• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2011

Purpose: Craniosynostosis (CS), one of the most common congenital craniofacial deformities, is the premature closure of cranial sutures. NELL-1 is a novel molecule overexpressed during premature cranial suture closure in human CS. From a functional perspective, NELL-1 has been reported to accelerate chondrocyte maturation and modulate calvarial osteoblast differentiation and apoptosis pathways. The mechanism through which NELL-1 induces these phenomena, however, remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify the NELL-1 binding protein(s) through which the biologic mechanism of NELL-1 can be further investigated. Materials and Methods: Far-Western and Immunoprecipitation (IP) assays were performed, independently and in sequence, followed by mass spectrometry to identify the NELL-1 binding proteins. Reverse IP was used to verify and confirm candidate binding protein. Results: The only confirmative protein from current experimentation was vimentin. Vimentin is the major structural component of the intermediate filaments. Conclusion: The present study identified and confirmed vimentin as a NELL-1 binding protein, which opened up a new window to mechanistically facilitate studies on this CS-associated molecule.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5605-5611
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• 2012

Background: In the last two decades, pioneering research on anti-tumour activity of saffron has shed light on the role of crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal, as broad spectrum anti-neoplastic agents. However, the exact mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Identification and characterization of the targets of bioactive constituents will play an imperative role in demystifying the complex anti-neoplastic machinery. Methods: In the quest of potential target identification, a dual virtual screening approach utilizing two inverse screening systems, one predicated on idTarget and the other on PharmMapper was here employed. A set of target proteins associated with multiple forms of cancer and ranked by Fit Score and Binding energy were obtained from the two independent inverse screening platforms. The validity of the results was checked by meticulously analyzing the post-docking binding pose of the picrocrocin with Hsp90 alpha in AutoDock. Results: The docking pose reveals that electrostatic and hydrogen bonds play the key role in inter-molecular interactions in ligand binding. Picrocrocin binds to the Hsp90 alpha with a definite orientation appropriate for nucleophilic attacks by several electrical residues inside the Hsp90-alpha ATPase catalytic site. Conclusion: This study reveals functional information about the anti-tumor mechanism of saffron bioactive constituents. Also, a tractable set of anti-neoplastic targets for saffron has been generated in this study which can be further authenticated by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.263-266
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• 2003

This research investigated the process of removing cadmium and tested the detoxification mechanism of the cadmium-binding peptide (Cd-BP) from Rumex crispus. Phytochelatin-like cadmium-binding peptide (PC-Cd-BP) of Rumex crispus was purified and identified. Rumex crispus was exposed to 4.3 mg Cd/L for seven days. Heat-treated supernatant fraction taken by root tissues showed traces of PC-Cd-BP An analysis of the material through Gel-filteration chromatography on the Sephadex G-75 column showed two symmetrical Cd-BP peaks. The major peak with the smaller molecular weight was further purified by $C_{18}$ reverse-phase HPLC to produce apparent homogeneity. The amino acid composition of Cd-BP from Rumex crispus included cysteine (22.6%), glutamate and glutamate acid (20%), and glycine (12%). It was similar the amino acid composition of most PC. The molecular weight of the purified peptide was determined at 568-706 Da by MALDI-TOF MS. Therefore, the Cd-BP of Rumex crispus was PC-Cd-BP consisting of isopeptides.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2016

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) water extract has a variety of physiological properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidative activities. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of AJN extract were investigated in high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor ($Fc{\varepsilon}RI$)-mediated KU812F cells activation. AJN extract showed suppressive effects on histamine release and intracellular calcium [$Ca^{2+}$]i elevation from anti$Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ antibody (CRA-1)-stimulated cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that AJN extract treatment caused a dose-dependent decrease in the cell surface $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression and the binding between the cell surface $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ and the IgE antibody. Moreover, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that levels of the mRNA for the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain was decreased by treatment with AJN extract. These results indicate that AJN extract may exert anti-allergic effects via the inhibition of calcium influx and histamine release, which occurs as a result from the downregulation of the binding of IgE antibody to cell surface $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$. This mechanism may occur through $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression inhibition.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.67.1-67.15
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• 2023

Background: Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) causes an acquired immunodeficiency-like syndrome in cats. FIV is latent. No effective treatment has been developed for treatment the infected cats. The first and second generations non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) for HIV treatment, nevirapine (NVP) and efavirenz (EFV), and rilpivirine (RPV), were used to investigate the potential of NNRTIs for treatment of FIV infection. Objective: This study aims to use experimental and in silico approaches to investigate the potential of NNRTIs, NVP, EFV, and RPV, for inhibition of FIV reverse transcriptase (FIV-RT). Methods: The FIV-RT and human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT) were expressed and purified using chromatography approaches. The purified proteins were used to determine the IC₅₀ values with NVP, EFV, and RPV. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis was used to calculate the binding affinities of NNRTIs to HIV-RT and FIV-RT. The molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations were used to demonstrate the mechanism of FIV-RT and HIV-RT with first and second generation NNRTI complexes. Results: The IC₅₀ values of NNRTIs NVP, EFV, and RPV against FIV-RT were in comparable ranges to HIV-RT. The SPR analysis showed that NVP, EFV, and RPV could bind to both enzymes. Computational calculation also supports that these NNRTIs can bind with both FIV-RT and HIV-RT. Conclusions: Our results suggest the first and second generation NNRTIs (NVP, EFV, and RPV) could inhibit both FIV-RT and HIV-RT.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.29-29
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• 2003

Incompatible plant-pathogen interactions result in the rapid cell death response known as hypersensitive response (HR) and activation of host defense-related genes. To understand the molecular and cellular mechanism controlling defense response better, several approaches including isolation and characterization of novel genes, promoter analysis of those genes, protein-protein interaction analysis and reverse genetic approach etc. By using the yeast two-hybrid system a clone named Tsipl, Tsil -interacting protein 1, was isolated whose translation product apparently interacted with Tsil, an EREBP/AP2 type DNA binding protein. RNA gel blot analysis showed that the expression of Tsipl was increased by treatment with NaCl, ethylene, salicylic acid, or gibberellic acid. Transient expression analysis using a Tsipl::smGFP fusion gene in Arabidopsis protoplasts indicated that the Tsipl protein was targeted to the outer surface of chloroplasts. The targeted Tsipl::smGFP proteins were diffused to the cytoplasm of protoplasts in the presence of salicylic acid (SA) The PEG-mediated co-transfection analysis showed that Tsipl could interact with Tsil in the nucleus. These results suggest that Tsipl-Tsil interaction might serve to regulate defense-related gene expression. Basically the useful promoters are valuable tools for effective control of gene expression related to various developmental and environmental condition.(중략)

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2001

The Fos-Jun heterodimers are part of the regulatory network of gene expression and nuclear proteins encoded by proto-oncogenes. The activation of Fos-Jun is important in the transmission of the tumor-promoting signal from the extracellular environment to the nuclear transcription mechanism. To search for the inhibitors of the Fos-Jun DNA complex formation, several natural products were screened and water-soluble paeoniflorin reduced the binding activity of the Fos-Jun heterodimer. This active compound was purified by silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. The electrophoresis mobility shift assay and reverse-phase HPLC test showed that paeoniflorin reduced the AP-l function. The cytotoxic effect of paeoniflorin was observed in HL-60. These results indicate that paeoniflorin blocks the Fos-Jun heterodimer-binding site of the AP-l DNA and it also has cytotoxic effects on human leukemia cell lines.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 1997

Ginsenosides $Rh_1$ and $Rh_2$ Induced the differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells. These agents are structurally similar to the steroid hormones, therefore, we speculated that the steroid receptor (s) or novel nuclear receptor (s) could be involved in the differentiation process induces by them. Based on this speculation, we tried to alone new nuclear receptors with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method by isolating RNA from F9 teratocarcinoma cells induced by ginsenosides. By using RT-PCR with degenerated primers from highly conserved DNA binding domain of nuclear receptors, we identified several nuclear receptors. In northern blot analysis we found that these clones are transcriptionally regulated by ginsenoside Rhl or Rh2 treatment. Further characterizations of these clones are needed to identify the mechanism of gene expression, which has an important role in the differentiation of F9 cells induced by ginsenosides.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2012

Previous study showed that swimming improved obesity but was not through $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation in liver and skeletal muscle in high fat diet-fed female mice with functioning ovaries as an animal model of obese premenopausal women. Thus, this study was aimed at investigation of the effects of swimming on the promotion of health and its molecular mechanism in adipose tissue of high fat diet-fed female mice. Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups (a non-swim control group and a swim group, n=8/group). Mice in the swim group swam for 2 h daily for 6 weeks in water bath with temperature of $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. All the animals received high fat diet (45% kcal fat) for 6 weeks. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to elucidate the molecular mechanism. Female mice subjected to swimming had significantly decreased body weight gain and white adipose tissue mass compared with the female control mice. Histological studies illustrated that swimming decreases the hepatic lipid accumulation. As expected, swimming did not affect the expression of mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ${\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes responsible for mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, such as carnitine palmitoyltransgerase-1 and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in the white adipose tissue. However, mice that underwent 6-weeks of swimming exercise had decreased the mRNA expression of lipogenic genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1C and fatty acid synthase in comparison to sedentary control mice, with decreased $PPAR{\gamma}$ target genes involved in adipocyte-specific marker genes, such as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and leptin in the white adipose tissue. These results suggest that swimming can effectively prevent obesity induced by high fat diet-fed, in part through down-regulation of adipogenesis and lipogenesis in white adipose tissue of female obese mice. Moreover, these results suggest that swimming maybe contributing the promotion of health through regulation of adipogenesis and lipogenesis in overweight premenopausal women.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1043-1055
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The fruit of Cydonia oblonga Miller (COM) is used traditionally in Mediterranean region medicine to prevent or treat obesity, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. Beyond a demonstrated anti-obesity effect, the fruit was tested for the mechanism of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured for 8 days with COM fruit extract (COME) at different concentrations (0-600 ㎍/mL) with adipocyte differentiation medium. The cell viability was measured using an MTT assay; triglyceride (TG) was stained with Oil Red O. The expression levels of the adipogenesis-related genes and protein expression were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: COME inhibited intracellular TG accumulation during adipogenesis. A COME treatment in 3T3-L1 cells induced upregulation of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α phosphorylation and downregulation of the adipogenic transcription factors, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α. The COME treatment reduced the mRNA expression of fatty acyl synthetase, adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase, adipocyte protein 2, and lipoprotein lipase. It increased the mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive lipase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I in 3T3-L1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: COME inhibits adipogenesis via the AMPK signaling pathways. COME may be used to prevent and treat obesity.