• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 2019

The porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptide (PMAP), one of the cathelicidin family members, contains small cationic peptides with amphipathic properties. We used a putative lysozyme originated from the bacteriophage P22 (P22 lysozyme) as a fusion partner, which was connected to the N-terminus of the PMAP36 peptide, to markedly increase the expression levels of recombinant PMAP36. The PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein with high solubility was produced in Escherichia coli. The final purified yield was approximately 1.8 mg/L. The purified PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein exhibited antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis). Furthermore, we estimated its hemolytic activity against pig erythrocytes as 6% at the high concentration ($128{\mu}M$) of the PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein. Compared with the PMAP36 peptide (12%), our fusion protein exhibited half of the hemolytic activity. Overall, our recombinant PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion protein sustained the antimicrobial activity with the lower hemolytic activity associated with the synthetic PMAP36 peptide. This study suggests that the PMAP36-P22 lysozyme fusion system could be a crucial addition to the plethora of novel antimicrobials.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.700-709
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• 2023

Mucus hyperproduction and hypersecretion are observed often in respiratory diseases. MUC8 is a glycoprotein synthesized by epithelial cells and generally expressed in the respiratory track. However, the physiological mechanism by which extracellular nucleotides induce MUC8 gene expression in human airway epithelial cells is unclear. Here, we show that UTP could induce MUC8 gene expression through P2Y2-PLCβ3-Ca²⁺ activation. Because the full-length cDNA sequence of MUC8 has not been identified, a specific siRNA-MUC8 was designed based on the partial cDNA sequence of MUC8. siRNA-MUC8 significantly increased TNF-α production and decreased IL-1Ra production, suggesting that MUC8 may downregulate UTP/P2Y2-induced airway inflammation. Interestingly, the PDZ peptide of ZO-1 protein strongly abolished UTP-induced TNF-α production and increased IL-1Ra production and MUC8 gene expression. In addition, the PDZ peptide dramatically increased the levels of UTP-induced ZO proteins and TEER (trans-epithelial electrical resistance). These results show that the anti-inflammatory mucin MUC8 may contribute to homeostasis, and the PDZ peptide can be a novel therapeutic candidate for UTP-induced airway inflammation.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.54-59
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to define the immunoreactive specificity of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) heat shock protein (HSP) 60 in periodontitis and atherosclerosis. Methods: In an attempt to define the cross-reactive bacterial heat-shock protein with human self-antigen at molecular level, we have introduced a novel strategy for cloning hybridoma producing anti-P. gingivalis HSP 60 which is polyreactive to bacterial HSPs or to the human homolog. Results: Five cross-reactive clones were obtained which recognized the #19 peptide (TLVVNRLRGSLKICAVKAPG) among 37 synthetic peptides (20-mer, 5 amino acids overlapping) spanning the whole molecule of P. gingivalis HSP 60. We have also established three anti-P. gingivalis HSP 60 monoclonal antibodies demonstrating mono-specificity. These clones recognized the #29 peptide (TVPGGGTTYIRAIAALEGLK). Conclusions: Peptide #19 and #29 of P. gingivalis HSP 60 might be important immunoreactive epitopes in the immuno-pathogenic mechanism of bacterial antigen-triggered autoimmune diseases.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2012

A novel synthetic hexapeptide (SFKLRY-$NH_2$) that displays angiogenic activity has been identified by positional scanning of a synthetic peptide combinatorial library (PS-SPCL). This study was carried out to investigate the irritation of the SFKLRY-$NH_2$ on the skin. The tests were performed on the basis of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) guidelines. In results, cell toxicity is not appeared for SFKLRY-$NH_2$ in HaCaT cells and B16F10 cells. SFKLRY-$NH_2$ induced no skin irritation at low concentration ($10{\mu}m$), mild irritation at high concentration (10mM). We consider that this result is helpful for saying about the safety of SFKLRY-$NH_2$ in clinical use.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.606-610
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• 2013

Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) regulates glucose mediated-insulin secretion, nutrient accumulation, and ${\beta}$-cell growth. Despite the potential therapeutic usage for type 2 diabetes (T2D), GLP-1 has a short half-life in vivo ($t_{1/2}$ <2 min). In an attempt to prolong half-life, GLP-1 fusion proteins were genetically engineered: GLP-1 human serum albumin fusion (GLP-1/HSA), AGLP-1/HSA which has an additional alanine at the N-terminus of GLP-1, and AGLP-1-L/HSA, in which a peptide linker is inserted between AGLP-1 and HSA. Recombinant fusion proteins secreted from the Chinese Hamster Ovary-K1 (CHO-K1) cell line were purified with high purity (>96%). AGLP-1 fusion protein was resistant against the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV). The fusion proteins activated cAMP-mediated signaling in rat insulinoma INS-1 cells. Furthermore, a C57BL/6N mice pharmacodynamics study exhibited that AGLP-1-L/HSA effectively reduced blood glucose level compared to AGLP-1/HSA.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.628-631
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• 2009

Recent social interests on mad cow disease and Creutzfelt-Jacob disease lead researcher' focus onto pathogenic prion proteins causing those diseases. The purpose of this study is to introduce a novel method for micromolecular level quantification of PrP 106-126 peptide, which is a part of prion protein. Fluorescamine has been chosen due to its fluorescence emission characteristics upon reaction with primary amines and Alpha-imager is used to detect the intensity of fluorescence. We succeeded in setting optimal conditions for quantification of PrP 106-206, amyloidogenic prion peptide, at micromolecular level. This study will contribute to identify prion protein aggregation inhibitor and develop new prion protein drug.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.11.1-11.7
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• 2016

In this study, purified peptides from shrimp waste hydrolysates (SWHs) were examined for their inhibitory effects against ${\beta}$-secretase. During consecutive purification using a Sephadex G-25 column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography on a C18 column, a potent ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory peptide Asp-Val-Leu-Phe-His (629 Da) was isolated and identified from SWH24 by Q-TOF MS/MS and the $IC_{50}$ value was determined to be $92.70{\mu}M$. The ${\beta}$-secretase inhibition patterns of the purified peptides were found to be competitive. Among synthesized ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory peptides, Leu-Phe-His had higher ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory activity than the others. The result of this study suggests that the ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory peptide derived from SWH24 could be potential candidates to develop nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.572-584
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• 2002

Rapid development in molecular biology and recent advancement in recombinant technology increase identification and commercialization of potential protein drugs. Traditional forms of administrations for the peptide and protein drugs often rely on their parenteral injection, since the bioavailability of these therapeutic agents is poor when administered nonparenterally. Tremendous efforts by numerous investigators in the world have been put to improve protein formulations and as a result, a few successful formulations have been developed including sustained-release human growth hormone. For a promising protein delivery technology, efficacy and safety are the first requirement to meet. However, these systems still require periodic injection and increase the incidence of patient compliance. The development of an oral dosage form that improves the absorption of peptide and especially protein drugs is the most desirable formulation but one of the greatest challenges in the pharmaceutical field. The major barriers to developing oral formulations for peptides and proteins are metabolic enzymes and impermeable mucosal tissues in the intestine. Furthermore, chemical and conformational instability of protein drugs is not a small issue in protein pharmaceuticals. Conventional pharmaceutical approaches to address these barriers, which have been successful with traditional organic drug molecules, have not been effective for peptide and protein formulations. It is likely that effective oral formulations for peptides and proteins will remain highly compound specific. A number of innovative oral drug delivery approaches have been recently developed, including the drug entrapment within small vesicles or their passage through the intestinal paracellular pathway. This review provides a summary of the novel approaches currently in progress in the protein oral delivery followed by factors affecting protein oral absorption.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1429-1433
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• 2006

Application of recombinant protein production and particularly their isotopic enrichment has stimulated development of a range of novel multidimensional heteronuclear NMR techniques. Peptides in most cases are amenable to assignment and structure determination without the need for isotopic labeling. However, there are many cases where the availability of $^{15}N$ and/or $^{13}C$ labeled peptides is useful to study the structure of peptides with more than 30 residues and the interaction between peptides and membrane. CRAMP (Cathelicidin-Related AntiMicrobial Peptide) was identified from a cDNA clone derived from mouse femoral marrow cells as a member of cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptides. CRAMP was successfully expressed as a GST-fused form in E. coli and purified using affinity chromatography and reverse-phase chromatography. The yield of the CRAMP was 1.5 mg/l 1. According to CD spectra, CRAMP adopted ${\alpha}$-helical conformation in membrane-mimetic environments. Isotope labeling of CRAMP is expected to make it possible to study the structure and dynamic properties of CRAMP in various membrane systems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.339-342
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• 2012

This study describes the characterization of a new angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide from a Korean traditional rice wine. After purification of the ACE inhibitor peptides with ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-25 column chromatography, and successively $C_{18}$ and SCX solid-phase extraction, reverse-phase HPLC, and size exculsion chromatography, two types of the purified ACE inhibitors with $IC_{50}$ values of 0.34 mg/ml and 1.23 mg/ml were finally obtained. The two purified ACE inhibitors (F-1 and F-2) were found to have two kinds of novel oligopeptides, showing very little similarity to other ACE inhibitory peptide sequences. The amino acid sequences of the two purified oligopeptides were found to be Gln-Phe-Tyr-Ala-Val (F-1) and Ala-Gly-Pro-Val-Leu-Leu (F-2), and their molecular masses were estimated to be 468.7 Da (F-1) and 357.7 Da (F-2), respectively. They all showed a clear antihypertensive effect on spontaneously hypertensive rats at a dosage of 500 mg/kg.