Na, K-ATPase beta2 isoform (atp1b2) expressed in the retina of Xenopus / 동물의과학연구지

The ubiquitous Na, K-ATPase is a membrane-bound ion pump located in the plasma membrane in all animal cells and plays an essential role in a variety of cellular functions. Studies in several organisms have shown that this protein regulates different aspects of embryonic development and is responsible for the pathogenesis of several human diseases. Na, K-ATPase is an important factor for retinal development, and combinations of the isoforms of each of its subunits are expressed in different cell types and determine its functional properties. In this study, we performed RT-PCR assay to determine temporal expression and in situ hybridization to determine spatial expression of Na, K-ATPase beta2 isoform (atp1b2) in Xenopus laevis. Focusing on retinal expression to distinguish the specific expression domain, we used retinal marker genes sox4, sox11, vsx1, and . Xenopus atp1b2 was expressed from late gastrulation to the tadpole stage. Using whole mount in situ hybridization, we showed that Xenopus atp1b2 was expressed broadly in the eye, the whole surface ectoderm, and gills. In situ hybridization on sections revealed detailed and specific expression in the outer nuclear layer of the retina, which consists of two major classes of photoreceptors, rods and cones, surface ectoderm, pharyngeal epithelium, and gills. These findings indicate that atp1b2 may play an important role for the development of Xenopus retina.

Advances in the study of the microbial efflux pumps and its inhibitors development / 药学学报

Drug resistant bacteria is an increasingly urgent challenge to public health. Bacteria adaptation and extensive abuse of antibiotics contribute to this dilemma. Active efflux of antibiotics is employed by the bacteria to survive the antibiotic pressure. Efflux pump is one of the hot spots of current drug related studies and ideal targets for the improvement of treatment. The efflux pumps and related mechanisms of action, regulation of expression and methodologies were summarized. Comparative genomics analyses were employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and evolution of efflux pump as exemplified by the Mycobacterium in our lab, which is a crucial re-emerging threat to global public health. The pathway and state-of-art drug development of efflux pump related drugs are included too.

Regional Distribution of Zinc Transporter 3 (ZnT-3)-Immunoreactivities in the Mouse Cerebellum / 대한해부학회지

The presence of the zinc ion pump antibody ZnT-3 in zinc enriched (ZEN) cerebellar axonal terminals was detected in immunohistochemical sections of mouse cerebellum. All the ZnT-3-immunoreactive structures appeared punctate in the cerebellar cortex, while the white matter including intrinsic nuclei were void. The staining intensity varied in the different phylogenetic divisions of cerebellum. Archicortex was stained most intensively while paleo and in particular neocortex was stained only faintly. The ZnT-3 fraction was detected mainly in the upper half of the granule cell layer (GCL), although where they appeared ultrastructurally in small folded varicosities located corresponding to axon terminals of the Golgi cells. In the molecular layer (ML), the ZnT-3 staining was found to be distributed diffusely but in perpendicular radiating pattern through the layer but with the most intense staining in the upper half of the layer. Ultrastructurally the coarse patches of staining found in the granule cell layers were corresponded to presynaptic axon terminals contacting with granule cells. No ZnT-3 staining was observed in the Purkinje cell layer. The present results suggest that the Golgi cells in the mouse cerebellum are one of the ZEN neurons in the mammalian brain. In conclusion, we first showed putative ZEN terminals in the mouse cerebellum. These results will provide a valuable aid for investigation of further localization of the ZEN neurons in the mammalian cerebellum. More work is needed to further characterize the ZEN terminals, and so autometallographical studies are currently being investigated in this laboratory.

El uso de anticuerpos monoclonales en el estudio de las bombas transportadoras de iones / The use monodonal antibodies in the study of ion trasporting pumps

El transporte activo de iones se relaciona a una serie de funciones vitales para el metabolismo normal de la célula eucariótica. El estudio de los mecanismos de transporte y su regulación constituye un problema fundamental de la biología celular. La producción de anticuerpos monoclonales (Acm) permite dispones de una sola, altamente específica, que facilita el estudio de la localización, distribución y función de las proteínas transportadoras a nivel epitelial, así como también el estudio de su estructura molecular, síntesis y ensamblaje a nivel celular. La calidad del anticuerpo monoclonal dependerá de la selección acertada de cada uno de los pasos a seguir en el proceso de su producción. En este artículo, discutimos las estrategias unas comunmente utilizadas en la producción de anticuerpo monoclonales y su aplicación directa en el estudio morfológico, bioquímico y fisiológico de las bombas de iones