• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2013년도 제44회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
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• pp.85-85
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• 2013

Label-free, sensitive and selective detection methods with high spatial resolution are critically required for future applications in chemical sensor, biological sensor, and nanospectroscopic imaging. Here I describe the development of Plasmon Resonance Energy Transfer (PRET)-based molecular imaging in living cells as the first demonstration of intracellular imaging with PRET-based nanospectroscopy. In-vivo PRET imaging relied on the overlap between plasmon resonance frequency of gold nanoplasmonic probe (GNP) and absorption peak frequencies of conjugated molecules, which leads to create 'quantized quenching dips' in Rayleigh scattering spectrum of GNP. The position of these dips exactly matched with the absorption peaks of target molecules. As another innovative application of PRET, I present a highly selective and sensitive detection of metal ions by creating conjugated metal-ligand complexes on a single GNP. In addition to conferring high spatial resolution due to the small size of the metal ion probes (50 nm in diameter), this method is 100 to 1,000 folds more sensitive than organic reporter-based methods. Moreover, this technique achieves high selectivity due to the selective formation of Cu2+complexes and selective resonant quenching of GNP by the conjugated complexes. Since many metal ion ligand complexes generate new absorption peak due to the d-d transition in the metal ligand complex when a specific metal ion is inserted into the complex, we can match with the scattering frequency of nanoplasmonic metal ligand systems and the new absorption peak.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.313-322
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• 2020

Eukaryotes transport biomolecules between intracellular organelles and between cells and the environment via vesicle trafficking. Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNARE proteins) play pivotal roles in vesicle and membrane trafficking. These proteins are categorized as Qa, Qb, Qc, and R SNAREs and form a complex that induces vesicle fusion for targeting of vesicle cargos. As the core components of the SNARE complex, the SNAP25 Qbc SNAREs perform various functions related to cellular homeostasis. The Arabidopsis thaliana SNAP25 homolog AtSNAP33 interacts with Qa and R SNAREs and plays a key role in cytokinesis and in triggering innate immune responses. However, other Arabidopsis SNAP25 homologs, such as AtSNAP29 and AtSNAP30, are not well studied; this includes their localization, interactions, structures, and functions. Here, we discuss three biological functions of plant SNAP25 orthologs in the context of AtSNAP33 and highlight recent findings on SNAP25 orthologs in various plants. We propose future directions for determining the roles of the less well-characterized AtSNAP29 and AtSNAP30 proteins.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제31권11호
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• pp.3241-3246
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• 2010

NHERF ($Na^+/H^+$ exchanger regulatory factor) and E3KARP (NHE3 kinase A regulatory protein) play important roles in membrane targeting, trafficking and sorting of ion channels, transmembrane receptors and signaling proteins in many tissues. Each of these proteins contains two PDZ (PSD-95/Dlg-1/ZO-1) domains, which mediate the assembly of transmembrane and cytosolic proteins into functional signal transduction complexes. The interaction between NHERF and E3KARP was investigated by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (BIAcore), fluorescence measurement, His-tagged pull-down experiment, and size-exclusion column (SEC) chromatography. BIAcore experiments revealed that NHERF bound to E3KARP with an apparent $K_D$ of 7 nM. Fluorescence emission spectra of the NHERF-E3KARP complex suggested that the tight interaction between these proteins was accompanied by significant conformational changes in one or both. The CD spectra of NHERF and E3KARP show that the conformational changes of these proteins were dependent on pH and temperature. These results implicate that the NHERF-E3KARP complex allows intracellular signaling complexes to form through PDZ-PDZ interactions.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.105-109
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• 2017

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation and recycling system. Oocyte maturation is dynamic process, in which various proteins should be synthesized and degraded. In our previous study, we reported the loci of autophagosome and dynamics of autophagic activity in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation. In this study, we verified loci of autophagosome in porcine follicular cumulus-oocyte complex by detection of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) which is the reliable marker of autophagosome. Porcine ovary including various sizes of follicles was fixed within 1 hour after collection from slaughterhouse. After fixation, immunohistochemistry was conducted on sliced ovary tissue containing various sizes of follicles by using LC3 antibody. As a result, LC3 signal was clearly detected in both cumulus and oocytes of various sizes of follicles. We also found ring shaped signal which represent autophagosome near oocyte membrane. Most of the signals in oocytes were localized nearby cellular membrane while evenly dispersed in cumulus cells. Therefore, this result suggests that autophagy occurs in porcine COCs (cumulus-oocyte complexes) at follicular stage.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.182-187
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• 2020

When cells are stimulated by growth factors, they make a critical choice in early G₁ phase: proceed forward to S phase, remain in G₁, or revert to G₀ phase. Once the critical decision is made, cells execute a fixed program independently of extracellular signals. The specific stage at which the critical decision is made is called the restriction point or R-point. The existence of the R-point raises a major question: what is the nature of the molecular machinery that decides whether or not a cell in G₁ will continue to advance through the cell cycle or exit from the cell cycle? The R-point program is perturbed in nearly all cancer cells. Therefore, exploring the nature of the R-point decision-making machinery will provide insight into how cells consult extracellular signals and intracellular status to make an appropriate R-point decision, as well into the development of cancers. Recent studies have shown that expression of a number of immediate early genes is associated with the R-point decision, and that the decision-making program constitutes an oncogene surveillance mechanism. In this review, we briefly summarize recent findings regarding the mechanisms underlying the context-dependent R-point decision.

• Korea Journal of Cosmetic Science
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.31-43
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• 2019

Melanosomes are specific melanin-containing intracellular organelles of epidermal melanocytes. In epidermal melanocytes, there are three kinds of key player proteins. Rab27a, melanophilin or Slac2-a and Myosin 5a form a tripartite complex connects the melanosome. Mature melanosomes make movements through the tripartite protein complex along actin filaments.In this study, we found that the haplamine (6-Methoxyflindersine) induced melanosome aggregation around the nucleus in epidermal melanocyte. In an attempt to elucidate the inhibitory effect of haplamine on melanosome transport, effect of haplamineon the expression level of Rab27a, melanophilin and Myosin 5a was measured. The results indicated that haplamine up to 5��M effectively suppressed mRNA and protein expression level of melanophilin.To determine the upstream regulator of melanophilin regulated by haplamine, we checked the level of MITF, c-JUN and USF1. Those are possible transcription factor of melanophilin. Among them,treatment of USF1 siRNA decreased mRNA and protein expression level of USF1 as well as melanophilin. Also, treatment of haplamine decreased mRNA and protein expression level of melanophilin as well as USF1 in a dose-dependent manner. Consequently, we found the inhibitory effect of haplamine on melanosome transport in melan-a melanocyte. Treatment of haplamine reduced melanophilin expression level which is a key protein of melanosome transport. We identified that USF1 could be a major transcription factor of melanophilin regulated by haplamine.

• 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.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.179-186
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• 2001

Bone marrow stroma is a complex tissue encompassing a number of cell types and supports hematopiesis, differentiation of erythreid, nyel and lymphoid lineages, and also maintains undifferentiated hematopoietic stem cells. Marrow-derived stem cells were composed of two populations, namely, hematopoietic stem cells that can differentiate into blood elements and mesenchymal stem cells that can give rise to connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, adipose and stroma. Differentiation requires environmental factors and unique intracellular signaling. For example, $TGF-{\beta}$ or BMP2 induces osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem are very exciting. However, the intrinsic controls involved in differentiation of stem cells are yet to be understood properly in order to exploit the same. This review presents an overview of the recent developments made in mesenchymal stem cell research with respect to osteogenesis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.179-185
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• 2013

Polygalae radix (PR) has traditionally been used as a sedative and anti-stress agent in oriental countries for a long time. PR which contains many ingredients is especially rich in saponins. This study was performed to investigate whether ethanol extract of PR enhances pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors. In addition, possible mechanisms also were investigated. PR inhibited locomotor activity in mice. PR increased sleep rate and sleep time by concomitant administration with sub-hypnotic dose of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg). PR prolonged total sleeping time, and shortened sleep latency induced by pentobarbital (42 mg/kg). In addition, PR increased intracellular chloride concentration in primary cultured neuronal cells. The expression level of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were increased, and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid $(GABA)_A$ receptors subunits were modulated by PR, especially increasing ${\gamma}$-subunit expression. In conclusion, PR augments penobarbital-induced sleep behaviors through activation of $GABA_A$ receptors and chloride channel complex.

• BMB Reports
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.419-428
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• 1999

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor members have unique structures composed of 2-4 cysteine - rich pseudorepeats in the extracellular domain. On ligation by trimeric ligand molecules, oligomerization of three receptor molecules occurs, which in turn activates the receptor and recruits intracellular signaling molecules to the cytoplasmic tail to initiate biological events. Recently, the numbers of tumor necrosis factor receptor and ligand family members have been rapidly expanding. Functional characterization of the new members has indicated redundant roles with other known members as well as provided insights into novel functions. In particular, identification of soluble decoy receptors which have the ability to bind multiple ligands highlights a complex control mechanism of immune responses by these molecules. Studies of the new members have also revealed that the TNF receptor and ligand family members play an important role in other than the immune system.