• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.663-668
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• 1998

Several neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease, dentatorubralpallidoluysian atrophy, spinobulbar muscular atrophy, Machado-Joseph disease, and spinocerebellar ataxias type 1 are associated with the aggregation of expanded glutamine repeats within their proteins. Generally, in clinically affected individuals, the expansion of the polyglutamine sequences is beyond 40 residues. To address the length of polyglutamine that forms aggregation, we have constructed plasmids encoding glutathione S-transferase (GST) Machado-Joseph disease gene fusion proteins containing polyglutamine and investigated the formation of aggregates in E. coli. Surprisingly, even $(Gin)_8$, in the normal range as well as $(Gin)_{65}$ in the pathogenic range enhanced the formation of insoluble protein aggregates, whereas $(Ser)_8$, and $(Aia)_8$, did not form aggregates. Our results indicate that the formation of protein aggregates in GST-polyglutamine proteins is specifically mediated by the polyglutamine repeat sequence within their protein structure. Our study may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of the formation of protein aggregates in neurodegenerative disorders and the development of preventative strategies.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.281-284
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• 1997

Heat-induced gelation is an important functional property of whey proteins. Preheating of calcium reduced whey was reported to increase gel strength. 5% whey-protein solutions were preheated at pH7 and at various temperatures(60~8$0^{\circ}C$) for 15 minutes. The amount of soluble aggregates and denaturation enthalpy of preheated whey proteins were measured. Preheating temperature was negatively correlated with denaturation enthalpy($R^2$=0.857, P=0.08) and positive with the amount of soluble aggregates($R^2$=0.921, P=0.002). Denaturation enthalpy was negatively correlated with gel strength($R^2$=0.93, P=0.002). Soluble aggregates and gel strength were positively correlated($R^2$=0.972, P=0.0003). The formation of three dimensional gel network requires controlled protein denaturation and aggregation. Since preheating leads to the partial denaturation of proteins and the formation of soluble aggregates, preheated whey proteins have a higher gel strength than non-preheated one.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.541-545
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• 2000

For the sustained release formulation of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), dissociable rhGH aggregates were microencapsulated within poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA] microparticles. rhGH aggregates with 2 - 3 m Particle diameter were first produced by adding a small volume of aqueous rhGH solution into a partially water miscible organic solvent phase(ethyl acetate) containing PLGA. These rhGH aggregates were then microencapsulated within PLGA polymer phase by extracting ethyl acetate into an aqueous phase pre-saturated with ethyl acetate. The resultant microparticles were 2 - 3 m in diameter similar to the size of rhGH aggregates, suggesting that PLGA polymer was coated around the protein aggregates. Release profiles of rhGH from these microparticles were greatly affected by changing the volume of the incubation medium. The release rhGH species consisted of mostly monomeric form with having a correct conformation. This study reveals that sustained rhGH release could be achieved by microencapsulating reversibly dissociable protein aggregates within biodegradable polymers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.328-332
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• 1999

The effect of cations on the formation of protein aggregates was examined by in vitro refolding of mutant tryptophan synthase $\alpha$-subunit in which Pro 24 was replaced by Leu. $NH^{4+},; K{^+}; and; Na^{+}$ and no effect, but $Mg^{2+}; and; Ca^{2+}$stimulated the formation of protein aggregates in dose-dependent manner. It is suggested that $Mg^{2+} and Ca^{2+}$ may be implicated in the formation of protein aggregates in vivo.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2018

Formation of toxic protein aggregates is a common feature and mainly contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), which include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and prion diseases. The transglutaminase 2 (TG2) gene encodes a multifunctional enzyme, displaying four types of activity, such as transamidation, GTPase, protein disulfide isomerase, and protein kinase activities. Many studies demonstrated that the calcium-dependent transamidation activity of TG2 affects the formation of insoluble and toxic amyloid aggregates that mainly consisted of NDD-related proteins. So far, many important and NDD-related substrates of TG2 have been identified, including $amlyoid-{\beta}$, tau, ${\alpha}-synuclein$, mutant huntingtin, and ALS-linked trans-activation response (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43. Recently, the formation of toxic inclusions mediated by several TG2 substrates were efficiently inhibited by TG2 inhibitors. Therefore, the development of highly specific TG2 inhibitors would be an important tool in alleviating the progression of TG2-related brain disorders. In this review, the authors discuss recent advances in TG2 biochemistry, several mechanisms of molecular regulation and pleotropic signaling functions, and the presumed role of TG2 in the progression of many NDDs.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.256-262
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• 2000

In this study the disassembly process of chlorophyII (ChI)protein complexes of a stay-green mutant (ore10 of Arabidopsis thaliana) was investigated during the dark incubation of detached leaves. During this dark-induced senescence (DIS), the Chi loss was delayed in the mutant, while the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) or Fv/Fm was accelerated when compared with the wild type (WT) leaves. This indicates that the decrease in Fv/Fm is a separate process and not causally-linked to the degradation of Chi during DIS of Arabidopsis leaves. In the native green gel electrophoresis of the Chi-protein complexes, which was combined with an additional twodimensional SDS-PAGE analysis, the delayed senescence of this mutant was characterized by the appearance of an aggregate at 1 d or 2 d, as well as very stable light harvesting complex II (LHCII) trimers until 5 d after the start of DIS. The polypeptide composition of the aggregates varied during the whole DIS at 5 d. Dl protein appeared to be missing in the aggregates. This result supports the idea of a faster depletion of functional PSH in the mutants compared with WT, as suggested by the earlier reduction of Fv/Fm and the stable Chl a/b ratio in the mutants. At 5 d, the WT leaves also often showed aggregates, but the polypeptide composition was different from those of ore10. The results presented suggest that the formation of aggregates, or stable LHCII trimers in the stay-green mutants, is a way to structurally protect Chi-protein complexes from serious proteolytic degradation. Detailed disassembly processes of Chi-protein complexes in WT and ore10 mutants are discussed.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.459-473
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• 2016

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) often involve the formation of abnormal and toxic protein aggregates, which are thought to be the primary factor in ND occurrence and progression. Aged neurons exhibit marked increases in aggregated protein levels, which can lead to increased cell death in specific brain regions. As no specific drugs/therapies for treating the symptoms or/and progression of NDs are available, obtaining a complete understanding of the mechanism underlying the formation of protein aggregates is needed for designing a novel and efficient removal strategy. Intracellular proteolysis generally involves either the lysosomal or ubiquitin-proteasome system. In this review, we focus on the structure and assembly of the proteasome, proteasome-mediated protein degradation, and the multiple dynamic regulatory mechanisms governing proteasome activity. We also discuss the plausibility of the correlation between changes in proteasome activity and the occurrence of NDs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.480-494
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• 2019

Aggregates of disease-causing proteins dysregulate cellular functions, thereby causing neuronal cell loss in diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Although many in vitro or in vivo studies of protein aggregate inhibitors have been performed, a therapeutic strategy to control aggregate toxicity has not been earnestly pursued, partly due to the limitations of available aggregate models. In this study, we established a tetracycline (Tet)-inducible nuclear aggregate (${\beta}23$) expression model to screen potential lead compounds inhibiting ${\beta}23$-induced toxicity. High-throughput screening identified several natural compounds as nuclear ${\beta}23$ inhibitors, including peucedanocoumarin III (PCIII). Interestingly, PCIII accelerates disaggregation and proteasomal clearance of both nuclear and cytosolic ${\beta}23$ aggregates and protects SH-SY5Y cells from toxicity induced by ${\beta}23$ expression. Of translational relevance, PCIII disassembled fibrils and enhanced clearance of cytosolic and nuclear protein aggregates in cellular models of huntingtin and ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation. Moreover, cellular toxicity was diminished with PCIII treatment for polyglutamine (PolyQ)-huntingtin expression and ${\alpha}$-synuclein expression in conjunction with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment. Importantly, PCIII not only inhibited ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation but also disaggregated preformed ${\alpha}$-synuclein fibrils in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that a Tet-Off ${\beta}23$ cell model could serve as a robust platform for screening effective lead compounds inhibiting nuclear or cytosolic protein aggregates. Brain-permeable PCIII or its derivatives could be beneficial for eliminating established protein aggregates.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.333-337
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• 2010

Combining cell- and gene-based therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy in regenerative medicine. The aim of this study was to develop genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) aggregates using a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel micro-well array technique. Stable PEG hydrogel micro-well arrays with diameters of 200 to $500\;{\mu}m$ were fabricated and used to generate genetically engineered MSC aggregates. Rat bone marrow-derived MSCs were transfected with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid as a reporter gene, and aggregated by culturing in the PEG hydrogel micro-well arrays. The resultant cell aggregates had a mean diameter of less than $200\;{\mu}m$, and maintained the mesenchymal phenotype even after genetic modification and cell aggregation. Transplantation of MSC aggregates that are genetically modified to express therapeutic or cell-survival genes may be a potential therapeutic approach for regenerative medicine.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.656-663
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• 2001

The quality of an intravenous immunoglobulin preparation (IVIG) is reflected by the degree of nonspecific activation of complements, the so-called anticomplementary activity (ACA). ACA of aggregates in IVIG was investigated using method by the European Pharmacopoeia and Clq-coated microtiter enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both the EP method and the ELISA method showed a dose response curve with the amount of complements bound increasing with the percentage content of aggregates in immunoglobulin standard. The correlation between the two tests was good (r=0.96, r=0.99). However, the correlation was not found when the ACA (EP method) of IVIG product was compared with its aggregate percentage. These results emphasize that the method of aggregate formation affects ACA and that estimation of the percentage distribution of aggregates by HPLC may not reflect ACA. In analysing WIG product for Clq binding activity test with the ELISA, the result by using Protein A-HRP correlated with aggregate percentage (r=0.84). But the correlation decreased (r=0.48) when the result used Protein A-AP(having poorer sensitivity than HRP) was compared with aggregate percentage. As a result, some variation between the two methods, due to differences in assay principles, is to be expected. However, ELISA technique has the advantage in that it is easier to perform, more precise and less subject to reagent variability, and is the more suitable screening method than HPLC analysis.