• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.373-379
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• 2015

Pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), a rate-limiting enzyme in the final step of glycolysis, is known to be associated with the metabolic rewiring of cancer cells, and considered an important cancer therapeutic target. Herein, we report a novel PKM2 activator, PA-12, which was identified via the molecular docking-based virtual screening. We demonstrate that PA-12 stimulates the pyruvate kinase activity of recombinant PKM2 in vitro, with a half-maximal activity concentration of $4.92{\mu}M$, and effectively suppresses both anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of lung cancer cells in non-essential amino acid-depleted medium. In addition, PA-12 blocked the nuclear translocalization of PKM2 in lung cancer cells, resulting in the inhibition of hypoxia response element (HRE)-mediated reporter activity as well as hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) target gene expression, eventually leading to the suppression of cell viability under hypoxia. We also verified that the effects of PA-12 were dependent on PKM2 expression in cancer cells, demonstrating the specificity of PA-12 for PKM2 protein. Taken together, our data suggest that PA-12 is a novel and potent PKM2 activator that has therapeutic implications for lung cancer.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.1000-1006
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• 2011

The discovery of carbohydrate-based bioactive compounds has recently received considerable interest in the drug development. This paper stresses on the application of 1-methoxy-O-glucoside as the central scaffold, whereas salicylic pharmacophores were introduced with diverse spatial orientations probing into the structural preference of an enzymatic target, i.e. protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). By employing regioselective protection and deprotection strategy, 2,6-, 3,4-, 4,6- and 2,3-di-O-propynyl 1-methoxy-O-glucosides were previously synthesized and then coupled with azido salicylate via click chemistry in forming the desired bidentate salicylic glucosides with high yields. The inhibitory assay of the obtained triazolyl derivatives leads to the identification of the 2,3-disubstituted salicylic 1-methoxy-O-glucoside as the structurally privileged PTP1B inhibitor among this bidentate compound series with micromole-ranged $IC_{50}$ value and reasonable selectivity over other homologous PTPs tested. In addition, docking simulation was conducted to propose a plausible binding mode of this authorized inhibitor with PTP1B. This research might furnish new insight toward the construction of structurally different bioactive compounds based on the monosaccharide scaffold.

• 한국항해항만학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.9-18
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• 2003

이 연구는 산업현장에서 직접 수집한 자료를 근거로 수행된 한국 선박관리업의 국제경쟁력 실태에 대한 분석이다. 본 연구에서는 국내 선박관리회사를 국제시장에 존재하는 다국적 선박관리회사와 비교하는 것이 보다 목적에 부합할 것이다. 그러나 국내 선박관리회사는 전반적으로 국제경쟁력 수준이 너무 낮아 다국적 선박관리회사와 비교하기에는 부적절하였다. 때문에 본 연구에서는 국적 외항선사의 선박관리부문을 국내 선박관리업의 비교주체이자 표본으로 선정, 비교하였다. 경쟁력분석은 크게 가격 경쟁력과 비가격 경쟁력으로 구분하여 실시하였다. 각격 경쟁력 요소로는 선원비, 입거수리비, 운항수리비, 선용품비, 기부속비, 윤활유비 및 관리수수료를 포함하였으며, 비가격 경쟁력 요소로는 선원 및 육상관리인의 자질, 관리조직의 효율성, 관리체계의 역량, 산업규격인증, 선박관리 노하우, 대선박 관리지원체계, 사무. 선박자동화 등으로 구성되었다. 분석결과 국적선사 선박관부문은 외국의 전문 선박관리회사들에 비해 전박적으로 국제경쟁력을 확보한 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 한국의 선박관리 사업은 선박관리 경쟁력 수준을 지속적으로 재고하여 적극적으로 국제시장 진출은 시도할 필요성이 있다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.330-338
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) is a ginseng saponin that is widely investigated because of its remarkable antitumor activity. However, the molecular mechanism by which (20S) G-Rh2 triggers its functions and how target animals avoid its cytotoxic action remains largely unknown. Methods: Phage display was used to screen the human targets of (20S) G-Rh2. Fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy were used to confirm the interaction of candidate target proteins and (20S) G-Rh2. Molecular docking was utilized to calculate the estimated free energy of binding and to structurally visualize their interactions. MTT assay and immunoblotting were used to assess whether human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and bovine serum can reduce the cytotoxic activity of (20S) G-Rh2 in HepG2 cells. Results: In phage display, (20S) G-Rh2-beads and (20R) G-Rh2-beads were combined with numerous kinds of phages, and a total of 111 different human complementary DNAs (cDNA) were identified, including HSA which had the highest rate. The binding constant and number of binding site in the interaction between (20S)-Rh2 and HSA were $3.5{\times}10^5M^{-1}$ and 1, and those in the interaction between (20S) G-Rh2 and BSA were $1.4{\times}10^5M^{-1}$ and 1. The quenching mechanism is static quenching. HSA, BSA and bovine serum significantly reduced the proapoptotic effect of (20S) G-Rh2. Conclusion: HSA and BSA interact with (20S) G-Rh2. Serum inhibited the activity of (20S) G-Rh2 mainly due to the interaction between (20S) G-Rh2 and serum albumin (SA). This study proposes that HSA may enhance (20S) G-Rh2 water solubility, and thus might be used as nanoparticles in the (20S) G-Rh2 delivery process.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.247-257
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• 2020

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinical cancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediated by ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates were carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. The expressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cell xenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPase and reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 binding site which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 and docetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizing effect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXT treatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicity when compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies.

• 한국항만경제학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.67-92
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• 2009

현재 우리나라에서 시행되는 예선서비스의 신청 및 예선배정방식은 항만유형에 따라 상이하게 존재하고 있으며 크게 공동배선제와 자유계약제로 구분 할 수 있다. 공동배선제란 선사가 예선업체를 선택할 수 있는 권리가 없으며 입출항 순서와 선박의 크기에 맞게 각 항만별 예선조합지회에서 결정된 방법에 따라 예선서비스를 공급받는 방식을 말한다. 자유계약제란 선사가 예선의 선택권을 갖고 예선업체를 선택하고 필요한 마력의 예선을 선택하는 방식을 말한다. 예선서비스의 특성 중의 하나는 예선의 안정적인 공급을 통한 선박 입 출항 및 이 접안의 지원이다. 이를 위해서는 예선업체가 적정한 수익을 창출하여 신조예선의 투입, 선원의 복지정책 실시 등의 지속적인 사업을 영위하여야 한다. 본 연구에서는 공동배선제를 실시하는 항만과 자유계약제를 실시하는 항만에서 예선사업을 전개하고 있는 예선업체들의 재무분석을 실증적으로 실시하여 예선업체가 적정수익을 창출하고 있는지를 분석하였다. 공동배선제를 실시하는 항만이 성장성 측면, 수익성 측면, 활동성 측면에서 자유계약제를 실시하는 항만보다 우수한 것으로 분석되었으며, 자유계약제하의 항만은 레버리지 비율 측면에서만 우수한 것으로 분석되어 항만에서 예선서비스의 안정적 공급을 고려할 때, 공동배선제를 더욱 확대 실시하여야 한다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.483-492
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• 2021

곽향은 식욕부진, 메스꺼움 등의 치료에 사용될 뿐만 아니라 최근에는 항당뇨 효능도 알려졌다. 본 연구에서는 곽향의 항산화력과 주요 성분들을 조사한 다음, in-silico 방법론을 적용하여 타겟 단백질들을 예측하였다. 먼저 메탄올 추출물의 DPPH와 ABTS 라디칼 소거능의 EC50 값은 각각 78.6 ㎍/mL과 31.0 ㎍/mL이었다. 이것은 ascorbic acid의 값(9.9 ㎍/mL, 5.2 ㎍/mL)과 비교할 때 항산화력이 뛰어나다고 할 수 있다. HPLC-PDA-MS/MS를 이용하여 성분들을 정성 분석한 결과, 추출물의 주요 화합물로 rosmarinic acid, tilianin, agastachoside 그리고 acacetin을 확인하였다. 이들 성분들의 항당뇨 작용 타겟 단백질을 DIA-DB 서버를 사용하여 구조 유사도와 inverse doking 방법론을 적용하여 예측하였다. 본 가상 탐색 결과, 주요 타겟 단백질들은 PPAR-γ, DPP IV, glucokinase, α-glucosidase, SGLT2, aldose reductase, corticosteroid 11-beta-dehydrogenase로 예측되었다. 그리고 이들 단백질들 중 일부는 이미 실험적으로 검증된 타겟 단백질이었다. 따라서 in silico 검색 방법이 유효하다고 생각할 수 있다. 마지막으로 활성성분들의 최적의 추출 조건을 결정하기 위하여 여러 추출 용매들로 곽향을 추출하였다. 여러 유기 용매들 중에는 메탄올이 그리고 에탄올-물 혼합용매에서는 80% 에탄올이 가장 효과적인 추출 용매로 확인되었다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제20권9호
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• pp.211-226
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• 2019

백혈구 공통 항원인 돼지 CD45는 PTPRC 유전자에 암호화 되어 있으며, CD45엑손의 선택적 스플라이싱에 따라 다른 T-세포에서 발현되는 티로신 인산분해효소이다. CD45는 기질인 TCR의 $CD3{\zeta}$ 사슬, Lck, Fyn, Zap-70 kinase의 인산화된 티로신에서 인산을 분해하여 T-세포 항원 수용체(TCR) 매개 신호전달을 조절한다. CD45의 조절이상은 많은 면역 질환과 관련이 있어서, CD45는 면역약물 개발에 표적이 되어왔다. TCR 신호전달의 조절효과를 가진 주요 구조적 특징을 특성화하기 위해, 사람의 알려진 CD45 구조를 템플릿으로 적용하여 돼지 CD45RO(가장 작은 CD45 isoform)의 단백질 구조와 예측된 돼지 CD45RO 모델구조에 $CD3{\zeta}$ 사슬의 ITAM(REEpYDV)를 도킹하여 CD45RO/ITAM 펩타이드 결합구조를 예측하였다. 돼지 CD45RO의 구조적 특징은 세포외영역의 구조견고성과 세포질 내 티로신 인산분해효소 도메인의 KNRY와 PTP signature 기능모티프(두 기능 모티프는 ITAM 펩타이드 결합부위의 좁은 입구로 역할)에 있었다. 주요 구조특성은 돼지 CD45RO-ITAM 펩타이드 결합구조 안정성과 결합친화력을 조절하면서 기질 선택성에 영향을 준다. 돼지 CD45RO의 구조적 특성은 T-세포에 특이적인 면역 조절제를 탐색하는 데에 적용될 것이다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.460-474
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is a promising drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis. This study examined the impact of polymorphisms in NR1I2, adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes on the pharmacokinetics of CK in healthy Chinese individuals. Methods: Forty-two targeted variants in seven genes were genotyped in 54 participants using Sequenom MassARRAY system to investigate their association with major pharmacokinetic parameters of CK and its metabolite 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD). Subsequently, molecular docking was simulated using the AutoDock Vina program. Results: ABCC4 rs1751034 TT and rs1189437 TT were associated with increased exposure of CK and decreased exposure of 20(S)-PPD, whereas CFTR rs4148688 heterozygous carriers had the lowest maximum concentration ($C_{max}$) of CK. The area under the curve from zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration ($AUC_{last}$) of CK was decreased in NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 homozygous carriers, while $C_{max}$ was significantly reduced only in rs2472682. ABCC4 rs1151471 and CFTR rs2283054 influenced the pharmacokinetics of 20(S)-PPD. In addition, several variations in ABCC2, ABCC4, CFTR, and NR1I2 had minor effects on the pharmacokinetics of CK. Quality of the best homology model of multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) was assessed, and the ligand interaction plot showed the mode of interaction of CK with different MRP4 residues. Conlusion: ABCC4 rs1751034 and rs1189437 affected the pharmacokinetics of both CK and 20(S)-PPD. NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 were only associated with the pharmacokinetics of CK. Thus, these hereditary variances could partly explain the interindividual differences in the pharmacokinetics of CK.