• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2016

The peroxiredoxins (Prxs) constitute a very large and highly conserved family of thiol-based peroxidases that has been discovered only very recently. We consider here these enzymes through the angle of their discovery, and of some features of their molecular and physiological functions, focusing on complex phenotypes of the gene mutations of the 2-Cys Prxs subtype in yeast. As scavengers of the low levels of $H_2O_2$ and as $H_2O_2$ receptors and transducers, 2-Cys Prxs have been highly instrumental to understand the biological impact of $H_2O_2$, and in particular its signaling function. 2-Cys Prxs can also become potent chaperone holdases, and unveiling the in vivo relevance of this function, which is still not established, should further increase our knowledge of the biological impact and toxicity of $H_2O_2$. The diverse molecular functions of 2-Cys Prx explain the often-hard task of relating them to peroxiredoxin genes phenotypes, which underscores the pleiotropic physiological role of these enzymes and complex biologic impact of $H_2O_2$.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.309-315
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• 1991

The thermal transport coefficients-the self-diffusion coefficient, shear viscosity, and thermal conductivity-of liquid argon at 94.4 K and 1 atm are calculated by non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations of a Lennard-Jones potential and compared with those obtained from Green-Kubo relations using equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations and with experimental data. The time-correlation functions-the velocity, pressure, and heat flux auto-correlation functions-of liquid argon obtained from the EMD simulations show well-behaved smooth curves which are not oscillating and decaying fast around 1.5 ps. The calculated self-diffusion coefficient from our NEMD simulation is found to be approximately 40% higher than the experimental result. The Lagrange extrapolated shear viscosity is in good agreement with the experimental result and the asymptotic formula of the calculated shear viscosities seems to be an exponential form rather than the square-root form predicted by other NEMD studies of shear viscosity. The agreement for thermal conductivity between the simulation results (NEMD and EMD) and the experimental result is within statistical error. In conclusion, through our NEMD and EMD simulations, the overall agreement is quite good, which means that the Green-Kubo relations and the NEMD algorithms of thermal transport coefficients for simple liquids are valid.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.263-272
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• 2024

Amyloid-β (Aβ) is one of the amyloidogenic intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that self-assemble to protein aggregates, incurring cell malfunction and cytotoxicity. While Aβ has been known to regulate multiple physiological functions, such as enhancing synaptic functions, aiding in the recovery of the blood-brain barrier/brain injury, and exhibiting tumor suppression/antimicrobial activities, the hydrophobicity of the primary structure promotes pathological aggregations that are closely associated with the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ proteins consist of multiple isoforms with 37-43 amino acid residues that are produced by the cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). The hydrolytic products of APP are secreted to the extracellular regions of neuronal cells. Aβ 1-42 (Aβ42) and Aβ 1-40 (Aβ40) are dominant isoforms whose significance in AD pathogenesis has been highlighted in numerous studies to understand the molecular mechanism and develop AD diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on the differences between Aβ42 and Aβ40 in the molecular mechanism of amyloid aggregations mediated by the two additional residues (Ile41 and Ala42) of Aβ42. The current comprehension of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in AD progression is outlined, together with the structural features of Aβ42/Aβ40 amyloid fibrils, and the aggregation mechanisms of Aβ42/Aβ40. Furthermore, the impact of the heterogeneous distribution of Aβ isoforms during amyloid aggregations is discussed in the system mimicking the coexistence of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.243-250
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• 2015

Patterning of the polar axis during the early leaf developmental stage is established by cell-to-cell communication between the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and the leaf primordia. In a previous study, we showed that the DRL1 gene, which encodes a homolog of the Elongator-associated protein KTI12 of yeast, acts as a positive regulator of adaxial leaf patterning and shoot meristem activity. To determine the evolutionally conserved functions of DRL1, we performed a comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of DRL1 and its yeast homolog, KTI12, and found that while overall homology was low, well-conserved domains were presented. DRL1 contained two conserved plant-specific domains. Expression of the DRL1 gene in a yeast KTI12-deficient yeast mutant suppressed the growth retardation phenotype, but did not rescue the caffeine sensitivity, indicating that the role of Arabidopsis Elongator-associated protein is partially conserved with yeast KTI12, but may have changed between yeast and plants in response to caffeine during the course of evolution. In addition, elevated expression of DRL1 gene triggered zymocin sensitivity, while overexpression of KTI12 maintained zymocin resistance, indicating that the function of Arabidopsis DRL1 may not overlap with yeast KTI12 with regards to toxin sensitivity. In this study, expression analysis showed that class-I KNOX genes were downregulated in the shoot apex, and that YAB and KAN were upregulated in leaves of the Arabidopsis drl1- 101 mutant. Our results provide insight into the communication network between the SAM and leaf primordia required for the establishment of leaf polarity by mediating histone acetylation or through other mechanisms.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.12-12
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• 2010

Nature applied flavanoids, glucosinolates and peptides for a great variety of functions. Flavanoids and glucosinolates are rich source of antioxidants, generally present in colored fruits and vegetables. Quercetin and its glucosides areone of the best examples of flavonol used in daily diet. Whereas peptides can act as antimicrobial, chemical messenger, neurotransmitter etc that regulating various life processes. Aspartame, a dipeptide is used as artificial sweetener and oxytocin for medical purposes, gained importance in everyday life. So, flavanoids, glucosinolates, peptides and their derivatives continue to hold the attention of synthetic chemists, agriculturists and biologists. Apart from a variety of naturally occurring bioactive metabolites, we are aiming to extract, separate and synthesize new analogs of promising natural drug candidates.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.29-34
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• 2003

Visceral fat accumulation is known to be an evident clinical index for the insulin resistance related with obesity. Patients with excessive accumulation of visceral fat frequently suffered from metabolic disorder, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and glucose intolerance. However, molecular mechanism for the pathogenesis of obesity-accompanied metabolic disorders has not been fully elucidated. It has been clarified that adipocytes in visceral fat area have different functions from subcutaneous fat area, and these differences might contribute the pathological significance of excessive accumulation of visceral fat for the accompanied insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.1580-1587
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• 2006

The term molecular imaging can be broadly defined as the in vivo characterization and measurement of biologic processes at the cellular and molecular level. Optical imaging that has highly reproducibility and repetition used in molecular imaging research. In the bioluminescence imaging, animals carrying the luciferase gene are imaged with a cooled CCD(Charge-Coupled Device) camera to pick up the small number of photons transmitted through tissues. Molecular imaging analysis will allow us to observe the incipience and progression of the disease. But hardware device for molecular imaging and software for molecular image analysis were dependent on imports. In this paper, we suggest image processing methods and designed software for bioluminescence signal analysis. And we demonstrated high correlation(r=0.99) between our software's photon counts and commercial software's photon counts. ROI function and processing functions were accomplished without error. This study have the importance of the development software for bioluminescence image processing and analysis. And this study built the foundations for creative development of analysis methods. We expected this study lead the development of image technology.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2016

Inflammation is a pathophysiological response to infection or tissue damage during which high levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are produced by phagocytes to kill microorganisms. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species serve also in the complex regulation of inflammatory processes. Recently, it has been proposed that peroxiredoxins may play key roles in innate immunity and inflammation. Indeed, peroxiredoxins are evolutionarily conserved peroxidases able to reduce, with high rate constants, hydrogen peroxide, alkyl hydroperoxides and peroxynitrite which are generated during inflammation. In this minireview, we point out different possible roles of peroxiredoxins during inflammatory processes such as cytoprotective enzymes against oxidative stress, modulators of redox signaling, and extracellular pathogen- or damage-associated molecular patterns. A better understanding of peroxiredoxin functions in inflammation could lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2005

Eukaryotes produce various types of small RNAs of 19-28 nt in length. With rapidly increasing numbers of small RNAs listed in recent years, we have come to realize how widespread their functions are and how diverse the biogenesis pathways have evolved. At the same time, we are beginning to grasp the common features and rules governing the key steps in small RNA pathways. In this review, I will summarize the current classification, biogenesis, action mechanism and function of these fascinating molecules.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2014

ADP-ribosylation is a type of posttranslational modification catalyzed by members of the poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase superfamily. ADP-ribosylation is initiated by PARPs, recognized by PAR binding proteins, and removed by PARG and other ADP-ribose hydrolases. These three groups of proteins work together to regulate the cellular and molecular response of PAR signaling, which is critical for a wide range of cellular and physiological functions.