• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제45권7호
• /
• pp.435-443
• /
• 2022

In response to environmental changes, signaling pathways rewire gene expression programs through transcription factors. Epigenetic modification of the transcribed RNA can be another layer of gene expression regulation. N⁶-adenosine methylation (m⁶A) is one of the most common modifications on mRNA. It is a reversible chemical mark catalyzed by the enzymes that deposit and remove methyl groups. m⁶A recruits effector proteins that determine the fate of mRNAs through changes in splicing, cellular localization, stability, and translation efficiency. Emerging evidence shows that key signal transduction pathways including TGFβ (transforming growth factor-β), ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), and mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1) regulate downstream gene expression through m⁶A processing. Conversely, m⁶A can modulate the activity of signal transduction networks via m⁶A modification of signaling pathway genes or by acting as a ligand for receptors. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the crosstalk between m⁶A and signaling pathways and its implication for biological systems.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제46권10호
• /
• pp.589-591
• /
• 2023

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• 제1권1호
• /
• pp.83-92
• /
• 2010

To improve the antifouling characteristics of polypropylene hollow fiber microporous membranes in a submerged membrane-bioreactor for wastewater treatment, the surface-modification was conducted by Ar plasma treatment. Surface hydrophilicity was assessed by water contact angle measurements. The advancing and receding water contact angles reduced after the surface modification, and hysteresis between the advancing and receding water contact angles was enlarged after Ar plasma treatment due to the increased surface roughness after surface plasma treatment. After continuous operation in a submerged membrane-bioreactor for about 55 h, the flux recovery after water cleaning and the flux ratio after fouling were improved by 20.0 and 143.0%, while the reduction of flux was reduced by 28.6% for the surface modified membrane after 1 min Ar plasma treatment, compared to those of the unmodified membrane. Morphological observations showed that the mean membrane pore size after Ar plasma treatment reduced as a result of the deposition of the etched species; after it was used in the submerged membrane-bioreactor, the further decline of the mean membrane pore size was caused by the deposition of foulants. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy confirmed that proteins and polysaccharide-like substances were the main foulants in the precipitate.

• 대한방사성의약품학회지
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.146-154
• /
• 2020

Selective installation of proteins using chemical reagents is important for the development of potential biomaterials for the treatment of human diseases. However, modification in a chemo- and regioselective manner under physiological conditions is a great challenge due to the presence of multiple reactive centers in the protein. Currently, the majority of conjugations are limited to lysine (Lys)- and cysteine (Cys)-selective reagents. Thus, they have been extensively studied. Apart from Lys and Cys, widespread site selectivity has been recently achieved through most of the 20 naturally occurring amino acid-bearing reactive functional groups. Consequently, this review focused on several recent achievements in site-selective modification of the rarest amino acid backbones (e.g., methionine, serine, glutamic acid, and tyrosine).

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.157-166
• /
• 2005

Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a key molecule to decode the genetic information on mRNA to amino aicds (protein), in a ribosome. For tRNA to fulfill its adopter function, tRNA should be processed into the standard length, and be post-transcriptionally modified. This modification step is essential for the tRNA to maintain the canonical L-shaped structure, which is required for the decoding function of tRNA. Otherwise, it has recently been proposed that modification procedure itself contributes to the RNA (re)folding, where the modification enzymes function as a kind of RNA chaperones. Recent genome analyses and post-genome (proteomics and transcriptomics) analyses have identified genes involved in the tRNA processings and modifications. Furthermore, post-genomic structural analysis has elucidated the structural basis for the tRNA maturation mechanism. In this paper, the recent progress of the structural biology of the tRNA processing and modification is reviewed.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제52권2호
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 2019

The small ubiquitin-related modification molecule (SUMO), one of the post-translational modification molecules, is involved in a variety of cellular functions where it regulates protein activity and stability, transcription, and cell cycling. Modulation of protein SUMOylation or deSUMOylation modification has been associated with regulation of carcinogenesis in breast cancer. In the dynamic processes of SUMOylation and deSUMOylation in a variety of cancers, SUMO proteases (SENPs), reverse SUMOylation by isopeptidase activity and SENPs are mostly elevated, and are related to poor patient prognosis. Although underlying mechanisms have been suggested for how SENPs participate in breast cancer tumorigenesis, such as through regulation of target protein transactivation, cancer cell survival, cell cycle, or other post-translational modification-related machinery recruitment, the effect of SENP isoform-specific inhibitors on the progression of breast cancer have not been well evaluated. This review will introduce the functions of SENP1 and SENP2 and the underlying signaling pathways in breast cancer for use in discovery of new biomarkers for diagnosis or therapeutic targets for treatment.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제2권1호
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 1979

Since the introduction of aspirin as a therapeutic agent in 1899, there have been numerous attempts at the improvement of its therapeutic value through molecular modification. These endeavors have centered mainly around the following two approaches : (a) improvement of the potency by introduction of a suitable group or groups on the benzene ring; and (b) modification of the carboxylic acid group, which is thought to be an immediate cause of the irritant effect.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제47권1호
• /
• pp.154-156
• /
• 2004

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.100-108
• /
• 1991

Molecular characteristics and improving methods for thermal stability of enzyme have been considered. Intrinsic and extrinsic stabilizing mechanisms are two governing principles for enhanced thermal stability of enzyme in molecular basis. Factors contributing to the former and the latter mechanisms may be involved in the enhanced thermal stability of enzyme complementarily. Also, the methods for improving thermal stability of enzyme which comprise reaction in organic solvent system, chemical modification, immobilization, sequential unfolding and refolding, gene manipulation techniques and enzyme-antibody complexing are reviewed.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제36권5호
• /
• pp.488-492
• /
• 2003

Neurofilament-L (NF-L) is a major element of neuronal cytoskeletons and known to be important for neuronal survival in vivo. Since oxidative stress might play a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, we investigated the role of copper and peroxide in the modification of NF-L. When disassembled NF-L was incubated with copper ion and hydrogen peroxide, then the aggregation of protein was proportional to copper and hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Dityrosine crosslink formation was obtained in copper-mediated NF-L aggregates. The copper-mediated modification of NF-L was significantly inhibited by thiol antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine, glutathione, and thiourea. A thioflavin-T binding assay was performed to determine whether the copper/$H_2O_2$ system-induced in vitro aggregation of NF-L displays amyloid-like characteristics. The aggregate of NF-L displayed thioflavin T reactivity, which was reminiscent of amyloid. This study suggests that copper-mediated NF-L modification might be closely related to oxidative reactions which may play a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases.