• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.382-393
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• 2006

Mechanical system dynamics plays an important role in the area of computational structural biology. Elastic network models (ENMs) for macromolecules (e.g., polymers, proteins, and nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA) have been developed to understand the relationship between their structure and biological function. For example. a protein, which is basically a folded polypeptide chain, can be simply modeled as a mass-spring system from the mechanical viewpoint. Since the conformational flexibility of a protein is dominantly subject to its chemical bond interactions (e.g., covalent bonds, salt bridges, and hydrogen bonds), these constraints can be modeled as linear spring connections between spatially proximal representatives in a variety of coarse-grained ENMs. Coarse-graining approaches enable one to simulate harmonic and anharmonic motions of large macromolecules in a PC, while all-atom based molecular dynamics (MD) simulation has been conventionally performed with an aid of supercomputer. A harmonic analysis of a macroscopic mechanical system, called normal mode analysis, has been adopted to analyze thermal fluctuations of a microscopic biological system around its equilibrium state. Furthermore, a structure-based system optimization, called elastic network interpolation, has been developed to predict nonlinear transition (or folding) pathways between two different functional states of a same macromolecule. The good agreement of simulation and experiment allows the employment of coarse-grained ENMs as a versatile tool for the study of macromolecular dynamics.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

The beta2-adrenergic receptor (${\beta}2AR$) belongs to the G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family, which is the largest family of cell surface receptors in humans. Extra attention has been focused on the human GPCRs because they have been studied as important protein targets for pharmaceutical drug development. In fact, approximately 40% of marketed drugs directly work on GPCRs. GPCRs respond to various extracellular stimuli, such as sensory signals, neurotransmitters, chemokines, and hormones, to induce structural changes at the cytoplasmic surface, activating downstream signaling pathways, primarily through interactions with heterotrimeric G proteins or through G-protein independent pathways, such as arrestin. Most GPCRs, except for rhodhopsin, which contains covalently linked 11 cis-retinal, bind to diffusible ligands, having various conformational states between inactive and active structures. The first human GPCR structure was determined using an inverse agonist bound ${\beta}2AR$ in 2007 and since then, more than 20 distinct GPCR structures have been solved. However, most GPCR structures were solved as inactive forms, and an agonist bound fully active structure is still hard to obtain. In a structural point of view, ${\beta}2AR$ is relatively well studied since its fully active structure as a complex with G protein as well as several inactive structures are available. The structural comparison of inactive and active states gives an important clue in understanding the activation mechanism of ${\beta}2AR$. In this review, structural features of inactive and active states of ${\beta}2AR$, the interaction of ${\beta}2AR$ with heterotrimeric G protein, and the comparison with ${\beta}1AR$ will be discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.1098-1105
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• 2007

Quantum mechanical and molecular dynamics simulation analysis has been performed on the model system for CALB (Candida antarctica lipase B) with esters to study the reaction mechanism and conformational preference of catalytic hydrolysis and the esterification reaction. Using quantum mechanical analysis, the ping-pong bi-bi mechanism was applied and energies and 3-dimensional binding configurations of the whole reaction pathways were calculated. Further molecular dynamics simulation analysis was performed on the basis of the transition state obtained from quantum mechanical study to observe the effect of structures of the substrates. Calculation results using substrates of different chain length and chiral configurations were compared for conformational preference. The calculated results showed very small influence on chain length, whereas chiral conformation showed big differences. Calculated results from molecular modeling studies have been compared qualitatively with the experimental data using racemic mixtures of (${\pm}$)-cis-4-acetamido-cyclopent-2-ene-1-ethyl acetate as substrates.

• Macromolecular Research
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.224-230
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• 2008

This study examined the photoemission behaviors of isolated chains of poly[2-methoxy, 5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene](MEH-PPV) dispersed in various solvents including dichloromethane, chloroform and tetrahydrofuran(THF). A change in polymer-solvent interactions in these solutions caused the MEH-PPV chains to adopt different local conformations, which in turn affected their radiative de-excitation pathways. For the polymer in dichloromethane and chloroform, in which the conjugated chains are relatively extended, photoemission occurs mostly at the long chromophores with lowest HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Their emission spectra showed a main peak at ${\sim}560\;nm$. Dual photoemission of high- and low-energy chromophores was observed when the conjugated chains were forced to partially collapse in a poor solvent THF. Novel high-energy peaks and a typical low-energy peak were detected at ${\sim}414\;nm$ and ${\sim}554\;nm$, respectively. The observation of the high-energy peaks indicates significant suppression of the intrachain energy transfer process, which was attributed to the increase in conformational disorder in the partially collapsed coils. An analysis of the excitation spectra suggests that the high-energy peaks belong to short chromophores constituting of one or two repeat units. This study systematically investigated the effects of polymer concentration, temperature and single bond defects along the backbone on the photoemission of the high-energy chromophores.

• BMB Reports
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.215-225
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• 1999

Phytochromes (with gene family members phyA, B, C, D, and E) are a wavelength-dependent light sensor or switch for gene regulation that underscore a number of photo responsive developmental and morphogenic processes in plants. Recently, phytochrome-like pigment proteins have also been discovered in prokaryotes, possibly functioning as an auto-phosphorylating/phosphate-relaying two-component signaling system (Yeh et al., 1997). Phytochromes are photochromically convertible between the light sensing Pr and regulatory active Pfr forms. Red light converts Pr to Pfr, the latter having a "switch-on" conformation. The Pfr form triggers signal transduction pathways to the downstream responses including the expression of photosynthetic and other growth-regulating genes. The components involved in and the molecular mechanisms of the light signal transduction pathways are largely unknown, although G-proteins, protein kinases, and secondary messengers such as $Ca^{2+}$ ions and cGMP are implicated. The 124-127 kDa phytochromes form homodimeric structures. The N-terminal half contains the tetrapyrrolic phytochromobilin for red/far-red light absorption. The C-terminal half includes both a dimerization motif and regulatory box where the red light signal perceived by the chromophore-domain is recognized and transduced to initiate the signal transduction cascade. A working model for the inter-domain signal communication within the phytochrome molecule is proposed in this Review.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2008년도 Proceedings of the Convention
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• pp.89-99
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• 2008

GPCRs are large families of cell surface receptors that transmit signals through conformational changes upon ligand activation and an interaction with the heterotrimeric G-proteins. GPCRs regulate the cell-signaling pathways and participate in the regulation of physiological processes through the G-proteins defined by their ${\alpha}$ subunits. A family of 20 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that provide a large class of tractable drug targets for new anti-inflammatory drugs and, in certain instances, for the treatment of the inflammatory indications such as atherosclerosis, rhinitis, asthma, pulmonary disease and arthritis. In view of the important findings showing that $G{\alpha}_{12}/G{\alpha}_{13}$ regulate the various cellular processes such as actin-stress fiber formation, neurite retraction, platelet aggregation, gene induction, and apoptosis, we became interested in whether, after coupling to the activated GPCRs, the G-proteins and their downstream molecules might be involved in the pathologic processes of chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., liver fibrosis). In this symposium, the possible link of the G-proteins with the pathophysiology will be discussed with the aim of finding potential new drug targets.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.270-276
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• 2021

Physiological agents trigger a signaling process called "inside-out signaling" and activated platelets promote adhesion, granule release, and conformational changes of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (αIIb/β₃). Activated αIIb/β₃ interacts with fibrinogen and initiates a second signaling step called "external signaling". These two signaling pathways can cause hemostasis or thrombosis, and thrombosis is a possible medical problem in arterial and venous vessels, and platelet-mediated thrombosis is a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, modulating platelet activity is important for platelet-mediated thrombosis and cardiovascular disease. Esculetin is a coumarin-based physiologically active 6,7-dihydroxy derivative known to have pharmacological activity against obesity, diabetes, renal failure and CVD. Although some studies have confirmed the effects of esculetin in human platelet activation and experimental mouse models, it is not clear how esculetin has antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. We confirmed the effect and mechanism of action of escultein on human platelets induced by collagen. As a result, esculetin decreased Ca²⁺ recruitment through upregulation of inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor. In addition, esculetin upregulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent pathways and inhibits fibrinogen binding and thrombus contraction. Our results demonstrate the antiplatelet effect and antithrombotic effect of esculetin in human platelets. Therefore, we suggest that esculetin could be a potential phytochemical for the prevention of thrombus-mediated CVD.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.752-760
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• 2004

Nitrogenase 촉매에서 Fe-단백질을 포함하는 [4Fe-4S] 클라스터의 기능은 기질의 결합과 환원 자리를 포함하는 MoFe-단백질로 핵산 의존 전자 주개로 작용하는 것이다. 이러한 방법의 Fe-단백질의 기능은 Mofe-단백질과 상호작용을 위해 적합한 구조를 갖추며 전자 전달을 위한 추진력을 제공하기 위해 산화 환원 퍼텐셜을 변화시키는 능력에 의존한다. Nitrogenase Fe-단백질에 MgADP가 결합한 (혹은 떨어진) 구조적 정보는 핵산 결합 자리로부터 MoFe-단백질과의 결합력을 조절하기 위한 장거리 상호작용 메커니즘을 제시한다. 스위치 I과 II의 두 가지 경로가 뉴클레오티드의 신호전달 메커니즘을 담당한다. MgADP가 결합된 Fe-단백질의 구조는 Fe 단백질이 핵산과 결합할 때 관찰되는 [4Fe-4S] 클라스터의 생물리학적 특성 변화의 기초를 제공한다. 스위치, I과 II의 핵산 의존 신호전달 경로에서 특정 아미노산이 치환된 nitrogenase Fe-단백질의 구조들이 X-선 회절법에 의해서 결정되었다. 이들 경로는 아미노산 치환 연구, 구조 분석, 유사한 핵산 의존 신호전달 경로에 이용된 다른 단백질 등에 의해서도 분석되었다. 이들 경로가 거대분자 착물 형성과 분자간 전자 전달을 위한 MgADP 결합과 가수분해의 신호전달 경로로의 타당성이 조사되었다. 이러한 결과는 nitrogenase Fe 단백질과 MoFe-단백질 착물에서 Fe-단백질의 변이와 상호작용의 생물리학적 및 생화학적 특성을 위한 기초적 자료를 제공할 것이다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권12호
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• pp.4869-4872
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• 2015

Background: Mutations of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) receptor gene may promote proliferation via activation of multiple signaling pathways. FLT3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is the most common gene alteration found in patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and has been associated with poor prognosis. Materials and Methods: We performed mutational analysis of exons 14-15 and 20 of the FLT3 gene in 54 AML patients using PCR-CSGE (conformational sensitive gel electrophoresis) followed by sequencing analysis to characterise FLT3 mutations in adult patients diagnosed with AML at Hospital USM, Kelantan, Northeast Peninsular Malaysia. Results: FLT3 exon 14-15 mutations were identified in 7 of 54 patients (13%) whereas no mutation was found in FLT3 exon 20. Six ITDs and one non-ITD mutation were found in exon 14 of the juxtamembrane (JM) domain of FLT3. FLT3-ITD mutations were associated with a significantly higher blast percentage (p-value = 0.008) and white blood cell count (p-value = 0.023) but there was no significant difference in median overall survival time for FLT3-ITD+/FLT3-ITD- within 2 years (p-value = 0.374). Conclusions: The incidence of FLT3-ITD in AML patients in this particular region of Malaysia is low compared to the Western world and has a significant association with WBC and blast percentage.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 2009

${\beta}$-Arrestins turn off G protein-mediated signals and initiate distinct G protein-independent signaling pathways. We previously demonstrated that angiotensin $AT_1$ receptorbound ${\beta}$-arrestin 1 is cleaved after $Phe^{388}$ upon angiotensin II stimulation. The mechanism and signaling pathway of angiotensin II-induced ${\beta}$-arrestin cleavage remain largely unknown. Here, we show that protein Tyr phosphatase activity is involved in the regulation of ${\beta}$-arrestin 1 cleavage. Tagging of green fluorescent protein (GFP) either to the N-terminus or C-terminus of ${\beta}$-arrestin 1 induced conformational changes and the cleavage of ${\beta}$-arrestin 1 without angiotensin $AT_1$ receptor activation. Orthovanadate and molybdate, inhibitors of protein Tyr phosphatase, attenuated the cleavage of C-terminal GFP-tagged ${\beta}$-arrestin 1 in vitro. The inhibitory effects of okadaic acid and pyrophosphate, which are inhibitors of protein Ser/Thr phosphatase, were less than those of protein Tyr phosphatase inhibitors. Cell-permeable pervanadate inhibited angiotensin II-induced cleavage of ${\beta}$-arrestin 1 in COS-1 cells. Our findings suggest that Tyr phosphorylation signaling is involved in the regulation of angiotensin II-induced ${\beta}$-arrestin cleavage.