• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.18
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an inflammatory and infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus with a complex pathophysiology. While COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available, treatment of the disease is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Several research have suggested the potential of herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment for the disease. A popular herbal medicine approved in the Philippines for the treatment of acute respiratory disease is Vitex negundo L. In fact, the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines has funded a clinical trial to establish its potential as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19. Here, we utilized network pharmacology and molecular docking in determining pivotal targets of Vitex negundo compounds against COVID-19. The results showed that significant targets of Vitex negundo compounds in COVID-19 are CSB, SERPINE1, and PLG which code for cathepsin B, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and plasminogen, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that α-terpinyl acetate and geranyl acetate have good binding affinity in cathepsin B; 6,7,4-trimethoxyflavanone, 5,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone, artemetin, demethylnobiletin, gardenin A, geranyl acetate in plasminogen; and 7,8,4-trimethoxyflavanone in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. While the results are promising, these are bound to the limitations of computational methods and further experimentation are needed to completely establish the molecular mechanisms of Vitex negundo against COVID-19.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2023

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory illness of the digestive system with unknown etiology, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. However, there are currently no effective treatments or medications available for individuals with CD. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. The bioactive compounds and targets associated with compounds of Qinghua Xiaoyong Formula (QHXYF) were examined using The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database, and 5 disease target databases were also used to identify CD-related disease targets. A total of 166 overlapping targets were identified from QHXYF-related and CD-related disease targets and they were found to be enriched in oxidative stress-related pathways and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking was then used to predict how the bioactive compounds would bind to the hub targets. It was found that quercetin could be the core bioactive compound and had good binding affinity to the top 5 hub targets. Finally, animal experiments were performed to further validate the findings, and the results revealed that QHXYF or quercetin inhibited 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced inflammation and oxidative stress processes by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway, thereby improving CD symptoms. These findings suggest that QHXYF and quercetin may be potential novel treatments for CD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2001

This study was designed to clone the SNF2/SW12 helicase-related genes from the fission yeast Schizosaccha-romyces pombe and thereafter to elucidate the common functions of the proteins in this family. The $hrp^{2+}$gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction amplification using degenerative primers from conserved SNF2 motifs within the ERCC6 gene, which encodes a protein involved in DNA excision repair. Like other SNF2/SW12 family proteins, the deduced amino acid sequence of Hrp2 contains DNA-dependent ATPase/7 helicase domains as well as the chromodomain and the DNA binding domain. This configuration is similar to that of mCHD1 (mouse chromo-ATPase/helicase-DNA-dinding protein 1), suggesting that Hrp2 is a S. pombe homolog of mCHD1, which is thought to function in altering the chromatin structure to control the gene expression. To characterize the function of Hrp2, 4 Uracil-Hrp2 fusion protein, it was purified near homogeneity by affinity chromatography on $Ni^{2+}$-NTA agarose, DEAE-Sepharose ion exchange arid Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatographies. The purified fusion protein exhibited DNA-dependent ATPase activity, which was stimulated by both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA. To determine the steady-state level of $hrp^{2+}$ transcripts during growth, cells were cultured in medium and collected at every 2hr to prepare total RNAs. The northern blot analysis showed that the level of $hrp^{2+}$ transcripts reached its maximum before the cells entered the exponential growth phase and then decreased gradually, This result implies that Hrp2 may be required at early stages of cell growth.h.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 1990

In the present study, we examined the effects of tamoxifen and LY117018 on various parameters for the estrogenic actions in order to understand the mechanism by which tamoxifen and LY117018 act on the uterine cells in 21-23 day old immature rats. Tamoxifen and LY117018 stimulated uterine weight and uterine contents of DNA, protein, and peroxidase activity in the absence of estradiol while inhibited above parameters in the presence of estradiol. Both cytosolic and nuclear progesterone receptors were increased by the treatment of tamoxifen and LY117018 as well as estradiol, but estradiol-induced increase in the progesterone receptors were reduced by the treatment of antiestrogens. These effects were enhanced by the multiple injections of antiestrogens. It seemed that tamoxifen was more agonistic than LY117018 but less antagonistic than LY117018, judged by their effects on various parameters for the estrogenic action. The affinities of estradiol, tamoxifen, and LY117018 for the estrogen receptor were $0.17{\pm}0.01nM(100%)$, $1.10{\pm}0.01nM(6.3%)$, and $0.23{\pm}0.01nM(77%)$, respectively. Furthermore, LY117018 was the competitive ligand for the estrogen receptor in dose-related manner but tamoxifen was not. Following estradiol treatment, nuclear estrogen receptor was sharply increased by 1 h, reaching the maximum by 16 h, while tamoxifen and LY117018 slightly increased nuclear estrogen receptor by 1 h and then decreased thereafter. It is therefore concluded that LY117018 is a competitive antagonist for the estrogen receptor with less estrogenic activity, compared to tamoxifen with low affinity to the estrogen receptor, and tamoxifen may act through other binding site than the estrogen receptor.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.649-656
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• 2008

The current study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism of action of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) on proliferation and differentiation of pig preadipocytes. The preadipocytes were isolated from the backfat of new-born female pigs and cultured in serum-deprived medium in the presence and absence of recombinant native IGFs or recombinant mutant IGFs that have reduced affinity for binding to both type-1 IGF receptors and insulin receptors. Fifty ng/ml of either IGF-I, [Leu60]IGF-I, IGF-Ⅱ or [Leu27]IGF-Ⅱ were included in the media in which preadipocytes were cultured for 4 days. IGF-I, [Leu60]IGF-I, IGF-Ⅱ and [Leu27]IGF-Ⅱ stimulated proliferation of pig preadipocytes by 39%, 8%, 25% and 2% respectively, as measured by increased numbers of cells. This indicates that both IGF-I and -II promote replication of pig preadipocytes by actions mediated either by type-1 IGF receptor or insulin receptor. IGF-I, [Leu60]IGF-I, IGF-Ⅱ and [Leu27]IGF-Ⅱ stimulated differentiation of pig preadipocytes by 50%, 17%, 37% and 30%, respectively, measured as glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase activity. Reducing the affinity of IGF-I for type-1 IGF receptors or insulin receptors significantly reduced the differentiation response. However, the differentiation response to [Leu27]IGF-II was not significantly different from the response to IGF-II. This shows that IGF-I and IGF-Ⅱ promote cell differentiation by different receptor-mediated mechanisms. IGF-II promotes differentiation of pig preadipocytes by actions that do not involve either type-1 IGF receptors or insulin receptors. These actions therefore appear to be mediated by binding of IGF-II to type-2 IGF receptors(also known as cation-independendent mannose-6-phosphate receptor[CIM6P/IGF2 receptor]). This is the first study to find evidence that IGF-II promotes differentiation of preadipocytes from any animal species by actions mediated by CIM6P/IGF2 receptors. In summary, this study shows that IGF-I and IGF-Ⅱ promote differentiation of pig preadipocytes by mechanisms that involve different cellular receptors.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.311-321
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• 1996

Both $M_1$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors contain a triplet of amino acid residues consisting of leucine (L), tyrosine (Y) and threonine (T) at C-terminus ends of the second putative transmembrane domains. This triplet is repeated as LYT-LYT in $M_2$ receptors at the interface between the second transmembrane domain and the first extracellular loop. Interestingly, however, it is repeated in a transposed fashion (LYT-TYL) in the sequence of $M_1$ receptors. In this work, we employed site-directed mutagenesis to investigate the possible significance of this unique sequence diversity for determining the distinct differential cellular function at the two receptor subtypes. Mutation of the LYTTYL sequence of $M_1$ receptors to the corresponding $M_2$ receptor LYTLYT sequence did not result in a significant change in the binding affinity of the agonist carbachol. The reverse mutation at the $M_2$ receptor also did not modify agonist affinity. Surprisingly, the LYTLYT $M_1$ receptor mutant demonstrated markedly enhanced coupling to activation of phospholipase C without a change in its coupling to increased cyclic AMP formation. There was also an enhanced receptor sensitivity in transducing elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$. On the other hand, the reverse $LYTLYT{\rightarrow}LYTTYL$ mutation in the $M_2$ receptor did not alter its coupling to inhibition of adenylate cyclase, but slightly enhanced its coupling to stimulation of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis. Our data suggest that the LYTTYL/LYTLYT sequence differences between $M_1$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors are not important for specifying ligand binding and coupling of various subtypes of muscarinic receptors to different cellular signaling pathways although they might play a role in the modulation of muscarinic reseptor coupling to PI hydrolysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1067-1074
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• 2008

In this study, the organic carbon normalized-sorption coefficients (Koc) for the binding affinity of phenanthrene (PHE) to 16 different soil humic and fulvic acids of various origins were determined by fluorescence quenching. The humic and fulvic acids used in this study were isolated from 6 different domestic soils including Mt. Hanla soil, IHSS standard soil and peat as well as Aldrich humic acid and characterized by elemental composition, ultraviolet absorption at 254 nm, composition of main structural fragments determined by CPMAS $^{13}$C NMR. The Koc values($\times$10$^4$, L/kg C) for each of HA and FA samples were in the range of 1.48$\sim$8.65 and higher in HA compared to that of FA(3.13$\sim$8.65 vs 1.48$\sim$2.48) in the experimental condition([PHE]/[HS] = 0.02$\sim$0.2(mg/L)/(mg-OC/L), pH 6). The correlation study between the structural descriptors of humic and fulvic acids and log Koc values of phenanthrene, show that the magnitude of Koc values positively correlated with the UV$_{254}$ absorptivity([ABS]$_{254}$) and two $^{13}$C NMR descriptors (C$_{Ar-H,C}$, $\sum$C$_{Ar}$/$\sum$C$_{Alk}$), while negatively correlated with the independent descriptors of the(N+O)/C atomic ratios and $^{13}$C NMR descriptors (I$_{C-O}$/I$_{C-H,C}$). These results confirmed that the binding affinity for the hydrophobic organic compound, phenanthrene are significantly influenced by the polarity and aromaticity of soil humc and fulvic acids.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1996

Intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) may play a crucial role in a variety of neuronal functions. Here we report that in primary culture of mouse cerebellar granule cells nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in a specific developmental stage and involved in the regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Nicotine-mediated calcium responses were measured using $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ or fluorometrically using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. Maximal uptake of $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ evoked by nicotine in mouse cerebellar granule cells were revealed $8{\sim}12$ days in culture. In contrast, nicotine did not alter the basal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake in cultured glial cells. In cerebellar granule cells nicotine-evoked $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake was largely blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonists. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT). which removes endogenous glutamate, also prevented nicotine effects, implying the indirect involvement of glutamate in nicotine-mediated calcium responses. Fluorometric studies using fura-2 showed two phases of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises: the initial rising phase and the later plateau phase. Interestingly, the NMDA receptor antagonists and GPT appeared to inhibit only the later plateau phase of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises. The present results imply that nicotine mediated $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises are attributed to the calcium fluxes through both nAchRs and NMDA receptors in a time-dependent manner. Consequently, nAChRs may play an important role in neuronal development by being expressed in a specific developmental stage and regulating the intracellular calcium homeostasis.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 2022

A lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) method using carbon nanodot@silica as a signaling material was developed for analyzing the concentration of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), one of the lung cancer biomarkers. Instead of antibodies mainly used as bioreceptors in nitrocellulose membranes in LFIA for protein detection, aptamers that are more economical, easy to store for a long time, and have strong affinities toward specific target proteins were used. A 5' terminal of biotin-modified aptamer specific to RBP4 was first reacted with neutravidin followed by spraying the mixture on the membrane in order to immobilize the aptamer in a porous membrane by the strong binding affinity between biotin and neutravidin. Carbon nanodot@silica nanoparticles with blue fluorescent signal covalently conjugated to the RBP4 antibody, and RBP4 were injected in a lateral flow manner on to the surface bound aptamer to form a sandwich complex. Surfactant concentrations, ionic strength, and additional blocking reagents were added to the running buffer solution to optimize the fluorescent signal off from the sandwich complex which was correlated to the concentration of RBP4. A 10 mM Tris (pH 7.4) running buffer containing 150 mM NaCl and 0.05% Tween-20 with 0.6 M ethanolamine as a blocking agent showed the optimum assay condition for carbon nanodot@silica-based LFIA. The results indicate that an aptamer, more economical and easier to store for a long time can be used as an alternative immobilizing probe for antibody in a LFIA device which can be used as a point-of-care diagnosis kit for lung cancer diseases.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1995

The effects of chronic treatment with haloperidol and sulpiride on the binding capacities of dopamine(DA) receptor were examined in rat striatum and olfactory tubercle. Additionally, the stereotypy scores were assessed after apomorphine administration. Rats were treated with haloperidol(0.5mg/kg/day) or sulpiride(40mg/kg/day) for four weeks. Apomorphine(0.5mg/kg) was injected after three-day washout from neuroleptics, and stereotypy scores were assessed. Haloperidol group showed high scores of stereotyped behavior in comparison with control and sulpiride groups. With control group, sulpiride group displayed similar stereotyped behaviors. Saturation analysis of the binding of [$^3H$]spiperone to striatal membranes showed that the Bmax of haloperidol and sulpiride groups increased significantly in comparison with that of control group. The $K_D$ decreased significantly after sulpiride treatment in striatum. Although sulpiride produces the same proliferation of DA receptor, the low stereotypy scores of sulpiride group indirectly suggest that sulpiride acts differently from haloperidol in brain DA system. The Bmax increased remarkably following both treatment with haloperidol and sulpiride in olfactory tubercle. Also, the increase in $K_D$ was significant after treatment with haloperidol and sulpiride in olfactory tubercle. Moreover, the $K_D$ of control group in olfactory tubercle was more than twice the $K_D$ of control group in striatum. The $K_D$ was 86.2 in striatum and 37.5 pM in olfactory tubercle. The present finding indicates that sulpiride also induces the proliferation of DA receptor in olfactory tubercle and may interact with some DA receptor subtype with high affinity profile. The different affinities of the control groups of striatum and olfactory tubercle suggest that striatal DA receptor subtypes labeled by [$^3H$]spiperone could differ from those of olfactory tubercle.