• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 1995

The only compounds with antagonistic activity via AT$_1$receptor, one of two subtypes of angiotensin II (AII) receptor, have been demonstrated to block the vasoconstriction effects of AII and thereby provide therapeutic potential. This initiated the search for compounds with high specific affinity to AT$_1$receptor and their effective screening methods. The radioligand binding assay for the AII receptor is regarded as the primary method for the evaluation of AT$_1$receptor antagonists for their activity. In this paper, we characterized the liver AT$_1$receptor and describe the efficient method of the radioligand binding assay using rat liver as a source of AT$_1$receptor. Equilibrium binding studies with rat adrenal cortex, adrenal medulla, liver and bovine adrenal showed that the specific bindings of [$^3$H] AII were saturable in all tissues and the Scatchard plots of those data were linear, suggesting a single population of binding sites. Hill slopes were very near to the unity in all tissues. Kinetic studies of [$^3$H) AII binding in rat liver homogenates yielded two association rate constants, 4.10$\times$10$^{7}$ M$^{-1}$ min$^{-1}$ and 4.02$\times$10$^{9}$ M$^{-1}$ min$^{-1}$ , with a single dissociation rate constant, 7.07$\times$10$^{-3}$ min-$^{-1}$ , possibly due to the partial dissociation phenomenon. The rank order of inhibition potencies of [$^3$H] AII binding in rat liver was AII>Sarile>Losartan>PD 123177. Rat liver homogenates revealed to have very high density of homogeneous population of the AT$_1$receptor subtype, as the specifically bound [$^3$H] AII was not inhibited by PD 123177, the nonpeptide antagonist of AT$_2$. The results of this study demonstrated that the liver homogenates from rats could be the best receptor preparation for the AT$_1$receptor binding assay and provide an efficient system for the screening of newly synthesized candidate compounds of AT$_1$receptor antagonist.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2014

Synthetic cannabinoids (CBs) such as the JWH series have caused social problems concerning their abuse liability. Because the JWH series produces euphoric and hallucinogenic effects, they have been distributed illegally under street names such as "Spice" and "Smoke". Many countries including Korea have started to schedule some of the JWH series compounds as controlled substances, but there are a number of JWH series chemicals that remain uncontrolled by law. In this study, three synthetic CBs with different binding affinities to the $CB_1$ receptor (JWH-073, 081, and 210) and ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol (${\Delta}^9$-THC) were evaluated for their potential for psychological dependence. The conditioned place preference test (unbiased method) and self-administration test (fixed ratio of 1) using rodents were conducted. $K_i$ values of the three synthetic cannabinoids were calculated as supplementary data using a receptor binding assay and overexpressed $CB_1$ protein membranes to compare dependence potential with $CB_1$ receptor binding affinity. All mice administered JWH-073, 081, or 210 showed significantly increased time spent at unpreferred space in a dose-dependence manner in the conditioned place preference test. In contrast, all tested substances except ${\Delta}^9$-THC showed aversion phenomenon at high doses in the conditioned place preference test. The order of affinity to the $CB_1$ receptor in the receptor binding assay was JWH-210 > JWH-081 >> JWH-073, which was in agreement with the results from the conditioned place preference test. However, no change in self-administration was observed. These findings suggest the possibility to predict dependence potential of synthetic CBs through a receptor binding assay at the screening level.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-70
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of cordycepin-enriched (CE)-WIB801C, a n-butanol extract of Cordyceps militaris-hypha on collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation. CE-WIB801C dose dependently inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation, and had a synergistic effect together with cordycepin (W-cordycepin) from CE-WIB801C on the inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. CE-WIB801C and cordycepin stimulated the phosphorylation of VASP ($Ser^{157}$) and the dephosphorylation of PI3K and Akt, and inhibited the binding of fibrinogen to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}3$) and the release of ATP and serotonin in collagen-induced platelet aggregation. A-kinase inhibitor Rp-8-Br-cAMPS reduced CE-WIB801C-, and cordycepin-increased VASP ($Ser^{157}$) phosphorylation, and increased CE-WIB801C-, and cordycepin-inhibited the fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}3$. Therefore, we demonstrate that CE-WIB801C-, and cordycepin-inhibited fibrinogen binding to ${\alpha}IIb/{\beta}3$are due to stimulation of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of VASP ($Ser^{157}$), and inhibition of PI3K/Akt phosphorylation. These results strongly indicate that CE-WIB801C and cordycepin may have preventive or therapeutic potential for platelet aggregation-mediated diseases, such as thrombosis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.3285-3292
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• 2012

The interaction of thiazole drug with (6,0) zigzag single-walled boron nitride nanotube of finite length in gas and solvent phases was studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In both phases, the binding energy is negative and presenting characterizes an exothermic process. Also, the binding energy in solvent phase is more than that the gas phase. Binding energy corresponding to adsorption of thiazole on the BNNT model in the gas and solvent phases was calculated to be -0.34 and -0.56 eV, and about 0.04 and 0.06 electrons is transferred from the thiazole to the nanotube in the phases. The significantly changes in binding energies and energy gap values by the thiazole adsorption, shows the high sensitivity of the electronic properties of BNNT towards the adsorption of the thiazole molecule. Frontier molecular orbital theory (FMO) and structural analyses show that the low energy level of LUMO, electron density, and length of the surrounding bonds of adsorbing atoms help to the thiazole adsorption on the nanotube. Decrease in global hardness, energy gap and ionization potential is due to the adsorption of the thiazole, and consequently, in the both phases, stability of the thiazole-attached (6,0) BNNT model is decreased and its reactivity increased. Presence of polar solvent increases the electron donor of the thiazole and the electrophilicity of the complex. This study may provide new insight to the development of functionalized boron nitride nanotubes as drug delivery systems for virtual applications.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2005

We performed a basic experiment for the rapid, on-line, real-time measurement of hepatitis B surface antigen using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor. We immobilized anti­HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) polyclonal antibody, as a ligand, to the dextran layer on a CM5 chip surface that had previously been activated by N-hydroxysuccinimide. A sample solution containing HBsAg was fed through a microfluidic channel, and the reflecting angle change due to the mass increase from the binding was detected. The binding characteristics between HBsAg and its polyclonal antibody followed the typical monolayer adsorption isotherm. When the entire immobilized antibody had interacted, no additional, non-specific binding occurred, suggesting the immunoreaction was very specific. The bound antigen per unit mass of the antibody was independent of the immobilized ligand density. No significant steric hindrance was observed at an immobilization density of approximately $17.6 ng/mm^2$. The relationship between the HBsAg concentration in the sample solution and the antigen bound to the ligand was linear up to ca. $40{\mu}g$/mL. This linearity was much higher than that of the ELISA method. It appeared the anti­gen-antibody binding increased as the immobilized ligand density increased. In summary, this study showed the potential of this SPR biosensor-based method as a rapid, simple and multi­sample on-line assay. Once properly validated, it may serve as a more efficient method for HBsAg quantification for replacing the ELISA.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1992

Although glycosylated liposomes have attracted much attention as targeting delivery systems (DDS) of drugs to specific organs which have glycoside receptors, physical instability of liposomes greatly limits their practical application. In this case, proliposomes might be a potential answer to solve this problem. Utilizing the proliposomes as tageting DDS has been a goal of our series of works; we have tried to develop DDS which form liposomes uppon adding water and can deliver drugs to specific target organs/cells such as hepatocytes. In this paper, preparation of glycosylated liposomes and binding of the liposomes with lectin (agglutinin RCA 120) was studied. Asialoletuin (AF) was selected as a model compound which has galactose terminal and is favorable for binding with galactose receptor on the surface of hepatocytes. AF was obtained by splitting the terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) of fetuin. Small unilamellar AF-liposomes were prepared by mixing aqueous solution of AF-palmitate with thin film of phosphatidyl choline and cholesterol (30:10 w/w) formed on the innersurface of the round bottomed flask. They were successively extruded through polycarbonate membranes (0.45 mm). Palmitoyl-AF not incorporated into the liposomal bilayer was separated from liposomes by a Sepharose 4B column equilibrated with 10 mM Tris-HCI buffered saline. Lectin (agglutinin RCA 120) was added to the suspension of AF-liposomes and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr. After centrifugation, the unbound lectin in the supernatant was assayed for protein. The binding of the lectin to AF-liposomes (AF content 2.8 nmole) at $37^{\circ}C$ was linear at least upto 35 mg of lectin indicating high affinity association of the lectin to AF molecules of the liposomes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1176-1183
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• 2009

Lactobacillus crispatus (L. crispatus) ZJ001 is highly adhesive to epithelial cells and expresses S-layer proteins. In this study, S-S-layer layer genes were sequenced and expressed in E. coli to characterize the function of proteins with this particular strain. L. crispatus ZJ001 harbored two S-layer genes slpA and slpB, and only slpA gene was expressed in the bacterium, as revealed by RT-PCR and immunoassays. The mature SlpA showed 47% amino acid sequence identity to SlpB. The SlpA and SlpB of L. crispatus ZJ001 were highly homologous at the C-terminal region to other Lactobacillus S-layer proteins, but were substantially variable at N-terminal and middle regions. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that His-slpA expressed in E. coli was able to form a sheet-like structure similar to the natural S-layer, but His-slpB formed as disc-like structures. In the cell binding experiments, HeLa cells were able to bind to both recombinant His-slpA and His-slpB proteins to the extent similar to the natural S-layer. The cell binding domains remain mostly in the N-terminal regions in SlpA and SlpB, as shown by high binding of truncated peptides SlpA2-228 and SlpB2-249. Our results indicated that SlpA was active and high binding to HeLa cells, and that the slpA gene could be targeted to display foreign proteins on the bacterial surface of ZJ001 as a potential mucosal vaccine vector.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.26-26
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• 2003

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-binding sites have been shown the diagnostic potential fur assessment of sperm maturity, which is related to male fertility. This study was designed to evaluate chromosomal patterns in porcine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with non- or HA-binding sperm (HABS). For binding of sperm with HA, sperm incubated in 10 ${mu}ell$ drop containing HA (0.8 mg/ml)-agarose (0.8%) mixture for 15 min. IVF and ICSI with non- or HA-bound sperm examined with matured oocytes at 44 hr after in vitro maturation. Embryos were cultured in 50 ${mu}ell$ of NCSU 23 containing 0.5% BSA for 5 days and then in 50 ${mu}ell$ of NCSU 23 containing 10% FBS for 2 days. For the evaluation of chromosomal aneuploidies, chromosome 1 sub-metacentric specific probe was used in sperm and embryos by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The frequency of aneuploidy sperm for chromosome 1 was 6.25%. The significant differences following IVF and ICSI with non- or HA-bound sperm were not observed in blastocyst formation rates (18.6, 23.5, and 23.8%) and cell number (61.8 $\pm$ 12.5, 55.5 $\pm$ 7.3, and 59.3 $\pm$ 9.6). Moreover, the percentage of diploidy in 4-cell stage embryos was 57.1% (IVF), 68.8% (ICSI), and 76.3% (ICSI-HABS). These results suggest that HA-binding sites may be a material for selection of normal sperm for ICSI. Therefore HA selection of normal sperm may be reduce the loss to embryonic mortality prior to embryo transfer in pig.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.509-514
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• 2009

The effectiveness of a technique for binding rice-washed solution with trimethylamine (TMA) was investigated in this study. The mixtures of TMA and rice-washed solution were quantified using an electronic nose based on the mass spectrometer. After 7 min of reaction in a model system, the binding of TMA to the rice-washed solution was detected. As the concentration of rice-washed solution increased, the levels of TMA detected in the headspace decreased, thereby indicating an increase in the binding of TMA to the rice-washed solution. The binding effect of the rice-washed solution was comparable to those of starch, ${\alpha}$-cyclodextrin, or amylose, and superior to that of flour. The results of this study demonstrate the potential for reduction of off-flavors using the rice-washed solution.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2020

Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) is a derivative of thyroid hormone T₄ and causes anti-angiogenesis by blocking T₄ binding to integrin α_vβ₃. In this study, we synthesized [^99mTc]Tc-Cys-Asp-Gly(CDG)-tetrac and evaluated it in vitro as a tumor angiogenesis imaging ligand. The CDG was conjugated to tetrac as a chelator for technetium-99m labeling. The cold vial containing CDG-tetrac, sodium glucoheptonate, and reducing agent was completed under nitrogen-filled atmospheric glove bag. [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac was synthesized in quantitative yield by heating the cold vial with [^99mTc]TcO₄^- at 100℃ for 30 min. In vitro serum stability of [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac was measured by incubating the radioligand in 50% fetal bovine serum at 37℃ and analyzing the incubation mixture by radio-TLC, which showed high stability over 6 h (≥ 98%). Cell binding study was carried out by incubating [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac with human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells at 37℃ for 6 h. The cell binding of the radioligand increased from 100% at 0.5 h to 293.7% at 6 h in a time-dependent manner. For blocking study, the cells were incubated with the radioligand in the presence of either tetrac (20 μM) or cRGDyK (20 μM) at 37℃ for 4 h. The results demonstrated that the cell binding of the radioligand was inhibited by tetrac (19.1%) or cRGDyK (35.6%), indicating specific binding of the radioligand to integrin α_vβ₃. Thus, this study suggests that [^99mTc]Tc-CDG-tetrac may be a potential radioligand for tumor angiogenesis imaging.