• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.482-484
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• 2002

UV irradiation activates various intracellular signaling pathways causing cell death in a DNA damage-dependent and an independent manner. As DNA photoproducts, major forms of DNA damage, are maximally formed by UV light at 260-nm, short wavelength UV (UVC) is more harmful than middle wavelength UV (UVB). However, the differences or similarities in responses of DNA damage-independent intracellular signaling molecules to UVB and UVC are not elucidated. We examined activation of signaling molecules towards apoptosis in normal human fibroblastic cells after irradiation with UVB or UVC at a dose generating the equal amount of DNA photoproducts. Both UVB and UVC induced transient phosphorylation of ERK and sustained phosphorylation of p38. Phosphorylation of p53 at Ser15 and at Ser392 residues were also observed, which were inhibited by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. In contrast, an antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine and a p38 inhibitor SB203580 suppressed only Ser392 phosphorylation, suggesting that UV-induced oxidative stress and p38 activation were involved in the phosphorylation of this site. The apoptic signals such as mitochondrial cytochrome C release and annexin V binding were then observed. Overall, no difference was found in chronological responses of p53, MAPK, and apoptosis between UVB-irradiated and UVC-irradiated cells. These results suggested that DNA damage-independent intracellular signaling molecules similarly responded to UVB and UVC when the equal level of DNA photoproducts were generated.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

Ginseng has gained its popularity as an adaptogen since ancient days because of its triterpenoid saponins, known as ginsenosides. These triterpenoid saponins are unique and classified as protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponins based on their glycosylation patterns. They play many protective roles in humans and are under intense research as various groups continue to study their efficacy at the molecular level in various disorders. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 are the most abundant ginsenosides present in ginseng roots, and they confer the pharmacological properties of the plant, whereas ginsenoside Rg3 is abundantly present in Korean Red Ginseng preparation, which is highly known for its anticancer effects. These ginsenosides have a unique mode of action in modulating various signaling cascades and networks in different tissues. Their effect depends on the bioavailability and the physiological status of the cell. Mostly they amplify the response by stimulating phosphotidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, caspase-3/caspase-9-mediated apoptotic pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling. Furthermore, they trigger receptors such as estrogen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and N-methyl-$\text\tiny{D}$-aspartate receptor. This review critically evaluates the signaling pathways attenuated by ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 in various tissues with emphasis on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.437-442
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• 2016

We aimed to study the role of protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) in neuronal differentiation using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced neuronal differentiation, characterized by cell-body shrinkage, long neurite outgrowth, and expression of neuronal differentiation markers light and medium neurofilaments (NF). The bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells was induced through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules [MAPK kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p90RSK], and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling molecules PI3Kp110β, PI3Kp110γ, Akt, and mTOR. Inhibitors (adenosine dialdehyde and S-adenosylhomocysteine) of protein methylation suppressed bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. PIMT-eficiency caused by PIMT-specific siRNA inhibited neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells by suppressing phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 in the MAPK signaling pathway and Akt and mTOR in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, these results suggested that PIMT was critical for bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and regulated the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.527-536
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• 2023

Serotonin receptors, also known as 5-HT receptors, belong to the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily. They mediate the effects of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in a wide range of functions including mood regulation, cognition and appetite. The functions of serotonin are mediated by a family of 5-HT receptors including 12 GPCRs belonging to six major families: 5-HT₁, 5-HT₂, 5-HT₄, 5-HT₅, 5-HT₆ and 5-HT₇. Despite their distinct characteristics and functions, these receptors' subtypes share common structural features and signaling mechanisms. Understanding the structure, functions and pharmacology of the serotonin receptor family is essential for unraveling the complexities of serotonin signaling and developing targeted therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, developing drugs that selectively target specific receptor subtypes is challenging due to the structural similarities in their orthosteric binding sites. This review focuses on the recent advancements in the structural studies of 5-HT receptors, highlighting the key structural features of each subtype and shedding light on their potential as targets for mental health and neurological disorders (such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and migraine) drugs.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2000

Phosphorylation of cellular proteins is a key regulatory mehanism for signal transduction pathway in living cells. Phytochrome, a red/far-red light photoreceptor in plants, is known to employ protein phosphorylation for its light signaling, although its detauked mechanism is still ambiguous. This study is intended to identify the phosphoproteins and protein kinases that are regulated by phytochrome, by employing transgenic rice seedlings that overexpress Arabidopsis phytochrome A. Red light stimulated phsophorylation of a 70 kDa protein and far-red light negated the effect. The red light induced phosphotylation of the 70 kDa protein was strongly activated by heparin and inhibited by poly-L-lysine, suggesting that the 70 kDa protein phosphorylating kinase belongs to GSK-3/SHAGGY protein kinase that has functional roles in establishing cell fate and pattern formation in Drosophila. Taken together with the fact that phytochrome controls plant development, these results may suggest that a GSK-3/SHAGGY-related protein kinase in plant(ASK) is likely to be involved in phytochrome signal transduction.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2008

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a special class of plant steroid hormones that are essential for normal growth and development. Part of confusion is whether BRs are unique to plants, because they have overlapping physiological roles with other better-studied hormones and with physiological responses caused by light. In systems designed to assay for cytokinins, the effects of BRs vary. We measured hypocotyl length for testing the ability of brassinolide (BL) to rescue double mutant between det2 and the photoreceptor null mutant phytochrome B (phyB). PHYB involved in controlling hypocotyl elongation in increased concentration of BL whereas phyBdet2 double mutant just partially rescue to phyB in white and red light indicated the involvement of BRs in PHYB regulated cell elongation. BRs regulated hypocotyl growth was delayed by BAP, a cytokinin treatment but inhibitory effects of BAPs on hypocotyl growth was slightly recovered by BL. The result indicated that the mode of action of BR and cytokinin is independent or sequential in the downstream light-regulated response control on hypocotyl elongation and also light modulated the action of BR and cytokinin in some extent.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.1266-1273
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• 2004

Urban railway signaling system is for train operation with safety in the urban crowded area, that has been increasing the demand of use of advanced train control systems with safe. European Commission is supporting the UGTMS(Urban Guided Transport Management System) project for the research and development. The main objective of UGTMS is to provide the European urban guided transport sector (comprising metro, tram and light rail systems) with a common Management System. A key topic is the extent to which the specifications for the successful ERTMS(European Rail Transport Management System) can be adapted to UGTMS needs. Beyond this, it is necessary to define the relevant functional and system requirements for all types of urban guided transport management systems in order to improve interoperability and intermodality. Also to be explored are the prospects for open system standards. In this article, we look into the trend of the standardization through the UGTMS project in Europe and consider any benefit to the project of the standardization for the urban railway signaling system in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics A
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• v.31A no.12
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• pp.1-8
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• 1994

In this paper, we hve compare the performance of DAR(Dynamic Adaptive Routing) with that of FSR(Flooding Search Routing) to select an adequate routing protocol in circuit-switched networs. As a performance factor, we have considered call setup time, which is the key factor of performance evaluation in circuit switched networks. We have evaluated the performance of two methods in grid topology circuit-switched networks using a commn channel signaling scheme, as application examples. As results, FSR method shows better performance than DAR method under light traffic load, when the number of links by which call has passed increases, but DAR method represents better performance than FSR method under heavy traffic load or large networks because of redundant packets.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2021

The well-known second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) regulates the morphology and physiology of neurons and thus higher cognitive brain functions. The discovery of exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap GTPases has shed light on protein kinase A (PKA)-independent functions of cAMP signaling in neural tissues. Studies of cAMP-Epac-mediated signaling in neurons under normal and disease conditions also revealed its diverse contributions to neurodevelopment, synaptic remodeling, and neurotransmitter release, as well as learning, memory, and emotion. In this mini-review, the various roles of Epac isoforms, including Epac1 and Epac2, highly expressed in neural tissues are summarized, and controversies or issues are highlighted that need to be resolved to uncover the critical functions of Epac in neural tissues and the potential for a new therapeutic target of mental disorders.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.5977-5982
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• 2014

Research over the years has progressively shown substantial broadening of the tumor necrosis factor alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated signaling landscape. Increasingly it is being realized that pancreatic cancer is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease. Suppression of tumor suppressors, overexpression of oncogenes, epigenetic silencing, and loss of apoptosis are some of the extensively studied underlying mechanisms. Rapidly accumulating in vitro and in vivo evidence has started to shed light on the resistance mechanisms in pancreatic cancer cells. More interestingly a recent research has opened new horizons of miRNA regulation by DR5 in pancreatic cancer cells. It has been shown that DR5 interacts with the core microprocessor components Drosha and DGCR8, thus impairing processing of primary let-7. Xenografting DR5 silenced pancreatic cancer cells in SCID-mice indicated that there was notable suppression of tumor growth. There is a paradigm shift in our current understanding of TRAIL mediated signaling in pancreatic cancer cells that is now adding new layers of concepts into the existing scientific evidence. In this review we have attempted to provide an overview of recent advances in TRAIL mediated signaling in pancreatic cancer as evidenced by findings of in vitro and in vivo analyses. Furthermore, we discuss nanotechnological advances with emphasis on PEG-TRAIL and four-arm PEG cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels to improve availability of TRAIL at target sites.