• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.878-895
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• 2017

Phosphorylation, a critical mechanism in biological systems, is estimated to be indispensable for about 30% of key biological activities, such as cell cycle progression, migration, and division. It is synergistically balanced by kinases and phosphatases, and any deviation from this balance leads to disease conditions. Pathway or biological activity-based abnormalities in phosphorylation and the type of involved phosphatase influence the outcome, and cause diverse diseases ranging from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and numerous cancers. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are of prime importance in the process of dephosphorylation and catalyze several biological functions. Abnormal PTP activities are reported to result in several human diseases. Consequently, there is an increased demand for potential PTP inhibitory small molecules. Several strategies in structure-based drug designing techniques for potential inhibitory small molecules of PTPs have been explored along with traditional drug designing methods in order to overcome the hurdles in PTP inhibitor discovery. In this review, we discuss druggable PTPs and structure-based virtual screening efforts for successful PTP inhibitor design.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.100-104
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated the relationship between the morphology and the rheological properties of Penicillium citrinum to improve the production of neo-fructosyltransferase (neo-FTase). In a 2.5 L bioreactor culture of P. citrinum, it was observed that agitation speed and aeration rate had significant effects on the production of neo-FTase and that maximum cell mass and neo-FTase production obtained at 500 rpm and 1.5vvm were 8.14 g/L and $53.2{\times}10^{-3} U/mL$, respectively. Cell mass and neo-FTase production increased to 91.53 and 25.17%, respectively. In the morphology and rheology studies, P. citrinum showed a typical pellet morphology that was explained by a shaving mechanism; this phenomenon was significantly affected by carbon sources. The rheology of neo-FTase fermentation by P. citrinum was dependent on cell growth and fungal morphology.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.147-156
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• 2007

The orientation and deformation of polymer chains in a confined channel flow has been investigated. The polymer chain was modeled as a Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic (FENE) dumbbell. The Brownian configuration field method was extended to take the interaction between the flow and local chain dynamics into account. Drag and Brownian forces were treated as anisotropic in order to reflect the influence of the wall in the confined flow. Both Poiseuille flow and 4 : 1 contraction flow were considered. Of particular interest was molecular tumbling of polymer chains near the wall. It was strongly influenced by anisotropic drag and high shear close to the wall. We discussed the mechanism of this particular behavior in terms of the governing forces. The dumbbell configuration was determined not only by the wall interaction but also by the flow type of the geometric origin. The effect of extensional flow on dumbbell configuration was also discussed by comparing with the Poiseuille flow.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.156-160
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• 2000

The possible mechanism of the DNA strand breaking activity of the hot-water extract of Fructus Chaenomelis (dried fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis) in a closed circular duplex replica form DNA (RFI DNA) was studied through agarose gel electrophresis under various conditions. Induction of DNA strand scission by the hot-water extract of C. sinensis occurred in dose and time-dependent manners. $Cu^{2+}$ was indispensable for the induction of DNA strand breakage. Exogeneous chelating agents inhibited the DNA breaking activity, conforming the catalytic action of $Cu^{2+}$ on generation of free radicals responsible for oxidative damage. Antioxidant enzymes and some radical scavengers were used to investigate the major radical species triggering the DNA strand scission, demonstrating that a highest inhibitory activity was found in the presence of catalase, while less in the presence of tiron (a scavenger for superoxide radical), 2-aminoethyl-isothiuroniumbromide-HBr, cysteamine (scavengers for hydroxyl radical), and 1,4-diazabicyclo [2,2,2] octane (a scavenger for singlet oxygen) in decreasing order. The findings implied that oxygen radical species generated in presence of transition divalent cation during the oxidation of some compounds contained in the hot-water extract of C. sinensis is mainly responsible for inducing genotoxicity.

• 한국미생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국미생물학회 2000년도 추계학술발표대회
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• pp.24-31
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• 2000

In order to find out SoxR-reducing system in E. coli, we generated Tn10-insertion mutants and screened for constitutive expression of SoxS in a soxS-lacZ fusion strain. One mutation was mapped in rseB, a gene in rseABC (Regulation of SigmaE) operon. The constitutive soxS-expressing phenotype was due to the polar effect on the downstream gene, rseC. RseC is likely to function as a component of SoxR reduction system because SoxR was kept in oxidized form to activate soxS expression in rseC mutant. RseC is an integral membrane protein with an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain in the cytoplasm. The functionally critical cysteines were determined by substitution mutagenesis. The truncated N-terminal domain of RseC reduced the soxS transcription by $50\%$ as judged by in vitro transcription assay. Currently RseC is believed to be a reducing factor for SoxR. However, the mechanism for the reduction needs further investigation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제64권3호
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• pp.205-211
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• 2021

In order to test the functionality of Panax ginseng thioredoxin 1 (PgTRX1) isolated from fermented wild ginseng roots, a transient effect on physiological activity were performed over a short time frame using the Agrobacterium infiltration technique. The PgTRX1 gene isolated from fermented wild ginseng was confirmed to have a size of 579 bp, and the expression of PgTRX1 was the highest in the sample after 6 h of fermentation. As a result of constructing this gene and confirming the infiltration reaction mediated by Agrobacterium in tobacco leaves, it was found that the expression of the NbHSR203j gene was also induced as PgTRX1 expression increased. As a result of measuring the biological activity of the infiltration samples, the total phenol content increased by 35.45±1.84 to 49.01±1.84 ㎍ GAE/mL compared to the control, and the total flavonoid amount of 9.52±0.41 to 9.82±0.25 ㎍ QE/mL was slightly high. From these results, Agrobacterium-mediated PgTRX1 appears to be related to the hypersensitive response induction mechanism of plants and the production of secondary metabolites such as phenolic substances.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권9호
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• pp.439-450
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• 2021

Translating ribosomes accompany co-translational regulation of nascent polypeptide chains, including subcellular targeting, protein folding, and covalent modifications. Ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) is a co-translational surveillance mechanism triggered by ribosomal collisions, an indication of atypical translation. The ribosome-associated E3 ligase ZNF598 ubiquitinates small subunit proteins at the stalled ribosomes. A series of RQC factors are then recruited to dissociate and triage aberrant translation intermediates. Regulatory ribosomal stalling may occur on endogenous transcripts for quality gene expression, whereas ribosomal collisions are more globally induced by ribotoxic stressors such as translation inhibitors, ribotoxins, and UV radiation. The latter are sensed by ribosome-associated kinases GCN2 and ZAKα, activating integrated stress response (ISR) and ribotoxic stress response (RSR), respectively. Hierarchical crosstalks among RQC, ISR, and RSR pathways are readily detectable since the collided ribosome is their common substrate for activation. Given the strong implications of RQC factors in neuronal physiology and neurological disorders, the interplay between RQC and ribosome-associated stress signaling may sustain proteostasis, adaptively determine cell fate, and contribute to neural pathogenesis. The elucidation of underlying molecular principles in relevant human diseases should thus provide unexplored therapeutic opportunities.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.89-100
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• 2018

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that delivers 1-2 mA of current to the scalp. Several clinical studies have been conducted to confirm the therapeutic effect of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with tDCS. Some studies have shown tDCS's antidepressant effect, while the others showed conflicting results in antidepressant effects. Our aim of this review is to understand the biological bases of tDCS's antidepressant effect and review the results of studies on tDCS's antidepressant effect. For the review and search process of MDD treatment using tDCS, the US National Library of Medicine search engine PubMed was used. In this review, we discuss the biological mechanism of tDCS's antidepressant effect and the existing published literature including meta-analysis, systematic review, control trial, open studies, and case reports of antidepressant effects and cognitive function improvement in patients with MDD are reviewed. We also discuss the appropriate tDCS protocol for MDD patients, factors predictive of response to tDCS treatment, the disadvantages of tDCS in MDD treatment, and side effects.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.17-27
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• 2019

Ubiquitin-specific protease 44 (USP44) has been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis across various tumors. However, the function of USP44 in prostate cancers and regulatory mechanism of histone-modifying enzymes by USP44 in tumors is not well-understood. Here, we found that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase, is regulated by USP44. We showed that EZH2 is a novel target of USP44 and that the protein stability of EZH2 is upregulated by USP44-mediated deubiquitination. In USP44 knockdown prostate cancer cells, the EZH2 protein level and its gene silencing activity were decreased. Furthermore, USP44 knockdown inhibited the tumorigenic characteristics and cancer stem cell-like behaviors of prostate cancer cells. Inhibition of tumorigenesis caused by USP44 knockdown was recovered by ectopic introduction of EZH2. Additionally, USP44 regulates the protein stability of oncogenic EZH2 mutants. Taken together, our results suggest that USP44 promotes the tumorigenesis of prostate cancer cells partly by stabilizing EZH2 and that USP44 is a viable therapeutic target for treating EZH2-dependent cancers.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.259-267
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• 2020

Snakebite is a severe medical, economic, and social problem across the world, mostly in the tropical and subtropical area. These regions of the globe have typical of the world's venomous snakes present where access to prompt treatment is limited or not available. Snake venom is a complex mixture of toxin proteins like neurotoxin and cardiotoxin, and other enzymes like phospholipase A2 (PLA2), haemorrhaging, transaminase, hyaluronidase, phosphodiesterase, acetylcholinesterase, cytolytic and necrotic toxins. Snake venom shows a wide range of biological effects like anticoagulation or platelet aggregation, hemolysis, hypotension and edema. Phospholipase A2 is the principal constituent of snake venom; it catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 position of membrane glycerophospholipids to liberate arachidonic acid, which is the precursor of eicosanoids including prostaglandins and leukotrienes. The information regarding the structure and function of the phospholipase A2 enzyme may help in treating the snakebite victims. This review article constitutes a brief description of the structure, types, mechanism occurrence, and tests of phospholipase A2 and role of components of medicinal plants used to inhibit phospholipase A2.