• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.241-250
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• 1995

Protein B23 is one of the major nucleolar phosphoproteins associated with pre-ribosomal particles, and is localized in the granular region of the nucleolus. Recent studies suggest that protein B23 shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm and also interacts with HIV Rev. These findings indicate that protein B23 is important in nucleocytoplasmic relationship and viral replication. However, the exact function of protein B23 is not clear yet. In acute nucleolar hypertrophy of rat liver, treated with thioacetamide, there was observed an increase of not only protein B23 but also B23-like protein p45 when anti-B23 monoclonal antibody (MAb) was used for identification. On the basis of the large B23 specific epitope structure composed of 68 amino acids, a hypothesis was formulated to examine that p45 is the pre-B23 resulting from excessive production of B23. In an attempt to investigate the precursor of B23, we analyzed the subcellular fractions and microsomal subfractions. Subsequently, we analyzed the finger printings of B23-like proteins using the tryptic peptide mapping. The results are summarized: 1) Using B23 MAb, we observed the presence of B23-like proteins in nucleolar fraction, nucleoplasmic fraction and microsomal fraction. 2) In the further microsomal subfractionation, we could partially purify B23-like protein in 2M layer of sucrose gradient. 3) When ion exchange chromatography was employed, there were protein species 80kDa(p80), 65kDa(p65) and 60kDa(p60). 4) Based on the tryptic map analysis of $^{125}I$ labeled proteins, the similarity between B23 and p80 was found only in 9 out of 14(B23) and 21(p80) peptides, and difference was found in the remaining peptides. p80 and p60 had 18 common peptides, and all the peptides of p60 were similar to those of p80. From these results, it is proposed that p45 is an abnormal metabolite resulting from carcinogenesis by thioacetamide, and it is not the precursor of B23. In addition, we suggest that p80 may be a precursor of p45.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.399-406
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• 1996

Thioacetamide is a non-genotoxic carcinogen, a protein modifying agent. It causes nucleolar hypertrophy in short term treatment. In the present work, thioacetamide treated hepatocytes were observed in vivo and in vitro conditions. After 7 day treatment of rat liver with thioacetamide, the hepatocyte nucleoli were enlarged and their signalling molecules such as B23 and p38 MAPK were increased. When these hepatocytes were released by collagenases and were grown under the conditions of gene therapy grade tissue culture system, the enlarged nucleoli were further enlarged. The B23 content was again increased under in vitro conditions. From these experiments, it is clear that the hepatocytes possess approximately 100 fold flexibility of nucleolar capacity. It is suggested that thioacetamide enhances the ribosome genesis and exaggerates the nucleologenesis ability.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 1983

This study was made to investigate the ultrastructural changes of the hepatocyte of the maternal liver, and fetal liver by Actinomycin D in Wistar rats at the stage of pregnancy. Peritoneal injection of Actinomycin D to rats carried out gestation day 7 to 9 at the level of $15{\mu}g(11.5{\mu}g/100g$ body wt.), $20{\mu}g(15.8{\mu}g/100g$ body wt.) on each day. Treated animals with saline only were used for controls. Animals were sacrificed on day 15 of gestation. On electron microscopic examination, the hepatocytes of maternal liver given Actinomycin D $15{\mu}g$/ml had evidence of serious cellular damage, for example, hypertrophy of rough endoplasmic reticulum, loss in nucleolar osmiophilia, swelling of Golgi apparatus and change of mitochondrial structure. Maternal liver given Actinomycin D $20{\mu}g/ml$ shown similar changes to that of the $15{\mu}g/ml$ treated animals. But mitochondria of this group were not changed than that of $15{\mu}g/ml$ treated group. In the hepatocytes of fetal liver, changes were more pronounced. The drug produced alteration in nuclei and cytoplasm. The rough endoplasmic reticulum was swollen and there were ribosomes detachement. In addition, damages of mitochondria, Golgi apparatus were detected.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.215-233
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• 1986

The effect of tryptophan on brain formation at the early stage of chick embryo has been investigated morphologically using electron microscope. The electron micrographs of cerebral cortex cells of $5\\sim10$ day old chick embryo, which received 1.0mg of tryptophan showed that the irregularity, evagination and disruption of nuclear membrane and nuclear chromatin condensation, nucleolar chromatin margination and segragation. Hypertrophy of stalks, vesicles, and vacuoles can be seen and dilation and vesiculation of rough endoplamic reticulum and polysome disaggregation occured. Protein and RNA levels and the activity of several enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase of tryptophan administered group were significantly lower than those of control group suggesting that the tryptophan administration depressed protein biosynthesis resulting in the decrease of enzyme activity. It was found that serotonin content of egg yolk which has been incubated for 10 days were as much as three times that of control egg yolk. It is not clear whether the increase of serotonin content might inhibit intracellular yolk granule degradation which might result in malformation of chick embryo, but it is likely that tryptophan administration might depress protein biosynthesis, consequently, the enzyme biosynthesis would be impaired. This might give rise to improper development of chick embryo.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.55-73
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• 1989

The effect of tryptophan or serotonin on the early stage of chick brain development has been morphologically investigated using an electron microscope. The electron micrographs of neural plate cells of 1-day chick embryo treated with tryptophan or serotonin showed irregularity, evagination and disruption of nuclear membrane and nuclear chromatin condenstation, nucleolar margination and segregation. Hypertrophy of stalks, vesicles and vaculoes were seen and dilated and disrupted rough endoplasmic reticulum and underdeveloped neurotubules were also observed. In mesenchyme cells of tryptophan or serotonin administered 18 hr embryo, irregular nuclear membrane, swollen mitochondria, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and very large yolk granules were observed. Furthermore, DNA, RNA and protein contents of the embryos treated with typtophan or serotonin were considerably lower than those of control group. The amount of tubulin of the experimental groups was also greatly lower than that of control, suggesting that the impairment of microtubule formation occurred. Tryptophan or serotonin administration might depress the biosynthesis, of nucleic acid and protein including some enzymes tested. It seems that the serotonin formed from exogeneous tryptophan might inhibit the degradation of yolk granule by feedback regulation mechanism so as to impair microtububle and microvilli formation followed by a malformation of chick embryos.