• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.621-627
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• 2017

We previously reported the involvement of zinc-finger protein 143 (ZNF143) on cancer cell motility in colon cancer cells. Here, ZNF143 was further characterized in breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of ZNF143 in normal tissues and in tissues from metastatic breast cancer at various stages. Notably, ZNF143 was selectively expressed in duct and gland epithelium of normal breast tissues, which decreased when the tissue became malignant. To determine the molecular mechanism how ZNF143 affects breast cancer progression, it was knocked down by infecting benign breast cancer cells with short-hairpin (sh) RNA-lentiviral particles against ZNF143 (MCF7 sh-ZNF143). MCF7 sh-ZNF143 cells showed different cell-cell contacts and actin filament (F-actin) structures when compared with MCF7 sh-Control cells. In migration and invasion assays, ZNF143 knockdown induced increased cellular motility in breast carcinoma cells. This was reduced by the recovery of ZNF143 expression. Taken together, these results suggest that ZNF143 expression contributes to breast cancer progression.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2009

We investigate the molecular and cellular etiologies that underlie the deletion of the six amino acid residues (${\Delta}F323-Y328$; ${\Delta}FY$) in human torsin A (HtorA). The most common and severe mutation involved with early-onset torsion dystonia is a glutamic acid deletion (${\Delta}E$ 302/303; ${\Delta}E$) in HtorA which induces protein aggregates in neurons and cells. Even though ${\Delta}FY$ HtorA forms no protein clusters, flies expressing ${\Delta}FY$ HtorA in neurons or muscles manifested a similar but delayed onset of adult locomotor disability compared with flies expressing ${\Delta}E$ in HtorA. In addition, flies expressing ${\Delta}FY$ HtorA had fewer aberrant ultrastructures at synapses compared with flies expressing ${\Delta}E$ HtorA. Taken together, the ${\Delta}FY$ mutation in HtorA may be responsible for behavioral and anatomical aberrations in Drosophila.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.10-23
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• 2007

A new disintegrin protein named saxatilin was purified from Korean snake venom (Gloydius saxatilis). Saxatilin is a 73 residue small ploypeptide, which has a primary recognition motif in extracellular matrix, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence. Data from inhibition activity assay for the ${\alpha}_v{\beta}_3$ integrin showed that saxatilin showed about 5000-fold higher activity than those of RGD peptides, suggesting that RGD sequence may not be sufficient to induce full cellular function of this site. The solution structures calculated from NMR data were well converged for backbone atoms except RGD loop. The structure revealed that most of tight turns are stabilized by medium range NOE contacts and the RGD motif is located far from the rigid core of the C-terminal domain. The three-dimensional fold and biological function of saxatilin are discussed with those of salmosin, which is a disintegrin protein derived from Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.544-546
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• 2000

Grb2 is an important adaptor protein in the mitogenic Ras signaling pathway of receptor tyrosine kinases, and contains one SH2 domain and two SH3 domains. The SH2 domain binds to specific phosphotyrosine motifs on receptors or adaptor proteins such as Shc. The SH2 domain antagonists may lead to blocking of the oncogenic Ras signals and to developing new antitumor agents. In the course of screening SH2 antagonists from natural sources, cslerotiorin (1) and isochromophilone IV (2) were isolated from a strain, Penicillium multicolor F1753, and their structures were established by NMR spectral data. The metabolites significantly inhibited the binding between the Grb2-SH2 domain and phosphopeptide derived from the Shc protein, with $IC_{50}$ values of $22{\;}\mu\textrm{M}{\;}and{\;}48{\;}\mu\textrm{M}$ for (1) and (2), respectively. The compounds are the first nonpeptidic inhibitors of the SH2 domain from a natural source.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1636-1642
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• 2016

Phenalamide is a bioactive secondary metabolite produced by Myxococcus stipitatus. We identified a 56 kb phenalamide biosynthetic gene cluster from M. stipitatus DSM 14675 by genomic sequence analysis and mutational analysis. The cluster is comprised of 12 genes (MYSTI_04318- MYSTI_04329) encoding three pyruvate dehydrogenase subunits, eight polyketide synthase modules, a non-ribosomal peptide synthase module, a hypothetical protein, and a putative flavin adenine dinucleotide-binding protein. Disruption of the MYSTI_04324 or MYSTI_04325 genes by plasmid insertion resulted in a defect in phenalamide production. The organization of the phenalamide biosynthetic modules encoded by the fifth to tenth genes (MYSTI_04320-MYSTI_04325) was very similar to that of the myxalamid biosynthetic gene cluster from Stigmatella aurantiaca Sg a15, as expected from similar backbone structures of the two substances. However, the loading module and the first extension module of the phenalamide synthase encoded by the first to fourth genes (MYSTI_04326-MYSTI_04329) were found only in the phenalamide biosynthetic gene cluster from M. stipitatus DSM 14675.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.637-647
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• 2016

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a critical eukaryotic replication accessory factor that supports DNA binding in DNA processing, such as DNA replication, repair, and recombination. PCNA consists of three toroidal-shaped monomers that encircle double-stranded DNA. The diverse functions of PCNA may be regulated by its interactions with partner proteins. Many of the PCNA partner proteins generally have a conserved PCNA-interacting peptide (PIP) motif, located at the N- or C- terminal region. The PIP motif forms a 3₁₀ helix that enters into the hydrophobic groove produced by an interdomain-connecting loop, a central loop, and a C-terminal tail in the PCNA. Post-translational modification of PCNA also plays a critical role in regulation of its function and binding partner proteins. Structural and biochemical studies of PCNA-protein will be useful in designing therapeutic agents, as well as estimating the outcome of anticancer drug development. This review summarizes the characterization of eukaryotic PCNA in relation to the protein structures, functions, and modifications, and interaction with proteins.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2012

We characterized the cytoskeletal beta-actin (${\beta}$-ACT) gene (actb) and its 5'-upstream regulatory region in the Javanese ricefish Oryzias javanicus. The gene and protein structures were deduced from amino acid sequences of the actb gene and conserved in the teleost lineage. The O. javanicus actb gene has common transcription factor binding motifs in its regulatory region found in teleostean orthologues. Following quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, actb gene transcripts were detected in all tissues examined; however, the basal expression levels were different. During early development, O. javanicus actb mRNA levels showed a gradual increase and peaked between late somitogenesis and the heartbeat stage. Microinjection of O. javanicus embryos with the actb gene promoter-driven red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene reporter vector showed a ubiquitous distribution of RFP signals, although most exhibited a mosaic pattern of transgene expression. A small number of microinjected embryos displayed a wide distribution of RFP signals over their entire body, which resembled the expression pattern of endogenous actb. Data from this study provide a basis to develop a transgenic system with ubiquitous expression of foreign genes in O. javanicus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 2011

The infection of pandemic influenza viruses such as swine flu (H1N1) and avian flu viruses to the host cells is related to the following two factors: First, the surface protein such as HA (hemagglutinin) and NA (neuraminidase) of the influenza virus. Second, the specific structure of the oligosaccharide [sialic acid(${\alpha}2$-6) galactose(${\beta}1$-4)glucose or sialic acid(${\alpha}2$-3)galactose(${\beta}1$-4)glucose] on the host cell. After recognizing the specific structure of the oligosaccharide on the surface of host cells by the surface protein of the influenza virus, the influenza virus can secrete sialidase and cleave the sialic acid attached on the final position of the specific structure of the oligosaccharide on the surface of host cells. Tamiflu (oseltamivir), known as a remedy of swine flu, has a saccharide analog structure, especially the sialic acid analog. Tamiflu can inhibit the invasion of influenza viruses (swine flu and avian flu viruses) into the host cells by competition with sialic acid on the terminal position of the specific oligosaccharide on the surface of the host cell. Because of the emergence of Tamiflu resistance, the development of new potent anti-influenza inhibitors is needed. The inhibitors with positive-charge groups have potential as antiviral therapeutics, and the strain specificity must also be resolved.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.431-436
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• 2016

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major cause of cervical cancer, a deadly threat to millions of females. The early oncogene product (E7) of the high-risk HPV16 is the primary agent associated with HPV-related cervical cancers. In order to understand how E7 contributes to the transforming activity, we investigated the structural features of the flexible N-terminal region (46 residues) of E7 by carrying out N-15 heteronuclear NMR experiments and replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations. Several NMR parameters as well as simulation ensemble structures indicate that this intrinsically disordered region of E7 contains two transient (10-20% populated) helical pre-structured motifs that overlap with important target binding moieties such as an E2F-mimic motif and a pRb-binding LXCXE segment. Presence of such target-binding motifs in HPV16 E7 provides a reasonable explanation for its promiscuous target-binding behavior associated with its transforming activity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.128-134
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• 2013

Salmonella enterica serovar typhi, a Gram-negative food-borne pathogen, causes typhoid fever in humans. OmpC is an outer membrane porin of S. typhi expressed throughout the infection period. OmpC is potentially an attractive antigen for multivalent vaccines and diagnostic kit designs. In this study we combined in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches to analyze various aspects of OmpC's antigenic properties. The conserved region, in addition to secondary and tertiary structures, and linear B cell epitopes, were predicted. A number of results obtained from in silico analyses were validated by experimental studies. OmpC was amplified, cloned and then expressed, with the recombinant protein then being purified. BALB/c mice were immunized by purified denatured OmpC. The titer of antibody was raised. Results of challenges with the pathogen revealed that the immunity is non-protective. Most of the theoretical and experimental results were in consensus. Introduced linear B cell epitopes can be employed for the design of diagnostic kits based on antigen-antibody interactions.