• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.361-368
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• 2014

Lipid components in biological membranes are essential for maintaining cellular function. Phosphoinositides, the phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol (PI), regulate many critical cell processes involving membrane signaling, trafficking, and reorganization. Multiple metabolic pathways including phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases and phospholipases tightly control spatio-temporal concentration of membrane phosphoinositides. Metabolizing enzymes responsible for PI 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) production or degradation play a regulatory role in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and trafficking. These enzymes include PI 4-phosphate 5-kinase, phosphatase and tensin homolog, PI 3-kinase, and phospholipase C. PI(4,5)P2 mediates the interaction with target cytosolic proteins to induce their membrane translocation, regulate vesicular trafficking, and serve as a precursor for other signaling lipids. TLR activation is important for the innate immune response and is implicated in diverse pathophysiological disorders. TLR signaling is controlled by specific interactions with distinct signaling and sorting adaptors. Importantly, TLR signaling machinery is differentially formed depending on a specific membrane compartment during signaling cascades. Although detailed mechanisms remain to be fully clarified, phosphoinositide metabolism is promising for a better understanding of such spatio-temporal regulation of TLR signaling and trafficking.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.67-72
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• 2013

This study examined the anti-osteoclastogenic effects of baicalin on receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}$B ligand (RANKL)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Baicalin is a flavonoid that is produced by Scutellaria baicalensis and is known to have multiple biological properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The effects of baicalin on osteoclasts were examined by measuring 1) cell viability; 2) the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) (+) multinucleated cells; 3) RANK/RANKL signaling pathways and 4) mRNA levels of osteoclast-associated genes. Baicalin inhibited the formation of RANKL-stimulated TRAP (+) multinucleated cells and also suppressed the RANKL-stimulated activation of p-38, ERK, cSrc and AKT signaling. Baicalin also inhibited the RANKL-stimulated degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the RANKL-stimulated induction of NFATc1 transcription factors was found to be abrogated by this flavonoid. Baicalin was further found to decrease the mRNA expression of osteoclast-associated genes, including carbonic anhydrase II, TRAP and cathepsin K in the RAW264.7 cells. Our data thus demonstrate that baicalin inhibits osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting the RANKL-induced activation of signaling molecules and transcription factors in osteoclast precursors.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1467-1472
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• 2013

Metabolomics is a field that studies systematic dynamics and secretion of metabolites from cells to understand biological pathways based on metabolite changes. The metabolic profiling of intact human colorectal tissues was performed using high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy, which was unnecessary to extract metabolites from tissues. We used two different groups of samples, which were defined as normal and cancer, from 9 patients with colorectal cancer and investigated the samples in NMR experiments with a water suppression pulse sequence. We applied target profiling and multivariative statistical analysis to the analyzed 1D NMR spectra to identify the metabolites and discriminate between normal and cancer tissues. Cancer tissue showed higher levels of arginine, betaine, glutamate, lysine, taurine and lower levels of glutamine, hypoxanthine, isoleucine, lactate, methionine, pyruvate, tyrosine relative to normal tissue. In the OPLS-DA (orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis), the score plot showed good separation between the normal and cancer groups. These results suggest that metabolic profiling of colorectal cancer could provide new biomarkers.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Panax ginseng Meyer, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae, is known for its human immune system-related effects, such as immune-boosting effects. Ginseng polysaccharides (GPs) are the responsible ingredient of ginseng in immunomodulation, and are classified as acidic and neutral GPs. Although GPs participate in various immune reactions including the stimulation of immune cells and production of cytokines, the precise function of GPs together with its potential receptor(s) and their signal transduction pathways have remained largely unknown. Animal lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar moieties. Among many different biological functions in vivo, animal lectins especially play important roles in the immune system by recognizing carbohydrates that are found exclusively on pathogens or that are inaccessible on host cells. This review summarizes the immunological activities of GPs and the diverse roles of animal lectins in the immune system, suggesting the possibility of animal lectins as the potential receptor candidates of GPs and giving insights into the development of GPs as therapeutic biomaterials for many immunological diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.138-139
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• 2003

Specific biomarkers to detect significant immunological or physiological responses would be extremely valuable on the development of feeding technique. Proteomics, the study of proteins within a cell or biological samples, may offer a novel approach to immunological or physiological monitoring of chicken responses to immune system. By studying the protein content of cells responding to a vaccine or growth factor, it may be possible to develop a metric for quantitating the magnitude of immunological or physiological responses. Proteomics could also provide a tool for obtaining valuable information regarding the underlying regulatory mechanisms and pathways in Korean Native Chicken by comparing with subspecies of KNC and other species, like Cornish and White Leghorns.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.349-352
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• 2003

Recent studies have shown that some of the PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl)-degraders are able to effectively degrade PCB in the presence of monoterpenes, which act as inducers for the degradation pathway. Rhodococcus sp. T104, an effective PCB degrader, has been shown to induce the degradation pathway by utilizing limonenes, cymenes, carvones, and pinenes as sole carbon sources which can be found in the natural environment. Moreover, the strain T104 proved to possess three separate oxidation pathways of limonene, biphenyl, and phenol. Of these three, the limonene can also induce the biphenyl degradation pathway. In this work, we report the presence of three distinct genes for aromatic oxygenase, which are putatively involved in the degradation of aromatic substrates including biphenyl, limonene, and phenol, through PCR amplification and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The genes were differentially expressed and well induced by limonene, cymene, and plant extract A compared to biphenyl and/or glucose. This indicates that substrate specificity must be taken into account when biodegradation of the target compounds are facilitated by the plant natural substrates.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.103-112
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• 2001

Bone homeostasis is maintained by a balance between activities of osteoblasts(bone forming cells) and osteoclasts (bone resorbing cells). The activities of these cells are closely regulated by multiple factors including hormones and cytokines. The cessation of estrogen at menopause disrupts the balanced regulation and is the main cause of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Recent molecular biological studies led to a discovery of tumor necrosis factor(TNF) and TNF receptor families genes that play critical roles in the regulation of osteoclast formation and function. RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand; also called ODF, TRANCE, and OPGL) expressed on cells supporting osteoclast is essential for osteoclast differentiation, activation, and survival. RANK, the counter-receptor for RANKL, is expressed on progenitor and mature osteoclasts. The interaction between RANKL and RANK is requlated by a soluble decoy receptor OPG (osteoprotegerin). Gene knock out studies of these molecules showed profound effects on bone. These results prompted development of new strategies for treatment of bone diseases. Inhibition of osteoclast activity by blocking the RANKL-RANK interaction using OPG is being attempted. Research on the signaling pathways of RANK is also actively carried out. Screening natural products that inhibit the RANKL-RANK interaction or the activity of obteoclasts would be another effective means to a new drug target for bone resorbing diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.493-499
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• 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the midbrain, which results in decreased dopamine levels accompanied by movement symptoms. Oral administration of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), the precursor of dopamine, provides initial symptomatic relief, but abnormal involuntary movements develop later. A deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying dopamine homeostasis is thus critically needed for the development of a successful treatment. Here, we show that p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) controls dopamine levels. Constitutively active PAK4 (caPAK4) stimulated transcription of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) via the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) transcription factor. Moreover, caPAK4 increased the catalytic activity of TH through its phosphorylation of S⁴⁰, which is essential for TH activation. Consistent with this result, in human midbrain tissues, we observed a strong correlation between phosphorylated PAK4^S474, which represents PAK4 activity, and phosphorylated TH^S40, which reflects their enzymatic activity. Our findings suggest that targeting the PAK4 signaling pathways to restore dopamine levels may provide a new therapeutic approach in PD.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.117-117
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• 2019

Kirengeshoma koreana Nakai (K. koreana)was Saxifragaceae and rare plants in Korea, which is classified as an Critically Endangered (CR) species in Korea. Therefore, most of the studies on it were ecological and taxonomic, and there are no studies on biological activity. In this study, we evaluated the whitening activity of K. koreana extract (KKE). Melanogenesis Inhibitory effects were demonstrated by western-bot and RT-PCR for the effects of KKE on MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 in IBMX-treated B16F10 melanoma cells. IBMX were reported as melanin synthesis enhancers. It could increase intracellular melanin synthesis by activation of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) signaling pathway. KKE showed no cytotoxicity at B16F10. In addition, KKE effectively inhibited the protein and mRNA levels of MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. In conclusion, KKE inhibited melanin synthesis by inhibiting the expression of MITF and its downstream pathways tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. Therefore, it was confirmed that K. koreana is a valuable resource for functional cosmetic and biomaterials.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

In this study, formaldehyde and benzene were selected as the arbitrary chemicals in accidental leakage to environment, and their physicochemical and biological characteristics and toxicity were studied. Also, the fate of these chemicals in soil and groundwater was studied based on the results of previous studies. They can be released into the atmosphere as gas or vapor phase, which then can be photochemically degraded. Since they have relatively high water solubility, they are likely to have high mobility in water and soil. Volatilization of these chemicals from soil is affected by the soil moisture content. Biodegradation of formaldehyde and benzene is one of the important pathways as well. Therefore, it is necessary to study the environmental impacts of leakage accidents of flammable chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene. Further research on the fate of flammable chemicals in the environment is needed to take appropriate response actions to leakage accidents of flammable chemicals, and this will contribute to the development of practical guidelines to cope with leakage accidents.