• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.45-45
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• 2003

We isolated a novel ankyrin-repeat containing protein, rSIAP (rSlo Interacting Ankyrin-repeat Protein), as an interacting protein to the cytosolic domain of the alpha-subunit of rat large-conductance Ca$\^$2+/-activated K$\^$+/ channel (rSlo) by yeast two-hybrid screening. Affinity pull-down assay showed the direct and specific interaction between rSIAP and rSlo domain. The channel-binding proteins can be classified into several categories according to their functional effects on the channel proteins, i.e. signaling adaptors, scaffolding net, molecular tuners, molecular chaperones, etc. To obtain initial clues on its functional roles, we investigated the cellular localization of rSIAP using immunofluorescent staining. The results showed the possible co-localization of rSlo and rSIAP protein near the plasma membrane, when co-expressed in CHO cells. We then investigated the functional effects of rSIAP on the rSlo channel using electrophysiological means. The co-expression of rSIAP accelerated the activation of rSlo channel. These effects were initiated at the micromolar [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/ and gradually increased as [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/ raised. Interestingly, rSIAP decreased the inactivation kinetics of rSlo channel at micromolar [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/, while the rate was accelerated at sub-micromolar [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/. These results suggest that rSIAP may modulate the activity of native BK$\_$Ca/ channel by altering its gating kinetics depending on [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/. To localize critical regions involved in protein-protein interaction between rSlo and rSIAP, a series of sub-domain constructs were generated. We are currently investigating sub-domain interaction using both of yeast two-hybrid method and in vitro binding assay.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.418-423
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• 2007

Meats with alginate binders including sodium alginate, glucono-delta-lactone and calcium carbonate were tested in restructured steaks made from M. pectoralis profundus of beef steers in terms of meat quality and binding ability by tumbling time. The treatment with 25 min tumbling time was significantly lower (p<0.05) for crude protein than 5 and 15 min, while higher (p<0.05) for moisture content. This corresponded with sensory panel juiciness ratings, which showed the treatment for longer tumbling times to be significantly juicier (p<0.05) than that for a shorter time. Cooking loss decreased (p<0.05) linearly with an increased tumbling time, and Kramer shear force also significant decreased (p<0.05) with tumbling time. This corresponded with sensory panel tenderness ratings, which showed that the treatment for longer tumbling times was more tender (p<0.05). The texture results indicated that longer tumbling time had lower (p<0.05) hardness and chewiness values. Sensory panels ranked binding ability in the order 5 min, 15 min and 25 min from best to worst, and the overall acceptability for slices from roasts of treatments for 5 and 15 min were rated by the sensory panelists as moderate to very acceptable, but those for 25 min were rated as fair to moderate.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2014

Soy and fermented soy are popular and recognized as a health food among Koreans. Since soy proteins are known to be protease resistant, even to pepsin and pancreatin, it is hypothesized that soy proteins may interact with the intestinal tract and trigger certain physiological reactions. To test this hypothesis, mice were fed diets supplemented with soy, Chunkukjang, or casein. The differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using 2-D gels and identified by peptide mass fingerprinting using mass spectrometry. The majority of the differentially expressed proteins could be functionally grouped into metabolic enzymes and calcium-binding proteins. The differential protein expression by the soy-fed groups was also verified based on a representative protein, tropomyosin, using a Western blotting analysis. In addition, the soy-fed groups exhibited a taller villi structure. Therefore, this study suggests that soy proteins can be an effective nutrient and physiological stimulant for the intestines.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.224-229
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• 2013

Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is a multi-ligand receptor that is able to bind several different ligands, including advanced glycation endproducts, high-mobility group protein (B)1 (HMGB1), S-100 calcium-binding protein, amyloid-${\beta}$-protein, Mac-1, and phosphatidylserine. Its interaction is engaged in critical cellular processes, such as inflammation, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and migration, and dysregulation of RAGE and its ligands leads to the development of numerous human diseases. In this review, we summarize the signaling pathways regulated by RAGE and its ligands identified up to date and demonstrate the effects of hyper-activation of RAGE signals on human diseases, focused mainly on renal disorders. Finally, we propose that RAGE and its ligands are the potential targets for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of numerous renal diseases.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.166-171
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• 2006

A calcium-dependent sialic acid-binding lectin has been isolated by thyroglobulin-affinity chromatography from the coastal crab Macrophthalmus Japonicus. This lectin, Macrophthalmus Japonicus lectin (MJL), was eluted with 50mM Tris-HCl, 0.3 M NaCl, 10 mM EDTA, and the recovery yield from the crude protein extract was about 5.6%. The molecular weight of MJL was estimated as 65 kDa in SDS-PAGE both under reducing and non-reducing conditions. MJL induced an agglutination reaction in rabbit, rat, and mouse erythrocytes, but not in human ABO types. This activity was effectively inhibited by sialoglycoproteins such as fetuin, bovine submaxillary mucin, and thyroglobulin.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 2017

Background: Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used as a traditional oriental medicine to treat illness and promote health for several thousand years. Ginsenosides are the main constituents for the pharmacological effects of P. ginseng. Since several ginsenosides, including ginsenoside (G)-Rg3 and G-Rp1, have reported antiplatelet activity, here we investigate the ability of G-Rp4 to modulate adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation. The ginsenoside Rp4, a similar chemical structure of G-Rp1, was prepared from G-Rg1 by chemical modification. Methods: To examine the effects of G-Rp4 on platelet activation, we performed several experiments, including antiplatelet ability, the modulation of intracellular calcium concentration, and P-selectin expression. In addition, we examined the activation of integrin ${\alpha}IIb{\beta}_3$ and the phosphorylation of signaling molecules using fibrinogen binding assay and immunoblotting in rat washed platelets. Results: G-Rp4 inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. We found that G-Rp4 decreased calcium mobilization and P-selectin expression in ADP-activated platelets. Moreover, fibrinogen binding to integrin ${\alpha}IIb{\beta}_3$ by ADP was attenuated in G-Rp4-treated platelets. G-Rp4 significantly attenuated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, as well as protein kinase B, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and phospholipase C-${\gamma}$ phosphorylations. Conclusion: G-Rp4 significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation and this is mediated via modulating the intracellular signaling molecules. These results indicate that G-Rp4 could be a potential candidate as a therapeutic agent against platelet-related cardiovascular diseases.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1064-1071
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• 2018

Purpose: To explore the influence of S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) knockout (KO) on methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. Materials and Methods: S100A4 KO mice (n=20) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=20) were randomly divided into KO/MCD, Ko/methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS), WT/MCD, and WT/MCS groups. After 8 weeks of feeding, blood lipid and liver function-related indexes were measured. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson stainings were used to observe the changes of liver histopathology. Additionally, expressions of S100A4 and proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, while hepatocyte apoptosis was revealed by TUNEL staining. Results: Serum levels of aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice were increased after 8-week MCD feeding, and hepatocytes performed varying balloon-like changes with increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibers; however, these effects were improved in mice of KO/MCD group. Meanwhile, total NAFLD activity scores and fibrosis were lower compared to WT+MCD group. Compared to WT/MCS group, S100A4 expression in liver tissue of WT/MCD group was enhanced. The expression of proinflammatory ($TGF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6) and profibrogenic cytokines ($TGF-{\beta}1$, COL1A1, ${\alpha}-SMA$) in MCD-induced NAFLD mice were increased, as well as apoptotic index (AI). For MCD group, the expressions of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and AI in KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. Conclusion: S100A4 was detected to be upregulated in NAFLD, while S100A4 KO alleviated liver fibrosis and inflammation, in addition to inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.207-217
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• 1995

To investigate the functional and immunological properties of the Ca-release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR) of the eel skeletal muscle, $[^3H]ryanodine$ binding, SDS gel electrophoresis, $^{45}Ca\;release$ studies, and immunoblot assay were carried out in the SR of the eel skeletal muscle. Maximal binding sites(Bmax) and $K_D$ values of $[^3H]ryanodine$ for Ca-release channel of the SR of the eel skeletal muscle were $19.44{\pm}1.40\;pmole/mg$ protein and $15.55{\pm}1.69\;nM$, respectively. $[^3H]Ryanodine$ binding to RyR was increased by calcium and AMP. The SR of the eel skeletal muscle has two high molecular weight bands on the SDS PAGE. The mobility of upper band was more slower than the single band of the rabbit skeletal muscle, and that of the lower band was similar with the single band of canine cardiac muscle. Vesicular $^{45}Ca-release$ was activated by calcium. Ca-induced $^{45}Ca-release$ was significantly inhibited by $MgCl_2(2\;mM)$, ruthenium red$(10\;{/mu}M)$ or tetracaine(1 mM), but not by high concentration of calcium itself. AMP-induced $^{45}Ca-release$ was slightly occurred only in the absence of calcium, it was not inhibited by $MgCl_2$ or ruthenium red. Caffeine also increased $^{45}Ca-release$ from the SR vesicles, but it was not affected by $MgCl_2$ or ruthenium red. Polyclonal Ab against rat skeletal muscle RyR is reacted with that of rabbit, but not reacted with that of the eel skeletal muscle. These results suggested that ryanodine receptor of the SR of the eel skeletal muscle is showing some similar properties with that of mammalian skeletal muscle, but might be an another isotype channel having two bands which is less sensitive to AMP, not cross-reacted with antisera against rat RyR, and not inhibited by high concentration of calcium.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.315-319
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• 1998

Gastric smooth muscle of cats was used to investigate the involvement of protein kinase in vanadate-induced contraction. Vanadate caused a contraction of cat gastric smooth muscle in a dose-dependent manner. Vanadate-induced contraction was totally inhibited by 2 mM EGTA and 1.5 mM $LACI_3$ and significantly inhibited by $10\mu$M verapamil and $1\mu$M nifedipine, suggesting that vanadate-induced contraction is dependent on the extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration, and the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was mediated through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel. Both protein kinase C inhibitor and tyrosine kinase inhibitor significantly inhibited the vanadate-induced contraction and the combined inhibitory effect of two protein kinase inhibitors was greater than that of each one. But calmodulin antagonists did not have any influence on the vanadate-induced contraction. On the other hand, both forskolin ($1\mu$M) and sodium nitroprusside ($1\mu$M) significantly inhibited vanadate-induced contraction. Therefore, these results suggest that both protein kinase C and tyrosino kinase are involved in the vanadate-induced contraction which required the influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in cat gastric smooth muscle, and that the contractile mechanism of vanadate may be different from that of agonist binding to its specific receptor.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.138-148
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• 2011

Exponential rise in the use of mobile communication devices has generated health concerns due to radiofrequency (RF) exposure due to its close proximity to the head. Calcium binding proteins like calretinin regulate the levels of calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) which plays an important role in biological systems. Ginseng is known for maintaining equilibrium in the human body and may play a beneficial radioprotectant role against electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. In the present study, we evaluated the radioprotective effects of red ginseng (RG) extract in a mouse model. Calretinin (CR) expression was measured using a free-floating immunohistochemical method in the hippocampus of mice after 835 MHz EMF exposure for 5 h/d for 5 d at specific absorption rate=1.6 W/kg for the different experimental groups. The control animals were treated with NaCl while the experimental animals received 10 mg/kg ginseng, or 30 mg/kg; EMF exposed mice were also treated with NaCl, 10 mg/kg ginseng (E10), or 30 mg/kg (E30). Decreases in CR immunoreactivity (IR) along with loss of CA1 and CA3 interneurons and infragranular cells were observed in the ENaCl group while such losses were not observed in the E10 and E30 groups. CR IR significantly increased in the RG-treated group compared to control and EMF-exposed groups treated with NaCl. The study demonstrates that RG extract can serve as a radioprotective agent that maintains $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis and prevents neuronal loss in the brain hippocampal region caused by RF exposure.