Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ plays a role in tumorigenesis. Previous studies with PPARγ(+/-) mice suggest PPARγ normally suppresses dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast, and other, tumor progression. Since many cell types associated with the mammary gland express PPARγ, each with unique signaling pathways, the present study aimed to define which tissues are required for PPARγ-dependent anti-tumor effects. Conditional adipocyte and endothelial cell-specific PPARγ knockout mice (PPARγ-A KO and PPARγ-E KO respectively) were used to evaluate whether PPARγ signaling normally acts to prevent DMBA-mediated breast tumour progression in a stromal cell-specific manner. Twelve week old PPARγ KO mice and their congenic wildtype (WT) controls were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. All mice were treated by gavage once/week for 6 weeks with 1 mg DMBA and maintained on a normal chow diet. At week 7, mice in each group were divided into those continuing normal chow, and those receiving a PPARγ ligand (ROSI, 4 mg/kg/day) supplemented diet for the duration of the 25 week study, and monitored weekly. Tumour and tissue samples were collected at necropsy, and portions of each were fixed and frozen for future analysis. In both PPARγ-A KOs and PPARγ-E KOs versus PPARγ-WT mice, malignant mammary tumor incidence was significantly higher and mammary tumor latency was decreased. DMBA+ROSI treatment reduced average mammary tumor volumes by 50%. Gene expression analyses of mammary glands by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence indicated that untreated PPARγ-A KOs had significantly decreased BRCA1 expression in mammary stromal adipocytes. Compared to PPARγ-WT mice, serum leptin levels in PPARγ-A KOs were also significantly higher throughout the study. In the PPARγ-E KO mice, both treatment groups saw a significant increase in thymic tumour incidence, a finding not established before with the study of other stromal cell knockout mice. These studies provide the first direct in vivo evidence that PPARγ signalling in stromal adipocytes and endothelial cells attenuates DMBA-mediated breast tumourigenesis. This study supports a protective effect of activating PPAR gamma as a novel chemopreventive therapy for breast cancer. / Thesis (Master, Pharmacology & Toxicology) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-24 11:28:17.668

Endometrial cancer is a common gynaecological cancer. Improving outcomes for women with advanced disease remains a challenge and there is also a need to develop preventative strategies in those women at highest risk of developing disease. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) comprise of a group of transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor subfamily. PPAR sub-types are involved in metabolic homeostasis and have been implicated in malignancy, particularly breast and colo-rectal malignancies both of which are associated with obesity. Endometrial cancer is also closely associated with both obesity and insulin resistance. The work described in this thesis examined the expression of PPARs in endometrioid endometrial cancer and investigated their effects on key pathways implicated in this disease. Immunoblotting revealed over expression of PPARα and loss of PPARγ in human endometrioid endometrial cancer tissues. Pull-down assays also demonstrated differential selectivity of different PPARs for heterodimerisation with different isoforms of the RXR family of transcription factors. PPARα was localized to tumour cells and vascular endothelium and ELISA demonstrated an increase in VEGF-A in PPARα silenced cells suggesting that PPARα may promote tumour angiogenesis. PPARγ was largely seen in epithelial cells and also macrophages within benign endometrium. Reduction of PPARγ expression in cultured endometrial cells led to increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. Loss of PPARγ was correlated with a loss of the tumour suppressor PTEN in endometrial tissues. Furthermore, PPARγ silencing led to diminished expression of PTEN and a concomitant increase in phosphorylated AKT suggesting that PPARγ is protective against deregulated growth within the endometrium. Synthetic PPAR-specific ligands reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in endometrial cell lines. These effects were present in PPAR-silenced cells too although reduced in magnitude, indicating that the actions of specific PPAR ligands are mediated via both receptor dependent and receptor independent pathways.In conclusion, this work has demonstrated the differential expression of PPARs and RXRs in endometrial cancers and identified possible mechanisms, both direct and indirect, by which these may modulate endometrial cancer growth. Different PPAR family members may provide targets for therapeutic intervention in endometrial cancer care and require further study in this regard.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARa) and delta (PPARd) belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily. PPARa is a target of lipid-lowering drugs and PPARd promotes fatty acid utilization and is a promising anti-diabetic drug target. However, evidence is growing that PPARd-agonism can stimulate fat accumulation in liver, which may aggravate the toxic situation in diabetics. The aim of the study was to characterise the hepatic transcriptional and lipid response of humanized mouse models to PPARd-agonists. In our studies of mice conditionally-expressing human PPARd (hPPARd), or the dominant-negative derivative of hPPARd (hPPARd?AF2) or wild-type animals, we demonstrated that GW501516, a potent PPARd activator, promoted up-regulation of the genes involved in lipid turnover, stimulated significant weight loss and promoted hepatic steatosis in these mouse models. There was time-dependent accumulation of hepatic triglycerides observed in wild-type and in conditionally-expressing hPPARd mice fed a diet containing PPARd synthetic ligand. This was not seen in animals conditionally-expressing hPPARd?AF2, neither in PPARa-KO or PPARd-KO animals. Concurrently, activation of PPARd in humanised animals caused significant depletion, as compared with controls, of adipose tissue deposits when fed normal or high fat diet. This effect was completely absent in PPARa-KO or PPARd-KO mice, fed diet containing GW501516. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of GW501516 effects in the livers of these different mouse strains was performed. In PPARa-KO mice fed PPARd-agonist, some direct PPARd target genes were still up-regulated, demonstrating that they are not sufficient for the observed phenotype. In addition the blood HDL-raising effects of GW501516 were preserved in the PPARa-KO mice. This suggests a novel finding that both PPARd and PPARa receptors are essential for GW501516-driven weight loss and hepatic steatosis, with PPARa working downstream of PPARd.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by lesions that form within the central nervous system which induce symptoms such as muscle weakness and paralysis. Many aspects of MS, ranging from causation to immunopathology, are currently under investigation as little is known of the factors that contribute to and exacerbate this disease. Presently, evidence suggests MS to be an inflammatory disease mediated by an autoimmune response to an unknown antigen. Results from clinical studies as well as animal models such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) suggest MS is initiated and maintained by immune cells such as Th1 lymphocytes. As a result, therapeutics prescribed to MS patients’ focus on modulating the inflammatory response so as to minimize myelin loss and CNS damage. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of transcription factors that show promise as potential targets for MS therapeutics. The PPAR sub-types, PPARα and PPARγ, have been shown to inhibit the propagation of inflammatory pathways and decrease the activity of pro-inflammatory cells in a number of inflammation driven diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. The anti-inflammatory role of PPARβ/δ is less well known, although preliminary studies suggest activation of this receptor may potentiate the activity of other transcription factors involved in inhibiting inflammatory pathways. As the PPAR family of transcription factors exhibit similar functions, it is hypothesized that the PPARβ/δ sub-type may have immunomodulatory effects that are comparable and complimentary to PPARα and –γ. This thesis describes a novel model of relapsing-remitting EAE (RR-EAE) that presents a disease course where EAE relapses are followed by periods of recovery that are characterized by the absence of clinical symptoms. Furthermore, a therapeutic intervention study carried out using this model demonstrates that the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone can decrease the severity of a relapse episode when drug treatment begins prior to a predicted relapse event. The inhibition of immune cell infiltration into the CNS and decreased immune cell activity mediated by pioglitazone, suggests that this ligand modulates the immune response. These results indicate that pioglitazone may be an effective treatment for relapsing-remitting MS. To examine the role of PPARβ/δ in RR-EAE and explore its effect on the activity of inflammatory cells, PPARβ/δ knockout mice were used due to the current lack of specific antagonists for this receptor. PPARβ/δ wild-type mice developed RR-EAE when immunized using protocol intended to induce this disease course. PPARβ/δ knockout mice however, developed chronic EAE when immunized in the same manner. Consistent with sustained clinical symptoms, CNS immune cell infiltration and activity was maintained throughout the disease in PPARβ/δ knockout mice. In contrast, the presence of immune cells within the CNS and consequent activity fluctuated according to the relapse and recovery pattern of disease in PPARβ/δ wild-type mice. PPARβ/δ appears to modulate inflammation by potentiating the apoptosis of activated T cells. Therefore, PPARβ/δ agonists may be potential candidates for MS treatment.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) is a versatile regulator of distinct biological processes and overexpression of PPARδ in cancer may be partially related to its suppression of its own co-regulators. Aims: To determine whether recruited suppressor proteins bind to and regulate PPARδ expression, activity and PPARδ-dependent cholangiocarcinoma proliferation. Methods: Yeast two-hybrid assays were done using murine PPARδ as bait. PPARδ mRNA expression was determined by qPCR. Protein expression was measured by western blot. Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy were used to determine PPARδ expression and co-localization with NDP Kinase alpha (NM23-H2). Cell proliferation assays were performed to determine cell numbers. Results: Yeast two-hybrid screening identified NM23-H2 as a PPARδ binding protein and their interaction was confirmed. Overexpressed PPARδ or treatment with the agonist GW501516 resulted in increased cell proliferation. NM23-H2 siRNA activated PPARδ luciferase promoter activity, upregulated PPARδ RNA and protein expression and increased GW501516-stimulated CCA growth. Overexpression of NM23-H2 inhibited PPARδ luciferase promoter activity, downregulated PPARδ expression and AKT phosphorylation and reduced GW501516-stimulated CCA growth. Conclusions: We report the novel association of NM23-H2 with PPARδ and the negative regulation of PPARδ expression by NM23-H2 binding to the C-terminal region of PPARδ. These findings provide evidence that the metastasis suppressor NM23-H2 is involved in the regulation of PPARδ-mediated proliferation.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18327号 / 農博第2052号 / 新制||農||1022(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4834(農学部図書室) / 31185 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科食品生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 河田 照雄, 教授 金本 龍平, 教授 入江 一浩 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

No description available.

No / Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is activated by several compounds, including the thiazolidinediones. In addition to being a therapeutic target for obesity, hypolipidaemia and diabetes, perturbation of PPARgamma signalling is now believed to be a strategy for treatment of several cancers, including breast. Although differential expression of PPARgamma is observed in tumours compared to normal tissues and PPARgamma agonists have been shown to inhibit tumour cell growth and survival, the interdependence of these observations is unclear. This study demonstrated that the potent, irreversible and selective PPARgamma antagonist GW9662 prevented activation of PPARgamma and inhibited growth of human mammary tumour cell lines. Controversially, GW9662 prevented rosiglitazone-mediated PPARgamma activation, but enhanced rather than reversed rosiglitazone-induced growth inhibition. As such, these data support the existence of PPARgamma-independent pathways and question the central belief that PPARgamma ligands mediate their anticancer effects via activation of PPARgamma.

Aside from an indirect effect of PPARgamma activation to reduce insulin resistance and to facilitate adiponectin release, PPARgamma agonist could also exert direct effects on blood vessels. I provided a first line of experimental evidence demonstrating that PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone up-regulates the endothelin B receptor (ETBR) expression in mouse aortas and attenuates endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction through an endothelial ET BR-dependent NO-related mechanism. ETBR up-regulation inhibits endothelin-1-induced endothelin A receptor (ETAR)-mediated constriction in aortas and mesenteric resistance arteries, while selective ETBR agonist produces endothelium-dependent relaxations in mesenteric resistance arteries. Chronic treatment with rosiglitazone in vivo or acute exposure to rosiglitazone in vitro up-regulate the ETsR expression without affecting ETAR expression. These results support a significant role of ETBR in contributing to the increased nitric oxide generation upon stimulation with PPARgamma agonist. This study provides additional explanation for how PPARgamma activation improves endothelial function. / Firstly, I demonstrated that adipocyte-derived adiponectin serves as a key link in PPARgamma-mediated amelioration of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. Results from ex vivo fat explant culture with isolated arteries showed that PPARgamma expression and adiponectin synthesis in adipose tissues correlate with the degree of improvement of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortas from diabetic db/db mice. PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone elevates the adiponectin release and restores the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation ex vivo and in vivo, in arteries from both genetic and diet-induced diabetic mice. The effect of PPARgamma activation on endothelial function that is mediated through the adiponectin- AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) cascade is confirmed with the use of selective pharmacological inhibitors and adiponectin -/- or PPARgamma+/- mice. In addition, the benefit of PPARgamma activation in vivo can be transferred by transplanting subcutaneous adipose tissue from rosiglitazone-treated diabetic mouse to control diabetic mouse. I also revealed a direct effect of adiponectin to rescue endothelium-dependent relaxation in diabetic mouse aortas, which involves both AMPK and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase signaling pathways to enhance nitric oxide formation accompanied with inhibition of oxidative stress. These novel findings clearly demonstrate that adipocyte-derived adiponectin is prerequisite for PPARgamma-mediated improvement of endothelial function in diabetes, and thus highlight the prospective of subcutaneous adipose tissue as a potentially important intervention target for newly developed PPARgamma agonists in the alleviation of diabetic vasculopathy. / To summarize, the present investigation has provided a few lines of novel mechanistic evidence in support for the positive roles of PPARgamma and PPARdelta activation as potentially therapeutic targets to combat against diabetic vasculopathy. / Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity represent a global health problem worldwide. Most diabetics die of cardiovascular and renal causes, thus increasing the urgency in developing effective strategies for improving cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in obesity-related diabetes. Recent evidence highlights the therapeutic potential of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor (PPAR) agonists in improving insulin sensitivity in diabetes. / While agonists of PPARalpha and PPARgamma are clinically used, PPARdelta is the remaining subtype that is yet to be a target for current therapeutic drugs. Little is available in literature about the role of PPARdelta in the regulation of cardiovascular function. The third part of my thesis focused on elucidating cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of PPARdelta activation in the modulation of endothelial function in diabetes. PPARdelta agonists restore the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in high glucose-treated aortas and in aortas from diabetic db/db mice through activation of a cascade involving PPARdelta, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Akt. PPARdelta activation increases Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide production in endothelial cells. The crucial role of Akt is confirmed by selective pharmacological inhibitors and transient transfection of dominant negative Akt plasmid in these cells. Treatment with PPARdelta agonist GW501516 in vivo augments endothelial function in diabetic db/db and diet-induced obese mice. The specificity of GW501516 for PPARdelta is proven with the loss of its effect against high glucose-induced impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortas from PPARdelta knockout mice. In addition, oral administration of GW501516 in vivo fails to improve endothelial function in diet-induced obese PPARdelta deficient mice. / Tian, Xiaoyu. / Adviser: Huang Yu. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-04, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-165). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Ng Lui. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-257). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i_iii / Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.iv-v / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii-xvii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xviii-xx / List of Figures --- p.xxi-xxvi / List of Tables --- p.xxvii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Peroxisome Proliferators (PPs) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- What are PPARs? --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- PPAR isoforms --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- PPARp/δ --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- PPARγ --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- PPARα --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- PPARα target genes --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Transcriptional regulation --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- PPRE --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Physiological roles --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.4.1 --- Lipid metabolism --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.1 --- Cellular fatty acid uptake and fatty acid activation --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.2 --- Intracellular fatty acid transport --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.3 --- Mitochondrial fatty acid uptake --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.4 --- Mitochondrial fatty-acid P-oxidation / Chapter 1.2.4.1.5 --- Peroxisomal fatty acid uptake --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.6 --- Peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.7 --- Micorsomal co-hydroxylation of fatty acids --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.8 --- Ketogenesis --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.9 --- Bile acid metabolism --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.10 --- Lipoprotein metabolism --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.4.1.11 --- Hepatic lipogenesis --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.4.2 --- Glucose metabolism --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.4.2.1 --- Glycogenolysis --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.4.2.2 --- Glycolysis --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.4.2.3 --- Gluconeogenesis --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.4.3 --- Urea cycle --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2.4.4 --- Biotransformation --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.4.5 --- Inflammation --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.4.6 --- Acute phase response --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Toxicological roles --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.5.1 --- PPs induce hepatocarcinoma formation through PPARα --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.5.2 --- Mechanism of PPARa-mediated PP-induced hepatocarcinoma --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.5.2.1 --- Oxidative stress --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.5.2.2 --- Hepatocellular proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis --- p.26 / Chapter 1.3 --- Discovery of novel PPARα target genes --- p.27 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Peroxisome proliferator and starvation-induced gene (PPSIG) --- p.28 / Chapter 1.3.1.1 --- PPSIG is a putative PPARa target gene --- p.28 / Chapter 1.3.1.2 --- Examination of PPSIG FDD fragment cDNA sequence --- p.28 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1 --- Cloning of the full-length mouse PPSIG cDNA --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.1.1 --- Total RNA extraction --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.1.1.1 --- Materials --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.1.1.2 --- Methods --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.1.2 --- Primers design --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.1.3 --- 5' and 3' cDNA ends amplification --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.1.3.1 --- Materials --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.1.3.2 --- Methods --- p.42 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Subcloning of 5' and 3'RACED products --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.2.1.1 --- Materials --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1.2.1.2 --- Methods --- p.46 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Screening of the recombinants --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.1 --- PhenoI:chloroform test --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.1.1 --- Materials --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.1.2 --- Methods --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.2 --- Restriction enzyme digestion --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.2.1 --- Materials --- p.48 / Chapter 2.1.2.2.2.2 --- Methods --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- DNA sequencing of the 5'and 3'RACED subclones --- p.49 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Northern blot analysis using PPSIG 5' and 3' RACED cDNA as probes --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.4.1 --- RNA sample preparation --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.4.1.1 --- Materials --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.4.1.2 --- Methods --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.4.2 --- Formaldehyde-agarose gel electrophoresis and blotting of RNA --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.4.2.1 --- Materials --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.4.2.2 --- Methods --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.4.3 --- Probe preparation --- p.55 / Chapter 2.1.4.3.1 --- DIG labeling of RNA probe from 5'RACED PPSIG cDN A subclone 5'#32 --- p.55 / Chapter 2.1.4.3.1.1 --- Materials --- p.55 / Chapter 2.1.4.3.1.2 --- Methods --- p.55 / Chapter 2.1.4.3.2 --- PCR DIG labeling of 3´ة RACED PPSIG cDNA subclone 3' #12 --- p.56 / Chapter 2.1.4.3.2.1 --- Materials --- p.56 / Chapter 2.1.4.3.2.2 --- Methods --- p.57 / Chapter 2.1.4.4 --- Hybridization --- p.57 / Chapter 2.1.4.4.1 --- Materials --- p.57 / Chapter 2.1.4.4.2 --- Methods --- p.57 / Chapter 2.1.4.5 --- Post-hybridization washing and colour development --- p.59 / Chapter 2.1.4.5.1 --- Materials --- p.59 / Chapter 2.1.4.5.2 --- Methods --- p.59 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cloning of the PPSIG genomic DNA --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Screening of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Screening of a mouse genomic library --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- "Purification of BAC DNA by solution I, II,III" --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.1.2.1 --- Materials --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.1.2.2 --- Methods --- p.61 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Confirmation of PPSIG genomic BAC clones --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Genomic Southern blot analysis --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.1 --- Agarose gel electrophoresis and blotting of BAC DNA --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.1.1 --- Materials --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.1.2 --- Methods --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.2 --- DIG labeling of DNA probe by random priming --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.2.1 --- Materials --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.2.2 --- Methods --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.3 --- Hybridization --- p.66 / Chapter 2.2.2.1.4 --- Post-hybridization washing and colour development --- p.66 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- EcoR I digestion --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.2.2.1 --- Materials --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.2.2.2 --- Methods --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Large scale preparation of BAC DNA --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.2.3.1 --- Materials --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.2.3.2 --- Methods --- p.68 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Determination of PPSIG genomic sequences --- p.68 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Primers design --- p.68 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- PCR --- p.73 / Chapter 2.2.3.2.1 --- Materials --- p.73 / Chapter 2.2.3.2.2 --- Methods --- p.73 / Chapter 2.2.3.3 --- Subcloning of the PPSIG genomic fragments --- p.73 / Chapter 2.2.3.3.1 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.73 / Chapter 2.2.3.3.2 --- PCR screening --- p.74 / Chapter 2.2.3.3.2.1 --- Materials --- p.74 / Chapter 2.2.3.3.2.2 --- Methods --- p.74 / Chapter 2.2.3.4 --- DNA sequencing --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3 --- Cloning of PPSIG-promoter reporter constructs --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Amplification of PPSIG 5'-flanking fragment by PCR --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Materials --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Methods --- p.75 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Preparation of pGL3-Basic vector DNA --- p.81 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Materials --- p.81 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Methods --- p.81 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.84 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Materials --- p.84 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Methods --- p.84 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Screening and confirmation of recombinants --- p.85 / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- Materials --- p.85 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Methods --- p.85 / Chapter 2.4 --- Cloning of PPSIG 5'-deletion promoter constructs --- p.87 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Deletion of target fragments by restriction enzyme digestion --- p.87 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Materials --- p.87 / Chapter 2.4.1.2 --- Methods --- p.88 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.90 / Chapter 2.4.2.1 --- Materials --- p.90 / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Methods --- p.90 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Screening and confirmation of recombinants --- p.91 / Chapter 2.5 --- Cloning of PPSIG-PPRE reporter constructs --- p.91 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Amplification of PPSIG-PPRE fragments --- p.91 / Chapter 2.5.1.1 --- Materials --- p.91 / Chapter 2.5.1.2 --- Methods --- p.93 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Preparation of pGL3-Basic vector DNA --- p.96 / Chapter 2.5.2.1 --- Materials --- p.96 / Chapter 2.5.2.2 --- Methods --- p.96 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.97 / Chapter 2.5.3.1 --- Materials --- p.97 / Chapter 2.5.3.2 --- Methods --- p.97 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Screening and confirmation of recombinants --- p.97 / Chapter 2.6 --- Cloning of PPSIG-PPRE deletion construct --- p.101 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Deletion of PPRE fragment by Stu I/Xho I digestion --- p.101 / Chapter 2.6.1.1 --- Materials --- p.101 / Chapter 2.6.1.2 --- Methods --- p.101 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- "Ligation, transformation, screening and confirmation of recombinants" --- p.103 / Chapter 2.7 --- Construction of PPSIG-PPRE-deletion and PPSIG- PPRE-mutation constructs by site-directed mutagenesis --- p.105 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Primers design --- p.105 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Amplification of the left and right halves of the PPRE-deletion and PPRE-mutation constructs by PCR --- p.109 / Chapter 2.7.2.1 --- Materials --- p.109 / Chapter 2.7.2.2 --- Methods --- p.109 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- "Ligation, Dpn I digestion and transformation" --- p.110 / Chapter 2.7.3.1 --- Materials --- p.110 / Chapter 2.7.3.2 --- Methods --- p.110 / Chapter 2.7.4 --- Screening and confirmation of recombinants --- p.111 / Chapter 2.7.4.1 --- Materials --- p.111 / Chapter 2.7.4.2 --- Methods --- p.111 / Chapter 2.8 --- Cloning of mouse malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) and rat acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) PPRE reporter constructs --- p.112 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Preparation of mouse and rat genomic DNA --- p.112 / Chapter 2.8.1.1 --- Materials --- p.112 / Chapter 2.8.1.2 --- Methods --- p.113 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Amplification of MCD and ACBP PPRE fragments by PCR --- p.113 / Chapter 2.8.2.1 --- Materials --- p.113 / Chapter 2.8.2.2 --- Methods --- p.114 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.117 / Chapter 2.8.4 --- Screening and confirmation of recombinants --- p.117 / Chapter 2.9 --- Cloning of mPPARα and mRXRα expression plasmids --- p.119 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- RT-PCR of mouse PPARα and RXRa cDNAs --- p.119 / Chapter 2.9.1.1 --- Materials --- p.119 / Chapter 2.9.1.2 --- Methods --- p.119 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Preparation of pSG5 vector DNA --- p.123 / Chapter 2.9.2.1 --- Materials --- p.123 / Chapter 2.9.2.2 --- Methods --- p.123 / Chapter 2.9.3 --- Ligation and transformation --- p.125 / Chapter 2.9.3.1 --- Materials --- p.125 / Chapter 2.9.3.2 --- Methods --- p.125 / Chapter 2.9.4 --- Screening and confirmation of recombinants --- p.125 / Chapter 2.9.4.1 --- Materials --- p.125 / Chapter 2.9.4.2 --- Methods --- p.126 / Chapter 2.10 --- Transient transfection and reporter assays --- p.128 / Chapter 2.10.1 --- Cell culture and transient transfection --- p.128 / Chapter 2.10.1.1 --- Materials --- p.128 / Chapter 2.10.1.2 --- Methods --- p.128 / Chapter 2.10.2 --- Assay for reporter construct luciferase activity --- p.131 / Chapter 2.10.2.1 --- Materials --- p.131 / Chapter 2.10.2.2 --- Methods --- p.131 / Chapter 2.11 --- Electrophoretic mobility-shift assay (EMSA) --- p.133 / Chapter 2.11.1 --- In vitro transcription/translation --- p.133 / Chapter 2.11.1.1 --- Materials --- p.133 / Chapter 2.11.1.2 --- Methods --- p.133 / Chapter 2.11.2 --- Preparation of AML-12 nuclear extract --- p.134 / Chapter 2.11.3 --- Preparation of DIG-labeled PPSIG-PPRE oligonucleotides --- p.136 / Chapter 2.11.3.1 --- Oligonucleotides design --- p.136 / Chapter 2.11.3.2 --- Annealing of single-stranded oligonucleotides to form double- stranded oligonucleotides --- p.136 / Chapter 2.11.3.2.1 --- Materials --- p.136 / Chapter 2.11.3.2.2 --- Methods --- p.138 / Chapter 2.11.3.3 --- 3' end labeling of the double-stranded oligonucleotides --- p.138 / Chapter 2.11.3.3.1 --- Materials --- p.138 / Chapter 2.11.3.3.2 --- Methods --- p.138 / Chapter 2.11.3.4 --- Testing the labeling efficiency of the double-stranded oligonucleoides --- p.139 / Chapter 2.11.3.4.1 --- Materials --- p.139 / Chapter 2.11.3.4.2 --- Methods --- p.139 / Chapter 2.11.4 --- Preparation of unlabeled oligonucleotides as competitors --- p.140 / Chapter 2.11.5 --- Binding reactions --- p.142 / Chapter 2.11.5.1 --- Perform with in vitro transcribed/translated proteins --- p.142 / Chapter 2.11.5.1.1 --- Materials --- p.142 / Chapter 2.11.5.1.2 --- Methods --- p.142 / Chapter 2.11.5.2 --- Perform with AML-12 nuclear extracts --- p.144 / Chapter 2.11.5.2.1 --- Materials --- p.144 / Chapter 2.11.5.2.2 --- Methods --- p.144 / Chapter 2.11.6 --- Detection of shift-up pattern --- p.145 / Chapter 2.11.6.1 --- Materials --- p.145 / Chapter 2.11.6.2 --- Methods --- p.145 / Chapter 2.12 --- Statistical analysis --- p.146 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.147 / Chapter 3.1 --- PPSIG cDNA sequence analysis --- p.147 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Cloning of PPSIG full-length cDNA sequence --- p.147 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Northern blot analysis of PPSIG --- p.160 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- "Comparison of PPSIG, Riken cDNA 0610039N19 and all-trans-13'14-dihydroretinol saturase cDNA sequences" --- p.163 / Chapter 3.2 --- PPSIG genomic sequence analysis --- p.166 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Screening of the PPSIG BAC clone --- p.166 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Cloning of PPSIG genomic fragments --- p.167 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Examination of PPSIG genomic organization --- p.170 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- "Comparison of PPSIG, Riken cDNA 0610039N19 and all-trans-13'14-dihydroretinol saturase genomic sequence" --- p.177 / Chapter 3.3 --- Characterization of the 5'-flanking region of PPSIG --- p.184 / Chapter 3.4 --- Identification of a functional PPRE in the intron 1 of PPSIG gene --- p.201 / Chapter 3.5 --- Gel shift analysis of PPARa/RXRa heterodimer to PPSIG-PPRE --- p.222 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.234 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Future studies --- p.241 / References --- p.243 / Appendix A Seating plan of transfection experiments (24-wells) / Chapter A1 --- Transfection experiment to study PPSIG-promoter reporter constructs --- p.258 / Chapter A2 --- Transfection experiment to study the PPSIG- promoter deletion constructs --- p.259 / Chapter A3 --- Transfection experiment to study the PPSIG-PPRE reporter constructs --- p.260 / Chapter A4 --- Transfection experiment to study PPSIG-PPRE- deletion and PPSIG-PPRE-mutation constructs --- p.262 / Appendix B Alignment result of RACE clone DNAs --- p.265 / Chapter B1 --- Alignment result of 5´ة#7 --- p.265 / Chapter B2 --- Alignment result of 5'#11 --- p.267 / Chapter B3 --- Alignment result of 5'#12 --- p.269 / Chapter B4 --- Alignment result of 5´ة#16 --- p.271 / Chapter B5 --- Alignment result of 5´ة#20 --- p.274 / Chapter B6 --- Alignment result of 5´ة#31 --- p.276 / Chapter B7 --- Alignment result of 5´ة#32 --- p.278 / Chapter B8 --- Consensus sequence of each 5'RACED clone --- p.280 / Chapter B9 --- Alignment result of all 5'RACE clones consensus sequence --- p.287 / Chapter B10 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#2 --- p.290 / Chapter B11 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#3 --- p.291 / Chapter B12 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#14 --- p.292 / Chapter B13 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#5 --- p.293 / Chapter B14 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#6 --- p.294 / Chapter B15 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#8 --- p.295 / Chapter B16 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#10 --- p.297 / Chapter B17 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#11 --- p.298 / Chapter B18 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#12 --- p.299 / Chapter B19 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#16 --- p.301 / Chapter B20 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#22 --- p.302 / Chapter B21 --- Alignment result of 3´ة#25 --- p.303 / Chapter B22 --- Consensus sequence of each 3'RACED clone --- p.305 / Chapter B23 --- Alignment result of all 3' RACE clones consensus sequence --- p.310 / Appendix C DNA sequencing and alignment result of PPSIG genomic fragments --- p.312 / Chapter C1 --- Exon 1 to exon 2 --- p.312 / Chapter C2 --- Exon 2 to exon 3 --- p.315 / Chapter C3 --- Exon 3 to exon 4 --- p.316 / Chapter C4 --- Exon 4 to exon 5 --- p.318 / Chapter C5 --- Exon 5 to exon 6 --- p.319 / Chapter C6 --- Exon 6 to exon 7 --- p.321 / Chapter C7 --- Exon 7 to exon 8 --- p.322 / Chapter C8 --- Exon 8 to exon 9 --- p.323 / Chapter C9 --- Exon 9 to exon 10 --- p.324 / Chapter C10 --- Exon 10 to exon 11 --- p.325 / Chapter C11 --- Exon 11 to downstream --- p.326 / Chapter C12 --- Consensus sequence of each BAC genomic DNA fragment --- p.328 / Chapter C13 --- The alignment result of all the PPSIG genomic sequence --- p.335 / Appendix D DNA sequencing and alignment result of constructs --- p.347 / Chapter D1 --- "pGL3-PPSIG (-2936/+119), pGL3-PPSIG (-1534/+119), pGL3-PPSIG (-879/+119) and pGL3- PPSIG (-375/+119) reporter constructs DNA sequencing and alignment result" --- p.347 / Chapter D2 --- pSG5-PPARa expression plasmid DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.351 / Chapter D3 --- pSG5-RXRa expression plasmid DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.353 / Chapter D4 --- pGL3-MCD reporter constructs DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.355 / Chapter D5 --- pGL3-PPSIG (-229/+435) reporter construct DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.356 / Chapter D6 --- pGL3-PPSIG (+94/+435) and pGL3-PPSIG (+94/+190) reporter constructs DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.357 / Chapter D7 --- pGL3-PPSIG (-229/+3031) reporter construct DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.358 / Chapter D8 --- pGL3-PPSIG (+94/+3031) reporter construct DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.360 / Chapter D9 --- pGL3-ACBP reporter construct DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.362 / Chapter D10 --- PPSIG-PPRE-deletion and PPSIG-PPRE-mutation constructs DNA sequencing and alignment result --- p.363