• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.90-93
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• 2010

A-kinase-anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are scaffold proteins which compartmentalize protein kinase A (PKA, cAMP-dependent protein kinase) and other enzymes to specific subcellular sites. The spatiotemporal control of these enzymes by AKAPs is important for cellular function like cell growth and development etc. Hence, it is important to understand the basic function of AKAPs and their functional domains. However, diverse names, function, cellular localizations and many members of AKAPs increase difficulties when researchers search appropriate AKAPs for their experimental purpose. Nevertheless, there was no previous AKAPs-related database regardless of their important cellular functions and difficulty of finding appropriate AKAPs. So, we developed AKAPs database (AKAPDB), which contains their sequence information, functions and other information derived from prediction programs and other databases. Therefore, we propose that AKAPDB can be an important tool to researchers in the related fields. AKAPDB is available via the internet at http://plaza3.snu.ac.kr/akapdb/.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.161-165
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• 2022

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates numerous extracellular and intracellular signals involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and cell growth. mTOR also functions as an endogenous inhibitor of autophagy. Under nutrient-rich conditions, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) phosphorylates the ULK1 complex, preventing its activation and subsequent autophagosome formation, while inhibition of mTORC1 using either rapamycin or nutrient deprivation induces autophagy. Autophagy and proteasomal proteolysis provide amino acids necessary for protein translation. Although the connection between mTORC1 and autophagy is well characterized, the association of mTORC1 inhibition with proteasome biogenesis and activity has not been fully elucidated yet. Proteasomes are long-lived cellular organelles. Their spatiotemporal rather than homeostatic regulation could be another adaptive cellular mechanism to respond to starvation. Here, we reviewed several published reports and the latest research from our group to examine the connection between mTORC1 and proteasome. We have also investigated and described the effect of mTORC1 inhibition on proteasome activity using purified proteasomes. Since mTORC1 inhibitors are currently evaluated as treatments for several human diseases, a better understanding of the link between mTORC1 activity and proteasome function is of utmost importance.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.81-84
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• 2017

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Epimastigote forms of T. cruzi can be readily cultured in axenic conditions. Ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are commonly used solvents employed as vehicles for hydrophobic compounds. In order to produce a reference plot of solvent dependent growth inhibition for T. cruzi research, the growth of epimastigotes was analyzed in the presence of different concentrations of ethanol (0.1-4.0%) and DMSO (0.5-7.5%). The ability of the parasites to resume growth after removal of these solvents was also examined. As expected, both ethanol and DMSO produced a dose-dependent inhibition of cellular growth. Parasites could recover normal growth after 9 days in up to 2% ethanol or 5% DMSO. Since DMSO was better tolerated than ethanol, it is thus recommended to prefer DMSO over ethanol in the case of a similar solubility of a given compound.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.52-57
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• 1992

용응인상법에 의해 융성시킨 $LiNbO_3$ 단결정의 거시적 결함은 단결정 육성인자인 성장속도, 온도구배 및 결정회전속도에 강하게 영향을 받았다. Cell 구조가 형성되지 않고 결정의 직경제어가 용이하며 결정성장 후 냉각시 에도 crack이 발생되지 않는 1" 직경의 $LiNbO_3$ 단결정의 성장조건은 온도기울기 $70~100^{circ}C/cm$, 성장속도 5~10 mm/hr, 결정회전속도 40 rpm 이었다. 이었다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.113-118
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• 2013

TTRAP is a multi-functional protein that is involved in multiple aspects of cellular functions including cell proliferation, apoptosis and the repair of DNA damage. Here, we demonstrated that the lentivirus-mediated overexpression of TTRAP significantly inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. The ectopic TTRAP suppressed the growth and colony formation capacity of two osteosarcoma cell lines, U2OS and Saos-2. Cell apoptosis was induced in U2OS cells and the cell cycle was arrested at G2/M phase in Saos-2 cells. Exogenous expression of TTRAP in serum-starved U2OS and Saos-2 cells induced an increase in caspase-3/-7 activity and a decrease in cyclin B1 expression. In comparison with wild-type TTRAP, mutations in the 5'-tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase activity of TTRAP, in particular $TTRAP^{E152A}$, showed decreased inhibitory activity on cell growth. These results may aid in clarifying the physiological functions of TTRAP, especially its roles in the regulation of cell growth and tumorigenesis.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.129-149
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• 1992

In order to verify the acceleration effect of low level laser (LLL) on oral mucosal wound healing process at cell biological level, the author studied growth pattern and ultrastructure in human gingival fibroblasts flashed by GaAlAs LLL-830 nm, 15mW for 10 minutes/flash one to three times at interval of 3-4 days through the evaluation of cell growth rate, protein conent/cell, DNA content/cell and ultrastructural changes for 14 days. The results were as follows : 1. The growth rate in gingival fibloblasts treated by LLL showed 4 orderly stages-decreasing stage after LLL treatment, acute increasing stage 3 days after LLL treatment, restring stage and recovering stage. 2. The effect of multiple flashes on LLL at interval of 3 days more or less was not proportional to times of flash on acceleration of growth in gingival fibroblasts. 3. The total protein content per gingival fibroblast was not significantly changed by LLL treatment in comparison with control group. But some kinds of protein which might be cell growth promoting factors were decreased immediately after LLL treatment, thereafter were acutely increased in cellular protein profile. 4. In ultrastructural changes of gingival fibroblasts treated by LLL, more prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial hyperplasia/hypertrophy and increased extracellular fibrillar matrix were observed in comparison with control group under same experimental period.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제2권1_2호
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• pp.33-42
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• 1987

Experiments were performed to investigate effects of ethanol and saccharin on the immune system in rats. 4% ethanol and 0.02, 0.20, 2.00% saccharin solution in 4% ethanol were provided ad libitum by tap water for 4 weeks. Rats were sensitized and challenged with sheep red blood cells (S-RBC). Immune responses were evaluated by relative immuno organ weight, antibody production, Arthus reaction, delayed type hypersensitivity, and rosette forming cell. Ethanol exposure decreased thymus weight and delayed type hypersensitivity. A combined solution of ethanol and saccharin decreased water intake, growth rate, spleen weight, thymus weight, humoral and cellular immune response. Especially, a 2% saccharin solution in 4% ethanol very significantly suppressed cellular immunity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.119-124
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• 1994

Experiments were performed to determine age-associated changes in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) gene and Ha-ras cellular oncogene expression in tissues of female rats. In the kidney, ODC mRNA levels did not show age-associated changes, while ODC enzyme activities were decreased with advancing age from 3 to 10 months. These results suggest that post-transcriptional mechanism (s) are involved in the age-dependent decrease in renal ODC enzyme activity. In addition, we found no correlation between testosterone-induced renal ODC expression and DNA methylation pattern. Ha-ras mRNA levels in brain decreased as animals aged from 3 to 6 months, while renal Ha-ras mRNA levels were not influenced by age. Results demonstrate the age-dependent expression of Ha-ras in a tissue-specific manner.

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권11호
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• pp.557-562
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• 2018

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are major sources of cellular oxidative stress. Specifically, cancer cells harbor genetic alterations that promote a continuous and elevated production of ROS. While such oxidative stress conditions could be harmful to normal cells, they facilitate cancer cell growth in multiple ways by causing DNA damage and genomic instability, and ultimately by reprogramming cancer cell metabolism. This review provides up to date findings regarding the roles of ROS generation induced by diverse biological molecules and chemicals in representative women's cancer. Specifically, we describe the cellular signaling pathways that regulate direct or indirect interactions between ROS homeostasis and metabolism within female genital cancer cells.

• BMB Reports
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• 제43권10호
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• pp.656-663
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• 2010

Amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is critically involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is cleaved by gamma/epsilon-secretase activity and results in the generation of different lengths of the APP Intracellular C-terminal Domain (AICD). In spite of its small size and short half-life, AICD has become the focus of studies on AD pathogenesis. Recently, it was demonstrated that AICD binds to different intracellular binding partners ('adaptor protein'), which regulate its stability and cellular localization. In terms of choice of adaptor protein, phosphorylation seems to play an important role. AICD and its various adaptor proteins are thought to take part in various cellular events, including regulation of gene transcription, apoptosis, calcium signaling, growth factor, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway activation, as well as the production, trafficking, and processing of APP, and the modulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. This review discusses the possible roles of AICD in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including AD.