• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1141-1150
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• 2007

Molecular modeling study has been performed to assist in the design of PTP1B inhibitors using FlexX. FlexX dockings with 19 test ligands, whose structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography, were successful in reproducing the experimental conformations within the protein. An increase in biological activity is observed as hydrophobic character of formylchromone derivatives increases. Most ligands bind to the activesite regions of the protein successfully in two different score runs. The Drug score run gave better results than the FlexX score run based on the score, rank, binding modes and bond distance of docked structures. Consensus values from the CScore scoring function are between 3 and 5, suggesting that the scoring scheme is reliable. All formylchromone inhibitors considered in this work show unidirectional binding modes in the active site pocket, which is contrary to the bidirectional X-ray results by Malamas et al. and amino acid residues responsible for such orientation are identified to help further development of the inhibitors.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.455-460
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• 2008

Calcineurin (Cn) is a serine/threonine phosphatase implicated in a wide variety of biological responses. To identify proteins that mediate Cn signaling pathway effects, we used yeast two-hybrid assays to screen for Cn interacting proteins, discovering a protein encoded by the gene, cnp-2 (Y46G5A.10). Utilizing serially deleted forms of Cn as baits, we demonstrated that the catalytic domain of Cn (TAX-6) binds with CNP-2, and this physical interaction was able to be reconstituted in vitro, supporting our yeast two-hybrid results. cnp-2 is a nematode-specific novel gene found in C. elegans as well as its closest relative, C. briggsae. CNP-2 was strongly expressed in the intestine of C. elegans. To study the function of cnp-2, we performed cnp-2 RNAi knock-down and characterized phenotypes associated with Cn mutants. However, no gross defects were revealed in these RNAi experiments. CNP-2 was proven to be a Cn binding protein; however, its role remains to be elucidated.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 1992

Virginiae butanolide (VB) is an autoregulator which triggers virginiamycin production in Strefltomyces virginiae. VB-C binding protein activity was investigated under various additives. The VB-C binding protein was almost fully observed in sotubte fraction (>90%) and the binding activity was optimum at pH 7.0. The VB-C binding activity was increased about 15% in 0.5 M KCI, whereas decreased about 60% in 20 mM $Mo^{6+}$. Chelating reagents (ethylenediarnine tetraacetic acid, ethyleneglycol bis(2-aminoethylether) tetraacetic acid, 8-hydroxyquinoline) and SH protecting reagents (rnercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, thioglycerol) inhibited the VB-C binding activity about 30~55% and 3~20%, respectively. Serine protease inhibitor (phenyl methane sulfonyl fluoride), nucleotides (guanosine 5'-monophosphate, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate), and phosphatases (alkaline, acid phosphatase) increased the VB-C binding activity about 17%, 6~20%, and 4- 13%, respectively.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 2016

Background: Fraxetin (7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy coumarin), a coumarin derivative, has been reported to possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. A number of recent observations suggest that the induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inhibits inflammation and tumorigenesis. In the present study, we determined the effect of fraxetin on HO-1 expression in HaCaT human keratinocytes and investigated its underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Reverse transcriptase-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to detect HO-1 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Cell viability was measured by the MTS test. The induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) by fraxetin was evaluated by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate staining. Results: Fraxetin upregulated mRNA and protein expression of HO-1. Incubation with fraxetin induced the localization of nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) in the nucleus and increased the antioxidant response element-reporter gene activity. Fraxetin also induced the phosphorylation of Akt and AMP-activated protein kinase $(AMPK){\alpha}$ and diminished the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog, a negative regulator of Akt. Pharmacological inhibition of Akt and $AMPK{\alpha}$ abrogated fraxetin-induced expression of HO-1 and nuclear localization of Nrf2. Furthermore, fraxetin generated ROS in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusions: Fraxetin induces HO-1 expression through activation of Akt/Nrf2 or $AMPK{\alpha}/Nrf2$ pathway in HaCaT cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.411-417
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• 2019

Humanin (HN) is a mitochondrial peptide that exhibits cytoprotective actions against various stresses and diseases. HN has been shown to induce the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is a negative regulator of receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL). However, the role of HN in osteoclastogenesis or other skeletal disorders remains unknown. Here, we examined whether HN regulates osteoclastogenesis via AMPK activation using bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) cultures. Our results show that HN inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and reduced the expression of genes involved in osteoclastogenesis, including nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1, osteoclastassociated receptor, cathepsin K, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Moreover, HN increased the levels of phosphorylated AMPK protein; compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, recovered HN-induced osteoclast differentiation. In addition, we found that HN significantly decreased the levels of RANKL-induced reactive oxygen species in BMMs. Therefore, these results indicate that HN plays an important role in osteoclastogenesis and may function as an inhibitor of bone disorders via AMPK activation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1039-1049
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• 2007

Overdoses of acetaminophen cause hepato-renal oxidative stress. The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of a 43 kDa protein isolated from the herb Cajanus indicus, against acetaminophen-induced hepatic and renal toxicity. Male albino mice were treated with the protein for 4 days (intraperitoneally, 2 mg/kg body wt) prior or post to oral administration of acetaminophen (300 mg/kg body wt) for 2 days. Levels of different marker enzymes (namely, glutamate pyruvate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were measured in the experimental sera. Intracellular reactive oxygen species production and total antioxidant activity were also determined from acetaminophen and protein treated hepatocytes. Indices of different antioxidant enzymes (namely, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase) as well as lipid peroxidation end-products and glutathione were determined in both liver and kidney homogenates. In addition, Cytochrome P450 activity was also measured from liver microsomes. Finally, histopathological studies were performed from liver sections of control, acetaminophen-treated and protein pre- and post-treated (along with acetaminophen) mice. Administration of acetaminophen increased all the serum markers and creatinine levels in mice sera along with the enhancement of hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation. Besides, application of acetaminophen to hepatocytes increased reactive oxygen species production and reduced the total antioxidant activity of the treated hepatocytes. It also reduced the levels of antioxidant enzymes and cellular reserves of glutathione in liver and kidney. In addition, acetaminophen enhanced the cytochrome P450 activity of liver microsomes. Treatment with the protein significantly reversed these changes to almost normal. Apart from these, histopathological changes also revealed the protective nature of the protein against acetaminophen induced necrotic damage of the liver tissues. Results suggest that the protein protects hepatic and renal tissues against oxidative damages and could be used as an effective protector against acetaminophen induced hepato-nephrotoxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1137-1143
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• 1999

This study investigated the effect of tea fungus/kombucha beverage(TF) protein concentrations and enzyme activities in serum of both normal and diabetic male rats. Sprague Dawley growing rats were randomly assigned to one control and five diabetic groups. In five diabetic groups, D control group was fed drinking water and the other groups were fed drinking water supplemented with 20 or 40% TF (20 or 40% TFD group, respectively) and 20 or 40% disinfected TF(20 or 40% TFSD group, respectively) for 7 weeks. Diabetes was experimentally induced in all five diabetic groups by streptozotocin injection after 3 week feeding. The diabetic groups were significantly decreased the body weight( 29.4~ 48.6g) compared with those in control group(72.4g). The total liver and kidney weights in all diabetic groups were similar to those in control group, but those relative to body weights in all diabetic groups were heavier than those in control group. The total spleen weight in all diabetic groups was significantly decreased compared with those in control group, but those relative to body weights in all diabetic groups were similar to those in control group. The blood glucose levels were heigher in all diabetic groups than those in control group. The alkaline phosphatase activity in serum was higher in all experimental groups than those in control group, but it was lower in 40% TFD, 20% and 40% TFSD groups than those in D control group. The GPT activity was significantly increased in D control, 20% and 40% TFD groups than in control group. The GOT activity was significantly increased in D control goup than in control group, but those in all TFD and TFSD groups were similar to control group. The total protein concentration in all diabetic groups was significantly decreased compared with that in control group, but the albumin concentration showed almost the same levels in all the experimental groups. The ratio of albumin/globulin, and hem atocrit value were significantly increased in all diabetic groups than in control group. These results show that tea fungus/kombucha beverage with which diabetic rats were fed has not recovered the decreased body weight, lowered serum total protein level, hypertrophy of liver and kidney, hyperglycemia to the normal state.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.428-436
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• 2012

Protein phosphorylation is a universal mechanism that regulates cellular activities. The brassinosteroid (BR) signal transduction pathway is a relay of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cascades. It starts with the BR-induced activation of the membrane receptor kinase brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (BRI1), resulting in the dephosphorylation of transcription factors such as BZR1/BES2 and BZR2/BES1 followed by BR-induced gene expression. Brassinosteroid signal transduction research has progressed rapidly by identifying the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation site(s) of the BR-regulated kinase and phosphatase substrates with a simultaneous pursuit of mutant phenotypes. Autophosphorylation, transphosphorylation, and serine/threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor protein kinases BRI1 and BRI1-associated kinase (BAK1) have increased the understanding of the regulatory role of those kinases during physiological and developmental processes in plants. The phosphorylation event initiated by BR is also found in the regulation of receptor-mediated endocytosis and the subsequent degradation of the receptor. However, the basic molecular links of the BR signal transduction pathway are not well understood regarding this phosphorylation/dephosphorylation event. This review summarizes the current state of BR signal transduction research to uncover the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation networks and suggests directions for future research on steroid signal transduction to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the process.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Objectives: In this study, the author aimed to evaluate the effect of BuOH fraction(YK) from Cinnamomum loureirii on osteoblast proliferation in murine rat calvarial cells. Methods: The osteoblast separated from murine calvariae was cultivated for 10 days and evaluated the cell function. After the addition of YK on the culture medium, we determined the effect of YK on the cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, apoptosis of the cultivated osteoblast, protein synthesis and collagen synthesis. Results: YK increased the proliferation of rat calvarial osteoblast. YK increased ALP activity of rat calvarial osteoblast. YK did not change the survival rate of rat calvarial osteoblast. YK increased protein synthesis of rat calvarial osteoblast. YK increased collagen synthesis of rat calvarial osteoblast. Conclusions: This study suggests that YK might improve the osteoporosis resulted from augumentation of osteoblast proliferation.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.14-14
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• 2015

Fungi are of particular interest due to their capacity to produce an extensive array of secondary metabolites. While many secondary metabolites have no known functions to the producing fungal organisms, these metabolites have tremendous importance to humans with beneficial (e.g., antibiotics) or detrimental (e.g., mycotoxins) properties. In this study, two important filamentous fungi, Fusarium verticillioides and Mycosphaerella graminicola were selected as target species and the genes regulatory functions on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolisms were studied. Functional genomics including forward and reverse genetics, and proteomics were utilized to better understand the complex secondary metabolism regulations in both F. verticillioides and M. graminicola. Identified genes in either F. verticillioides or M. graminicola background were CPP1 (a putative protein phosphatase gene), GAC1 (encoding a GTPase activating protein), MCC1(encoding c-type cyclin), and the velvet gene, MVE1. Our data suggest that there are diverse regulatory genes on fungal secondary metabolites with distinct or overlapping functional roles.