• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.1503-1507
• /
• 2013

The two major symptoms characterizing Alzheimer's disease are the formation of amyloid-${\beta}$ extracellular deposits in the form of senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that consist of pathological hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregated into insoluble paired helical filaments (PHFs). Neurons of the central nervous system have appreciable amounts of tau protein, a microtubule-associated protein. To maintain an optimal operation of nerves, the microtubules are stabilized, which is necessary to support cell structure and cellular processes. When the modified tau protein becomes dysfunctional, the cells containing misfolded tau cannot maintain cell structure. One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is hyperphosphorylated tau protein. This paper shows that the small heat shock protein from humans (Hsp27) reduces hyperphosphorylated tau and prevents hyperphosphorylated tau-induced cell death of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.291-298
• /
• 2011

Yam extracts (Dioscorea batatas) have been reported to possess a variety of functions. However, studies on its osteogenic properties are limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of ethanol and water extracts on osteoblast proliferation and bone matrix protein synthesis, type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), using osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell model. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured with yam ethanol and water extracts (0~30 mg/L) within 39 days of osteoblast differentiation period. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Bone matrix proteins were assessed by the accumulation of type I collagen and ALP activity by staining the cell layers for matrix staining. Also, the secreted (media) matrix protein concentration (type I collagen) and enzyme activity (ALP) were measured colorimetrically. Yam ethanol and water extracts stimulated cell proliferation within the range of 15~30 mg/L at 15 day treatment. The accumulation of type I collagen in the extracellular matrix, as well as secreted collagen in the media, increased with increasing doses of yam ethanol (3~15 mg/L) and water (3~30 mg/L) extracts. ALP activity was not affected by yam ethanol extracts. Our results demonstrated that yam extracts stimulated osteoblast proliferation and enhanced the accumulation of the collagenous bone matrix protein type I collagen in the extracellular matrix. These results suggest that yam extracts may be a potential activator for bone formation by increasing osteoblast proliferation and increasing bone matrix protein type I collagen. Before confirming the osteogenic action of yam, further studies for clarifying how and whereby yam extracts can stimulate this ostegenesis action are required.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.899-910
• /
• 2007

Extracellular Regulated Kinases (ERK) and Protein Kinase B (Akt) are intermediaries in relaying extracellular growth signals to intracellular targets. Each pathway can become activated upon stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors mediated by $G_q$ and $G_{i/o}$ proteins subjected to regulation by RGS proteins. The goal of the study was to delineate the specificity in which cardiac RGS proteins modulate $G_{q^-}$ and $G_{i/o}$-induced ERK and Akt phosphorylation. To isolate $G_{q^-}$ and $G_{i/o}$-mediated effects, we exclusively expressed muscarinic $M_2$ or $M_3$ receptors in COS-7 cells. Western blot analyses demonstrated increase of phosphorylation of ERK 1.7-/3.3-fold and Akt 2.4-/6-fold in $M_{2^-}/M_{3^-}$ expressing cells through carbachol stimulation. In co-expressions, $M_3/G_q$-induced activation of Akt was exclusively blunted through RGS3s/RGS3, whereas activation of ERK was inhibited additionally through RGS2/RGS5. $M_2/G_{i/o}$ induced Akt activation was inhibited by all RGS proteins tested. RGS2 had no effect on $M_2/G_{i/o}$-induced ERK activation. The high degree of specificity in RGS proteins-depending modulation of $G_{q^-}$ and $G_{i/o}$-mediated ERK and Akt activation in the muscarinic network cannot merely be attributed exclusively to RGS protein selectivity towards $G_q$ or $G_{i/o}$ proteins. Counter-regulatory mechanisms and inter-signaling cross-talk may alter the sensitivity of GPCR-induced ERK and Akt activation to RGS protein regulation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.218-218
• /
• 2002

Using two drugs, tunicamycin and brefeldin A, which affect protein processing, we investigated the intracellular processing mechanism of secreted aspartyl proteinase 1 (SAPl) of Candide albicans. Three intracellular forms of SAPI were detected by immunoblotting using menoclonal antibody (MAb) CAPl. Their molecular weights were approximately 40, 41 and 45 kDa, respectively. The 41 kDa protein is a glycoprotein and may be the same as the extracellular form judging by its molecular mass. The 40 kDa protein was the unglycosylated form and its molecular mass coincided with deglycosylated SAPl and the 45 kDa protein was also the unglycosylated form. Neither the 40 and 45 kDa proteins were detected in the culture supernatant of C. albicans. These suggested that the 40 and 45 kDa proteins might be intracellular precursor forms of SAPI. These results show that SAPI is translated as a 45 kDa precusor form in the endoplasmic reticulum and the 45 kDa precursor farm undergoes proteolytic cleavage after translocation into the Golgi apparatus, generating the 40 kDa precursor form. This 40 kDa precursor is converted into a 41 kDa mature form through glycosylation in the Golgi apparatus. The mature form of the 41 kDa protein is sorted into secretary vesicles and finally released into the extracellular space through membrane fusion. When the glycan region of SAPl was digested with N-glycosidase F, both stability and activity of the enzyme decreased. These results indicate that the glycan attached to the enzyme may, at least in parti be related to enzyme stability and activity.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.237-243
• /
• 2006

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuromodulator of nociceptive responses in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord. BDNF synthesis increases in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) in trkA-expressing small and medium-sized DRG neurons after inflammation. Previously we demonstrated differential activation of multiple BDNF promoters in the DRG following peripheral nerve injury and inflammation. Using reporter constructs containing individual promoter regions, we investigated the effect of NGF on the multiple BDNF promoters, and the signaling pathway by which NGF activates these promoters in PC12 cells. Although all the promoters were activated 2.4-7.1-fold by NGF treatment, promoter IV gave the greatest induction. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, SB203580, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor, LY294003, protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, chelerythrine, had no effect on activation of promoter IV by NGF. However, activation was completely abolished by the MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitors, U0126 and PD98059. In addition, these inhibitors blocked NGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2. Taken together, these results suggest that the ERK1/2 pathway activates BDNF promoter IV in response to NGF independently of NGF-activated signaling pathways involving PKA and PKC.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.218-223
• /
• 2000

Using two drugs, tunicamycin and brefeldin A, which affect protein processing, we investigated the intracellular processing mechanism of secreted aspartyl proteinase 1 (SAPl) of Candide albicans. Three intracellular forms of SAPI were detected by immunoblotting using menoclonal antibody (MAb) CAPl. Their molecular weights were approximately 40, 41 and 45 kDa, respectively. The 41 kDa protein is a glycoprotein and may be the same as the extracellular form judging by its molecular mass. The 40 kDa protein was the unglycosylated form and its molecular mass coincided with deglycosylated SAPl and the 45 kDa protein was also the unglycosylated form. Neither the 40 and 45 kDa proteins were detected in the culture supernatant of C. albicans. These suggested that the 40 and 45 kDa proteins might be intracellular precursor forms of SAPI. These results show that SAPI is translated as a 45 kDa precusor form in the endoplasmic reticulum and the 45 kDa precursor farm undergoes proteolytic cleavage after translocation into the Golgi apparatus, generating the 40 kDa precursor form. This 40 kDa precursor is converted into a 41 kDa mature form through glycosylation in the Golgi apparatus. The mature form of the 41 kDa protein is sorted into secretary vesicles and finally released into the extracellular space through membrane fusion. When the glycan region of SAPl was digested with N-glycosidase F, both stability and activity of the enzyme decreased. These results indicate that the glycan attached to the enzyme may, at least in parti be related to enzyme stability and activity.

• 대한약리학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.74-74
• /
• 2006

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.337.1-337.1
• /
• 2002

Hypertrophy and the alteration of renal cell growth have been reported as early abnormality in diabetic nephropathy. However, the effects ot high PKCglucose and its action mechanism in renal proximal tubular cell (PTC) have not been elucidated. High glucose condition increases diacyl glycerol (DAG) and activates protein kinase C (PKC) in renal tubular cells. The PKC activates mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), such as extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK. (omitted)

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.376.1-376
• /
• 2001

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.240-249
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Glabridin (GD) is a bio-available isoflavane isolated from the root extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.). It exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. However, extracellular vesicles (EVs) secretion and the anti-cancer mechanism of action remains largely unknown. The present study investigates the anticancer effects of GD by determining the inhibition of EVs secretion in the human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. Methods: Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, migration, invasion rate, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration were assessed in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with increasing concentrations of GD (0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20 µM). Subsequently, EV secretion and exosomal DEL-1 protein expression were evaluated to determine the anticancer effects of GD. Results: The results showed that GD significantly inhibited the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose- or time-dependent manner. Also, ROS production and apoptosis marker protein cleaved caspase-3 were significantly increased in GD-treated MDA-MB-231, compared to control. Furthermore, GD exposure resulted in significantly decreased not only migration and invasion rates but also the VEGF concentration, thereby contributing to a reduction in angiogenesis. Interestingly, the concentration and number of EVs as well as EV marker proteins, such as CD63 and TSG101, were decreased in GD-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Markedly, extracellular matrix protein DEL-1 as angiogenesis factor was decreased in EVs from GD-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusion: This study identifies that the anti-cancer molecular mechanism of GD is exerted via inhibition of angiogenesis and EVs secretion, indicating the potential of GD as a chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer.