have constructed a genetic linkage map by positioning 14 microsatellite markers across the (cir) region and intraspecific backcross between cir and C57BL/6J mice. The cir mouse harbors an autosomal recessive mutation on mouse chromosome 9. The cir gene was mapped to a region between D9Mit116 and D9Mit38 Estimated distances between cir and D9Mit116, and between cir and D9Mit38 are 0.7 and 0.2 cM, respectively. The gene in order was defines : centromere-D9Mit182-D9Mit51/D9Mit79/D9Mit310-D9Mit212/D9Mit184-D9Mit116-cir-D9Mit38-D9Mit20-D9Mit243-D9Mit16-D9Mit55/D9Mit125-D9Mit281. The mouse map location of the cir locus appears to be in a region homologous to human 3q21. Our present date suggest that the nearest flanking marker D9Mit38 provides a useful anchor for the isolation of the cir gene in a yeast artificial chromosome contig.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2002

The mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) has been recently validated as a sensitive and specific test system to determine the genotoxic potential for a chemical. The objective of this study is to evaluate the utility of MLA for detecting mutagens. Especially, to compare MLA with the in vitro chromosomal aberration test (CA), we performed MLA using the microwell method with three chemicals (hydroxyurea, theophylline and amino acid copper complex), which were reportedly positive in the CA. In cell treated with hydroxyurea, anti-neoplastic agent that blocks DNA replication, evidence of a positive response was obtained without S9 mix for 4 h and 24 h. In addition, analysis of colony size distribution at concentration that gave an elevated mutant fraction showed that hydroxyurea induced a high proportion of small type colonies, indicating that hydroxyurea-induced mutation is associated with large chromosomal deletion. Conversely, negative MLA result was obtained for theophylline, which was wed as central nervous system stimulator. Although theophylline increased the mutant frequency at concentration of 1250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ with S9 mix for 4 h, a concentration-related increase in mutant frequency was not observed. The MLA result of amino acid copper complex was considered equivocal because the positive result was obtained at concentration showing 10% or less RS or RTG. Thus, among 3 CA-positive chemicals, positive MLA result was obtained for one. The other two chemicals were negative and equivocal. However MLA, which evaluates mutagenic potential of chemicals through colony formation by cell grouth, may provide a higher predictivity of carcinogenesis than CA.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2008

Mutant mouse which show dwarfism has been developed by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis using BALB/c mice. The mutant mouse was inherited as autosomal recessive trait and named Small Body Size (SBS) mouse. The phenotype of SBS mouse was not apparent at birth, but it was possible to distinguish mutant phenotype from normal mice 1 week after birth. In this study, we examined body weight changes and bone mineral density (BMD), and we also carried out genetic linkage analysis to map the causative gene(s) of SBS mouse. Body weight changes were observed from birth to 14 weeks of age in both affected (n = 30) and normal mice (n = 24). BMD was examined in each five SBS and normal mice between 3 and 6 weeks of age, respectively. For the linkage analysis, we produced backcross progeny [(SBS${\times}$C57BL/6J) $F_1{\times}$ SBS] $N_2$ mice (n = 142), and seventy-four microsatellite markers were used for primary linkage analysis. Body weight of affected mice was consistently lower than that of the normal mice, and was 43.7% less than that of normal mice at 3 weeks of age (P < 0.001). As compared with normal mice at 3 and 6 weeks of age, BMD of the SBS mice was significantly low. The results showed 15.5% and 14.1 % lower in total body BMD, 15.3% and 8.7% lower in forearm BMD, and 29.7% and 20.1% lower in femur BMD, respectively. The causative gene was mapped on chromosome 10. The map order and the distance between markers were D10Mit248 - 2.1 cM - D10Mit51 - 4.2 cM - sbs - 0.7 cM - D10Mit283 - 1.4cM - D10Mit106 - 11.2cM - D10Mit170.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.651-656
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• 2008

A mouse with cataract, Kec, was generated from N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis. Cataract in the Kec mouse was observable at about 5 weeks after birth and this gradually progressed to become completely opaque by 12 weeks. Dissection microscopy revealed that vacuoles with a radial or irregular shape were located primarily in the cortex of the posterior and equatorial regions of the lens. At the late stage, the lens structure was distorted, but not ruptured. This cataract phenotype was inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. We performed a genetic linkage analysis using 133 mutant and 67 normal mice produced by mating Kec mutant (BALB/c) and F1 (C57BL/6 $\times$ Kec) mice. The Kec locus was mapped to the 3 cM region encompassed by D14Mit34 and D14Mit69. In addition we excluded coding sequences of 9 genes including Rcbtb2, P2ry5, Itm2b, Med4, Nudt15, Esd, Lcp1, Slc25a30, and 2810032E02Rik as the candidate gene that causes cataract in the Kec mouse.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2007

Chlorobenzenes due to their acute toxicity and the capability of bioaccumulating are of great health and environmental concern. Especially, 1, 2-dichlorobenzene (CAS No. 95-50-1) is used for organic synthesis, dye manufacture, as a solvent and for other applications in chemical industry. Adverse effects of 1, 2-dichlorobenzene includes increases in liver and kidney weights and hepatotoxicity. In this study, we evaluated the genetic toxicity of 1, 2-dichlorobenzene with more advanced methods, in vitro mouse lymphoma assay $tk^{+/-}$ gene assay (MLA) and in vitro mouse supravital micronucleus (MN) assay. 1, 2-Dichlorobenzene appeared the significantly positive results and the induction of large mutant colonies only in the presence of metabolic activation system with MLA. But in vitro testing of 1, 2-dichlorobenzene yielded negative results with supravital MN assay. These results suggest that 1, 2-dichlorobenzene may play a mutagen rather than clastogen in vitro mammalian system.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.144-153
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to understand the roles of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling during tooth root and periodontium formation. In this study, we generated the dental mesenchyme-specific Smoothened (Smo) activated/inactivated mice with the activity of Cre recombinase under the control of osteocalcin promoter. In the Smo activated mutant molar sections at the postnatal 28 days, we found extremely thin root dentin and widened pulp chamber. Picrosirius red staining showed loosely arranged fibers in the periodontal space and decreased cellular cementum with some root resorption. Immunohistochemical staining showed less localization of matrix proteins such as Bsp, Dmp1, Pstn, and Ank in the cementum, periodontal ligament, and/or cementoblast. In the Smo inactivated mutant mouse, there was not any remarkable differences in the localization of these matrix proteins compared with the wild type. These findings suggest that adequate suppressing regulation of SHH signaling is required in the development of tooth root and periodontium.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.441-450
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• 2023

β-Catenin (Ctnnb1) has been shown to play critical roles in the development and maintenance of epithelial cells, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Ctnnb1 is not only a component of intercellular junctions in the epithelium, it also functions as a transcriptional regulator in the Wnt signaling pathway. To identify which of its functional modalities is critically involved in mouse RPE development and maintenance, we varied Ctnnb1 gene content and activity in mouse RPE lineage cells and tested their impacts on mouse eye development. We found that a Ctnnb1 double mutant (Ctnnb1^dm), which exhibits impaired transcriptional activity, could not replace Ctnnb1 in the RPE, whereas Ctnnb1^Y654E, which has reduced affinity for the junctions, could do so. Expression of the constitutively active Ctnnb1^∆ex3 mutant also suppressed the development of RPE, instead facilitating a ciliary cell fate. However, the post-mitotic or mature RPE was insensitive to the loss, inactivation, or constitutive activation of Ctnnb1. Collectively, our results suggest that Ctnnb1 should be maintained within an optimal range to specify RPE through transcriptional regulation of Wnt target genes in the optic neuroepithelium.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.206-216
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• 2015

To clarify the role of surface protective antigen A (SpaA) in the pathogenesis of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae C43065 (serotype 2), the spaA deletion mutant of E. rhusiopathiae ${\Delta}spaA$ was constructed by homologous recombination. The virulence of the ${\Delta}spaA$ mutant decreased more than 76-fold compared with that of the wild-type strain C43065 in mice. The mutant strain was sensitive to the bactericidal action of swine serum, whereas the wild-type strain was resistant. The adhesion of wild-type strain to MEF cells was inhibited significantly by treatment with rabbit antiserum against recombinant SpaA (rSpaA) as compared with the treatment with normal rabbit serum, but the mutant strain was not affected. The mutant strain was readily taken up by mouse peritoneal macrophages in the normal rabbit serum, whereas the wild-type strain was resistant. Whereas the rabbit antiserum against rSpaA promoted the phagocytosis of wild-type strain by macrophages, the mutant strain was not affected. In addition, mice vaccinated with the formalin-killed mutant strain were provided 40% protection against challenge by the homologous virulent strain as compared with those with wild-type strain, NaOH-extracted antigen, or rSpaA, which provided more than 80% protection against the same infection. These suggested that SpaA has an important role in the pathogenesis of E. rhusiopathiae infection and could be a target for vaccination against swine erysipelas.