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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Genetics of systemic autoimmunity in mouse models of lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is inherited as a complex polygenic trait, involving genetic, environmental and stochastic factors. Although definition of these etiologic processes has been elusive, solid progress has been made toward elucidating the genetic basis for susceptibility. Herein, we summarize our genome wide mapping effort that has defined loci for component phenotypes for lupus-prone NZB, NZW, MRL-Fas(lpr) and BXSB strains. With this framework in place, identification of the specific genetic alterations and mechanisms is now proceeding through the generation of interval congenic lines, precise mapping and screening of candidate genes. In addition to this approach, transgenic and gene knockout studies have begun to identify genes that can induce or modify autoimmunity in nonautoimmune and lupus-prone background mice, including studies by us and others on Th1 and Th2 cytokine genes in lupus. It is apparent that a diversity of genes and mechanisms can independently or in combination promote systemic autoimmunity in mice. This complexity, which is also observed in human lupus, emphasizes the importance of using experimental and less complex mouse models to define these processes, a tactic that has already yielded new insights. With current technologies and the anticipated definition of mammalian genomes, identification of genes predisposing to lupus and elucidation of processes critical for disease pathogenesis appear within grasp.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The Role of Transcription Factor GATA-2 in Early Hematopoiesis.

Transcription factor GATA-2 is a member of GATA family which binds a common DNA sequence motif [T/A (GATA) A/G] through an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger domain. An essential role for GATA-2 in the development of hematopoietic cells has recently been shown in gene knockout experiments in mice. GATA-2 gene disruption makes reduction in all hematopoietic precursors, whereas enforced expression of GATA-2 blocks normal hematopoiesis. GATA-2 exerts regulation in early embryo and cooperates with other GATA transcription factors in proliferation and differentiation of myeloid, erythroid, megakaryocytic and mast cell lineages. GATA-2 mRNA and protein could be detected in human myelogenous leukemia cell lines and in most patients with primary leukemias. Some data revealed that GATA-2 could transactivate the Cas-Br-E and graffi retroviruses, which can induce myelogenous leukemia in mice. However, the role of GATA-2 in pathogenesis of leukemia is still not well understood.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Contributions of P2X3 homomeric and heteromeric channels to acute and chronic pain.

ATP acts as a fast neurotransmitter by activating a family of ligand-gated ion channels, the P2X receptors. Functional homomeric (P2X(3)) and heteromeric (P2X(2/3)) receptors are highly localised on primary sensory afferent neurons that transmit nociceptive sensory information. Activation of these P2X(3)containing channels may provide a specific mechanism whereby ATP, released via synaptic transmission or by cellular injury, elicits pain. The physiological relevance of the pro-nociceptive actions of ATP is supported by data demonstrating that the exogenous peripheral or spinal administration of ATP and other P2X receptor agonists elicits nociceptive behaviour and increases sensitivity to noxious stimuli in both humans and laboratory animals. The nociceptive effects of P2X receptor agonists are also enhanced in the presence of inflammatory mediators. Both permanent (P2X(3) gene knockout) and transient (P2X(3) antisense) receptor gene disruption studies in laboratory rodents have provided hypoalgesic phenotypes, further supporting a role for P2X(3) subunits in contributing to the expression of pain. More recently, the acute systemic administration of a highly selective non-nucleotide P2X(3) antagonist, A317491, has been shown to fully block specific types of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain in animal models in the absence of cardiovascular and CNS side effects associated with other analgesic compounds. Therefore, both genetic and pharmacological approaches have provided converging evidence that activation of P2X(3)-containing channels is an important mediator of persistent nociceptive signalling. The available data also indicate potential discrete roles for homomeric P2X(3) and heteromeric P2X(2/3) receptor activation in acute and chronic pain.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Improving baculovirus recombination.

Recombinant baculoviruses have established themselves as a favoured technology for the high-level expression of recombinant proteins. The construction of recombinant viruses, however, is a time consuming step that restricts consideration of the technology for high throughput developments. Here we use a targeted gene knockout technology to inactivate an essential viral gene that lies adjacent to the locus used for recombination. Viral DNA prepared from the knockout fails to initiate an infection unless rescued by recombination with a baculovirus transfer vector. Modified viral DNA allows 100% recombinant virus formation, obviates the need for further virus purification and offers an efficient means of mass parallel recombinant formation.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Compensatory changes in [125I]-PYY binding in Y receptor knockout mice suggest the potential existence of further Y receptor(s).

Gene knockout approaches have helped to better understand the functions of the different Y receptors. However, some results obtained from these knockout mice are unexpected and differ from the results of pharmacological intervention experiments. One possible explanation for this is that germ-line gene deletion of a particular Y receptor can influence expression and function of the remaining Y receptors. Here we show that such compensation in mRNA and protein expression does occur in Y receptor single, double and triple knockout models. Radio-ligand binding experiments using [(125)I]-PYY revealed significant up- and down-regulation of remaining Y receptor binding sites in various Y receptor knockout models compared to results from control mice employing Y receptor preferring agonist or antagonists for displacement of the radio-ligand. The most obvious change can be seen in the hippocampus of Y(1) knockout mice, where the level of the remaining Y receptors is strongly down-regulated. In Y(2) knockout mice no such trend can be seen, however, the expression pattern is significantly changed with a strong up-regulation of [(125)I]-PYY specific binding in the dentate gyrus. Interestingly, this pattern was also seen in Y(1)Y(2)Y(4) triple knockout mice. Y(5) receptor mRNA was approximately 20% higher in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus in the triple knockout mice compared to wild-type controls, while Y(6) mRNA expression could not be detected. However, competition binding experiments in Y(1)Y(2)Y(4) triple knockout mice with the Y(5) receptor preferring ligands [Leu(31), Pro(34)] NPY and [A(31), Aib(32)] NPY were able to replace only approximately 50% of [(125)I]-PYY binding in the dentate gyrus suggesting the existence of further yet unidentified Y receptor(s).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of G-protein activation in the brain by mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptor agonists in mu-opioid receptor knockout mice.

Mice lacking the mu-opioid receptor gene have been developed by a gene knockout procedure. In this study, the activity of opioid receptor coupled G-proteins was examined to investigate whether there is a change in the extent of coupling for mu, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors in mu-opioid receptor knockout mice. Selective agonists of mu- (DAMGO), delta- (DPDPE), and kappa- (U-69,593) opioid receptors stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding in the caudate putamen and cortex of wild-type mice. In contrast, only U-69,593 stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding in these regions of mu-opioid receptor knockout mice. These results confirmed the absence of G-protein activation by a mu-opioid receptor agonist in mu-opioid receptor knockout mice, and demonstrated that coupling of the kappa-opioid receptor to G-proteins is preserved in these mice. However, G-protein activation by the delta-opioid receptor agonist, DPDPE, was reduced in the mu-opioid receptor knockout mice, at least in the brain regions studied using autoradiography.

Alleles↗
PubMed2003

The coding of noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli of deep dorsal horn neurones is attenuated in NK1 knockout mice.

Previous behavioural evidence has shown that NK1 receptor gene knockout (NK1 -/-) mice display altered nociceptive responses following tissue or peripheral nerve injury. A single electrophysiological study reported an attenuation of wind-up and responses to mustard oil application. Although the behavioural results implicate SP and its receptor (NK1-R) in the transmission of noxious high intensity pain, little is known regarding the spinal neuronal substrates and the modalities involved. We have addressed this using in vivo electrophysiology and recordings of deep dorsal horn neurones in urethane-anaesthetised C57B6 x 129/sv mice to reveal a marked deficit in mechanical and thermal coding, selectively encompassing the suprathreshold range of noxious stimuli. The frequency-dependent increase in neuronal activity following repetitive C-fibre stimulation (wind-up) was also abolished in spinal neurones of NK1-R knockout mice. Quantification of the receptive field size of spinal neurones, mapped with low- and high-intensity mechanical punctate stimuli, revealed no differences between NK1 -/- and wildtype mice. We conclude that NK1-Rs are important in the high intensity noxious signalling of acute peripheral (mechanical/thermal) stimuli and this may result from the lack of wind-up and/or the disruption of spinal-bulbo-spinal loops.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1995

Role of platelet-derived growth factors in mouse development.

The current understanding of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) physiological functions in vivo is discussed in the context of mouse development. In particular, the review focuses on recent experiments in which genetic approaches have been applied in order to mutate the PDGF and PDGF receptor genes in the mouse. Thus, the PDGF-B and PDGF beta receptor (PDGFRb) genes were recently inactivated by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Their phenotypes are highly similar, displaying cardiovascular, hematological and renal defects. The latter is particularly interesting since it consists of a specific cellular defect: the complete loss of kidnety glomerular mesangial cells. As such, the phenotype not only sheds light on the developmental importance of PDGF-B-PDGFRb interactions, but also reveals information about the function of mesangial cells. Based on detailed morphological studies of mutant glomeruli and the absence of urine collection in the urinary bladder, I propose that the mesangial cells function as interior "filter holders", the "filter" consisting of the glomerular basement membrane and associated cell types. The filter holder model would predict that glomerular filtration is critically dependent on an interior structural support of the filter, which is normally provided by the mesangial cells and the mesangial matrix. In addition to the mutants generated by gene targeting, the mouse patch mutation is discussed. This deletion encompasses the PDGFRa locus. The last part of the review focuses on the problems encountered when interpreting gene knockout phenotypes in the physiological functions of gene products.

Aging↗
PubMed2026

Identifying JAK2 and ANXA5 as Key Genes Linking Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Oxidative Stress via Machine Learning and Multilayer Transcriptomic Integration With Functional Validation.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and severe sleep disorder closely associated with oxidative stress (OS). This study aims to identify and validate potential OS-related genes associated with OSA through bioinformatics methods. We successfully identified OS-related differentially expressed genes (OS-DEGs) by combining the limma test, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and OS-related genes from the GeneCards database. Key genes and potential biological roles were further identified using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, Lasso regression analysis, random forest algorithm, and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) method. Evaluate and validate the accuracy of key genes through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The human single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset is used for cell classification annotation, analysis of key gene single-cell expression profiles, and virtual gene knockout experiments based on the scTenifoldKnk algorithm. Integrating scRNA-seq sequencing, pseudotime trajectory inference, cell-cell communication analysis, and bulk immune infiltration deconvolution reveals monocyte subtype remodeling in OSA. Finally, the expression levels of key genes in clinical samples were validated using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. A total of 57 common DEGs, indicating significant enrichment in OS, inflammation, and tumor pathways, particularly prominent in the immunometabolism pathway. By integrating DEGs, WGCNA, PPI results, and machine learning methods, key genes Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and ANXA5 were screened out. JAK2 was significantly upregulated under disease conditions, while ANXA5 was significantly downregulated. ROC curve exhibited high accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.85). Human scRNA-seq analysis revealed that key genes were predominantly highly expressed in monocytes. Virtual knockout experiments demonstrated that these key genes play a crucial role in regulating immune responses and inflammatory reactions. PPI networks and enrichment analysis verified that downstream genes S100P, ALOX5AP, PROK2, and PADI4 may collaboratively participate in immune response and inflammation regulation. Finally, clinical sample experiment further validated the results of bioinformatics analysis. This study provides new research insights for the diagnosis, mechanism research, and treatment development of OSA in the future by integrating multilayer transcriptomic and machine learning techniques.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of the Striatum in Heterozygous and Null DAT Knockout Rats.

Deregulation of striatal neurotransmission is a key pathogenetic mechanism in neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. In the present study, we applied a proteomic approach to demonstrate shifts in striatal protein expression in rats with heterozygous (DAT-Het) and homozygous (DAT-KO) dopamine transporter (DAT) gene knockouts. These animals model dose-dependent ADHD- and autism-like behaviors, ranging from slightly increased activity and social disturbances in DAT-Het rats to a pronounced phenotype in DAT-KO rats. We revealed pronounced changes in the proteomic profiles of both groups, associated primarily with deregulation of proteins involved in energy and carbon metabolism. Furthermore, we identified changes in vesicular transport proteins specific to DAT-KO and DAT-Het rats. Since these changes involved SNARE complex components, we evaluated SNARE mRNA expression in our models and public transcriptomic data for mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders, including Mbd5 gene haploinsufficiency and a polygenic model of ADHD. No significant changes in mRNA levels were revealed in any model. Thus, the identified protein expression changes likely depend on post-transcriptional mechanisms. These data suggest a deregulation of metabolism in DAT-Het rats, which becomes more pronounced in DAT-KO rats.

Animals↗
PubMed2025

Systematic discovery of CRISPR-boosted CAR T cell immunotherapies.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown remarkable success in treating blood cancers, but CAR T cell dysfunction remains a common cause of treatment failure1. Here we present CELLFIE, a CRISPR screening platform for enhancing CAR T cells across multiple clinical objectives. We performed genome-wide screens in human primary CAR T cells, with readouts capturing key aspects of T cell biology, including proliferation, target cell recognition, activation, apoptosis and fratricide, and exhaustion. Screening hits were prioritized using a new in vivo CROP-seq2 method in a xenograft model of human leukaemia, establishing several gene knockouts that boost CAR T cell efficacy. Most notably, we discovered that RHOG knockout is a potent and unexpected CAR T cell enhancer, both individually and together with FAS knockout, which was validated across multiple in vivo models, CAR designs and sample donors, and in patient-derived cells. Demonstrating the versatility of the CELLFIE platform, we also conducted combinatorial CRISPR screens to identify synergistic gene pairs and saturation base-editing screens to characterize RHOG variants. In summary, we discovered, validated and biologically characterized CRISPR-boosted CAR T cells that outperform standard CAR T cells in widely used benchmarks, establishing a foundational resource for optimizing cell-based immunotherapies.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Complete phenotypic characterization of apobec-1 knockout mice with a wild-type genetic background and a human apolipoprotein B transgenic background, and restoration of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing by somatic gene transfer of Apobec-1.

We have produced gene knockout mice by targeted disruption of the apobec-1 gene. As recently reported by Hirano et al. (Hirano, K.-I., Young, S. G., Farese, R. V., Jr., Ng, J., Sande, E., Warburton, C., Powell-Braxton, L. M., and Davidson, N. O. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 9887-9890), these animals do not edit apolipoprotein (apo) B mRNA or produce apoB-48. In this study we have performed a detailed analysis of the lipoprotein phenotypic effects of apobec-1 gene disruption that were not examined in the previous study. We first analyzed the plasma lipoproteins in knockout animals with a wild-type genetic background. Although there was no difference in plasma cholesterol between apobec-1(-/-), +/-, or +/+ mice, there was a marked (176%) increase in plasma apoB-100, from 1.8 +/- 1.2 mg/dl in apobec-1(+/+) mice to 2.7 +/- 0.6 mg/dl in apobec-1(+/-) and 5.0 +/- 1.4 mg/dl in apobec-1(-/-) mice. Plasma apoE was similar in these animals. By fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) analysis, there was a significant decrease in plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in apobec-1(-/-) mice. We further fractionated the plasma lipoproteins into d < 1.006, 1.006-1.02, 1.02-1.05, 1.05-1.08, 1.08-1.10, and 1.10-1.21 g/ml classes, and found a marked (30-40%) reduction in the cholesterol and protein content in the (d 1.08-1.10 and 1.10-1.21) HDL fractions, corroborating the FPLC data. SDS-gel analysis revealed an absence of apoB-48, an increase in apoB-100 in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fractions, and a small decrease in apoA-I in the HDL fractions in the apobec-1(-/-) samples. We next raised the basal plasma apoB levels in the apobec-1(-/-) animals by cross-breeding them with human apoB transgenic (TgB) mice. The plasma apoB-100 was 3-fold higher in apobec-1(-/-)/TgB+/- mice (26.6 +/- 18.3 mg/dl) than in apobec-1(+/+)/TgB+/- mice (9.8 +/- 3.9 mg/dl, p < 0.05). The apobec-1(-/-)/TgB+/- mice had a plasma cholesterol levels of 170 +/- 28 mg/dl and triglyceride levels of 106 +/- 31 mg/dl, which are 80% and 58% higher, respectively, than the corresponding values of 94 +/- 21 mg/dl and 67 +/- 11 mg/dl in apobec+/+/TgB+/- mice. By FPLC, the apobec-1(-/-)/TgB+/- animals developed markedly elevated plasma LDL cholesterol (518.5 +/- 329.5 microg/ml) that is 373% that of apobec1(+/+)/TgB+/- mice (139.0 +/- 87.0 microg/ml) (p < 0.05). The elevated plasma triglyceride was accounted for mainly by a 97% increase in VLDL triglyceride in the apobec1(-/-)/TgB+/- mice. We conclude that apobec-1(-/-) animals have a distinctive lipoprotein phenotype characterized by significant hyperapoB-100 and HDL deficiency in mice with a wild-type genetic background. Furthermore, the abolition of apoB mRNA editing elevates plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in apobec-1(-/-) animals with a TgB background. Finally, to exclude the possibility that absence of apoB mRNA editing was a secondary effect of chronic Apobec-1 deficiency, we treated apobec-1(-/-) mice with a replication-defective mouse Apobec-1 adenoviral vector and found that we could acutely restore apoB mRNA editing in the liver. These experiments indicate that Apobec-1 is an essential component of the apoB mRNA editing machinery and absence of editing in the knockout animals is a direct consequence of the absence of functional Apobec-1.

APOBEC-1 Deaminase↗
PubMed2003

Male mice lacking three germ cell expressed genes are fertile.

In recent years, much knowledge about the functions of defined genes in spermatogenesis has been gained by making use of mouse transgenic and gene knockout models. Single null mutations in mouse genes encoding four male germ cell proteins, transition protein 2 (Tnp-2), proacrosin (Acr), histone H1.1 (H1.1), and histone H1t (H1t), have been generated and analyzed. Tnp-2 is believed to participate in the removal of the nuclear histones and initial condensation of the spermatid nucleus. Proacrosin is an acrosomal protease synthesized as a proenzyme and activated into acrosin during the acrosome reaction. The linker histone subtype H1.1 belongs to the group of main-type histones and is synthesized in somatic tissues and germ cells during the S-phase of the cell cycle. The histone gene H1t is expressed exclusively in spermatocytes and may have a function in establishing an open chromatin structure for the replacement of histones by transition proteins and protamines. Male mutant mice lacking any of these proteins show no apparent defects in spermatogenesis or fertility. To examine the synergistic effects of these proteins in spermatogenesis and during fertilization, two lines of triple null mice (Tnp-2-/-/Acr-/-/H1.1-/- and Tnp-2-/-/Acr-/-/H1t-/-) were established. Both lines are fertile and show normal sperm parameters, which clearly demonstrate the functional redundancy of these proteins in male mouse fertility. However, sperm only deficient for Acr (Acr-/-) are able to compete significantly with sperm from triple knockout mice Tnp-2-/-/Acr-/-/H1.1-/- (70.7% vs. 29.3%) but not with sperm from triple knockout mice Tnp-2-/-/Acr-/-/H1t-/- (53.6% vs. 46.4%). These results are consistent with a model that suggests that some sperm proteins play a role during sperm competition.

Acrosin↗
PubMed1999

Mice mutant for glucokinase regulatory protein exhibit decreased liver glucokinase: a sequestration mechanism in metabolic regulation.

The importance of glucokinase (GK; EC 2.7.1.12) in glucose homeostasis has been demonstrated by the association of GK mutations with diabetes mellitus in humans and by alterations in glucose metabolism in transgenic and gene knockout mice. Liver GK activity in humans and rodents is allosterically inhibited by GK regulatory protein (GKRP). To further understand the role of GKRP in GK regulation, the mouse GKRP gene was inactivated. With the knockout of the GKRP gene, there was a parallel loss of GK protein and activity in mutant mouse liver. The loss was primarily because of posttranscriptional regulation of GK, indicating a positive regulatory role for GKRP in maintaining GK levels and activity. As in rat hepatocytes, both GK and GKRP were localized in the nuclei of mouse hepatocytes cultured in low-glucose-containing medium. In the presence of fructose or high concentrations of glucose, conditions known to relieve GK inhibition by GKRP in vitro, only GK was translocated into the cytoplasm. In the GKRP-mutant hepatocytes, GK was not found in the nucleus under any tested conditions. We propose that GKRP functions as an anchor to sequester and inhibit GK in the hepatocyte nucleus, where it is protected from degradation. This ensures that glucose phosphorylation is minimal when the liver is in the fasting, glucose-producing phase. This also enables the hepatocytes to rapidly mobilize GK into the cytoplasm to phosphorylate and store or metabolize glucose after the ingestion of dietary glucose. In GKRP-mutant mice, the disruption of this regulation and the subsequent decrease in GK activity leads to altered glucose metabolism and impaired glycemic control.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed1997

Morphological and molecular processes of polyp formation in Apc(delta716) knockout mice.

Mutations in the human adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are responsible for not only familial adenomatous polyposis but also many sporadic cancers of the digestive tract. Using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells, we recently constructed Apc gene knockout mice that contained a truncation mutation at codon 716 (Apc(delta716)). The heterozygous mice developed numerous intestinal polyps. All microadenomas dissected from nascent polyps had already lost the wild-type allele, indicating the loss of heterozygosity (M. Oshima et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 4482-4486, 1995). We also demonstrated that cyclooxygenase 2 is induced in the polyps at an early stage and plays a key role in polyp development (M. Oshima et al., Cell 87: 803-809, 1996). We have analyzed the process of polyp development in these mice both at morphological and molecular levels. A small intestinal microadenoma is initiated as an outpocketing pouch in a single crypt and develops into the inner (lacteal) side of a neighboring villus forming a double-layer nascent polyp. The microadenoma then enlarges and gets folded inside the villus. When it fills the intravillous space, it expands downward and extends into adjoining villi, rather than rupturing into the intestinal lumen. During this course of development, the basement membrane remains intact, and the labeling index of the microadenoma cells is similar to that of the normal crypt epithelium. As in the crypt cells, neither transforming growth factor beta1 nor its receptor type II is expressed in the microadenoma cells. No hot spot mutations in the K-ras gene are found in the microadenoma tissue during these early stages of polyp development. Essentially, the same results have been obtained for the colonic polyps as well. These results suggest that early adenomas in the Apc(delta716) polyps are very similar to the normal proliferating cells of the crypt except for the lack of directed migration along the crypt-villus axis.

Activin Receptors, Type I↗
PubMed1999

IL-12 and IFN-gamma in host defense against mycobacteria and salmonella in mice and men.

The development of gene-knockout mice and the identification of gene-deficient humans have improved our understanding of the role of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in host defense. Comparison of experimental and natural infections has shown that animals and humans genetically deficient in immunity mediated by IL-12 or IFN-gamma are highly susceptible to mycobacteria and salmonella. Impaired secretion of, or response to, IFN-gamma is the common pathogenic mechanism that accounts for impaired granuloma formation and uncontrolled growth of bacteria within macrophages. The axis formed between IL-12 and IFN-gamma is essential for protective immunity against mycobacteria and salmonella in mice and men.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Requirement of NMDA receptor reactivation for consolidation and storage of nondeclarative taste memory revealed by inducible NR1 knockout.

We employed an inducible, reversible and region-specific gene knockout technique to investigate the requirements for cortical NMDA receptors (NMDAR) during the various stages (acquisition, consolidation and storage, and retrieval) of nondeclarative, hippocampal-independent memory in mice using a conditioned taste aversion memory paradigm. Here we show that temporary knockout of the cortical NMDAR during either the learning or postlearning consolidation stage, but not during the retrieval stage, causes severe performance deficits in the 1-month taste memory retention tests. More importantly, we found that the consolidation and storage of the long-term nondeclarative taste memories requires cortical NMDAR reactivation. Thus, the dynamic engagement of the NMDAR during the postlearning stage leads us to postulate that NMDAR reactivation-mediated synaptic re-entry reinforcement is crucial for overcoming the destabilizing effects intrinsic to synaptic protein turnover and for achieving consolidation and storage of nondeclarative memories in the brain.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Role of Lkb1, the causative gene of Peutz-Jegher's syndrome, in embryogenesis and polyposis.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a dominantly inherited human disorder characterized by gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis and mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation. LKB1 (STK11) serine/threonine kinase is the product of the causative gene of PJS, which has been mapped to chromosome 19p13.3. However, several studies have produced results that are not consistent with a link between LKB1 gene mutation and PJS. We constructed a knockout gene mutation of Lkb1 to determine whether it is the causative gene of PJS and to examine the biological role of the Lkb1 gene. Lkb1(-/-) mice died in utero between 8.5 and 9.5 days postcoitum. At 9.0 days postcoitum, Lkb1(-/-) embryos were generally smaller than their age-matched littermates, showed developmental retardation, and did not undergo embryonic turning. Multiple gastric adenomatous polyps were observed in 10- to 14-month-old Lkb1(+/-) mice. Our results indicate that functional Lkb1 is required for normal embryogenesis and that it is related to tumor development. The Lkb1(+/-) mouse is suitable for studying molecular mechanism underlying the development of inherited gastric tumors in PJS.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗