• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권10호
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• pp.836-842
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• 2015

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest and the most physiologically important membrane protein family that recognizes a variety of environmental stimuli, and are drug targets in the treatment of numerous diseases. Recent progress on GPCR structural studies shed light on molecular mechanisms of GPCR ligand recognition, activation and allosteric modulation, as well as structural basis of GPCR dimerization. In this review, we will discuss the structural features of GPCRs and structural insights of different aspects of GPCR biological functions.

• 한국식품영양학회지
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.1364-1369
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• 2017

There is a growing demand for natural sleep aids due to various side effects of long-term administration of pharmacological treatments for insomnia. Honey has been reported to exhibit numerous potential health benefits, and it is hypothesized that honey may favorably affect insomnia treatment. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the possible hypnotic effect of clover honey (CH) and to determine its in vivo mechanism. The total flavonoid content (TFC) of CH and fractions extracted with ethylacetate (EtOAc) and $H_2O$ was measured. The pentobarbital-induced sleep test using $GABA_A$-benzodiazepine (BZD) agonists and antagonists was conducted to evaluate the potential mechanism of action behind the sedative-hypnotic activity of CH in mice. The results showed that administration of 500 and 1,000 mg/kg of CH significantly (p<0.01) reduced the sleep latency to a level similar to that of diazepam (DZP, 2 mg/kg), and 1,000 mg/kg of CH significantly (p<0.01) prolonged the sleep duration, which was comparable to that of DZP (2 mg/kg). Administration of the EtOAc fraction with a higher TFC significantly reduced the sleep latency at 50 to 200 mg/kg and prolonged the sleep duration at 100 to 200 mg/kg, which were comparable to those after administration of DZP (2 mg/kg). However, co-administration of CH and EtOAc with flumazenil, a specific $GABA_A-BZD$ receptor antagonist, blocked the hypnotic effect. Our findings suggest that the hypnotic activity of CH may be attributed to allosteric modulation of $GABA_A-BZD$ receptors. The TFC of CH is expected to be a key factor that contributes to its hypnotic effect.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권10호
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• pp.1140-1146
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• 2018

이중탈인산화효소(DUSP)는 성장인자활성 단백질키나제(MAPK)를 조절해서 세포성장과 분화에 관여하며 암, 당뇨병, 면역질환, 신경질환의 신약개발표적이다. DUSP 단백질군에 속하는 DUSP19는c-Jun N-말단 키나제(JNK)를 조절하며 골관절염의 질환화과정에 관여한다. 우리는 야생형 DUSP19 에 비하여 상당히 활성이 증가된 cavity 형성 돌연변이인 DUSP19-L75A의 결정구조를 규명하였다. 결정구조는 Leu75의 곁가지가 없어진 결과로 cavity가 잘 형성되어 있는 것을 보여주며, 활성부위에 결합한 황이온이 회전된 형태로 존재하는 것을 보여준다. Cavity 형성에도 불구하고 cavity를 둘러싸고 있는 잔기들은 그다지 재조정되지 않은 것으로 나타나며 그 대신에 멀리 떨어진 트립토판 잔기가 소수성결합을 강화하고 있는 것으로 나타나서 L75A 돌연변이의 접힘은 cavity 부위의 재조정이 아니라 글로벌 접힘 에너지 최소화 기작에 의해 안정화 되었음을 발견할 수 있었다. 회전된 활성화부위 황이온의 구조는 인산화티로신 잔기와 유사함이 발견되어 L75A 돌연변이가 최적의 활성화형태를 유도했다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 내부 cavity에 의한 활성증가현상과 이에 대한 구조적 정보는 DUSP19의 알로스테릭 조절과 치료제 개발에 정보를 제공한다.