• BMB Reports
• /
• v.51 no.9
• /
• pp.462-467
• /
• 2018

A previous study of ours indicated that Drosophila flightless-1 controls lipid metabolism, and that there is an accumulation of triglycerides in flightless-1 (fliI)-mutant flies, where this mutation triggers metabolic stress and an obesity phenotype. Here, with the aim of characterizing the function of FliI in metabolism, we analyzed the levels of gene expression and metabolites in fliI-mutant flies. The levels of enzymes related to glycolysis, lipogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway increased in fliI mutants; this result is consistent with the levels of metabolites corresponding to a metabolic pathway. Moreover, high-throughput RNA sequencing revealed that Drosophila FliI regulates the expression of genes related to biological processes such as chromosome organization, carbohydrate metabolism, and immune reactions. These results showed that Drosophila FliI regulates the expression of metabolic genes, and that dysregulation of the transcription controlled by FliI gives rise to metabolic stress and problems in the development and physiology of Drosophila.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.237-242
• /
• 2016

Copper (Cu) is a necessary microelement for plants. However, high concentrations of Cu are toxic to plants that change the regulation of several stress-induced proteins. In this study, an annealing control primer (ACP) based approach was used to identify differentially expressed Cu-induced genes in alfalfa leaves. Two-week-old alfalfa plants (Medicago sativa L.) were exposed to Cu for 6 h. Total RNAs were isolated from treated and control leaves followed by ACP-based PCR technique. Using GeneFishing ACPs, we obtained several genes those expression levels were induced by Cu. Finally, we identified several genes including UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase, transmembrane protein, small heat shock protein, C-type cytochrome biogenesis protein, mitochondrial 2-oxoglutarate, and trans-2,3-enoyl-CoA reductase in alfalfa leaves. These identified genes have putative functions in cellular processes such as cell wall structural rearrangements, transduction, stress tolerance, heme transport, carbon and nitrogen assimilation, and lipid biosynthesis. Response of Cu-induced genes and their identification in alfalfa would be useful for molecular breeding to improve alfalfa with tolerance to heavy metals.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.325-332
• /
• 2007

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is one of the major and evolutionally conserved signaling pathways and plays pivotal role in the regulation of stress and developmental signals in plants. Here, a novel gene, termed Gossypium hirsutum MAPK (GhMAPK), was isolated from cotton. The full-length cDNA of GhMAPK encodes for a 372 amino acid protein that contains all 11 of the MAPK conserved subdomains and the phosphorylationactivation motif, TEY. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed that GhMAPK shared high identity with group-C MAPK in plants and showed 83~89% similarities with MAPKs from Arabidopsis, apricot, pea, petunia, and tobacco. Southern blot analysis indicated that the GhMAPK belonged to a multygene family in cotton. Two introns were found within the region of genomic sequence. Northern blot analysis revealed that the transcripts of GhMAPK accumulated markedly when the cotton seedlings were subjected to various abiotic stimuli such as wounding, cold (4$^{\circ}C$), or salinity stress; Furthermore, GhMAPK was upregulated by the exogenous signaling molecules, such as salicylic acid (SA) and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2C$), as well as pathogen attacks. These results indicate that the GhMAPK, which has a high degree of identity with group-C plant MAPKs, may also play an important role in response to environmental stresses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2017.06a
• /
• pp.149-149
• /
• 2017

The RING (Really Interesting New Gene) finger proteins are known to play crucial roles in various abiotic stresses in plants. In this study, we report on RING finger E3 ligase, ${\underline{O}ryza}$ ${\underline{s}ativa}$ ${\underline{s}alt$-, ${\underline{A}BA}$- and ${\underline{d}rounght}$ stress-${\underline{i}nduced}$ RING finger ${\underline{p}}rotein{\underline{1}}$ gene (OsSAD1). In vitro ubiquitination assay demonstrated that unlike OsSAD1, a single amino acid substitution ($OsSAD1^{C168A}$) of the RING domain showed no E3 ligase activity, supporting the notion that the activity of most E3s is specified by a RING domain. Result of Yeast-Two hybridization, In vivo protein degradation assay supports that OsSAD1 interacting with 3 substrate, OsSNAC2, OsGRAS44 and OsPIRIN1, and mediates proteolysis of 3 substrates via the 26S proteasome pathway. Subcellular localizations of OsSAD1 while approximately 62% of transient signals were detected in cytosol, 38% of signals were showed nucleus. However, transiently expression of OsSAD1 was detected in cytosol 30% while as 70% of nucleus under 200 mM salt treated rice protoplasts. Results of bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) showed that two nucleus-localized proteins (OsSNAC2 and OsGRAS44) interacted with OsSAD1 in the both cytosol and nucleus. Heterogeneous overexpression of OsSAD1 Heterogeneous overexpresssion of OsSAD1 in Arabidopsis exhibited sensitive phenotypes with respect to Salt-, mannitol-responsive seed germination, seedling growth. In ABA conditions, OsSAD1 overexpression plants showed highly tolerance phenotypes, such as root length and stomatal closure. Our findings suggest that the OsSAD1 may play a negative regulator in salt stress response by modulating levels of its target proteins.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.316-321
• /
• 2001

Dehydroascorbate (DHA) reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) catalyzes the reduction of DHA to reduced ascorbate (AsA) using glutathione (GSH) as the electron donor in order to maintain an appropriate level of ascorbate in plant cells. To analyze the physiological role of DHAR in environmental stress adaptation, we developed transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) plants that express a human DHAR gene isolated from the human fetal liver cDNA library in the chloroplasts. We also investigated the DHAR activity, levels of ascorbate, and GSH. Two transgenic plants were successfully developed by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and were confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. DHAR activity and AsA content in mature leaves of transgenic plants were approximately 1.41 and 1.95 times higher than in the non-transgenic (NT) plants, respectively In addition, the content of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in transgenic plants was approximately 2.95 times higher than in the NT plants. The ratios of AsA to DHA and GSSG to GSH were changed by overexpression of DHAR, as expected, even though the total content of ascorbate and glutathione was not significantly changed. When tobacco leaf discs were subjected to methyl viologen at $5\;{\mu}M$, $T_0$ transgenic plants showed about a 50% reduction in membrane damage compared to the NT plants.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.388-393
• /
• 2008

The Pphsc70 (heat shock cognate 70) gene was isolated from the endoparasitoid Pteromalus puparum and then characterized. The full-length cDNA was 2204 base pair (bp) and contained a single 1968 bp ORF that encoded a polypeptide of 656 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 71.28 kDa. Phylogenetic analysis based on Hsc70 amino acid sequences from fifteen insect species agreed with the present phylogeny. In addition, genomic DNA confirmed the presence of three introns located at the coding region as well as the 5'UTR. A significant elevation of Pphsc70 expression was observed following heat treatment, however, continued exposure to heat shock or recovery caused the expression of induced mRNA to gradually decline to levels that were significantly lower than those of control pupae (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant increase was observed in the emergence rate of pupae that were preheated at $40^{\circ}C$ and then exposed to $50^{\circ}C$ for 1 h when compared with the pupae that were not preheated, but instead directly exposed to $50^{\circ}C$. Taken together, these results revealed that exposure to gradually increasing temperatures can enhance an insects thermo-tolerance.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.9
• /
• pp.672-684
• /
• 2014

The exact causes of cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain unknown despite extensive studies on PD.The identification of signaling and metabolic pathways involved in PD might provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying PD. The neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$) induces cellular changes characteristic of PD, and $MPP^+$-based models have been extensively used for PD studies. In this study, pathways that were significantly perturbed in $MPP^+$-treated human neuroblastoma SH-EP cells were identified from genome-wide gene expression data for five time points (1.5, 3, 9, 12, and 24 h) after treatment. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein processing pathway showed significant perturbation at all time points. Perturbation of each of these pathways resulted in the common outcome of upregulation of DNA-damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3). Genes involved in ER protein processing pathway included ubiquitin ligase complex genes and ER-associated degradation (ERAD)-related genes. Additionally, overexpression of DDIT3 might induce oxidative stress via glutathione depletion as a result of overexpression of CHAC1. This study suggests that upregulation of DDIT3 caused by perturbation of the MAPK signaling pathway and ER protein processing pathway might play a key role in $MPP^+$-induced neuronal cell death. Moreover, the toxicity signal of $MPP^+$ resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction through inhibition of complex I of the electron transport chain might feed back to the mitochondria via ER stress. This positive feedback could contribute to amplification of the death signal induced by $MPP^+$.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.248-257
• /
• 2018

Overexpression of AtCYP78A7, a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 protein, has been reported to improve tolerance to drought stress in genetically modified (GM) rice (Oryza sativa L.). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential allergenicity and acute oral toxicity of the AtCYP78A7 protein expressed in GM rice. Bioinformatics analysis of the amino acid sequence of AtCYP78A7 did not identify any similarities with any known allergens or toxins. It showed that no known allergen had more than a 35% amino acid sequence homology with the AtCYP78A7 protein over an 80 amino acid window or more than 8 consecutive identical amino acids. The gene encoding the AtCYP78A7 protein was cloned in the pGEX-4T-1 vector and expressed in E. coli. Then, the AtCYP78A7 protein was purified and analyzed for acute oral toxicity. The AtCYP78A7 protein was fed at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight in mice, and the changes in mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight were monitored for 14 days after the dosing. Necropsy was carried out on day 14. The protein did not cause any adverse effects when it was orally administered to mice at 2000 mg/kg body weight. These results indicate that the AtCYP78A7 protein expressed in GM rice would not be a potential allergen or toxin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.105-115
• /
• 2015

Background: Alcoholic steatosis is the earliest and most common liver disease, and may precede the onset of more severe forms of liver injury. Methods: The effect of Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) was tested in two murine models of ethanol (EtOH)-feeding and EtOH-treated hepatocytes. Results: Blood biochemistry analysis demonstrated that RGE treatment improved liver function. Histopathology and measurement of hepatic triglyceride content verified the ability of RGE to inhibit fat accumulation. Consistent with this, RGE administration downregulated hepatic lipogenic gene induction and restored hepatic lipolytic gene repression by EtOH. The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver diseases is well established. Treatment with RGE attenuated EtOH-induced cytochrome P450 2E1, 4-hydroxynonenal, and nitrotyrosine levels. Alcohol consumption also decreased phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, which was restored by RGE. Moreover, RGE markedly inhibited fat accumulation in EtOH-treated hepatocytes, which correlated with a decrease in sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 and a commensurate increase in sirtuin 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a expression. Interestingly, the ginsenosides Rb2 and Rd, but not Rb1, significantly inhibited fat accumulation in hepatocytes. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that RGE and its ginsenoside components inhibit alcoholic steatosis and liver injury by adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/sirtuin 1 activation both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that RGE may have a potential to treat alcoholic liver disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.449-460
• /
• 2012

Plants have versatile detoxification systems to encounter the phytotoxicity of the wide range of natural and synthetic compounds present in the environment. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is an enzyme that detoxifies natural and exogenous toxic compounds by conjugation with glutathione (GSH). Recently, several roles of GST giving stress tolerance in plants have demonstrated, but little is known about the role of ginseng GSTs. Therefore, this work aimed to provide further information on the GST gene present in Panax ginseng genome as well as its expression and function. A GST cDNA (PgGST) was isolated from P. ginseng cDNA library, and it showed the amino acid sequence similarity with theta type of GSTs. PgGST in ginseng plant was induced by exposure to metals, plant hormone, heavy metals, and high light irradiance. To improve the resistance against environmental stresses, full-length cDNA of PgGST was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum. Overexpression of PgGST led to twofold increase in GST-specific activity compared to the non-transgenic plants, and the GST overexpressed plant showed resistance against herbicide phosphinothricin. The results suggested that the PgGST isolated from ginseng might have a role in the protection mechanism against toxic materials such as heavy metals and herbicides.