• Proceeding of EDISON Challenge
• /
• 2017.03a
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 2017

Prion is a group of the proteins known for its infection mechanisms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and other diseases. Solved structures and proven biological roles of fungal prions add tremendous potential to conducting computational simulations. Our research focuses on the binding dynamics of HET-s(218-289), one of the heterokaryon fungal prion originated from Podospora anserina, by calculating the binding free energy using umbrella sampling at 300 K. The binding free energy calculated was $-54.5kcal\;mol^{-1}$, relatively similar to the binding energy of other amyloid fibrils. The simulation result suggests the thermodynamic properties of ${\beta}$-solenoid of HET-s prion and its similarity in dissociation pathways compared to amyloids.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.177-180
• /
• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.108-108
• /
• 2002

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.109-109
• /
• 2002

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.1503-1507
• /
• 2013

The two major symptoms characterizing Alzheimer's disease are the formation of amyloid-${\beta}$ extracellular deposits in the form of senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that consist of pathological hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregated into insoluble paired helical filaments (PHFs). Neurons of the central nervous system have appreciable amounts of tau protein, a microtubule-associated protein. To maintain an optimal operation of nerves, the microtubules are stabilized, which is necessary to support cell structure and cellular processes. When the modified tau protein becomes dysfunctional, the cells containing misfolded tau cannot maintain cell structure. One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is hyperphosphorylated tau protein. This paper shows that the small heat shock protein from humans (Hsp27) reduces hyperphosphorylated tau and prevents hyperphosphorylated tau-induced cell death of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.103-108
• /
• 2005

Tacrine analogues for degenerative brain disease treatments have been designed. A series of diazaanthrine derivatives as novel analogues of tacrine has been prepared through the alkyl substitution and the ring expansion. They were expected to retain anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of prostaglandin production with reduction of side effect as the selective prostaglandin synthase inhibitor. Prostaglandin synthase expression is associated with the deposition of beta-amyloid protein in neuritic plaques in brain inflammation. Therefore selective prostaglandin synthase blockade is important for the prevention and treatment of alzheimer's disease. To evaluate inhibitory effect of prostaglandin synthase, synthetic tacrine derivatives were screened with accumulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis by lipopolysaccharide in aspirin-treated murine macrophage cell. Most of synthetic compounds have shown significant prostaglandin synthase activities in vitro screening with $84.3{\sim}33.6\%$ inhibition of the prostaglandin $E_2$ production at $10\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.224-229
• /
• 2013

Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is a multi-ligand receptor that is able to bind several different ligands, including advanced glycation endproducts, high-mobility group protein (B)1 (HMGB1), S-100 calcium-binding protein, amyloid-${\beta}$-protein, Mac-1, and phosphatidylserine. Its interaction is engaged in critical cellular processes, such as inflammation, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and migration, and dysregulation of RAGE and its ligands leads to the development of numerous human diseases. In this review, we summarize the signaling pathways regulated by RAGE and its ligands identified up to date and demonstrate the effects of hyper-activation of RAGE signals on human diseases, focused mainly on renal disorders. Finally, we propose that RAGE and its ligands are the potential targets for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of numerous renal diseases.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.377.1-377.1
• /
• 2002

Neuroscience and molecular biology studies show that inappropriate butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity as well as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity increases the risk and/or progression of Alzheimer's disease. BuChE may also regarded to participate in the transformation of Abeta (${\beta}$-amyloid) from an initially benign form to an eventually malignant form associated with neuritic tissue degeneration and clinical dementia. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.132.1-132.1
• /
• 2003

Biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) is a by-product produced in process of synthesizing Schizandrin-C. Generally, DDB has known to protect hepatocytes and to decrease the index of liver enzyme (e.g. GOT and GPT) in chronic hepatitis. The present study was aimed to demonstrate whether DDB can protect the brain cell, especially the Alzheimer brain in vitro. As Alzheimers disease can be induced by activated microglia, a macrophage in the brain, through Abeta peptide (A$\beta$) produced from amyloid precursor protein (APP). (omitted)

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss and extracellular senile plaque. Moreover, the cellular actions of ${\beta}$-amyloid (A${\beta}$ play a causative role in the pathogenesis of AD. This study was designed to determine whether Woo-Gui-Um, a commonly used Korean herbal medicine, has the ability to protect cortical and hippocampal neurons against A${\beta}_{25-35}$ neurotoxicity Methods : In the present study, the authors investigated the preventative effects of the water extract of Woo-Gui-Um in a mouse model of AD. Memory impairment was induced by intraventricularly (i.c.v.) injecting A${\beta}_{25-35}$ peptides into mice. Woo-Gui-Um extract was then administered orally (p.o.) for 14 days. In addition, A${\beta}_{25-35}$ toxicity on the hippocampus was assessed immunohistochemically, by staining for Tau, MAP2, TUNEL, and Bax, and by performing an in vitro study in PC12 cells. Results : Woo-Gui-Um extract had an effect to improve learning ability and memory score in the water maze task. Woo-Gui-Um extract had significant neuroprotective effects in vivo against oxidative damage and apoptotic cell death of hippocampal neurons caused by i.c.v. A${\beta}_{25-35}$. In addition, Woo-Gui-Um extract was found to have a protective effect on A${\beta}_{25-35}$-induced apoptosis, and to promote neurite outgrowth of nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that Woo-Gui-Um extract reduces memory impairment and Alzheimer's dementia via an anti-apoptotic effect and by regulating Tau and MAP2 in the hippocampus.