• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권11호
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• pp.710-724
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• 2023

The plant defense responses to microbial infection are tightly regulated and integrated with the developmental program for optimal resources allocation. Notably, the defense-associated hormone salicylic acid (SA) acts as a promoter of flowering while several plant pathogens actively target the flowering signaling pathway to promote their virulence or dissemination. Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum inject tens of effectors in the host cells that collectively promote bacterial proliferation in plant tissues. Here, we characterized the function of the broadly conserved R. pseudosolanacearum effector RipL, through heterologous expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. RipL-expressing transgenic lines presented a delayed flowering, which correlated with a low expression of flowering regulator genes. Delayed flowering was also observed in Nicotiana benthamiana plants transiently expressing RipL. In parallel, RipL promoted plant susceptibility to virulent strains of Pseudomonas syringae in the effector-expressing lines or when delivered by the type III secretion system. Unexpectedly, SA accumulation and SA-dependent immune signaling were not significantly affected by RipL expression. Rather, the RNA-seq analysis of infected RipL-expressing lines revealed that the overall amplitude of the transcriptional response was dampened, suggesting that RipL could promote plant susceptibility in an SA-independent manner. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underpinning RipL effect on flowering and immunity may reveal novel effector functions in host cells.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.237-241
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• 2012

Embryonic genome activation (EGA) is the first major transition that occurs after fertilization, and entails a dramatic reprogramming of gene expression that is essential for continued development. Although it has been suggested that EGA in porcine embryos starts at the four-cell stage, recent evidence indicates that EGA may commence even earlier; however, the molecular details of EGA remain incompletely understood. The RNA polymerase II of eukaryotes transcribes mRNAs and most small nuclear RNAs. The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II can become phosphorylated in the C-terminal domain. The unphosphorylated form of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit C-terminal domain (IIa) plays a role in initiation of transcription, and the phosphorylated form (IIo) is required for transcriptional elongation and mRNA splicing. In the present study, we explored the nuclear translocation, nuclear localization, and phosphorylation dynamics of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain in immature pig oocytes, mature oocytes, two-, four-, and eight-cell embryos, and the morula and blastocyst. To this end, we used antibodies specific for the IIa and IIo forms of RNA polymerase II to stain the proteins. Unphosphorylated RNA polymerase II stained strongly in the nuclei of germinal vesicle oocytes, whereas the phosphorylated form of the enzyme was confined to the chromatin of prophase I oocytes. After fertilization, both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated RNA polymerase II began to accumulate in the nuclei of early stage one-cell embryos, and this pattern was maintained through to the blastocyst stage. The results suggest that both porcine oocytes and early embryos are transcriptionally competent, and that transcription of embryonic genes during the first three cell cycles parallels expression of phosphorylated RNA polymerase II.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.87-87
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• 2003

난자성숙 중 MPF활성은 MI 과 MII에서 최대로, MII로의 성숙 직후 난자를 핵이식에 이용하는 것은 핵과 세포질 사이의 reprogramming에의 효율을 높일 수 있을 것이다. 일반적으로 돼지의 IVF나 핵이식은 체외성숙후 44h에 이뤄지고 있다. 이는 aging을 낳을 수 있고 aging은 또한 발달능을 떨어뜨릴 수 있다. 따라서, 본 실험은 돼지의 체외성숙시간에 따른 체외성숙율과 단위발생후 체외발달율을 비교하여 최적의 체외성숙시간을 찾고자 실시하였다. 돼지 난포란을 10% pFF, 0.1mg/ml cysteine, 10IU/ml PMSG, 10IU/ml hCG, 10ng/ml EGF가 첨가된 TCM-199배양액에서 22, 30, 44시간 동안 배양하여 성숙을 유도하였다. 체외성숙이 야기된 난자는 난구세포를 제거한 후 전기자극(2.0kv/cm, $30 \mu s$) 후 5분 동안 TCM-199에서 세정하고 다시 4시간 동안 6-DMAP에서 배양된 후 4mg/ml BSA가 첨가된 NCSU-23에 넣어 $39^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$배양기에서 각각 6-7일 동안 배양을 실시하였다. 체외성숙 22시간 성숙난자는 M I 44.3%(35/79)와 A I -T I 36.7%(29/79)로 81%가 M II로의 성숙에는 아직 미치지 못했다. 30시간 성숙난자는 46.3%(56/121)가 M II로 성숙하였고, M I과 A I -T I 은 각각 25.6%(31/121), 27 3%(33/121)이었다. 44시간 성숙난자는 78%(71/91)가 M II로 성숙하였고, M I 과 A I -T I 은 각각 12.1%(31/121), 7 7%(33/121)이었다. 단위발생율은 22시간에 난할율은 35.4%(75/137)이었고, 배반포 발달은 없었다. 30시간에 난할율은 51.8%(145/280)이었고, 배반포 발달율은 5.5%(8/145)이었다. 44시간에 난할율은 80.0%(244/306)이었고, 배반포 발달율은 14.3%(35/144)이었다. 본 연구결과 핵 및 세포질의 완전한 성숙은 44h에 이루어지고, 이에 따른 배발달율도 뒤따름을 알 수 있었다. 난자가 핵성숙의 완성에도 불구하고 완전한 활성을 위한 발달능은 갖지 못함을 알 수 있었으며, 질 좋은 배반포 생산을 위해 핵과 세포질 성숙의 synchronous가 중요하다 사료된다. 체외성숙을 위한 배양기술의 진전과 더불어 체외성숙 시간에 따른 세포질적인 기전에 대한 연구가 필요하다.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.90-90
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• 2003

체세포 핵이식에 의한 복제기술은 매우 낮은 성공률 나타내고 있어 실용화에 지장을 초래하고 있다. 이것은 후생적인 유전현상인 reprogramming이 불완전하게 이루어지기 때문인 것으로 추측되어지고 있다(Reik et al., Theriogenology 2003, 59: 21-32; Han et al, Theriogenology 2003, 59: 33-44). 체세포 핵이식 후에 태아사망의 원인이 태반의 비정상적인 기능과 관계가 있는 것으로 추정되는데 복제시 태아사망의 원인을 찾기 위해 본 연구를 시행하였다. 한우에서 체세포 복제 후 임신 말기에 태아가 사망한 태반조직 3개와 IVF 수정란 이식 후 동일한 시기에 제왕절개술을 실시한 태반조직 2개를 실험에 이용하였다. 태반 protein을 Two-Dimensional electrophoresis와 Mass spectrometer를 이용하여 분석 비교하였다. IPG-system을 이용하여 pH 4~7, pH 6~9에서 1차 전기영동을 한 후, 8~l6%의 SDS-PAGE gel에 2차 전기영동을 실시하였고 G-250 Coomassie로 염색하였다. gel 이미지는 Malanie III program을 이용하여 분석하였다. 전체 gel에서 약 1800개의 구분 가능한 protein spot이 나타났다. pH 4~7 범위에서 양적으로 차이나는 것 15개 중 복제한우 태반에서 증가되는 protein spot 5개와 감소하는 protein spot 10개를 골라 protein identification을 실시하였다. MALDI-TOF-MS를 이용하여 동정한 결과 phosphatidylinositol transfer protein-$\alpha$와 interleukin-18 등의 protein이 복제태반에서 발현이 증가되었고, 복제한우에서 발현이 감소되는 것으로는 vimentin, Rho-GDI-$\beta$, TRAST $\beta$-chain, ovarian sterol carrier protein 2, triosephosphate isomerase, tropemyosin beta chain, Aldose reductase 등으로 나타났다. 이러한 protein들은 inositol 지질 신호전달과 면역시스템, 세포분열, 산소 운반, steroidogenic 세포에서의 콜레스테롤 이동, 촉매 작용, 대사 작용 등에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 체세포 복제에 의한 태아사망 원인은 태반에서 이러한 protein들의 비정상적인 발현에 기인된 것으로 추정된다.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.40-43
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• 2012

Recent genomewide association studies of large samples have identified genes that are associated with blood pressure. The Global Blood Pressure Genetics (Global BPgen) and Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genome Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortiums identified 14 loci that govern blood pressure on a genomewide significance level, one of which is $CASZ1$ confirmed in both Europeans and Asians. $CASZ1$ is a zinc finger transcription factor that controls apoptosis and cell fate and suppresses neuroblastoma tumor growth by reprogramming gene expression, like a tumor suppressor. To validate the function of $CASZ1$ in blood pressure, we decreased $Casz1$ mRNA levels in mice by siRNA. $Casz1$ siRNA reduced mRNA levels by 59% in a mouse cell line. A polyethylenimine-mixed siRNA complex was injected into mouse tail veins, reducing $Casz1$ mRNA expression to 45% in the kidney. However, blood pressure in the treated mice was unaffected, despite a 55% reduction in $Casz1$ mRNA levels in the kidney on multiple siRNA injections daily. Even though $Casz1$ siRNA-treated mice did not experience any significant change in blood pressure, our study demonstrates the value of $in$ $vivo$ siRNA injection in analyzing the function of candidate genes identified by genomewide association studies.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2000

수정에 의한 배 발생은 정자가 난자 내로 침입하여 정자와 난자의 반수체 핵질이 융합되고 이어 유사분열로 이어지는 과정에서 시작된다. 하지만 수정 및 초기 배 발생 동안 자웅 핵질과 난 세포질 구성 요소 상호간의 작용기전에 관해서는 명확히 알려져 있지 않은 부분이 많다. 수정보조기법인 세포질 내 정자 직접 주입법의 개발은 남성불임치료에 혁신적인 기술로 자리잡고 있을 뿐만 아니라 포유동물의 수정과정을 이해하는데 많은 도움을 주고 있다. 핵치환에 의한 복제동물 생산기법도 분화된 핵이 난 세포질 내에서 재 분화 (reprogramming)하여 발생하는 유일한 과정으로 세포질 구성요소들의 상호작용과 발생 조절 기능을 이해하는데 도움을 준다. 최근 몇 년간 돼지 난자 세포질에 정자 및 원형정자 직접주입, 세포질 이식, 세포질 융합 및 핵치환 한 후 난자의 발생과정을 간접 면역형광 분석법과 주사 전자현미경으로 조사하였다. 이러한 연구를 통해 체외수정, 세포질 이식 및 정자직접 주입법 등과 같은 임상치료기술 과 핵치환에 의한 복제동물생산 기법의 개선에 필요한 기초자료를 얻을 수 있었고, 포유동물 난자의 후생적 발생과정 (epigenesis)에 관해 공부할 수 있었다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.635-640
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• 2009

Testis-derived germline stem (GS) cells can undergo reprogramming to acquire multipotency when cultured under appropriate culture conditions. These multipotent GS (mGS) cells have been known to differ from GS cells in their DNA methylation pattern. In this study, we examined the DNA methylation status of the H19 imprinting control region (ICR) in multipotent adult germline stem (maGS) cells to elucidate how epigenetic imprints are altered by culture conditions. DNA methylation was analyzed by bisulfite sequencing PCR of established maGS cells cultured in the presence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) alone or both GDNF and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The results showed that the H19 ICR in maGS cells of both groups was hypermethylated and had an androgenetic pattern similar to that of GS cells. In line with these data, the relative abundance of the Igf2 mRNA transcript was two-fold higher and that of H19 was three fold lower than in control embryonic stem cells. The androgenetic DNA methylation pattern of the H19 ICR was maintained even after 54 passages. Furthermore, differentiating maGS cells from retinoic acid-treated embryoid bodies maintained the androgenetic imprinting pattern of the H19 ICR. Taken together these data suggest that our maGS cells are epigenetically stable for the H19 gene during in vitro modifications. Further studies on the epigenetic regulation and chromatin structure of maGS cells are therefore necessary before their full potential can be utilized in regenerative medicine.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.105-113
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• 2011

The present study investigated the nuclear remodeling, development potential with telomerase activity and transcription level of X-linked genes (ANT3, HPRT, MeCP2, RPS4X, XIAP, XIST and ZFX) in the bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos using two different fusion and activation methods. Female adult fibroblasts were injected into perivitelline space of in vitro matured oocytes. The oocyte-nucleus complexes were fused and followed by immediately either activated (Group 1), or activated at 1 h post-fusion (hpf) (Group 2), respectively. The incidence of normal premature chromosome condensation (PCC) at 1 hpf was slightly increased in the Group 2, compared to those of Group 1, but there was no significant (p<0.05) difference. The incidence of normal pronucleus (PN) and chromosome spread at 5 and 18 hpf were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the Group 2 than those of Group 1. The cleavage rate to 2-cell stage, developmental rate to blastocyst stage, and the mean number of total and ICM cell numbers were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the Group 2, compared to those of Group 1. Level of telomerase activity was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the SCNT blastocysts of Group 2, compared to those of Group 1. Transcript levels of HPRT, MeCP2 and XIST were not significantly (p<0.05) different between blastocysts of Group 1 and 2. However, transcript level of ANT3, RPS4X, XIAP and ZFX were significantly (p<0.05) up-regulated in the SCNT blastocysts of Group 2, compared to those of Group 1. Taken together, it is concluded that oocyte activation at 1 hpf induces the enhanced developmental potential by efficient nuclear remodeling and subsequent facilitation of the nuclear reprogramming of bovine SCNT embryos.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.309-315
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• 2003

DNA methylation at CpG sites, which is a epigenetic modification, is associated with gene expression without change of DNA sequences. During early mouse embryogenesis, dynamic changes of DNA methylation occur. In this study, DNA methylation patterns of porcine embryos produced in vivo and in vitro were examined at various developmental stages by the immunocytochemical staining method. Interestingly, active demethylation was not observed on the paternal pronucleus of porcine zygotes. However, differences were detected in the passive demethylation process between in vivo and in vitro embryos. There was no change in the DNA methylation state until the blastocyst stage of in vivo embryos, whereas partial demethylation was observed in several blastomeres from a 4 cell stage to a morula stage of in vitro embryos. The whole genome of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in porcine blastocysts were evenly methylated without de novo methylation. Our findings demonstrate that genome-wide demethylation does not occur in pig embryos during preimplantation development unlike murine and bovine embryos. It indicates that the machinery regulating epigenetic reprogramming may be different between species.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.301-306
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• 2011

Fibroblasts of large animals are easy to isolate and to maintain in vitro culture. Thus, these cells are extensively applied to donor cell for somatic cell nuclear transfer, and to substrate cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells after transfection of requited genes to be essentially required for direct reprogramming. However, limited mitotic activity of fibroblasts to differentiate along a terminal lineage becomes restrictive for their versatile application. Recently, commercial culture medium and systems developed for primary cells are provided by manufactures. In this study, we examined whether one of the systems developed for primary fibroblasts of human are effective on porcine ear skin fibroblasts. To this end, we performed proliferation assay after five days culture in vitro of porcine fibroblasts in medium DMEM, which is generally used for fibroblasts culture, and medium M106 for human dermal fibroblasts, supplemented with various concentrations of FBS and LSGS contained mainly growth factors, respectively. Consequence was that presence of 15% FBS and 0.1 ${\times}$ concentrations of LSGS in DMEM showed most active proliferation of porcine fibroblasts.