• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.169-178
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• 2016

Although $N{\alpha}$-terminal acetylation (Nt-acetylation) is a pervasive protein modification in eukaryotes, its general functions in a majority of proteins are poorly understood. In 2010, it was discovered that Nt-acetylation creates a specific protein degradation signal that is targeted by a new class of the N-end rule proteolytic system, called the Ac/N-end rule pathway. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the mechanism and biological functions of the Ac/N-end rule pathway, and its crosstalk with the Arg/N-end rule pathway (the classical N-end rule pathway).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.507-513
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• 2001

Histones, nuclear proteins that interact with DNA to form nucleosomes, are essential for both the regulation of transcription and the packaging of DNA within chromosomes. The N-terminal domain of histone H4 which contains four acetylation sites at lysines, may play a separate role in chromatin structure from the remainder of the H4 chain. NMR data suggest that H4NTP peptide does have relating disordered structure at physiological pH, however, it has a defined structure at lower pH conditions. The solution structure calculated from NMR data shows a well structured region comprising residues of Val21-Asp24. In addition, our results suggest that the H4NTP prefers an extended backbone conformation at acetylation sites, however, it (especially Lys 12 ) became more defined structures after acetylation for its optimum function.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.502-506
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• 1996

Protein X is one of the subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The biological role of this protein has not been fully elucidated, mainly because of the difficulty in its dissociation from the tightly bound dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase-protein X subcomplex. We have found that the detachment of protein X from acetyltransferase subunit can be easily accomplished by the cycles of freezing and thawing proces. Several lines of evidence including sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and acetylation with $[2^{14}C]$ pyruvate confirmed that the purified protein is protein X. The purified intact form of protein X was acetylated by $[2^{14}C]$ pyruvate in the presence of py-ruvate dehydrogenase subunit.The acetylation efficiency of this protein was lower than that of acetyltransferase and was not affected by the presence of acetyltransferase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.413-423
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• 2021

Apoptosis is proved responsible for renal damage during ischemia/reperfusion. The regulation for renal apoptosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) has still been unclearly characterized to date. In the present study, we investigated the regulation of histone acetylation on IRI-induced renal apoptosis and the molecular mechanisms in rats with the application of curcumin possessing a variety of biological activities involving inhibition of apoptosis. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four experimental groups (SHAM, IRI, curcumin, SP600125). Results showed that curcumin significantly decreased renal apoptosis and caspase-3/-9 expression and enhanced renal function in IRI rats. Treatment with curcumin in IRI rats also led to the decrease in expression of p300/cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CBP) and activity of histone acetyltransferases (HATs). Reduced histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) acetylation was found near the promoter region of caspase-3/-9 after curcumin treatment. In a similar way, SP600125, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), also attenuated renal apoptosis and enhanced renal function in IRI rats. In addition, SP600125 suppressed the binding level of p300/CBP and H3K9 acetylation near the promoter region of caspase-3/-9, and curcumin could inhibit JNK phosphorylation like SP600125. These results indicate that curcumin could attenuate renal IRI via JNK/p300/CBP-mediated anti-apoptosis signaling.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.387-398
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• 2023

Microtubule acetylation has been proposed as a marker of highly heterogeneous and aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The novel microtubule acetylation inhibitors GM-90257 and GM-90631 (GM compounds) cause TNBC cancer cell death but the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that GM compounds function as anti-TNBC agents through activation of the JNK/AP-1 pathway. RNA-seq and biochemical analyses of GM compound-treated cells revealed that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and members of its downstream signaling pathway are potential targets for GM compounds. Mechanistically, JNK activation by GM compounds induced an increase in c-Jun phosphorylation and c-Fos protein levels, thereby activating the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Notably, direct suppression of JNK with a pharmacological inhibitor alleviated Bcl2 reduction and cell death caused by GM compounds. TNBC cell death and mitotic arrest were induced by GM compounds through AP-1 activation in vitro. These results were reproduced in vivo, validating the significance of microtubule acetylation/JNK/AP-1 axis activation in the anti-cancer activity of GM compounds. Moreover, GM compounds significantly attenuated tumor growth, metastasis, and cancer-related death in mice, demonstrating strong potential as therapeutic agents for TNBC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.158-167
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• 2022

Ubiquitin (Ub) is post-translationally modified by Ub itself or Ub-like proteins, phosphorylation, and acetylation, among others, which elicits a variety of Ub topologies and cellular functions. However, N-terminal (Nt) modifications of Ub remain unknown, except the linear head-to-tail ubiquitylation via Nt-Met. Here, using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and an Nt-arginylated Ub-specific antibody, we found that the detectable level of Ub undergoes Nt-Met excision, Nt-deamination, and Nt-arginylation. The resulting Nt-arginylated Ub and its conjugated proteins are upregulated in the stationary-growth phase or by oxidative stress. We further proved the existence of Nt-arginylated Ub in vivo and identified Nt-arginylated Ub-protein conjugates using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based tandem mass spectrometry. In silico structural modeling of Nt-arginylated Ub predicted that Nt-Arg flexibly protrudes from the surface of the Ub, thereby most likely providing a docking site for the factors that recognize it. Collectively, these results reveal unprecedented Nt-arginylated Ub and the pathway by which it is produced, which greatly expands the known complexity of the Ub code.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.139-147
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• 1999

Peptides are formed in the rumen as the result of microbial proteinase activity. The predominant type of activity is cysteine ptoteinase, but others, such as serine proteinases, are also present. Many species of protozoa, bacteria and fungi are involved in ptoteolysis; large animal-to-animal variability is found when proteinase activities in different animals are compared. The peptides formed from proteolysis are broken down to amino acids by peptidases. Different peptides are broken down at different rates, depending on their chemical composition and particularly their N-terminal structure. Indeed, chemical addition to the N-terminus of small peptides, such as by acetylation, causes the peptides to become stable to breakdown by the rumen microbial population; the microorganisms do not appear to adapt to hydrolyse acetylated peptides even after several weeks exposure to dietary acetylated peptides, and the amino acids present in acetylated peptides are absorbed from the small intestine. The amino acids present in some acetylated peptides remain available in nutritional trials with rats, but the nutritive value of the whole amino acid mixture is decreased by acetylation. The genus Prevotella is responsible for most of the catabolic peptidase activity in the rumen, via its dipeptidyl peptidase activities, which release dipeptides rather than free amino acids from the N-terminus of oligopeptides. Studies with dipeptidyl peptidase mutants of Prevotella suggest that it may be possible to slow the rate of peptide hydrolysis by the mixed rumen microbial population by inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase activity of Prevotella or the rate of peptide uptake by this genus. Peptides and amino acids also stimulate the growth of rumen microorganisms, and are necessary for optimal growth rates of many species growing on tapidly fermented substrates; in rich medium, most bacteria use pre-formed amino acids for more than 90% of their amino acid requirements. Cellulolytic species are exceptional in this respect, but they still incorporate about half of their cell N from pre-formed amino acids in rich medium. However, the extent to which bacteria use ammonia vs. peptides and amino acids for protein synthesis also depends on the concentrations of each, such that preformed amino acids and peptides are probably used to a much lesser extent in vivo than many in vitro experiments might suggest.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.839-846
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• 1999

An extracellular chitinase-producing bacterial strain induced by colloidal chitin was isolated from sea sand and was identified to be a member of the genus Cytophaga. The chitinase was purified successively by 30-60% ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-Bio gel A column, Octyl-Sepharose CL-4B column, and DEAE-Bio gel A column chromatographies. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 59.75 kDa, and the amino terminal amino acid sequence was ATPNAPVISW MPTDXXLQNXS. The enzyme acted better on colloidal chitin as a substrate than on chitosan. For colloidal chitin and chitosan (Degree of Acetylation, 15-25%), $K_{cat}$ values were 0.60U/mg and 0.08U/mg, respectively. HPLC analysis of the enzymatic reaction products showed that the chitinase produced mostly N-acetyl-D-glucosarnine and di-N-acetylchitobiose. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme were $50^{\circ}C$ and 4.0, respectively. N-Bromosuccinimide and $Hg^{2+}$ inhibited the chitinase activity as much as 90%, and $Sb^{3+}$, diethylpyrocarbonate, and $Ag^{+}$ inhibited it by 50-70%.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2023

Sirtuins (SIRTs) belong to the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent class III histone deacetylase family. They are key regulators of cellular and physiological processes, such as cell survival, senescence, differentiation, DNA damage and stress response, cellular metabolism, and aging. SIRTs also influence carcinogenesis, making them potential targets for anticancer therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties and underlying molecular mechanisms of a novel SIRT1 inhibitor, MHY2251, in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. MHY2251 reduced the viability of various human CRC cell lines, especially those with wild-type TP53. MHY2251 inhibited SIRT1 activity and SIRT1/2 protein expression, while promoting p53 acetylation, which is a target of SIRT1 in HCT116 cells. MHY2251 treatment triggered apoptosis in HCT116 cells. It increased the percentage of late apoptotic cells and the sub-G1 fraction (as detected by flow cytometric analysis) and induced DNA fragmentation. In addition, MHY2251 upregulated the expression of FasL and Fas, altered the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, downregulated the levels of pro-caspase-8, -9, and -3 proteins, and induced subsequent poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. The induction of apoptosis by MHY2251 was related to the activation of the caspase cascade, which was significantly attenuated by pre-treatment with Z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor. Furthermore, MHY2251 stimulated the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and MHY2251-triggered apoptosis was blocked by pre-treatment with SP600125, a JNK inhibitor. This finding indicated the specific involvement of JNK in MHY2251-induced apoptosis. MHY2251 shows considerable potential as a therapeutic agent for targeting human CRC via the inhibition of SIRT1 and activation of JNK/p53 pathway.