• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 1999년도 학술발표회 진행표 및 논문초록
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• pp.42-42
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• 1999

Metastability in the native form of proteins has been recognized as a mechanism of biological regulation. The strained native structure of serpins (serine proteinase inhibitors) is a typical example. The native strain of serpins is considered to be crucial to their physiological functions, such as plasma proteinase inhibition, hormone delivery, Alzheimer filament assembly, and extracellular matrix remodeling.(omitted)

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.217-221
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• 2020

Gastroesophageal reflux is a common problem after gastroesophageal resection and reconstruction, despite the routine prescription of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Resection of the lower esophageal sphincter and excision of the vagus nerve are generally thought to be the main factors that interfere with gastric motor function. However, physiological studies of reflux symptoms after esophagectomy are still lacking. Gastroesophageal reflux occurs frequently after esophagectomy, but there is no known effective method to prevent it. Therefore, in order to manage gastroesophageal reflux after esophagectomy, strict lifestyle modifications and gastric acid suppression treatment such as PPIs are needed, and further clinical studies are required.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.335-339
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• 2003

Many genetic variants of ${\alpha}_1$-antitrypsin have been associated with early onset emphysema and liver cirrhosis. However, the detailed structural basis of pathogenic ${\alpha}_1$-antitrypsin molecules is rarely known. Here we found that a recombinant $M_{malton}$ variant (Phe52-deleted) lost inhibitory activity by spontaneous conformational conversion into a more stable, inactive form under physiological conditions. Biochemical and spectroscopic data suggested that the variant converts into a reactive center loop-inserted conformation, resembling the latent form of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.388-394
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• 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in numerous cellular physiological processes. In the skin, NO is produced by keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells and is involved in skin functions such as vasodilation, pigmentation, hair growth, wound healing, and immune responses. NO modulates both innate and adaptive immune responses. As a signaling molecule and cytotoxic effector, NO influences the function of immune cells and production of cytokines. NO is a key mediator that protects against or contributes to skin inflammation. Moreover, NO has been implicated in skin sensitization, a process underlying contact dermatitis. It modulates the function of dendritic cells and T cells, thereby affecting the immune response to allergens. NO also plays a role in contact dermatitis by inducing inflammation and tissue damage. NO-related chemicals, such as nitrofatty acids and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, have potential therapeutic applications in skin conditions, including allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Further research is required to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of NO-related chemicals and develop personalized treatment strategies for skin conditions.

• 농약과학회지
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

신규 제초제 작용점의 발굴은 유전체학과 조합화학 등 새로운 기술이 등장하여 그 가능성이 높아지고 있다. 대략 $10^{30}$에서 $10^{50}$여 개의 화학물질의 합성이 가능하고 50,000여 개의 식물 유전자 지도가 완성되어 이들의 조합으로 새로운 제초제의 작용점 발굴 가능성이 높아지게 될 것이다. 즉, 고등식물이 가지고 있는 50,000여 개의 유전자 가운데 0.1%, 1.0% 또는 10%가 신규 작용점이 된다면 50, 500, 5000개의 신규 작용점을 발견할 수 있는 것이다. 신규 제초제의 개발을 위해서는 target enzyme의 선택과 결정, 저해제의 설계, 작용점까지 도달하는 과정, 대사적인 운명 등 여러가지 요인들이 검토되어야 한다. 이러한 과정에서 가장 중요한 것은 확실한 작용점의 선택에 있다. 또한 다양한 생화학적 정보를 통하여 작용점/효소의 저해로부터 고사에 이르는 과정을 이해함은 물론 보다 강력한 저해제의 합성과 살초과정을 이해할 수 있어야 할 것이다. 그 동안에는 이미 알려진 작용점을 대상으로 신규 화합물을 합성하거나 유도체를 개발하는 것이 대부분이었지만 최근에는 antisense 기법 등을 활용하여 새로운 치사관련 작용점을 찾아내는데 잠재력과 가능성을 확대시켜주고 있다. 새로운 치사관련 작용점을 발굴한 후에는 대상효소의 화학적, 생화학적 기능과 단백질의 구조를 분석하여 강력한 저해제를 설계하는데 활용하게 될 것이다. 치사관련 돌연변이체와 antisense 기법을 활용하고, 식물 생리학적 반응을 기초로 하여 리드화합물을 탐색하는 것은 새로운 접근방식이며 농약 화학적 특성을 갖는 효소 저해제들의 합성은 크게 6가지로 할 수 있다. 공통특이시얀 기질 유사체 합성, affinity labels, 자살기질체, 반응중간산물, 그리고 extraneous site inhibitors 등을 들 수 있다. 이와 같은 방법으로 후보화합물이 선발된다 하여도 실제식물에 처리하여 흡수, 이행, 대사 등에 관한 시험이 반드시 이루어져야 새로운 제초제를 탄생시킬 수 있다. 또한 약물의 전달과정과 무독화작용을 통하여 pro-herbicide에 대한 연구를 진행하게 될 것이며, 마지막으로 잡초와 작물간의 선택성이 고려되어야 효소 측이적 접근방식에 의한 신규 선택성 제초제의 개발이 성공할 수 있는 것이다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.573-587
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• 2014

혈관신생은 모든 조직의 성장과 발달, 그리고 상처회복 등에 매우 중요하다. 지방조직은 우리 몸에서 가장 혈관이 발달된 조직으로서 각 지방세포들은 모세혈관에 둘러싸여 있으며 신생혈관들은 지방세포에 영양분과 산소를 공급한다. 혈관의 내피세포들은 파라크린 신호경로, 세포외 성분, 세포들 간의 직접적인 작용을 통해 지방세포와 교류한다. 활성화된 지방세포들은 VEGF, FGF-2, leptin, HGF와 같은 혈관신생인자들을 생성하며, 이들은 단독으로 혹은 협력하여 혈관신생을 증가시키고 지방조직의 성장과 대사를 촉진한다. 따라서 혈관신생 억제제들은 비만과 비만관련 질환을 치료하는데 유용할 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.370-375
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• 2014

BACE2 is a membrane-bound aspartic protease that is highly homologous with BACE1. While BACE1 processes the amyloid precursor protein (APP) at a key step in generating ${\beta}$-amyloid peptide and presumably causes Alzheimer's disease (AD), BACE2 has not been demonstrated to be involved in APP processing directly, and its physiological functions are unknown. To determine its function and to develop inhibitors from marine sources, we constructed an overexpression vector for producing BACE2. The gene encoding human BACE2 protease was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and cloned into the pET11a expression vector, resulting in pET11a/BACE2. Recombinant BACE2 protease was overexpressed successfully in E. coli as inclusion bodies, refolded using the rapid-dilution method, and purified via two-step fast protein liquid chromatography using Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration and Resource-Q column chromatography. The BACE2 protease produced was an active form. This study provides an efficient method not only for studying the basic properties of BACE2, but also for developing inhibitors from natural marine sources.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.9-16
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• 2013

Elevated blood triglyceride (TG) levels correlate with development of atherosclerosis suggesting that TG may promote the development of this disease. During atherosclerosis, TG is taken up by tissue macrophages which result in dramatic changes in various secreted factors. One such factor is the family of matrix metalloproteases (MMP) which are involved in tissue remodeling during both physiological and pathological processes. In this study, we examined the MMP expression profile in PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages treated with TG. We found that TG-treated THP-1 macrophages showed decreased expression of MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8 and MMP-9 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In contrast, expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-10 remained relatively unchanged after TG treatment. In addition, we found that expression of select MMPs was affected by various inhibitors of signaling pathways. In particular, expression of MMP-3 was slightly recovered by cRAF and PLC signaling pathway inhibitors. These data suggests a possible role of MMPs in macrophages during TG-induced atherosclerosis.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.888-894
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• 2009

It has been reported that silibinin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid, induces cell death in various cancer cell types. However, the underlying mechanisms by which silibinin induces apoptosis in human glioma cells are poorly understood. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the effect of silibinin on glioma cell apoptosis and to determine its underlying mechanism in human glioma cells. Apoptosis was estimated by FACS analysis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Psi}m$) were measured using fluorescence dyes DCFH-DA and $DiOC_6$(3), respectively. Cytochrome c release from mitochondria and caspase-3 activation were estimated by Western blot analysis using specific antibodies. Exposure of cells to 30 mM silibinin induced apoptosis starting at 6 h, with increasing effects after 12-48h in a time-dependent manner. Silibinin caused ROS generation and disruption of ym, which were associated with the silibinin-induced apoptosis. The silibinin-induced ROS generation and disruption in ym were prevented by inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport chain. The hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase blocked ROS generation and apoptosis induced by silibinin. Silibinin induced cytochrome c release into cytosolic fraction and its effect was prevented by catalase and cyclosporine A. Silibinin treatment caused caspase-3 activation, which was inhibited by DVED-CHO and cyclosporine A. Pretreatment of caspase inhibitors also protected against the silibinin-induced apoptosis. These findings indicate that ROS generation plays a critical role in the initiation of the silibinin-induced apoptotic cascade by mediation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway including the disruption of ${\Psi}m$, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.19-28
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• 1997

Constitutive cyclooxygenase (COX-I) is present in cells under physiological conditions, whereas inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-II) is induced by some cytokines, mitogens, and endotoxin presumably in pathological conditions such as inflammation. We have evaluated the inhibitory effects of solvent fractionated extracts of natural products on the activities of COX-I and COX-II. Oxygen uptake COX assay was performed, as a primary screening from the tissue extracts of bovine seminal vesicles (BSV), by monitoring the initial rate of oxygen uptake using an oxygen electrode. Additionally, we evaluated plant extracts for the inhibitory effects of COX-I (in HEL cells) and COX-II (in lipopolysaccharide activated J774A.1 macrophages) using thin layer chromatography of prostanoids produced from $^{14}C-labelled$ arachidonic acid (AA). The use of such models of COX-I and COX-II assay will lead to the identification of specific inhibitors of cyclooxygenases with presumably less side effects than present therapies. Inhibitory effects of 50 kinds of plant extracts on the COX-I and COX-II activities were determined and the active fractions were found in the ethyl acetate fractions of Dryopteris crassirhizoma (roots), Amomum cardamomum (roots), Triticum aestivum (seeds), Perilla sikokiana (leaves), Anemarrhena asphodeloides (roots). Especially, the ethyl acetate fraction of Dryopteris crassirhizoma (roots), which exhibited the strong inhibition against BSV COX $(IC_{50},\;65.4\;{\mu}g/ml)$, COX-I $(IC_{50},\;8.5\;{\mu}g/ml)$, and COX-II $(IC_{50},\;17.2\;{\mu}g/ml)$, is under investigation to isolate active principles using activity-guided fractionation method.