• BMB Reports
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• 제46권7호
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• pp.358-363
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• 2013

In this paper, we firstly reported a C-type lectin cDNA clone of 1029 bps from the larvae of A. Pernyi (Ap-CTL) using PCR and RACE techniques. The full-length cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding 308 amino acid residues which has two different carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs) arranged in tandem. To investigate the biological activities in the innate immunity, recombinant Ap-CTL was expressed in E. coli with a 6-histidine at the amino-terminus (Ap-rCTL). Besides acted as a broad-spectrum recognition protein binding to a wide range of PAMPs and microorganisms, Ap-rCTL also had the ability to recognize and trigger the agglutination of bacteria and fungi. In the proPO activation assay, Ap-rCTL specifically restored the PO activity of hemolymph blocked by anti-Ap-rCTL antibody in the presence of different PAMPs or microorganisms. In summary, Ap-rCTL plays an important role in insect innate immunity as an pattern recognition protein.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.1569-1574
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• 2011

The presence of replication-competent adenovirus (RCA) subpopulations in adenoviral vector products raises a variety of safety issues for development of therapies based on gene therapy. To analyze the differing effects of adenoviral vector and RCA in vivo, we examined alterations in amino acids (AAs) using rat plasma following injection of ${\beta}$-galactosidase expressing recombinant adenovirus (designated rAdLacZ) or RCA. Plasma AAs were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 16 AAs were positively measured. In the rAdLacZ group compared to the control group, the level of aspartic acid was significantly increased (Student's t-test), while the level of glutamic acid was significantly reduced. Additionally, in the RCA group compared to the control group, the level of four AAs, valine, leucine, and isoleucine as branched-chain amino acids, and proline were significantly increased, whereas the levels of three AAs, glycine, threonine, and glutamic acid were significantly reduced. Altered plasma free AA metabolic patterns in rAdLacZ and RCA groups, compared with the control group, may explain the disturbance of AA metabolism related to viral infection.

• BMB Reports
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.46-54
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• 1997

Alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. S-1 secretes a large amount (approximately 80% of total pullulanase activity) of an extracellular pullulanase (PUL-E). The pullulanase exists in two forms: a precursor form (PUL-I: $M_r$ 180,000), and a processed form (PUL-E: $M_r$ 140,000). Two forms were purified to homogeneity and their properties were compared. PUL-I was different in molecular weight, isoelectric point, $NH_2$-terminal amino acid sequence, and stabilities over pH and temperature ranges. The catalytic activities of PUL-I were also distinguishable in the $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ values for various substrates, and in the specific activity for pullulan hydrolysis. PUL-E showed 10-fold higher specific activities than PUL-I. However. PUL-I is immunologically identical to PUL-E, suggesting that PUL-I is initially synthesized and proteolytically processed to the mature form of PUL-E. Processing was inhibited by PMSF, but not by pepstatin, suggesting that some intracellular serine proteases could be responsible for processing of the PUL-I. PUL-I has a different conformational structure for antibody recognition from that of PUL-E. It is also postulated that the translocation of alkaline pullulanase(AP) in the bacterium possibly requires processing of the $NH_2$-terminal region of the AP protein. Processing of the precursor involves a conformational shift. resulting in a mature form. Therefore. precursor processing not only cleaves the signal peptide, but also induces conformational shift. allowing development of active form of the enzyme.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권7호
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• pp.503-511
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• 2019

As sessile organisms, plants have developed sophisticated system to defend themselves against microbial attack. Since plants do not have specialized immune cells, all plant cells appear to have the innate ability to recognize pathogens and turn on an appropriate defense response. The plant innate immune system has two major branches: PAMPs (pathogen associated molecular patterns)-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). The ability to discriminate between self and non-self is a fundamental feature of living organisms, and it is a prerequisite for the activation of plant defenses specific to microbial infection. Arabidopsis cells express receptors that detect extracellular molecules or structures of the microbes, which are called collectively PAMPs and activate PTI. However, nucleotidebinding site leucine-rich repeats (NB-LRR) proteins mediated ETI is induced by direct or indirect recognition of effector molecules encoded by avr genes. In Arabidopsis, plasmamembrane localized multifunctional protein RIN4 (RPM1-interacting protein 4) plays important role in both PTI and ETI. Previous studies have suggested that RIN4 functions as a negative regulator of PTI. In addition, many different bacterial effector proteins modify RIN4 to destabilize plant immunity and several NB-LRR proteins, including RPM1 (resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola 1), RPS2 (resistance to P. syringae 2) guard RIN4. This review summarizes the current studies that have described signaling mechanism of RIN4 function, modification of RIN4 by bacterial effectors and different interacting partner of RIN4 in defense related pathway. In addition, the emerging role of the RIN4 in plant physiology and intercellular signaling as it presents in exosomes will be discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제30권9호
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• pp.2101-2106
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• 2009

A series of facial amphiphiles 3,7-diaminocholestane were synthesized from 3,7-diketocholestane via 2 sequential reductive aminations and anion recognition was evaluated with acetate, chloride, bromide, fluoride and phosphate anions. The stereo-selective reductive amination protocol was utilized to synthesized facial amphiphiles afforded receptors in high yields. The molecular receptor 2 showed the highest binding constant with acetate in a 1:1 ratio.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.190-194
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• 2004

The structures and complexation energies of penta-O-tert-butyl ester 1 of p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene toward a series of alkyl ammonium guests have been optimized by ab initio HF/6-31G method. The calculated complexation efficiencies of 1 for alkyl ammonium guests have been found to be similar to the values of previously reported debutylated-calix[5]arene 2. Calculation results show that both of the calix[5]aryl derivatives have much better complexation ability toward ammonium cation without alkyl group over other alkyl ammonium guests. The structural characteristics of the calculated complexes are discussed as a function of the nature of the alkyl substituents of the ammonium guests.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2005년도 생물공학의 동향(XVI)
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• pp.18-18
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• 2005

Photoinduced electron transport process in nature such as photoelectric conversion and long-range electron transfer in photosynthetic organisms are known to occur not only very efficiently but also unidirectionally through the functional groups of biomolecules. The basic principles in the development of new functional devices can be inspired from the biological systems such as molecular recognition, electron transfer chain, or photosynthetic reaction center. By mimicking the organization of the biological system, molecular electronic devices can be realized $artificially^{1)}$. The nano-fabrication technology of biomolecules was applied to the development of nano-protein chip for simultaneously analyzing many kinds of proteins as a rapid tool for proteome research. The results showed that the self-assembled protein layer had an influence on the sensitivity of the fabricated bio-surface to the target molecules, which would give us a way to fabricate the nano-protein chip with high sensitivity. The results implicate that the biosurface fabrication using self-assembled protein molecules could be successfully applied to the construction of nanoscale bio-photodiode and nano-protein chip based on electrical detection.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.18-26
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• 2018

Mitochondrial quality control systems are essential for the maintenance of functional mitochondria. At the organelle level, they include mitochondrial biogenesis, fusion and fission, to compensate for mitochondrial function, and mitophagy, for degrading damaged mitochondria. Specifically, in mitophagy, the target mitochondria are recognized by the autophagosomes and delivered to the lysosome for degradation. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of mitophagy and the factors that play an important role in this process. In particular, we focus on the roles of mitophagy adapters and receptors in the recognition of damaged mitochondria by autophagosomes. In addition, we also address a functional association of mitophagy with mitochondrial dynamics through the interaction of mitophagy adaptor and receptor proteins with mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제5권5호
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• pp.269-273
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• 1995

A thermotolerable restriction endonuclease. Svil, found in Streptomyces violochromogenes D2-5 was purified. For the purification, streptomycin sulfate and ammonium sulfate precipitation was used. Ph osphocellulose P-ll, DEAE-Cellulose and Sephacryl-S200 HR colum chromatography were also performed. The purified enzyme was found to be homogeneous and the molecular weight of the enzyme estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis containing 0.1$%$ SDS was about 32, 000 daltons. The recognition sequence and cleavage site of the enzyme were determined to be $5^1$-$TT\downarrow CGAA$-$3^1$ which is the same sequence as that of Asull. Unlike Asull, however, the Svil shows high thermal stability.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제23권7호
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• pp.1003-1010
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• 2002

Caspase 3, a member of cysteine protease family, is well known as a major apoptosis effector and is involved in cell death as a result of ischemic diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction, therefore the inhibition of caspase 3 may protect those apoptotic cell damages. During the high-throughput screening of the compounds from the Korea Chemical Bank, berberine derivatives (A and B), an isoquinoline alkaloid, have been identified as potential inhibitors for caspase 3. Based on this finding we carried out molecular modeling study to identify the pharmacophoric elements of berberine structure which interact with a substrate-recognition binding site of caspase 3 and came up with several novel scaffolds. In this report, we will discuss the molecular modeling, syntheses and the enzyme inhibitory activities of these novel compounds.