• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.45-45
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• 2003

We isolated a novel ankyrin-repeat containing protein, rSIAP (rSlo Interacting Ankyrin-repeat Protein), as an interacting protein to the cytosolic domain of the alpha-subunit of rat large-conductance Ca$\^$2+/-activated K$\^$+/ channel (rSlo) by yeast two-hybrid screening. Affinity pull-down assay showed the direct and specific interaction between rSIAP and rSlo domain. The channel-binding proteins can be classified into several categories according to their functional effects on the channel proteins, i.e. signaling adaptors, scaffolding net, molecular tuners, molecular chaperones, etc. To obtain initial clues on its functional roles, we investigated the cellular localization of rSIAP using immunofluorescent staining. The results showed the possible co-localization of rSlo and rSIAP protein near the plasma membrane, when co-expressed in CHO cells. We then investigated the functional effects of rSIAP on the rSlo channel using electrophysiological means. The co-expression of rSIAP accelerated the activation of rSlo channel. These effects were initiated at the micromolar [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/ and gradually increased as [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/ raised. Interestingly, rSIAP decreased the inactivation kinetics of rSlo channel at micromolar [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/, while the rate was accelerated at sub-micromolar [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/. These results suggest that rSIAP may modulate the activity of native BK$\_$Ca/ channel by altering its gating kinetics depending on [Ca$\^$2+/]$\_$i/. To localize critical regions involved in protein-protein interaction between rSlo and rSIAP, a series of sub-domain constructs were generated. We are currently investigating sub-domain interaction using both of yeast two-hybrid method and in vitro binding assay.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.182-182
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• 1996

Annexin I is a member of the annexin family of calcium dependent phospholipid binding proteins and has anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting phospholipase A$_2$ (PLA$_2$). Recent X-ray crystallographic study of annexin I identified six Ca$\^$2+/ binding bites, which was different types (type II, III) from the well-known EF-hand motif (type I). In this work, the structure of annexin I was studied at atomic level by using $^1$H, $\^$15/N and $\^$l3/C NMR(nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, and the effect of Ca$\^$2+/ binding on the structure of annexin I was studied, and compared with that of Mg$\^$2+/ binding, When Ca$\^$2+/ was added to annexin I, NMR peak change was occured in high- and low-field regions of $^1$H-NMR spectra. NMR peak change by Ca$\^$2+/ binding was different from that by Mg$\^$2+/ binding. Because annexin I is a larger protein with 35 kDa molecular weight, site-specific (amide-$\^$15/N, carbonyl-$\^$l3/C) labeling technique was also used. We were able to detect methionine, tyrosine and phenylalanine peaks respectively in $\^$13/C-NMR spectra, and each residue was able to be assigned by the method of doubly labeling annexin I with [$\^$13/C] carbonyl-amino acid and [$\^$15/N] amide-amino acid. In $\^$l3/C-NMR spectra of [$\^$13/C] carbonyl-Met labeled annexin I, we observed that methionine residues spatially located near Ca$\^$2+/ binding Sites Were Significantly effected by Ca$\^$2+/ binding. From UV spectroscopic data on the effect of Ca$\^$2+/ binding, we knew that Ca$\^$2+/ binding sites of annexin I have cooperativity in Ca$\^$2+/ binding. The interaction of annexin I with PLA$_2$ also could be detected by using heteronuclear NMR spctroscopy. Consequently, we expect that the anti-inflammatory action mechanism of annexin I may be a specific protein-protein interaction. The residues involved in the interaction with PLA$_2$ can be identified as active site by assigning NMR peaks effected by PLA$_2$ binding.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.656-663
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• 2010

Amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is critically involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is cleaved by gamma/epsilon-secretase activity and results in the generation of different lengths of the APP Intracellular C-terminal Domain (AICD). In spite of its small size and short half-life, AICD has become the focus of studies on AD pathogenesis. Recently, it was demonstrated that AICD binds to different intracellular binding partners ('adaptor protein'), which regulate its stability and cellular localization. In terms of choice of adaptor protein, phosphorylation seems to play an important role. AICD and its various adaptor proteins are thought to take part in various cellular events, including regulation of gene transcription, apoptosis, calcium signaling, growth factor, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway activation, as well as the production, trafficking, and processing of APP, and the modulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. This review discusses the possible roles of AICD in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including AD.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.419-426
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• 2011

Originally, vitamin K was defined as a factor for blood coagulation. Now more attention is focused on vitamin K for bone metabolism and bone health. Vitamin K is a coenzyme for glutamate carboxylase which converts glutamate residues to ${\gamma}$-carboxyglutamate(Gla) residues. Gla residues have calcium binding ability and bound to hydroxyapatite crystals in bone. Vitamin K promotes the carboxylation of osteocalcin and matrix Gla-protein, vitamin K-dependent proteins and improves bone mineral density and bone mass. Vitamin K deficiency causes reductions in bone mineral density and increases the risk of osteoporotic bone fractures, resulting from undercarboxylated osteocalcin. This paper is to provide a brief information of vitamin K and its role in bone health.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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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.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.741-748
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• 2004

The hepatitis C virus is associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas. Among the 10 polyproteins produced by the virus, no function has been clearly assigned to the non-structural 5A (NS5A) protein. This study was designed to identify the hepatocellular proteins that interact with NS5A of the HCV. Yeast two-hybrid experiments were performed with a human liver cDNA prey-library, using five different NS5A derivatives as baits, the full-length NS5A (NS5A-F, amino acid (aa) 1~447) and its four different derivatives, denoted as NS5A-A (aa 1~150), -B (aa 1~300), -C (aa 300~447) and D (aa 150~447). NS5A-F, NS5A-B and NS5A-C gave two, two and 10 candidate clones, respectively, including an AHNAK-related protein, the secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4), the N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), the cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP-1), ferritin heavy chain (FTH1), translokin, tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2), phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K) and $centaurin{\delta}$ 2 ($CENT{\delta}2$). However, NS5A-A produced no candidates and NS5A-D was not suitable as bait due to transcriptional activity. Based on an in vitro binding assay, CRABP-1, PI4K, $CENT{\delta}2$ and two unknown fusion proteins with maltose binding protein (MBP), were confirmed to interact with the glutathione S-transferase (GST)/NS5A fusion protein. Furthermore, the interactions of CRABP-1, PI4K and $CENT{\delta}2$ were not related to the PXXP motif (class II), as judged by a domain analysis. While their biological relevance is under investigation, the results contribute to a better understanding of the possible role of NS5A in hepatocellular signaling pathways.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.235-248
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• 2011

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in children and adults and is a major risk factor for the development of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). Recent studies have provided significant insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of epilepsy. Although the link between brain trauma and epilepsy is well recognized, the complex biological mechanisms that result in PTE following TBI have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study investigated in order to identify whether or not the abnormal expression of calcium-binding proteins in the lesioned hippocampus plays a role in neuronal damage by brain trauma and whether or not the expressions may change in the contralateral hippocampus during the adaptive stage as early time point following TBI. During early time point following TBI, both parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin D-28k (CB) immunoreactivities were decreased with in the lesioned hippocampus. However, these expressions were recovered to control levels as depend on time courses. On the other hand, PV immunoreactivity in contralateral hippocampus was transiently reduced as compared to the control levels, whereas CB expression was unchanged. These findings indicate that the alterations of the calcium-binding proteins, especially PV and CB, may contribute to the neuronal death and/or damage induced by abnormal inhibitory neurotransmission at early time period following brain trauma and the development of epileptogenesis in patients with traumatic brain injury.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.390-396
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• 2008

Calreticulin (CRT) is one of the major $Ca^{2+}$ binding chaperone proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and an unusual luminal ER protein. Postnatally elevated expression of CRT leads to impaired development of the cardiac conductive system and may be responsible for the pathology of complete heart block. In this study, the molecular mechanisms that affect $Ca^{2+}$-dependent signal cascades were investigated using CRT-overexpressing cardiomyocytes. In particular, we asked whether calreticulin plays a critical role in the activation of $Ca^{2+}$-dependent apoptosis. In the cells overexpressing CRT, the intracellular calcium concentration was significantly increased and the activity of PKC and level of SECAR2a mRNA were reduced. Phosphorylation of Akt and ERKs decreased compared to control. In addition the activity of the anti-apoptotic factor, Bcl-2, was decreased and the activities of pro-apoptotic factor, Bax, p53 and caspase 8 were increased, leading to a dramatic augmentation of caspase 3 activity. Our results suggest that enhanced CRT expression in mature cardiomyocytes disrupts intracellular calcium regulation, leading to calcium-dependent apoptosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2005

Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mice are characterized by death of virtually all cerebellar Purkinje cells by postnatal day 30. In this study, we used DNA microarray analysis to investigate differences in gene expression between the brains of wild type and pcd mice on postnatal day 20, before the appearance of clear-cut phenotypic abnormalities. We identified 300 differentially expressed genes, most of which were involved in metabolic and physiological processes. Among the differentially expressed genes were several calcium binding proteins including calbindin-28k, paravalbumin, matrix gamma-carboxyglutamate protein and synaptotagamins 1 and 13, suggesting the involvement of abnormal $Ca^{2+}$ signaling in the pcd phenotype.

• 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.