• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.348-356
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• 2022

Background: Gintonin is a ginseng-derived exogenous G-protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. Gintonin exerts its neuronal and non-neuronal in vitro and in vivo effects through LPA receptor subtypes. However, it is unknown whether gintonin can bind to the plasma membrane of cells and can transactivate the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. In the present study, we examined whether gintonin-biotin conjugates directly bound to LPA receptors and transactivated the EGF receptor. Methods: We designed gintonin-biotin conjugates through gintonin biotinylation and examined whether gintonin-biotin conjugate binding sites co-localized with the LPA receptor subtype binding sites. We further examined whether gintonin-biotin transactivated the EGF receptor via LPA receptor regulation via phosphor-EGF and cell migration assays. Results: Gintonin-biotin conjugates elicit [Ca²⁺]_i transient similar to that observed with unbiotinylated gintonin in cultured PC3 cells, suggesting that biotinylation does not affect physiological activity of gintonin. We proved that gintonin-biotin conjugate binding sites co-localized with the LPA1/6 receptor binding sites. Gintonin-biotin binding to the LPA1 receptor transactivates the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor through phosphorylation, while the LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425, blocked phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Additionally, an EGF receptor inhibitor AG1478 blocked gintonin-biotin conjugate-mediated cell migration. Conclusions: We observed the binding between ginseng-derived gintonin and the plasma membrane target proteins corresponding to the LPA1/6 receptor subtypes. Moreover, gintonin transactivated EGF receptors via LPA receptor regulation. Our results suggest that gintonin directly binds to the LPA receptor subtypes and transactivates the EGF receptor. It may explain the molecular basis of ginseng physiology/pharmacology in biological systems.

• BMB Reports
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.87-93
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• 1995

To investigate the biological functions of the EGF-like domain of mouse betacellulin (BTC), mouse BTC(33-80), a 48-residue peptide corresponding to the EGF-like domain, was synthesized by stepwise solidphase methods using a 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) strategy. The homogeneity of synthetic mouse BTC(33-80) was confirmed by analytical reversed phase (RP)-HPLC, amimo acid analysis, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometer (FAB-MS). Three disulfide bond pairings of synthetic mouse BTC(33-80) were established by amino acid analysis of cysteine-containing fragments derived from thermolytic digestion. These were consistent with the pairings of EGF and transforming growth factor ($TGF-{\alpha}$). The EGF-Iike domain of mouse BTC showed equipotent activity in both EGF-receptor binding on A-431 epidermoid carcinoma cells, and mitogenesis on NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells, as compared with authentic h-EGF. Results suggest that the EGF-Iike domain of BTC plays a significant role in mitogenic activity with an EGF-receptor mediated system.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.95.1-95
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• 2003

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) has a wide array of pharmacologic effects. Our previous studies have demonstrated that [6]-gingerol, a major pungent ingredient of ginger, inhibits mouse skin tumor promotion and anchorage-independent growth of cultured mouse epidermal cells stimulated with epidermal growth factor. In this study, we have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying chemopreventive effects of [6]-gingerol on mouse skin carcinogenesis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the formation of prostaglandins, has been recognized as a molecular target of many chemopreventive as well as anti-inflammatory agents. The murine COX-2 promoter contains several transcriptional elements, particularly those involved in regulating inflammatory processes. One of the essential transcription factors responsible for COX-2 induction is NF-kappa B. Topical application of [6]-gingerol inhibited the COX-2 expression through suppression of NF-kappa B activation in phorbol ester-treated mouse skin. [6]-Gingerol, through down-regulation of p38 MAPK, abrogated the DNA binding activity of NF-kappa B by blocking phosphorylation of p65/RelA at the Ser 536 residue. These findings suggest that [6]-gingerol exerts an anti-tumor promotional activity through inhibition of the p38 MAPK-NF-kappa B siganling cascade in mouse skin.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.267-274
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• 2008

포배의 분화는 배아의 착상에 있어 핵심적인 단계로 배아 자체 또는 생식수관에서 유래하는 조절요인의 조절을 받는다. 이들 조절요인과 포배와의 순차적인 신호의 주고 받음은 분화의 중요한 단계로 인식되고 있다. 한편, 포배기 때 자유 칼슘을 통한 신호전달경로가 포배의 분화에 중요한 축의 하나로 제안되어 왔다. Concanavalin A(Con A)가 포배의 자유 칼슘 농도 증감을 유도한다는 것을 밝혀졌으나, 포배 내 자유 칼슘 농도를 변형시켜 부화와 그 이후의 발생을 촉진하는 것으로 알려진 heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor(HB-EGF)와는 달리 팽창 이후의 부화를 억제하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 착상과정에서 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려진 prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$가 포배의 분화에 관여하는지를 Con A와 연계하여 알아보았다. Con A는 그 처리 시간에 관계없이 1시간 처리군 그리고 계속처리군에서 팽창은 촉진하고 부화는 유의하게 억제하였다. 특히 계속처리군에서 부화율이 1시간 처리군에 비하여 유의하게 감소하였다. 또한, $PGE_2$도 포배 내 자율 칼슘 농도를 증가시켰으나 팽창과 부화를 촉진하지 않았다. 또한, $10{\mu}m\;PGE_2$ 농도에서는 부화가 억제되는 경향을 보였다. 그러나 흥미롭게도 $PGE_2$는 Con A가 처리된 포배의 부화를 촉진하였다. Con A를 전처리한 포배에 $PGE_2$를 처리할 경우 포배 내 자유 칼슘의 농도 증감이 진행됨을 공촛점현미경을 이용하여 분석할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 신호물질에 의해 유도된 자유 칼슘 농도의 증감이 신호물질에 따른 각기 다른 칼슘 매개로 활성화되는 신호경로를 조절하는 것을 추정할 수 있다. 또한, 순차적 신호물질 조절에 의한 자유 칼슘의 농도 증감이 포배의 분화에 있어 중요함을 제안한다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.559-569
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• 2021

As one of the major types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Treatments for NSCLC includes surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Among the targeted therapies, resistance to inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is common and remains a problem to be solved. MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) amplification is one of the major causes of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. Therefore, there exists a need to find new and more efficacious therapies. Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) extracted from Anthriscus sylvestris roots exhibits various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects. In this study we sought to determine the anti-cancer effects of DPT on HCC827GR cells, which are resistant to gefitinib (EGFR-TKI) due to regulation of EGFR and MET and their related signaling pathways. To identify the direct binding of DPT to EGFR and MET, we performed pull-down, ATP-binding, and kinase assays. DPT exhibited competitive binding with ATP against the network kinases EGFR and MET and reduced their activities. Also, DPT suppressed the expression of p-EGFR and p-MET as well as their downstreat proteins p-ErbB3, p-AKT, and p-ERK. The treatment of HCC827GR cells with DPT induced high ROS generation that led to endoplasmic-reticulum stress. Accordingly, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis by multi-caspase activation were observed. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the apoptotic effects of DPT on HCC827GR cells and signify the potential of DPT to serve as an adjuvant anti-cancer drug by simultaneously inhibiting EGFR and MET.

• 셀메드
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.10.1-10.8
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• 2013

Cancer is one of the major dreaded diseases causing high mortality. Lung cancer is second in position of all cancer related deaths and mainly divided into two morphologic sub-types: small-cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is an aggressive neoplasm which hardly responds to any conventional chemotherapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) belongs to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinase that is mainly over-expressed in NSCLC. EGFR is mainly involved in the pathogenesis and progression of different carcinoma. In vivo and in vitro studies suggest that EGFR and EGF like peptides are often over-expressed in human NSCLC and these proteins are able to induce cell transformation. The conventional therapies mostly inhibit the EGFR activity and expression level in human NSCLC with the use of some EGFR-inhibitors like HKI-272, EKB569, CL-387785 etc. and some synthetic chemotherapeutic drugs like erlotinib, gefitinib, plumbagin, docetaxel, cisplatin etc., alone or in combination of two or more drugs. These therapies selectively act by competitive inhibition of the binding of adenosine triphosphate to the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR, resulting in inhibition of the EGFR signaling pathway. But these chemotherapeutic drugs have some cytotoxic activities to the normal cells and have some adverse side-effects. Recent studies on some traditional alternative therapies including some herbal and plant extracts, active ingredients like curcumin, different homeopathic drugs, etc. can target EGFR-signalling in NSCLC with less toxic side-effects are being currently developed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권2호
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• pp.163-170
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• 2020

Objective : Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor VIII (MFG-E8) may play a key role in inflammatory responses and has the potential to function as a neuroprotective agent for ameliorating brain injury in cerebral infarction. This study aimed to determine the role of MFG-E8 in brain injury in the subacute phase of cerebral ischemia in a rat model. Methods : Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by occluding the middle cerebral artery with the modified intraluminal filament technique. Twenty-four hours after ischemia induction, rats were randomly assigned to two groups and treated with either recombinant human MFG-E8 or saline. Functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), and infarct volumes were evaluated using histology. Anti-inflammation, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis were assessed using immunohistochemistry with antibodies against ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), rat endothelial cell antigen-1 (RECA-1), and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/doublecortin (DCX), respectively. Results : Our results showed that intravenous MFG-E8 treatment did not reduce the infarct volume; however, the mNSS test revealed that neurobehavioral deficits were significantly improved in the MFG-E8-treated group than in the vehicle group. Immunofluorescence staining revealed a significantly lower number of Iba-1-positive cells and higher number of RECA-1 in the periinfarcted brain region, and significantly higher numbers of BrdU- and DCX-positive cells in the subventricular zone in the MFG-E8-treated group than in the vehicle group. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that MFG-E8 improves neurological function by suppressing inflammation and enhancing angiogenesis and neuronal proliferation in the subacute phase of cerebral infarction.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.525-530
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• 2000

The nerve growth factor (NGF) induces neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, whereas epidermal growth factors (EGF) stimulate growth and proliferation of the cells. In spite of this difference, NGF-or EGF-treated PC12 cells share various properties in cellular-signaling pathways. These include the activation of the phosphoinositide (PI)-3 kinase, 70 kDa S6 kinase, and in the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, following the binding of these growth factors to intrinsic receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Therefore, many studies have been attempted to access the critical signaling events in determining the differentiation and proliferation of PC12 cells. In this study, we investigated the cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$ ($cPLA_2$) in neurite behavior in order to identify the differences of signaling pathways between the NGF-induced differentiation and the EGF-induced proliferation of PC12 cells. We have showed here that the $cPLA_2$ was translocated from cytosol to membrane only in NGF-treated cells. We also demonstrated that this translocation is associated with NGF-induced activation of phospholipase $C-{\gamma}(PLC-{\gamma})$, which elevates intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. These results reveal that the translocation of $cPLA_2$ may be a requisite event in the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. Various phospholipase inhibitors were used to confirm the importance of these enzymes in the differentiation of PC12 cells. Neomycin B, a PLC inhibitor, dramatically inhibited the neurite outgrowth, and two distinct $PLA_2$ inhibitors, 4-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB) and arachidonyltrifluoro-methyl ketone ($AACOCF_3$) also suppressed the neurite outgrowth of the cells, as well Taken together, these data indicated that $cPLA_2$ is involved in NGF-induced neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.463-466
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• 1997

We have recently demonstrated, by protein and cDNA sequence analysis, that prorenin converting enzyme (PRECE) in the mouse submandibular gland is identical to the epidermal growth factor-binding protein (EGF-BP)type B. However, type A and C did not show prorenin converting activity. To demonstrate whether r-NGF is involved in prorenin processing, we have cloned cDNA of r-NGF and examined prorenin converting activity using the CHO cell expression system, Trypsin converted the 33 kDa r-NGF precursor produced in CHO cells to a two-chain form, 9.4 and 16.4 kDa polypeptide chains, which has been known as an active form of r-NGF in mouse SMG (Server and Shooter, 1976). However, the two chain forms of r-NGF did not reveal prorenin-processing activity. Thus, only PRECE is involved in prorenin processing in mouse SMG. This result shows that their substrate specificities appear to be very strict, although some kallikreins share a high degree of amino acid sequence identity.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.148-156
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• 2021

Single-chain antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) are potentially promising agents for developing antibody-based cancer treatment strategies. We described in our previous study the successful expression of an anti-EGFRvIII scFv antibody in Escherichia coli. However, we could also observe the formation of insoluble aggregates in the periplasmic space, limiting the production yield of the active product. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms by which growth conditions could affect the expression of the soluble anti-EGFRvIII scFv antibody in small-scale E. coli NiCo21(DE3) cultures, attempting to maximize production. The secreted scFv molecules were purified using Ni-NTA magnetic beads and protein characterization was performed using SDS-PAGE and western blot analyses. We used the ImageJ software for protein quantification and determined the antigen-binding activity of the scFv antibody against the EGFRvIII protein. Our results showed that the highest percentage of soluble scFv expression could be achieved under culture conditions that combined low IPTG concentration (0.1 mM), low growth temperature (18℃), and large culture dish surface area. We found moderate-yield soluble scFv production in the culture medium after lactose-mediated induction, which was also beneficial for downstream protein processing. These findings were confirmed by conducting western blot analysis, indicating that the soluble, approximately 30-kDa scFv molecule was localized in the periplasm and the extracellular space. Moreover, the antigen-binding assay confirmed the scFv affinity against the EGFRvIII antigen. In conclusion, our study reveals that low-speed protein expression is preferable to obtain more soluble anti-EGFRvIII scFv protein in an E. coli expression system.