• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.277-283
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• 2015

Plant genome analyses, including Arabidopsis thaliana showed a large gene family of plant receptor kinases with various extracellular ligand-binding domain. Now intensively studies to understand physiological and cellular functions for higher plant receptor kinases in diverse and complex biological processes including plant growth, development, ligands perception including steroid hormone and plant-microbe interactions. Brassinosteroids (BRs) as a one of well know steroid hormone are plant growth hormones that control biomass accumulation and also tolerance to many biotic and abiotic stress conditions and hence are of relevance to agriculture. BRI1 receptor kinase, which is localized in plasma membrane in the cell sense BRs and it bind to a receptor protein known as BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1). Recently, we reported that BRI1 and its co-receptor, BRI1-ASSOCIATED KINASE (BAK1) autophosphorylated on tyrosine residue (s) in vitro and in vivo and thus are dual-specificity kinases. Other plant receptor kinases are also phosphorylated on tyrosine residue (s). Post-translational modifications (PTMs) can be studied by altering the residue modified by directed mutagenesis to mimic the modified state or to prevent the modification. These approaches are useful to not only characterize the regulatory role of a given modification, but may also provide opportunities for plant improvement.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.322-328
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• 2013

In this study, we show the expression and purification of the human recombinant farnesoid X receptor (FXR)- ligand binding domain (LBD) protein in E. coli using a double cistronic vector, pACYCDuet-1, as a soluble form. We describe here the expression and characterization of a biologically active $FXR-LBD_{(248-476)}$. When expressed in the influence of bacterial promoters ($P_{T7}$ and $P_{Tac}$) of the single cistronic expression vectors, the human recombinant $FXR-LBD_{(248-476)}$ was found to be totally insoluble. However, by using a double cistronic expression vector, we were able to obtain the human recombinant $FXR-LBD_{(248-476)}$ in a soluble form. To allow for biological activities, we have subcloned into the pACYCDuet-1 vector, expressed in E. coli cells at some optimized conditions, and purified and characterized the human recombinant active $FXR-LBD_{(248-476)}$ proteins using the fluorescence polarization assay. This suggests that the expression of FXR-LBD in a double cistronic vector improves its solubility and probably assists its correct folding for the biologically active form of the proteins. We suggest that this may represent a new approach to high expression of other nuclear receptors and may be useful as well for other classes of heterodimeric protein partners.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.352-357
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• 2008

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a soluble decoy receptor that inhibits osteoclastogenesis and is closely associated with bone resorption processes. We have designed and determined the solution structures of potent OPG analogue peptides, derived from sequences of the cysteine-rich domain of OPG. The inhibitory effects of the peptides on osteoclastogenesis are dose-dependent ($10^{-6}M-10^{-4}M$), and the activity of the linear peptide at $10^{-4}M$ is ten-fold higher than that of the cyclic OPG peptide. Both linear and cyclic peptides have a ${\beta}$-turn-like conformation and the cyclic peptide has a rigid conformation, suggesting that structural flexibility is an important factor for receptor binding. Based on structural and biochemical information about RANKL and the OPG peptides, we suggest that complex formation between the peptide and RANKL is mediated by both hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. These results provide structural insights that should aid in the design of peptidyl-mimetic inhibitors for treating metabolic bone diseases caused by abnormal osteoclast recruitment.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.58-64
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• 2007

Similar to the other known structures of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry $\delta$-endotoxins, the crystal structure of the 65-kDa activated Cry4Ba toxin comprises three domains which are, from the N- to C-terminus, a bundle of $\alpha$-helices, a three-$\beta$-sheet domain, and a $\beta$-sandwich. To investigate the properties of the C-terminal domain III in isolation from the rest of the toxin, the cloned Cry4Ba-domain III was over-expressed as a 21-kDa soluble protein in Escherichia coli, which cross-reacted with anti-Cry4Ba domain III monoclonal antibody. A highly-purified domain III was obtained in a monomeric form by ion-exchange and size-exclusion FPLC. Circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that the isolated domain III fragment distinctly exists as a $\beta$-sheet structure, corresponding to the domain III structure embodied in the Cry4Ba crystal structure. In vitro binding analysis via immuno-histochemical assay revealed that the Cry4Ba-domain III protein was able to bind to the apical microvilli of the susceptible Stegomyia aegypti larval midguts, albeit at lower-binding activity when compared with the full-length active toxin. These results demonstrate for the first time that the C-terminal domain III of the Cry4Ba mosquito-larvicidal protein, which can be isolated as a native folded monomer, conceivably participates in toxin-receptor recognition.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.72-78
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• 2002

Background: The precise mechanism by which CTLA-4 regulates T cell immune responses is still not fully understood. Previously we proposed that CTLA-4 could downregulate T cell function by modulating a signaling cascade initiated from the T cell receptor complex. The evidence for this notion comes from our findings that CTLA-4 associated with the T cell receptor zeta (TCR zeta) chain, and hence regulated TCR zeta phosphorylation by co-associated SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase (1). In this report, we investigated whether any other signaling molecules could be involved in the CTLA-4 signaling pathway. Methods: We have taken biochemical approaches, such as immunoprecipitation followed by autoradiography or immunoblotting, to identify the molecules associated with CTLA-4. To perform these assays, we used activated primary T cells and ectopically transfected 293 cells. Various truncation mutants of CTLA-4 were used to map the interaction site on CTLA-4. Results: We found that in addition to TCR zeta and SHP-2, a recently cloned small adaptor molecule, SAP (SLAM-associated protein), was also able to associate with CTLA-4. We identified the domain of SAP association in CTLA-4 being a motif involving GVYVKM. This motif has been previously found to bind SHP-2 through its phosphorylated tyrosine interaction with SH-2 domain of SHP-2. Indeed, co-expression of SAP and SHP-2 reduced their binding to CTLA-4 significantly, suggesting that SAP and SHP-2 compete for the common binding site, GVYVKM. Thus, by blocking SHP-2 recruitment SAP could function as a negative regulator of CTLA-4. Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest the existence of complicate signaling cascade in regulating CTLA-4 function, and further provide evidence that SAP can act either as a positive or negative regulator depending on the nature of the associating receptors.

• BMB Reports
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• 제46권7호
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• pp.376-381
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• 2013

It is unknown how soluble pattern-recognition receptors in blood, such as mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and ficolins, modulate mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses. We investigate how mouse MBL-A or ficolin-A regulate mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (mBMMCs)-derived inflammatory response against bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. LPS-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine productions on mBMMCs obtained from Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)-deficient mice, TLR2-defficient mice, and their wildtype, were specifically attenuated by the addition of either mouse MBL-A or ficolin-A in a dose-dependent manner. However, the inhibitory effects by mouse MBL-A or ficolin-A were restored by the addition of mannose or N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. These results suggest that mouse MBL-A and ficolin-A bind to LPS via its carbohydrate-recognition domain and fibrinogen-like domain, respectively, whereby cytokine production by LPS-mediated TLR4 in mBMMCs appears to be down-regulated, indicating that mouse MBL and ficolin may have an inhibitory function toward mouse TLR4-mediated excessive inflammation on the mast cells.

• 대한방사성의약품학회지
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.39-45
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• 2020

Recently, single-domain antibodies (sdAb) are bioengineered for molecular imaging applications. Single-domain antibody, obtained from naturally occurring antibodies in camelid species and cartilaginous fish is the smallest fully functional antigen-binding antibody fragments of heavy-chain. Since their discovery, they have been investigated extensively in clinical therapeutics, monitoring and diagnostics. Their small size is important advantage for high solubility, high stability, fast blood clearance and rapid targeting. This review article summarizes the recent status of this new antibody to visualize, diagnose or inhibit specific targets of cancer.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2013

Since the identification and characterization of toll-like receptors (TLR) in Drosophila, numerous scientific studies have examined the role of TLRs in host innate immunity. Recent studies have suggested a convergence of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) signaling and cytokine production regulated by the cytosolic elicitor known as NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing domain receptors) as a key modulator in inflammatory diseases. Among the NLRs, NOD1 and NOD2 have been intensively investigated for its role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). On the other hand, NLRs such as NLRP3, NLRP1, and NLRC4 (also known as IPAF) have been identified to form the inflammasome to activate downstream signaling molecules in response to pathogenic microbes. There is evidence to suggest that substantial crosstalk exists for the TLR and NLR signaling pathway in response to pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP). However, the substrate and the mechanistic role of NLRs are largely unknown in innate immune response. Understanding the signaling mechanisms by which NLRs recognize PAMP and other danger signals will shed light on elucidating the pathogenesis of various human inflammatory diseases such as IBD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.277-286
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• 2020

Polycystic kidney disease 2-like-1 (PKD2L1), also known as polycystin-L or TRPP3, is a non-selective cation channel that regulates intracellular calcium concentration. Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium binding protein, consisting of N-lobe and C-lobe with two calcium binding EF-hands in each lobe. In previous study, we confirmed that CaM is associated with desensitization of PKD2L1 and that CaM N-lobe and PKD2L1 EF-hand specifically are involved. However, the CaM-binding domain (CaMBD) and its inhibitory mechanism of PKD2L1 have not been identified. In order to identify CaM-binding anchor residue of PKD2L1, single mutants of putative CaMBD and EF-hand deletion mutants were generated. The current changes of the mutants were recorded with whole-cell patch clamp. The calmidazolium (CMZ), a calmodulin inhibitor, was used under different concentrations of intracellular. Among the mutants that showed similar or higher basal currents with that of the PKD2L1 wild type, L593A showed little change in current induced by CMZ. Co-expression of L593A with CaM attenuated the inhibitory effect of PKD2L1 by CaM. In the previous study it was inferred that CaM C-lobe inhibits channels by binding to PKD2L1 at 16 nM calcium concentration and CaM N-lobe at 100 nM. Based on the results at 16 nM calcium concentration condition, this study suggests that CaM C-lobe binds to Leu-593, which can be a CaM C-lobe anchor residue, to regulate channel activity. Taken together, our results provide a model for the regulation of PKD2L1 channel activity by CaM.

• 한국결정학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국결정학회 2003년도 춘계학술연구발표회
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• pp.13-13
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• 2003

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a key regulator of B-lymphocyte development. Its biological role is mediated by the specific receptors BCMA, TACI, and BAFF-R. We have determined the crystal structure of BAFF-R extracellular domain bound to BAFF at a resolution of 3.3 ?. The cysteine-rich domain(CRD) of the BAFF-R extracellular domain adopts a b-hairpin structure and binds to the virus-like BAFF cage in a 1:1 molar ratio. The conserved DxL motif of BAFF-R is located on the tip of the b-turn, and plays an indispensable role in the binding of BAFF. The crystal structure shows that a unique dimeric contact occurs between the BAFF-R monomers in the virus-like cage complex. Both of the CRDs of TACI contain the DxL motifs and simultaneously interact with the BAFF dimer in the virus-like cage.