Mammalian circadian rhythm is observed not only at the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a master pacemaker, but also throughout the peripheral tissues. To date, investigation of the regulation of clock gene expression has mainly focused on transcriptional and posttranslational modifications, and little is known about the posttranscriptional regulation of these genes. In ...

Oxytocin (Oxt), produced in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) for transport to and release from the posterior pituitary, was originally discovered through its role in lactation and parturition. Oxt also plays important roles in the central nervous system by influencing various behaviors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous regulators of ...

We have previously shown that ceramide, a proapoptotic molecule decreases in the mouse heart as it adapts to hypoxia. We have also shown that its precursor, dihydroceramide, accumulates with hypoxia. This implicates the enzyme dihydroceramide desaturase (DHC-DS), which converts dihydroceramide to ceramide, in a potential regulatory checkpoint in cardiomyocytes. We ...

Homo- and heterodimers of Kif5 proteins form the motor domain of Kinesin-1, a major plus-end directed microtubule motor. Kif5s have been implicated in the intracellular transport of organelles, vesicles, proteins, and RNAs in many cell types. There are three mammalian KIF5s. KIF5A and KIF5C proteins are strictly neural in mouse ...

BACKGROUND: Pre-mRNA splicing is a crucial step for genetic regulation and accounts largely for downstream translational diversity. The current time of biological research is characterized by advances in functional genomics study and the understanding of the pre-mRNA splicing process has thus become a major portal for biologists to gain insights ...

The first member of the Wnt-family ligands was identified 30 years ago as a factor in mouse mammary tumours whose expression was deregulated due to the promoter activity emanating from the proximal integration of the Mouse Mammary Tumour Virus genome (Nusse and Varmus, Embo J 31:2670-84, 2012). The Wnt-ligands invoke a ...

Male gender and the male hormone testosterone increase susceptibility to kidney ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is associated with inflammatory responses. Possible involvement of histone deacetylase (HDAC) in inflammatory responses has been suggested. We investigated the gender-specific role of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) expression ...

The angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AT1R)-associated protein (ATRAP/Agtrap) promotes constitutive internalization of the AT1R so as to specifically inhibit the pathological activation of its downstream signaling but yet preserve the baseline physiological signaling activity of the AT1R. Thus, tissue-specific regulation of Agtrap expression is relevant to the ...

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a promyelinating trophic factor and mechanisms by which CNTF expression could be increased in the brain are poorly understood. Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, is one of the most widely-used analgesics. Interestingly, aspirin increased mRNA and protein expression of CNTF in primary mouse and human astrocytes in ...

The loss of functional Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein due to mutations or deletion in the SMN1 gene causes autosomal recessive neurodegenerative spinal muscle atrophy (SMA). A potential treatment strategy for SMA is to upregulate the amount of SMN protein originating from the highly homologous SMN2 gene, compensating in part ...

The Enterococcus faecalis leucine-rich protein ElrA promotes virulence by stimulating bacterial persistence in macrophages and production of the IL-6 cytokine. The ElrA protein is encoded within an operon that is poorly expressed under laboratory conditions, but induced in vivo. In this study, we identify ef2687 (renamed elrR), which encodes a ...

The Wnt1-Cre transgenic mouse line is extensively used in the study of the development of the neural crest and its derivatives and the midbrain. The Wnt1 gene has important developmental roles in formation of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary, regulation of midbrain size, and neurogenesis of ventral midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. Here, ...

The formation of vertebrate skeletal muscles widely thought to be under the control of hierarchy of regulatory genes. MYF5 is one of the myogenic determination gene expressed in the developing mouse dermomyotome which control skeletal muscle differentiation. In the current work we had obtained the cDNA sequence including the full ...

Anterioposterior vertebrate limb patterning is controlled by opposing action between Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and the Gli3 transcriptional repressor. Unexpectedly, Gli3(Δ699) mutant mice, which are thought to express only a Gli3 repressor and not the full-length activator, exhibit limb phenotypes inconsistent with those of Shh mutant mice. Therefore, it remains debatable ...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can induce premature cellular senescence, which is believed to contribute to aging and age-related diseases. The Nuclear erythroid 2 p45-Related Factor-2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that mediates cytoprotective responses against stress. We demonstrate that caveolin-1 is a direct binding partner of Nrf2, as shown by ...

Canonical Wnt signaling plays a rate-limiting role in regulating self-renewal and differentiation in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We have previously shown that mutation in the Apc (adenomatous polyposis coli) tumor suppressor gene constitutively activates Wnt signaling in ESCs and inhibits their capacity to differentiate towards ecto-, meso-, and endodermal ...

Translation control often operates via remodeling of messenger ribonucleoprotein particles. The poly(A) binding protein (PABP) simultaneously interacts with the 3' poly(A) tail of the mRNA and the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) to stimulate translation. PABP also promotes miRNA-dependent deadenylation and translational repression of target mRNAs. We demonstrate that ...

Due to an increase in surface area per particle weight, nano-sized titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) has greatly increased its function as a catalyst and is used for whitening and brightening foods. However, concerns over the safety of nano-TiO2 have been raised. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ...

Recently, cation transport regulator homolog 1 (Chac1) has been identified as a novel pro-apoptotic factor in cells under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Of the three major ER stress sensors, it is suggested that ATF4 participates in the transcriptional regulation of Chac1 gene expression. The precise characterization of the Chac1 promoter, ...

BACKGROUND: Live imaging provides an essential methodology for understanding complex and dynamic cell behaviors and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Genetically-encoded reporter expressing mouse strains are an important tool for use in live imaging experiments. Such reporter strains can be engineered by placing cis-regulatory elements of interest to direct the expression ...

There is an increasing public concern regarding potential health impacts from electromagnetic radiation exposure. Embryonic development is sensitive to the external environment, and limb development is vital for life quality. To determine the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on polydactyly of mouse fetuses, pregnant mice were sham-exposed or exposed to ...

Imitation Switch (ISWI) proteins are catalytic subunits of chromatin remodeling complexes that alter nucleosome positioning by hydrolyzing ATP to regulate access to DNA. In mice there are two paralogs, SNF2-homolog (SNF2H) and SNF2-like (SNF2L), which participate in different complexes and have contrasting patterns of expression. Here we investigate the role ...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play key regulatory roles in a range of biological processes, including cell differentiation and development. To identify miRNAs that participate in gonad differentiation, a fundamental and tightly regulated developmental process, we examined miRNA expression profiles at the time of sex determination and during the ...

The retinoic acid (RA, a vitamin A metabolite) receptor (RAR) is a transcription factor. Vitamin A/RA administration improves the Alzheimer's disease (AD)- and age-related attenuation of memory/learning in mouse models. Recently, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10) was identified as a key molecule in RA-mediated anti-AD mechanisms. We ...

The testes of most mammals are sensitive to temperature. To survive and adapt under conditions that promote endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress such as heat shock, cells have a self-protective mechanism against ER stress that has been termed the "unfolded protein response" (UPR). However, the cellular and molecular events underlying spermatogenesis ...

Imp13, a member of importin-β superfamily, is found to be one of two bidirectional transport receptors in many nuclear transport activities in mammals. Several cargoes of imp13 have been identified; most of these are essential factors involved in cell cycle and development. The expression and localization of imp13 may influence ...

The pyrin and HIN-domain (PYHIN) family member1 (pyhin1) is a member of PYHIN proteins and involved in transcriptional regulation of genes important for cell cycle control, differentiation and apoptosis. The regulatory action of mouse pyhin1 on LPS-induced inflammatory response was examined. LPS augmented the pyhin1 mRNA expression in murine RAW ...

Phox2b is a transcription factor expressed in the central and peripheral neurons that control cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive functions and essential for their development. Several populations known or suspected to regulate visceral functions express Phox2b in the developing hindbrain. Extensive cell migration and lack of suitable markers have greatly hampered ...

The ectodysplasin (Eda) signaling pathway consists of a TNF-like ligand Eda, its receptor Edar, and an adaptor protein Edaradd and its activation leads to NF-κB mediated transcription. In humans, mutations in the EDA pathway genes cause hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, a disorder characterized by defective formation of hair follicles, teeth, and ...

Although chronic arsenic exposure is a well-known risk for cardiovascular disease and has a strong correlation with hypertension, the molecular pathogenesis underlying arsenic exposure-induced hypertension remains poorly understood. To delineate the pathogenesis, we examined changes in the mRNA levels of 2 angiotensin II Type I receptor (AT1R) subtypes, AT1AR and ...

The aim of this study was to examine the expression and regulation of crystallin, alpha B (Cryab) gene in mouse uterus during the peri-implantation period by in situ hybridization and real-time PCR. There was no detectable Cryab mRNA signal on days 1-4 of pregnancy. On day 5 of pregnancy when ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression and regulation of Runt-related transcription factor 3 (Runx3) in mouse uterus during early pregnancy and its regulation by steroid hormones using in situ hybridization. There was a low level of the Runx3 mRNA expression in the mouse uterus on ...

The cysteine proteinase inhibitor cystatin C inhibited RANKL-stimulated osteoclast formation in mouse bone marrow macrophage cultures, an effect associated with decreased mRNA expression of Acp5, Calcr, Ctsk, Mmp9, Itgb3, and Atp6i, without effect on proliferation or apoptosis. The effects were concentration dependent with half-maximal inhibition at 0.3 μM. Cystatin C ...

Pin1 (peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA-interacting 1) plays a key role in a number of diseases including cancer and Alzheimer disease. Previous studies have identified a wide range of phosphoproteins as Pin1 substrates. Related pathways were analyzed separately. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive picture involving Pin1 ...

Dietary glucosylceramide increased the expression of claudin-1 in UVB-irradiated mouse epidermis. Sphingosine and phytosphingosine, metabolites of glucosylceramide, increased trans-epithelial electrical resistance, and phytosphingosine increased claudin-1 mRNA expression in cultured keratinocytes. Our results indicate that the skin barrier improvement induced by dietary glucosylceramide might be due to enhancement of tight junction ...

PPPDE peptidase domain 1 (PPPDE1) is a recently identified gene; however, its expression regulation and biological function are unclear. Previous studies have indicated that PPPDE1 is involved in embryogenesis, apoptosis induction and cell cycle regulation. In the present study, we first used an anti-PPPDE1 antibody to determine that endogenous PPPDE1 ...

Odontoblasts, which derive from dental papilla, are a type of terminally differentiated matrix-secreting cells. Previous studies have identified various transcription factors involved in the differentiation process of odontoblasts. We have recently found that Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) was expressed in the polarizing and elongating odontoblasts, but the function of Klf4 ...

Staufen1-mediated mRNA decay (SMD) degrades mRNAs that harbor a Staufen1-binding site (SBS) in their 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). Human SBSs can form by intermolecular base-pairing between a 3' UTR Alu element and an Alu element within a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) called a ½-sbsRNA. Since Alu elements are confined to ...

ADAMTS (adisintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) proteinases are involved in a variety of biological processes such as angiogenesis, cancer and arthritis. ADAMTSs appears to be responsible for the cleavage of proteoglycans in several tissues including brain and cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) maintains the integrity of the brain extracellular ...

Vertebrate limb outgrowth is driven by a positive feedback loop that involves Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Gremlin1 (Grem1) in the posterior limb bud mesenchyme and Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) in the overlying epithelium. Proper spatio-temporal control of these signaling activities is required to avoid limb malformations such as polydactyly. Here ...

Gremlin is a bone morphogenic protein (BMP) antagonist and is elevated in diabetic kidney tissues. In the early course of diabetic nephropathy (DN), podocyte are injured. We studied the protein and gene expression of gremlin in mice podocytes cultured in hyperglycemia ambient. The role of gremlin on podocyte injury and ...

The RNA binding protein T-STAR was created following a gene triplication 520-610 million years ago, which also produced its two parologs Sam68 and SLM-1. Here we have created a T-STAR null mouse to identify the endogenous functions of this RNA binding protein. Mice null for T-STAR developed normally and were ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of vitrification on Dnmt1o, Hat1, and Hdac1 promoter CpG island methylation patterns and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in mouse metaphase II (MII) oocytes. DESIGN: In vitro study. SETTING: Academic institution. ANIMAL(S): Kunming white mice. INTERVENTION(S): After vitrification, surviving mouse MII oocytes subjected to methylation and ...

Targeted activation of pregnane X receptor (PXR) in recent years has become a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chrysin is a naturally occurring flavonoid with anti-inflammation activity. The current study investigated the role of chrysin as a putative mouse PXR agonist in preventing experimental colitis. Pre-administration of chrysin ...

Ulinastatin is an intrinsic serine-protease urinary trypsin inhibitor that can be extracted and purified from human urine. Urinary trypsin inhibitors are widely used to treat patients with acute inflammatory disorders, such as shock and pancreatitis. However, although the anti-inflammatory activities of urinary trypsin inhibitors have been investigated, the mechanisms underlying ...

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are produced by a small cohort of hemogenic endothelial cells (ECs) during development through the formation of intra-aortic hematopoietic cell (HC) clusters. The Runx1 transcription factor plays a key role in the EC-to-HC and -HSC transition. We show that Runx1 expression in hemogenic ECs and the subsequent initiation ...

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is an important fetal growth factor. Its expression is dramatically down-regulated in multiple organs after birth but is frequently up-regulated in cancers. The mechanisms that drive down-regulation of IGF2 in postnatal tissues or the up-regulation in malignancy are unclear. We found evidence that E2F transcription ...

KCNA10 is a voltage gated potassium channel that is expressed in the inner ear. The localization and function of KCNA10 was studied in a mutant mouse, B6-Kcna10(TM45), in which the single protein coding exon of Kcna10 was replaced with a beta-galactosidase reporter cassette. Under the regulatory control of the endogenous ...

Remarkable advances in techniques for gene expression profiling have radically changed our knowledge of the transcriptome. Recently, the mammalian brain was reported to express many long intergenic noncoding (lincRNAs) from loci downstream from protein-coding genes. Our experimental tests failed to validate specific accumulation of lincRNA transcripts, and instead revealed strongly ...

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a new tool that has been used for the treatment of patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of rTMS are still unclear. We analyzed the changes in mRNA expression in mouse brain that occurred after rTMS with an Affymetrix GeneChip. ...