• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.349-353
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• 2005

The globin in cytosol receives the heme in mitochondria and folds to the hemoglobin within erythrocyte. Two mechanisms have been proposed that the heme was transfered post-translationally or cotranslationally to the globin. In this research, how the globin in cytosol receives post-translationally the heme from membranes was studied according to pH and phospholipid composition. Globins dissolved in various pH buffer solutions $(PH\;3\~7)$ were rapidly added into the bulk of egg phosphatidylcholine $100\%\;or\;60\%$ liposomes containing hemin in pH 7 buffer solution. Hemin was very highly transferred to globin at pH 4 and 6. Also, hemin was more efficiently transfered to globin in egg phosphatidylcholine $100\%$ than in $60\%$ liposomes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.21-35
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• 2004

Heme oxygenase (HO)-l catabolizes heme into three products: carbon monoxide, bilirubin, and free iron. HO-l serves as a protective gene by virtue of the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative actions of one or more of these three products. HO-l can be regarded as a potential therapeutic target in a variety of oxidant-mediated and inflammatory diseases. In this respect, it would be valuable to develop potent and selective inducers of HO-1 for therapeutic use. Here, we have shown that 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose, catalposide and dehydrocostus lactone are potent inducers of HO-1 and exert cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities via HO-1-ependent machanism.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.963-969
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• 2005

Many reports have stated that some of the pathogenic bacteria can obtain iron from ferroproteins, such as cytochrome C, ferritin, hemin, hemoglobin, and myoglobin. These reports prompted us to determine if an opportunistic pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans, can utilize ferroproteins to circumvent the iron-regulatory effect of transferrin. The following assays were carried out to measure in vitro growth stimulation by the ferroproteins: as an initial step, C. albicans was cultured in iron-free (pretreated with apotransferrin for 24h) culture medium. Once Candida albicans yeast cell growth reached stasis from iron starvation, individual ferroproteins were added to the culture media. Results showed that hemin, hemoglobin, and myoglobin supported a partial growth recovery. Additional studies with haptoglobin, a serum protein that interacts with the globin moiety of certain ferroproteins, established that C. albicans could obtain iron from the haptoglobin-ferroprotein complexes. These data indicate that the heme part of the ferroproteins is the source of iron. This implies that heme oxygenase, CaHMX1 might be involved in bringing about dissociation of heme-containing protein for iron-acquisition. In addition, anticandidal activity of transferrin takes place not only by the process of iron regulation, but also by direct interaction with the yeast cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2006

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), also known as histamine releasing factor (HRF), is found abundantly in different eukaryotic cell types. The sequence homology of TCTP between different species is very high, belonging to the MSS4/DSS4 superfamily of proteins. TCTP is involved in both cell growth and human late allergy reaction, as well as having a calcium binding property; however, its primary biological functions remain to be clearly elucidated. In regard to many possible functions, the TCTP of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is known to bind with an antimalarial agent, artemisinin, which is activated by heme. It is assumed that the endoperoxide-bridge of artemisinin is opened up by heme to form a free radical, which then eventually alkylates, probably to the Cys14 of PfTCTP. Study of the docking of artemisinin with heme, and subsequently with PfTCTP, was carried out to verify the above hypothesis on the basis of structural interactions. The three dimensional (3D) structure of PfTCTP was built by homology modeling, using the NMR structure of the TCTP of Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a template. The quality of the model was examined based on its secondary structure and biological function, as well as with the use of structure evaluating programs. The interactions between artemisinin, heme and PfTCTP were then studied using the docking program, FlexiDock. The center of the peroxide bond of artemisinin and the Fe of heme were docked within a short distance of $2.6{\AA}$, implying the strong possibility of an interaction between the two molecules, as proposed. When the activated form of artemisinin was docked on the PfTCTP, the C4-radical of the drug faced towards the sulfur of Cys14 within a distance of $2.48{\AA}$, again suggesting the possibility of alkylation having occurred. These results confirm the proposed mechanism of the antimalarial effect of artemisinin, which will provide a reliable method for establishing the mechanism of its biological activity using a molecular modeling study.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1825-1831
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• 2006

The influence of solvent viscosity on conformational dynamics of the heme-pocket, a small vacant site near the binding site of myoglobin (Mb) and hemoglobin (Hb), and playing a functionally important role by serving as a station in ligand binding and escape, was studied by probing time-resolved vibrational spectra of CO photodissociated from MbCO and HbCO in $D_2O$, 75 wt% glycerol/$D_2O$, and trehalose at 283 K. Two absorption bands ($B_1$ and $B_2$) of the sample in viscous solvents, arising from CO in the heme pocket, are very similar to those in $D_2O$. Two bands in Mb and Hb under all three solvents exhibit very similar nonexponential spectral evolution ($B_1$ band; blue shifting and broadening, $B_2$ band; narrowing with a negligible shifting), suggesting that in the present experimental time window of 100 ps, the extents of the spectral shift and narrowing is much influenced neither by the viscosity of solvent nor by the quaternary contact of Hb. Spectral evolution can be described by a biexponential function with a fast universal time constant of 0.52 ps and a slow time constant ranging from 13 to 32 ps. For both proteins in all three solvents majority of spectral evolution occurs with the fast universal time constant. The magnitude of the slow rate in the spectral shift of B1 band decreases with increasing solvent viscosity, indicating that it is influenced by global conformational change which is retarded in viscous solvent, thereby serve as a reporter of global conformational change of heme proteins after deligation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.158-158
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• 2004

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.339-342
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• 2007

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2008

The induction of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) by UV radiation provides a protective defence against oxidative stress, and has been well demonstrated in skin irradiated with UVA, but not UVB. In this study, we show that the induction of cutaneous HO-l can be attributed to UVB radiation. The expression of HO-1 mRNA was assessed in vivo by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, and HO-1 enzyme activity was measured in microsomal preparation from irradiated mice. The mRNA level of HO-1 increases in liver and skin from 1d to 3d after UVB $(3KJ/m^2)$ exposure. The results of gene expression were same pattern of HO-1 enzyme activity in skin, but not in liver. HO-1 mRNA in liver resulted in a progressive increase to 4d after UVB exposure, but HO-1 activity in liver increased to 2d. This finding indicates that UVB radiation is an important inducer of HO-1 and increases in HO activity may protect tissue directly or indirectly from oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.12-26
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• 1999

The 1H NMR signals of the heme methyl, propionate and related chemical groups of cytochrome C3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F (D.v. MF) were assigned by means of 1D NOE, 2D DQFCOSY and 2D TOCSY spectra. They were consistent with the assignments of the hemes with the highest and second-lowest redox potentials reported by Gayda et al. [Reference: 15]. The heme assignments were also supported by NOE between the methyl groups of these hemes and the side chain of Val-18, All the results contradicted the heme assignments for D.v. MF cytochrome C3 made on the basis of NMR [Reference: 11]. Based on these assignments, the interaction of cytochrome C3 with ferredoxin I was investigated by NMR. The major interaction site of cytochrome C3 was identified as the heme with the highest redox potential, which is surrounded by the highest density of positive charges. The stoichiometry and association constant were two cytochrome C3 molecules per monomer of ferredoxin I and 108 M-2 (at 53 mM ionic strength and $25^{\circ}C$), respectively.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.479-491
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• 2006

Heme oxygenase (HO), the rate limiting enzyme in the breakdown of heme into carbon monoxide (CO), iron and bilirubin, has recently received overwhelming research attention. To date three mammalian HO isozymes have been identified, and the only inducible form is HO-1 while HO-2 and HO-3 are constitutively expressed. Advances in unveiling signal transduction network indicate that a battery of redox-sensitive transcription factors, such as activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) and nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), and their upstream kinases including mitogen-activated protein kinases play an important regulatory role in HO-1 gene induction. The products of the HO-catalyzed reaction, particularly CO and biliverdin/bilirubin have been shown to exert protective effects in several organs against oxidative and other noxious stimuli. In this context, it is interesting to note that induction of HO-1 expression contributes to protection against liver damage induced by several chemical compounds such as acetaminophen, carbon tetrachloride and heavy metals, suggesting HO-1 induction as an important cellular endeavor for hepatoprotection. The focus of this review is on the significance of targeted induction of HO-1 as a potential therapeutic strategy to protect against chemically-induced liver injury as well as hepatocarcinogenesis.