• Title/Summary/Keyword: Functional molecules

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Exploration of Molecular Mechanisms of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Development Using a Microarray

  • Zhang, Zong-Xin;Shen, Cui-Fen;Zou, Wei-Hua;Shou, Li-Hong;Zhang, Hui-Ying;Jin, Wen-Jun
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.1731-1735
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    • 2013
  • Objective: We aimed to identify key genes, pathways and function modules in the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with microarray data and interaction network analysis. Methods: Microarray data sets for 7 DLBCL samples and 7 normal controls was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified with Student's t-test. KEGG functional enrichment analysis was performed to uncover their biological functions. Three global networks were established for immune system, signaling molecules and interactions and cancer genes. The DEGs were compared with the networks to observe their distributions and determine important key genes, pathways and modules. Results: A total of 945 DEGs were obtained, 272 up-regulated and 673 down-regulated. KEGG analysis revealed that two groups of pathways were significantly enriched: immune function and signaling molecules and interactions. Following interaction network analysis further confirmed the association of DEGs in immune system, signaling molecules and interactions and cancer genes. Conclusions: Our study could systemically characterize gene expression changes in DLBCL with microarray technology. A range of key genes, pathways and function modules were revealed. Utility in diagnosis and treatment may be expected with further focused research.

The effect of intracellular trafficking of CD1d on the formation of TCR repertoire of NKT cells

  • Shin, Jung Hoon;Park, Se-Ho
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.47 no.5
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    • pp.241-248
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    • 2014
  • CD1 molecules belong to non-polymorphic MHC class I-like proteins and present lipid antigens to T cells. Five different CD1 genes (CD1a-e) have been identified and classified into two groups. Group 1 include CD1a-c and present pathogenic lipid antigens to ${\alpha}{\beta}$ T cells reminiscence of peptide antigen presentation by MHC-I molecules. CD1d is the only member of Group 2 and presents foreign and self lipid antigens to a specialized subset of ${\alpha}{\beta}$ T cells, NKT cells. NKT cells are involved in diverse immune responses through prompt and massive production of cytokines. CD1d-dependent NKT cells are categorized upon the usage of their T cell receptors. A major subtype of NKT cells (type I) is invariant NKT cells which utilize invariant $V{\alpha}14-J{\alpha}18$ TCR alpha chain in mouse. The remaining NKT cells (type II) utilize diverse TCR alpha chains. Engineered CD1d molecules with modified intracellular trafficking produce either type I or type II NKT cell-defects suggesting the lipid antigens for each subtypes of NKT cells are processed/generated in different intracellular compartments. Since the usage of TCR by a T cell is the result of antigen-driven selection, the intracellular metabolic pathways of lipid antigen are a key in forming the functional NKT cell repertoire.

Branched N-glycans and their implications for cell adhesion, signaling and clinical applications for cancer biomarkers and in therapeutics

  • Taniguchi, Naoyuki;Korekane, Hiroaki
    • BMB Reports
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    • v.44 no.12
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    • pp.772-781
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    • 2011
  • Branched N-glycans are produced by a series of glycosyltransferases including N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases and fucosyltransferases and their corresponding genes. Glycans on specific glycoproteins, which are attached via the action of glycosyltransferases, play key roles in cell adhesion and signaling. Examples of this are adhesion molecules or signaling molecules such as integrin and E-cadherin, as well as membrane receptors such as the EGF and TGF-${\beta}$ receptors. These molecules also play pivotal roles in the underlying mechanism of a variety of disease such as cancer metastasis, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Alterations in the structures of branched N-glycans are also hall marks and are useful for cancer biomarkers and therapeutics against cancer. This mini-review describes some of our recent studies on a functional glycomics approach to the study of branched N-glycans produced by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases III, IV, V and IX (Vb) (GnT-III, GnT-IV, V and IX (Vb)) and fucosyltransferase 8 (Fut8) and their pathophysiological significance, with emphasis on the importance of a systems glycobiology approach as a future perspective for glycobiology.

Hydrogen-bonded Molecular Network of Anthraquinone on Au(111)

  • Kim, Ji-Yeon;Yoon, Jong-Keon;Park, Ji-Hun;Kim, Ho-Won;Kahng, Se-Jong
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2011.08a
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    • pp.107-107
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    • 2011
  • Supramolecular structures of anthraquinone molecules on a metallic surface are studied using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. When we deposited anthraquinone molecules on Au(111) substrate, the molecules formed three different phases (Chevron type, tetragon type and disordered type) on the surface. Based on our STM measurements, we proposed models for the observed molecular structures. Chevrons are consisted of several molecular chains, which make well-ordered two-dimensional islands by some weak interrow interactions and we could observe tetragon structures which make array of (111) metallic surface. each molecular rows in the chevrons are stabilized by two parallel O-H hydrogen bonds and disordered structures are observed 1-dimensional phase with hydrogen bond. First-principles calculations based on density functional theory are performed to reproduce the proposed models. Distances and energy gains for each intermolecular bond are estimated. In this presentation, we explain possible origins of these molecular structures in terms of hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals interactions and molecule-substrate interactions.

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Probing the Functional Motifs of Escherichia coli 5S rRNA in Relation to 16S rRNA Using a SELEX Experiment

  • 고재형;조봉래;안정근;이용훈;박인원
    • Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.20 no.11
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    • pp.1335-1339
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    • 1999
  • The function of 5S rRNA, a constituent of a large subunit of ribosome, is not clearly known yet. To identify RNA motifs interacting with 5S rRNA, and thereby to get an insight into the function of 5S rRNA in the ribosome, a SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) experiment was performed. RNA molecules binding to Escherichia coli 5S rRNA were selected from a 48-mer random sequence library through 12 rounds of selection, cloned, and sequenced. Two groups of the selected RNA molecules had the consensus sequences GCGG and GUGAAA, respectively, which are present in the segment, G688 through A696, of E. coli 16S rRNA. The gel mobility shift assay showed that 5S rRNA interacted with the 16S rRNA fragment containing the GCGG and GUGAAA sequences. The enzymatic protection experiment shows that the A29CCUGA34 and G51AAGUG56 sequences of 5S rRNA and the C680AGG683 and G688CGG691 sequences of the 16S rRNA fragment are involved in the interaction between the two RNA molecules. On the basis of this observation, we suggest that 5S rRNA and 16S rRNA play a role for the association of two ribosomal subunits.

Molecular dynamics studies of interaction between hydrogenand carbon nano-carriers

  • Wang, Yun-Che;Wu, Chun-Yi;Chen, Chi;Yang, Ding-Shen
    • Coupled systems mechanics
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.329-344
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    • 2014
  • In this work, quantum molecular dynamics simulations (QMD) are preformed to study the hydrogen molecules in three types of carbon nanostructures, $C_{60}$ fullerene, (5,5) and (9,0) carbon nanotubes and graphene layers. Interactions between hydrogen and the nanostructures is of importance to understand hydrogen storage for the development of hydrogen economy. The QMD method overcomes the difficulties with empirical interatomic potentials to model the interaction among hydrogen and carbon atoms in the confined geometry. In QMD, the interatomic forces are calculated by solving the Schrodinger's equation with the density functional theory (DFT) formulation, and the positions of the atomic nucleus are calculated with the Newton's second law in accordance with the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. It is found that the number of hydrogen atoms that is less than 58 can be stored in the $C_{60}$ fullerene. With larger carbon fullerenes, more hydrogen may be stored. For hydrogen molecules passing though the fullerene, a particular orientation is required to obtain least energy barrier. For carbon nanotubes and graphene, adsorption may adhere hydrogen atoms to carbon atoms. In addition, hydrogen molecules can also be stored inside the nanotubes or between the adjacent layers in graphite, multi-layer graphene.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Molecular Organization and Regulatory Mechanisms

  • Caron, Marc G.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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    • 1994.04a
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    • pp.82-87
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    • 1994
  • Signal transduction through G protein-coupled receptors comprises three functional components, a receptor, a G protcin and a effector protein. Work over the last sevcral ycars has led to the characterization or virtually all of the components or these systems. what has come out or those studies is that these mechanisms of signal transduction are pervasive in nature being found in mammalian and avian species, as well as lower organisms such as yeast and slime mold. It is known that G protein-coupled receptors mediate the action of such diverse molecules such as small hormones and neurotransmitters, small peptide molecules as well as glycoprotein hormones and various sensory perceptions such as light, olfaction and most likely taste.

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Potential Roles of Protease Inhibitors in Cancer Progression

  • Yang, Peng;Li, Zhuo-Yu;Li, Han-Qing
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.16 no.18
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    • pp.8047-8052
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    • 2016
  • Proteases are important molecules that are involved in many key physiological processes. Protease signaling pathways are strictly controlled, and disorders in protease activity can result in pathological changes such as cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, cancer and neurological disorders. Many proteases have been associated with increasing tumor metastasis in various human cancers, suggesting important functional roles in the metastatic process because of their ability to degrade the extracellular matrix barrier. Proteases are also capable of cleaving non-extracellular matrix molecules. Inhibitors of proteases to some extent can reduce invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, and slow down cancer progression. In this review, we focus on the role of a few proteases and their inhibitors in tumors as a basis for cancer prognostication and therapy.

Nucleic Acid Aptamers: New Methods for Selection, Stabilization, and Application in Biomedical Science

  • Kong, Hoon Young;Byun, Jonghoe
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.21 no.6
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    • pp.423-434
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    • 2013
  • The adoption of oligonucleotide aptamer is well on the rise, serving an ever increasing demand for versatility in biomedical field. Through the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment), aptamer that can bind to specific target with high affinity and specificity can be obtained. Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that can fold into complex three-dimensional structures, forming binding pockets and clefts for the specific recognition and tight binding of any given molecular target. Recently, aptamers have attracted much attention because they not only have all of the advantages of antibodies, but also have unique merits such as thermal stability, ease of synthesis, reversibility, and little immunogenicity. The advent of novel technologies is revolutionizing aptamer applications. Aptamers can be easily modified by various chemical reactions to introduce functional groups and/or nucleotide extensions. They can also be conjugated to therapeutic molecules such as drugs, drug containing carriers, toxins, or photosensitizers. Here, we discuss new SELEX strategies and stabilization methods as well as applications in drug delivery and molecular imaging.

A Liquid Theory. Nature of Liquid by Roulette Model (액체론. Roulette 모델로 설명되는 액체의 본질)

  • D. Chio;H. Park;M. Kim
    • Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 1978
  • Feeling the potential field within a cell for various environments, every liquid molecule moves to minimize its potential energy. With this simple and fundamental concept, liquid molecules may be treated as a combination of three kinds of typical molecules characterized by Lennard-Jones and Devonshire's earlier work. We can get a partition function which has better functional from and less defects compared to the cell theory and the significant structure theory.

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