FK506-binding protein-like and FK506-binding protein 8 regulate dual leucine zipper kinase degradation and neuronal responses to axon injury

The dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) is a key regulator of axon regeneration and degeneration in response to neuronal injury; however, regulatory mechanisms of the DLK function via its interacting proteins are largely unknown. To better understand the molecular mechanism of DLK function, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening analysis and identified FK506-binding protein-like (FKBPL, also known as WAF-1/CIP1 stabilizing protein 39) as a DLK-binding protein. FKBPL binds to the kinase domain of DLK and inhibits its kinase activity. In addition, FKBPL induces DLK protein degradation through ubiquitin-dependent pathways. We further assessed other members in the FKBP protein family and found that FK506-binding protein 8 (FKBP8) also induced DLK degradation. We identified the lysine 271 residue in the kinase domain as a major site of DLK ubiquitination and SUMO3 conjugation and was thus responsible for regulating FKBP8-mediated proteasomal degradation that was inhibited by the substitution of the lysine 271 to arginine. FKBP8-mediated degradation of DLK is mediated by autophagy pathway because knockdown of Atg5 inhibited DLK destabilization. We show that in vivo overexpression of FKBP8 delayed the progression of axon degeneration and suppressed neuronal death after axotomy in sciatic and optic nerves. Taken together, this study identified FKBPL and FKBP8 as novel DLK-interacting proteins that regulate DLK stability via the ubiquitin-proteasome and lysosomal protein degradation pathways

Commercial video games and cognitive functions: video game genres and modulating factors of cognitive enhancement

Background Unlike the emphasis on negative results of video games such as the impulsive engagement in video games, cognitive training studies in individuals with cognitive deficits showed that characteristics of video game elements were helpful to train cognitive functions. Thus, this study aimed to have a more balanced view toward the video game playing by reviewing genres of commercial video games and the association of video games with cognitive functions and modulating factors. Literatures were searched with search terms (e.g. genres of video games, cognitive training) on database and Google scholar. Results video games, of which purpose is players entertainment, were found to be positively associated with cognitive functions (e.g. attention, problem solving skills) despite some discrepancy between studies. However, the enhancement of cognitive functions through video gaming was limited to the task or performance requiring the same cognitive functions. Moreover, as several factors (e.g. age, gender) were identified to modulate cognitive enhancement, the individual difference in the association between video game playing and cognitive function was found. Conclusion Commercial video games are suggested to have the potential for cognitive function enhancement. As understanding the association between video gaming and cognitive function in a more balanced view is essential to evaluate the potential outcomes of commercial video games that more people reported to engage, this review contributes to provide more objective evidence for commercial video gaming.It was supported by a grant from Game Science Forum in South Kore

Saracatinib Inhibits Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus Replication In Vitro

The Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV), first identified in Saudi Arabia, is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes severe acute respiratory illness in humans with a high fatality rate. Since its emergence, MERS-CoV continues to spread to countries outside of the Arabian Peninsula and gives rise to sporadic human infections following the entry of infected individuals to other countries, which can precipitate outbreaks similar to the one that occurred in South Korea in 2015. Current therapeutics against MERS-CoV infection have primarily been adapted from previous drugs used for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome. In search of new potential drug candidates, we screened a library composed of 2334 clinically approved drugs and pharmacologically active compounds. The drug saracatinib, a potent inhibitor of Src-family of tyrosine kinases (SFK), was identified as an inhibitor of MERS-CoV replication in vitro. Our results suggest that saracatinib potently inhibits MERS-CoV at the early stages of the viral life cycle in Huh-7 cells, possibly through the suppression of SFK signaling pathways. Furthermore, saracatinib exhibited a synergistic effect with gemcitabine, an anticancer drug with antiviral activity against several RNA viruses. These data indicate that saracatinib alone or in combination with gemcitabine can provide a new therapeutic option for the treatment of MERS-CoV infectio

Theoretical study on effects of interaction between organic molecules and water on molecular conformation and morphology

Department of Chemical Engineeringclos

Effects of Using Perineal Underwear on Discomfort and Shame in Angiography Patients

The purpose of this study is to develop and apply a type of perineal underwear that protects the patient’s physical privacy and to examine its effects on perineal discomfort and shame. This study collected primary data from 44 patients who visited Kyung Hee University hospital in Seoul city and were admitted to the neurosurgery ward to undergo angiography between 7 August 2017, and 30 April 2018. In this quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent control group posttest-only design, participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 22) and a control group (n = 22). The control group used conventional protection, which involved wearing padding around the perineum, while the experimental group wore the perineal underwear developed in this study. The underwear group showed a significantly lower degree of shame (Z = −5.39, p < 0.001) and perineal discomfort (Z = −5.88, p < 0.001) than the padding group. In the padding group, women felt significantly more shame than men did (Z = −2.48, p = 0.013). The use of the perineal underwear developed in this study significantly reduced the degree of shame and perineal discomfort in patients undergoing angiography. Such perineal underwear could also be useful for protecting patients’ privacy during perineal examinations

Solvation of Lanthanide ion (III) in Water saturated Ionic Liquids by Molecular Dynamics Study

We have studied the solvation structure behavior of lanthanide (Ln) ions in water saturated ionic liquids (ILs) via molecular dynamics simulation. All 15 Ln ions, which are La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, were considered with three ILs mixed from one cation molecules of 1-methyl-3-octyl imidazolium([OMIM+]) and three anion molecules of Tetrafluoroborate((BF4-]), nonafluorobutyl sulfonate([NfO-]), bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide([Tf2N]). In this study, we have built two representative systems, which are ILs/water model to obtain saturated water contents in pure ILs and IL/water model containing one type of Ln ion to figure out the ion concentration at interface of ILs/water. It is found that more hydrophobic anion makes more water residing in the first solvation shell from coordination of Ln ions. For the smaller Ln ion, NO3- ion more easily construct sharing form between Ln ions. From these results, we could obtain Ln ion movement before extraction was occurred and postulate that hydrophobic anion (NfO and Tf2N) have higher capability than hydrophilic anion (BF4) to extract Ln

TiO2 Nanowire Networks Prepared by Titanium Corrosion and Their Application to Bendable Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

TiO2 nanowire networks were prepared, using the corrosion of Ti foils in alkaline (potassium hydroxide, KOH) solution at different temperatures, and then a further ion-exchange process. The prepared nanostructures were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The wet corroded foils were utilized as the photoanodes of bendable dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 1.11% under back illumination

Theoretical study on heat transfer mechanism of nanofluids with functionalized graphene flakes in confined nanopipe system

We studied the heat transfer mechanism of fluid with and without nanoparticles in the pipe flow using coarse-grained molecular dynamics. A nanopipe simulation model system was composed of a cylindrical Fe nanopipe (i.e., diameter of 40 nm) at 325 K and a mixture (50:50 wt%) of water and ethylene glycol (EG). For the nanofluids, functionalized graphene flakes (GFs) were added to the fluids. GF models with carboxyl (i.e., -COOH) and hydrogen (i.e., -H) terminal groups were compared to determine the effect of functional groups of nanoparticles on the heat transfer coefficient (HTC). From the nanopipe flow without GFs, we found that the heat transfer from the nanopipe to the fluid mainly occurred in thermal boundary layer (TBL). It was shown by a drastic elevating of HTC in an entrance region, where the TBL was formed. Estimated HTC of fluid was 3.08 ?? 108 W/m2???K, and those of water and EG were 1.24 ?? 108 and 1.87 ?? 108 W/m2???K, respectively. In nanofluids, HTC was increased by 1.1 and 1.06 times with COOH- and H-terminated GFs, respectively, compared to fluids without GFs. GFs were mainly flowed near the pipe wall and formed the GF-concentrated layer (i.e., radial distance of 100-200 ??). The layer was maintained in the thermally fully developed region, where the temperature profile of nanofluids showed the uniform distribution along the pipe length, consequently inducing the high HTC value. Especially, the GF-concentrated layer was thicker in the nanofluids containing COOH-terminated GFs because of higher miscibility with solvents, resulting in higher HTC value of COOH-terminated GFs compared to H-terminated GFs