• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 1995

Cloning the gene encoding a dipeptide transporter is necessary for understanding the absorption mechanism of peptides and peptide-like drugs in the gastrointestinal tract. Functional expression of a dipeptide transporter after microinjection into Xenopus laevis oocytes was performed using the mRNA purified from human intestinal HT-29 cells. Fifty nanoliters of purified mRNA (1 mg/mL) were microinjected into healthy oocytes followed by incubation for 4 days in order to express a dipeptide transporter. Functional expression was determined by a uptake assay using 10 Ci/mL $[^3H]-glycylsarcosine$, a dipeptide substate of the transporter. Seasonal variability and batch-to-batch variability were greater in summer. The usage of beveled micropipettes improves viability of oocytes at 4 days after microinjection. Expression of a dipeptide transporter in oocytes after microinjection of mRNA obtained from HT-29 cells was significantly larger than those after microinjection of water or mRNA obtained from the rabbit intestine.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2001

We have previously shown that oocyte maturation is induced by an immobilized progesterone, progesterone-3-carboxymethyloxime - bovine serum albumin conjugate (P-BSA) in Rana dybowskii. In this study, we confirmed the maturation inducing activity of P-BSA on Xenopus oocyte and examined the binding character of the immobilized progesterone on the surface of Xenopus oocytes after removal of the vitelline layer. P-BSA induced maturation of Xenopus oocytes but E-BSA failed to do so as observed in Rana. Binding of the immobilized progesterone, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled progesterone-3-0-carboxymethyloxime-BSA (P-BSA-FITC) on the devitellined oocytes surface was examined by fluorescence confocal microscopy. The binding affinity of P-BSA-FITC to the devitellined oocyte was higher than that of estrogen-BSA-FITC (E-BSA-FITC) or testosterone-BSA-FITC (T-BSA-FITC). The binding disappeared in the presence of excess free progesterone but not in the presence of free estrogen. Maximum binding occurred after two-hours of incubation with P-BSA-FITC at pH 7.5. Stronger binding occurred in oocytes at stage Vl than stage IV, and in vitro treatment of hCG enhanced the binding. Taken together, these results suggest that a specific receptor for progesterone exists on the plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes and that progesterone acts initially on this putative receptors and triggers generation of membrane-mediated second messengers during the early stage of oocyte maturation In amphibians.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2000

The depletion of intracellular calcium stores by thapsigargin treatment evoked extracellular calcium-dependent membrane currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes. These currents have been compared to those evoked by microinjection of a calcium influx factor (CIF) purified from Jurkat T lymphocytes. The membrane currents elicited by thapsigargin treatment (peak current, $163{\pm}60$ nA) or CIF injection (peak current, $897{\pm}188$ nA) were both dependent on calcium entry, based on their eradication by the removal of extracellular calcium. The currents were, in both cases, attributed primarily to well-characterized $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ $Cl^-$ currents, based on their similar reversal potentials (-24 mV vs. -28 mV) and their inhibition by niflumic acid (a $Cl^-$ channel blocker). Currents induced by either thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection exhibited an identical pattern of inhibitory sensitivity to a panel of lanthanides, suggesting that thapsigargin treatment or CIF injection evoked $Cl^-$ currents by stimulating calcium influx through pharmacologically identical calcium channels. These results indicate that CIF acts on the same calcium entry pathway activated by the depletion of calcium stores and most lanthanides are novel pharmacological tools for the study of calcium entry in Xenopus oocytes.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.471-476
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• 1998

The G protein-activated inwardly rectifying $K^＋$ channel (GIRK1) was coex-pressed in Xenopus oocytes along with the $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor, a 7-helix receptor known to be coupled to $K^＋$ channels in many neural tissues. Thus, the activation of the $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor by its agonist leads to the opening of GIRK1. The GIRK1 current was measured using the two electrode voltage clamp technique with bath application of 5-HT in the presence of various external potassium concentrations $[K^＋]_0$. GIRK1 showed a strong inward rectification since only hyperpolarizing voltages evoked inward currents. $K^{+}$ was the major ion carrier as evidenced by about 44㎷ voltage shift corresponding to a 10-fold external 〔$K^＋$〕 change. 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent inward $K^＋$ current ($EC_{50}{\equation omitted}10.7nM$) which was blocked by $Ba^{2＋}$. Pertussis toxin (PTX) pre-treatment reduced the $K^＋$ current by as much as about 70%, suggesting that PTX-sensitive G protein ($G_i or G_o$ type) are involved in the $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor-GIRK1 coupling in Xenopus oocytes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.614-618
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• 2001

Low-threshold T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels are distinctive voltage-operated gates for external $Ca^{2+}$ entry around a resting membrane potential due to their low voltage activation. These phenomena have already been extensively studied due to their relevance in diverse physiological functions. Recently, three T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel ${\alpha}$$_1$subunits were cloned and their biophysical properties were characterized after expression in mammalian expression systems. In this study, ${\alpha_IG} and {\alpha_IH}$ low-threshold $Ca^{2+}$ channels were expressed and characterized in Xenopus oocytes after adding 5' and 3'untranslated portions of a Xenopus ${\beta}$ globin to improve their expression levels. The added portions dramatically enhanced the expression levels of the ${\alpha_IG} and {\alpha_IH}$ T-type channels. When currents were recorded in 10 mM $Ba^{2+}$ as the charge carrier, the activation thresholds were about -60 mV, peak currents appeared at -20 mV, and the reversal potentials were between +40 and +45. The activation time constants were very similar to each other, while the inactivation time constants of the ${\alpha_IG}$ currents were smaller than those of ${\alpha_IH}$. Taken together, the electrophysiological properties of the ${\alpha_IG} and {\alpha_IH}$ channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes were similar to the previously reported characteristics of low-threshold $Ca^{2+}$ channel currents.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 1994

Microiniection of genes Into Xenopus laeuis oocvtes in highly useful in the annvsis of gene regulation, since a large number of oocvtes can be injected in a relatively short time. The GRP78 enhancer has been identified to a 291-bp fragment that spans a region of GRP78 promoter between -378 and -87 (Lin et at., 1986: Kim and Lee, 1989). We examined whether this GRP78 enhancer is effective in directing expression of heterologous gene in Xenopus laeuis oocytes. The chloramphenicol acetvltransferase (CAT) fusion constructs containing the GRP78 promoter and the SV4O early promoter were constructed and were injected into nuclei of Xencpus laeuis oocvtes. The recipient oocvtes were then assayed for CAT activity. The fusion constructs exhibited higher activity as compared to SV40 promoter tested here. The GRP78 enhancer showed 8.5- to 9.2-fold enhancement over that of the SV4O promoter. The orientation of GRP78 enhancer with respect to the direction of CAT transcription unit had no significant effect. Thus, the GRP78 enhancer is a viable candidate for the construction of expression system for use in Xenopus laevss oocvtes and will be important for the studY of a gene expression throughout development.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2004

Paecilomyces tenuipes, a caterpillar fungus, contains many health-promoting ingredients. Recent reports indicate that consumption of P. tenuipes helps reducing blood sugar content for diabetes. Mechanism for reduction in the circulatory sugar content, however, still remains least understood. Methanolic extraction of P. tenuipes (MPT) was prepared and acetoxyscirpendiol (ASD) was subsequently purified limn MPT. Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) was expressed in the Xenopus oocytes and the effect of MPT or ASD on the expressed GLUT-1 was analyzed according to the uptake of 2-dideoxy-D-glucose (2-DOG). MPT was shown to inhibit GLUT-1 activity significant1y compared to the non-treated control. In the presence of ASD and its derivatives, GLUT-1 activity was greatly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Among ASD and its derivatives, AS-1 showed most significant inhibition. Taken together, these results strongly indicate that ASD in P. tenuipes may serve as a functional substance in lowering blood sugar in the circulatory system. ASD and its derivatives can be utilized as inhibitors of GLUT-1.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2001

The effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were studied in two groups of Xenopus oocytes, one expressing ATP sensitive $K^+\;(K_{ATP})$ channel comprised of sulfonylurea receptor SUR1 and inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channel subunit Kir6.2, and the other expressing renal $K_{ATP}$ channel ROMK2. At concentrations of $0.3{\sim}10%$ (vol/vol) DMSO inhibited whole cell Kir6.2/SUR1 currents elicited by bath application of sodium azide (3 mM) in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition constant and Hill coefficient were 2.93% and 1.62, respectively. ROMK2 currents, however, was not affected significantly by DMSO. The results support the idea that DMSO inhibits $K_{ATP}$ channel expressed in Xenopus oocyte through a protein-specific mechanism(s) that remains to be further elucidated.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2003

Ginsenosides, major active ingredients of Panax ginseng, are known to regulate excitatory ligand-gated ion channel activity such as nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptor channel activity. However, it is not known whether ginsenosides affect inhibitory ligand-gated ion channel activity. We investigated the effect of ginsenosides on human recombinant $GABA_A$ receptor (${\alpha}_1{\beta}_1{\gamma}_{2s}$) channel activity expressed in Xenopus oocytes using a two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Among the eight individual ginsenosides examined, namely, $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, $Rg_1$ and $Rg_2$, we found that Rc most potently enhanced the GABA-induced inward peak current ($I_{GABA}$). Ginsenoside Rc alone induced an inward membrane current in certain batches of oocytes expressing the $GABA_A$ receptor. The effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$ was both dose-dependent and reversible. The half-stimulatory concentration ($EC_{50}$) of ginsenoside Rc was 53.2$\pm$12.3 $\mu$M. Both bicuculline, a $GABA_A$ receptor antagonist, and picrotoxin, a $GABA_A$ channel blocker, blocked the stimulatory effect of ginsenoside Rc on $I_{GABA}$. Niflumic acid (NFA) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), both $CI^{-1}$ channel blockers, attenuated the effect of ginsenoside Rc on I$I_{GABA}$. This study suggests that ginsenosides regulated $GABA_A$ receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes and implies that this regulation might be one of the pharmacological actions of Panax ginseng.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.238-244
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• 2003

Nicotine is one of the major hazardous components in cigarettc smoke. Nicotine deals a harmful effect to smokers and passive smokers due to its rapid conversion to various carcinogenic metabolites. Nitrosamine-4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is believed to cause lung cancers among the nicotine-derived carcinogens. Recent studies report that NNK synthesis can be inhibited by the metabolism pathway to produce a stable metabolite cotinine from nicotine. Tea polyphenols have been known to contain factors to prevent cancers and to retard progression of cancers. This study aims to correlate tea polyphenol's potential for cancer prevention with an accelerated formation of cotinine. The conversion from nicotine to cotinine in the presence of tea extracts or three polyphenols (Catechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate) was measured in established cell lines and in Xenopus oocytes. Among three lines of cell used, PLC/PRF5 and HEK293 cells showed a fast turnover from nicotine to cotinine while HepG2 cell line showed a marginal difference between groups treated and non-treated with tea polyphenols. When Xenopus oocytes were microinjected with nicotine, tea polyphenols appear to accelerate the conversion of nicotine to cotinine. Among the polyphenols tested in this study, (＋)－catechin showed the best efficiency overall in accelerating conversion from nicotine to cotinine both in the cell lines and in the oocytes. In summary, the present study indicated that tea polyphenols have a positive effect on conversion of nicotine to cotinine.