• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2008

The growing problem of obesity is associated with numerous medical conditions. Several studies have reported that activation of thyroid hormone receptor beta $(THR{\beta})$ is involved in lipid metabolism and thermogenesis. To identify the relationship between the $THR{\beta}$ gene and obesity, we genotyped eighty two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene using the Affymetrix array chip in 209 overweight/obese and 155 normal subjects in Korean population. Of the eighty two polymorphisms, the seven SNPs exhibited a significant association with overweight/obesity in three alternative models (codominant, dominant, and recessive models; P<0.05 after adjusting for age and sex) were rs826221 (+267878 T>C), rs4858604 (+186399 A>G), rs1158265 (+200152 T>C), rs1868575 (+206031 G>A), rs1700939 (+238467 T>A), rs1505301 (+241933 T>C), and rs1924768 (+126491 T>C). During haplotype analysis using HapAnalyzer software, 2 haplotypes (block 13: TTAT; block 15: CTGC) containing significant polymorphisms (rs1700939 +238467 T>A and rs4858604 +186399 A>G) were detected to be significantly different. The results suggest that the $THR{\beta}$ gene may be associated with overweight/obesity in Korean population.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 2017

In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanism of silymarin by which silymarin may inhibits cell proliferation in human colorectal cancer cells in order to search the new potential anti-cancer target associated with the cell growth arrest. Silymarin reduced the level of c-Myc protein but not mRNA level indicating that silymarin-mediated downregulation of c-Myc may result from the proteasomal degradation. In the confirmation of silymarin-mediated c-Myc degradation, MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor attenuated c-Myc degradation by silymarin. In addition, silymarin phosphorylated the threonine-58 (Thr58) of c-Myc and the point mutation of Thr58 to alanine blocked its degradation by silymarin, which indicates that Thr58 phosphorylation may be an important modification for silymarin-mediated c-Myc degradation. We observed that the inhibition of ERK1/2, p38 and $GSK3{\beta}$ blocked the Thr58 phosphorylation and subsequent c-Myc degradation by silymarin. Finally, the point mutation of Thr58 to alanine attenuated silymarin-mediated inhibition of the cell growth. The results suggest that silymarin induces the cell growth arrest through c-Myc proteasomal degradation via ERK1/2, p38 and $GSK3{\beta}-dependent$ Thr58 phosphorylation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.155-161
• /
• 2014

Overexpression of amyloid precursor protein with the Swedish mutation causes abnormal hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Hyperphosphorylated isoforms of tau are major components of neurofibrillary tangles, which are histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a major tau protein phosphatase, consists of a structural A subunit, catalytic C subunit, and a variety of regulatory B subunits. The B subunits have been reported to modulate function of the PP2A holoenzyme by regulating substrate binding, enzyme activity, and subcellular localization. In the current study, we characterized regulatory B subunit-specific regulation of tau protein phosphorylation. We showed that the PP2A B subunit PPP2R2A mediated dephosphorylation of tau protein at Ser-199, Ser-202/Thr-205, Thr-231, Ser-262, and Ser-422. Down-regulation of PPP2R5D expression decreased tau phosphorylation at Ser-202/Thr-205, Thr-231, and Ser-422, which indicates activation of the tau kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta ($GSK3{\beta}$) by PP2A with PPP2R5D subunit. The level of activating phosphorylation of the $GSK3{\beta}$ kinase Akt at Thr-308 and Ser-473 were both increased by PPP2R5D knockdown. We also characterized B subunit-specific phosphorylation sites in tau using mass spectrometric analysis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that the phosphorylation status of the tau protein may be affected by PP2A, depending on the specific B subunits. These studies further our understanding of the function of various B subunits in mediating site-specific regulation of tau protein phosphorylation.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.611-614
• /
• 1998

Protein kinase CKII (CKII) is a protein Ser/Thr kinase that is ubiquitously distributed in eukaryotic cells. Although it has been suggested that CKII plays an critical role in cell growth and proliferation, its functional significance and regulation in the cells remain poorly understood. To investigate the exact biological function of CKII, we have identified proteins that interact with the subunits of CKII using the twohybrid system. In this report, we have identified cathepsin L, a lysosomal protease, as a cellular protein capable of interacting with the ${\beta}$ subunit of CKII. Cathepsin L does not interact with the ${\alpha}$ subunit of CKII, supporting the idea that the ${\beta}$ subunit can mediate the interaction of CKII with target proteins. We have found that cathepsin L has several putative CKII phosphorylation sites including Thr-84, Ser-160, Ser-270, Thr-288, and Ser-301. These data suggest that CKII is a possible protein kinase for cathepsin L phosphorylation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.1325-1329
• /
• 2006

Structural modeling of $\beta$-galactosidase from L. lactis ssp. lactis 7962 has shown that the residues Cys-472 and His-509 are located in the wall of the active-site cavity. To examine the functions of Cys-472 and His-509, we generated five site-specific mutants: Cys-472-Ser, Cys-472-Thr, Cys-472-Met, His-509-Asn, and His-509-Phe. $\beta$-Galactosidase substituted at Cys-472 with Met or His-509 with Phe had <3% of the activity of the native enzyme when assayed using ONPG as substrate. The other mutants Cys-472-Ser, Cys-472-Thr, and His-509-Asn had ca. 10-15% of the native enzyme activity. The V$_max$ values of the five mutated enzymes were lower (60-7,000-fold) than that of native enzyme. These results show that the catalytic ability of $\beta$-galactosidase is significantly affected by mutations at Cys-472 or His-509.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.243-247
• /
• 1992

The thr operon of Escherichia coli TF427, an $\alpha$-amino-$\beta$-hydroxyvaleric acid (AHV)-resistant threonine overproducer, was cloned in a pBluescriptII $KS^＋$ plasmid by complementation of E. coli mutants. All clones contained a common 8.8 kb HindIII-generated DNA fragment and complemented the thrA, thrB, and thrC mutants by showing that these clones contained the whole thr operon. This thr operon was subcloned in the plasmid vectors pBR322, pUC18, and pECCG117, an E. coli/Corynebacterium glutamicum shuttle vector, to form recombinant plasmids pBTF11, pUTF25 and pGTF18, respectively. The subcloned thr operon was shown to be present in a 6.0 kb insert. A transformant of E. coli TF125 with pBTF11 showed an 8~11 fold higher aspartokinase I activity, and 15~20 fold higher L-threonine production than TF125, an AHV-sensitive methionine auxotroph. Also, it was found that the aspartokinase I activity of E. coli TF125 harboring pBTF11 was not inhibited by threonine and its synthesis was not repressed by threonine plus isoleucine.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 2004

Metalloenzyme was purified from the fruiting bodies of Tricholoma sejunctum. MALDI-TOF and ICP/MS analyses revealed that the enzyme had a molecular weight of 18788.25 and includes $Zn^{2+}$ ion. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was Ala-Thr-Tyr-Lys-Ile-X-Ser-Ala-Thr-His-Gln-X-X-Leu-Val. The activity of the enzyme was inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline, indicating that the enzyme was a metalloprotease. No inhibition was found with E-64 and pepstatin. It has broad substrate specificity for synthetic peptides. The enzyme was stable up to $40^{\circ}C$. The activity of the enzyme was increased by $Zn^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$, while it was totally inhibited by $Hg^{2+}$. The enzyme hydrolyzes $A{\alpha}$ subunit of human fibrinogen but did not show any reactivity for $B{\beta}$ and ${\gamma}$ form of human fibrinogen.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.159-169
• /
• 2011

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) have ice binding affinity, depress freezing temperature and inhibit ice recystallization which protect cellular membranes in polar organisms. Recent structural studies of antifreeze proteins have significantly expanded our understanding of the structure-function relationship and ice crystal growth inhibition. Although AFPs (Type I-IV AFP from fish, insect AFP and Plant AFP) have completely different fold and no sequence homology, they share a common feature of their surface area for ice binding property. The conserved ice-binding sites are relatively flat and hydrophobic. For example, Type I AFP has an amphipathic, single ${\alpha}$-helix and has regularly spaced Thr-Ala residues which make direct interaction with oxygen atoms of ice crystals. Unlike Type I AFP, Type II and III AFP are compact globular proteins that contain a flat ice-binding patch on the surface. Type II and Type III AFP show a remarkable structural similarity with the sugar binding lectin protein and C-terminal domain of sialic acid synthase, respectively. Type IV is assumed to form a four-helix bundle which has sequence similarity with apolipoprotein. The results of our modeling suggest an ice-binding induced structural change of Type IV AFP. Insect AFP has ${\beta}$-helical structure with a regular array of Thr-X-Thr motif. Threonine residues of each Thr-X-Thr motif fit well into the ice crystal lattice and provide a good surface-surface complementarity. This review focuses on the structural characteristics and details of the ice-binding mechanism of antifreeze proteins.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2012

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important cellular fuel sensor. Its activation requires phosphorylation at Thr-172, which resides in the activation loop of the ${\alpha}1$ and ${\alpha}2$ subunits. Several AMPK upstream kinases are capable of phosphorylating AMPK at Thr-172, including LKB1 and CaMKK${\beta}$ ($Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase${\beta}$). AMPK has been implicated in the regulation of physiological signals, such as in the inhibition of cholesterol fatty acid, and protein synthesis, and enhancement of glucose uptake and blood flow. AMPK activation also exhibits several salutary effects on the vascular function and improves vascular abnormalities. AMPK is modulated by numerous hormones and cytokines that regulate the energy balance in the whole body. These hormone and cytokines include leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin, and even thyroid hormones. Moreover, AMPK is activated by several drugs and xenobiotics. Some of these are in being clinically used to treat type 2 diabetes (e.g., metformin and thiazolidinediones), hypertension (e.g., nifedipine and losartan), and impaired blood flow (e.g., aspirin, statins, and cilostazol). I reviewed the precise mechanisms of the AMPK activation pathway and AMPK-modulating drugs.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2009

Notch signaling is controlled at multiple levels. In particular, stabilized Notch receptor activation directly affects the transcriptional activations of Notch target genes. Although some progress has been made in terms of defining the regulatory mechanism that alters Notch stability, it has not been determined whether Notch1/NICD stability is regulated by $GSK-3{\alpha}$. Here, we show that Notch1/NICD levels are significantly regulated by $GSK-3{\beta}$ and by $GSK-3{\alpha}$. Treatment with LiCl (a specific GSK-3 inhibitor) or the overexpression of the kinase-inactive forms of $GSK-3{\alpha}/{\beta}$ significantly increased Notch1/NICD levels. Endogenous NICD levels were also increased by either $GSK-3{\alpha}/{\beta}$- or $GSK-3{\alpha}$-specific siRNA. Furthermore, it was found that $GSK-3{\alpha}$ binds to Notch1. Deletion analysis showed that at least three Thr residues in Notch1 (Thr-1851, 2123, and 2125) are critical for its response to LiCl, which increased not only the transcriptional activity of endogenous NICD but also Hes1 mRNA levels. Taken together, our results indicate that $GSK-3{\alpha}$ is a negative regulator of Notch1/NICD.