Melanogenesis inhibitory activity of a 7-O-9'-linked neolignan from Alpinia galanga fruit.

An aqueous acetone extract from the fruit of Alpinia galanga (Zingiberaceae) demonstrated inhibitory effects on melanogenesis in theophylline-stimulated murine B16 melanoma 4A5 cells (IC=7.3μg/mL). Through bioassay-guided separation of the extract, a new 7-O-9'-linked neolignan, named galanganol D diacetate (1), was isolated along with 16 known compounds including 14 phenylpropanoids (2-15).

Structural basis of free reduced flavin generation by flavin reductase from Thermus thermophilus HB8.

Free reduced flavins are involved in a variety of biological functions. They are generated from NAD(P)H by flavin reductase via co-factor flavin bound to the enzyme. Although recent findings on the structure and function of flavin reductase provide new information about co-factor FAD and substrate NAD, there have been no reports on the substrate flavin binding site.

Quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase, a key enzyme in de novo NAD(+) synthesis, suppresses spontaneous cell death by inhibiting overproduction of active-caspase-3.

Quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRT) is a key enzyme in de novo NAD(+) synthesis. QPRT enzyme activity has a restricted tissue distribution, although QPRT mRNA is expressed ubiquitously. This study was designed to elucidate the functions of QPRT protein in addition to NAD(+) synthesis.

Nucleolin as cell surface receptor for tumor necrosis factor-alpha inducing protein: a carcinogenic factor of Helicobacter pylori.

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inducing protein (Tipalpha) is a unique carcinogenic factor released from Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Tipalpha specifically binds to cells and is incorporated into cytosol and nucleus, where it strongly induces expression of TNF-alpha and chemokine genes mediated through NF-kappaB activation, resulting in tumor development.

Cathepsin C propeptide interacts with intestinal alkaline phosphatase and heat shock cognate protein 70 in human Caco-2 cells.

The oligomeric structure and the residual propeptide are distinct characteristics of cathepsin C from other members in the papain superfamily. In this study, we examined the physiological role of the cathepsin C propeptide. The stable overexpression of cathepsin C propeptide significantly decreased the activities of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) and sucrase in human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells, whereas it did not change the proliferation and cathepsin C activity.

Crystal structure of the YdjC-family protein TTHB029 from Thermus thermophilus HB8: structural relationship with peptidoglycan N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase.

The YdjC-family protein is widely distributed, from human to bacteria, but so far no three-dimensional structure and functional analysis of this family of proteins has been reported. We determined the three-dimensional structure of the YdjC homolog TTHB029 at a resolution of 2.9A.

Osteoactivin fragments produced by ectodomain shedding induce MMP-3 expression via ERK pathway in mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts.

Intact osteoactivin, a novel type I membrane glycoprotein, were shed at a dibasic motif in the juxtamembrane region in C2C12 myoblasts. Extracellular fragments were secreted into the culture media by a putative metalloprotease. Extracellular fragments of osteoactivin, but not control protein, induced matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3) expression in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts.

Structural basis of D-DOPA oxidation by D-amino acid oxidase: alternative pathway for dopamine biosynthesis.

D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) degrades the gliotransmitter D-serine, a potent endogenous ligand of N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptors. It also has been suggested that D-DOPA, the stereoisomer of L-DOPA, is oxidized by DAO and then converted to dopamine via an alternative biosynthetic pathway. Here, we provide direct crystallographic evidence that D-DOPA is readily fitted into the active site of human DAO, where it is oxidized by the enzyme.

Structure of a hyperthermophilic archaeal homing endonuclease, I-Tsp061I: contribution of cross-domain polar networks to thermostability.

A novel LAGLIDADG-type homing endonuclease (HEase), I-Tsp061I, from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermoproteus sp. IC-061 16 S rRNA gene (rDNA) intron was characterized with respect to its structure, catalytic properties and thermostability. It was found that I-Tsp061I is a HEase isoschizomer of the previously described I-PogI and exhibits the highest thermostability among the known LAGLIDADG-type HEases.

The first crystal structure of hyperthermostable NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from Pyrobaculum islandicum.

The extremely thermostable NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD-GluDH) from Pyrobaculum islandicum, a member of the Crenarchaeota, was crystallized, and its 3D structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The homohexameric structure of Pb. islandicum glutamate dehydrogenase (Pis-GluDH) was solved and refined at a resolution of 2.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of homing endonuclease I-Tsp061I.

Two crystal forms, rhombohedral and hexagonal, of a homing endonuclease from Thermoproteus sp. IC-061 (I-Tsp0611) were obtained by the hanging-drop and sitting-drop method, respectively. The hexagonal crystals belong to space group P6(3)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 111.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the hyperthermostable NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from Pyrobaculum islandicum.

NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum islandicum was crystallized in the apo- and holoenzyme forms. Crystals were obtained using 2-propanol and polyethylene glycol MME 550 as precipitants for the apoenzyme and holoenzyme, respectively. The apoenzyme crystals belong to the trigonal space group P3(1)21 or its enantiomorph P3(2)21.