• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2021

In this study, a method of self-assembly of peptides based on irreversible covalent bonds was studied by mimicking a biological covalent bond, dityrosine bond. A tyrosine-rich short peptide monomer having the sequence of Tyr-Tyr-Leu-Tyr-Tyr (YYLYY) was selected to achieve a high-density of dityrosine bond. The peptide nanoparticles covalently self-assembled with dityrosine bonds were synthesized by one-step photo-crosslinking of a peptide using a ruthenium catalyst under visible light. The effect of the concentration of each component for the size of the peptide nanoparticle was studied using dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. As a result, the synthesis conditions for size of the peptide nanoparticles ranging from 130 nm to 350 nm were optimized.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.379-389
• /
• 2005

Objectives: It is well known that aging and aging-related diseases are linked to the increased level of oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species(ROS) and reactive nitrogen species(RNS). Nonprotein-SH decreases during aging, while substances such as ROS, nitric oxide(NO), peroxynitrite($ONOO^-$), myeloperoxidase(MPO), and dityrosine show a significant increase. This study investigated the effect of Ichungwhan on the aging process by examining its effect on the generation of the above-mentioned substances. Methods: Four comparison groups of SD rats were used. They were 6 month-old rats, 24 month-old rats, and 24 month-old rats fed with food containing 0.1% and 0.3% of Ichungwhan extract. The amount of NO, $ONOO^-$, and ROS in the rats' kidneys were examined using a fluorescence microplate reader. The reagents used for this purpose include: dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123), 2',7' -dichlorodihydrofluorescein, diacetate(DCFDA), and 4,5-diaminofluorescein(DAF-2). A spectrophotometer was used to investigate the reactivity of nonprotein-SH and myeioperoxidase(MPO), using reagents such as trichloroacetic acid(TCA) and tetramethylbenzidine(TMB). The amounts of MPO protein and dityrosine were measued by western blot. Results: The observed effects of Ichungwhan on rats were as follows: increase of nonprotein-SH; effective decrease of RNS level by suppression of the generation system of $ONOO^-$ and NO; decrease of ROS level; decrease of the MPO reactivity and the subsequent reduction of amount of MPO protein; retardation of dityrosine formation. It can be hypothesized, therefore, that Ichungwhan affects both the earlier and later phases of the molecular inflammatory process, and retards the aging process. Conclusions: Empirical evidence in this study supports a role for Ichungwhan in generation mechanisms of aging process-linked substances ROS, NO, $ONOO^-$, nonprotein-SH, MPO and dityrosine. Affects contrary to the aging process observed in rats beg further empiricism to investigate potential application of Ichungwhan as a medication for age-related diseases in humans.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.623-631
• /
• 2019

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), an alkaloid rich in Ligusticum wallichii and fermented products, possesses multiple pharmacological activities in antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antibacterial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TMP (15 mg/L) on the physicochemical and gelation properties of rabbit myofibrillar proteins (MPs) with/without oxidative stress. Results showed that compared to the control, oxidative stress to MPs decreased free thiol content, gel yield, whiteness, water-holding capacity, bounder water, immobilized water, and endogenous tryptophan fluorescence intensity, but increased surface hydrophobicity, dityrosine content, and free water content (p<0.01). Without oxidative stress, MPs treated with TMP increased free thiol content, whiteness, and bound water, but decreased dityrosine content and free water (p<0.05). Under oxidative conditions, all parameters were conversely affected by TMP (p<0.01). The results suggest that TMP can be an antioxidant to decrease the concern on oxidative deterioration during meat processing and storage by improving the oxidative stability, water retention, and gel forming property of rabbit MPs.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.194-204
• /
• 2018

This study was to investigate the effect of the extract(KP-HE) from Kalopanax pictus(KP) fermented with Hericium erinaceum(HE) mycelium on oxidative modification of neurofilament-L(NF-L) which is closely related to neurodegenerative disorders. The oxidative modification of NF-L was induced by AAPH producing peroxyl radicals in solution, and KP, HE, and KP-HE was investigated. KP and HE did not protect NF-L against peroxyl radical-mediated NF-L modification whereas KP-HE significantly prevented NF-L modification induced by peroxyl radical. KP-HE inhibited the formation of dityrosine in oxidative modification of NF-L and stimulated the peroxyl radical scavenging activity. The effects of KP, HE, and KP-HE on the modification of NF-L by tetrahydropapaveroline(THP), a neurotoxin found in patients with Parkinson's disease was investigated. KP-HE also prevented THP-mediated NF-L modification as compared to KP and HE. In addition, KP-HE significantly inhibited the formation of dityrosine in oxidative modified NF-L and enhanced the inhibition of reactive oxygen species(ROS) was generated by THP. The results suggested that KP-HE can contribute to protected cell from oxidative stress was induced by ROS and neurotoxin. Therefore, KP-HE could potentially be used as a valuable functional food ingredient to prevent neurodegenerative disorders.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2012

Methylglyoxal (MG) was identified as an intermediate in non-enzymatic glycation and increased levels were reported in patients with diabetes. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MG on the modification of ferritin. When ferritin was incubated with MG, covalent crosslinking of the protein increased in a time- and MG dose-dependent manner. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, $N-acetyl-_L-cysteine$ and thiourea suppressed the MG-mediated ferritin modification. The formation of dityrosine was observed in MG-mediated ferritin aggregates and ROS scavengers inhibited the formation of dityrosine. During the reaction between ferritin and MG, the generation of ROS was increased as a function of incubation time. These results suggest that ROS may play a role in the modification of ferritin by MG. The reaction between ferritin and MG led to the release of iron ions from the protein. Ferritin exposure to MG resulted in a loss of arginine, histidine and lysine residues. It was assumed that oxidative damage to ferritin caused by MG may induce an increase in the iron content in cells, which is deleterious to cells. This mechanism, in part, may provide an explanation or the deterioration of organs under diabetic conditions.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.663-666
• /
• 2006

Carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine might act as anti-oxidants and free radical scavengers in vivo. In the present study, the protective effects of carnosine and related compounds on the $H_2O_2$-mediated cytochrome c modification were studied. Carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine significantly inhibited the oligomerization of cytchrome c induced by $H_2O_2$. All three compounds also inhibited the formation of carbonyl compound and dityrosine during the incubation of cytochrome c with $H_2O_2$. These compounds effectively inhibited the peroxidase activity in the cytchrome c treated with $H_2O_2$. The results suggested that carnosine, homocarnosine, and anserine might protect cytochrome c against $H_2O_2$-mediated oxidative damage through a free radical scavenging.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.488-492
• /
• 2003

Neurofilament-L (NF-L) is a major element of neuronal cytoskeletons and known to be important for neuronal survival in vivo. Since oxidative stress might play a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, we investigated the role of copper and peroxide in the modification of NF-L. When disassembled NF-L was incubated with copper ion and hydrogen peroxide, then the aggregation of protein was proportional to copper and hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Dityrosine crosslink formation was obtained in copper-mediated NF-L aggregates. The copper-mediated modification of NF-L was significantly inhibited by thiol antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, and thiourea. A thioflavin-T binding assay was performed to determine whether the copper/$H_2O_2$ system-induced in vitro aggregation of NF-L displays amyloid-like characteristics. The aggregate of NF-L displayed thioflavin T reactivity, which was reminiscent of amyloid. This study suggests that copper-mediated NF-L modification might be closely related to oxidative reactions which may play a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.256-256
• /
• 2006

The design and synthesis of novel biomolecular materials, based on mimicking the properties of molecules found in nature, is providing materials with unusual properties. Resilin serves as an energy storage material in insects and facilitates flight, jumping (in fleas, froghoppers etc) and sound production (cicadas, etc). Resilin is initially produced as a soluble protein and in its mature form is crosslinked through formation of dityrosine units into a very large insoluble polymer. In the present study, we have synthesized a recombinant form of resilin that can be photochemically cross-linked into a resilient, rubber-like biomaterial that may be suitable for spinal disc implants. This material is almost perfectly elastic and its fatigue lifetime in insects must be >500 million cycles.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.41 no.9
• /
• pp.635-639
• /
• 2008

Acrolein is a highly reactive by product of lipid peroxidation and individuals with neurodegenerative disorders have been shown to contain elevated concentrations of this molecule in the brain. In the present study, we examined the pattern of neurofilament-L (NF-L) modification elicited by acrolein. When NF-L was incubated with acrolein, protein aggregation occurred in a acrolein concentration-dependent manner. Exposure of NF-L to acrolein also led to the generation of protein carbonyl compounds. Through the addition of free radical scavengers we observed a significant decrease in acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregation. These results indicate that free radicals may be involved in the modification of NF-L by acrolein. In addition, dityrosine crosslink formation was observed in acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregates and these aggregates displayed thioflavin T reactivity, reminiscent of amyloid. This study suggests that acrolein-mediated NF-L aggregation might be closely related to oxidative reactions, thus these reactions may play a critical role in neuro-degenerative diseases.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.1255-1259
• /
• 2005

Lewy bodies (LBs) are neuronal inclusions that are closely related to Parkinson's disease (PD). The filamentous component of LB from patients with PD contains biochemically altered $\alpha$-synuclein. We have investigated the effect of the oxidized products of catecholamines on the modification of $\alpha$-synuclein. When $\alpha$-synuclein was incubated with the oxidized 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) or dopamine, the protein was induced to be aggregated. The oxidized catecholamine-mediated $\alpha$-synuclein aggregation was enhanced by copper ion. Radical scavengers, azide and N-acetyl cysteine significantly prevented the oxidized catecholamine-mediated $\alpha$-synuclein aggregation. The results suggest that free radical may play a role in $\alpha$-synuclein aggregation. Exposure of $\alpha$-synuclein to the oxidized products of catecholamines led to the formation of dityrosine. Antioxidant dipeptides carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine significantly protected $\alpha$-synuclein from the aggregation induced by the oxidized products of catecholamines.