Publications by authors named "Y Eugene Pak"
Human 8-oxoguanine DNA -glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) is an essential enzyme in DNA repair, responsible for recognizing and excising 8-oxoguanine (8OG), the lesion resulting from oxidative damage to guanine (G). By removing 8OG, hOGG1 prevents mutations like G-to-T transversions, maintains genomic stability, and reduces the risk of cancer and other diseases. Structural studies of hOGG1 bound to DNA have shown that lesion recognition occurs through base eversion from the DNA helix and hOGG1 finger residue insertion into the DNA helix.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExposure to environment-polluting chemicals (EPCs), which are ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study explores the mechanisms by which AhR ligands contribute to β-cell failure in T2D. Incubation of RINm5F rat pancreatic β-cells with low-dose 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD), the most potent AhR ligand, inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to obesity and diabetes, with environmental pollutants possibly increasing diabetes risk through dioxin-like substances that affect mitochondrial health and lung function.
- A study of 1371 adults from the Korean Genome Epidemiologic Study found that dioxin-like mitochondria inhibitor substances (MIS) were associated with body mass index (BMI) and lung function, indicating a complex relationship between these factors.
- Results suggested that higher levels of MIS negatively impacted mitochondrial function, which subsequently affected both BMI and lung health, emphasizing the need for better understanding of mitochondrial health in the context of metabolic disorders and aging.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the link between dietary intake and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) among middle-aged Koreans, focusing on surrogate biomarkers like aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands (AhRL) and mitochondrial function indicators (MIS-ATP and MIS-ROS).
- Results indicated that fish consumption was positively correlated with higher AhRL levels, suggesting increased EDC exposure, while cruciferous vegetables showed a negative association with AhRL levels and a positive correlation with MIS-ATP levels.
- Overall, higher fish intake appears to increase the risk of EDC-related bioactivity, contrasting with some protective effects of consuming cruciferous vegetables against high AhRL levels.