Minoru Matsui

TL;DR: It is proved that TRX can associate directly with Ref-1 in the nucleus and the requirement of cysteine residues in the TRX catalytic center for the potentiation of AP-1 activity is demonstrated.

TL;DR: The results suggested that TBP-2/VDUP1 serves as a negative regulator of the biological function and expression of TRX, an important redox regulatory mechanism in cellular processes, including differentiation of myeloid and macrophage lineages.

TL;DR: The authors showed that mutations in the DPC4 (SMAD4) gene play a significant role in the malignant progression of colorectal tumors in mice. But, their experiments were performed on Apc Δ 716 knockout mice, a model for human familial adenomatous polyposis.

TL;DR: The phenotype of mice carrying a targeted disruption of the thioredoxin gene (Txn) is described and results indicate that Txn expression is essential for early differentiation and morphogenesis of the mouse embryo.

Abstract: Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors consist of five distinct subtypes and have been important targets for drug development. In the periphery, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors mediate cholinergic signals to autonomic organs, but specific physiological functions of each subtype remain poorly elucidated. Here, we have constructed and analyzed mutant mice lacking the M3 receptor and have demonstrated that this subtype plays key roles in salivary secretion, pupillary constriction, and bladder detrusor contractions. However, M3-mediated signals in digestive and reproductive organs are dispensable, likely because of redundant mechanisms through other muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes or other mediators. In addition, we have found prominent urinary retention only in the male, which indicates a considerable sex difference in the micturition mechanism. Accordingly, this mutant mouse should provide a useful animal model for investigation of human diseases that are affected in the peripheral cholinergic functions.