• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2017

PDK1 is essential for T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, and PDK1-induced phosphorylation of $PKC{\theta}$ is important for TCR-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. However, inverse regulation of PDK1 by $PKC{\theta}$ during T cell activation has not been investigated. In this study, we found that $PKC{\theta}$ is involved in human PDK1 phosphorylation and that its kinase activity is crucial for human PDK1 phosphorylation. Mass spectrometry analysis of wild-type $PKC{\theta}$ or of kinase-inactive form of $PKC{\theta}$ revealed that $PKC{\theta}$ induced phosphorylation of human PDK1 at Ser-64. This $PKC{\theta}$-induced PDK1 phosphorylation positively regulated T cell activation and TCR-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. Moreover, phosphorylation of human PDK1 at Ser-64 increased the stability of human PDK1 protein. These results suggest that Ser-64 is an important phosphorylation site that is part of a positive feedback loop for human PDK1-$PKC{\theta}$-mediated T cell activation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.241-246
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• 2005

PDK-1 activates PI3-kinase/Akt signaling and regulates fundamental cellular functions, such as growth and survival. NF-${\kappa}B$ is involved in the induction of a variety of cellular genes affecting immunity, inflammation and the resistance to apoptosis induced by some anti-cancer drugs. Even though the crucial involvement of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in the anti-apoptotic activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ is well known, the exact role of PDK-1 as well as PI3-kinase/Akt in NF-vactivation is not understood. Here we demonstrate that PDK-1 plays a pivotal role in transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ by dissociating the transcriptional co-repressor HDAC1 from the p65 subunit of NF-${\kappa}B$. The association of CBP with p65 was not directly modulated by PDK-1 or by PI3-kinase. Etoposide activated NF-${\kappa}B$ through PI3-kinase/Akt, and the transcription activation domain (TAD) of p65 was further activated by wild-type PDK-1. Overexpression of a dominant negative PDK-1 mutant decreased etoposide-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription and further down-regulated the ectopic HDAC1-mediated decrease in NF-${\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity. Thus activation of PDK-1 relieves the HDAC1-mediated repression of NF-${\kappa}B$ that may be related to basal as well as activated transcription by NF-${\kappa}B$. This effect may also explain the role of the PI3-kinase/PDK-1 pathway in the anti-apoptotic function of NF-${\kappa}B$ associated with the chemoresistance of cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권8호
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• pp.4147-4151
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• 2012

The current study was conducted to explore the inhibitory effects of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) on 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) expression in esophageal cancer 9706 (EC9706) cells and the influence on their biological behavior. After transfection of a synthesized PDK1 siRNA, PDK1 mRNA and protein expression and the phosphorylation level of the downstream Akt protein were assessed using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Proliferation, apoptosis, cell invasion and in vivo tumor formation capacity were also investigated using MTT, flow cytometry, Transwell invasion trials, and nude mouse tumor transplantion, respectively. PDK1 siRNA effectively suppressed PDK1 mRNA and protein expression, and down-regulated the phosphorylation level of the Akt protein in the EC9706 cells (P < 0.05). It also inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and promoted apoptosis; such effects were particularly obvious at 48 h and 72 h after transfection (P < 0.05). Growth of transplanted tumors was inhibited in nude mice, with decreased PDK1 expression in tumor tissues. PDK1 may be closely correlated with proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of esophageal cancer cells and thus may serve as an effective target for gene therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• 제53권7호
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• pp.373-378
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• 2020

Phosphorylation of the signaling component by protein kinase often leads to a kinase cascade or feedback loop. 3-Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) signaling pathway diverges into various kinases including Akt and p70 S6 kinase (p70S6k). However, the PDK1 feedback mechanism remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that UNC-51-like kinase (ULK1), an autophagy initiator kinase downstream of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), directly phosphorylated PDK1 on serine 389 at the linker region. Furthermore, our data showed that this phosphorylation affected the kinase activity of PDK1 toward downstream substrates. These results suggest a possible negative feedback loop between PDK1 and ULK1.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권11호
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• pp.563-568
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• 2021

Cancer cells predominantly generate energy via glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen, to support abnormal cell proliferation. Suppression of PDHA1 by PDK1 prevents the conversion of cytoplasmic pyruvate into Acetyl-CoA. Several PDK inhibitors have been identified, but their clinical applications have not been successful for unclear reasons. In this study, endogenous PDHA1 in A549 cells was silenced by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and PDHA1^WT and PDHA1^3SD were transduced. Since PDHA1^3SD cannot be phosphorylated by PDKs, it was used to evaluate the specific activity of PDK inhibitors. This study highlights that PDHA1^WT and PDHA1^3SD A549 cells can be used as a cell-based PDK inhibitor-distinction system to examine the relationship between PDH activity and cell death by established PDK inhibitors. Leelamine, huzhangoside A and otobaphenol induced PDH activity-dependent apoptosis, whereas AZD7545, VER-246608 and DCA effectively enhanced PDHA1 activity but little toxic to cancer cells. Furthermore, the activity of phosphomimetic PDHA1 revealed the complexity of its regulation, which requires further in-depth investigation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권7호
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• pp.454-464
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• 2022

DJ-1 is one of the causative genes of early-onset familial Parkinson's disease (PD). As a result, DJ-1 influences the pathogenesis of sporadic PD. DJ-1 has various physiological functions that converge to control the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on genetic analyses that sought to investigate novel antioxidant DJ-1 downstream genes, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase (PDK) was demonstrated to increase survival rates and decrease dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss in DJ-1 mutant flies under oxidative stress. PDK phosphorylates and inhibits the PDH complex (PDC), subsequently downregulating glucose metabolism in the mitochondria, which is a major source of intracellular ROS. A loss-of-function mutation in PDK was not found to have a significant effect on fly development and reproduction, but severely ameliorated oxidative stress resistance. Thus, PDK plays a critical role in the protection against oxidative stress. Loss of PDH phosphatase (PDP), which dephosphorylates and activates PDH, was also shown to protect DJ-1 mutants from oxidative stress, ultimately supporting our findings. Further genetic analyses suggested that DJ-1 controls PDK expression through hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), a transcriptional regulator of the adaptive response to hypoxia and oxidative stress. Furthermore, CPI-613, an inhibitor of PDH, protected DJ-1 null flies from oxidative stress, suggesting that the genetic and pharmacological inhibition of PDH may be a novel treatment strategy for PD associated with DJ-1 dysfunction.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.649-658
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• 2016

본 연구는 지구성 트레이닝과 thiamine(thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide: TTFD)의 투여가 골격근 내 글리코겐과 PDH(Pyruvate dehydrogenase), 그리고 PDH 활성에 관여하는 효소의 단백질인 PDK4(Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4)와 PDP1(PDH phosphatase 1)의 발현에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 알아보는 것을 목적으로 하였다. 6주령의 ICR 마우스를 대상으로 비운동집단(Sedentary; CON, TH), 운동집단(Exercise; EX, THEX)으로 나누어 4주간의 지구성 트레이닝과 체중 kg 당 50 mg의 thiamine을 경구투여 하였다. 4주간의 지구성 트레이닝은 간과 근육 내 glycogen의 저장량에 유의한 증가가 나타났지만 thiamine 투여에 따르는 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 마찬가지로 골격근 내 PDH와 PDH 조절에 관련한 PDK4, PDP1의 단백질 발현을 측정한 결과 4주간의 지구성 트레이닝에 따르는 효과는 관찰되었지만, thiamine 투여에 집단간 유의한 효과는 나타나지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 장기간 지구성 트레이닝에 따른 골격근의 적응으로 인하여 thiamine 투여에 따른 시너지 효과가 나타나지 않은 것으로 보인다. 따라서 추후 연구에서는 지구성 트레이닝의 기간을 고려한 thiamine의 섭취 타이밍 그리고 탄수화물의 복합투여에 따른 PDH와 관련 단백질의 분석이 필요할 것으로 보인다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.1469-1476
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• 2018

Warburg 효과의 발생은 고형암에서 화학적 항암제의 내성을 발생시킨다. 따라서 호기성 해당과정과 같은 에너지 대사과정은 암 치료의 중요한 표적으로 알려져 있다. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) 활성 억제물질로 알려진 dichloroacetate (DCA)는 많은 암세포에서 포도당의 호기성 해당과정을 산화적인산화 과정으로 전환시킬 수 있음이 보고되었다. 이 연구는 치료가 매우 어렵다고 알려진 인간 역분화 갑상선 암세포주인 8505C의 성장에 미치는 DCA효과를 조사하였다. DCA는 정상 갑상선 세포주의 성장에는 영향을 주지 않은 반면 8505C 세포주의 성장을 특이적으로 저해하였다. DCA의 처리에 의해 8505C 세포주는 $HIF1{\alpha}$, PDK1, Bcl-2와 같은 항-세포자살 관련 단백질들의 발현이 감소하고, Bax와 p21과 같은 세포자살 유도 단백질과 세포주기 억제 단백질의 증가로 인하여 세포주기 정지와 세포자살 유도에 의해 성장이 억제되었다. 이런 세포의 변화는 DCA 처리에 의한 활성산소족의 생산이 증가하고, 포도당 대사가 호기성 해당과정에서 산화적인산화 과정으로 전환되었기 때문이란 것을 확인하였다. 흥미롭게도, DCA는 포도당 대사과정의 변화뿐만 아니라 sodium/iodine symporter (NIS)의 발현양도 증가시킨다는 것을 확인하였다. 이 연구의 결과로 PDK 활성 저해제는 치료하기 힘든 역분화 갑상선 암 치료제로 이용할 수 있고, 또한 역분화 갑상선 암에 대한 방사능 치료의 효능을 높일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.549-556
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• 2015

Consumption of herbal tea [flower buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus (Roxb.) Merr. et Perry (Myrtaceae)] is associated with health beneficial effects against multiple diseases including diabetes, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease. Emerging evidences have reported that High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is considered as a key "late" proinflammatory factor by its unique secretion pattern in aforementioned diseases. Dimethyl cardamonin (2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone, DMC) is a major ingredient of C. operculatus flower buds. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of DMC and its underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. DMC notably suppressed the mRNA expressions of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and HMGB1, and also markedly decreased their productions in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Intriguingly, DMC could notably reduce LPS-stimulated HMGB1 secretion and its nucleo-cytoplasmic translocation. Furthermore, DMC dose-dependently inhibited the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), and protein kinase C alpha (PKC${\alpha}$). All these data demonstrated that DMC had anti-inflammatory effects through reducing both early (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6) and late (HMGB1) cytokines expressions via interfering with the PI3K-PDK1-PKC${\alpha}$ signaling pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.241-247
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• 2014

Sudden cardiac death (SCD), which is primarily caused by lethal heart disorders resulting in structural and arrhythmogenic abnormalities, is one of the prevalent modes of death in most developed countries. Myocardial ischemia, mainly due to coronary artery disease, is the most common type of heart disease leading to SCD. However, postmortem diagnosis of SCD is frequently complicated by obscure histological evidence. Here, we show that certain mRNA species, namely those encoding hemoglobin A1/2 and B (Hba1/2 and Hbb, respectively) as well as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4), exhibit distinct postmortem expression patterns in the left ventricular free wall of SCD subjects when compared with their expression patterns in the corresponding tissues from control subjects with non-cardiac causes of death. Hba1/2 and Hbb mRNA expression levels were higher in ischemic SCD cases with acute myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease without recent infarction, and even in cardiac death subjects without apparent pathological signs of heart injuries, than control subjects. By contrast, Pdk4 mRNA was expressed at lower levels in SCD subjects. In conclusion, we found that altered myocardial Hba1/2, Hbb, and Pdk4 mRNA expression patterns can be employed as molecular signatures of fatal cardiac dysfunction to forensically implicate SCD as the primary cause of death.