• 한국해양바이오학회지
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.102-109
• /
• 2014

Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are aquatic mammals that experienced drastic changes during the transition from terrestrial to aquatic environment. Morphological changes include streamlined body, alterations in the face, transformation of the forelimbs into flippers, disappearance of the hindlimbs and the acquisition of flukes on the tail. For a prolonged diving, cetaceans acquired hypoxia-resistance by developing various anatomical and physiological changes. However, molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations are still limited. CREB-binding protein (CREBBP) is a transcriptional co-activator critical for embryonic development, growth control, metabolic homeostasis and responses to hypoxia. Natural selection analysis of five cetacean CREBBPs compared with those from 15 terrestrial relatives revealed strong purifying selection, supporting the importance of its role in mammals. However, prediction for amino acid changes that elicit functional difference of CREBBP identified three cetacean specific changes localized within a region required for interaction with SRCAP and in proximal regions to KIX domain of CREBBP. Mutations in CREBBP or SRCAP are known to cause craniofacial and skeletal defects in human, and KIX domain of CREBBP serves as a docking site for transcription factors including c-Myb, an essential regulator of haematopoiesis. In these respects, our study provides interesting insights into the functional adaptation of cetacean CREBBP for aquatic lifestyle.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.222-227
• /
• 2020

Inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK) is required for the biosynthesis of inositol phosphates (IPs) through the phosphorylation of multiple IP metabolites such as IP3 and IP4. The biological significance of IPMK's catalytic actions to regulate cellular signaling events such as growth and metabolism has been studied extensively. However, pharmacological reagents that inhibit IPMK have not yet been identified. We employed a structure-based virtual screening of publicly available U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs and chemicals that identified the antidepressant, vilazodone, as an IPMK inhibitor. Docking simulations and pharmacophore analyses showed that vilazodone has a higher affinity for the ATP-binding catalytic region of IPMK than ATP and we validated that vilazodone inhibits IPMK's IP kinase activities in vitro. The incubation of vilazodone with NIH3T3-L1 fibroblasts reduced cellular levels of IP5 and other highly phosphorylated IPs without influencing IP4 levels. We further found decreased Akt phosphorylation in vilazodone-treated HCT116 cancer cells. These data clearly indicate selective cellular actions of vilazodone against IPMK-dependent catalytic steps in IP metabolism and Akt activation. Collectively, our data demonstrate vilazodone as a method to inhibit cellular IPMK, providing a valuable pharmacological agent to study and target the biological and pathological processes governed by IPMK.

• 한국항해항만학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국항해항만학회 2009년도 공동학술대회
• /
• pp.435-438
• /
• 2009

항로표지용 등부표는 주요 항로 및 항만 입출항 선박 안전 유도를 위한 해상교통 안전 시설로서 현재는 해상교통환경 변화로 다기능이 요구되는 상황이다. 최근 고광도 등명기와 항로표지원격감시제어 및 e-Navigation 지원시스템구축과 해양기상관측장비 등을 구축함에 따라 항로표지용 등부표에 더욱 안정적인 전원 공급을 위한 고성능 축전지가 요구되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 리튬이차전지 중에서도 안전성이 우수한 리튬폴리머전지 설계기술을 적용, 기존 산화물계보다 안전성이 보다 더 우수한 $LiFePO_4$를 양극재료로 사용하여 단전지를 개발하고 단전지의 전기적 특성 고찰하였다. 또한 단전지를 이용한 3.6kWh급 축전지를 제작하여 그 성능을 연축전지와 비교 분석하였다.

• 정보처리학회논문지:소프트웨어 및 데이터공학
• /
• 제8권10호
• /
• pp.421-426
• /
• 2019

본 논문에서는 단백질 복합체에서 단백질 사이의 접촉 영역이 갖는 기하학적 특징을 가시화하는 방법을 제안한다. 단백질 또는 리간드가 요철이 있는 곡면으로 표현될 때, 두 곡면이 서로 접하면서 교차하지 않는 성질을 형태 상보성이라 한다. 단백질-단백질 또는 단백질-리간드 도킹 연구에서 형태 상보성과 화학적인 성질, 엔트로피 등이 접촉 영역의 발견에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 볼 수 있다. 일반적으로 형태 상보성이 높은 영역을 발견한 뒤, 이 영역에 속한 아미노산들의 잔기 극성 및 소수성 등을 이용하여 접촉 영역을 예측한다. 접촉 영역을 예측하기 위한 연구에서는 기존에 알려진 복합체에서 접촉 영역이 갖는 기하학적인 특징을 조사하는 작업이 필요하며, 이를 위해 기하학적인 특징을 가시화하는 작업은 필수적이다. 본 논문에서는 단백질 복합체에서 접촉 영역을 발견하고, 두 개의 단백질 각각의 접촉 면에 속한 근거리의 정점들의 기하학적인 특징을 법선 벡터 및 평균 곡률로써 가시화하는 방법을 제안한다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제43권4호
• /
• pp.550-561
• /
• 2019

Background: Gastric ulcer (GU) is a common gastrointestinal disease that can be induced by many factors. Finding an effective treatment method that contains fewer side effects is important. 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 is a kind of protopanaxadiol and has shown superior antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects in many studies, especially cancer studies. In this study, we examined the treatment efficacy of 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 on GU. Methods: Three kinds of GU models, including an alcohol GU model, a pylorus-ligated GU model, and an acetic acid GU model, were used. Mouse endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in blood and epidermal growth factor (EGF), superoxide dismutase, and NO levels in gastric mucosa were evaluated. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of gastric mucosa and immunohistochemical staining of ET-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), and epidermal growth factor receptors were studied. Ulcer index (UI) scores and UI ratios were also analyzed to demonstrate the GU conditions in different groups. Furthermore, Glide XP from $Schr{\ddot{o}}dinger$ was used for molecular docking to clarify the interactions between 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 and EGF and NOS2. Results: 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 significantly decreased the UI scores and UI ratios in all the three GU models, and it demonstrated antiulcer effects by decreasing the ET-1 and NOS2 levels and increasing the NO, superoxide dismutase, EGF, and epidermal growth factor receptor levels. In addition, high-dose 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 showed satisfactory gastric mucosa protection effects. Conclusion: 20 (S)-ginsenoside Rg3 can inhibit the formation of GU and may be a potential therapeutic agent for GU.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제29권6호
• /
• pp.630-636
• /
• 2021

Eupafolin, a constituent of the aerial parts of Phyla nodiflora, has neuroprotective property. Because reducing the synaptic release of glutamate is crucial to achieving pharmacotherapeutic effects of neuroprotectants, we investigated the effect of eupafolin on glutamate release in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes and explored the possible mechanism. We discovered that eupafolin depressed 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced glutamate release, and this phenomenon was prevented in the absence of extracellular calcium. Eupafolin inhibition of glutamate release from synaptic vesicles was confirmed through measurement of the release of the fluorescent dye FM 1-43. Eupafolin decreased 4-AP-induced [Ca²⁺]_i elevation and had no effect on synaptosomal membrane potential. The inhibition of P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels reduced the decrease in glutamate release that was caused by eupafolin, and docking data revealed that eupafolin interacted with P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels. Additionally, the inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) prevented the effect of eupafolin on evoked glutamate release. Eupafolin also reduced the 4-AP-induced activation of CaMK II and the subsequent phosphorylation of synapsin I, which is the main presynaptic target of CaMKII. Therefore, eupafolin suppresses P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels and thereby inhibits CaMKII/synapsin I pathways and the release of glutamate from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.483-491
• /
• 2021

Two putative genes, lip29 and est29, encoding lipolytic enzymes from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus thermocatenulatus KCTC 3921 were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant Lip29 and Est29 were purified 67.3-fold to homogeneity with specific activity of 2.27 U/mg and recovery of 5.8% and 14.4-fold with specific activity of 0.92 U/mg and recovery of 1.3%, respectively. The molecular mass of each purified enzyme was estimated to be 29 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The alignment analysis of amino acid sequences revealed that both enzymes belonged to GDSL lipase/esterase family including conserved blocks with SGNH catalytic residues which was mainly identified in plants before. While Est29 showed high specificity toward short-chain fatty acids (C4-C8), Lip29 showed strong lipolytic activity to long-chain fatty acids (C12-C16). The optimal activity of Lip29 toward p-nitrophenyl palmitate as a substrate was observed at 50℃ and pH 9.5, respectively, and its activity was maintained more than 24 h at optimal temperatures, indicating that Lip29 was thermostable. Lip29 exhibited high tolerance against detergents and metal ions. The homology modeling and substrate docking revealed that the long-chain substrates showed the greatest binding affinity toward enzyme. Based on the biochemical and insilico analyses, we present for the first time a GDSL-type lipase in the thermophilic bacteria group.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.6.1-6.10
• /
• 2021

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed at elevated levels by most cancer cells, which can stimulate vascular endothelial cell growth, survival, proliferation as well as trigger angiogenesis modulated by VEGF and VEGFR (a tyrosine kinase receptor) signaling. The angiogenic effects of the VEGF family are thought to be primarily mediated through the interaction of VEGF with VEGFR-2. Targeting this signaling molecule and its receptor is a novel approach for blocking angiogenesis. In recent years virtual high throughput screening has emerged as a widely accepted powerful technique in the identification of novel and diverse leads. The high resolution X-ray structure of VEGF has paved the way to introduce new small molecular inhibitors by structure-based virtual screening. In this study using different alkaloid molecules as potential novel inhibitors of VEGF, we proposed three alkaloid candidates for inhibiting VEGF and VEGFR mediated angiogenesis. As these three alkaloid compounds exhibited high scoring functions, which also highlights their high binding ability, it is evident that these alkaloids can be taken to further drug development pipelines for use as novel lead compounds to design new and effective drugs against cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.442-451
• /
• 2019

Background: Ginseng has a wide range of beneficial effects on health, such as the mitigation of minor and major inflammatory diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. There are abundant data regarding the health-enhancing properties of whole ginseng extracts and single ginsenosides; however, no study to date has determined the receptors that mediate the effects of ginseng extracts. In this study, for the first time, we explored whether the antiinflammatory effects of Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) are mediated by retinoid X receptor ${\alpha}$-peroxisome-proliferating receptor ${\gamma}$ ($RXR{\alpha}-PPAR{\gamma}$) heterodimer nuclear receptors. Methods: Nitric oxide assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, nuclear hormone receptor-binding assay, and molecular docking analyses were used for this study. Results: Rg3-RGE exerted antiinflammatory effects via nuclear receptor heterodimers between $RXR{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ agonists and antagonists. Conclusion: These findings indicate that Rg3-RGE can be considered a potent antiinflammatory agent, and these effects are likely mediated by the nuclear receptor $RXR{\alpha}-PPAR{\gamma}$ heterodimer.

• 해양환경안전학회지
• /
• 제25권1호
• /
• pp.122-129
• /
• 2019

신조 방식의 제조업의 특성상 경기 사이클이 존재하기 때문에, 장기적으로 이를 대처할 동반 산업이 절실하게 필요로 하고 있다. 이러한 요구에 적합한 분야가 수리조선업 분야이다. 수리조선업을 운영하기 위해서는 플로팅도크가 필수적으로 필요로 하며, 대부분 노후화된 플로팅도크를 해외로부터 수입한 후, 개/보수를 통하여 운용하고 있다. 그러나, 사용연한이 최소 30년 이상이고, 운용 시 특정 선급에 입급을 시키지 않기 때문에, 안전성에 대한 정확한 지침은 전무한 상태이다. 본 연구에서는 노후화된 플로팅도크의 계측한 두께 정보를 활용하여, 구조강도 검토를 수행하고, 운용중인 플로팅도크의 잔류 구조강도를 분석하였다. 연구를 통하여 도출된 주요 결과들은 유사 설비의 구조 안전성 검토에 대한 가이드라인을 참조할 수 있으며, 개/보수 시 이러한 방법을 활용하면 빠른 시간 내에 최적 해를 찾을 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.