• Molecules and Cells
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• 제37권8호
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• pp.613-619
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• 2014

The optic nerve often suffers regenerative failure after injury, leading to serious visual impairment such as glaucoma. The main inhibitory factors, including Nogo-A, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, and myelin-associated glycoprotein, exert their inhibitory effects on axonal growth through the same receptor, the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR). Oncomodulin (OM), a calcium-binding protein with a molecular weight of an ~12 kDa, which is secreted from activated macrophages, has been demonstrated to have high and specific affinity for retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and promote greater axonal regeneration than other known polypeptide growth factors. Protamine has been reported to effectively deliver small interference RNA (siRNA) into cells. Accordingly, a fusion protein of OM and truncated protamine (tp) may be used as a vehicle for the delivery of NgR siRNA into RGC for gene therapy. To test this hypothesis, we constructed OM and tp fusion protein (OM/tp) expression vectors. Using the indirect immunofluorescence labeling method, OM/tp fusion proteins were found to have a high affinity for RGC. The gel shift assay showed that the OM/tp fusion proteins retained the capacity to bind to DNA. Using OM/tp fusion proteins as a delivery tool, the siRNA of NgR was effectively transfected into cells and significantly down-regulated NgR expression levels. More importantly, OM/tp-NgR siRNA dramatically promoted axonal growth of RGC compared with the application of OM/tp recombinant protein or NgR siRNA alone in vitro. In addition, OM/tp-NgR siRNA highly elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and inhibited activation of the Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA). Taken together, our data demonstrated that the recombinant OM/tp fusion proteins retained the functions of both OM and tp, and that OM/tp-NgR siRNA might potentially be used for the treatment of optic nerve injury.

• 운동영양학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.28-35
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• 2021

[Purpose] As Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) exhibits various physiological activities and is associated with exercise, we investigated the potential active components of ginseng and related target genes through network pharmacological analysis. Additionally, we analyzed the association between ginseng-related genes, such as the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and improved exercise capacity. [Methods] Active compounds in ginseng and the related target genes were searched in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). Gene ontology functional analysis was performed to identify biological processes related to the collected genes, and a compound-target network was visualized using Cytoscape 3.7.2. [Results] A total of 21 ginseng active compounds were detected, and 110 targets regulated by 17 active substances were identified. We found that the active compound protein was involved in the biological process of adrenergic receptor activity in 80%, G-protein-coupled neurotransmitter in 10%, and leucocyte adhesion to arteries in 10%. Additionally, the biological response centered on adrenergic receptor activity showed a close relationship with G protein through the beta-1 adrenergic receptor gene reactivity. [Conclusion] According to bioavailability analysis, ginseng comprises 21 active compounds. Furthermore, we investigated the ginseng-stimulated gene activation using ontology analysis. GPCR, a gene upregulated by ginseng, is positively correlated to exercise. Therefore, if a study on this factor is conducted, it will provide useful basic data for improving exercise performance and health.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.100004.1-100004.11
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• 2024

Insulin is essential for maintaining normoglycemia and is predominantly secreted in response to glucose stimulation by β-cells. Incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, also stimulate insulin secretion. However, as obesity and type 2 diabetes worsen, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide loses its insulinotropic efficacy, whereas GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists continue to be effective owing to its signaling switch from Gs to Gq. Herein, we demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced a transition from Gs to Gq in GLP-1R signaling in mouse islets. Intriguingly, chemical chaperones known to alleviate ER stress, such as 4-PBA and TUDCA, enforced GLP-1R's Gq utilization rather than reversing GLP-1R's signaling switch induced by ER stress or obese and diabetic conditions. In addition, the activation of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) or activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), 2 key ER stress-associated signaling (unfolded protein response) factors, promoted Gs utilization in GLP-1R signaling, whereas Gq employment by ER stress was unaffected by XBP1 or ATF6 activation. Our study revealed that ER stress and its associated signaling events alter GLP-1R's signaling, which can be used in type 2 diabetes treatment.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.113-117
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• 1995

We re-cloned mouse ${\delt}-Opioid$receptor from NG108-15 cells using RT-PCR, and confirmed it by restriction analysis and by sequencing the beginning and end part of the amplified DNA. When transiently expressed in COS-7 cells, cloned ${\delt}-Opioid$ receptor showed saturable and specific binding to $[^3H]$naloxone with very similar binding parameters to originally reported ones. To make antibodies specific for the ${\delt}-Opioid$ receptor, the carboxy tail of the receptor, which is unique to the ${\delt}-Opioid$ receptor compared with other opioid receptors, was expressed in bacteria as a ufsion proteinwith glutathione S-transferase. Purified fusion protein selective for ${\delt}-Opioid$ receptor when tested by western blotting using membrane proteins prepared from transfected COS-7 cells. Cloned ${\delt}-Opioid$ receptor andl antibodies specific for ${\delt}-Opioid$ receptor are going to be valuable tools for studying pharmacological actions of the ${\delt}-Opioid$ receptor and morphine dependence.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2000년도 NEW STRATEGY FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT IN POST-GENOMIC ERA(대한약학회)
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• pp.146.3-147
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• 2000

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.629-634
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• 2009

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are part of multi-protein networks called 'receptosomes'. These GPCR interacting proteins (GIPs) in the receptosomes control the targeting, trafficking and signaling of GPCRs. PDZ domain proteins constitute the largest protein family among the GIPs, and the predominant function of the PDZ domain proteins is to assemble signaling pathway components into close proximity by recognition of the last four C-terminal amino acids of GPCRs. We present here a machine learning based approach for the identification of GPCR-binding PDZ domain proteins. In order to characterize the network of interactions between amino acid residues that contribute to the stability of the PDZ domain-ligand complex and to encode the complex into a feature vector, amino acid contact matrices and physicochemical distance matrix were constructed and adopted. This novel machine learning based method displayed high performance for the identification of PDZ domain-ligand interactions and allowed the identification of novel GPCR-PDZ domain protein interactions.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.293-299
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• 2009

Auxin-binding protein 57 ($ABP_{57}$), a soluble auxin-binding protein, acts as a receptor to activate plasma membrane (PM) $H^+-ATPase$. Here, we report the cloning of abp57 and the biochemical characterization of its protein expressed in E. coli. The analysis of internal amino acid sequences of $ABP_{57}$ purified from rice shoots enabled us to search for the corresponding gene in protein DB of NCBI. Further BLAST analysis showed that rice has four abp57-like genes and maize has at least one homolog. Interestingly, Arabidopsis seems to have no homolog. Recombinant $ABP_{57}$ expressed in E. coli caused the activation of PM $H^+-ATPase$ regardless of the existence of IAA. Scatchard analysis showed that the recombinant protein has relatively low affinity to IAA as compared to natural $ABP_{57}$. These results collectively support the notion that the cloned gene is responsible for $ABP_{57}$.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제66권
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• pp.186-196
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• 2023

Dyglomera^® is an aqueous ethanol extract derived from the fruit and pods of Dichrostachys glomerata. A previous study has revealed that Dyglomera regulates adipogenesis and lipolysis by modulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and increased expression levels of lipolysis-related proteins in white adipose tissue of high fat diet-induced mice and 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. To further investigate mechanisms of Dyglomera, additional studies were performed using 3T3-L1 cells. Results revealed that Dyglomera downregulated adipogenesis by inhibiting the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway and reconfirmed that it downregulated gene expression levels of proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, sterol-regulation element-binding protein-1c. Dyglomera also reduced adipokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin 6 by regulating leptin expression. Moreover, Dyglomera promoted beige-and-brown adipocyte-related phenotypes and regulated metabolism by increasing mitochondrial number and expression levels of genes such as T-box protein 1, transmembrane protein 26, PR domain 16, and cluster of differentiation 40 as well as thermogenic factors such as uncoupling protein 1, proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1α, Sirtuin 1, and PPARα through AMPK activation. Thus, Dyglomera not only can inhibit adipogenesis, but also can promote lipolysis and thermogenesis and regulate metabolism by affecting adipokine secretion from 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.263-272
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• 1994

흰쥐 해마(hippocampus)에서 acetylcholine (ACh) 유리에 미치는 $A_{1}-adenosine$ 수용체의 post-receptor 기전에 관한 지견을 얻고자 하여 $^3H-choline$으로 평형시킨 해마 slice를 사용하여 $^3H-ACh$ 유리에 미치는 여러가지 약물들의 영향을 관찰하였다. Adenosine $(0.3{\sim}300\;{\mu}M)$은 전기자극(3Hz, 2 ms, 5 $VCm^{-1}$, 구형파)에 의한 ACh 유리를 용량 의존적으로 감소 시켰으며, 이러한 효과는 $A_1-adenosine$ 수용체의 선택적 차단제인 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine $(2\;{\mu}M)$에 의해 차단됨을 볼 수 있었다. G-단백 억제제인 N-ethylmaleimide (NEM, 10과 $30\;{\mu}M$)는 그 자체에 의하여 자극유발성 ACh 유리를 증가시켰으며, adenosine의 효과는 NEM 전처리에 의하여 완전히 소실되었다. Protein kinase C 활성화제인 $4{\beta}-phorbol$ 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDB, $1{\sim}10\;{\mu}M$)는 ACh 유리 증가를 일으켰으며 억제제인 polymyxin B (PMB, $0.03{\sim}1\;mg$)는 감소를 일으켰으나, adenosine에 의한 ACh 유리 감소효과는 PDB 및 PMB에 의해 영향을 받지 않았다. $Ca^{++}$-통로 차단제인 nifedipine $(1\;{\mu}M)$은 adenosine의 효과를 길항함을 볼 수 있었으나 $K{^+}$-통로 차단제인 glibenclamide는 adenosine의 효과에 영향을 미치지 못하였다. 8-Bromo-cAMP (100과 $300{\mu}M$) 그 자체로는 ACh 유리에 별다른 영향을 미치치 못하였으나 $300\;{\mu}M$ 8-bromo-cAMP 전처리에 의하여 $30\;{\mu}M\;adenosine$의 효과가 억제됨을 볼 수 있었다. 이상의 실험결과로 흰쥐 해마에서 $A_1-adenosine$ 수용체를 통한 adenosine의 ACh유리 감소는 G-단백에 의존적이며, 이러한 효과에 nifedipine에 예민한 $Ca^{++}$-통로와 adenylate cyclase계가 일부 관여함은 확실하나 proteinkinase C 및 glibenclamide에 예민한 $K{^+}$통로는 관여하지 않는 것으로 사료된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.305-314
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• 2005

Investigation of chemically synthesized inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [$Ins(1,4,5)P_3$] analogs has led to the isolation of a novel binding protein with a molecular size of 130 kDa, characterized as a molecule with similar domain organization to phospholipase C-${\delta}1$ (PLC-${\delta}1$) but lacking the enzymatic activity. An isoform of the molecule was subsequently identified, and these molecules have been named PRIP (PLC-related, but catalytically inactive protein), with the two isoforms named PRIP-1 and -2. Regarding its ability to bind $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$ via the pleckstrin homology domain, the involvement of PRIP-1 in $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ signaling was examined using COS-1 cells overexpressing PRIP-1 and cultured neurons prepared from PRIP-1 knock-out mice. Yeast two hybrid screening of a brain cDNA library using a unique N-terminus as bait identified GABARAP ($GABA_A$ receptor associated protein) and PP1 (protein phosphatase 1), which led us to examine the possible involvement of PRIP in $GABA_A$ receptor signaling. For this purpose PRIP knock-out mice were analyzed for $GABA_A$ receptor function in relation to the action of benzodiazepines from the electrophysiological and behavioral aspects. During the course of these experiments we found that PRIP also binds to the b-subunit of $GABA_A$ receptors and PP2A (protein phosphtase 2A). Here, we summarize how PRIP is involved in $Ins(1,4,5)P_3$-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and $GABA_A$ receptor signaling based on the characteristics of binding molecules.