• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2009

Among signal transduction systems by protein phosphorylation Akt/PKB protein kinase which is one of serine/threonine kinases, is known to regulate the survival and death of the cell and glucose metabolism. Thus, Akt/PKB protein kinase has been used as one of the target proteins to find anti-cancer agents from natural products. In this study, human Akt/PKB protein kinase was expressed in Escherichia coli expression system for the mass production. Human Akt/PKB protein kinase expressed in E. coli formed inclusion body under the general condition. However, most of the expressed protein was solubilized under the culture temperature at $27^{\circ}C$ and 0.01-0.09 mM of IPTG for induction of the protein expression. The expressed protein was purified using $Ni^{2+}$-NTA agarose column and confirmed by using anti-Akt antibody. Subsequently, the purified human Akt/PKB protein kinase was activated by in vitro phosphorylation using cellular extract containing kinases. The activated protein was confirmed to phosphorylate the specific fluorescent peptide specially designed as the artificial substrate for Akt/PKB protein kinase.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.235-240
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• 2002

Streptomycetes is a group of Gram-positive soil bacteria that growas a branching vegetative mycelium leading to the formation of spores, and display a physiological differenti-ation related to the synthesis of many secondary metabolites including antibiotics. Their complex life cycle and multicellular differentiation require various levels of regulation and types of signal transduction systems including eukaryotic-type serine/threonine protein kinases and prokaryotic-type histidine/aspartic acid protein kinases. Akt kinase that was found in cells is a sorine/threonine kinase controlling signal pathway for multi-tude of important cellular events. The activation or inactivation of Akt kinase in the cell is one of the critical regulatory points to deliver cell proliferation, differentiation, survival or apoptosis signal. To find the regula-tory protein homologous to Akt in Streptomyces, the fluorescien-labeled synthetic peptide (FITC-TRRSR-TESIT) was designed from the consensus sequence of target proteins for Akt kinase. From the difference of the mobility between the nonphosphorylated and phosphorylated synthetic peptides on Agarose gel electro-phoresis, the Akt-phosphorylating activity was monitored. The cell-free extract prepared from Streptomyces griseus IFO 13350 and the Akt homologous protein was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and many steps of column chromatographies such as, DEAE-Sepharose, Mono Q, Resource Phenyl-Soporose and Gel permeation column chromatographies. As a result, the protein phosphorylating the fluorescien-labeled Akt substrate was identified and it's molecular weight was estimated as 39 kDa on SDS-PAGE.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2004

Akt (or Protein Kinase B; PKB) is a serine/threonine kinase and is activated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Recent evidence indicates that the abnormal activities or expression of Akt is closely associated with cancer, diabetes and neuro-degenerative diseases. These findings mean that Akt is likely to be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of disease. Here, we screened the effects of dithiolo-dithione derivatives such as SWU-20004, SWU-20009 and SWU-20025 on Akt activities. Among these compounds, only SWU-20009 (2-Thioxo-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5- $\beta$][1,4]dithiine-5,6-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester) inhibited the growth of KATOIII cell at micromolar range of concentration. Further investigation also revealed that SWU-20009 inhibited cellular Akt activity and induced apoptotic cell death.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.391-398
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• 2006

$NF-{\kappa}B$ is a transcription factor involved in the innate immunity against bacterial infection and inflammation. It is also known to render cells resistant to the apoptosis caused by some anticancer drugs. Such a chemoresistance of cancer cells may be related to the activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcription factor; however, the mechanism of activation is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that a chemotherapeutic agent, etoposide, independently stimulates the $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation pathway and PI3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway: The classical $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation pathway leads to the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of p65 subunit through $IKK{\beta}$ kinase, whereas the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway plays a distinct role in activating this transcription factor. The PI3-kinase/Akt pathway acts on the p50 subunit of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ transcription factor and enhances the DNA binding affinity of the p50 protein. It may also explain the role of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in the anti-apoptotic function of $NF-{\kappa}B$ during chemoresistance of cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1182-1188
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• 2016

Membrane-associated guanylate kinase inverted-3 (MAGI-3) is a member of the family of membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs). MAGI-3 modulates the kinase activity of protein kinase B (PKB)/AKT through interactions with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/MMAC. Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a common causative agent of acute myocarditis and chronic dilated cardiomyopathy. Activation of AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) is essential for CVB3 replication, but the relation between MAGI-3 signaling and CVB3 replication is not well understood. This study investigated the role of MAGI-3 in CVB3 infection and replication. MAGI-3 was overexpressed in HeLa cells by polyethylenimine (PEI) transfection. To optimize the transfection conditions, different ratios of plasmid DNA to PEI concentrations were used. MAGI-3 and empty plasmid DNA were transfected into the HeLa cells. MAGI-3 overexpression alone was not sufficient to efficiently activate AKT. However, expression of the CVB3 capsid protein VP1 dramatically increased in the HeLa cells overexpressing MAGI-3 24 h after CVB3 infection. In addition, the activities of AKT and ERK were significantly induced in the CVB3-infected MAGI-3 cells overexpressing HeLa. These results demonstrate that MAGI-3 expression upregulates CVB3 replication through AKT and ERK signaling activation. MAGI-3 may be an important target to control CVB3 replication.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2005

Purpose: The serine/threonine kinase Akt was described to inhibit apoptosis in cancer. This study was to examine the effect of Gleevec on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC) through the mechanism of Akt. Experimental Design: Gleevec was introduced into the HNSCC cell lines UMSCC10B, HN12 and HN30 in a range of concentrations. Cell viability was assessed by clonogenic survival analysis. Targets of Gleevec(PDGFR, c-Kit, and c-Abl) were evaluated by Western blot. HNSCC tissue samples were stained for PDGFR, c-Kit and phosphorylated Akt. Akt phosphorylation following Gleevec treatment was assessed using Western blot. Akt siRNA was used to as the positive control. Results: Colony forming efficiency decreased with an increase in concentration of Gleevec. Expressions of PDGFR, c-Kit, and c-Abl were observed in HNSCC cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed high expression of PDGFR, c-Kit, and p-Akt in human HNSCC tissues. Akt kinase activity was significantly inhibited with increasing concentration of Gleevec in HNSCC cells, and near complete dephosphorylation of Akt was observed at $6{\mu}M$ of Gleevec in the UMSCC10B and HN30 cell lines. Conclusions: Gleevec at clinically comparable concentrations caused a dose dependant decrease in HNSCC survival. The decreased cell survival was related to the inhibition of Akt kinase activity and dephosphorylation of Akt. Akt signaling pathway may be a relevant target for Gleevec in treating HNSCC.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.370-379
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• 2008

Akt, a serine/threonine protein kinase as a viral oncogene, is a critical regulator of PI3K-mediated cell proliferation and survival. On translocation, Akt is phosphorylated and activated, ultimately resulting in stimulation of cell growth and survival. As a part of our program toward the novel Akt1 inhibitors with potent activity over PI3K signaling pathway, we found primary hit compound 2 with an $IC_{50}$ value of $620\mu}M$ from protein kinase focused library. Based on the structural features of 2, new 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives were designed by the introduction of aromatic and heteroaromatic moieties onto thiadiazole nucleus. In this work, a series of 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives 1a-1 were synthesized and evaluated for Akt1 inhibitory activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.437-442
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• 2016

We aimed to study the role of protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) in neuronal differentiation using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced neuronal differentiation, characterized by cell-body shrinkage, long neurite outgrowth, and expression of neuronal differentiation markers light and medium neurofilaments (NF). The bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells was induced through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules [MAPK kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p90RSK], and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling molecules PI3Kp110β, PI3Kp110γ, Akt, and mTOR. Inhibitors (adenosine dialdehyde and S-adenosylhomocysteine) of protein methylation suppressed bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. PIMT-eficiency caused by PIMT-specific siRNA inhibited neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells by suppressing phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 in the MAPK signaling pathway and Akt and mTOR in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, these results suggested that PIMT was critical for bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and regulated the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.190-200
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• 2023

Skeletal muscle, essential for metabolism, thermoregulation, and immunity, undergoes myogenic differentiation that results in myotube formation. Trans-anethole (TA), the major constituent in essential oil produced by anise, star anise, and fennel, whose function in skeletal muscle has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated whether TA influenced muscle differentiation in mouse C2C12 myoblasts. Cells were induced to differentiate using a differentiation medium with or without TA (50 or 200 mg/mL) daily for 5 days. We measured myotube length and diameter after differentiation days 1, 3, and 5 and analyzed the expression of myogenic markers (myoblast determination protein 1, myogenin, myocyte enhancer factor 2, muscle creatine kinase, and myosin heavy chain) and atrophy-related genes (atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger-1 [MuRF-1]) using quantitative real-time PCR. Additionally, we observed the expression of total protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) using western blotting. Our data showed that TA significantly induced the formation of smaller and thinner myotubes and reduced the myogenic factor expression. Furthermore, the atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression markedly increased by TA. Consistent with these findings, TA significantly decreased the expression of total Akt and p-Akt. Taken together, these results indicate that TA inhibits myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells via reduction of both total Akt and p-Akt. Our findings may provide valuable insights into the impact of PAA on individuals at risk of muscle atrophy.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.178-182
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• 2005

Nitric oxide (NO) produced from endothelial cells plays a critical role in vascular physiology. The regulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) involves various mechanisms including multiple Ser/Thr phosphorylations. Recently, eNOS-Ser617 was newly recognized to be phosphorylated in response to humoral factors including vascular endothelial growth factor. However, it remains unknown whether and how eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation is stimulated by shear stress, the primary stimulus of endothelial NO production. This issue was explored in the present study using cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Over-expression of a constitutively active protein kinase B(Akt) mutant in BAECs increased Ser617 phosphorylation while constitutively active protein kinase A mutant had no effect. When BAECs were subjected to an arterial level of laminar shear stress, eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation was clearly increased in a time-dependent manner. Shear stress also stimulated Akt phosphorylation at Thr308, one of the key regulatory sites. The time courses of eNOS-Ser617 and Akt-Thr308 phosphorylations appeared to be very similar. These results suggested that eNOS-Ser617 phosphorylation, mediated by Akt, is a physiological response to the mechanical shear stress, involved in the regulation of NO production in endothelial cells.