• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.518-527
• /
• 2015

Controlled release of medications remains the most convenient way to deliver drugs. In this study, we precipitated gold nanoparticles with quercetin. We loaded gold-quercetin into poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (NQ) and tested the biological activity of NQ on HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells to acquire the sustained release property. We determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy that NQ effectively caused conformational changes in DNA and modulated different proteins related to epigenetic modifications and c ell cycle control. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA damage, and caspase 3 activity were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression profiles of different anti- and pro-apoptotic as well as epigenetic signals were studied by immunoblotting. A cytotoxicity assay indicated that NQ preferentially killed cancer cells, compared to normal cells. NQ interacted with HepG2 cell DNA and reduced histone deacetylases to control cell proliferation and arrest the cell cycle at the sub-G stage. Activities of cell cycle-related proteins, such as $p21^{WAF}$, cdk1, and pAkt, were modulated. NQ induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells by activating p53-ROS crosstalk and induces epigenetic modifications leading to inhibited proliferation and cell cycle arrest.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.43 no.11
• /
• pp.766-771
• /
• 2010

The biological evaluation of a new synthesized Pt(II)-complex, 2,2'-bipyridin Butylglycinato Pt(II) nitrate, an anti-tumor component, was studied at different temperatures by fluorescence and far UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic methods. Human serum albumin (HSA) and human tumor cell line K562 were as targets. The Pt(II)-complex has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA. Binding and thermodynamic parameters of the interaction were calculated by fluorescence quenching method. Far-UV-CD results showed that Pt(II)-complex induced increasing in content of $\alpha$ helical structure of the protein and stabilized it. The 50% cytotoxic concentration ($Cc_{50}$) of complex was determined using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay at different incubation times. Also, fluorescence staining with DAPI (4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) revealed some typical nuclear changes, which are characteristic of apoptosis. Above results suggest that Pt (II) complex is a promising anti-proliferative agent and should execute its biological effects by inducing apoptosis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.579-582
• /
• 2003

Norfloxacin, that inhibits the action of topoisomerase Ⅱ, binds to wide variety of DNA. The binding mode of this drug to double- and super-coiled DNA (ds- and scDNA) is compared in this study by various spectroscopic methods, including absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism(CD) spectroscopy. Hypochromism in the absorption band, negative and positive induced CD bands (respectively in 240-260 nm and 270-300 nm region) are apparent for the norfloxacin that bound to both the dsDNA and scDNA. A decrease in fluorescence is also noticed in the presence of both DNAs. Since the spectroscopic characteristics are the same for both complexes, it is imperative that the binding mode of the norfloxacin is similar in ds- and scDNA. In the presence of $Mg^{2+}$, which is a cofactor in the topoisomerase Ⅱ action, the fluorescence intensity of the scDNA-norfloxacin complex increased and the resulting fluorescence intensity and shape was identical to that in the absence of scDNA. Therefore, the addition of an excess amount of $Mg^{2+}$ may result in the extrusion of norfloxacin from scDNA.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.336-341
• /
• 1991

The effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the encapsulation efficiency and stability of liposomes containing methotrexate (MTX) having different surface charges and cholesterol contents were investigated. The encapsulation efficiency of MTX was lower and the release of MTX was faster by the addition of BSA. The leaking of MTX from lipid bilayer depends upon the BSA concentrations. These results may be derived from the interaction of BSA with lipid bilayers. The dynamic structural changes of BSA were monitored indirectly using circular dichroism spectra. Observed dynamic structural changes of BSA with liposomes are presumed to reflect the interaction of BSA with liposomes. Negatively charged liposomes have more strong interaction with BSA than neutral and positively charged liposomes. BSA attacks lipid bilayers whether it is at the inner or at the outer phase of lipid bilayer and induces leakage of entrapped MTX. Especially, negatively charged liposomes are more sensitive than others. The inclusion of cholesterol in the lipid layers inhibits the interaction of BSA with liposomes and shows protective effect against BSA-induced leakage of MTX. To endure the attacking of BSA liposomes as drug carriers should be made using cholesterol.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1810-1818
• /
• 2020

Inhibitor K562 (IK) protein was first isolated from the culture medium of K562 cells, a leukemia cell line, and is an inhibitory regulator of interferon-γ-induced major histocompatibility complex class II expression. Recently, exogenous truncated IK (tIK) protein showed potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammation-related diseases. In this study, we designed a novel putative anti-inflammatory peptide derived from tIK protein based on homology modeling of the human interleukin-10 (hIL-10) structure, and investigated whether the peptide exerted inhibitory effects against pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The peptide contains key residues involved in binding hIL-10 to the IL-10 receptor, and exerted strong inhibitory effects on IL-17 (43.8%) and TNF-α (50.7%). In addition, we used circular dichroism spectroscopy to confirm that the peptide is usually present in a random coil configuration in aqueous solution. In terms of toxicity, the peptide was found to be biologically safe. The mechanisms by which the short peptide derived from human tIK protein exerts inhibitory effects against IL-17 and TNF-α should be explored further. We also evaluated the feasibility of using this novel peptide in skincare products.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.84-89
• /
• 1995

The complexation and physical characteristics of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposome containing amphotericin B(AmB) were investigated through circular dichrosim(CD) spectra, the size distribution, the turbidity change, and the calcein release. CD spectra of AmB-containing egg PC mxture exhibited a positive peak around 330 nm indicative of complexation of AmB and four negative peaks. The positive peak increased up to $2.2{\;}millidegree/{\mu}g$ AmB as AmB contents increased up to 12% (w/w), suggesting that AmB-phospholipid complexation was promoted by the antibiotics. The effective diameter of liposomesa by dynamic light scattering decreased from 450 nm to 220 nm as the amount of AmB in liposomes increased from o to 30% (w/w). The complexation may be responsible for the reduction in size. On the other hand, at around 1 mN deoxycholate (DOC), the reltive turbidities of 5 and 10% (w/w) AmB-containing liposome suspension were less than 1 probably due to the soblubilization of the complex, while those of pure PC liposome suspension were larger than 1 at the same concentration. Deoxycholate-induced release of liposomes, indicating the intercalation of the drug into the bilayers. Therefore, it is concluded that in AmB/eggPC/water system, AmB-phospholipid complexcoexists with AmB-containing liposomes.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.37 no.11
• /
• pp.951-960
• /
• 1993

$Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$X_2]^+$(3,2,3-tet = 4,7-diazadecane-1,10-diamine, $X_2\;=\;Cl_2,\;(NO_2)Cl,\;Br_2,\;(NO_2)Br,\;(NO_3)_2)$ complexes was investigated in aqueous solution. The products and the reaction mechanism were confirmed by chromatography, UV/Vis. spectrum, and circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. From the results, $Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation of 3,2,3-tet system has been produced cis-${\beta}$ complex via trans complex. The kinetic studies on $Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation of trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$Cl_2]^+$ complex and trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$(NO_2)Cl]^+$ complex were also carried out to study the reaction mechanism. The results show that trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$Cl_2]^+$ complex undergoes the D(dissociative)-mechanism and trans-[Co(3,2,3-tet)$(NO_2)Cl]^+$ complex $I_d$(interchange dissociavite)-mechanism. In order to confirm steric course for the reaction mechanism, $Hg^{2+}$-induced aquation on trans-[Co(R,R-3,2,3-tet)$Cl_2]^+$ complex to which chiral R,R-3,2,3-tet was coordinated instead of the racemic(R,R:S,S) 3,2,3-tet was used has been examined by CD spectrum. From the results, the final complex was confirmed to be ${\Delta}-cis-{\beta}$-[Co(R,R-3,2,3-tet)$(OH_2)_2]^{3+}$ complex indicating the chirality was retained through whole process.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.7
• /
• pp.2117-2124
• /
• 2013

The binding properties and sequence selectivities of ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ (bip = 4,4'-biphenylene (imidazo [4,4-f][1,10]phenanthroline) complexes with $poly[d(A-T)_2]$ and $poly[d(G-C)_2]$ were investigated using conventional spectroscopic methods. When bound to $poly[d(A-T)_2]$, a large positive circular dichroism (CD) spectrum was induced in absorption region of the bridging moiety for both the ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complexes, which suggested that the bridging moiety sits in the minor groove of the polynucleotide. As luminescence intensity increased, decay times became longer and complexes were well-protected from the negatively charged iodide quencher compared to that in the absence of $poly[d(A-T)_2]$. These luminescence measurements indicated that Ru(II) enantiomers were in a less polar environment compared to that in water and supported by minor groove binding. An angle of $45^{\circ}$ between the molecular plane of the bridging moiety of the ${\Delta}{\Delta}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complex and the local DNA helix axis calculated from reduced linear dichroism ($LD^r$) spectrum further supported the minor groove binding mode. In the case of ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complex, this angle was $55^{\circ}$, suggesting a tilt of DNA stem near the binding site and bridging moiety sit in the minor groove of the $poly[d(A-T)_2]$. In contrast, neither ${\Delta}{\Delta}$-nor ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complex produced significant CD or $LD^r$ signal in the absorption region of the bridging moiety. Luminescence measurements revealed that both the ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complexes were partially accessible to the $I^-$ quencher. Furthermore, decay times became shorter when bis-Ru(II) complexes bound to $poly[d(G-C)_2]$. These observations suggest that both the ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ complexes bind at the surface of $poly[d(G-C)_2]$, probably electrostatically to phosphate group. The results indicate that ${\Delta}{\Delta}$- and ${\Lambda}{\Lambda}-[{\mu}-Ru_2(phen)_4(bip)]^{4+}$ are able to discriminate between AT and GC base pairs.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.649-655
• /
• 2007

The nsp14 protein is an exoribonuclease that is encoded by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). We have cloned and expressed the nsp14 protein in Escherichia coli, and characterized the nature and the role(s) of the metal ions in the reaction chemistry. The purified recombinant nsp14 protein digested a 5'-labeled RNA molecule, but failed to digest the RNA substrate that is modified with fluorescein group at the 3'-hydroxyl group, suggesting a 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease activity. The exoribonuclease activity requires $Mg^{2+}$ as a cofactor. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analysis indicated a two-metal binding mode for divalent cations by nsp14. Endogenous tryptophan fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectra measurements showed that there was a structural change of nsp14 when binding with metal ions. We propose that the conformational change induced by metal ions may be a prerequisite for catalytic activity by correctly positioning the side chains of the residues located in the active site of the enzyme.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.8
• /
• pp.2508-2512
• /
• 2012

Cold shock proteins (CSPs) are a family of proteins induced at low temperatures. CSPs bind to single-stranded nucleic acids through the ribonucleoprotein 1 and 2 (RNP 1 and 2) binding motifs. CSPs play an essential role in cold adaptation by regulating transcription and translation via molecular chaperones. The solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or X-ray crystal structures of several CSPs from various microorganisms have been determined, but structural characteristics of psychrophilic CSPs have not been studied. Therefore, we optimized the purification process to obtain highly pure Lm-Csp and determined the three-dimensional structure model of Lm-Csp by comparative homology modeling using MODELLER on the basis of the solution NMR structure of Bs-CspB. Lm-Csp consists of a ${\beta}$-barrel structure, which includes antiparallel ${\beta}$ strands (G4-N10, F15-I18, V26-H29, A46-D50, and P58-Q64). The template protein, Bs-CspB, shares a similar ${\beta}$ sheet structure and an identical chain fold to Lm-Csp. However, the sheets in Lm-Csp were much shorter than those of Bs-CspB. The Lm-Csp side chains, E2 and R20 form a salt bridge, thus, stabilizing the Lm-Csp structure. To evaluate the contribution of this ionic interaction as well as that of the hydrophobic patch on protein stability, we investigated the secondary structures of wild type and mutant protein (W8, F15, and R20) of Lm-Csp using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The results showed that solvent-exposed aromatic side chains as well as residues participating in ionic interactions are very important for structural stability. Further studies on the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of Lm-Csp using NMR spectroscopy are required.