• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2003

Ankyrins are a ubiquitously expressed family of intracellular adaptor proteins involved in targeting diverse proteins to specialized membrane domains in both the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum. Recently, the studies with C-terminus of ankyrins have identified that ankyrin-B is capable of interacting with Hsp40 and sAnkl is capable of interacting with obscurin and titin, but the function of C-terminal domain of ankyrin-G remains unknown. To identify proteins interacting C-terminus of ankyrin-G, we used the C-terminus of ankyrin-G as a bait for a yeast two-hybrid screen of brain cDNA library. Approximately 1.33$\times$l0$^6$ transformants were screened, of which 13 positive clones were obtained as determined by activation of HIS3, ADE2 and MELl reporter genes. Sequence analyses of these 13 plasmids revealed that cDNA inserts of 13 colonies showed highly homologous to 11 genes, including 5 known (i.e., Na$^+$/K$^+$ ATPase $\beta$1, SERBPl, UTF2, cytochrome C oxidase and collagen IV $\alpha$2) and 6 unknown genes. The evaluation of the proteins that emerge from these experiments provides a rational approach to investigate the those proteins significant in interaction with ankyrin-G.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

Selecting an appropriate antigen with optimal immunogenicity and physicochemical properties is a pivotal factor to develop a protein based subunit vaccine. Despite rapid progress in modern molecular cloning and recombinant protein technology, there remains a huge challenge for purifying and using protein antigens rich in hydrophobic domains, such as membrane associated proteins. To overcome current limitations using hydrophobic proteins as vaccine antigens, we adopted in silico analyses which included bioinformatic prediction and sequence-based protein 3D structure modeling, to develop a novel periodontitis subunit vaccine against the outer membrane protein FomA of Fusobacterium nucleatum. To generate an optimal antigen candidate, we predicted hydrophilicity and B cell epitope parameter by querying to web-based databases, and designed a truncated FomA (tFomA) candidate with better solubility and preserved B cell epitopes. The truncated recombinant protein was engineered to expose epitopes on the surface through simulating amino acid sequence-based 3D folding in aqueous environment. The recombinant tFomA was further expressed and purified, and its immunological properties were evaluated. In the mice intranasal vaccination study, tFomA significantly induced antigen-specific IgG and sIgA responses in both systemic and oral-mucosal compartments, respectively. Our results testify that intelligent in silico designing of antigens provide amenable vaccine epitopes from hard-to-manufacture hydrophobic domain rich microbial antigens.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.574-589
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• 2023

Radiopharmaceuticals targeting prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMA) are essential for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), particularly metastatic castration-resistant PCa, for which conventional treatment is ineffective. These molecular probes include [⁶⁸Ga]PSMA, [¹⁸F]PSMA, [Al¹⁸F]PSMA, [^99mTc]PSMA, and [⁸⁹Zr]PSMA, which are widely used for diagnosis, and [¹⁷⁷Lu]PSMA and [²²⁵Ac]PSMA, which are used for treatment. There are also new types of radiopharmaceuticals. Due to the differentiation and heterogeneity of tumor cells, a subtype of PCa with an extremely poor prognosis, referred to as neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), has emerged, and its diagnosis and treatment present great challenges. To improve the detection rate of NEPC and prolong patient survival, many researchers have investigated the use of relevant radiopharmaceuticals as targeted molecular probes for the detection and treatment of NEPC lesions, including DOTA-TOC and DOTA-TATE for somatostatin receptors, 4A06 for CUB domain-containing protein 1, and FDG. This review focused on the specific molecular targets and various radionuclides that have been developed for PCa in recent years, including those mentioned above and several others, and aimed to provide valuable up-to-date information and research ideas for future studies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.2527-2533
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• 2016

Sensitising cancer cells and at the same time desensitizing normal cells is a double task in cancer management. Agents which can combat the debilitating side effects of cancer therapeutics and simultaneously synergize with anticancer agents in specifically targeting cancer cells are needed. Selenium, a proven anticarcinogen, gains due importance in terms of its efficacy to combat the side effects of cancer therapy. This study is a comparative analysis of the chemoprotective effects of selenium compounds, methyl selenol (generated from organic selenomethionine (5mmol/L ; METase 40U/L)) and sodium selenite (inorganic form)($30{\mu}M$) in peripheral blood human lymphocytes exposed to cisplatin and mitomycin. Biochemical alterations occurring in many cells during apoptosis include loss of plasma membrane phospholipid asymmetry, DNA fragmentation, and activation of caspase-3. The present study demonstrated that the selenium metabolite and selenite are efficient in protecting lymphocytes undergoing DNA damage and exerted their activity by reducing caspase 3 expression. Interestingly organic methylselenol (MeSe) was found to offer more protective effects compared to inorganic selenite (SeL), by reducing the induction of apoptosis by the cytotoxic agents. This suggests that MeSe and to a lesser extent selenite might have potential for assessment in clinical trials and could be considered as strong candidates in pharmacogenomics or in the nutriprotective arena.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.307-313
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• 2001

Whether there exists a sympathetic neural mechanism regulating the expression of aquaporin (AQP) water channels in the kidney was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with reserpine (1 mg/kg, IP), and the expression of AQP1-4 proteins was determined in the kidney one day thereafter. Following the treatment with reserpine, the systolic blood pressure measured in a conscious state was significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with that in the control $(83{\pm}8\;vs\;124{\pm}6\;mmHg;\;n=6\;each,\;P＜0.05)$. The expression of AQP2 proteins was decreased in the cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla. The decrease of AQP2 proteins was in parallel in the membrane and the cytoplasmic fractions, suggesting a preserved AQP2 targeting. No significant changes were observed in the expression of AQP1, AQP3, or AQP4. Neither basal nor AVP-stimulated formation of cAMP was significantly altered. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system has a tonic stimulatory effect specifically on the expression of AQP2 water channels in the kidney.

• 한국동물번식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국동물번식학회 2000년도 국제심포지움
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• pp.3-4
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• 2000

The synthesis of acyl-CoA catalyzed by acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS, EC 6.2.1.3) from fatty acid, ATP, and CoA is a crucial reaction in mammalian fatty acid metabolism. In arachidonate metabolism, acyl-CoA synthetase(ACS) plays a key role in the esterification of free arachidonate into membrane phospholipids. Following its release by the action of calcium dependent phospholipase, free arachidonate is believed to be rapidly converted to arachidonoyl-CoA and reesterified into phospholipids in order to prevent excessive synthesis of eicosanoids. In previous studies, we have characterized five ACSs (designated as ACS1-5) with different tissue distribution. ACS1, ACS2, and ACS5 are similar in structure and fatty acid preference, and completely different from ACS3 and ACS4. The latter are arachidonate-preferring enzymes closely related in structure but expressed in different tissues: ACS3 mRNA is highly expressed in the brain and the mRNA for ACS4 is expressed in steroidogenic tissues including adrenal gland, ovary, and testis. To learn more about the potential function of ACS4 in arachidonate metabolism, we have produced knock-out mice for ACS4 gene. ACS4+/- females become pregnant less frequently and produce small litters with extremely low transmission of the disrupted alleles. Striking morphological changes including extremely enlarged uterine filled with numerous proliferative cysts of various size were detected in ACS4+/- females. Furthermore, marked accumulation of prostaglandins were seen in the uterus of heterozygous females. These results indicate that ACS4 is critical for the uterine arachidonate metabolism and heterozygous disruption of its gene lead to impaired pregnancy.

• 보건의료산업학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.125-135
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to enhance soldiers' oral health level and to offer basic data on controlling and preventing halitosis. It surveyed halitosis-related elements and analyzed relationship between subjective self-perception level of halitosis according to it targeting 253 soldiers in their 20s in some areas of Seoul from September 2012 to October. Thus, the following conclusions were obtained. 1. As for subjects' self-perception of halitosis, the perception status of oral health was indicated to be 'very bad' and to be shown most highly in one place. It was indicated to be high in the group of feeling Xerostomia much and the group of often feeling the white membrane of tongue. The statistically significant difference was shown(p<0.01). 2. Subjects' self-perception of halitosis was indicated to be the highest in the group with the largest intake of snacks. It was shown to be the highest in the group of having sinus infection and rhinitis. It was indicated to be the highest in the group of having a habit of oral respiration. Significant difference was shown(p<0.05). 3. Subjects' self-perception of halitosis was indicated to be lower in the group, which ever received oral health education, than the group in opposite case. Significant difference was shown(p<0.05).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.127-131
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• 2013

Trastuzumab is the first molecular targeting drug to increase the overall survival rate in advanced gastric cancer. However, it has also been found that a high intrinsic or primary trastuzumab resistance exists in some proportion of gastric cancer patients. In order to explore the mechanism of resistance to trastuzumab, firstly we investigated the expression of MUC1 (membrane-type mucin 1) in gastric cancer cells and its relationship with drug-resistance. Then using gene-silencing, we transfected a siRNA of MUC1 into drug-resistant cells. The results showed the MKN45 gastric cell line to be resistant to trastuzumab, mRNA and protein expression of MUC1 being significantly upregulated. After transfection of MUC1 siRNA, protein expression of MUC1 in MKN45cells was significantly reduced. Compared with the junk transfection and blank control groups, the sensitivity to trastuzumab under MUC1 siRNA conditions was significantly increased. These results imply that HER2-positive gastric cancer cell MKN45 is resistant to trastuzumab and this resistance can be cancelled by silencing expression of the MUC1 gene.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

About 20 chemical elements are nutritionally essential for humans with defined molecular functions. Several essential and nonessential biometals are either functional nutrients with antidiabetic actions or can be diabetogenic. A key question remains whether changes in the metabolism of biometals and biominerals are a consequence of diabetes or are involved in its etiology. Exploration of the roles of zinc (Zn) in this regard is most revealing because 80 years of scientific discoveries link zinc and diabetes. In pancreatic ${\beta}$- and ${\alpha}$-cells, zinc has specific functions in the biochemistry of insulin and glucagon. When zinc ions are secreted during vesicular exocytosis, they have autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine roles. The membrane protein ZnT8 transports zinc ions into the insulin and glucagon granules. ZnT8 has a risk allele that predisposes the majority of humans to developing diabetes. In target tissues, increased availability of zinc enhances the insulin response by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, which controls the phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor and hence downstream signalling. Inherited diseases of zinc metabolism, environmental exposures that interfere with the control of cellular zinc homeostasis, and nutritional or conditioned zinc deficiency influence the pathobiochemistry of diabetes. Accepting the view that zinc is one of the many factors in multiple gene-environment interactions that cause the functional demise of ${\beta}$-cells generates an immense potential for treating and perhaps preventing diabetes. Personalized nutrition, bioactive food, and pharmaceuticals targeting the control of cellular zinc in precision medicine are among the possible interventions.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.32-40
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• 2013

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have enormous potential in the biomedical sciences because they can grow continuously and differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. However, for future application in regenerative medicine, it is still a challenge to control the differentiation of PSCs without using genetic materials. To control the differentiation of PSCs, small molecules might be the best substitute for genetic materials considering the following advantages: small size, which enables penetration of plasma membrane; easy-to-modify structure; and low chance of genetic recombination in treated cells. Herein, we introduce small molecules that induce the neuroectodermal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The small molecules were identified via ESC-based consecutive screenings of small-molecule libraries composed of 324 natural compounds or 93 selected drugs. The natural compounds discovered in the first screening were used to select 93 structurally similar drugs out of 1,200 approved drugs. In the second screening, among the 93 compounds, we found 4 drugs that induced the neuroectodermal differentiation of ESCs. These drugs were progesteroneor corticoid-derivatives. Our results suggest that small molecules targeting the progesterone receptor or glucocorticoid receptor could be used as chemical tools to induce the differentiation of PSCs into a specific germ lineage.