• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2008

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known as the causative agent of blood transmitted hepatitis. Two viral proteins, E2 and NS5A, are known to exert interferon resistance of HCV via PKR pathway. Here, we report a third protein, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B) of HCV, induced interferon resistance inhibiting p56 pathway. p56 was shown to interact with p48 subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3). This interaction inhibited formation of ternary complex in translation initiation. Using dual reporter assay system, we observed that the translation decreased when interferon alpha was added to the culture. But, in the presence of HCV NS5B, the translation partly recovered. NS5B and p48 subunit of eIF3 were shown to interact. This interaction seems to inhibit the interaction between p48 and p56. This is the first report that a virus exerts interferon resistance via p56 pathway.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2007

For the development of basic genetic materials for specific and effective therapeutic approach to suppress multiplication of hepatitis C virus (HCV), HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-targeting hammerhead ribozyme which activity is allosterically regulated by HCV regulatory protein, NS5B RNA replicase, was developed. The ribozyme targeted most effectively to +382 nucleotide (nt) site of HCV IRES RNA. The allosteric ribozyme was designed to be composed of sequence of RNA aptamer to HCV NS5B, communication module sequence which can transfer structural transition for inducing ribozyme activity upon binding NS5B to the aptamer, and sequence of ribozyme targeting +382 nt of HCV IRES. Noticeably, we employed in vitro selection technology to identify the most appropriate communication module sequence which can induce ribozyme activity depending on the US5B protein. We demonstrated that the ribozyme was nonfunctional either in the absence of any proteins or in the presence of control bovine serum albumin. In sharp contrast, the allosteric ribozyme can induce activity of cleavage reaction with HCV IRES RNA in the presence of the HCV NS5B protein. This allosteric ribozyme can be used as lead compound for specific and effective anti-HCV agent, tool for highthroughput screening to isolate lead chemicals for HCV therapeutics, and ligand for biosensor system for HCV diagnosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2006

This study was done to investigate the use of nutritional supplements (NS) in Korean elite soccer players using an anonymous questionnaire. NS were classified into health supplements, manufactured health food supplements, chinese medicines & tonic foods, and nutrient supplements. Information was sought on the type of NS and factors that might influence supplement use including selected demographic parameters and health related variables. The data were collected from 241 athletes (aged $24.6{\pm}3.8$ years) in 9 professional soccer club. The prevalence of NS use among the subjects was 81.3%. Health supplements were used most frequently and nutrient supplement drug was the second one. Among the health supplements, weight/muscle gainer and calorie replacement product were most frequently used. Vitamin supplements were most frequently used among all nutrient supplement drugs. Users of NS were higher age (p<0.05) duration of exercise (p<0.05), and income (p<0.05) than non-users. The married (p<0.05) and a member of K-league (p<0.01) tended to have higher prevalence of NS use. The main adviser of NS were family (55.3%) and oneself (39%) instead of coach or sports nutritionist. Although NS use, only 26.2% certainly check up nutritional information on their used NS. Among the subjects, 84.5% of them felt that NS use were improved athletic performance, and 86.5% of them will to keep on taking supplement. These data suggest that a large number of elite soccer players use NS and these players may require education about healthy nutritional supplement practice and on the proper use of nutritional supplements.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.385-388
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• 1986

The reaction of cupric nitrate trihydrate with S-2-pyridyl thioates in acetonitrile was studied. The major products were the corresponding carboxylic acids and $[Cu(NO_3)(C_5H_4NS)(C_5H_5NS$)] (Complex A). Sometimes $[Cu(NO_3)(C_5H_4NS)(H_2O$)] was also obtained in addition to Complex A. When Complex A was recrystallized in dimethylsulfoxide, $[Cu(NO_3)(C_5H_4NS)(C_5H_5NS)$ {$(CH_3)_2SO$}$_2]{\cdot}2H_2O$ was crystallized. The structures of these copper complexes and the role of cupric nitrate in the hydrolysis of S-2-pyridyl thioates are discussed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2000

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural 5B (NS5B) protein is an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). To determine whether it can contribute to viral replication by interaction with cellular proteins, the yeast two-hybrid screening system was employed to screen a human liver cDNA library. Using the HCV NS5B as a bait, we have isolated positive clones encoding a cellular protein. The NS5B interacting protein, 5BIP, is a novel cellular protein of 170 amino acids. Interaction of the HCV NS5B protein with 5BIP was confirmed by a protein-protein blotting assay. Recently, we have demonstrated that NS5B possesses an RdRp activity and thus it is possible that 5BIP, in association with NS5B, plays a role in HCV replication.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.702-717
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• 2022

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV employs diverse strategies to evade host antiviral innate immune responses to mediate a persistent infection. In the present study, we show that nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) interacts with an NF-κB inhibitor immunomodulatory kinase, IKKε, and subsequently downregulates beta interferon (IFN-β) promoter activity. We further demonstrate that NS5A inhibits DDX3-mediated IKKε and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) phosphorylation. We also note that hyperphosphorylation of NS5A mediates protein interplay between NS5A and IKKε, thereby contributing to NS5A mediated modulation of IFN-β signaling. Lastly, NS5A inhibits IKKε-dependent p65 phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. Based on these findings, we propose NS5A as a novel regulator of IFN signaling events, specifically by inhibiting IKKε downstream signaling cascades through its interaction with IKKε. Taken together, these data suggest an additional mechanistic means by which HCV modulates host antiviral innate immune responses to promote persistent viral infection.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.285-291
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• 2005

The nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which is the essential catalytic enzyme for the viral replication and is an appealing target for the development of new therapeutic agents against HCV infection. A small amount of serum from a single patient with hepatitis C was used to get the genome of a Korean HCV isolate. Sequence analysis of NS5B 1701 nucleotides showed the genotype of a Korean isolate to be subtype 1b. The soluble recombinant HCV NS5B polymerase lacking the C-terminal 24 amino acids was expressed and purified to homogeneity. With the highly purified NS5B protein, we established in vitro systems for RdRp activity to identify potential polymerase inhibitors. The rhodanine family compounds were found to be potent and specific inhibitors of NS5B from high throughput screening (HTS) assay utilizing the scintillation proximity assay (SPA) system. The binding mode of an inhibitor was analyzed by measuring various kinetic parameters. Lineweaver-Burk plots of the inhibitor suggested it binds not to the active site of NS5B polymerase, but to an allosteric site of the enzyme. The activity of NS5B in in vitro polymerase reactions with homopolymeric RNA requires interaction with multiple substrates that include a template/primer and ribonucleotide triphosphate. Steady-state kinetic parameter, such as Km, was determined for the ribonucleotide triphosphate. One of compounds found interacts directly with the viral polymerase and inhibits RNA synthesis in a manner noncompetitively with respect to UTP. Furthermore, we also investigated the ability of the compound to inhibit NS5B-directed viral RNA replication using the Huh7 cell-based HCV replicon system. The investigation is potentially very useful for the utility of such compounds as anti-hepatitic agents.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.9-14
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• 2003

The new optical link receiver with data transfer rate higher than 10Mbps at the supply voltage of 1.8V was designed and fabricated using bipolar technology. The fabricated IC showed the dissipation current of 4.6mA under high level input voltage of 1.5V. The high level output voltage($V_{OH}$) and the low level output voltage($V_{OL}$) were 1.15V and 0V, respectively, for a given 10 Mbps signal which has duty ratio of 50%, $V_{IL}$(low level input voltage) of 0.5V, and $V_{IH}$(high level input voltage) of 1.5V, The duty ratio of output waveform was 52.6%. The rising time(t$_{r}$) and the falling time(t$_{f}$) were 9.5ns and 6.8ns, respectively. The propagation delay difference($t_{PHC}-t_{PLH}$) and the jitter($t_j$) were 11.7ns and 4.3ns, respectively.y.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.412-417
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• 2006

We examined the intracellular localization of NS5 protein of Dendrolimus punctatus cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (DpCPV) by expressing NS5-GFP fusion protein and proteins from deletion mutants of NS5 in baculovirus recombinant infected insect Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cells. It was found that the NS5 protein was present at the plasma membrane of the cells, and that the N-terminal portion of the protein played a key role in the localization. A transmembrane region was identified to be present in the N-terminal portion of the protein, and the detailed transmembrane domain (SQIHMVWVKSGLVFF, 57-71aa) of N-terminal portion of NS5 was further determined, which was accorded with the predicted results, these findings suggested that NS5 might have an important function in viral life cycle.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.206-212
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• 2002

The NS2B-NS3(pro) polyprotein segment from the dengue virus serotype 2 strain 16681 was purified from overexpressing E. coli by metal chelate affinity chromatography and gel filtration. Enzymatic activity of the refolded NS2B-NS3(pro) protease complex was determined in vitro with dansyl-labeled peptide substrates, based upon native dengue virus type 2 cleavage sites. The 12mer substrate peptides and the cleavage products could be separated by reversed-phase HPLC, and were identified by UV and fluorescence detection. All of the peptide substrates (representing the DEN polyprotein junction sequences at the NS2A/NS2B, NS2B/NS3, NS3/NS4A and NS4B/NS5 sites) were cleaved by the recombinant protease NS2B-NS3(pro). No cleavage was observed with an enzymatically inactive S135A mutant of the NS3 protein, or with a modified substrate peptide of the NS3/NS4A polyprotein site that contained a K2093A substitution. Enzymatic activity was dependent on the salt concentration. A 50% decrease of activity was observed in the presence of 0.1M sodium chloride. Our results show that the NS3 protease activity of the refolded NS2B-NS3(pro) protein can be assayed in vitro with high specificity by using cleavage-junction derived peptide substrates.