• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권12호
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• pp.7473-7482
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• 2013

The G-protein coupled receptor 87 (GPR87) is a recently discovered orphan GPCR which means that the search of their endogenous ligands has been a novel challenge. GPR87 has been shown to be overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) or adenocarcinomas in lungs and bladder. The 3D structure of GPR87 was here modeled using two templates (2VT4 and 2ZIY) by a threading method. Functional assignment of GPR87 by SVM revealed that along with transporter activity, various novel functions were predicted. The 3D structure was further validated by comparison with structural features of the templates through Verify-3D, ProSA and ERRAT for determining correct stereochemical parameters. The resulting model was evaluated by Ramachandran plot and good 3D structure compatibility was evidenced by DOPE score. Molecular dynamics simulation and solvation of protein were studied through explicit spherical boundaries with a harmonic restraint membrane water system. A DRY-motif (Asp-Arg-Tyr sequence) was found at the end of transmembrane helix3, where GPCR binds and thus activation of signals is transduced. In a search for better inhibitors of GPR87, in silico modification of some substrate ligands was carried out to form polar interactions with Arg115 and Lys296. Thus, this study provides early insights into the structure of a major drug target for SCCs.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.38-47
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• 2005

Axin is a scaffold protein of the APC/axin/GSK complex, binding to all of the other signalling components. Axin interacts with Glycogen synthase kinase 3$\beta$ (GSK 3$\beta$) and functions as a negative regulator of Wnt signalling pathways. To determine the solution structure of the GSK3$\beta$ binding regions of the axin, we initiated NMR study of axin fragment comprising residues 3$Val^{388} - Arg^{401}$using circular dichroism (CD) and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The CD spectra of 3$axin^{pep}$ in the presence of 30% TFE displayed a standard 3$\alpha$-helical conformation, exhibiting the bound structure of 3$axin^{pep}$ to GSK3$\bata$. On the basis of experimental restraints including $NOE_s$, and $^3J_{HN\alpha} $ coupling constants, the solution conformation of $axin^{pep}$ was determined with program CNS. The 20 lowest energy structures were selected out of 50 final simulated-annealing structures in both water and TFE environment, respectively. The $RMSD_s$ for the 20 structures in TFE solution were 0.086 nm for backbone atoms and 0.195 nm for all heavy atoms, respectively. The Ramachandran plot indicates that the $\varphi$, $\psi$ angles of the 20 final structures is properly distributed in energetically acceptable regions. $Axin^pep$ in aqueous solutions consists of a stable $\alpha$-helix spanning residues form $Glu^{391}$ to $Val^{391} $, which is an interacting motif with GSK3$\beta$.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.74-81
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• 2000

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dna2 protein has biochemical activities: DNA-dependent ATPase, DNA helicase and DNA nuclease and is essential for cell viability. Especially, Pro$\^$504/ is determined as an important residue in ATPase, helicase, and nuclease activity. We synthesized and determined the three-dimensional solution structure of N-terminal domain comprising residues of Val$\^$501/ -_Phe$\^$508/ (Dna2$\^$pep/) using two-dimensional $^1$H-NMR and dynamical simulated annealing calculations. On the basis of a total of 44 experimental restraints including NOEs, $^3$J$\_$$\alpha$$\beta$/ and $^3$J$\_$$\alpha$$\beta$/ coupling constants, the solution structures of Dna2$\^$epe/ were calculated with the program CNS. The 23 lowest energy structures were selected out of 50 final simulated-annealing structures. The atomic RMSDs of the final 23 structures fur the individual residues were calculated with respect to the average structure. The mean RMSDs for the 23 structures were 0.042 nm for backbone atoms and 0.316 nm for all heavy atoms, respectively. The Ramachandran plot indicates that the $\Phi$, Ψ angles of the 23 final structures are properly distributed in energetically acceptable regions. Solution structure of Dna2$\^$pep/ showed a single unique turn spanning residues of Asn$\^$503/ Val$\^$506/.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.505-512
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• 2006

In Korea, silicate fertilization (SF) is being practiced every four years to enhance rice production. However, the relationship between nitrogen (N) and SF in view of growth characteristics and grain yield of rice has not been examined after watermelon cropping in plastic film house. This study was carried out to identify useful critical N and Si fertilizer levels to sustain grain yield and to improve N use efficiency for rice. The watermelon-rice cropping system has maintained for three seasons in each year from 1998 to 2001 by farmer before this experiment. Experiments on N and Si fertilization levels were evaluated with Hwayoungbyeo (Oryza sativa L.) in 2002 and 2003 at Uiryeong, Korea. The goal of this experiment was to find out the optimum N and Si levels to sustain rice yield by reducing excessive N fertilizer in watermelon-rice cropping system. Nitrogen fertilization (NF) levels were three ($0,\;57,\;114kg\;ha^{-1};0,\;50,\;100%$ of conventional NF amount) and five (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%) in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and combined with three SF levels ($70,\;130,\;180mg\;kg^{-1};100,\;150,\;200%$ which were adjusted with Si fertilizer in soil) were evaluated for the improvement of N and Si fertilization level in both years. Rice yielded 3.98-5.95 and 2.84-4.02 t/ha in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Our results showed the combinations of 50% and 100% of N with 200% level of Si produced the highest grain yield in both years, respectably. The grain yield was greatly improved in plot of N25% level when compared to conventional NF (Nl00%) in 2003. In conclusion, NF amount could be reduced about 50% compared to recommended level by specific fertilization of N and Si combination levels for rice growing and grain yield after cultivation watermelon in paddy field.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.268-275
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• 2014

The harshness of legionellosis differs from mild Pontiac fever to potentially fatal Legionnaire's disease. The increasing development of drug resistance against legionellosis has led to explore new novel drug targets. It has been found that phosphoglucosamine mutase, phosphomannomutase, and phosphoglyceromutase enzymes can be used as the most probable therapeutic drug targets through extensive data mining. Phosphoglucosamine mutase is involved in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. The purpose of this study was to predict the potential target of that specific drug. For this, the 3D structure of phosphoglucosamine mutase of Legionella pneumophila (strain Paris) was determined by means of homology modeling through Phyre2 and refined by ModRefiner. Then, the designed model was evaluated with a structure validation program, for instance, PROCHECK, ERRAT, Verify3D, and QMEAN, for further structural analysis. Secondary structural features were determined through self-optimized prediction method with alignment (SOPMA) and interacting networks by STRING. Consequently, we performed molecular docking studies. The analytical result of PROCHECK showed that 95.0% of the residues are in the most favored region, 4.50% are in the additional allowed region and 0.50% are in the generously allowed region of the Ramachandran plot. Verify3D graph value indicates a score of 0.71 and 89.791, 1.11 for ERRAT and QMEAN respectively. Arg419, Thr414, Ser412, and Thr9 were found to dock the substrate for the most favorable binding of S-mercaptocysteine. However, these findings from this current study will pave the way for further extensive investigation of this enzyme in wet lab experiments and in that way assist drug design against legionellosis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.947-952
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• 2007

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogen responsible for 2-3 million deaths every year worldwide. The emergence of drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis has increased the need to identify new antituberculosis targets. Acetohydroxy acid synthase, (AHAS, EC 2.2.1.6), an enzyme involved in branched-chain amino acid synthesis, has recently been identified as a potential anti-tuberculosis target. To assist in the search for new inhibitors and “receptor-based” design of effective inhibitors of tubercular AHAS (TbAHAS), we constructed four different structural models of TbAHAS and used one of the models as a target for virtual screening of potential inhibitors. The quality of each model was assessed stereochemically by PROCHECK and found to be reliable. Up to 89% of the amino acid residues in the structural models were located in the most favored regions of the Ramachandran plot, which indicates that the conformation of each residue in the models is good. In the models, residues at the herbicide-binding site were highly conserved across 39 AHAS sequences. The binding mode of TbAHAS with a sulfonylurea herbicide was characterized by 32 hydrophobic interactions, the majority of which were contributed by residue Trp516. The model based on the highest resolution X-ray structure of yeast AHAS was used as the target for virtual screening of a chemical database containing 8300 molecules with a heterocyclic ring. We developed a short list of molecules that were predicted to bind with high scores to TbAHAS in a conformation similar to that of sulfonylurea derivatives. Five sulfonylurea herbicides that were calculated to efficiently bind TbAHAS were experimentally verified and found to inhibit enzyme activity at micromolar concentrations. The data suggest that this time-saving and costeffective computational approach can be used to discover new TbAHAS inhibitors. The list of chemicals studied in this work is supplied to facilitate independent experimental verification of the computational approach.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.65-74
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• 2021

Serine proteases are the most versatile proteolytic enzymes with tremendous applications in various industrial processes. This study was designed to investigate the biochemical properties, critical residues, and the catalytic potential of alkaline serine protease using in-silico approaches. The primary sequence was analyzed using ProtParam, SignalP, and Phyre2 tools to investigate biochemical properties, signal peptide, and secondary structure, respectively. The three-dimensional structure of the enzyme was modeled using the MODELLER program present in Discovery Studio followed by Molecular Dynamics simulation using GROMACS 5.0.7 package with CHARMM36m force field. The proteolytic potential was measured by performing docking with casein- and keratin-enriched residues, while the effect of the inhibitor was studied using phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, (PMSF) applying GOLDv5.2.2. Molecular weight, instability index, aliphatic index, and isoelectric point for serine protease were 39.53 kDa, 27.79, 82.20 and 8.91, respectively. The best model was selected based on the lowest MOLPDF score (1382.82) and DOPE score (-29984.07). The analysis using ProSA-web revealed a Z-score of -9.7, whereas 88.86% of the residues occupied the most favored region in the Ramachandran plot. Ser327, Asp138, Asn261, and Thr326 were found as critical residues involved in ligand binding and execution of biocatalysis. Our findings suggest that bioengineering of these critical residues may enhance the catalytic potential of this enzyme.

• 한국작물학회지
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.274-281
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• 2006

In Korea, rice cultivars have been changing to 'quality' rice rather than high yielding cultivars. However, more than 10% of paddy field has been changed to greenhouse in winter season for cropping of water-melon, oriental-melon, straw berry and et cetra. This experiment has been made to identify the usefulness of critical N and Si fertilization(SF) level to obtain high grain quality rice with reduced insect pest damage by N and SF combination. Before the experiment, watermelon-rice cropping system was maintained for three seasons by farmer from 1998 to 2001. The experiment of N and Si (silicate) fertilization levels was evaluated with Hwayoung-byeo (Oryza sativa L., medium-maturing variety) in 2002 and 2003 in Uiryeong, Korea. Nitrogen fertilization (NF) levels were three and five in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and three SF levels were compared for getting the valuable N/SF level in both years. TOYO-value was positively affected by Si application in N100% plot but it was negatively related with NF level. Normal grain percentage was positively related with TOYO-value and it was highest in 0N plot and Si plots in N100%. Other appearance qualities like powdered, damaged, and cracked grain, were decreased with increasing N fertilization level. SF improved appearance quality in N100% plots but no effects in other treatments. Leaf sheath related diseases were significantly decreased by SF but it was negatively related with NF. In conclusion, SF could be improve grain quality at the same yield levels of conventional fertilization and it also could be reduce the diseases damages of rice plant in all N treatments. NF treatment reduced grain quality and improved grain yield at N50% level, however NF above N50% could not get any kind of benefits. So, compared with conventional fertilizer, reduced NF level is recommended for high grain quality with reduced insect pest damage.