• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.295-306
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• 2023

Human coronavirus diseases, particularly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, still remain a persistent public health issue, and many recent studies are focusing on the quest for new leads against coronaviruses. To contribute to this growing pool of knowledge and explore the available marine natural products against coronaviruses, this study investigated the antiviral effects of fucoxanthin isolated from Sargassum siliquastrum-a brown alga found on Jeju Island, South Korea. The antiviral effects of fucoxanthin were confirmed in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-infected Vero cells, and its structural characteristics were verified in silico using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations and in vitro colorimetric method. Fucoxanthin inhibited the infection in a concentration-dependent manner, without showing cytotoxicity. Molecular docking simulations revealed that fucoxanthin binds to the angiotensinconverting enzyme 2-spike protein (binding energy -318.306 kcal mol^-1) and main protease (binding energy -205.118 kcal mol^-1). Moreover, molecular dynamic simulations showed that fucoxanthin remains docked to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-spike protein for 20 ns, whereas it breaks away from main protease after 3 ns. Also, the in silico prediction of the fucoxanthin was verified through the in vitro colorimetric method by inhibiting the binding between angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 and spike protein in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that fucoxanthin exhibits antiviral effects against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by blocking the entry of the virus. Therefore, fucoxanthin from S. siliquastrum can be a potential candidate for treating coronavirus infection.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.627-634
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• 2024

Sesquiterpene lactones, a class of natural compounds abundant in the Asteraceae family, have gained attention owing to their diverse biological activities, and particularly their anti-proliferative effects on human cancer cells. In this study, we systematically investigated the structure-activity relationship of ten sesquiterpene lactones with the aim of elucidating the structural determinants for the STAT3 inhibition governing their anti-proliferative effects. Our findings revealed a significant correlation between the STAT3 inhibitory activity and the anti-proliferative effects of sesquiterpene lactones in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Among the compounds tested, alantolactone and isoalantolactone emerged as the most potent STAT3 inhibitors, highlighting their potential as candidates for anticancer drug development. Through protein-ligand docking studies, we revealed the structural basis of STAT3 inhibition by sesquiterpene lactones, emphasizing the critical role of hydrogen-bonding interactions with key residues, including Arg609, Ser611, Glu612, and Ser613, in the SH2 domain of STAT3. Furthermore, our conformational analysis revealed the decisive role of the torsion angle within the geometry-optimized structures of sesquiterpene lactones in their STAT3 inhibitory activity (R=0.80, p<0.01). These findings not only provide preclinical evidence for sesquiterpene lactones as promising phytomedicines against diseases associated with abnormal STAT3 activation, but also highlight the importance of stereochemical aspects in their activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.408-414
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• 2018

Actein is the well-known active ingredient of Cimicifugae rhizoma (Black cohosh). In this study, we investigated and compared the binding affinity of tubocurarine, actein, and actein derivatives on the B&C domain of the acetylcholine binding protein through in silico computational docking studies. The three-dimensional crystallographic structure of the acetylcholine binding protein B&C domain was obtained from the PDB database (PDB ID: 2XYT). An in silico computational autodocking analysis was performed using PyRx, Autodock Vina, Discovery Studio Version 4.5, and NX-QuickPharm based on scoring functions. The actein showed an optimum binding affinity (docking energy), with the acetylcholine binding protein at -10.50 kcal/mol as compared to the tubocurarine (-9.80 kcal/mol). The interacting amino acids tryptophan 84 and tryptophan 147, in the B domain of the acetylcholine binding protein active site, significantly interacted with the actein and 27-deoxyactein, and (26R)-actein. The centroid XYZ grid position of the tubocurarine was X=38.300689, Y=112.053467, and Z=51.991022, but the actein and its derivatives showed values around X=26.4, Y=127.3, Z=43.7. These results clearly indicated that actein and its derivatives could be a more potent antagonist to the acetylcholine binding protein than tubocurarine. Therefore, the extract of Cimicifugae rhizoma or actein containing biomaterials can substitute for the botulinum toxin-mediated acetylcholine receptor regulation, and be applied to the anti-wrinkle cosmetics industry.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.344-350
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• 2010

This paper demonstrates a microfluidic chip incorporating patterned hollow silica beads that can be effectively used for chemotaxis assay. The hollow silica bead has been exploited to develop a carrier for chemoattractant to induce cell migration. The microfluidic chip contains a patterned array of microfabricated docks which can hold only one bead per docking site. The hollow bead placed inside microfluidic chip releases chemotactic reagent (PDGF-BB) around its periphery in a controlled fashion which generates a signal for chemotatic migration of fibroblast cells. The number of cells migrated close to each bead has been assessed. On-chip cell migration assay showed a remarkable result proving the high efficiency and reliable accuracy in quantitative analysis. Therefore, the device could be extensively used in cell migration assay and other various studies related to cellular movements.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2015

2',4'-Dihydroxychalcone (2',4'-DHC) was identified from a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-targeting library as a compound with Hsp90 inhibitory and antifungal effects. In the presence of 2',4'-DHC ($8{\mu}g/mL$), radial growth of Aspergillus fumigatus was inhibited 20% compared to the control, and green pigmentation was completely blocked. The expression of the conidiation-associated genes abaA, brlA, and wetA was significantly decreased (approximately 3- to 5-fold) by treatment with 2',4'-DHC. The expression of calcineurin signaling components, cnaA and crzA, was also significantly reduced. The inhibitory effects of 2',4'-DHC on metabolic activity and mycelial growth were significantly enhanced by combination treatment with itraconazole and caspofungin. Docking studies indicated that 2',4'-DHC bind to the ATPase domain of Hsp90. These results suggest that 2',4'-DHC act as an Hsp90-calcinurin pathway inhibitor.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.247.2-248
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• 2003

The three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) approach using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity analysis (CoMSIA) was applied to 62 derivatives known as COX-2 selective inhibitors. Partial least square (PLS) analyses produced good predicted models with q2 value of 0.803 (s=0.285, F=215.401, r2=0.951) and 0.769 (s=0.192, F=245.364, r2=0.980) for CoMFA and CoMSIA, respectively. (omitted)

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.234-240
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• 2014

C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4) is a chemokine receptor with seven transmembrane helices and it belongs to the GPCR family. It plays an important role in asthma, lung disease, atopic dermatitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, the mosquito-borne tropical diseases, such as dengue fever and allergic rhinitis. Because of its role in wide spectrum of disease processes, CCR4 is considered to be an important drug target. Three dimensional structure of the protein is essential to determine the functions. In the present study homology modeling of human CCR4 was performed based on crystal structure of CCR5 chemokine receptor. The generated models were validated using various parameters. Among the generated homology models the best one is selected based on validation result. The model can be used for performing further docking studies to identifying the critical interacting residues.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.3772-3776
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• 2012

Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 4 (MKP4) has proved to be a promising target for the development of therapeutics for the treatment of diabetes and the other metabolic diseases. Here, we report an example for a successful application of the structure-based virtual screening to identify three novel inhibitors of MKP4. These inhibitors have desirable physicochemical properties as a drug candidate and reveal a moderate potency with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 4.9 to $32.3{\mu}M$. Therefore, they deserve consideration for further development by structure-activity relationship studies to optimize the inhibitory and antidiabetic activities. Structural features relevant to the stabilization of the newly identified inhibitors in the active site of MKP4 are discussed in detail.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2023

P2X receptors are ATP-activated ion channels in the plasma membrane. P2X receptors have a role in a diverse range of disorders, making them a valuable therapeutic target. Hence, the present investigation employed homology modelling of the P2X receptor based on the crystal structure of 5SVJ, 6AH4, 5YVE and 5SVL. Twenty models, using both single- and multiple template-based methods, were developed, and the best model was chosen based on the validation result. We observed that a strategy based on multiple templates provided greater accuracy. Future studies involving binding site and docking analysis can make use of the produced structures.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.97-102
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• 2023

The gasdermins are a family of recently identified pore-forming effector proteins that cause membrane permeabilization and pyroptosis, a lytic pro-inflammatory type of cell death. A role in the regulation of cell proliferation and/or differentiation is suggested by the differentiation status-specific expression of gasdermin proteins in epithelial tissues. One of the GSDM protein is Gasdermin A (GSDMA), which decreased in stomach and esophageal cancers, suggesting a tumor suppressor role. GSDMA receptor antagonists have been researched as potential treatments for inflammatory diseases and baldness. GSDMA's significance in a wide range of disorders makes it an important therapeutic target. As a result, homology modelling of the GSDMA receptor was undertaken in the current study using the crystal structures of Mus musculus (GSDMA3), Human gasdermin D (GSDMD), and Murine gasdermin D (murine GSDMD). The best model was chosen based on the validation results after 20 models were developed utilising single template-based approaches. The generated structures can be used for further binding site and docking studies in the future.