• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2019

Although the functions of a standardized extract of Gingko biloba leaves (EGb $761^{(R)}$) has been reported with regard to neurobiological properties, no attention has been paid to the impact of EGb $761^{(R)}$ on the neuronal regulation of energy homeostasis. To evaluate the hypothesis that EGb $761^{(R)}$ affect the secretion of peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) and the activation of free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4), which are involved in the neuronal circuitries that control energy homeostasis by inducing the transfer of information about the influx of energy to the brain, we examined whether EGb $761^{(R)}$ can stimulate PYY secretion in the enteroendocrine NCI-H716 cells and if EGb $761^{(R)}$ can activate FFA4 in FFA4-expressing cells. In NCI-H716 cells, EGb $761^{(R)}$ stimulated PYY secretion and the EGb $761^{(R)}$-induced PYY secretion was involved in the increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration and the activation of FFA4. Furthermore, in FFA4-expressing cells, EGb $761^{(R)}$ activated FFA4. These results suggest that EGb $761^{(R)}$ may affect the control of energy homeostasis via the regulation of PYY secretion and FFA4 activation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3760-3764
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• 2010

We screened 10,000 heterocyclic small molecules and identified a novel hit core skeleton of 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl) imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate derivatives. It has been selected as a potential glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) activator and demonstrated its effects in increasing GLP-1 secretion, and thereby increasing the glucose responsiveness in both in vitro and pharmacology analyses. Further studies are currently underway to optimize the potency and selectivity of 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate derivatives (hit compounds 2 and 8), and address their in vivo efficacy and therapeutic potential. These molecules may serve as useful evidence showing that compounds with a 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate moiety are selective GLP-1R agonists, and have potential as anti-diabetic treatment agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.280-287
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• 2015

Current influenza vaccines are produced in embryonated chicken eggs. However, egg-based vaccines have various problems. To address these problems, recombinant protein vaccines have been developed as new vaccine candidates. Unfortunately, recombinant proteins frequently encounter aggregation and low stability during their biogenesis. It has been previously demonstrated that recombinantly expressed proteins can be greatly stabilized with high solubility by fusing stabilizing peptide (SP) derived from the C-terminal acidic tail of human synuclein (ATS). To investigate whether SP fusion proteins can induce protective immunity in mice, we produced influenza HA and SP fusion protein using a baculovirus expression system. In in vitro tests, SP-fused recombinant HA1 (SP-rHA1) was shown to be more stable than recombinant HA1 (rHA1). Mice were immunized intramuscularly with baculovirus-expressed rHA1 protein or SP-rHA1 protein ($2{\mu}g/mouse$) formulated with aluminum hydroxide. Antibody responses were determined by ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition assay. We observed that SP-rHA1 immunization elicited HA-specific antibody responses that were comparable to rHA1 immunization. These results indicate that fusion of SP to rHA1 does not negatively affect the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate. Therefore, it is possible to apply SP fusion technology to develop stable recombinant protein vaccines with high solubility.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2018

Collagen peptide plays a protective role in skin by increasing the activity of antioxidant, acts like an activator of skin regeneration by positive feedback and is used as a potent candidate for cosmetics or functional food. GABA acts at inhibitory synapses in the brain by binding to specific transmembrane receptors of both pre- and postsynaptic neuronal processes in vertebrates, is also involved in the synthesis of melatonin and might exert regulatory effects on sleep and reproductive functions. In this study, we investigated the beneficial effect of a mixture of collagen peptide and GABA (J85091900) on skin and sleep condition in woman experiencing sleep disorder. We found that oral supplement with J85091900 significantly decreased the value of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), increased sleeping time by 7%, and also improved skin roughness (Ra, Rz, Rt), periorbital wrinkle (Ra, Rt), and skin capacitance in human. These findings indicate that dual strategy with which skin improvement is accomplished using collagen peptide and sleeping well is acquired using GABA could be the novel solution for sleeping beauty by edible cosmetics to improve skin status.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2019

Ginseng berry (GB) contains Ginsenoside Re and has anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle properties. In this study, TLC fractions 1, 2, and 4 of the ginseng berry amino acid complex were identified and analyzed by HPLC. And identified a peptide (AP-1) by LC/MASS analysis of fraction 1. The anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed by investigating the inhibitory effect of AP-1 on NO production. In addition, collagen synthesis using procollagen type I C-peptide (PIP) ELISA kit was 50% higher effective than that of the control group. From these results, the peptide isolated from ginseng berry amino acid complex is considered to have anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle effect, and may be useful as an anti-inflammatory and anti-aging cosmetic raw material.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.402-409
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• 2017

A novel peptide having free radical scavenging activity was separated, using an on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) - ABTS screening method, from bovine skim milk fermented by Lactococcus lactis SL6 (KCTC 11865BP). It was further purified using reverse phase-HPLC (RP-HPLC) and sequenced by RP-HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. The amino acid sequence of the identified peptide was determined to be Phe-Ser-Asp-Ile-Pro-Asn-Pro-Ile-Gly-Ser-Glu-Asn-Ser-Glu-Lys-Thr-Thr-Met-Pro-Leu-Trp (2,362 Da), which is corresponding to the C-terminal fragment of bovine ${\alpha}_{s1}$-casein (f179-199). The hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$ $28.25{\pm}0.96{\mu}M$) of the peptide chemically synthesized based on the MS/MS data showed a slightly lower than that of the natural antioxidant Trolox ($IC_{50}$ $15.37{\pm}0.52{\mu}M$). Furthermore, derivatives of the antioxidant peptide were synthesized. The antioxidative activity of the derivatives whose all three proline residues replaced by alanine significantly decreased, whereas replacement of two proline residues in N-terminal region did not affect its antioxidative activity, indicating that $3^{rd}$ proline in C-terminal region is critical for the antioxidative activity of the peptide identified in this study. In addition, N-terminal region of the antioxidant peptide did not show its activity, whereas C-terminal region maintained antioxidative activity, suggesting that C-terminal region of the peptide is important for antioxidative activity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.185-191
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• 2010

Short peptides are potentially effective materials as cosmeceuticals, but their delivery across the skin can be problematic due to the ionic nature of peptides and the structure of the skin. For short peptide to be utilized as cosmeceuticals, its ability to penetrate the skin must be altered. In this study, we conjugated the widely used procollagen type I signal peptide, KTTKS, with oleic acid to improve the lipophilic properties of the peptide, and used the oleic acid-conjugated peptides to construct cosmeceutical nanosomes. Then we examined the penetration of cosmeceutical nanosomes prepared from isotope-labeled peptide into the skin after transdermal application using autoradiography. Because of its hydrophilic property of penta-peptide, the penta-peptide itself was not able to be penetrated through the stratum corneum of the skin. In contrast, nanosomes made from olecic acid conjugated penta-peptide were able to be penetrated through the stratum corneum effectively. Autoradiography showed the precise penetration points to dermal layer, demonstrating the appropriateness of this method for clarifying the mechanism of penetration of transdermal delivery systems.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.100004.1-100004.11
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• 2024

Insulin is essential for maintaining normoglycemia and is predominantly secreted in response to glucose stimulation by β-cells. Incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, also stimulate insulin secretion. However, as obesity and type 2 diabetes worsen, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide loses its insulinotropic efficacy, whereas GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists continue to be effective owing to its signaling switch from Gs to Gq. Herein, we demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced a transition from Gs to Gq in GLP-1R signaling in mouse islets. Intriguingly, chemical chaperones known to alleviate ER stress, such as 4-PBA and TUDCA, enforced GLP-1R's Gq utilization rather than reversing GLP-1R's signaling switch induced by ER stress or obese and diabetic conditions. In addition, the activation of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) or activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), 2 key ER stress-associated signaling (unfolded protein response) factors, promoted Gs utilization in GLP-1R signaling, whereas Gq employment by ER stress was unaffected by XBP1 or ATF6 activation. Our study revealed that ER stress and its associated signaling events alter GLP-1R's signaling, which can be used in type 2 diabetes treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.481-491
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• 2023

The β subunits of high voltage-gated calcium channels (HGCCs) are essential for optimal channel functions such as channel gating, activation-inactivation kinetics, and trafficking to the membrane. In this study, we report for the first time the potent blood pressure-reducing effects of peptide fragments derived from the β subunits in anesthetized and non-anesthetized rats. Intravenous administration of 16-mer peptide fragments derived from the interacting regions of the β1 [cacb1(344-359)], β2 [cacb2(392-407)], β3 [cacb3(292-307)], and β4 [cacb4(333-348)] subunits with the main α-subunit of HGCC decreased arterial blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner for 5-8 min in anesthetized rats. In contrast, the peptides had no effect on the peak amplitudes of voltage-activated Ca²⁺ current upon their intracellular application into the acutely isolated trigeminal ganglion neurons. Further, a single mutated peptide of cacb1(344-359)-cacb1(344-359)_K357R-showed consistent and potent effects and was crippled by a two-amino acid-truncation at the N-terminal or C-terminal end. By conjugating palmitic acid with the second amino acid (lysine) of cacb1(344-359)_K357R (named K2-palm), we extended the blood pressure reduction to several hours without losing potency. This prolonged effect on the arterial blood pressure was also observed in non-anesthetized rats. On the other hand, the intrathecal administration of acetylated and amidated cacb1(344-359)_K357R peptide did not change acute nociceptive responses induced by the intradermal formalin injection in the plantar surface of rat hindpaw. Overall, these findings will be useful for developing antihypertensives.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2016

Porcine beta-defensin-1 (PBD-1) gene plays an important role in the innate immunity of pigs. The peptide encoded by this gene is an antimicrobial peptide that has direct activity against a wide range of microbes. This peptide is involved in the co-creation of an antimicrobial barrier in the oral cavity of pigs. The objective of the present study was to detect polymorphisms, if any, in exon-1 and exon-2 regions of PBD-1 gene in Large White Yorkshire (LWY) and native Ankamali pigs of Kerala, India. Blood samples were collected from 100 pigs and genomic DNA was isolated using phenol chloroform method. The quantity of DNA was assessed in a spectrophotometer and quality by gel electrophoresis. Exon-1 and exon-2 regions of PBD-1 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the products were subjected to single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Subsequent silver staining of the polyacrylamide gels revealed three unique SSCP banding patterns in each of the two exons. The presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the PCR products. A novel SNP was found in the 5'-UTR region of exon-1 and a SNP was detected in the mature peptide coding region of exon-2. In exon-1, the pooled population frequencies of GG, GT, and TT genotypes were 0.67, 0.30, and 0.03, respectively. GG genotype was predominant in both the breeds whereas TT genotype was not detected in LWY breed. Similarly, in exon-2, the pooled population frequencies of AA, AG, and GG genotypes were 0.50, 0.27, and 0.23, respectively. AA genotype was predominant in LWY pigs whereas GG genotype was predominant in native pigs. These results suggest that there exists a considerable genetic variation at PBD-1 locus and further association studies may help in development of a PCR based genotyping test to select pigs with better immunity.