• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.1275-1281
• /
• 2005

The $G_{q/11}$ protein-coupled receptors, such as muscarinic (M1 & M3) receptors, have been shown to regulate the release of a soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP$\alpha$) produced from $\alpha$-secretase processing. However, there is no direct evidence for the precise characteristics of G proteins, and the signaling mechanism for the regulation of $G_{q/11}$ protein-coupled receptor mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release is not clearly understood. This study examined whether the muscarinic receptor-mediated release of sAPP$\alpha$ is directly regulated by $G\alpha_{q/11}$ proteins. The HEK293 cells were transiently cotransfected with muscarinic M3 receptors and a dominant-negative minigene construct of the G protein $\alpha$ subunit. The sAPP$\alpha$ release in the media was measured using an antibody specific for sAPP. The sAPP$\alpha$ release enhancement induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation was decreased by a $G_{q/11}$ minigene construct, whereas it was not blocked by a control minigene construct (the G$\alpha$ carboxy peptide in random order, G$\alpha_{q}$R) or $G\alpha_{j}$ constructs. This indicated a direct role of the $G\alpha_{q/11}$ protein in the regulation of muscarinic M3 receptor-mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release. We also investigated whether the transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by a muscarinic agonist could regulate the sAPP$\alpha$ release in SH-SY5Y cells. Pretreatment of a specific EGFR kinase inhibitor, tyrophostin AG1478 (250 nM), blocked the EGF-stimulated sAPP$\alpha$ release, but did not block the oxoM­stimulated sAPP$\alpha$ release. This demonstrated that the transactivation of the EGFR by muscarinic receptor activation was not involved in the muscarinic receptor-mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2005

Excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) proteins in the human heart were characterized using human atrial tissues from different age groups. The samples were classified into one infant group (Group A: 0.2-7 years old) and three adult groups (Group B: 21-30; Group C: 41-49; Group D: 60-66). Whole homogenates (WH) of atrial tissues were assayed for ligand binding, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake and content of ECC proteins by Western blotting. Equilibrium [$^3H$]ryanodine binding to characterize the ryanodine receptor (RyR) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) showed that the maximal [$^3H$]ryanodine binding ($B_{max}$) to RyR was similar in all the age groups, but the dissociation constant ($k_d$) of ryanodine was higher in the infant group than the adult groups. Oxalate-supported $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake into the SR, a function of the SR SERCA2a activity, was lower in the infant group than in the adult groups. Similarly, [$^3H$]PN200-110 binding, an index of dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) density, was lower in the infant group. Expression of calsequestrin and triadin assessed by Western blotting was similar in the infant and adult groups, but junctin expression was considerably higher in the adult groups. These differences in key ECC proteins could underlie the different $Ca^{2+}$ handling properties and contractility of infant hearts.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.783-790
• /
• 2007

Receptor binding plays an important role in determining host specificity of the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$-endotoxins. Mutations in domains II and III have suggested the participation of certain residues in receptor recognition and insect specificity. In the present study, we expressed the cloned domain II-III fragment of Cry4Ba and examined its binding characteristics to mosquito-larval midgut proteins. The 43-kDa Cry4Ba-domain II-III protein over-expressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies was only soluble when carbonate buffer, pH 10.0 was supplemented with 4M urea. After renaturation via stepwise dialysis and subsequent purification, the refolded domain II-III protein, which specifically reacts with anti Cry4Ba-domain III monoclonal antibody, predominantly exists as a $\beta$-sheet structure determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. In vitro binding analysis to both histological midgut tissue sections and brush border membrane proteins prepared from susceptible Aedes aegypti mosquito-larvae revealed that the isolated Cry4Ba-domain II-III protein showed binding functionality comparable to the 65-kDa full-length active toxin. Altogether, the data present the 43-kDa Cry4Ba fragment comprising domains II and III that was produced in isolation was able to retain its receptor-binding characteristics to the target larval midgut proteins.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.613-619
• /
• 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.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.131-133
• /
• 2002

In 'Nature', Dixon et al. reported the first cloned mammalian G-protein coupled receptor sequence (1). The DNA sequence from a hamster encodes the $\beta$$_2$-aderenergic receptor. In the same year, 1986, Kubo et al. published the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor sequence (M$_1$) from a rat in the same journal (2). Both groups purified the receptor proteins and identified the DNA sequences (1, 2). (omitted)

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 2008

The neurotrophin plays an important role in the development, differentiation and survival of the nervous system in vertebrates. It exerts its cellular effects through two different receptors, the Trk receptor tyrosine kinase neurotrophin receptor and the p75 neurotrophin receptor, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Trk and p75 neurotrophin receptors utilize specific target proteins to transmit signals into the cell. An ankyrin-rich membrane spanning protein (ARMS) was identified as a new p75 interacting protein and serves as a novel downstream target of p75 neurotrophin receptor. We sought to delineate the interaction between p75 and ARMS by deletion constructs of p75 and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged ARMS. We examined the interaction between these two proteins after overexpressing them in HEK-293 cells. Using both Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, we found out that the intracellular domain of the p75 neurotrophin receptor was important for the interaction with ARMS. The results from this study suggest that ARMS may play an important role for mediating the signals from p75 neurotrophin receptor into the cell.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.135-140
• /
• 2003

Bacillus sp. secretes high levels of extracellular enzymes into the culture medium. The signal recognition particle (SRP) and the SRP receptor play a central role in targeting pre secretory proteins to the translocase. By the analysis of the DNA microarray of B. lentimorbus WJ5, it was detected that WJ5m12, antifungal activity deficient mutant induced by gamma radiation, had a down-regulated expression of the SRP receptor gene (B. subtitis srb homologue, srbL). To determine the relationship of SRP receptor to antifungal activity, srbL of B. lentimorbus WJ5 was amplified by PCR and ligated into pQE30 vector, and then transferred into WJ5m12. The transformant, WJ5m12::srbL, recovered the antifungal activity. From the 2-DE analysis, the several presecretory proteins accumulated in the mutant cell and decreased to a level of the wild type in WJ5m12::srbL. It seems that the srbL could play an important role in the secretion of the antifungal activity related proteins of B. lentimorbus WJ5.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.635-643
• /
• 2018

Bovine milk is widely consumed by humans and is a primary ingredient of dairy foods. Proteomic approaches have the potential to elucidate complex milk proteins and have been used to study milk of various species. Here, we performed a proteomic analysis using 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify whey proteins in bovine milk obtained soon after parturition (bovine early milk). The major casein proteins were removed, and the whey proteins were analyzed with 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). The whey proteins (2 mg) were separated by pI and molecular weight across pH ranges of 3.0 - 10.0 and 4.0 - 7.0. The 2-DE gels held about 300 to 700 detectable protein spots. We randomly picked 12 and nine spots that were consistently expressed in the pH 3.0 - 10.0 and pH 4.0 - 7.0 ranges, respectively. Following MALDI-TOF MS analysis, the 21 randomly selected proteins included proteins known to be present in bovine milk, such as albumin, lactoferrin, serum albumin precursor, T cell receptor, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, aldehyde oxidase and microglobulin. These proteins have major functions in immune responses, metabolism and protein binding. In summary, we herein identified both known and novel whey proteins present in bovine early milk, and our sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed their expression pattern.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2006

The neuronal localization of alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) glutamate receptor (GluR) subunits is vital as they play key roles in the regulation of calcium permeability. We have examined the distribution of the calcium permeable AMPA glutamate receptor subunit GluR1 in the mouse visual cortex immunocytochemically. We compared this distribution to that of the calcium-binding proteins calbindin D28K, calretinin, and parvalbumin, and of GABA. The highest density of GluR1-immunoreactive (IR) neurons was found in layers II/III. Enucleation appeared to have no effect on the distribution of GluR1-IR neurons. The labeled neurons varied in morphology; the majority were round or oval and no pyramidal cells were labeled by the antibody. Two-color immunofluorescence revealed that 26.27%, 10.65%, and 40.31% of the GluR1-IR cells also contained, respectively, calbindin D28K, calretinin, and parvalbumin. 20.74% of the GluR1-IR neurons also expressed GABA. These results indicate that many neurons that express calcium-permeable GluR1 also express calcium binding proteins. They also demonstrate that one fifth of the GluR1-IR neurons in the mouse visual cortex are GABAergic interneurons.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.8
• /
• pp.1034-1040
• /
• 2022

Fas-associated death domain (FADD) is an adapter molecule that bridges the interaction between receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1) and aspartate-specific cysteine protease-8 (caspase-8). As the primary mediator of apoptotic cell death, caspase-8 has two N-terminal death-effector domains (DEDs) and it interacts with other proteins in the DED subfamily through several conserved residues. In the tumor necrosis receptor-1 (TNFR-1)-dependent signaling pathway, apoptosis is triggered by the caspase-8/FADD complex by stimulating receptor internalization. However, the molecular mechanism of complex formation by the DED proteins remains poorly understood. Here, we found that direct DED-DED interaction between FADD and caspase-8 and the structure-based mutations (Y8D/I128A, E12A/I128A, E12R/I128A, K39A/I128A, K39D/I128A, F122A/I128A, and L123A/I128A) of caspase-8 disrupted formation of the stable DED complex with FADD. Moreover, the monomeric crystal structure of the caspase-8 DEDs (F122A/I128A) was solved at 1.7 Å. This study will provide new insight into the interaction mechanism and structural characteristics between FADD and caspase-8 DED subfamily proteins.