• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.175-180
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• 2022

Peptides are gaining substantial attention as therapeutics for human diseases. However, they have limitations such as low bioavailability and poor pharmacokinetics. Periostin, a matricellular protein, can stimulate the repair of ischemic tissues by promoting angiogenesis. We have previously reported that a novel angiogenic peptide (amino acids 142-151) is responsible for the pro-angiogenic activity of periostin. To improve the in vivo delivery efficiency of periostin peptide (PP), we used proteins self-assembled into a hollow cage-like structure as a drug delivery nanoplatform in the present study. The periostin peptide was genetically inserted into lumazine synthase (isolated from Aquifex aeolicus) consisting of 60 identical subunits with an icosahedral capsid architecture. The periostin peptide-bearing lumazine synthase protein cage nanoparticle with 60 periostin peptides multivalently displayed was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Next, we examined angiogenic activities of this periostin peptide-bearing lumazine synthase protein cage nanoparticle. AaLS-periostin peptide (AaLS-PP), but not AaLS, promoted migration, proliferation, and tube formation of human endothelial colony-forming cells in vitro. Intramuscular injection of PP and AaLS-PP increased blood perfusion and attenuated severe limb loss in the ischemic hindlimb. However, AaLS did not increase blood perfusion or alleviate tissue necrosis. Moreover, in vivo administration of AaLS-PP, but not AaLS, stimulated angiogenesis in the ischemic hindlimb. These results suggest that AaLS is a highly useful nanoplatform for delivering pro-angiogenic peptides such as PP.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.759-767
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• 2017

Lactophoricin (LPcin), which is a part of proteose peptone isolated from bovine milk, is a cationic amphipathic ${\alpha}-helical$ antimicrobial peptide. Its truncated variants and mutated analogs were designed and their antimicrobial activities were evaluated by using various assays, like broth dilution methods and disk diffusion methods as well as hemolysis assay. Three analogs, LPcin-C8 (LPcin-YK1), LPcin-T2&6W (LPcin-YK2), and LPcin-T2&6W-C8 (LPcin-YK3), which showed better antibiotic activities than LPcin, were selected. Their secondary structures were also characterized by using CD spectropolarimetry. These three analogs of LPcin could be used as an alternative source of powerful antibacterial agents.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.503-509
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• 2011

New types of lariat type crown ethers containing peptide sidearms were prepared by using a novel strategy employing single electron transfer (SET)-induced photocyclization reactions of $\alpha$-silylether terminated phthalimides. Reactions of chiral substrates in this series produced diastereomeric mixtures of crown ether products as a result of the formation of new stereogenic center generation in the photocyclization process.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2008

In a previous study, we showed that Cecropin A (1-8)-Magainin 2 (1-12) hybrid peptide (CA-MA)'s analogue, Anal P5, exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Anal P5, designed by flexible region (positions 9, 10)-substitution, Lys- (positions 4, 8, 14, 15) and Leu- (positions 5, 6, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20) substitutions, showed an enhanced antimicrobial and antitumor activity without hemolysis. The primary objective of the present study was to gain insight into the relevant mechanisms of antimicrobial activities of Anal P5 by using flow cytometric analysis. Anal P5 exhibits strong antifungal activity in a salt concentration independent manner. In addition, Anal P5 causes significant morphological alterations of the bacterial surfaces as shown by scanning electron microscopy, supporting its antibacterial activity. Its potent antibiotic activity suggests that Anal P5 is an excellent candidate as a lead compound for the development of novel antibiotic agents.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2017

Glucagon like pepide-2, one of the GLPs, is involved in various metabolic functions in the gastrointestinal tract. It plays a major role in the regulation of mucosal epithelium and the intestinal crypt cell proliferation. Because of their therapeutic importance towards the diseases in the gastrointestinal tract, it becomes necessary to study their interaction with its receptor, GLP-2R. In this study, we have developed protein-protein docking complexes of GLP-2 - GLP-2 receptor. Homology models of GLP-2 are developed, and a reliable model out of the predicted models was selected after model validation. The model was bound with the receptor, to study the important interactions of the complex. This study could be useful in developing novel and potent drugs for the diseases related with GLP-2.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2021

Due to the potential of antioxidants to scavenge free radicals in human body, it is important to be able to prepare antioxidant peptides that meet the industrial requirements for cosmetics and food. Here, we determined in vivo/in vitro activities of antioxidant peptide from P. fucata (PFAOP) prepared by bio-fermentation method. The antioxidant property test results showed the DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide radical-scavenging, and cellular antioxidant activity. EC50 values of PFAOPs were 0.018 ± 0.005, 0.126 ± 0.008, 0.168 ± 0.005, and 0.105 ± 0.005 mg/ml, respectively, exhibiting higher antioxidant activities than glutathione (p < 0.05). Moreover, anti-proliferation and cytotoxicity activity results illustrated PFAOP has a potent anti-proliferative activity against HepG2, Caco-2, and MCF-7 carcinoma cells with no cytotoxicity. Moreover, the protocols we developed in this work demonstrated several excellent advantages in PFAOP preparation compared to enzymatic hydrolysis or chemical synthesis methods and provide a theoretical foundation for higher-value application of marine-derived functional peptides.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.2_3
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• pp.127-134
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• 2013

Bombesin receptors are overexpressed in many kinds of human tumors. In particular, the gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) which is also called bombesin receptor subtype 2, has been identified in prostate cancer. In the present study, we developed a bombesin antagonist-based $^{177}Lu$-labeled peptide, $^{177}Lu$-DOTA-$Ala(SO_3H)$-Aminooctanoyl-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-N methyl Gly-His-Statine-Leu-$NH_2$ (DOTA-sBBNA). DOTA-sBBNA was prepared using a solid phase synthesis method. It was labeled with $^{177}Lu$ by a high radiolabeling yield (>98%), and its Log P value was -2.05. The radiolabeled peptide was highly stable in serum incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr. A competitive displacement of $^{125}I-[Tyr^4]$-Bombesin on the PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells revealed that the $IC_{50}$ value of the peptide was 6.76 nM indicating a highly nanomolar binding affinity for GRPR. These results suggest that $^{177}Lu$-DOTA-sBBNA can be a potential candidate for targeting prostate cancer, and further studies to evaluate its biological characteristics are needed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.737-742
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• 2009

Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}/{\beta}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}/{\beta}$) is a heterodimeric transcriptional activator that mediates gene expression in response to hypoxia. HIF-$1{\alpha}$ has been noted as an effective therapeutic target for ischemic diseases such as myocardiac infarction, stroke and cancer. By using a yeast two-hybrid system and a random peptide library, we found a 16-mer peptide named F29 that directly interacts with the bHLH-PAS domain of HIF-$1{\alpha}$. We found that F29 facilitates the interaction of the HIF-$1{\alpha/\beta}$ heterodimer with its target DNA sequence, hypoxia-responsive element (HRE). The transient transfection of an F29-expressing plasmid increases the expression of both an HRE-driven luciferase gene and the endogenous HIF-1 target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Taken together, we conclude that F29 increases the DNA-binding ability of HIF-$1{\alpha}$, leading to increased expression of its target gene VEGF. Our results suggest that F29 can be a lead compound that directly targets HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and increases its activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.381-390
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• 2018

We have previously derived a novel antimicrobial peptide, LPcin-YK3(YK3), based on lactophoricin and have successfully studied and reported on the relationship between its structure and function. In this study, antimicrobial peptides with improved antimicrobial activity, less cytotoxicity, and shorter length were devised and characterized on the basis of YK3, and named YK5, YK8, and YK11. The peptide design was based on a variety of knowledge, and a total of nine analog peptides consisted of one to three amino acid substitutions and C-terminal deletions. In detail, tryptophan substitution improved the membrane perturbation, lysine substitution increased the net charge, and excessive amphipathicity decreased. The analog peptides were examined for structural characteristics through spectroscopic analytical techniques, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were used to confirm their activity and safety. We expect that these studies will provide a platform for systematic engineering of new antibiotic peptides and generate libraries of various antibiotic peptides.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to purify and characterize the ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitor from enzymatic hydrolysates of blackfin flounder muscle, for development of a novel anti-dementia agent that may be used in the drug or functional food industries. ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory peptide was purified from various enzymatic hydrolysates of blackfin flounder muscle. Among six enzymatic hydrolysates, the Alcalase hydrolysate revealed highest ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory activity. Consecutive purification of the blackfin flounder muscle hydrolysate using Sephadex G-25 column chromatography and octadecylsilane C18 reversed phase HPLC techniques were used to isolate a potent ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory peptide composed of 5 amino acids, Leu-Thr-Gln-Asp-Trp (MW: 526.7 Da). The $IC_{50}$ value of purified ${\beta}-secretase$ inhibitory peptide was $126.93{\mu}M$. Results of this study suggest that peptides derived from blackfin flounder muscle may be beneficial as anti-dementia compounds in functional foods or as pharmaceuticals.